Google Maps Ranking 2026: 10 Proven Signals That STILL Work (LIVE)
Date: Febuary 19th, 2026 @ 12:30pm ET
Join three of the most trusted voices in local SEO - Darren Shaw, Elizabeth Rule, and Joy Hawkins, for a fast-paced, opinionated breakdown of the 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors Survey.
In this webinar, they’ll reveal the top Google Maps and Local Pack ranking signals that still move the needle in 2026, dig into emerging AI-driven factors, and debate where they *agree or strongly disagree with the final rankings. From reviews and citations to proximity, categories, and “best of” lists, you’ll get practical insights you can apply immediately to win more…
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Chapters (23)
Introduction: Google Maps Ranking in 2026
1:43
Defining AI Search & AI Overviews
2:35
AI Factor #5: Third-Party Review Authority
7:44
AI Factor #4: Unstructured Citations & Brand Mentions
10:43
Entity Disambiguation for LLMs
14:58
AI Factor #3: Prominence on Industry-Relevant Domains
18:04
AI Factor #2: Dedicated Service Pages & Content "Chunking"
29:33
AI Factor #1: Expert Curated "Best Of" Lists
31:00
Case Study: Gaming AI with Self-Published Lists
32:00
Google’s Consensus vs. LLM Logic
35:40
Strategy: Building AI Consensus via Peer Masterminds
36:20
Q&A: Ranking Multiple Services at One Office
36:58
News vs. Blogs for Topical Authority
38:20
Q&A: Geo-Targeting Secondary Locations (Seattle vs. Portland)
40:22
Pro Tip: Expanding with Aged Local Domains
41:00
Differences Between Organic, Maps, and AI Strategies
42:37
Local Pack Factor #5: Business Open at Time of Search
44:38
Local Pack Factor #4: Physical Address inside City Borders
47:16
Local Pack Factor #3: Keywords in GBP Business Title
51:13
Local Pack Factor #2: Proximity to Point of Search
53:02
Local Pack Factor #1: Primary GBP Category Selection
54:52
Do Exact Match Domains (EMDs) Still Work?
57:51
Common Local SEO Myths & Wastes of Time
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