Darren Shaw

🔹 Founder of Whitespark.ca: local SEO software and services.
🔹 Local SEO educator with 45,000+ newsletter subscribers, 10,000+ YouTube subscribers, and 3,000+ email course sign-ups
🔹 In charge of the annual Local Search Ranking Factors Survey, one of the most cited resources in local SEO
🔹 Speaker at local search conferences around the globe and contributor to SEO publications
🔹 I've been doing web development and SEO for 27 years (yes, before Google existed)

Founder

Whitespark builds online tools and provides services that help businesses and agencies with local SEO. We're known for our Local Citation Finder, Local Rank Tracker, Citation Building & Audit Services, and Local SEO Consulting. Our team often collaborates with other industry leaders and frequently presents at top SEO & Marketing conferences in North America.

Most SEOs don’t realize they can see AI search prompts inside Search Console. I saw this tip from Chris Long on LinkedIn, and it’s too good not to share.

Here’s exactly how to do it:

1. Go to Search Console > Performance > Search Results
2. Set the date range to 12 months
3. Click Add Filter > Query
4. Change the dropdown to Custom (regex)
5. Paste in a regex that filters for long queries: ^(?:\S+\s+){9,}\S+$
6. Click Apply

You’ll now see longer, more conversational queries. Some of these may still be traditional searches, so I like to edit the regex and change the character count from 9 to 20.

Now you’re looking at really long prompts that people are likely typing into AI search.

Why this matters:

- I’m not a big fan of AI visibility tracking tools because, in my experience, their data is often garbage. This method gives you real data straight from Google and lets you see how people are actually asking questions about your business.
- You can identify content gaps and optimization opportunities on your website.
- You can track whether more AI-style queries are starting to show up over time.

Try it out and let me know if you see any crazy prompts in your data!

Founder of Whitespark. I share local SEO tips and strategy. Lead researcher behind the annual Local Search Ranking Factors survey. Get everything you need for better local SEO at whitespark.ca

There’s a wild black-hat SEO case study where Holly Starks put 100 cell phones in her car, turned on driving directions to a business, and that business jumped to #1 in rankings.

Obviously you’re not going to do that, but driving directions WILL boost your rankings, so here’s how you can get more of them without driving around with 100 cell phones in your car:

1. Google your business name.
2. In the Knowledge Panel, click on “Directions”.
3. When the map opens, copy the URL from the address bar. That link is a direct driving directions link from the user’s location to your business.
4. Use the link and send it to your customers:
- Add it to appointment reminder emails/text messages
- Put it clearly on your website’s contact page
- If you’re hosting an event, send it out in email and text campaigns

If you’re getting people to physically visit your location anyway, you might as well encourage them to use the directions link. 

More direction requests = stronger engagement signals = better local rankings

Got any other ideas of where you could use this link?

Whitespark’s YouTube channel just hit 1 000 000 views 🎉 Thank you all for watching our videos!

ICYMI: Episode 20 of the Whitespark Local Update is now up on the channel, so go check it out if you haven’t

If you care about local rankings, this one’s worth your time 👇

I’ll be joining the brilliant Joy Hawkins and Elizabeth R. on a webinar for Local University: Google Maps Ranking 2026: 10 Proven Signals That Still Work.

We’ll break down the 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors and discuss what still has a real impact on Google Maps and Local Pack rankings, where AI is starting to matter, and what we agree or strongly disagree on in the report.

What you’ll learn:

🎯 Which Google Maps ranking signals still matter in 2026

🎯 Which classic tactics are holding up, and which ones are fading

🎯 Practical takeaways you can apply right away

Oh, and Joy, Elizabeth, and I will compare how each of us scored the top 5 local ranking factors in the LSRF. Should be fun.

See you there!

If you’re thinking of making money from SEO Services, there’s an insane resource you should know about.

It’s called the SEO Surge Summit, and it’s a free, 3-day virtual event that’s specifically designed to help you sell, deliver, and scale SEO services. 

I’ll be joining Sam Sarsten, founder of Local SEO Academy, Anchen 🌟 le Roux 🌟, and 24+ industry experts for a virtual event like no other.

I’ll be breaking down the 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors Survey in an in-depth Q&A and sharing what agencies should actually focus on.

Over the 3 days, you’ll also learn:

🎯 What’s actually working for SEO in 2026

🎯 How to build recurring revenue with SEO

🎯 How to find more leads for your business

🎯 and so much more!

The summit kicks off on February 24. Hope to see you there!

We just launched an absolutely incredible new feature in Whitespark Local Ranking Grids, and you need to see it. When you click “Plot Competitors on Map”, you can instantly visualize your competitors on the map:

- Who’s outranking you at that exact location
- Where they’re physically located
- How close (or far) they are from that grid point
- How competitor clusters shift across the grid

You can even expand it from Top 10 all the way to Top 100. 

Yes, we track rankings all the way to 100 (unlike all of our outdated competitors).

