Joy Hawkins
@joyhawkins.bsky.social
Buying reviews is NOT going to work....
Don't do it - you will get caught - either from a competitor reporting you, or Google themselves.
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/review-jail-for-fake-5-star-google-reviews/
Don't do it - you will get caught - either from a competitor reporting you, or Google themselves.
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/review-jail-for-fake-5-star-google-reviews/
November 29, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Buying reviews is NOT going to work....
Don't do it - you will get caught - either from a competitor reporting you, or Google themselves.
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/review-jail-for-fake-5-star-google-reviews/
Don't do it - you will get caught - either from a competitor reporting you, or Google themselves.
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/review-jail-for-fake-5-star-google-reviews/
Thanksgiving was last month...but...Happy Thanksgiving to our southern neighbors...
November 27, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Thanksgiving was last month...but...Happy Thanksgiving to our southern neighbors...
Today at 10am ET - Join Eean Ovens over on the r/localseo as he discusses 3-pack rankings, CTR manipulation, automations and more!
https://www.reddit.com/r/localsearch/
https://www.reddit.com/r/localsearch/
November 26, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Today at 10am ET - Join Eean Ovens over on the r/localseo as he discusses 3-pack rankings, CTR manipulation, automations and more!
https://www.reddit.com/r/localsearch/
https://www.reddit.com/r/localsearch/
Google’s AI Just Stole Your #1 Spot — Here’s How to Get it Back
Newest video from Ranking Academy with Luc Durand and Justin Mosebach details how you can get some visibility back from AI overviews..
Watch 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6ZcrfOCik0
Newest video from Ranking Academy with Luc Durand and Justin Mosebach details how you can get some visibility back from AI overviews..
Watch 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6ZcrfOCik0
November 24, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Google’s AI Just Stole Your #1 Spot — Here’s How to Get it Back
Newest video from Ranking Academy with Luc Durand and Justin Mosebach details how you can get some visibility back from AI overviews..
Watch 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6ZcrfOCik0
Newest video from Ranking Academy with Luc Durand and Justin Mosebach details how you can get some visibility back from AI overviews..
Watch 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6ZcrfOCik0
Stefan Somborac wrote about a new message showing up when trying to verify your GBP - "No more ways to verify" seems like a roadblock, but there's a trick to get around it
Learn How 👉 https://localsearchforum.com/threads/no-more-ways-to-verify-google-business-profile-error-message.62905/
Learn How 👉 https://localsearchforum.com/threads/no-more-ways-to-verify-google-business-profile-error-message.62905/
November 24, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Stefan Somborac wrote about a new message showing up when trying to verify your GBP - "No more ways to verify" seems like a roadblock, but there's a trick to get around it
Learn How 👉 https://localsearchforum.com/threads/no-more-ways-to-verify-google-business-profile-error-message.62905/
Learn How 👉 https://localsearchforum.com/threads/no-more-ways-to-verify-google-business-profile-error-message.62905/
Did you miss our webinar with Lars Lofgren last week?
You can rewatch the entire thing on demand! If you have questions - just post them in the comments on YouTube and we'll get you an answer!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7DsxkyDuOI
You can rewatch the entire thing on demand! If you have questions - just post them in the comments on YouTube and we'll get you an answer!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7DsxkyDuOI
November 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Did you miss our webinar with Lars Lofgren last week?
You can rewatch the entire thing on demand! If you have questions - just post them in the comments on YouTube and we'll get you an answer!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7DsxkyDuOI
You can rewatch the entire thing on demand! If you have questions - just post them in the comments on YouTube and we'll get you an answer!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7DsxkyDuOI
Jeremy shared what elements on a YouTube video are the most important for SEO/conversions during our webinar last month.
Check out his tips in order of importance to SEO 👇 and watch the entire webinar here: https://localu.org/watch-webinar-local-rank-with-youtube-october/
Check out his tips in order of importance to SEO 👇 and watch the entire webinar here: https://localu.org/watch-webinar-local-rank-with-youtube-october/
November 17, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Jeremy shared what elements on a YouTube video are the most important for SEO/conversions during our webinar last month.
Check out his tips in order of importance to SEO 👇 and watch the entire webinar here: https://localu.org/watch-webinar-local-rank-with-youtube-october/
Check out his tips in order of importance to SEO 👇 and watch the entire webinar here: https://localu.org/watch-webinar-local-rank-with-youtube-october/
Review frequency matters far FAR more than sheer volume when it comes to ranking well in Google, especially for "Near me" phrases.... Colan and I break it down for you 👇
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B2oxiJESoY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B2oxiJESoY
November 15, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Review frequency matters far FAR more than sheer volume when it comes to ranking well in Google, especially for "Near me" phrases.... Colan and I break it down for you 👇
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B2oxiJESoY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B2oxiJESoY
Do you need a category page on your website for EVERY service you offer?
