Analysis Dr. Fraudster Still Deceiving Surgery Patients on Google Convicted Dr. Sajan and his Seattle plastic surgery clinic don't just rank highly in the 3-Pack, they often rank first for money phrases such as "best plastic surgeon."
Analysis Hawk Tuah Academy Goes Global on Google Maps It's too easy for anyone to change a Google Business Profile listing. We are now seeing it happening to schools around the world as the 'Hawk Tuah' meme takes hold.
Analysis Hacking a Business Phone Number on a Google Listing Is (Still) Easy When confronted by the media about fraud and local listings scams, Google's PR machine trots out a familiar playbook and canned messaging.
Analysis FTC Announces Final Rule Banning Fake Reviews 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.
Analysis Google Completes GBP Reviews for LSAs Swap in EU 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.
Analysis Black Hat Tactic Moving Google Map Pins Still Ongoing It's taking longer for Google to address bugs, often with very real consequences for local businesses.
Analysis The Google Local SERP Today Google local SERPs are becoming a festival of "self-preferencing."
Analysis How Google's (Local) Development –> Deprecation Process Affects Innovation 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.
Analysis Seattle Surgeon Slammed with $5M Consent Decree Google and Yelp allowed fake reviews of unethical plastic surgeon to remain up for 18 months, causing damage to thousands of people.
Analysis Local Search Is Evolving, Here's Why You Need to Pay Attention Twin Pack, 3-Pack, 5-Pack, InfiniPack, Quad Pack; local results are expanding. And it could be more impactful than AI Overviews at driving Zero-click behaviors.
Analysis Crazy Google Local Near-Me Test Everything seems up for grabs these days on Google. Check out this 100% local graph results SERP.
Analysis Is Google Replacing LSA Reviews with GBP Reviews? A UK notification suggests that LSA reviews are going to be "unified" with Google Business Profile reviews in July.
Analysis Seattle Surgeon Guilty of Breaking Law with Review Practices A federal judge found Allure Esthetic wrongly prevented patients from posting negative reviews with illegal NDAs.
Analysis Google Doubles Down on the Local Pack in EU The appearance of a second Local Pack in the EU seems to fly in the face of the Digital Market Act's anti-self-preferencing rules.
Analysis Google Now Showing Facebook, Other Social Posts on Your GBP Profile Google Posts have declined in visibility. Social posts on your GBP could replace them, extending their reach. But there's a lot we still don't know yet.
Analysis Google Maps Blocked Reviews in Israel & Gaza 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.
Analysis Featured Why Local Searchers Look to the Local Finder On average, 26% of desktop and 36% of mobile users clicked into the Local Finder at least once during their search journeys.
Analysis Google Maps AI on iOS: Early Impressions The potential for AI in Google Maps is huge. However, while interesting, the results so far are unimpressive.
Analysis Google LSA Brand Ads = Enshittification It has become increasingly clear to those on the front lines that Google's singular focus is on increasing revenue at all costs.
Analysis Are New Google EU Local Results DMA Compliant? Google has made various changes to local SERPs to comply with the DMA. But most of them don't really benefit publishers or users.
News Confusing Tools, Reporting Fake Reviews, 'Highly Rated' LSAs Marketing Tools Are Just Tools When you see a ranking chart that looks like the one below, your first thought is that the SEO has gone south. Whether due to
News Future of GBP, Fake Reviews Rule, Yahoo Local Thryving Where Is Google Business Profile Heading? With the recent demise of Google Business Profile (GBP) Websites and the sale of Google Domains, it raises once again the question of exactly
Analysis The Google Guarantee-LSA Scam in Home Services: A Marketer's Insight 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.
News GBP Sites Going, Google Guarantee Scam Impact, AI & the Future of Search Google Business Profile Websites Bite the Dust Earlier this week Google announced that as of March 1, Google Business Profile (GBP) Websites would be shut off and redirected to the
News LSA Scams in UK, Google Gets Interstitial, You Can't Delete a Listing Google LSA Scammers Are Winning Duct Cleaning scams in Local Service Ads (LSAs) are apparently just the tip of the iceberg. Carpet cleaners and plumbers, with large numbers of fake
Analysis Google LSAs Supercharge Duct Cleaning Scam Google's brand credibility and its 'Google Guarantee' are enabling LSA scammers. And neither the police nor Google seem to care. Hear a victim’s account.
News LSA Duct Fraud P. 5, LSAs and Brand Queries, Google's Scrollable Map, App Store Vault Cracks LSA Duct Cleaning Fraud Gets Real - Part 5 The consumer and business harms of the LSA Duct Cleaning scam are becoming more obvious. Google did remove one of the
News LSA Scam Update, Weak LSA Ad Disclosures, Local CTRs LSA Scam Is Worse than We Thought - Part 4 We reported on the LSA scam of stealing reviews on a grand scale and ripping off customers with inflated quotes
Analysis LSA Spam Scam - It's Deja Vu All Over Again 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.
