In this episode of Local Marketing Secrets, Dan Leibrandt interviews Darren Shaw, founder of Whitespark and the current steward of the annual Local Search Ranking Factors Survey. Darren is one of the most respected names in local SEO, with his survey becoming the industry standard for understanding what drives local business rankings.

Dan and Darren break down the brand new 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors Survey released in November, covering major shifts that local businesses and SEOs need to know. They discuss the surprising emergence of business hours as the #5 ranking factor for local pack results, revealing how being open at the time of search directly impacts rankings. Google now prefers ranking businesses that are currently open, with practical strategies including extending hours or implementing 24/7 call answering services for service area businesses.

The conversation explores the resurgence of citations in the AI search era, where mentions across authoritative sites like BBB, Yelp, and industry-specific directories have regained importance for visibility in ChatGPT and Gemini results. Darren explains how review strategy has shifted from a numbers game to a recency and frequency game, with businesses receiving consistent weekly reviews often outranking competitors with thousands of stale reviews.

Dan and Darren cover critical updates around service area businesses and address visibility, plus the newly added AI search ranking factors including content freshness, review diversification, and getting featured on expert-curated "best of" lists. They discuss the massive jump in importance for Google Business Profile services, which went from being considered a "local SEO myth" in 2023 to a confirmed ranking factor in 2026.

The episode emphasizes behavioral signals and user engagement as critical ranking factors, with Google tracking profile dwell time, photo views, video watches, and whether users return to search results. Darren provides forward-looking insights on AI-driven search while reassuring listeners that local search remains more insulated from AI disruption than other SEO verticals, with Google Business Profiles remaining the foundation for local visibility.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

See the full survey: https://whitespark.ca/local-search-ranking-factors/

Whitespark Local Ranking Grid software: https://whitespark.ca

The Whitespark Local Update Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@WhitesparkCa/podcasts

Darren Shaw, Founder of WhiteSpark:

LinkedIn: Darren Shaw: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenshawwhitespark/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darrenshawseo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrenshawseo/

Dan Leibrandt, Host of Local Marketing Secrets:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DanLeibrandtOfficial  

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danleibrandt/   

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanLeibrandt   

Website: https://danleibrandt.com 

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction to Local Search Ranking Factors

04:09 Understanding the Local Search Ranking Factors Survey

07:19 The Impact of AI Search on Local SEO

10:15 The Resurgence of Citations in Local SEO

13:16 The Importance of Business Hours for Rankings

16:11 Review Recency and Frequency as Ranking Signals

19:03 Address Visibility for Service Area Businesses

22:03 User Engagement and Behavioral Signals in SEO

27:30 The Power of Reviews and Visual Content

32:26 The Impact of Keywords in Google Business Profile

36:12 Understanding Suspension Factors in Local SEO

40:10 The Future of Local Search and AI Integration

#localseo #localsearch #localseotips #localseoexpert #localmarketing

In this episode of Local Marketing Secrets, Dan Leibrandt interviews Marie Haynes, founder of Marie Haynes Consulting and one of the top names in SEO and AI search. Marie has spent more than a decade studying Google's algorithms, site quality, EEAT, and recovery from major traffic drops.

Dan and Marie explore how AI is reshaping Google and what businesses need to do to win in 2026 and beyond. Marie shares her unique origin story as a veterinarian who became fascinated with Google's ranking systems and eventually became a leading SEO consultant after mastering penalty removal during the 2012 Penguin update.

The conversation reveals how Google began implementing AI in 2017 and has progressively shifted from traditional ranking factors like links toward user engagement signals and behavioral data. Marie explains that Google has been collecting user signal data through NavBoost for over a decade, tracking clicks, dwell time, and user satisfaction to train their AI systems.

Marie breaks down EEAT and clarifies it's not about gaming the system with author bios but building genuine recognition in your industry through original research, community PR, podcasts, and publishing books. She covers Google's Quality Rater Guidelines and how AI now makes most ranking decisions, with quality raters and user signals serving as feedback loops. Marie warns against publishing generic content and emphasizes user engagement metrics over traditional keyword rankings.