Probably - but there might be an exception or two - I explain how to decide 👇
Probably - but there might be an exception or two - I explain how to decide 👇
November 15, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Do you need a category page on your website for EVERY service you offer?
Probably - but there might be an exception or two - I explain how to decide 👇
Probably - but there might be an exception or two - I explain how to decide 👇
Your average Google review rating has a direct correlation to how you perform in local search for "near me" queries.
Average rating is a very powerful ranking factor for sure...
Average rating is a very powerful ranking factor for sure...
November 12, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Your average Google review rating has a direct correlation to how you perform in local search for "near me" queries.
Average rating is a very powerful ranking factor for sure...
Average rating is a very powerful ranking factor for sure...
You need an address. Service area businesses just don't perform well, and competitors near you with an address will dominate if you don't have one.
Colan and I explain why 👇
Colan and I explain why 👇
November 10, 2025 at 4:32 PM
You need an address. Service area businesses just don't perform well, and competitors near you with an address will dominate if you don't have one.
Colan and I explain why 👇
Colan and I explain why 👇
What kind of content can be the "hook" that attracts people to your YouTube channel - Jeremy Vest describes how he finds topics and ideas for video content creators to use as they build out their channel...
November 6, 2025 at 2:02 PM
What kind of content can be the "hook" that attracts people to your YouTube channel - Jeremy Vest describes how he finds topics and ideas for video content creators to use as they build out their channel...
YouTube can add value to your business acquisition plans... even for a small business.
Jeremy Vest shared a few examples of businesses that enhanced their acquisition package with a solid YouTube channel
Watch the whole video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXh43m_fNN0
Jeremy Vest shared a few examples of businesses that enhanced their acquisition package with a solid YouTube channel
Watch the whole video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXh43m_fNN0
November 4, 2025 at 2:03 PM
YouTube can add value to your business acquisition plans... even for a small business.
Jeremy Vest shared a few examples of businesses that enhanced their acquisition package with a solid YouTube channel
Watch the whole video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXh43m_fNN0
Jeremy Vest shared a few examples of businesses that enhanced their acquisition package with a solid YouTube channel
Watch the whole video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXh43m_fNN0
We just finalized the lineup for LocalU Global in January and I am stoked for this linup
🎤 Emcee Darren Shaw
🧠 Dana DiTomaso
🧪 Kyle Roof
💡 Wil Reynolds
📝 Steve Toth
⭐ Colan Nielsen
... and ME!
Early Bird Alert! Tickets are only $99 til mid-December - don't wait
https://localu.org/virtual-2026
🎤 Emcee Darren Shaw
🧠 Dana DiTomaso
🧪 Kyle Roof
💡 Wil Reynolds
📝 Steve Toth
⭐ Colan Nielsen
... and ME!
Early Bird Alert! Tickets are only $99 til mid-December - don't wait
https://localu.org/virtual-2026
November 3, 2025 at 5:04 PM
We just finalized the lineup for LocalU Global in January and I am stoked for this linup
🎤 Emcee Darren Shaw
🧠 Dana DiTomaso
🧪 Kyle Roof
💡 Wil Reynolds
📝 Steve Toth
⭐ Colan Nielsen
... and ME!
Early Bird Alert! Tickets are only $99 til mid-December - don't wait
https://localu.org/virtual-2026
🎤 Emcee Darren Shaw
🧠 Dana DiTomaso
🧪 Kyle Roof
💡 Wil Reynolds
📝 Steve Toth
⭐ Colan Nielsen
... and ME!
Early Bird Alert! Tickets are only $99 til mid-December - don't wait
https://localu.org/virtual-2026
At 10:00am ET be sure to head over to the /r/localsearch subreddit for an AMA with Darren Shaw of Whitespark. He'll be answering your Local SEO, GBP, Review or Citation questions until 3pm today!
https://www.reddit.com/r/localsearch/
https://www.reddit.com/r/localsearch/
November 3, 2025 at 2:01 PM
At 10:00am ET be sure to head over to the /r/localsearch subreddit for an AMA with Darren Shaw of Whitespark. He'll be answering your Local SEO, GBP, Review or Citation questions until 3pm today!
https://www.reddit.com/r/localsearch/
https://www.reddit.com/r/localsearch/
What happens when you (or GBP support) merge 2 listings with different addresses?
