I'm interviewing Joel Headley and Brad Wetherall - both former leaders within GMB/GBP - for our June podcast!  If you have a question you'd love some insight on from those who worked INSIDE Google - now's your chance to ask! https://localu.org/podcast-question-form/

AMA on Wednesday April 8 at 1pm ET with Cyrus Shepard over on the r/localsearch Reddit page! Ask Cyrus all about the evolution of search! https://www.reddit.com/r/localsearch/

Live Now! My podcast with Lily Ray published last week - and now is your chance to listen on your favorite podcasting platform (or watch on YouTube!) Find platform links here: https;//localu.org/podcast-listen/

How many of you have a KPI associated with "Trust" or "AI Visibility" Wil Reynolds does 👇

Ask Celeste Gonzales Anything right now over at Reddit in r/localsearch Learn more about Search Experience Optimization, Video, TikTok, GBP and the new Local Search Landscape! https://www.reddit.com/r/localsearch/

ICYMI last week - Google is testing review count filters in the Google Maps App - This means your review count in relation to your competition could become much more important. h/t to Tim Kahlert for this find

Celeste Gonzalez is hosting an AMA on Wednesday, April 1st over on our subreddit - r/localsearch She'll be answering all of your questions about Video, Search Experience Optimization, GBP & More! Starting at 1pm ET on 4/1/2026 https://www.reddit.com/r/localsearch/

I'm interviewing James Dooley for our May podcast - now is your chance to submit questions! Just complete the form and get you biggest SEO questions on the list https://localu.org/podcast-question-form/

Google is testing review count filters in the Google Maps App - This means your review count in relation to your competition could become much more important. h/t to Tim Kalert for this find

Shorter, information-heavy paragraphs are likely better for AI to interpret and rank. Mike King explains 👇

Live Now! My podcast with Lily Ray has published - and now is your chance to listen on your favorite podcasting platform (or watch on YouTube!) Find platform links here: https;//localu.org/podcast-listen/

We have been seeing AI overviews replacing local packs on mobile for several months. In the last few weeks, I've heard multiple reports of people seeing these on desktop now as well.

Tools like Gemini and ChatGPT can actually WATCH video and determine if it is relevant to a question, or interpret it for you.  Mike King explains below. This is from our January webinar - did you miss it? Watch OnDemand: https://localu.org/watch-january-webinar-mike-king/

Struggling with video verification? Bookmark this infographic - 9 Easy Steps to Avoid Video Verification Failure Great tips from Brad Wetherall included! Read More: https://www.sterlingsky.ca/google-business-profile-video-verification/

Next Week!  My podcast with Lily Ray goes live on March 25th!  Calendar reminder & listen/watch options: https://localu.org/podcast-listen/

My interview with Roberto Serra was published this week!  We discussed links, GBP, AI, call buttons in SERPs, and more! Check it out here:https://www.roberto-serra.com/news/intervista-seo-joy-hawkins-marzo-2026/

Is your site ready for AI Search? 🤖 Elizabeth and I are doing a live audit on April 9th to show what LLMs actually "see" on your page. Join us: https://localu.org/optimizing-website-seo-ai-search/

Did you know Google’s "Businesses" label on a Map Pack means your call button has a 99% chance of disappearing? 🤯 This report from SmallBizEdge.com is the best data I’ve seen on this yet. Have you checked your niche's label lately? 🔗 https://smallbizedge.com/reports/map-pack-call-buttons/

Winter in Canada makes me glad I'm speaking with a great lineup at SEO Spring Training near Phoenix in April. Get your tickets! Tickets: https://seospringtraining.com/purchase-2026-tickets/ Use promo code "JHAWKINS26" for 15% off all tickets!

Honored to be included among great company on this list! https://tarungehani.com/women-in-seo/

Small tweaks = Big rank changes. 🕒 See how business hours and more affect your visibility 👇 https://www.sterlingsky.ca/local-seo-audit-checklist/

Stop! 🛑 Don’t delete a suspended listing. Here is our updated playbook on getting reinstated the right way: https://www.sterlingsky.ca/top-reasons-google-my-business-suspended-your-listing/

I was a guest on The Edward Show and we talked all about links and how we're building them MUCH differently in 2026 than we did in 2024 or early 2025... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNKdlxhWsXA

Did you miss our LIVE webinar on Wednesday?  We did audits and gave tips on how to rank better in Google!  Watch it now 👇 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a227tFo78nE

Starting in 10 minutes on YouTube LIVE Webinar: BOOSTING Google Maps Rankings: Live Audit Join live, ask questions all about boosting Google Maps rankings - Joy and Elizabeth will be performing LIVE audits - so show up and submit your site for review! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a227tFo78nE