The discussion shifts to AI agents and their coming dominance in search and business operations. Marie describes building complex agent workflows using tools like Google's Anti Gravity and predicts that within a year or two, AI agents will become the primary way businesses operate. She provides a glimpse into the future with AI glasses, brain computer interfaces, and agent driven commerce where users may never visit actual websites, encouraging everyone to start learning AI tools now and find joy in the technological transformation.

Marie Haynes, Founder of Marie Haynes Consulting:

Twitter: https://x.com/Marie_Haynes

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-haynes

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Marie_Haynes 

Dan Leibrandt, Host of Local Marketing Secrets:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DanLeibrandtOfficial  

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danleibrandt/   

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanLeibrandt   

Website: https://danleibrandt.com 

Local Marketing Secrets Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LocalMarketingSecrets 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TCL0LhZbsJS6mzanqnnT1?si=224075c9fbda42f5  

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/local-marketing-secrets/id1741176782 

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0bb5254-5d6c-4940-8211-085157cc1239/local-marketing-secrets 

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Marie Haynes 

04:16 The Evolution of SEO and AI

07:01 Understanding Google's Algorithm Updates

10:17 The Importance of User Signals in SEO

13:03 Navigating the Quality Rater Guidelines

16:09 Exploring EEAT and Its Significance

19:06 Building Authority and Trustworthiness

21:55 Local Business Strategies for EEAT

24:57 The Future of SEO in an AI-Driven World

42:13 Creating Unique Content for SEO Success

46:14 The Impact of AI on SEO and User Intent

53:54 The Future of AI Agents in Business

01:01:45 Navigating the Evolution of Search Engines

01:16:05 Embracing Change and Finding Joy in Technology

01:19:42 Like and Subscribe!

#SEO #AISearch #GoogleSearch #EEAT #AIAgents

In this episode of Local Marketing Secrets, Dan Leibrandt interviews Howard Partridge, one of the most influential small business coaches in America. Howard went from growing up in deep poverty to building multiple successful companies, starting with a cleaning business he scaled from the trunk of his car into a multi-million dollar operation. He's written more than a dozen books and worked closely with the legend Zig Ziglar.Dan and Howard dive into how owners can escape daily chaos, build real systems, develop strong teams, and scale to a million dollars and beyond without burning out. Howard shares his remarkable origin story of growing up in a 600 square foot shack in Mobile, Alabama with seven kids, getting kicked out as a teenager, and jumping on a Greyhound bus to Houston with 25 cents in his pocket. He explains how he used $3,000 in wedding money to buy a carpet cleaning machine and built a multi-million dollar turnkey business.The conversation explores what turnkey business really means, which Howard defines as a business that runs completely without the owner's presence. He breaks down the three essential components: leadership, people, and systems. Howard emphasizes that everything rises and falls on leadership, and most business owners fail because they don't build systems, don't understand relationships, and lack proper leadership training.Howard shares powerful lessons from Zig Ziglar, including "you can have everything in life you want if you'll just help enough other people get what it is that they want." He discusses how mindset and desire are the secret ingredients of success, explaining that most business owners struggle to break past the million dollar threshold because they lack true belief, compelling vision, and willingness to do the required work.The episode covers why money isn't evil and how healthy profits protect businesses from unexpected challenges. Howard explains his philosophy that "if you live your life to avoid pain, you'll never experience great gain" and emphasizes that all of business and life is about relationships. He shares how he built his companies through referrals and networking, identifying referral sources, serving others, and building genuine connections that create perpetual opportunities. Howard Patridge, Founder of Phenomenal Products:Website: https://howardpartridge.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-partridge-community/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howardpartridge/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HowardPartridgePPI/Dan Leibrandt, Host of Local Marketing Secrets:Facebook: https://facebook.com/DanLeibrandtOfficial LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danleibrandt/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanLeibrandt Website: https://danleibrandt.com Local Marketing Secrets Platforms:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LocalMarketingSecrets Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TCL0LhZbsJS6mzanqnnT1?si=224075c9fbda42f5 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/local-marketing-secrets/id1741176782 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0bb5254-5d6c-4940-8211-085157cc1239/local-marketing-secrets Podcast Chapters:00:00 Introduction To Howard Patridge07:18 Understanding Turnkey Businesses12:35 The Importance of Leadership17:19 Mindset and Desire in Business22:31 The Role of Money in Success27:34 Building Relationships for Business Growth32:15 The Power of Serving Others37:16 Final Thoughts: Adding Value to Others40:08 Like and Subscribe!#homeservicebusiness #homeservicemarketing #localmarketing #localbusiness #homeserviceadvertising #localadvertising #marketing #podcast #danleibrandt #howardpatridge

