Local SEO - The Expert’s Guide – Details, episodes & analysis

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.

Links:

Steady Demand

https://www.steadydemand.com/

Tool http://peec.ai/

Sterling Sky Podcast

https://www.sterlingsky.ca/local-seo-the-experts-guide-podcast/

Localu Global Virtual Conference VOD

https://localu.org/localu-global-access-on-demand-recorded-january-28-2026/

Local Search Reddit

https://www.reddit.com/r/localsearch/

Video: 7 Local SEO Mistakes Costing Your Business THOUSANDS (Fix These NOW!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54_JsfQuLx8

#localseo #googlebusinessprofile #digitalmarketing

EP 26008

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.

Save your seat now and come ready with a topic for the live tool demo! Register👉 https://localu.org/how-rank-2026-mike-king-webinar/

Links:

Mike King's Tool - https://ipullrank.com/tools/qforia

https://ipullrank.com/case-studies

Mike King's Conference April 27-30, 2026 - https://seoweek.org/

LocalU Global - Attend from Anywhere🌎 - https://localu.org/etn/localu-global-january-28-2026/

Next Months Webinar: https://localu.org/gbp-violations-punishment-ben-fisher/

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.

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.

Links:

Wil Reynolds -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilreynolds/

https://www.seerinteractive.com/people/team/wil-reynolds

The dashboard for tracking your search vs ai vs social

https://www.seerinteractive.com/insights/how-to-track-your-search-vs-ai-vs-social-disruption-in-looker-studio

March Webinar with Barry Schwartz

https://localu.org/watch-seo-2025/

Client Ranking: AIO KW Coverage vs Client Ranking: AIO Conv. Impact

https://bit.ly/44iPMm6

Deep Research AI Tracking Tool

https://cheq.ai/

AI Bot Tracking Traffic

https://www.cloudflare.com/

Zip Tie - Click Through Rate Study

https://ziptie.dev/blog/how-ai-overviews-will-affect-publishers/

Get hidden social information

https://phantombuster.com/

Tracking AI Blog Post

https://www.seerinteractive.com/insights/how-ai-overviews-are-impacting-ctr-5-initial-takeaways

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction: AI Dominating Search Results

00:30 - AI and the Impact on Traffic

01:06 - Revenue vs. Traffic Metrics

04:14 - B2B vs. B2C Impact

06:26 - Tracking AI Traffic

09:02 - Strategies to Appear in AI Overviews

11:31 - Local SEO and AI

14:03 - Improving Local Business Content

16:04 - Content Strategy and SEO

20:11 - Effective Use of Social Media for Business

23:41 - Tools for Analyzing AI Traffic

27:01 - Preparing for Future AI Changes

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!

Date : December 17, 2025

Time : 11:00 am - 1:00 pm ET

Register for updates: https://localu.org/etn/surviving-local-seo-in-2026/

Chapters:

0:00 Welcome to 2026 Local SEO Threats & Expert Introductions

2:00 Understanding Declining Google Business Profile Calls

4:30 The Impact of AI-Powered Local Packs on Visibility

8:00 Google's Monetization Strategy & SERP Changes

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

45:00 Effective Strategies for Google Review Generation

50:00 Open Hours as a Local Ranking Factor & Service Area Business (SAB) Challenges

58:00 Navigating Co-working Spaces & Subleasing for Business Addresses

1:02:00 Optimizing Service Area Pages & Core Business Citations

1:07:00 Combating Review Extortion & Understanding Google's Review Jail

1:19:00 Top Local SEO Strategies for 2026 Success

1:25:00 Identifying & Avoiding Wasted Local SEO Tactics

1:32:00 Ranking Strategies for Gemini AI & Perplexity: What Matters Now

1:36:00 Essential Call Tracking for Local SEO & The Role of TikTok Ads

1:40:00 Developing Niche Video Content Ideas for Local Businesses

1:42:00 Local Grid Tracking: "Near Me" vs. "Keyword + City" Queries

1:44:00 Best Practices for Responding to Negative Google Reviews

1:48:00 Final Key Takeaways to Future-Proof Your Local Business

#LocalSEO

#GoogleBusinessProfile

#ReviewManagement

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!

Date : November 13, 2025

Time : 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm ET

Register for updates: https://localu.org/etn/the-future-of-seo-what-google-wont-tell-you-but-we-will/

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro: The Future of SEO & Content

00:40 - Why Viral Content Isn't Always Effective

01:40 - Forbes' SEO Strategy Collapse Explained

04:05 - Understanding Google's Helpful Content Update

06:45 - The Old SEO Playbook: What's Dead in 2025

09:30 - The New SEO Strategy: Build Brand First

12:00 - SEO for Small Businesses: When to Invest

14:20 - Choosing Organic Channels: Fit Over Hype

17:30 - Reddit: The SEO "Cheat Code" & Its Risks

23:45 - How Reddit Manipulates Google & AI

28:00 - Founder Marketing & Business Exits

30:45 - Small Business Marketing: Ads vs. SEO

33:00 - Personal Brand: Surviving the AI Content Wave

35:30 - Hyper-Targeted Bottom-Funnel Content

38:00 - Future of Marketing: Private Communities (Discord, WhatsApp)

