iOS 18.2 is coming this week, with new AI features and ChatGPT Siri integration. The buzz is likely to increase consumer interest in Siri. More intriguing is Siri's growing use of Apple knowledge graphs to answer many queries directly on device and its potential impact on Google.

When ChatGPT is added to Siri as part of iOS 18.2, we're likely to see a significant increase in Siri usage, a good portion of which will be local search.

Recent tests of Google's AI Organized search results restaurants and bars is striking. The many local carousels create a highly visual search results that dominates the page and reflects an all Google approach to search that leaves little room for anything else.

The new rule will make it easer to go after and punish egregious offenders but many players in the "fake review economy" will still fall under the radar.

In the UK & EU and perhaps other EMEA countries, Local Services Ad accounts must now be connected to a Google Business Profile and LSA reviews are being replaced by GBP reviews.

It's taking longer for Google to address bugs, often with very real consequences for local businesses.

Google local SERPs are becoming a festival of "self-preferencing."

GBP Chat's rise and fall is an example of Google's approach to local product development, which often hurts small developers and innovation more generally.

Google and Yelp allowed fake reviews of unethical plastic surgeon to remain up for 18 months, causing damage to thousands of people.

Everything seems up for grabs these days on Google. Check out this 100% local graph results SERP.

A UK notification suggests that LSA reviews are going to be "unified" with Google Business Profile reviews in July.

A federal judge found Allure Esthetic wrongly prevented patients from posting negative reviews with illegal NDAs.

How long the review ban will last has come up a number of times in the forums, with no official Google confirmation of the ban or when it might end.

The potential for AI in Google Maps is huge. However, while interesting, the results so far are unimpressive.

It has become increasingly clear to those on the front lines that Google's singular focus is on increasing revenue at all costs.

This eye-opening interview with Zachary Dotson, an experienced HVAC marketer, sheds light on a rampant scam in Google LSAs and its impact on legitimate businesses. He exposes the challenges in tackling these scams and the lack of response from the authorities and Google.

Google has seen every type of spam and scam in local, yet they've now infiltrated Local Services Ads, which carry a Google "guarantee." This makes Google complicit in deceiving the public.

The findings highlight the importance of reviews in a wider range of business categories than we previously suspected and the need for tailored strategies based on category and location.

The seemingly new Google Ambassador program holds out the promise of better support. But that's probably an illusion.

The best time to ask for reviews isn't the next day; it may be more than a week after the transaction according to new research.

Fake review attacks are an ongoing and serious problem. Google makes it difficult to get them removed but with inside knowledge and determination it is possible.

Google's motto appears to be "release buggy products and externalize their costs."

Apple Business Connect now offers insights into traffic and conversions. In some categories it will outpace both Facebook and Yelp as a source for conversions & new business.

Removal of reviews is apparently influenced by business category, age of the GBP, review solicitation, review velocity and whether the reviewer actually visited the business.

With Google's new AI-driven review filter, you're going to lose some reviews. Here's how to navigate the new system without going crazy.

Make sure you know your GBP CID numbers and have backups of your reviews; you'll need them sooner or later.

Google is placing increasing emphasis on visual search. This presentation talks about how to scale photographic efforts across multiple locations.

Google has shut down new reviews for Planned Parenthood and other reproductive healthcare businesses. The action raises a number of unanswered questions.

Legitimate reviews appear to be collateral damage from a stepped up Google effort to address review spam.

Every holiday or cultural event now is embraced as a marketing opportunity. But brands risk being seen as inauthentic or hypocritical if all they do is talk and don't walk the walk.

Google is putting increasing emphasis on local product inventory search as it tries to better compete with Amazon.

Google now explicitly states that in-store product availability is a local ranking factor in its own Google Business Profile documentation.

Trust in reviews has been declining since 2017, but consumers still rely on them to make decisions. Businesses must adapt review strategies and embrace the negative review.

Google was gaining reviews until 2017. Then everything slowed way down.

We got a copy of the heavily redacted complaint, which contains numerous claims of misrepresentations to SMBs.

Google has been working steadily for at least a decade toward real-time product inventory in local search results.

The FTC filed a complaint against HomeAdvisor, saying the company overcharged SMBs and misrepresented leads, and the "likelihood they would result in actual jobs," since 2014.

Yelp made structural changes during COVID that improved performance, but there are major obstacles to growth going forward.

Feeling nervous, Google is intensifying its anti-antitrust campaign, lobbying SMBs to "take action" and automating their emails.

Ten review management platforms were put on notice by the FTC. Here they are and what got them into trouble.

The FTC's guidance for review platforms is sweeping. But enforcement will be selective and "closed platforms" are the most likely targets.

The FTC's new guidelines simplify many things about review solicitation and moderation, but other areas are now murkier.

Google allowed a fake reviews company to snatch its old Facebook URL.

The agency signaled it's going to get tough on brands and platforms that engage in review manipulation.

Google, in an effort to regain control of the antitrust narrative, has brazenly and deceptively enlisted small businesses to argue the company's case.

The FTC is trying to lay the groundwork for substantial fines against high-profile violators of its endorsement and review guidelines.

Reviews can provide an independent look at management issues and consumer trends at large multi-location chains. This 'proof of concept' approach explores Walmart's inventory woes through the lens of local store reviews.

Apple has released the ability to review most businesses in the US. It is fast, easy and hard to spam. Learn the what's, why's and wherefores of this significant new review platform.

Whether through incompetence or egregious self-interest, Google has allowed companies like Kelly Forklift to continue to perpetrate customer deception and highlight themselves in search results.

A newly invigorated FTC is taking a much more activist position on a range of issues, potentially including local.

In the past, image search optimization was complicated and returns were minimal for local businesses. That's all starting to change.

Google critics argue the company's search monopoly harmed Yelp. A closer look reveals a more complex story with missed opportunities.

As official mask mandates lift, our survey shows many consumers are still anxious. That puts a challenging burden on local business owners.

Google owns the local review economy. It wasn't always that way. Here's how it happened.

In Amazon's efficiencies and ruthlessness we see all of the contradictions of American commerce and culture.

Google is rapidly building out front and back end capabilities to improve integration with restaurant food ordering and to control many parts of the process, while minimizing costs and extracting some rent.

Early last week Google finally updated Maps for iOS and its attendant privacy label. As you suspected, Google is collecting a lot of personal data.

* The majority of consumers clearly support strict masking enforcement and prefer businesses that do this. Women and older consumers are most supportive. * A meaningful anti-mask minority creates a dilemma for

Like all Google releases it generated massive press. We cast our penetrating 'Kreminologist’s' eye on its many details.