In this episode of Local Marketing Secrets, Dan Leibrandt interviews Ken Moskowitz, a branding veteran with over 40 years of experience. Ken has worked with some of the world's most recognizable brands including Coca-Cola, ESPN, the NFL, Facebook, and Budweiser. He's also deeply involved in the home service world, holding equity in seven home service businesses.

Dan and Ken explore how to build a brand people remember, trust, and choose even in a crowded market. Ken shares his remarkable origin story of becoming obsessed with advertising at age 13, creating a recording studio in his bedroom, and landing his first paid gig writing ads for a local bike shop that drove real customers.

The conversation covers Ken's approach to storytelling and emotional connection in advertising. He emphasizes that touching someone's heart before their brain moves them to action, sharing powerful examples like his "2 Seconds is Too Long" campaign for Phoenix Fire Department and his M&M's ad that told an entire love story in 30 seconds. Ken explains his philosophy that emotion trumps direct selling every time.

Ken discusses his recent battle with stage three rectal cancer and how he used that year to master every AI tool available, transforming a threat to his business into an opportunity. He shares how AI disrupted his multi-million dollar business but became his greatest asset once he learned to leverage it properly.

The episode covers copywriting with AI, where Ken explains the importance of training AI tools extensively on your writing style. He discusses using different platforms for different purposes and shares his suite of AI tools including the Hundred Year Copywriting Engine and Story Forge that allow small businesses to create high-level creative ads.

Ken challenges skepticism around branding for home services, emphasizing that branding keeps businesses alive when lead generation pipelines fail. He explains why companies should invest in brand from day one, maintaining consistent messaging focused on quality and experience rather than price, and warns that businesses not utilizing AI are already dead.

Ken Moskowitz, Founder of Ad Zombies:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spankymoskowitz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spankymoskowitz

Ad Zombies: https://www.adzombies.com

Dan Leibrandt, Host of Local Marketing Secrets:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DanLeibrandtOfficial  

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danleibrandt/   

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanLeibrandt   

Website: https://danleibrandt.com 

Local Marketing Secrets Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LocalMarketingSecrets 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TCL0LhZbsJS6mzanqnnT1?si=224075c9fbda42f5  

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/local-marketing-secrets/id1741176782 

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0bb5254-5d6c-4940-8211-085157cc1239/local-marketing-secrets 

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Ken Moskowitz 

08:06 The Evolution of Advertising and Storytelling

15:04 Facing Cancer and Embracing AI

20:26 Mastering Copywriting with AI

26:00 Favorite Ads and the Art of Fixing Messages

29:50 Crafting Emotional Connections in Advertising

38:17 The Importance of Branding for Home Services

46:29 Embracing AI in Advertising

49:50 Innovative Tools for Storytelling in Marketing

52:03 Like and Subscribe!

#advertising #branding #AImarketing #homeservicebusiness #storytelling

In this episode of Local Marketing Secrets, Dan Leibrandt interviews Jeremy Vest, one of the top YouTube strategists in the world and founder of Creator Unlock. Jeremy has helped thousands of businesses and creators grow with video, working with some of the biggest YouTube channels like Grant Cardone and top home service channels including Roger Wakefield.

Dan and Jeremy explore what actually works on YouTube in 2025 and beyond. Jeremy shares his 19-year journey as a YouTube strategist, revealing the biggest shift in YouTube history happening right now: television has become the number one source of watch time, surpassing mobile devices and platforms like Netflix and Amazon. This means creators need to focus on storytelling, anticipation, and curiosity gaps rather than just how-to content.

