Danny Leibrandt, founder of Pest Control SEO, interviews Ben Fisher, a seasoned local SEO expert with 30 years of experience and founder of Steady Demand. Ben discusses his extensive background, beginning in 1994 with computer repair and networking before transitioning to building websites and local SEO.Key Points:Ben Fisher's Background:Started in local SEO in 1994, officially in 1996.Transitioned from computer repair to building websites.Early projects involved unique solutions like building a BBS for credit reports.Evolution of Local SEO:Early days were the "wild west" with simple SEO techniques like keyword stuffing.Importance of user-focused SEO rather than optimizing solely for Google.Google Business Profile (GBP) Insights:Ranking Factors: Address, business name, and primary category are crucial.Emphasis on providing accurate business information and not keyword stuffing.Reviews are vital for customer perception, but not heavily weighted in SEO ranking.Suspensions and Compliance:Common causes include keyword stuffing in business names, inappropriate addresses, and rapid profile changes.Importance of having proper documentation ready to avoid suspension.Ben Fisher's Expertise and Role:Google Business Profile Diamond Expert, one of only ten in the world.Involvement in mentoring and the Google Business Profile community.His firm, Steady Demand, offers services like My Business Assurance to help businesses stay compliant and manage suspensions.Practical Advice:For service area businesses, ensuring accurate address and category information is essential.Respond to reviews thoughtfully to show customer care rather than for SEO purposes.Utilize Google posts for conversions, not just for SEO.Conclusion:Ben Fisher emphasizes the importance of user-focused SEO and compliance with Google’s guidelines to avoid suspensions. His expertise as a Google Business Profile Diamond Expert highlights the value of accurate business information and thoughtful customer engagement. Danny Leibrandt concludes the podcast with insights into the significance of local SEO for pest control businesses and the benefits of expert guidance from professionals like Ben.Ben Fisher, Founder of Steady Demand:Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSocialDudeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfishertechpad/Steady Demand: https://www.steadydemand.com/ Danny Leibrandt, Founder of Pest Control SEO:Facebook: https://facebook.com/DannyLeibrandt LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dannyleibrandt/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DannyLeibrandt Website: https://dannyleibrandt.com Pest Control SEO Podcast Platforms:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PestControlSEO/podcasts Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TCL0LhZbsJS6mzanqnnT1?si=7d918c77a6234ce2 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pest-control-seo-podcast/id1741176782 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0bb5254-5d6c-4940-8211-085157cc1239/pest-control-seo-podcast Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Pest-Control-SEO-Podcast/B0D1FCN28S?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Background

06:08 Early Days of Local SEO

20:23 Key Ranking Factors for Google Business Profiles

30:21 Effective Strategies for Responding to Reviews

37:01 Debunking Common Myths in Local SEO

46:28 Understanding Suspensions

53:15 The Importance of Being Prepared for Suspensions

57:33 The Impact of Suspensions on Agencies

01:00:46 The Google Business Profile Expert Program

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