{"id":2154,"slug":"hawkins-business-name-keyword-test","title":"Joy Hawkins controlled test — adding service term to GBP name moved listing from unranked to #4","kind":"reference","scope":"business","status":"current","audiences":["kevin","candid-team"],"topics":["local-seo-mechanics"],"reference_body":"**Claim:** Joy Hawkins (Sterling Sky) ran a controlled test: adding a service term to a Google Business Profile business name moved the listing **from UNRANKED to position 4**.\n\n**Source:** Joy Hawkins / Sterling Sky controlled test. Practitioner.\n\n**Confidence:** Single-source (controlled test).\n\n**Why this matters for Candid:** Keywords in business name confer a real (and somewhat exploitable) advantage. Documented mechanic; the widget should note that a business name containing a service category is a quietly-strong local-ranking signal. (Operationally, an SMB renaming the legal-or-registered business to insert a keyword is a step beyond cosmetic — flag with care.)","rationale_body":null,"metadata":null,"links":{"outgoing":[],"incoming":[{"slug":"research-brief-smb-widget-market-difficulty-june-2026","title":"Research brief: SMB widget market difficulty — six ranked factors (June 2026)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"proximity-and-reviews-dominate-local","title":"Factor 2 — Proximity + review prominence dominate LOCAL markets","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"}]},"created_at":"2026-06-23T20:03:32.897Z","updated_at":"2026-06-23T20:03:32.897Z"}