First time I've seen the AI local packs using a 3rd party site as the #1 source. Historically, I've always seen the business website here. Of course it would be Yelp 😖

I'm interviewing James Dooley for our May podcast - now is your chance to submit questions! Just complete the form and get you biggest SEO questions on the list https://localu.org/podcast-question-form/

Join Elizabeth Rule and I this week on Wednesday, March 11th for a LIVE webinar We'll be doing site audits designed to help you boost your Google rankings... Register for a reminder: https://localu.org/boosting-google-maps-ranking-live/

Can you boost your best reviews visibility in Google? Sort of... We explain here:  https://www.sterlingsky.ca/google-most-relevant-reviews/

If you don't like opening hours being a ranking factor, it doesn't look like the AI-powered local packs care about them as much.

Join Elizabeth Rule and I this month on March 11th for a LIVE webinar We'll be doing site audits designed to help you boost your Google rankings... Register for a reminder: https://localu.org/boosting-google-maps-ranking-live/

Joy will be interviewing James Dooley for our May podcast - now is your chance to submit questions! Just complete the form and get you biggest SEO questions on the list! https://localu.org/podcast-questions

We share our proven 7-step strategy to quickly reinstate your GBP. Learn how to identify your suspension type, audit for red flags, gather crucial evidence, and file a successful appeal. We also cover how to prevent future suspensions. ⏯️.

This might be the largest AI-powered local pack I've seen yet.

Google filed for a new patent- where they'll create AI generated pages based on a query and tailored to a specific user...instead of sending users to an actual website... https://www.linkedin.com/posts/joshsquiresrva_us12536233b1-ai-generated-content-page-activity-7432780615231614976-7fqz/

Ads are everywhere - I wouldn't be surprised to see them IN the AI Overviews by the end of the year... https://www.semrush.com/blog/serps-with-ads-and-ai-overviews/

Bookmark our 10-Step Local SEO Audit Checklist to Boost Small Business Rankings Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw-hmZXJc84

Google Search Console and Google Business Profile data rarely match—and that’s OK. We studied 78 listings found 66% of “top” queries were different between the two tools. Here's why: https://www.sterlingsky.ca/search-console-vs-google-my-business/

It's no secret that more reviews is better than no reviews, nor not very many... Greg and Elizabeth are going to help business owners develop a review strategy on March 10th.  Register for free!  https://www.brightlocal.com/webinars/review-strategy-2026/

Incredibly detailed post by Darren Shaw on how to build a stellar contact page on your website! https://searchengineland.com/perfect-local-business-contact-page-469892

DFW - We're coming your way in October! Join us in Grapevine on October 20th for a full day LocalU event! Grab your ticket now - speakers and agenda coming in a few months! https://localu.org/etn/localu-dallas-october-20-2026/

We updated this post recently - and it's definitely worth sharing again. GBP insights and Search Console will never match... Here's why: https://www.sterlingsky.ca/search-console-vs-google-my-business/

I'm speaking with a great lineup at SEO Spring Training near Phoenix in April.  I'm ready for sun warm weather & sun! Will we see you there?  Tickets: https://seospringtraining.com/purchase-2026-tickets/ Use promo code "JHAWKINS26" for 15% off all tickets!

We found out where the "click to call" in the local pack went..... ... behold the giant Local Pack Ad....

AI Generated services and warranty info in this GBP - Interesting that the sections are not "standard" and seem to changed based on what users are searching for?  The warranty info seems to be sourced from Angi primarily....

Right now over on Reddit, Join Krystal Taing from Uberall & a Google Platinum Product Expert - Be sure to bring ALL of your questions about Google Business Profile and general online management for growing brands... https://www.reddit.com/r/localsearch/

Did you miss our LIVE webinar last week? You can watch it on demand now! Get the scoop on what's goingto work in 2026 from Darren Shaw, Elizabeth Rule, and me! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx8JKoFdfac

Do you have a reviews or GBP question for Claudia Tomina?  I'll be interviewing her in March for April's Local SEO: The Expert's Guide podcast, and NOW is the time to get your question on the list! 🚨 https://localu.org/podcast-question-form/

Download our 10-step Local SEO Checklist here - or bookmark our blog post! https://www.sterlingsky.ca/local-seo-audit-checklist/

10-Step Local SEO Audit Checklist to Boost Small Business Rankings  Colan and I review these 10 steps that can boost your small business!  Be sure to bookmark our checklist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw-hmZXJc84