Independent assessment
Darren Shaw
Local SEO consultant and software founder
Darren Shaw is best suited to local SEO, citations, Google Business Profiles and local ranking research because canadian founder known for local-search software, services and the Local Search Ranking Factors survey. The main buying check is the ranking-factor survey records expert opinion, not a controlled ranking experiment. Use it as prioritization evidence.
The ranking-factor survey records expert opinion, not a controlled ranking experiment. Use it as prioritization evidence.
Evidence reviewed
Why this assessment.
The September 2026 research pass checked Darren Shaw's official professional or company site for identity, current positioning, services, location signals and the stated credential. The source supports the professional profile below. Results, fees and customer sentiment receive separate evidence scores so first-party positioning is not mistaken for independent proof.
Visible strengths
About Darren Shaw
Canadian founder known for local-search software, services and the Local Search Ranking Factors survey.
Darren Shaw's background
- Founded Whitespark and developed tools and services around citations, rankings and reputation.
Experience and work
- Creator of an influential recurring industry survey, speaker and local-search software founder. Authority and current role are supported, but a buyer should still request a comparable case study with dates and measurement scope.
2026 research brief
Current activity, commercial context and public authority.
These fields come from the completed consultant research record. Volatile roles, audiences, prices and availability should still be confirmed before engagement.
Current activity
The 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors survey included 47 experts and 187 factors across four areas including AI search.
Visible associations
Works with Whitespark staff and local-search contributors including Joy Hawkins, Claire Carlile and Krystal Taing.
Documented authority
Creator of an influential recurring industry survey, speaker and local-search software founder. Tool, platform, newsletter or owned product.
Audience and recognition
About 38,000 LinkedIn followers at the research date.
Buyer questions
Questions people ask about Darren Shaw.
These answers separate what public evidence establishes from what you should verify directly before hiring.
What is Darren Shaw known for?+
Darren Shaw is known for local SEO research and Google Business Profiles. The documented positioning is founder, Whitespark.
Can you hire Darren Shaw?+
The visible route is agency engagement, software and education. Current availability and the contracting entity should be confirmed directly.
What does Darren Shaw charge?+
$12,000-$40,000 per month estimated. $300-$800 per hour estimated. No verified current public fee was located. Treat the range as a budgeting estimate and ask for scope, senior time, implementation ownership, minimum term and expenses in one written proposal.
What evidence should you request from Darren Shaw?+
Ask for one recent case with a comparable site, baseline, actions, timeframe, result and the consultant's direct role.
Buyer due diligence
Every gap becomes a measurable evidence score.
These figures measure public evidence coverage. They do not invent customer sentiment, personal details or client outcomes.
0/100 verified
No reliable public source. Age is not estimated from photographs, graduation dates or career history.
20/100 verified
No consistently sourced duration. Credentials below show the available professional evidence.
70/100 · Partly documented
This directory accepts no payment for placement. The linked official source was checked for public positioning and disclosures, but delivery practices have not been independently audited.
Edmonton, Canada
Publication status
Role, audience, pricing and availability details can change. Recheck them directly before hiring.
53/100 evidence coverage
Creator of an influential recurring industry survey, speaker and local-search software founder. Tool, platform, newsletter or owned product.
25/100 result evidence
Creator of an influential recurring industry survey, speaker and local-search software founder. Authority and current role are supported, but a buyer should still request a comparable case study with dates and measurement scope.
20/100 review evidence
★★★★☆ 3.8/5 directory assessment
Editorial fit score, not a customer-review average.
About 38,000 LinkedIn followers at the research date.
20/100 attributable evidence
About 38,000 LinkedIn followers at the research date. This demonstrates visibility and peer recognition, not client satisfaction or delivery quality.
Joy HawkinsLocal SEO consultant and agency founderEvidence C · 76/100
Colan NielsenLocal SEO strategistEvidence C · 73/100
Mike BlumenthalLocal-search analyst and advisorEvidence C · 76/100
Amanda JordanLocal SEO strategy consultantEvidence C · 74/100
Greg GiffordLocal SEO consultant and industry speakerEvidence C · 76/100Need a second opinion?
Public commentary
What people say about Darren Shaw.
LinkedIn, Reddit, independent profiles and attributed testimonials are labelled separately. Small samples are never presented as consensus.
About 38,000 LinkedIn followers at the research date. This demonstrates visibility and peer recognition, not client satisfaction or delivery quality.
11 September 2026 research summaryThe linked first-party source supports Darren Shaw's current professional positioning, services and stated credential. It is useful identity and capability evidence, but it is not treated as independent customer consensus.
2026 (Whitespark) on Darren Shaw's current work ↗