The podcast where local SEO meets expert insight! Join host Joy Hawkins, CEO and owner of Sterling Sky, renowned local SEO specialist and a member of the Google Product Experts Program, as she dives deep with guests into the world of local search engine optimization, digital marketing, and SEO.
In each episode, Joy will interview experts and share her wealth of knowledge, backed by rigorous testing and research conducted at Sterling Sky. Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or just starting out, this podcast offers invaluable tips, strategies, and the latest industry updates to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape of local SEO. Tune in and get ready to elevate your local SEO game!
#LocalSEO #JoyHawkins #LocalSEOExpertGuide
Site
RSS
Apple
Recent rankings
Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.
Shared links between episodes and podcasts
Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.
Google Business Profile Violations Google ACTUALLY Punishes
Season 2026 · Episode 2
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 • Duration 01:56:55
Google Business Profile suspensions, disappearing reviews, and sudden listing removals are happening more often than ever, and most business owners have no idea why.
In this webinar, we sit down with a seasoned Google Business Profile product expert, Ben Fisher, Co-Founder at @SteadyDemand who works inside the mess every day, dealing with real suspensions, failed verifications, spam networks, and review wipeouts.
Ranking in Google’s AI Results in 2026 with Mike King
Season 2026 · Episode 1
Wednesday, January 7, 2026 • Duration 01:02:07
In this exclusive session, we’re joined by Mike King, one of the sharpest minds in search, to unpack the wildest shifts happening in Google’s AI-powered results right now. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at real tactics Mike is using for clients today to gain visibility across AI platforms like Google and ChatGPT and how you can apply them immediately.
LIVE TOOL DEMO: Mike will walk through a powerful fan-out query tool that uncovers how Google is interpreting and ranking entire topics. We’ll even use real audience examples in the demo so you can see it in action.
What you’ll learn:
✅ The “fan-out query” method explained in plain English
✅ How to pull Google’s full query list for your niche
✅ Tactics to help small businesses stand out in an AI-dominated search landscape
✅ Why certain blackhat strategies still work (and Mike’s take on them)
Whether you’re a business owner, SEO strategist, or just trying to stay ahead of AI’s impact on search, this webinar will leave you with actionable insights you won’t find anywhere else.
How I Saw Google’s Future at Google I/O: Noah Learner
Season 2025 · Episode 1
Saturday, May 24, 2025 • Duration 01:00:09
Date & Time: May 23 ,2025 - 2:30 PM ET
Speaker: Noah Learner & Joy Hawkins
At Google I/O this week, Noah Learner explored the latest updates and breakthroughs around Search and AI — but what do these changes really mean? 🤔
In this interview, he breaks down the key announcements and shares his thoughts on how Google might be evolving behind the scenes.
If you’re wondering what the future holds for Google Search and AI, and how it could impact the way we find information, you’ll want to hear Noah’s perspective.
SEO in 2025 Surviving the AI Overview Crisis
Season 2025 · Episode 1
Tuesday, April 8, 2025 • Duration 01:03:04
Date & Time: April 8,2025 - 11:00 AM ET
Duration: 1 Hour
Speaker: Wil Reynolds & Joy Hawkins
Webinar Sponsor: Langan Financial Group
If your business relies on search traffic, the rise of AI overviews on Google might feel like a threat. According to Ahrefs, some companies have seen a staggering 20-40% drop in clicks—and the trend isn’t slowing down.
Join us for an exclusive interview with Wil Reynolds, where we’ll dive into:
🔍 The real impact of AI on search traffic and conversions
📈 Proven SEO strategies that still work (and what to avoid)
🤖 How to optimize your content for the AI era
💡 Innovative approaches to Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)
Whether you're a business owner, marketer, or SEO professional, this session is packed with insights to help you adapt and thrive.
Surviving Local SEO in 2026: 3 Major Threats You Must Prepare For
Season 2025 · Episode 1
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 • Duration 02:01:26
Local SEO is changing fast! For more 👉🏻 https://www.sterlingsky.ca/the-state-of-local-seo-in-2026/ Learn about the 3 major threats facing businesses in 2026: disappearing organic visibility, AI's impact on search, and aggressive review attacks. Experts Joy Hawkins @SterlingSkyInc Luc Durand @rankingacademy & Darren Shaw @WhitesparkCa reveal how to prepare, understand mobile search shifts, deal with fake reviews, and apply effective strategies to stay competitive. Don't fall behind – watch LIVE to secure your local rankings!