Jeremy breaks down the importance of hooks and emotional engagement, explaining how top creators start videos with compelling promises in the first two seconds. He emphasizes that 70% of viewers must still be watching at the 30-second mark for YouTube to promote content, making that opening crucial. He covers the difference between YouTube Shorts and long-form content, revealing that while Shorts build vanity metrics, 99% of revenue comes from long-form videos.

The conversation addresses AI's impact on video creation, with Jeremy arguing that storytelling and personality will always prevail over the technology used. He explains the click-watch-like framework and the importance of matching intent across thumbnails, titles, and video openings. For local businesses, Jeremy stresses niching down as far as possible, sharing examples of blue-collar creators with 50,000 subscribers making millions annually. He emphasizes consistent messaging across all platforms and promises that the plumber will make more money than viral dancers.

Jeremy Vest, Founder of Creator Unlock:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jeremyvest

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCt6USRnsgG2b3ADzOISzMSw 

Creator Unlock: CreatorUnlock.com

Dan Leibrandt, Host of Local Marketing Secrets:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DanLeibrandtOfficial  

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danleibrandt/   

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanLeibrandt   

Website: https://danleibrandt.com 

Local Marketing Secrets Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LocalMarketingSecrets 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TCL0LhZbsJS6mzanqnnT1?si=224075c9fbda42f5  

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/local-marketing-secrets/id1741176782 

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0bb5254-5d6c-4940-8211-085157cc1239/local-marketing-secrets 

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Jeremy Vest

02:03 Jeremy's Journey in Digital Marketing

04:58 The Evolution of YouTube

10:34 Optimizing for TV Viewership

13:31 The Importance of Storytelling

21:05 Crafting Compelling Stories for Engagement

25:10 Teaching to Fish: The Importance of Strategy

26:32 The Unique World of Podcasting

28:43 YouTube Shorts vs. Long-Form Videos

31:06 Optimizing for Watch Time

37:43 Niche Down: Finding Your Audience

41:35 Starting a YouTube Channel for Local Businesses

47:01 Manifesting Success in the Age of AI

49:32 Like and Subscribe!

#YouTube #videomarketing #contentcreation #homeservicebusiness #YouTubestrategy

In this episode of Local Marketing Secrets, Dan Leibrandt interviews Ellen Rohr, co-founder of Zoom Drain, a rapidly growing drain and sewer franchise now with 60+ locations across the United States. Ellen is also a major industry leader at ServiceTitan where she serves as the brand and industry marketing lead, helping guide thousands of contractors on building better, more profitable companies.

Dan and Ellen explore how she helped grow two national brands so quickly, the most common money and pricing mistakes across the trades, and her best advice for scaling with clarity and confidence. Ellen shares her powerful story of coming into the industry as a plumber's wife, stepping into a struggling business after a sudden tragedy, and turning it around by mastering financials.

The conversation covers Ellen's journey from a four-truck company to becoming president of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, helping grow that franchise from 0 to 47 locations and over $40 million in franchise sales in under two years. She breaks down the three main KPIs: sales, profits, and cash, stressing that most struggling businesses are simply underpriced.

Ellen walks through her pricing philosophy, explaining why home service owners need to reverse engineer their desired income into hourly rates. She demonstrates how wanting $200,000 annual income with 1,000 billable hours requires charging $200 per hour just for salary before any expenses, making $400-500 per hour rates necessary for sustainable growth.

The episode covers the importance of sales skills and financial literacy, with Ellen emphasizing that understanding business mechanics creates tremendous freedom. She shares the Zoom Drain story and her partnership with Al Levy and Jim Kreniti, emphasizing that success requires personal development and grit beyond just following procedures. Ellen addresses brutal moments in business around disappointing people and running out of money, explaining how profitability is essential for maintaining integrity and standards.

