EDGE of the Web - The Best SEO Podcast for Today's Digital Marketer Erin Sparks

Local SEO specialist, Joy Hawkins, returns for her second interview segment this week. Joy shares the recent landscape of local SEO, including some big shifts in the space that you need to know! Discover the possibilities of LSAs and videos, learning how they can shoot you up on the SERP. We discuss the rise of AI and where the user fits into this sea of content. To wrap things up, Joy shares what all SEOs should be keeping top of mind… crisis management! Get ready to score with your local SEO as we share the best local tactics and look into how AI is joining the scene this week on the EDGE of the Web! 
Key Segments:
[00:03:27] Reintroducing Joy Hawkins
[00:08:38] Were There Any Major Changes in Local SEO in 2023? 
[00:14:06] What Makes Local Service Ads Unique? 
[00:16:10] Steer Clear of This LSA Scam!
[00:20:20] Should Google Be Increasing Their Customer Support Network 
Without AI? 
[00:22:58] EDGE of the Web Title Sponsor: Site Strategics
[00:24:40] Joy’s Thoughts On The Rise of AI 
[00:30:52] How Should SEOs Be Focusing on UX?
[00:33:33] EDGE of the Web Sponsor Wix
[00:35:16] Have Google Updates Favored User Generated Content? 
[00:35:59] Implementing Crisis Management For Negative Online Mentions
[00:37:06] Can Video Boost Your Local SEO? 
Thanks to Our Sponsors!
Site Strategics: http://edgeofthewebradio.com/site  
Wix: http://edgeofthewebradio.com/wix
Follow Our Guest
Twitter:https://twitter.com/JoyanneHawkins
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyhawkins/?originalSubdomain=ca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sterlingskyinc/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2824225650936424YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SterlingSkyInc/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sterlingskyseo
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Top Google contributor and owner of Sterling Sky, Joy Hawkins, joins the EDGE this week. Joy has been a renowned SEO speaker and influencer since 2006 and has been growing a top local SEO agency since 2017. How does local SEO differ from traditional SEO? Listen in as Joy shares her industry experience and delivers tactical strategies for executing premier-level local SEO. Google has been growing a much deeper focus on niche markets and authenticity factors. Learn how to leverage this shift to niche-level queries for your clients. Get ahead of the algorithm as we uncover the best local SEO strategies you should be following this week on the EDGE of the Web!
Give our new sponsor a try! Riverside.fm has a special deal for our listeners!  Use our link and the code "Edgeoftheweb" for a 15% discount of their podcast recording service!
Key Segments:
[00:03:57] Introducing Joy Hawkins
[00:05:40] Joy’s Backstory in the Industry
[00:06:53] Taking the Role of an Educator in the Space 
[00:08:15] EDGE of the Web Title Sponsor: Site Strategics
[00:09:29] SEO vs. Local SEO 
[00:13:24] Valuable Tactics in Local SEO
[00:18:13] EDGE of the Web Sponsor Riverside.fm
[00:20:18] Why User-Generated Content is Such a Major Factor in Today’s SEO
[00:24:27] How Do We Know That Citation Platforms Aren’t Being Indexed on Google?  
[00:25:59] Entering Into Niche Markets 
[00:31:57] EDGE of the Web Sponsor Wix
[00:33:08] Why do Operating Hours Affect Rankings? 
[00:37:37] Local SEO Recommendations For a Small Budget
Thanks to Our Sponsors!
Site Strategics: http://edgeofthewebradio.com/site  
Wix: http://edgeofthewebradio.com/wix
Riverside: https://edgeofthewebradio.com/riverside
Follow Our Guest
Twitter:https://twitter.com/JoyanneHawkins
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyhawkins/?originalSubdomain=ca

