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. 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. Content Strategy: Blogs are vital for covering top and middle-of-the-funnel queries that can establish early customer engagement. Providing helpful information that addresses the questions potential clients are likely to have helps establish credibility and trust. Speaking & Conferences: Greg shares his journey into public speaking, emphasizing that authenticity and preparation are essential to engaging audiences. He’s traveled globally for speaking engagements, which have bolstered his visibility and strengthened his reputation. Conclusion: Overall, the conversation provides valuable insights into the complexities and nuances of local SEO, emphasizing that a comprehensive strategy tailored to individual businesses is essential for success. 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 Pest Control SEO: Facebook: https://facebook.com/PestCoSEO/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/pestcontrolseo/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/pestcontrolseo Twitter: https://twitter.com/@pestcoseo TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@pestcontrolseo Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/pestcoseo/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@PestControlSEO Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pestcontrolseo Google Business Profile: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2P5dmRqu4T4q35cq8 Leave a Review: https://g.page/r/CWw_1-pP6iu7EBM/review Visit Website: https://pestcontrolseo.com #localmarketing #localbusiness #localseo #seo #marketing