Breaking Down the 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors with Darren Shaw

Chris Palmer: What's Actually Working in Local SEO Right Now (200+ Client Insights)

In this episode of Local Marketing Secrets, Dan Leibrandt interviews Chris Palmer, one of the most hands-on SEO practitioners in the industry who runs a top YouTube channel on local SEO with over 40,000 subscribers and manages 200+ client accounts. Chris has been in the trenches of local search for over 15 years, specializing in Google Business Profile optimization, technical SEO, and real-world testing to discover what actually moves the needle for local businesses. Chris breaks down his complete local marketing strategy, revealing why ads should come before SEO, how to dominate Google Maps with strategic location placement, and the exact link-building approach that works in 2026. He shares controversial tactics like ranking pages with all zeros to prove SEO is just math, explains why category-specific backlinks matter more than domain authority, and demonstrates how to reverse-engineer competitor rankings using tools like Cora and SEMrush. Chris also discusses the truth about AI overviews, why chat GPT won't replace Google for local search, and how to build true authority through multi-vector optimization across text, video, audio, and social platforms. The conversation covers everything from Google Business Profile strategies and service area business tactics to the future of local search and why consistency beats chasing shiny objects. Chris shares actionable insights on citation building, press releases, open redirect links, text fragments, and how to show up in AI overviews. Whether you're a local business owner, pest control company, home service provider, or digital marketing agency, this episode delivers the real-world local SEO tactics and strategies you need to generate more leads and dominate your local market in 2026. Chris Palmer, Founder of chrispalmer.org: Website: https://chrispalmerseo.org YouTube:  @chrispalmerseo [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC8P0dc0Zn2gf8L6tJi_k6xg]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrispalmermarketing/ 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 Chris Palmer 03:08 Current Trends in Local SEO 08:08 Investing in SEO: When and How 09:09 The Importance of Google Business Profile 10:21 Website Strategies for Local Lead Generation 16:23 Testing and Experimentation in SEO 18:51 The Evolving Role of Links in SEO 20:25 The Impact of Social Media on SEO 26:31 AI and Its Relation to SEO 28:41 The Evolution of SEO Strategies 30:50 Local SEO: The Importance of Data 31:54 Link Acquisition Tactics for Local Businesses 37:19 Leveraging Google Business Profiles 44:09 The Future of Search: Trends and Predictions 49:04 Consistency is Key: Building Authority Over Time 53:50 Like and Subscribe! #localseo #localseoexpert #localsearch #localseotips #localmarketing pAsIzFRQajLnm3FFSjm6

Breaking Down the 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors with Darren Shaw

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

Marie Haynes: Google Is Becoming an AI Agent (What That Means for SEO)

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

Howard Patridge on How To Build a Business That Runs Without You (Systems, Leadership, Mindset)

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

Ken Moskowitz on How To Craft The Perfect Ad: Storytelling, AI Tools, and Brand Messaging

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