These slides were presented at the Semrush webinar "Local SEO Myths Debunked | 5 Hours of Local SEO". Video replay and transcript are available at https://www.semrush.com/webinars/local-seo-myths-debunked-or-5-hours-of-local-seo/

2. Quick About Me
SEO since 1998
Founded Whitespark.ca in 2005
Speak at conferences around the world
Mozcon, SearchLove, Pubcon, Local U
Research and write about local SEO - including
the industry standard local search ranking factors
survey
Whitespark provides software and services to
improve rankings and conversions from
Google's local results
Over 130,000 users

3. Setting a Service
Area in GMB Impacts
Rankings
MYTH #1
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

4. Keywords in the GMB
Description Impact
Rankings
MYTH #2
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

5. Keywords in the GMB
Description Impact
Rankings
MYTH #2
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

6. Keywords in the GMB
Description Impact
Rankings
MYTH #2
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

7. Keywords in Owner
Responses to GMB
Reviews Impact
Rankings
MYTH #3
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

8. Using a Call Tracking
Number Negatively
Impacts Rankings
MYTH #4
http://sprk.it/call-tracking
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

9. Paying for Google
Ads Impacts
Rankings
MYTH #5
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

10. Paying for Google
Ads Impacts
Rankings
MYTH #5
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

11. Ranking #1 is All That Matters
MYTH #6
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

12. It Takes a While to
Rank in Local Results
MYTH #7
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

13. Geo Tagging Images Impacts Rankings
MYTH #8
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

14. Geo Tagging Images
Impacts Rankings
MYTH #8
https://timkahlert.com/blog/the-truth-about-geotagging-images-on-google-my-business/
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

15. Geo Tagging Images
Impacts Rankings
MYTH #8
https://timkahlert.com/blog/the-truth-about-geotagging-images-on-google-my-business/
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

16. Embedding a Google
Map on Your Website
Impacts Rankings
MYTH #9
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

17. Embedding a Google Map on Your Website Impacts Rankings
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/why-you-should-embed-a-google-map-on-your-website/
MYTH #9
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

18. “Google Maps
Citations” Impact
Rankings
MYTH #10
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

19. “Google Maps
Citations” Impact
Rankings
MYTH #10
I ordered this on December 8th
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

20. “Google Maps
Citations” Impact
Rankings
MYTH #10
Job was done on December 11
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

21. “Google Maps
Citations” Impact
Rankings
MYTH #10
No impact on rankings
Ordered on Dec 8th
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

22. Citations Don’t
Matter Anymore
MYTH #11
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

23. Citations Don’t
Matter Anymore
MYTH #11
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

24. Citations Don’t
Matter Anymore
MYTH #11
Reports of benefits
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

25. Citations Don’t
Matter Anymore
MYTH #11
Case study for Mozcon
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

26. Citations Don’t
Matter Anymore
MYTH #11
Typical citation timeline: 1.5 years
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

27. @DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca
No Other SEO Work Was Done
But Citations Kept Coming In

28. Citations Don’t
Matter Anymore
MYTH #11
UberAll study - up next!
@DarrenShaw_ whitespark.ca

29. LET'S CONNECT!
@DARRENSHAW_
DARREN SHAW
sprk.it/newsletter
WHITESPARK.CA