13:00 The Rise of Local Pack Ads and Local Services Ads (LSAs)
16:00 Maximizing Value from Local Services Ads: Agency Perspective
20:00 Diversifying Lead Generation Beyond Organic SEO
23:00 Analyzing Traffic from AI Platforms like ChatGPT & Gemini
29:00 Why Video Marketing is Essential for Local Businesses
36:00 Debunking Local SEO Myths: Geotagging & AI-Generated Video
40:00 Whitespark Local Ranking Grid: Advanced Tracking & LLM Visibility
The Future of SEO: What Google Won’t Tell You (But We Will)
Season 2025 · Episode 1
Thursday, November 13, 2025 • Duration 01:34:13
Dive deep into the evolving world of SEO with expert insights! Learn why traditional SEO tactics are dead, how Forbes' strategy crumbled, and the new 2026 playbook for success. Discover the power of brand building, founder marketing, and Reddit as an SEO cheat code. We'll also explore AI's true role in content and what Google won't tell you. Don't miss out on strategies to protect your traffic and thrive in 2026 and beyond. Subscribe for cutting-edge Local SEO insights!
33:00 - Personal Brand: Surviving the AI Content Wave
How Local Businesses Can Rank on Google With YouTube
Season 2025 · Episode 1
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 • Duration 01:59:33
October 28, 2025 at 12:00 PM ET
Webinar: How Local Businesses Can Rank on Google With YouTube with Jeremy Vest
Discover how local businesses can leverage YouTube to rank higher on Google and generate leads! Join YouTube expert Jeremy Vest as he breaks down strategies for content creation, SEO, effective thumbnails, and paid advertising to grow your business. Learn how to niche down your content, understand viewer intent, and optimize for both YouTube and Google search. Get your free YouTube channel audit at creatorunlock.com now!
00:00 Introduction: YouTube for Local Business Growth
00:14 Meet Jeremy Vest: YouTube Expert & Strategist
02:05 Local Business YouTube Strategy for Google Rankings
02:46 Local Search Intent: Answering Consumer Questions on YouTube
04:32 YouTube's Role in Business Valuation & Acquisitions
06:05 Expanding Video Marketing Beyond YouTube
06:43 Targeting Local Audiences on YouTube: Dentist Example
07:27 Hyper-Targeted YouTube Ads for Local Lead Generation
09:46 Organic Channel Health vs. Paid YouTube Ads Performance
11:05 Live Channel Audit: Personal Injury Lawyer
13:05 Get Your Free YouTube Audit at CreatorUnlock.com
13:43 Building Trust & Branding on Your YouTube Channel
15:17 The Power of Authenticity: Why Human Connection Matters
SEO Insider Tips from a Multi-Million Dollar Agency Founder
Season 2025 · Episode 1
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 • Duration 01:01:31
September 17, 2025 at 12:00 PM ET
Webinar: Mastering ROI in SEO: Insider Tips from a Multi-Million Dollar Agency Founder
Join us for an exclusive interview with Jason Hennessey, the mastermind behind a leading SEO agency specializing in law firms. With a business that generates 8-figures annually and has been featured on the Inc. 5000 list for six years in a row, Jason knows what it takes to deliver SEO results that drive revenue.
In this webinar, he’ll share actionable strategies, success stories, and the secrets to scaling your SEO efforts to ensure a measurable ROI. Whether you're a small business or a law firm, Jason’s insights will empower you to make smarter, more effective SEO decisions.
Chapter:
00:00 | Intro: Local SEO for Business Growth in 2025
01:52 | Managing Client Expectations for Local SEO Results
06:19 | Using Yext for Local Citations and NAP Consistency
10:26 | Realistic SEO Budgets for Law Firms and Local Businesses
17:24 | The Best Link Building Strategy for Local SEO
27:03 | Why New Google Reviews are More Important Than Total Reviews
52:14 | Do You Need a Blog for Local SEO?
58:21 | Quick SEO Hacks to Boost Google Maps Rankings
59:05 | An Untapped SEO Strategy: Targeting Zero-Search Volume Keywords
Ep 25113
Mastering On-Page SEO: Kyle Roof Shares The Secrets You’re Missing
Season 2025 · Episode 1
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 • Duration 01:02:17
Master On-Page SEO: Kyle Roof Shares The Secrets You’re Missing
Date & Time: August 26, 2025 - 9:00 AM ET
Duration: 1 Hour
Speaker: Kyle Roof & Joy Hawkins
In this exclusive webinar, we sit down with SEO expert Kyle Roof to dive deep into the fundamentals of on-page SEO and the critical things that most people overlook. From mastering the silo concept to understanding entity optimization, we'll uncover actionable insights that will supercharge your SEO strategy.
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, you’ll walk away with valuable, practical tips that can make a huge difference in your search rankings. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from the best!
Come With Your On-Page SEO Questions!
• Does Siloing Really Work for SEO?: We'll explore whether siloing—the practice of organizing website content into clear, thematic categories—actually boosts SEO performance.
• Entity Optimization and Its Impact: Discover how to leverage entities—such as brands, people, or places—in content and metadata to improve search visibility.
•And Much More!
