Local SEO Masterclass: Darren Shaw on Ranking Factors, Reviews, and Google Business Hacks
E881: Local SEO in 2026 - this is EVERYTHING you need to know to get top positions in the map pack with a Google Business Profile that CONVERTS. Darren Shaw - founder of Whitespark and one of the most respected voices in local SEO - joins the show to break down the newly released 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors report. We cover what's actually moving the needle right now for local businesses, including ranking signals, review strategy, and Google Business Profile optimization. Darren shares proven tactics, high-impact mistakes to avoid, and even some controversial local search "hacks" that still work. We also discuss how AI and LLMs are influencing local search and what businesses must do to stay ahead. What you'll learn: - The #1 local SEO ranking factor (and why most businesses get it wrong) - Review recency vs review volume - and why recency just became critical - Category strategy: how to choose (and seasonally shift) your Google Business Profile categories - Proximity and map pin placement: why you probably won't rank across the city - Driving directions signal and behavioral engagement in Maps - Biggest local SEO myths still being repeated (even by "experts") - How your website content directly influences Google Business Profile rankings - The role of video, real photos, internal linking, and service area pages - Spam tactics still being used (and why most are risky long-term) Whether you're an agency owner, local business, or SEO veteran, this episode is packed with insights you can implement immediately. ⭐️ Local Search Ranking Factors: https://whitespark.ca/local-search-ranking-factors/ ⭐️ Whitespark's local SEO software and services: https://whitespark.ca/ ⭐️ The Whitespark Local Update Podcast: https://whitespark.ca/the-whitespark-local-update-podcast/ ⭐️ Darren's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/whitesparkca ⭐️ Darren's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrenshawseo/ ⭐️ Darren's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenshawwhitespark/ ⭐️ Darren's Threads: https://www.threads.com/@darrenshawseo ⭐️ Darren's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darrenshawseo/ ⭐️ Darren's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@darrenshawseo 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Introduction and Darren Shaw's Background 01:28 The Evolution of Whitespark 03:07 Key Factors in Local SEO Rankings 06:05 Optimizing Google Business Profiles 13:26 Expanding Your Local Search Area 18:59 The Importance of Reviews and Links 32:11 Common Mistakes and Advanced Tips 41:53 Recent Changes in Local SEO 42:59 The Importance of Consistent Reviews 44:16 Avoiding Wasted Efforts in Local SEO 46:19 The Viral Local SEO Hack 49:35 Address Visibility and Service Areas 51:51 Debunking Local SEO Myths 53:56 Common Local SEO Mistakes 56:58 Effective Blogging for Local Businesses 01:03:08 The Future of SEO and AI 01:11:41 Top Local SEO Ranking Factors 01:14:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #localseo #searchengineoptimization #googlebusinessprofileoptimization #localsearchengineoptimization
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Does Geotagging Help SEO? The 10-Week Study That Settles It
E880: Does adding GPS coordinates to your photos actually boost your Google Business Profile rankings? For years, SEOs have debated whether geotagging image EXIF data helps with local SEO. Some claim it improves visibility in local map results, while others argue it's a waste of time. We dive into a controlled 10-week study across 27 local business locations, where all other SEO efforts were paused just to isolate the effects of geotagging. Each week, two images per business were uploaded with different town coordinates embedded. The study tracked performance across seven ranking metrics - covering both "near me" and city-based queries - to determine if Google uses that image metadata as a ranking signal. The results? Surprising. While geotagged images showed minor improvements for "near me" searches in very specific areas, rankings actually dropped for searches that included the target city name. For most businesses, the impact was neutral or negative. Here's what we cover: - Does EXIF geotagging actually affect local rankings? - Why "near me" queries showed slight gains - but city + service searches declined - How adding targeted coordinates hurt broader service area visibility - Risks of flooding profiles with low-quality, SEO-only images - Why some agencies are dropping geotagging altogether - What local SEO tactics actually make a difference in 2025 ⭐️ Source: https://searchengineland.com/geotagging-photos-google-business-profile-rank-453525 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Introduction: Does Geotagging Photos Affect SEO? 00:07 Study Overview: Geotagging and Google Business Profile Rank 00:35 Near Me vs. City-Based Rankings 01:20 Skepticism and Previous Tests 03:18 The 10-Week Study: Methodology 05:05 Findings: Impact of Geotagging 07:17 Conclusion: Should You Geotag? 08:34 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Episodes The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #localseo #googlebusinessprofileoptimization #searchengineoptimization #geotaggingseo
