Why Google shutting down Map Maker should terrify SMBs
Contributor Joy Hawkins warns about the likely unintended consequences of Google's impending shutdown of Map Maker, calling for the search giant to...
Joy Hawkins
Joy is the owner of the Local Search Forum, LocalU, and Sterling Sky, a Local SEO agency in Canada & the USA. She has been working in the industry since 2006 and enjoys speaking regularly at marketing conferences such as MozCon, LocalU, Pubcon, SearchLove, and State of Search. You can find her on Twitter or volunteering as a Product Expert on the Google My Business Forum.
Google’s advanced verification test in San Diego just dropped over 89% of listings from the 3-pack
Columnist and local search expert Joy Hawkins shows the results of a recent Google My Business advanced verification test and explores the new home...
Study shows Google’s Possum update changed 64% of local SERPs
How significantly did the Possum update impact local search results in Google? Columnist Joy Hawkins shares data and insights from a study she did...
Everything you need to know about Google’s ‘Possum’ algorithm update
Wondering what's up with local search rankings lately? Columnist Joy Hawkins has the scoop on a recent local algorithm update that local SEO experts...
Is Google filtering your business in the local search results?
Seeing a shift in Google's local results? It's not just you. Columnist Joy Hawkins documents what appears to be a recent refresh to Google's local...
How to solve duplicate content local SEO issues for multi-location businesses
It can be difficult for businesses with multiple locations to craft unique, rich content for each individual location page, but columnist Joy Hawkins...
Why you cannot ignore practitioner listings on Google My Business (case study)
You may have a strong Google My Business listing, but what happens when individual practitioners at your location have their own listings? Columnist...
What Advanced SEOs Should Know From The Google Raters Guidelines (SMX Advanced Recap)
During this SMX Advanced session, panelists discussed what SEOs need to know about Google's Search Quality Rating Guidelines, created for the human...
Brief change suggests local SEO ranking factors are different for branded queries
What are the differences between branded and non-branded local packs in Google, and how might ranking factors be weighted differently for each?...
Got spam? Google My Business doesn’t care.
Seeing lots of spammy local listings on Google? It's not just you! Columnist Joy Hawkins notes some of the problems with Google's enforcement of its...
Top 9 reasons Google suspends local listings
Has your business listing in Google been suspended? Not sure what happened? Columnist Joy Hawkins discusses the likely causes and how to address...
Dear SEOs: Please stop spamming Google Maps!
Columnist Joy Hawkins gives a lesson in what NOT to do when optimizing Google My Business profiles, based on her experiences cleaning up spammy...
Google Is Fixing The “Permanently Closed” Problem
Columnist Joy Hawkins discusses how you can fix issues with old business locations being marked "Permanently closed" -- and what Google may be doing...
When You Rank High Organically But Not Locally (Case Study)
You've done everything right in terms of local SEO -- you're even ranking high in organic results -- but you just can't seem to get a place in the...
Definitive Guide To Duplicate Research For Local SEO
Wondering how to identify and clean up your duplicate map listings? Columnist Joy Hawkins has you...
5 Major Differences Between Google Map Maker & Google My Business Guidelines
Columnist and local search expert Joy Hawkins outlines some differences between two of Google's local/maps services, discussing which might come in...
Moving Your Office Without Losing Rankings: The Local Business Owner’s Guide
Is your business moving to a new location? If so, check out columnist Joy Hawkins' guide to ensuring a smooth transition in...