What 25 Years in Local Marketing Has Taught Me: Greg Sterling

In this episode, Danny Leibrandt interviews Greg Sterling, a local marketing expert with over 25 years of experience. They discuss Greg's journey into local marketing, the importance of user testing and research, and how consumer behavior varies across different industries. The conversation also explores the role of AI in local business, emerging trends in local marketing, and the future of local search. Greg shares insights from his research, highlighting the significance of reviews and the challenges small businesses face in claiming their Google profiles. The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of prioritizing tasks and managing time effectively in the fast-paced world of digital marketing.Key Takeaways:- User testing reveals that consumer behavior varies significantly by industry.- AI is becoming increasingly important for local businesses.- Many small businesses have not claimed their Google Business Profiles.- Reviews are critical, but many consumers do not read them in detail.- Local marketing is evolving with new technologies and consumer behaviors.- The importance of responding quickly to leads in home services.- Emerging trends include simplified website creation and marketing automation.- Brand recognition plays a significant role in consumer decision-making.- Small businesses are increasingly adopting AI tools for efficiency.Greg Sterling, Co-Founder of Near Media:Twitter: https://x.com/gsterlingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregsterling/Near Media: https://www.nearmedia.co/Near Memo Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCQb7CMIgNQz38U6RVcE8rug Dialog: https://www.localdialog.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: https://pestcontrolseo.com/ The Local Marketeer Platforms:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LocalMarketeer/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TCL0LhZbsJS6mzanqnnT1?si=224075c9fbda42f5 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-local-marketeer/id1741176782 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0bb5254-5d6c-4940-8211-085157cc1239/the-local-marketeer Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/The-Local-Marketeer/B0D1FCN28S?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp Podcast Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Greg Sterling11:34 Current Trends in Local Marketing Research21:08 The Role of AI in Local Business Communication25:57 Emerging Trends in Local Business Marketing30:31 The Future of Local Marketing with AI34:55 Optimizing for AI and Local SEO38:42 Industry Variations in Consumer Behavior45:14 Comparing US and European Search Dynamics48:43 Near Media's Research Process52:50 Surprising Insights from User Behavior Studies55:28 The Emergence of Local Dialogue01:00:52 The Importance of Google Business ProfilesAre you a pest control company owner looking to grow? Book a discovery call with us to see if you’re a good fit! Link here: https://calendly.com/dannyleibrandt/discovery #localmarketing #localseo #localbusiness #homeservicebusiness #seo #marketing #podcast #marketingagency #agency #entrepreneur #entrepreneurship #business #businessgrowth