Unlocking Local SEO: Expert Strategies with Darren Shaw of Whitespark (Part 1)

In this value-packed episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, host 💁‍♀️ Crystal Waddell sits down with local SEO legend Darren Shaw of 🏢 Whitespark. 

Discover why your website is the #1 data source for your Google Business Profile, how to optimize for the local 3-pack 📍, and what SEO myths to stop believing 🚫. 

Whether you’re a home-based biz, a service provider, or an online shop, these actionable insights will help your brand show up and stand out in local search! 🔍

💡 Key Takeaways:

• 🌐 Your Website = Your GMB Database: Google pulls profile data straight from your site!
• 🧾 Citations Still Matter… but not as much as they used to 📉.
• ⭐ Reviews + Proximity = Ranking Gold in local search 📍🔝.
• 🛠️ Service Pages Are a Must: One page per service = better SEO results 💪.
• 🕒 Business Hours Impact Visibility — especially between 4–7 PM! 🕓📉🕖
• 🔑 Keyword Research Made Simple: Just ask a few people what they’d search 🤔📲.
• ⚖️ Citation Consistency ≠ Life or Death: Google’s smarter than that now 🤖😉.

💬 Memorable Quotes:

🗣️ "Your website is the database for your Google Business Profile."
 🚖 "You don’t need fancy tools—just ask five taxi drivers what they’d search."
 🟢 "Google likes to rank businesses that are currently open."

- Darren Shaw

✅ Listener Action Items:

1. 🔍 Audit Your Google Business Profile – Fill in every field, especially your services!
2. 🧩 Create Separate Service Pages – Give each service its own optimized landing page.
3. 🕰️ Adjust Business Hours – Consider extending hours to stay visible longer.
4. 📇 Check Your Citations – But skip the pricey ongoing directory services 💸.
5. 🤝 Ask Around – Real-world keyword research starts with real people!

Connect With Darren:

Whitespark.ca

Linkedin

Connect With Crystal:

SimpleandSmartSEO.com

Linkedin

Send me a text!

Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.

Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.

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