1. Introduction to the Course
Greed Grid Goblins is a premium mastermind program and digital marketing course created by Michael Merlino, better known online as “Merlin the Maps Magician.” The program focuses on helping marketers, agency owners, and local business professionals dominate local search results—specifically Google Maps and organic search rankings—through proven, repeatable strategies. With over two decades of SEO experience, Merlino designed the course to bridge the gap between theory and hands-on implementation. It’s not just an educational program; it’s an evolving community centered around collaboration, innovation, and ongoing experimentation.
The name “Greed Grid Goblins” captures the spirit of taking control of the hidden profit potential in local search grids. In this mastermind, members learn how to uncover untapped opportunities in their market, optimize business listings, and drive consistent, high-quality leads using tools, audits, and community-tested methods. The course builds upon Merlino’s success stories across service-based industries such as roofing, HVAC, and home improvement, where ranking on Google Maps has consistently produced measurable financial growth. Participants are not simply consuming information—they’re joining a network of high-performing marketers applying and refining strategies together.
2. Goals of the Course
The main goal of Greed Grid Goblins is to empower participants to become local market leaders by mastering the art and science of Google Maps and local SEO dominance. Michael Merlino structured the program to achieve several clear outcomes that help both entrepreneurs and marketers create long-term, scalable success:
- Master Local SEO Fundamentals: Learn the ranking signals that influence Google Maps visibility and organic reach, including proximity, relevance, and authority optimization.
- Develop a High-ROI Lead Generation System: Build a reliable system for attracting and converting local leads through targeted listings and strategic content placement.
- Leverage Proprietary Tools and Extensions: Gain access to Merlino’s personal Chrome extensions and SEO tools that automate analysis, audit processes, and ranking improvements.
- Establish Authority in Local Niches: Become recognized as the go-to expert in specific industries or cities through branding, consistency, and tactical audits.
- Build Scalable Agency Systems: Learn how to turn SEO and local ranking expertise into recurring revenue via retainers, revenue shares, or equity partnerships.
- Stay Ahead Through Constant Testing: Participate in ongoing experiments, case studies, and member-voted tests that adapt to algorithm updates and evolving digital marketing trends.
Ultimately, the mastermind aims to transform how participants approach digital marketing—shifting from short-term tactics to building sustainable systems that deliver results month after month.
3. Content Overview or Modules Breakdown
While the exact course structure is proprietary and accessible only to members, the public details reveal a well-rounded educational and experiential framework. Each component of the program focuses on both technical execution and strategic insight, supported by Merlino’s guidance and the collective intelligence of the community. The key content pillars include:
- Foundations of Local Search Domination: A deep dive into how Google Maps rankings work, how to optimize business profiles, and how to set up the technical groundwork for sustainable growth. Members learn the differences between organic and map rankings and how to use each synergistically.
- Tools, Chrome Extensions, and Automation: Merlino provides walkthroughs of the exact software stack he uses daily. This includes keyword tracking, competition analysis, review management, and map-grid tracking tools that visualize geographic ranking performance.
- Offer and Niche Selection: Strategies for identifying profitable niches and crafting service offers that stand out in saturated local markets. Participants learn how to position themselves as experts rather than just SEO technicians.
- Live Audits and Case Studies: Each month features new real-world case studies where Merlino or other members perform live audits on business listings. These sessions highlight what’s currently working in Google’s ecosystem and provide actionable examples for replication.
- Organic and Maps Integration: The training goes beyond Maps optimization by teaching how to integrate website SEO, citations, backlinks, and behavioral signals to maximize local dominance. The combination ensures both map-pack visibility and high organic search placement.
- Scaling and Systemization: Once members start producing results, they are shown how to scale through client acquisition systems, automation, outsourcing, and long-term contracts that turn skills into steady income.
- Continuous Learning and Community Input: The mastermind structure keeps content evolving. Members vote on upcoming tests and share discoveries, ensuring the strategies remain effective even as Google’s algorithms change.
The learning approach emphasizes repetition, experimentation, and live interaction rather than pre-recorded lectures. Members engage in community discussions, ask direct questions, and observe real client results being dissected and optimized in real time.