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Penguin, Backlinks, and AI Spam - Lessons from a Decade of SEO
E879: I break down one of the most powerful lessons from the last decade of SEO - why shortcut tactics (including AI spam, auto-posting, link networks, and churn-and-burn SEO hacks) may work briefly but ultimately destroy long-term results. We talk: - The 2012 Penguin update and how it nuked overnight success - AI-generated spam content, backlink schemes, and what's happening now - Why you cannot outsmart Google's detection teams - The dangers of chasing short-term wins vs. the power of consistent, white-hat strategy - How to focus, commit, and build a real business that compounds over years - Real-world examples from founders, including my conversation with Julian Goldie - The "pick one thing and stick with it for 10 years" lesson that could change your trajectory Key takeaway: Stop jumping from tactic to tactic. Stop trying to outsmart algorithms. Focus on sustainable practices, bottom-of-funnel keywords, and long-term commitment. That's how you win. ⭐️ The 𝕏 Post - https://x.com/ecomtryggvi/status/1994095261837152502 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Introduction and Exciting Announcement 00:13 The Rise and Fall of SEO Tactics 01:50 Lessons from a Young Entrepreneur 03:49 The Long Game in SEO 04:10 Julian Goldie's Experience 06:59 Commit to Sustainable Practices 08:53 Final Thoughts and Personal Reflections The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #googlecoreupdate #inboundmarketing #marketingfunnel
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The 6 Steps of SEO: The RIGHT Order to Maximize Your Results
E878: I break down the 6 critical steps of SEO in the exact order you must follow to avoid wasting time and resources. Most people get SEO backwards, which leads to frustration and stalled growth. Follow this sequence to maximize effectiveness, improve rankings, and drive real results. What you'll learn: - Why starting with "offensive SEO" (creating pages to rank) is often a huge mistake. - The critical role of "Defensive SEO" and how to set your technical foundation first. - How to properly clean up and structure your site to make it easy for crawlers to understand. - The strategic reason why offensive SEO and link building must be done in tandem, not separately. - When reputation management becomes a worthwhile investment for your brand. - Why holistic SEO (improving all your marketing channels) acts as a powerful final boost. The 6-Step Prioritized SEO Framework: 1. Technical SEO: The fundamental "Defensive SEO" checks (speed, rendering, indexing). 2. Clean Site: Structuring your site for easy crawling (link depth, removing thin pages). 3. Offensive SEO: Creating pages to rank for non-branded, high-intent keywords. 4. Link Building: Consistently building backlinks to support new and existing pages. 5. Reputation Management: Building trust and credibility when customers are deciding on your brand. 6. Holistic SEO: Improving your entire marketing ecosystem (social, videos, ads) to boost all efforts. To go deeper into these strategies: 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Introduction: The SEO Mistake Most People Make 00:30 Step 1: Technical SEO - The Foundation 01:57 Step 2: Cleaning Up Your Site 02:59 Steps 3 & 4: Offensive SEO and Link Building 05:22 Step 5: Reputation Management 06:47 Step 6: Holistic SEO 08:17 Personal Reflections 09:27 The Secret to Consistency 10:05 Closing Remarks The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #digitalmarketing #inboundmarketing #generativeengineoptimization
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2026 SEO & AI Predictions: What Tactics Will Die and What Will Dominate
E877: I break down the SEO and AI tactics that are likely to get penalized by Google and AI systems in 2026 - and the single strategy that will dominate results. I cover why mass AI-generated content, entity stuffing, and careless Reddit parasite plays are headed for major pushback, and why external topical relevance and reputation-driven branded content across multiple platforms will become essential. I also explain how SEO copywriters powered by AI will shape winning strategies next year. Tune in to understand what to avoid, what to double down on, and how to future-proof your brand's visibility. What you'll learn: - Why unchecked mass AI-generated content will be heavily targeted - How robotic, entity-stuffed writing hurts engagement and rankings - Why Reddit parasite SEO will become harder to exploit - The increasing importance of external topical relevance - How reputation management is becoming core to SEO - Why unlinked brand mentions across multiple platforms will influence AI - The rise of SEO copywriters who deeply understand brand and leverage AI effectively - Where entity inclusion may actually work when applied strategically offsite 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Introduction to 2026 SEO and AI Predictions 00:40 AI-Generated Spam: The Biggest Threat 01:46 Robotic Text and Its Pitfalls 02:25 Reddit's Role in SEO and AI 04:04 Critical Topical Relevance 05:02 Top SEO and AI Tactic for 2026 07:34 Conclusion The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #generativeengineoptimization #answerengineoptimization #digitalmarketing
Ireland