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/gsterling

LinkedIn: 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/ 

Local Marketing Secrets Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LocalMarketingSecrets 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TCL0LhZbsJS6mzanqnnT1?si=224075c9fbda42f5  

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/local-marketing-secrets/id1741176782 

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0bb5254-5d6c-4940-8211-085157cc1239/local-marketing-secrets 

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Greg Sterling

11:34 Current Trends in Local Marketing Research

21:08 The Role of AI in Local Business Communication

25:57 Emerging Trends in Local Business Marketing

30:31 The Future of Local Marketing with AI

34:55 Optimizing for AI and Local SEO

38:42 Industry Variations in Consumer Behavior

45:14 Comparing US and European Search Dynamics

48:43 Near Media's Research Process

52:50 Surprising Insights from User Behavior Studies

55:28 The Emergence of Local Dialogue

01:00:52 The Importance of Google Business Profiles

Are 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 

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