Breaking Down the 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors with Darren Shaw

The brand new 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors Survey just dropped, and I'm breaking it all down with Darren Shaw, founder of Whitespark and the current steward of this industry-defining research.In this episode, we cover the biggest changes and surprises from the latest survey, including:- Why business hours just became a top 5 ranking factor (and what to do about it)- How citations are making a major comeback thanks to AI search- Review recency vs. review volume - which matters more now?- The truth about showing vs. hiding your address as a service area business- Why photos and videos are more critical than ever- Keywords in GBP services - from "myth" to legitimate ranking factor- What you need to optimize for AI search and Google's AI Mode- User engagement signals and behavioral factors that drive rankingsWhether you're a local business owner or doing SEO for clients, this survey is your roadmap for what actually works in local search going into 2026 and beyond.ABOUT DARREN SHAW:Darren Shaw is the founder of Whitespark, a leading local SEO software company, and manages the annual Local Search Ranking Factors Survey - the industry standard for understanding what drives local business rankings.RESOURCES MENTIONED:See the full survey: https://whitespark.ca/local-search-ranking-factors/Whitespark Local Ranking Grid software: https://whitespark.caThe Whitespark Local Update Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@WhitesparkCa/podcastsCONNECT WITH DARREN:LinkedIn: Darren Shaw: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenshawwhitespark/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darrenshawseo/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrenshawseo/TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Introduction to Local Search Ranking Factors04:09 Understanding the Local Search Ranking Factors Survey07:19 The Impact of AI Search on Local SEO10:15 The Resurgence of Citations in Local SEO13:16 The Importance of Business Hours for Rankings16:11 Review Recency and Frequency as Ranking Signals19:03 Address Visibility for Service Area Businesses22:03 User Engagement and Behavioral Signals in SEO27:30 The Power of Reviews and Visual Content32:26 The Impact of Keywords in Google Business Profile36:12 Understanding Suspension Factors in Local SEO40:10 The Future of Local Search and AI IntegrationIf you found this valuable, hit subscribe and check out my previous interview with Darren from August 2024 for more local SEO fundamentals: https://youtu.be/3MAF2iTlZxo?si=PKjWJ49odCRcSXg4#localseo #localsearch #localseotips #localseoexpert #localmarketing