Ellen Rohr, Co-founder of Zoom Drain:

Website: https://ellenrohr.com/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ellen-rohr-5052101

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ellenrohr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellenrohr/

Her Book: https://a.co/d/3ruYEGj

Dan Leibrandt, Host of Local Marketing Secrets:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DanLeibrandtOfficial  

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danleibrandt/   

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanLeibrandt   

Website: https://danleibrandt.com 

Local Marketing Secrets Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LocalMarketingSecrets 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TCL0LhZbsJS6mzanqnnT1?si=224075c9fbda42f5  

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/local-marketing-secrets/id1741176782 

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0bb5254-5d6c-4940-8211-085157cc1239/local-marketing-secrets 

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Ellen Rohr 

02:58 Turning Challenges into Opportunities

05:58 The Importance of Financial Literacy

09:05 Sales Skills and Business Growth

11:52 Key Performance Indicators for Success

15:01 Pricing Strategies for Profitability

17:47 Understanding Business Fundamentals

21:03 Navigating Business Challenges

23:56 Setting Realistic Financial Goals

27:51 Pricing Strategies for Success

30:13 Thinking Bigger: Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

33:40 The Power of Personal Development

34:49 Lessons from Successful Companies

38:11 The Journey of Zoom Drain

42:33 The Importance of Personal Growth in Business

46:14 Navigating Brutal Moments in Business

51:05 Embracing Opportunities in Home Services

#homeservicebusiness #profitability #businessfinance #franchising #pricing

In this episode of Local Marketing Secrets, Dan Leibrandt interviews Bhodi Gallo, an entrepreneur who went from running a dumpster rental business in college to becoming one of the biggest voices on Twitter for local SEO and home service marketing. Bhodi scaled his dumpster business to over $750,000 a year before selling it. Now he's co-founder and chief revenue officer at Striker Digital, working with over 600 home service clients.

Dan and Bhodi explore the marketing strategies that actually move the needle for service companies today. Bhodi shares how he got into SEO at 17 through affiliate marketing and bought a dumpster rental business in college with just one dumpster and 20 trucks. He scaled it fast using three Google Business Profiles and smart ad spending during winter when competitors weren't running ads.

The conversation covers Bhodi's rise on Twitter and his content strategy of mixing lifestyle and marketing posts while targeting specific audiences with keywords. He reveals that Twitter drives 50% of Striker Digital's client acquisition, with Facebook ads and referrals making up the rest. Bhodi breaks down Google Business Profile optimization, explaining that physical locations are critical for ranking along with putting your service in the business name and filling out all profile sections.

The episode covers advanced tactics like using co-working spaces for verification, H1 tag optimization, location pages for building authority, and local backlinking strategies. Bhodi shares that Google Business Profiles can rank in 90 days while websites take 6-12 months. He discusses the gray area between white hat and black hat SEO tactics and emphasizes that customer service is the most important part of growing any business.

Bodhi Gallo, Co-founder of Stryker Digital:

Twitter: https://x.com/irentdumpsters

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bodhigallo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bo_dhi_g/

Stryker Digital: https://www.stryker-digital.com/

Dan Leibrandt, Host of Local Marketing Secrets:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DanLeibrandtOfficial  

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danleibrandt/   

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanLeibrandt   

Website: https://danleibrandt.com 

Local Marketing Secrets Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LocalMarketingSecrets 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TCL0LhZbsJS6mzanqnnT1?si=224075c9fbda42f5  

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/local-marketing-secrets/id1741176782 

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0bb5254-5d6c-4940-8211-085157cc1239/local-marketing-secrets 

