In this engaging podcast, Danny Leibrandt, founder of Pest Control SEO, interviews Joy Hawkins, a highly respected expert in local SEO. Joy is known for her extensive experience as a Google Business Profile product expert and the owner of Sterling Sky, Local Search Forum, and Local University. With nearly two decades in the field, Joy shares her journey from starting as a telemarketer for Google ads in 2006 to becoming a self-taught SEO expert and founding her own successful agency.

Key insights from the conversation include:

Joy's SEO Journey: Joy started her career in sales but soon transitioned to SEO by self-teaching and experimenting with different strategies to rank websites. She emphasized the importance of learning from hands-on experience and the value of persistence in mastering SEO techniques.

Link Building and Ranking Factors: Joy discussed the evolution of link-building strategies and their current relevance. She noted that while link-building is more challenging now, it remains a crucial factor in SEO. She also highlighted the importance of relevance and quality in links, emphasizing that a good link can come from a variety of sources, not necessarily related to the business's niche.

Google Business Profile (GBP) Optimization: Joy shared valuable tips on optimizing GBPs, such as the significance of business hours for ranking, the impact of reviews, and the strategic use of additional categories. She also discussed the pros and cons of including keywords in business names and the ethical considerations of doing so.

Local SEO Strategies: Joy elaborated on the importance of customizing SEO strategies based on business needs. She explained how Sterling Sky approaches SEO with a minimum service fee and a flexible, custom strategy for each client. She also stressed the importance of continual testing and adapting strategies based on data and results.

Google Data Leak and Algorithm Insights: Joy discussed the implications of a recent Google data leak, which revealed insights into Google's ranking factors. She highlighted the importance of branded searches and how they can impact overall rankings. Joy also noted the value of bolded text and other subtle factors that SEOs should consider.

Joy Hawkins, Owner of Sterling Sky, Local Search Forum, and Local University:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoyanneHawkins

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

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

Sterling Sky: https://www.sterlingsky.ca/

Local Search Forum: https://www.localsearchforum.com/

Danny Leibrandt, Founder of Pest Control SEO:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DannyLeibrandt  

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DannyLeibrandt   

Website: https://dannyleibrandt.com 

Pest Control SEO: https://pestcontrolseo.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 and Background

08:00 Changes in SEO Practices

25:03 Agency Services and Customization

28:03 Easy Wins in Local SEO

32:06 The Google Data Leak

35:10 The Impact of Business Hours and Website Content on Local SEO

38:22 YouTube: A Powerful Platform for Local Businesses

46:06 Challenges and Rewards of YouTube

51:05 Follow Joy Hawkins for Insights on Local SEO

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