But what I love the most about this new feature is how visual it makes everything. You can literally click around the grid and watch competitors change depending on their location. It makes proximity, density, and competition incredibly obvious and easy to explain to potential clients.

This data is incredibly valuable for:

- Showing prospects exactly who is outranking them and how close those competitors are.
- Spotting weak areas and competitive clusters on the map and adjusting your strategy accordingly.
- Identifying areas where competitors are farther away and a new location could do really well.

This is one of those features that makes you look really smart on a sales call because instead of overexplaining rankings to potential clients, you can visually show them what’s happening in just a few clicks and they instantly get it.

If you want to test the software for yourself, you can run 8 free 5×5 grid scans with our trial (no credit card required). Go click around. It’s actually fun.

Nobody knows this: you could get sued for spam fighting.

Did you know that a business can subpoena Google and request a record of who’s been making edits to their Google Business Profile?

Yep. It’s a real legal process. And if they go through it, Google will provide a list of accounts that made changes to their Profile.

So, if you’re out there using “Suggest an Edit” on competitor profiles, changing business names, categories, etc, those businesses could potentially find out it was you and take legal action.

That’s why I recommend using the Google Business Redressal Complaint Form.

Doing it this way removes the risk of being personally exposed in a legal request.

Here’s a mistake I see businesses make all the time: They try to make one Google Business Profile rank for multiple categories. 

Well, it usually can’t. That’s just not how Google works.

For example: You’re a plumbing company, but you also do electrical. Can one Profile rank for both? It’s extremely unlikely unless you’re in a small town with very little competition.

If someone searches for “electrician”, Google does not want to show plumbers - they want to show electricians. Look at the local results below. Every Profile has “electrician” as its primary category.

Your primary category is the single most important local ranking factor. It has the biggest impact on whether you show up in the local pack.

So, if you want to rank well for multiple different services, you will need a separate Google Business Profile for each primary service. And each Profile must have:

- a unique business name
– a unique phone number
– a unique website URL

(It’s ok for them to be at the same address)

That’s really the only way to rank well for multiple services.

Google is now literally telling you what to add/fix on your Google Business Profile. 

Have you seen the new “Insights” section on your Profile? Dipa Gandhi recently shared a screenshot of it, and it’s pretty cool. It highlights optimization opportunities right inside your Profile.

You’ll see text boxes with suggestions like:

- Add more photos
- Add updates to your Profile
- Continue replying to reviews
- What’s the parking like?
- Share accessibility info

Each one comes with a short explanation, for example: “Show people what’s new: 20+ businesses like you don’t have fresh photos.”

Google is clearly pushing businesses to complete and keep their Profiles fresh. 

Why? Because the more data you give them, the better they can understand your business, surface you in the right searches, and present you to potential customers. And yes… that data is also training their AI.

Claire and I discuss this in the latest episode of the Whitespark Local Update. We also talk about:

- Google reviews bug on Chrome (Vinay Toshniwal)
- AI isn’t replacing local search (Crystal Carter on the NearMemo podcast)
- How to improve LSA visibility (Eric Levine on the NearMemo podcast)
- Misinformation about chunking (Michael King)
- User satisfaction is the most important factor in SEO (Marie Haynes)
- Schema and AI visibility (Mark Williams-Cook)

Find the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify!

It’s 2026, and people are still falling for this local SEO myth: if you add keywords to your Google Business Profile Description, you’ll rank better in local results.

Let’s settle this once and for all. The business Description is NOT a local ranking factor, even if you stuff it with keywords. Google does not use it as part of the local search algorithm.

What is interesting, though, and this is relatively new, is that we’re starting to see content from Google Business Profile Descriptions show up in AI-generated results. That makes sense, because at the end of the day, it’s still content.

So yes, there may be some value there, just not for rankings.

The key takeaway is this: don’t write your business description for Google. Write it for humans.

Use it to explain what you do, how long you’ve been in business, and what sets you apart from your competitors. The goal is to convince real people that you’re the right choice.

It is a great joy in my life to record the Whitespark Local Update podcast with the wonderful Claire Carlile 🎺  We’re 20 episodes in and you can listen wherever you get your podcasts.

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Local SEO hack you NEED to know: Google says you can only upload 30-second videos to your Google Business Profile. That’s what the guidelines say. But that’s not actually true.

According to Google, your videos should meet the following requirements:
– Max length: 30 seconds
– Max file size: 75 MB

But I just uploaded a 1-minute and 50-seconds long video, and Google accepted it. Why? Because it was under 75 MB.

The real limiter is actually the file size, not the length of the video. If your video is under 75 MB, Google will accept it, even if it’s longer than 30 seconds.

So now you know how to add a video longer than 30 to your Google Business Profiles.

Though, I once tried to upload a 20x20 pixel version of “10 hour epic sax guy” from YouTube (IYKYK), and it didn’t work, so I guess there is some limit.

No matter how good you are at local SEO, if your business sucks, you’re not going to rank well.