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Bodhi Gallo's Journey

01:07 Scaling the Dumpster Rental Business

06:23 Transitioning to Twitter and Local SEO Expertise

11:32 Client Acquisition Strategies for the Agency

16:18 Optimizing Google Business Profiles

20:56 The Importance of Multiple Google Business Profiles

22:23 The Importance of Location in Service Businesses

24:05 Optimizing Google Business Profiles

27:34 Balancing SEO and Conversion Strategies

29:30 Leveraging Location Pages for Authority

30:46 Expanding Google Business Profiles

31:30 Tools and Techniques for Local SEO

35:17 Understanding SEO Timelines

36:29 The Role of Backlinks in Local SEO

37:39 Navigating SEO Ethics and Strategies

40:04 Key Takeaways from Client Experiences

41:54 The Importance of Customer Service in Business

#localseo #localsearch #localseotips #localseoexpert

In this episode of Local Marketing Secrets, Dan Leibrandt interviews Dave Carroll, founder and CEO of Dope Marketing, a software company offering laser-focused direct mail with no minimum order for small businesses and agencies. Dope just landed on the Inc. 5000 for the second year in a row, and Dave's team of over 100 runs a full-scale print and fulfillment operation that integrates with CRMs like GoHighLevel and Zapier.Dan and Dave explore Dave's incredible journey from prison to building multiple successful businesses including Lion Share Maintenance and Dope Marketing. Dave shares how he started a window cleaning company, got into data brokering for agencies, and eventually launched Dope Marketing five years ago after seeing inefficiencies in the direct mail industry. He explains how Dope grew from 0 to around 30 million in revenue by solving the problem of automated, hyper-targeted direct mail for home service businesses.The conversation covers the importance of personal growth and leveling up as your business scales. Dave discusses giving up drinking four years ago, developing a disciplined morning routine, and staying laser-focused on one opportunity rather than chasing every partnership. He shares insights on balancing family life with five kids while running a rapidly growing company, emphasizing being intentional with time and delegating tasks you're not good at.Dave explains the marathon mentality of business and how founders are often several laps ahead of their team. He stresses setting clear expectations, building systems, and slowing down to avoid reverting to old reactive patterns. Dave shares inspiration from Tommy Melo, Jesse Itzler, and Gino Wickman, emphasizing that if you're not inspired by something, you're not inspired by anything.Dave Carroll, Founder of DOPE Marketing:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.l.carroll.7Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davedopemarketing/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dopemarketing/Website: https://www.dopemarketing.com/Dan Leibrandt, Host of Local Marketing Secrets:Facebook: https://facebook.com/DanLeibrandtOfficial LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danleibrandt/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanLeibrandt Website: https://danleibrandt.com Local Marketing Secrets Platforms:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LocalMarketingSecrets Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TCL0LhZbsJS6mzanqnnT1?si=224075c9fbda42f5 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/local-marketing-secrets/id1741176782 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0bb5254-5d6c-4940-8211-085157cc1239/local-marketing-secrets Podcast Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Dave Carroll01:54 Reflections on Rapid Growth03:37 The Importance of Personal Growth07:17 Focusing on Core Business Opportunities11:54 Dave's Journey from Troubled Youth to Entrepreneur22:31 Defining Success and Parenting27:53 Balancing Family Life and Business Responsibilities34:54 Prioritizing Health and Wellness40:04 The Secret to Rapid Business Growth49:12 The Marathon of Business55:17 Learning from Influential Figures01:00:29 The Importance of Slowing Down#directmail #homeservicemarketing #localmarketing #homeservicebusiness #directmailmarketing

In this episode of Local Marketing Secrets, Dan Leibrandt interviews Jason Hennessey, an internationally recognized SEO expert, entrepreneur, author, and founder of Hennessey Digital, one of the fastest growing marketing agencies in America. Jason's work has helped hundreds of businesses, especially law firms, dominate Google through proven SEO systems. He's also built a massive following of over 1.7 million people on Instagram where he shares daily insights on marketing, mindset, and business growth.

Dan and Jason explore Jason's 20-year journey from reverse engineering Google's algorithm back in the early 2000s to leading a 100-person agency today doing $23 million in revenue with $7 million in profit. Jason shares how he stumbled into SEO after paying $5,000 for a wedding DJ website that got no traffic, teaching himself SEO out of necessity. He explains how one 45-minute presentation at a DUI lawyer mastermind turned into $30,000 per month in recurring revenue and launched his first agency.

The conversation covers Jason's "Lamborghini model" of charging premium prices ($15,000 to $100,000+ per month) for SEO services in the highly competitive personal injury law space. Jason explains the justification behind these high retainers, breaking down how generating 100 cases worth $12,500 minimum each creates over a million dollars in revenue for clients. He discusses giving clients homework like getting Better Business Bureau accreditation and building citations while his team handles sophisticated link building, content creation, and technical SEO.

Jason dives deep into local SEO tactics including schema markup, creating location-specific landing pages, and building topical authority through subpractice area pages. He explains his strategy of developing personal injury lawyer pages for every small city in a state, creating sophisticated internal linking structures that pass relevancy and build topical authority. Jason emphasizes that many supporting pages exist solely to power up pillar pages, even if they generate zero traffic themselves.