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Introduction to On-Page SEO with Kyle Roof
4:04 - What is a Silo in SEO?
8:39 - Flat vs. Folder URL Structure
10:01 - How to Find New Content Ideas
How to Fight Fake Reviews in 2025: Proven Tactics from Experts
That’s how many Google deleted last year—a 44% spike from the year before. The fake review problem is growing faster than most business owners realize, and it's putting reputations, revenue, and even livelihoods on the line.
In this eye-opening webinar, Joy sits down with Curtis Boyd, one of the most respected voices in online reputation management, to unpack:
-How fake reviews are created and spread
-What Google (and other platforms) are doing to stop them
-The shocking truth about “review jail” and hidden review blocks
-And the real-world tactics you can use to defend your business today
01:56:52 The "Hack" Keyword: Effective for Clicks, Despite the Cringe
01:57:47 Jeremy's CreatorUnlock Tool: Founder Sale & Coaching
#LocalSEO #YouTubeMarketing #SmallBusinessTips
Collapse
12:11 - What is Entity Optimization?
15:23 - Can You Over-Optimize with Keywords?
17:16 - Live Website Audit: Patriot Plumber
20:25 - How AI is Changing Keyword Research
23:30 - Expanding into a New Niche: What to Do
25:20 - When to Create a New Website for a New Service
27:24 - Do Keyword-Rich Domains Still Work?
35:35 - Do EEAT Signals Actually Improve Rankings?
37:14 - Ranking in LLM Search (like ChatGPT)
39:09 - Is Guest Posting Still a Viable Strategy?
41:13 - How Deep Should URL Folder Structure Be?
42:31 - Do AI Content Writers Include the Right Keywords?
44:42 - The Weight of Smoke: A Lesson in Measurement
46:22 - SEO Strategy for Multi-Location Businesses
48:06 - Using Location Keywords for Local SEO
49:09 - Does Word Count Affect SEO Rankings?
51:22 - What is Vector Embedding and Does It Matter for SEO?
53:21 - Surprising SEO Test Results
54:58 - The Impact of Link Exchanges on SEO
55:58 - How to Increase Your Website's Crawl Budget
56:31 - Does Embedding a Google Business Profile Help Rankings?
57:42 - Using a Second Website for a High-Value Service
58:42 - Automatically Updating Review Schema
59:27 - Are Rank and Rent Websites a Waste of Time in 2025?
1:00:48 - Where to Find Kyle Roof
Ep 25123
You’ll also see live audits of fake reviews, learn how to spot them before your customers do, and walk away with a clear strategy to build authentic, positive reviews that actually stick.
Whether you're a small business owner, marketing professional, or just curious about how review platforms are being gamed—this session is for you.
Don’t let your reputation be controlled by fake reviews. Learn how to fight back.
▬ Chapters ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
0:00:00 - Intro
0:00:23 - The Prevalence of Fake Reviews
0:00:30 - Google's Removal of Fake Reviews
0:02:15 - Responding to Fake Reviews
0:02:36 - The 3-Week Window
0:07:27 - Reporting Fake Reviews
0:08:43 - One-Star Ratings with No Text
0:09:12 - Reporting Contributor Profiles
0:19:24 - "A Google User" Reviews
0:30:13 - ChatGPT and AI-Generated Reviews
0:31:52 - Identifying Competitors Buying Reviews
0:35:41 - Fighting Back Against Competitors Buying Reviews
0:36:10 - Google "Sweeps"
0:36:43 - Elbow Grease for Older Fakes
0:37:38 - Impact of Losing Reviews
0:38:46 - Reporting Review Gating
0:41:09 - Suspensions for Buying Reviews
0:41:51 - Review Blocks ("Review Jail")
0:45:13 - Differentiating Real vs. Fake
0:47:12 - Anonymous Profiles
0:48:56 - Keywords in Review Replies
0:54:21 - FTC and Review Gating
0:55:32 - Review Recency as a Ranking Factor
0:59:15 - Top Review Sites (Besides Google)
01:00:11 - Impact of a Single Fake Review
EP 25101
Apple Podcasts
🇨🇦 Canada - marketing
15/08/2026
#72
🇨🇦 Canada - marketing
14/08/2026
#51
🇨🇦 Canada - marketing
30/07/2026
#86
🇨🇦 Canada - marketing
29/07/2026
#36
🇩🇪 Germany - marketing
29/06/2026
#73
🇩🇪 Germany - marketing
28/06/2026
#46
🇬🇧 Great Britain - marketing
05/06/2026
#65
🇬🇧 Great Britain - marketing
07/05/2026
#79
🇬🇧 Great Britain - marketing
21/04/2026
#43
🇬🇧 Great Britain - marketing
20/04/2026
#72
Spotify
No recent rankings available
Related Shows Based on Content Similarities
Discover shows related to Local SEO - The Expert’s Guide, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.