At Sterling Sky, we are more than just an SEO agency—we are a team of industry experts, thought leaders, and passionate professionals dedicated to helping businesses succeed in local search. Our team is composed of some of the most well-respected names in Local SEO, each bringing unique expertise and years of experience to every project. Here’s a look at the incredible people behind Sterling Sky.
Joy Hawkins – Founder & Owner
I’m Joy Hawkins, the founder and owner of Sterling Sky, LocalU, and the Local Search Forum. I’ve been working in the SEO industry since 2006, helping businesses navigate the ever-changing world of local search. I have a passion for educating others about SEO and regularly write for publications such as Search Engine Land and Moz, where I share insights into local search trends, Google algorithm updates, and ranking strategies.
As a Google Business Profile Product Expert, I’ve been involved in Google’s official support forums since 2012, helping business owners solve complex visibility issues. This role has provided me with exclusive access to Google’s Product Expert Summits at their headquarters, where I’ve had the opportunity to interact directly with the teams behind Google My Business.
Professional Accomplishments:
Search Engine Land Columnist
Google Business Profile Product Expert since 2012
Google MapMaker Regional Lead (USA)
Speaker at major industry conferences (MozCon, Pubcon, LocalU, State of Search, SMX, and more)
Owner of Local Search Forum & LocalU Faculty Member
Contributor to Whitespark’s Local Search Ranking Factors
Moz-Recommended SEO Agency Owner
:: Colan Nielsen – VP of Local Search ::
Colan Nielsen is the Vice President of Local Search at Sterling Sky. He started his career in Local SEO in 2010 and has been a Google My Business Product Expert since 2014. He joined Sterling Sky in 2017, bringing his experience in local search strategy, competitive analysis, and troubleshooting complex local ranking issues.
As part of his role, he serves as a faculty member at LocalU and as an administrator of the Local Search Forum, where he engages with business owners and SEOs looking for expert insights on how to improve their local search visibility. He also contributes to publications such as Search Engine Land and Moz, writing about the latest industry trends, case studies, and data-driven local search strategies.
Speaking Accomplishments:
LocalU Advanced (2x Speaker)
Atlanta SEO for Local Business Meetup
2025 Urgent Care Convention
Bin There Dump That Franchisee Conference
Visiting Angels Franchise Conferences (USA & UK)
AFC Urgent Care Franchise Conference
uBreakiFix Annual Franchise Conference
When you partner with Sterling Sky, you’re not just getting an SEO agency—you’re working with a team of industry leaders who live and breathe local search. Our team 20+ members are recognized authorities in the field, consistently contributing to SEO research, speaking at industry events, and staying ahead of Google’s ever-changing algorithms. We believe in transparency, data-driven strategies, and real results that move the needle for your business.
4 Reviews on “Sterling Sky Inc.”
MattMcGee
Sterling Sky is one of the most respected local SEO agencies in the industry. They do fantastic work for their clients. Selfishly, the rest of us in the industry also appreciate how willing they are to share knowledge, research, and more in their videos, articles, forum, events, etc. Highly recommend these great folks!!
DarcyBurk
Joy and the team at Sterling Sky are true thought leaders in the industry. I highly recommend them.
Cyrus Shepard
I am constantly impressed by the work of Sterling Sky, Joy Hawkins, and the entire Sterling Sky team. Not only are they top at what they do—Local SEO—their experiments, publications, and advocacy have benefited and advanced the entire industry. I often refer clients to Sterling Sky and anyone looking for local SEO services should consider them as a first choice.
Andrew Shotland
I have known Joy since she started Sterling Sky. I think it’s safe to say she and her team are some of the most knowledgable people out there in the Local Search industry.
Highly recommended.