Darren Shaw

Whitespark

Whitespark builds online tools and provides services that help businesses and agencies with local SEO. We're known for our Local Citation Finder, Local Rank Tracker, Citation Building & Audit Services, and Local SEO Consulting. Our team often collaborates with other industry leaders and frequently presents at top SEO & Marketing conferences in North America.

Founder

University of Alberta

Networking and system administration and operation, development and management of the relational databases, GIS database development, web site development and maintenance.

Research Computing Coordinator

Hi, I'm Darren! 👋

I've been doing web development and SEO for 27 years (yes, before Google existed)

A bit about me 👇
🔹 Founder of Whitespark: local SEO software and services.
🔹 Local SEO educator with 36,000+ newsletter subscribers, 8,000+ YouTube subscribers, and 2,000+ email course sign-ups
🔹 In charge of the annual Local Search Ranking Factors Survey, one of the most cited resources in local SEO
🔹 Speaker at local search conferences around the globe and contributor to SEO publications

Did you know that the Google API leak says that service areas are NOT used in the ranking algorithm? If you want to expand your ranking radius for real, today’s podcast episode contains some actionable tips:

- build entity strength
- get reviews that mention the locations you want to rank in
- earn unstructured citations (local blogs, sponsorships, etc.)
- write localized website content
- lean into your niche in your website and GBP content (you may not rank for “restaurant” all over your city, but you CAN rank for “cubano sandwiches”)

We discuss these ideas from Miriam Ellis’s new Search Engine Land article, plus:

- Ben Franklin Effect applied to review requests (Sam Knight)
- API Leak reveals that Service Areas are NOT a ranking factor (Claudia Tomina)
- Google Local Pack links to places tab with pagination bug (Barry Schwartz)
- GBP adds scheduling and multi-location publishing to Google Posts (Barry Schwartz)

The full episode is now up on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

And if you like the podcast, please leave us a review and ask IZIPIZI to sponsor us 🙏 (jump to 17:01 for context)

Founder of Whitespark. I share local SEO tips and strategy. Lead researcher behind the annual Local Search Ranking Factors survey. Get everything you need for better local SEO at whitespark.ca

Here’s what you should do now that Google has anonymous reviews…

1. Change how you ask for reviews:

If your business is in an industry where people may be sensitive to leaving a review under their real name (e.g. legal or medical services, psychiatry, counceling, finance), your review collection process just got easier!

When asking for a review, tell customers how they can use a pseudonym when writing it.

2. Monitor and back up your reviews:

Now that Google users can add, remove, and change their custom display name whenever they choose, it is more important than ever export your review history regularly in case Google decides to delete your legitimate reviews.

3. Read Allie Margeson’s new article to fully understand what this anonymity means for both businesses and customers.

Find it on whitespark . ca / blog

Sterling Sky Inc

Local SEO Analyst & Account Manager

Martindale Legal Marketing Network

The Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Research & Development Specialist is responsible for keeping the SEM department on top of the latest trends and building out our assets/key differentiators.

Key Responsibilities: 
1. Work with Team Leads and Strategists to develop leading-edge standard operating procedures 
2. Research best practices and keep on top of all Google algorithm changes 
3. Maintain and update best practices to ensure clients are performing as expected 
4. Develop effective strategy to build up our SEO assets 
5. Review and identify tools to make the SEM team more effective at their jobs and to improve the speed of delivery 
6. Identify potential partnering opportunities

Achievements:
1. Manage all factors of campaign management for our highest spend clients
2. Provide weekly training sessions to department on latest best practices and implementations for successful campaigns
3. Implemented a cross-team training program to expand our team’s knowledge base and increase their understanding of how our different fulfillment teams need to work together

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Research & Development Specialist

The Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Research & Development Specialist is responsible for keeping the SEM department on top of the latest trends and building out our assets/key differentiators.

Key Responsibilities: 
1. Work with Team Leads and Strategists to develop leading-edge standard operating procedures 
2. Research best practices and keep on top of all Google algorithm changes 
3. Maintain and update best practices to ensure clients are performing as expected 
4. Develop effective strategy to build up our SEO assets 
5. Review and identify tools to make the SEM team more effective at their jobs and to improve the speed of delivery 
6. Identify potential partnering opportunities

Achievements:
1. Implemented changes in content writing styles that led to website conversion increases by over 40%
2. Consistently provided team with training and documentation on best practices for optimal success in search strategies

The Senior Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialist is responsible for assisting fellow team members in analysis and developing a plan of action for their SEO campaigns.