Welcome back for another week of news from the EDGE! Google is jumping into the CRM market as it plans to acquire HubSpot for $34 billion. Some experts speculate this will spark even more challenges for Google concerning antitrust regulations. New fake AI-generated law firms are accusing people of copyright infringement at a mass scale… and the true motive may surprise you. Should you be labeling your AI content? Tech giants Google, YouTube, Meta, and TikTok are urgently pushing for users to label their AI content! Plus, many fear the potential influence China may have on the 2024 election through widespread AI misinformation. Things are moving around in the SEO space; here’s everything you need to stay ahead here on the EDGE of the Web!
News from the EDGE:
[00:03:27] EDGE of the Web Sponsor: Site Strategics
[00:08:48] Is Google Eyeing HubSpot for Acquisition?
[00:11:54] Data Reveals Shortcomings in Privacy Tools
[00:15:15] Shady SEO: Fake Law Firms Use Fake DMCA Threats for Gains
AI Blitz:
[00:23:48 ] Labeled: A New Wave Of AI Content Labeling Efforts
[00:32:40] Microsoft: China plans to disrupt elections with AI-generated disinformation
AI Tools:
[00:34:24] Fix your blurry photos using AI
[00:35:43] EDGE of the Web Sponsor: InLinks
Barry Blast from Search Engine Roundtable:
[00:37:50] Google SGE Testing Tabs In AI Overviews
[00:40:33] Google: Ad Strength Is Not Used In Ad Auction
[00:42:15] Microsoft's Fabrice Canel: SEOs Don't Realize Bing Search Usage
Thanks to our sponsors!
Site Strategics https://edgeofthewebradio.com/site    
Inlinks https://edgeofthewebradio.com/inlinks
Follow Us:
Twitter: @ErinSparks
Twitter: @MordyOberstein
Twitter: @TheMann00
Twitter: @EDGEWebRadio
Resources 
Is Google Eyeing HubSpot for Acquisition? Data Reveals Shortcomings in Privacy Tools Shady SEO: Fake Law Firms Use Fake DMCA Threats for Gains Labeled: A New Wave Of AI Content Labeling Efforts Will AI Replace SEO Specialists? Microsoft: China plans to disrupt elections with AI-generated disinformation Driver AI explains millions of lines of code in minutes instead of months AI infrastructure for customer support Fix your blurry photos using AI Google SGE Testing Tabs In AI Overviews Google: Ad Strength Is Not Used In Ad Auction Microsoft's Fabrice Canel: SEOs Don't Realize Bing Search Usage #StandwithUkraine edgeofthewebradio.com/ukraine

Welcome back to the OG webmaster, Simon Cox, for his second interview segment. Simon began his career in commercial graphic design. In this episode, Simon connects the dots between certain artistic frameworks and principles that can be applied to your SEO strategy. How does the emergence of AI imagery affect SEO as a whole? We investigate how users and engines alike perceive AI imagery compared to human-generated imagery and how you can leverage the ‘human touch’ to your advantage. Join us this week as we discover what AI design really means for SEO moving forward here on the EDGE of the Web!
Give our new sponsor a try! Riverside.fm has a special deal for our listeners!  Use our link and the code "Edgeoftheweb" for a 15% discount of their podcast recording service!
Key Segments
[00:04:28 ] Reintroducing Simon Cox 
[00:05:25] What Kind of Art Did Simon Work With Early on in His Career? 
[00:08:58] Can Artistic Principles be Applied to SEO? 
[00:12:22] EDGE of the Web Title Sponsor: Site Strategics
[00:13:09] Building a Visual Design That Compliments User Expectations
[00:16:41] How is AI Imagery Perceived Differently Than Authentic Imagery? 
[00:21:27] EDGE of The Web Sponsor: Riverside
[00:23:45] Does AI Hurt The Integrity of SEO? 
[00:31:06] What Can We Do to Grow The Reputation of SEOs? 
[00:33:07] EDGE of The Web Sponsor: Wix
[00:34:21] Simon Cox SEO Pro Tip
Thanks to Our Sponsors!
Site Strategics: http://edgeofthewebradio.com/site
Wix: http://edgeofthewebradio.com/wix
Riverside: https://edgeofthewebradio.com/riverside 
Follow Our Guest
Twitter: https://twitter.com/simoncox 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonmcox/?originalSubdomain=uk
Mastodon: @simoncox@seocommunity.social
Resources
https://www.simoncox.com/ 
https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/experts/simon-cox 
https://www.coxand.co.uk/