4. Benefits of the Course
Greed Grid Goblins offers several tangible and strategic benefits that set it apart from typical SEO or marketing programs:
- Direct Access to a Proven Expert: Participants learn directly from Michael Merlino, whose two decades of SEO experience have resulted in thousands of successful campaigns and millions in generated leads.
- Hands-On Application: Every module and live session is designed for immediate implementation. Members are encouraged to test strategies on their own listings or client projects, ensuring they learn through doing.
- Exclusive Software and Tools: The inclusion of Chrome extensions and proprietary systems allows members to streamline audits, identify ranking gaps, and monitor progress with precision.
- Community Collaboration: Members gain access to a private network of professionals exchanging data, insights, and results. This collaborative structure accelerates learning and fosters accountability.
- Monthly Live Calls and Case Studies: New updates, experiments, and lessons are delivered in real-time through interactive sessions, ensuring that strategies stay relevant and effective.
- Two-Channel Mastery: By addressing both Maps and organic rankings, participants gain a dual advantage that covers the full spectrum of local visibility and online presence.
- Scalability and Income Potential: The program equips members to grow from freelancers into agency owners capable of managing multiple clients and recurring revenue streams.
- Cutting-Edge Adaptability: Because the group tests and updates methods constantly, participants are always working with the most up-to-date and effective approaches available in local SEO.
Another benefit of the course is its focus on measurable outcomes. Rather than vague promises, Merlino demonstrates real data and ranking results during the mastermind calls. Members see transformations happen live—turning theory into verified performance. The energy of the community also creates a motivating environment where progress is celebrated, and collaboration replaces competition.
5. Target Audience for the Course
Greed Grid Goblins caters to a select group of professionals who are ready to take their marketing or business growth to a higher level. The ideal participants include:
- Local Business Owners: Entrepreneurs in home services, healthcare, real estate, or professional services who rely on visibility in local searches and want to capture more qualified leads.
- SEO Agencies and Freelancers: Marketing professionals managing multiple client accounts who want advanced systems, better tools, and updated methodologies to deliver superior results.
- Digital Entrepreneurs: Individuals interested in building or scaling agencies that specialize in local domination, offering high-ticket retainers and revenue-share partnerships.
- Intermediate and Advanced Marketers: Those with prior SEO experience seeking to refine and sharpen their skills with new insights from a practitioner still actively working in the field.
- Marketers Seeking Community: Professionals who want to collaborate, share results, and grow in a dynamic environment where real-time learning is prioritized over outdated textbook lessons.
While the mastermind offers immense value, it is not intended for complete beginners. The fast-paced structure, reliance on live testing, and technical components require at least a basic understanding of digital marketing principles. It’s best suited for individuals serious about implementation and willing to invest time, focus, and resources into achieving measurable growth.
6. Conclusion with a Summary
Michael Merlino’s Greed Grid Goblins is far more than a typical SEO course—it’s a hands-on, data-driven mastermind designed for marketers who want to dominate local search results and build profitable businesses from it. The combination of live audits, proprietary tools, community engagement, and Merlino’s two decades of experience make this program a unique opportunity for professionals seeking long-term mastery rather than quick wins. Every part of the system is engineered for action: members test, implement, and scale together.
Participants gain not just technical knowledge but also strategic understanding—how to structure offers, attract high-paying clients, and automate repeatable success. The emphasis on real-time case studies ensures that members stay ahead of changing algorithms and maintain competitive advantages in the fast-moving world of local marketing. The mastermind’s interactive model transforms learning into collaboration and application, with members continuously improving through feedback and collective insight.
In essence, Greed Grid Goblins is a growth accelerator for anyone serious about local SEO and business expansion. By mastering Google Maps and organic rankings simultaneously, participants can secure top visibility, consistent leads, and strong client relationships that scale over time. For seasoned marketers and ambitious entrepreneurs alike, this program represents the ultimate combination of expertise, community, and ongoing innovation—a system where knowledge meets measurable results, and success becomes inevitable through persistent execution.