Here’s a recipe for disaster I’ve been noticing more and more: With AI and search evolving, many business owners are hyperfixated on online visibility at the expense of their real-life business reputation.

But some of the most well-ranking local businesses don’t have to put any effort into their digital marketing. They are just awesome in real life, and that translates to the digital space.

For example:

- Good customer service not only makes customers come back, but it also prevents negative online reviews

- Finding something your business can excel at and differentiate itself from the competition with makes you popular in real life AND builds buzz online

- Having good business practices and engaging with other organizations in your local community makes you likeable in real life AND earns you unstructured citations online

The list goes on and on, and Miriam Ellis’s new guide covers it all. Learn how to turn your real-world reputation efforts into local SEO wins and get the free checklist on whitespark . ca / guides!’s new guide covers it all.

Most businesses are missing a huge opportunity with their Google Posts. They add photos to their Posts instead of videos. 
Videos stand out way more in the Google Posts feed, communicate more information in less time, and feel more authentic to potential customers.

Sure, recording videos takes a bit more effort than just taking a picture, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Just record a short clip inside your business:

- Have the owner or a team member talk about a current offer.
- Show what’s new.
- Show your space.
- Show a product.
- Show how you perform a service.

And if you or your client doesn’t like being on camera, you can make some flashy videos easy-peasy with a tool like Canva.

Videos in Google Posts → more engagement on your GBP → better visibility → more conversions.

How to See Your AI Traffic in Search Console

Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gKmebB2g

One of the Most Underrated Local Ranking Signals?

Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gPbSb4CY

What if you could sit down with your ideal customer and ask them anything before updating your website, and use those answers to 10x your content’s conversion power?

That’s the concept behind Andy Crestodina’s AI Personas. Here’s how it works:

You give AI a prompt that instructs it to act as your ideal customer. Then you use that “artificial buyer persona” to audit your webpages from the perspective of a potential customer. For example:

- Is the page addressing all the buyer’s objections?
- Is it triggering the emotional response you want your buyer to have?
- What are the decision criteria, and are you covering them all on the page?

Claire Carlile 🎺 and I discuss this in more detail on today’s episode of the Whitespark Local Update, plus:

- How To Mine Google Search Console For Conversation Data (Chris Long)
- AI Talking to AI (Ben Fisher)
- Updated Google Business Profile Policies (Hiroko Imai)
- Stop Chasing the Local 3-Pack (Claudia Tomina)
- Google Business Profile Violations (Sterling Sky Inc)

Find the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify!

Google says you can only upload 30-second videos to your Google Business Profile. That’s what the guidelines say. But that’s not actually true.

Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gdieE2nd

How to Rank for Multiple Services in Google Maps

Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g6fGVbBG

Did you know that you can get SUED for editing a Google Business Profile?

Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gsnyjWrA

Andrew Gruver

Shangri-La Dispensaries

I lead the strategic vision and execution of our content marketing efforts across numerous channels. Additionally, I'm managing the creation of an house marketing team and helping to establish a fresh and cohesive brand voice.

Content Director

Tweedle Farms

At Tweedle Farms, I wear many hats. From the management of our packing and shipping center as well as our retail site and eCommerce platform, to purchasing and product development, to marketing (through e-mail, social media, on-site experiences, and programmatic advertising) and copy-writing.

Director of Ecommerce

Raindance

Although I specialized in experience curation, promotion, and on-site production management, this role encompassed every possible facet of event production. From talent buying and hospitality to graphic design, permitting, stage-building, and even consulting. 

I could quite often be found in a nightclub, but I was fortunate enough to spend many days and nights at music festivals in the United States, as well as abroad.

Event Producer

KindPeoples

Sought out, took meetings with, and helped to on-board new vendors during California's transition from medical to recreational cannabis. Once on-boarded, I wrote in-depth reviews of each product that were used on Kindpeoples' website, on Weedmaps, and on the company's social media accounts.

I am proud to say that unlike the majority of cannabis dispensaries in the state, our shelves were fully stocked with a wide variety of incredible, compliant, options on January 1st, 2018.

Product Manager

As a longtime advocate of the cannabis plant, I have an extensive history in the California legacy market. 

My greatest joy was outdoor cannabis cultivation, but it was my strength in purchasing, product development, and marketing that truly afforded me the opportunity to grow in the cannabis community.

Cannabis Entrepreneur

I’ve spent nearly 20 years in the cannabis industry. That time has spanned the traditional, medical, recreational, and hemp markets. During that time, I’ve occupied numerous roles; from cultivator (specializing in full-sun settings) and buyer, to product manager and, for lack of a better term, cannabis sommelier. Now, I specialize in product development, social media management, email marketing, and content marketing, with a focus on search engine optimization.

Thanks to the ever-expanding cannabis landscape, my attention has largely shifted from the plant-touching side of the cannabis industry to cpg-focused e-commerce and all of the marketing that goes along with it. 

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