This podcast is a comprehensive discussion between Danny Leibrandt, the founder of Pest Control SEO, and Greg Gifford, a seasoned local SEO expert with over 20 years of experience. Here’s a summary:

Introduction & Background:

Danny introduces Greg, highlighting his extensive background and expertise in SEO, especially with local businesses. Greg started his journey as a Flash designer before transitioning into SEO, eventually becoming an authority in the field.

Evolution of SEO:

Greg explains how SEO has evolved over the past 20 years. Initially, ranking relied heavily on keywords and backlinks, but Google’s algorithms have since grown more sophisticated. Today, it’s crucial to have comprehensive, quality content that answers customer questions and demonstrates expertise.

SearchLab Digital:

Greg currently works at SearchLab Digital, a local SEO agency specializing in multi-location businesses and providing paid search services. Their clients span various industries, from automotive to healthcare, restaurants, and legal.

Practical Local SEO Advice:

For small businesses starting with SEO, Greg advises understanding the rationale behind optimization techniques rather than just following a checklist. Tailoring strategies based on location and competition is crucial.

He emphasizes the importance of single-topic, location-specific service pages that comprehensively address customer concerns.

The structure of internal linking should be like a pyramid, guiding users down the customer journey and avoiding confusion.

Outbound linking should only be used when relevant to the user experience and not for SEO purposes.

Building Local Backlinks:

Greg provides practical strategies for obtaining local backlinks, such as engaging with the community, sponsoring events, and collaborating with customers.

He stresses avoiding paid links as they often don’t result in meaningful local relevance.

Future of Local SEO:

Google’s fight against spam remains a primary focus. Despite AI innovations, Greg believes local SEO will continue to be vital due to the need for localized search results.

He also mentions the potential of Google Lens and augmented reality in providing a richer user experience.

Greg Gifford, COO of SearchLab Digital:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregGifford

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greg.gifford

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

Website: https://searchlabdigital.com

Danny Leibrandt, Founder of Pest Control SEO:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DannyLeibrandt  

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

Instagram: https://instagram.com/dannyleibrandt/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DannyLeibrandt   

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@dannyleibrandt  

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@DannyLeibrandt  

Website: https://dannyleibrandt.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

03:01 Getting Started in SEO and the Evolution of Local SEO

07:54 Tips for Business Owners to Improve Google Rankings

11:22 The Importance of Understanding the Why in Local SEO

15:01 Recommended Tools for Local SEO

23:13 Tips for Public Speaking

28:57 The Impact of Speaking at Conferences

31:10 Optimizing Service Pages

34:06 Technical Tips for Success

37:43 Linking Strategies

41:29 Building Local Backlinks

46:39 The Future of Local SEO

49:20 Harnessing the Power of Reviews

52:27 Leveraging Marketing Platforms

#localmarketing #localbusiness #localseo #seo #marketing