Nothing good... Highly advise against this!
Nothing good... Highly advise against this!
November 1, 2025 at 3:03 PM
What happens when you (or GBP support) merge 2 listings with different addresses?
Nothing good... Highly advise against this!
Nothing good... Highly advise against this!
Next week Darren Shaw of Whitespark is taking over the /r/localsearch subreddit for an AMA - Join him on November 3rd at 10am ET and bring all of your Local SEO, GBP, Review or Citation questions - he'll be answering until 3pm on Monday.
https://www.reddit.com/r/localsearch/
https://www.reddit.com/r/localsearch/
October 31, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Next week Darren Shaw of Whitespark is taking over the /r/localsearch subreddit for an AMA - Join him on November 3rd at 10am ET and bring all of your Local SEO, GBP, Review or Citation questions - he'll be answering until 3pm on Monday.
https://www.reddit.com/r/localsearch/
https://www.reddit.com/r/localsearch/
So excited to have Wil Reynolds, Kyle Roof, Dana DiTomaso and Darren Shaw confirmed for LocalU Global in January (so far - more to come!)
Pre-agenda tickets are just $99 - so get yours right away...
https://localu.org/etn/localu-global-january-28-2026/
Pre-agenda tickets are just $99 - so get yours right away...
https://localu.org/etn/localu-global-january-28-2026/
October 30, 2025 at 5:30 PM
So excited to have Wil Reynolds, Kyle Roof, Dana DiTomaso and Darren Shaw confirmed for LocalU Global in January (so far - more to come!)
Pre-agenda tickets are just $99 - so get yours right away...
https://localu.org/etn/localu-global-january-28-2026/
Pre-agenda tickets are just $99 - so get yours right away...
https://localu.org/etn/localu-global-january-28-2026/
What do you do when you receive a negative review - and you're POSITIVE the reviewer wasn't a customer?
Follow our steps to (hopefully) get that review removed!
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/negative-google-review-from-non-customer/
Follow our steps to (hopefully) get that review removed!
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/negative-google-review-from-non-customer/
October 29, 2025 at 1:02 PM
What do you do when you receive a negative review - and you're POSITIVE the reviewer wasn't a customer?
Follow our steps to (hopefully) get that review removed!
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/negative-google-review-from-non-customer/
Follow our steps to (hopefully) get that review removed!
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/negative-google-review-from-non-customer/
We see it fairly often in the GBP Community - a listing just disappears - and the frantic business owners are left with no phone calls or leads.
What can you do if this happens to you?
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/my-google-business-profile-vanished/
What can you do if this happens to you?
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/my-google-business-profile-vanished/
October 27, 2025 at 12:31 PM
We see it fairly often in the GBP Community - a listing just disappears - and the frantic business owners are left with no phone calls or leads.
What can you do if this happens to you?
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/my-google-business-profile-vanished/
What can you do if this happens to you?
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/my-google-business-profile-vanished/
Video Verification can be confusing - and it's not uncommon to have to resubmit. Our workflow for video verification may help!
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/google-business-profile-video-verification/
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/google-business-profile-video-verification/
October 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Video Verification can be confusing - and it's not uncommon to have to resubmit. Our workflow for video verification may help!
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/google-business-profile-video-verification/
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/google-business-profile-video-verification/
Rebranding your business? Our 8-step checklist can help!
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/rebranding-your-business-checklist/
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/rebranding-your-business-checklist/
October 24, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Rebranding your business? Our 8-step checklist can help!
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/rebranding-your-business-checklist/
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/rebranding-your-business-checklist/
Using virtual office space is going to make suspension and reinstatement of your GBP a nightmare.
Even if you legitimately rent space full time, being associated with a virtual office space can bring your listing under extra scrutiny.
Even if you legitimately rent space full time, being associated with a virtual office space can bring your listing under extra scrutiny.
October 23, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Using virtual office space is going to make suspension and reinstatement of your GBP a nightmare.
Even if you legitimately rent space full time, being associated with a virtual office space can bring your listing under extra scrutiny.
Even if you legitimately rent space full time, being associated with a virtual office space can bring your listing under extra scrutiny.
'There's a big difference between being able to pass a [GBP] verification, and being able to get your appeal approved when you're suspended [in GBP]....
~Elizabeth Rule
~Elizabeth Rule
October 23, 2025 at 2:03 PM
'There's a big difference between being able to pass a [GBP] verification, and being able to get your appeal approved when you're suspended [in GBP]....
~Elizabeth Rule
~Elizabeth Rule