43:00 - Ranking in the AI Era: LLMs & SEO

45:30 - New AI Ranking Signals: Reviews, Awards, PR

47:00 - SEO Timeline for Small Businesses: Realistic Expectations

49:10 - Competitor Comparison Content Strategy

52:30 - Website Health Tools & Keyword Research for Topics

55:20 - AI in Content Creation: Repurposing vs. Originality

01:00:30 - The #1 Skill for New Marketers: Copywriting

01:02:00 - Recommended Copywriting Books

01:03:00 - Final Thoughts & Connect with Lars

#SEOFuture #GoogleAI #LocalSEO

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

00:30 Jeremy's Journey & Host's YouTube Channel Success

01:27 Live Audience Q&A & Channel Audits

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

18:15 Keyword Research: Finding Local Video Topics on YouTube

20:12 Competitor Analysis: Blueprint for Top-Performing Videos

22:37 Live Channel Audit: Foundation Solutions Group

23:46 Understanding the YouTube Algorithm: Click, Watch, Like

24:31 Optimize Your YouTube Banner & Channel Messaging

25:54 Creating Clickable Thumbnails: Design vs. Intent

28:50 Roger Wakefield: A Masterclass in Plumbing YouTube Thumbnails

32:09 Crafting Keyword-Rich YouTube Video Titles

33:18 Live Channel Audit: Dentist (Shorts vs. Long-Form)

33:54 Shorts & Long-Form Videos: Practice Your Reps

36:28 Global Reach: Burned-in Captions & Language Dubbing

38:28 Viewer-First Scripting for Engaging Videos

40:18 Live Channel Audit: Bay Management Group

41:16 Thumbnail Analysis for Property Management Videos

42:16 The Downside of Niche Fragmentation on YouTube

44:52 Live Channel Audit: Bitcoin Conference Videos

45:50 Distinguishing Organic Views from YouTube Ad Views

46:52 Recommended Software for YouTube Thumbnail Creation

47:22 Insights on YouTube SEO Tools like VidIQ

48:44 The Future of AI in YouTube Content Creation

51:51 Why Authenticity Beats AI Slop on YouTube

52:41 Improving Conference Video Titles & Thumbnails

57:21 Essential & Affordable Video Equipment for Small Businesses

59:26 Faces in Thumbnails: Direct Gaze vs. Emotional Cues

01:01:26 Live Channel Audit: Auto Dealer (Wendell Ford)

01:02:50 Identifying Paid vs. Organic Views in Auto Dealership Videos

01:04:04 Using Children in YouTube Videos: Hero Message Guideline

01:06:11 The "Chevy Dude": A Car Salesman's YouTube Success Story

01:08:25 Strategic Use of Capitalization in YouTube Titles

01:09:57 Live Channel Audit: Wedding Team Marketing

01:11:53 Discovering Top Marketing Strategies for Video Content

01:13:08 Jeremy's 12 Rules for Crafting Effective YouTube Titles

01:14:02 Shorts Thumbnails: Less Critical for Discovery

01:14:51 SEO-Driven YouTube Playlists for Content Organization

01:17:14 Balancing Local Service Ads (LSA) & YouTube Ad Spend

01:20:34 Shorts vs. Long-Form for Local Business: Intent & Niche

01:23:11 Live Channel Audit: Addiction Treatment Center

01:24:16 Tailoring Addiction Content: Focus on Families & Specific Issues

01:26:04 Analyzing Performance Drop in Addiction Channel Thumbnails

01:27:04 The Power of Niching Down in Sensitive Topics

01:28:50 Purpose, Profit, Passion: Finding Your Niche Sweet Spot

01:30:36 Live Channel Audit: Fencing Company

01:30:48 Strategic Use of Hashtags for YouTube Topics

01:31:54 Impact of Description Updates on Google & YouTube SEO

01:33:46 Understanding YouTube Topics & Channel Correlation

01:35:51 Analyzing Channels with High Video Count, Low Subscribers

01:36:36 Viral Shorts Strategies for Service Businesses (ASMR Content)

01:38:09 Commercial vs. Purposeful Content for Fencing Channels

01:39:29 Keyword Research for "Fencing" (Installation, Repair, Design)

01:40:49 Deconstructing a Viral Fence Installation Time-Lapse

01:43:03 Dealing with YouTube Trolls: Strategies & Boundaries

01:44:49 Austin Armstrong's Genius Troll-Proofing Technique

01:46:09 Live Channel Audit: Fitness Studio (Pure Motivation)

01:47:18 Extreme Niching in the Fitness YouTube Space

01:51:29 Live Channel Audit: Marketing for Painting Contractors

01:51:54 Optimizing Titles for Painting Contractor Marketing

01:53:05 AI-Powered Title Generation for Painting Businesses

01:53:54 Managing Negative Comments: Blocking & Blacklist Keywords

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

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

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

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

Show Links:

1. Google Reporting Tool

https://support.google.com/business/answer/4596773?hl=en

2. Review Gating Widget

https://publicwww.com/

3. Google’s transparency report

https://transparencyreport.google.com/maps-content/enforcement

Date & Time: July 16, 2025 - 12:00 PM ET

Duration: 1 Hours

Speaker: Curtis Boyd & Joy Hawkins

Webinar Sponsor: GatherUp

245 million fake reviews!

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

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