Jason Hennessey, Founder of Hennessey Digital:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonhennessey/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jason.hennessey.399/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhennessey/

Website: https://www.jasonhennessey.com/

Hennessey Digital: https://hennessey.com/

Dan Leibrandt, Host of Local Marketing Secrets:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DanLeibrandtOfficial  

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danleibrandt/   

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanLeibrandt   

Website: https://danleibrandt.com 

Local Marketing Secrets Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LocalMarketingSecrets 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TCL0LhZbsJS6mzanqnnT1?si=224075c9fbda42f5  

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/local-marketing-secrets/id1741176782 

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0bb5254-5d6c-4940-8211-085157cc1239/local-marketing-secrets 

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Jason Hennessy 

06:05 Understanding High-Value SEO Services

12:09 Client Engagement and Homework in SEO

17:49 The Importance of Schema Markup

21:05 Creating Effective Landing Pages for Local SEO

25:39 Building Topical Authority through Subpages

32:00 Adapting SEO Strategies in the Age of AI

38:20 The Role of Social Media in Local Marketing

42:53 The Future of Local Marketing 

#localseo #localsearch #localseotips #localseoexpert

In this episode of Local Marketing Secrets, Dan Leibrandt interviews Tony Ricketts, founder and CEO of Lawnline Marketing. Over the past 9 years, Tony has grown Lawnline into one of the most recognized niche agencies in the country, serving more than 200 lawn and landscape companies and generating over $3 million in annual revenue. Beyond Lawnline, Tony is also the founder of Crystal Insights, a new AI-powered call analysis software, and Agency Titan, a platform in development to help digital marketing agencies manage their business and fulfillment.Dan and Tony explore Tony's journey from being a software engineer to running a generalist agency called Ricketts Web Design for 10 years before pivoting to Lawnline. Tony shares how his first niche attempt in real estate failed because it took too long for clients to see money from leads, leading to high churn. He explains why he chose lawn and landscape for his second niche, including the 600,000 potential clients between the US and Canada, quick cash flow for clients, and his personal experience working on a landscaping crew in college.The conversation covers Tony's strategy of being "the best known" rather than necessarily "the best" in his industry. He explains how attending trade shows and conferences helped build massive brand recognition, including strategically placing his booth next to Site One Landscape Supply at every show for 7 years until he secured an exclusive partnership deal making Lawnline their recommended marketing agency. Tony emphasizes the importance of giving more than you take and building relationships with other vendors serving the same customers.Tony introduces Crystal Insights, explaining how it started as an internal solution for better lead reporting at Lawnline. The AI software analyzes 40,000 leads per month across all clients, pulling 51 different data points from each phone call to determine qualified leads, call answer rates, customer questions, complaints, and employee performance. Tony reveals that his clients only answer about 70% of phone calls during business hours, meaning 30% of marketing budget is wasted on unanswered leads.Tony Ricketts, Founder of LawnLine Marketing:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyrickettsflLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyrickettsLawnLine Marketing: https://lawnline.marketing/Dan Leibrandt, Host of Local Marketing Secrets:Facebook: https://facebook.com/DanLeibrandtOfficial LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danleibrandt/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanLeibrandt Website: https://danleibrandt.com Local Marketing Secrets Platforms:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LocalMarketingSecrets Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TCL0LhZbsJS6mzanqnnT1?si=224075c9fbda42f5 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/local-marketing-secrets/id1741176782 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0bb5254-5d6c-4940-8211-085157cc1239/local-marketing-secrets Podcast Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Tony Ricketts06:34 The Importance of Niching Down 11:27 Strategies for Competing in a Crowded Market17:01 Building Brand Recognition Through Industry Events24:55 Introducing Crystal Insights: AI in Call Analysis28:04 Leveraging AI for Enhanced Lead Analysis40:06 The Future of Marketing: AI's Impact47:27 Final Thoughts#localmarketing #lawncare #homeservicebusiness #homeservicemarketing #homeserviceadvertising #localbusiness