Key Responsibilities: 
1. Analyzed the existing web presence and formulated a plan for optimizing and promoting clients’ websites based on traffic generating keywords for their geography and legal areas of practice
2. Provided SEO Specialists with a thorough keyword analysis to determine under-performing keywords and why these keywords are not performing well in the SERPs
3. Provided SEO Specialists with a plan of action to increase visibility of clients’ websites in SERPs
4. Facilitated and lead training of team through weekly training sessions focused on best practices and latest industry news and trends
5. Spearheaded the growth of the Local Visibility product by providing leadership and expertise in creating standard operating procedures, working with consultants in fulfillment of product tasks, and managing a team of four specialists

Achievements:
1. The Local Visibility product saw over $3.5M in sales and an over 50% renewal rate under my leadership
2. Consistently helped SEO Specialists turn around struggling campaigns by doing website audits and offering advice on fulfillment activities

Senior Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialist

JerseyMenus.com

Developer of New Jersey's largest restaurant, fine dining & entertainment website

Chief Information Officer

Patel Consultants

Assignment: LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell

The Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialist is responsible for developing the plan for optimizing and promoting client's websites.

Key Responsibilities:
1. Analyzed existing web presence and formulated a plan for optimizing and promoting clients’ websites based on geography and legal areas of practice
2. Website coding and on-page optimization planning
3. Reviewed and updated website content to reflect specific marketing and keyword goals
4. Gained links from authoritative sources and promotion through social media sites
5. Provided quarterly progress reviews of campaigns
6. Facilitated and lead training of staff

Achievements:
1. Managed and fulfilled successful SEO campaigns for national, state-wide, and local campaigns
2. Developed cutting-edge strategies in conjunction with my team leadership

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialist

ClickTown International, LLC

The Internet Specialist/Webmaster is responsible for designing, creating, and modifying the web site. This position requires the analysis of user needs to implement web site content, graphics, performance, and capacity.

Key Responsibilities:
1. Designed web pages for towns focusing on local businesses, local news, and advertising
2. Worked with databases to add functionality to website
3. Made routine changes/updates to website (additional features)
4. Trained franchisees on how to update content and maintain website
5. Developed training and technical documentation
6. Acted as help desk for franchisee issues/inquiries
7. Maintained office LAN and PC support

Internet Specialist/Webmaster

Caldwell College

The Assistant Director of Financial Aid is responsible for carrying out a wide range of duties requiring both overall and specialized knowledge of policies and procedures related to financial aid, student enrollment, funding and registration.

Key Responsibilities:
1. Served as a liaison between Financial Aid and Information Technology Department
2. Wrote proposals for technological standards as mandated by the Federal Government
3. Implemented new technologies - software packages, communication tools
4. Resolved problems for automated systems
5. Provided training to the Financial Aid staff on appropriate technologies
6. Maintained content on Financial Aid web site on the College home page
7. Awarded financial aid to students according to federal, state, and institutional guidelines
8. Counseled students and families regarding aid eligibility

Assistant Director of Financial Aid/Technical Support Specialist

The Telephone and Voice Mail Systems Manger is responsible for managing the telephony and communications systems.

Key Responsibilities:
1. Implemented campus infrastructure project that provided fiber-optic cabling, and the rewiring of campus buildings for voice and data capabilities
2. Introduced voice, data, and cable television service to the residence halls
3. Maintained the telephone system (PBX) and voice mail database
4. Acted as a liaison between the College and telephone vendors
5. Created an Intranet web site for telephone/voice mail questions
6. Assisted in AS/400 operations in relation to system administration and IBM Query
7. Provided front-line support for administrative hardware
8. Served in a help desk capacity for PC and network connectivity issues

Telephone and Voice Mail Systems Manager

An experienced and results-oriented Search Engine Marketing professional that takes your online marketing efforts to the next level. 

Applying my analytical mind, natural curiosity and interest in the SEM industry, I have led many start-up companies and national brands to prominence on the web by utilizing a combination of search marketing strategies. By employing search engine optimization best strategies, social media visibility opportunities, and optimal PPC performance, I position clients for long-term success in their online marketing efforts.

taplio

The Battle

Darren Shaw

Michael Andrews

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taplio

The Battle

Darren Shaw

Michael Andrews

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Darren Shaw's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreDarren Shaw's LinkedIn Performance