Erin Sparks is back behind the Digital News Desk this week to deliver a groundbreaking news flash - Google greenlights Microsoft's 53% acquisition, handing over a majority stake to Bill and the crew.
Did we get ya? Happy April Fools from all of us at EDGE of the Web!
This week we investigate a new lawsuit against Facebook and Instagram as allegations pile up claiming the social platforms are allegedly delivering ads to bot accounts and inflating ad viewership metrics to their advertisers. Google STILL has not announced a launch date for SGE; here’s the scoop. Plus, OpenAI released a new feature opening a whole new spectrum of possibilities. Kick-off this April right and tune in for what is and isn't happening in SEO right here on the EDGE!
News from the EDGE:
[00:07:16] Facebook and Instagram Accused of Bilking Advertisers in $7 Billion Lawsuit
[00:09:24] YouTube Asks Creators: Hold Onto Your Videos!
[00:15:40] EDGE of the Web Sponsor: Site Strategics
[00:18:23] Small Website Tweaks Might Not Move the Google Search Needle
AI Blitz:
[00:20:29] Google still has not announced a launch date for SGE
[00:26:21] Google starts testing AI overviews from SGE in main Google search interface
[00:26:40] OpenAI just unveiled Voice Engine
AI Tools:
[00:29:28] Delfiny AI - Talk to AI Marketing Assistant for Your Digital Ads
[00:30:47] EDGE of the Web Sponsor: InLinks
Barry Blast from Search Engine Roundtable:
[00:32:08] SEOs, Please Don't Remove Contact Us & About Us Pages
[00:35:43] Google: Fixing A Helpful Content Site Isn't About Where Measuring Against The Previous Version Of That Site
Thanks to our sponsors!
Site Strategics https://edgeofthewebradio.com/site    
Inlinks https://edgeofthewebradio.com/inlinks
Follow Us:
Twitter: @ErinSparks
Twitter: @MordyOberstein
Twitter: @TheMann00
Twitter: @EDGEWebRadio
Resources 
Facebook and Instagram Accused of Bilking Advertisers in $7 Billion Lawsuit YouTube Asks Creators: Hold Onto Your Videos! Small Website Tweaks Might Not Move the Google Search Needle Google still has not announced a launch date for SGE Google starts testing AI overviews from SGE in main Google search interface OpenAI just unveiled Voice Engine Adobe GenStudio: 3 key questions answered Talk to AI Marketing Assistant for Your Digital Ads New Google Shopping & Maps Search Features SEOs, Please Don't Remove Contact Us & About Us Pages Google: Fixing A Helpful Content Site Isn't About Where Measuring Against The Previous Version Of That Site #StandwithUkraine edgeofthewebradio.com/ukraine

Joining the EDGE this week is web development Swiss Army Knife: Simon Cox. Simon is a pioneer in website development with almost 30 years of full-scale web construction, management, consulting, and optimization under his belt. Learn how to acclimate to industry advancements as Simon shares his experience adapting to rapid technology expansion. Listen to the wonderful insights and get to know one of the founding fathers of web design and technical SEO. We travel back in time to reminisce over what has shaped the industry and how it became what it is today here on the EDGE of the Web! 
Key Segments:
[00:02:43] Introducing Simon Cox
[00:04:08] Simon’s Career Story
[00:09:54] Changes in SEO Since The ‘Early Days’
[00:13:09] EDGE of the Web Title Sponsor: Site Strategics
[00:13:58] Keeping an Eye on Accessibility
[00:15:17] How Did Simon Stay up to Date With Evolving  Technology During the Rapid Expansion Era of the Internet? 
[00:23:08] Considerations Before Offering SEO Services to an Agency
[00:28:41] Lessons Learned From Consulting For Agencies
[00:31:33] EDGE of The Web Sponsor: Wix
[00:32:45] Staying Ethical in SEO 
Thanks to Our Sponsors!
Site Strategics: http://edgeofthewebradio.com/site  
Wix: http://edgeofthewebradio.com/wix
Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@simoncox
Follow Our Guest
Twitter: https://twitter.com/simoncox
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonmcox/?originalSubdomain=uk
Resources
https://www.simoncox.com/
https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/experts/simon-cox
https://www.coxand.co.uk/