LocalU Global Agenda – Published
Intro & Housekeeping with Darren Shaw, Emcee!
Get the details on how the day will run, what you need to know, how to download presentations, watch on demand, and leave your feedback!
Darren Shaw
(Un)helpful Content? Nah, Just (Un)helpful Robots - Kyle Roof
In this session, Co-Founder of PageOptimizer Pro, Kyle, will be talking about current SEO testing and looking at which LLMs are best for SEO.
Kyle Roof
Closing the Trust Gap: How To Use Ai In A Way That Builds Trust Not Erode It - Wil Reynolds
Trust is built over time and can be fractured in a second. And the direction that so many search professionals are going with AI could build short-term wins and create long-term trust gaps for brands. Then I'll show an alternative world where AI can help you build trust and understand your customers better not just build your content.
Break
The GBP/Local Ranking Roadmap: Ask Us Anything - Joy Hawkins & Darren Shaw
Get your most pressing Google Business Profile and local ranking questions answered live by industry legends Joy Hawkins and Darren Shaw. This exclusive AMA will cut through the noise, providing direct, data-backed insights into the current factors that truly drive success in local search.
Lunch
Take a break, step away, and recharge for a great afternoon!
SEO’s Next Chapter: Why Truth Beats Traffic in the Age of AI Search - Steve Toth
In this session, Steve unpacks how AI search rewrites discovery, evaluation, and trust, and why traditional SEO only gets you halfway there. The focus is on shaping how LLMs understand your brand and winning the new battle for accurate, defensible truth.
From AI Overview to Front Door: Tracking the New Local Search Journey - Dana DiTomaso
AI Overviews are changing how potential customers discover local businesses, but are they actually driving valuable traffic? In this session, Dana DiTomaso will show you how to track AI Overview and AI website visitors, compare their behavior to traditional organic search traffic, and calculate the real ROI of optimizing for this new search landscape. You'll walk away with a step-by-step setup you can implement immediately, plus the data you need to prove (or disprove) whether AI search is worth your investment.
Break
The Hot Seat: Live SEO Audits for Quick Wins - Colan Nielsen & Elizabeth Rule
Watch as experts Colan and Liz put audience-submitted websites in the "Hot Seat" for a rapid-fire, live audit focused on local organic search opportunities. Discover common website flaws and walk away with immediate, actionable strategies that you can apply for quick SEO wins on your own site today.
5 Simple Local SEO Tactics That Feel So Obvious You Will Wish You Thought Of Them - Colan Nielsen
Discover five simple local SEO tactics that are so effective you’ll wonder how you missed them. This talk cuts through the noise and shows you quick wins that boost visibility and drive more local customers your way. Expect practical, immediately usable insights that deliver real improvement with minimal effort.
Final Answer: A Local Search Ranking Game
Step up and test your knowledge of Google Business Profile, local ranking factors, and the latest algorithm updates in this engaging, high-stakes trivia session. Get ready to buzz in with your final answer to see if you have what it takes to dominate the local search leaderboard!