News Rich Snippet Review Abuse, Organic CTR, LSA Reviewjacking Part 2 Local, Schema Review Abuses In fall of 2019 Google announced it would be ignoring "self-serving" review markup for local business schema and not show review stars in search
News Do Searchers Use Pack Results?, LSA Review Abuses, Google's Failed Review Moderation How often do searchers rely on the Local Pack and Finder to answer their questions? LSA review hijacking abounds and why Google's review moderation is still failing.
News Google AI Goes Veg, Apple Maps Ranking Tool, ChatGPT Review Insights Google Local Goes Vegetarian Google is now highlighting vegetarian dishes at restaurants that don't necessarily identify as vegan or vegetarian. Obviously Google is attempting to help non-meat eaters
Analysis Local Review Landscape: Insights from Whitespark's GBP Analysis 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.
News Fake Review Doctor, Clever Scam Got Reviews Removed, SAB Bug Solution? NYC Orthopedist fined $100k for fake reviews, "reputation management" company manipulates Google Product Experts to get reviews removed, solution for the SAB location bug at hand?
News Google Map Bloat, Citations in Decline, GBP Support Issues Update Google Maps Updates - Bloat or Value? Last week Google announced several new features were now available in Google Maps including Immersive View, more EV charging station information, an updated
News Google Call History Returns, Fake Review Incentives, Apple Biz Connect Insights Google's Call History has a checkered past including cancellation but its now back, The FTC claims that review platforms have perverse incentives to allow fake reviews, we agree and Apple Maps has updated their local Insights
News Google Listings Clean-up, Dashboard Comeback?, Review Fraud Victim Google's Listings Clean-up Over the past two years, suspensions have been a big percentage of GBP Forum requests, especially for service area businesses (SAB). Google required re-verification, including
News New Google Reinstatement Policy, Repeat Spammers, Review 'Punishments' 'One and Done' Policy Will Be Global Google has rolled out a new policy and process for reinstatement of suspended listings in Europe. When a business is suspended
News GBP Deduping Form, Video Verification Clarification, GBP Scams Galore Deduping GBP Profiles: There's a Form for That! Google Maps' knowledge graph includes 200 million business listings and captures them from multiple trusted data suppliers and other
News GBP Forum Issues, New GBP Verification Form, Mediation Now Available in EU European regulations are compelling Google to improve Google Business Profile support.
News Google GBP Gig Workers, Timmie Ho's CX #Fail, Apple Maps' Long Game GBP Support Using Gig Workers Google has long attempted to reduce or eliminate costs from Google Business Profile Support. We have written up Google's newest effort to try
Analysis Google Shifting GBP Support to 'Brand Ambassadors' aka Gig Workers? The seemingly new Google Ambassador program holds out the promise of better support. But that's probably an illusion.
Analysis GBP: New 'Image Not Approved' Appeal Form Google has not been clear about why it rejects GBP images. A new support form offers hope to get them posted.
News Google Maps Transparency, New LSA Categories, Listings Hijacked Again EU DSA to influence Maps moderation, Google LSAs add new categories, Google Maps listings hijacked again (and again).
News GBP's New Guidelines, Video Verification Fail, Solicitation Not Deception GBP's New Policies & Guidelines Google sent out an email today announcing simplified policies and guidelines. Translated from Google speak: We are now actually telling you what the
News Apple Maps Traffic, GBP Call Tracking History, June Forum Insights Is Apple Maps Driving Traffic? In late 2021 it became obvious that Apple Maps had become a much more powerful discovery tool that could deliver traffic to businesses. The rollout
Analysis When Is the Right Time to Ask for Customer Reviews? 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.
News GBP Videos 3, SAB Ranking Hijinks, Political Spam Reviews GBP: 3 Videos Now in Default View We reported several weeks ago that Google was starting to display a single video on Google Business Profiles in mobile search results. In
News LSA Reviews MIA, Inventory Eye Candy, Apple Nukes UTMs Google Finally Focused on Fake LSA Reviews? Google has missed a huge opportunity with Local Service Ads (LSAs) to clean up both local listings and reviews. Within a vetted and
Analysis Missing Google Reviews: A Step-by-Step Recovery Guide Google created a new form and process to request reinstatement of missing reviews. It's a step in the right direction but still too complicated for most business owners.
News Review Timing Impact, Missing Review Recovery, Local Pack Video Starting today the Monday edition of the newsletter will be written by Mike Blumenthal and have a more tactical focus on GBP and local search. If you have any feedback,
Analysis Bug or Feature: Google Business Profile 'Image Not Approved' Google's rejection of images is a black box that often can't be penetrated. Zen-like patience is required. Maps can also be a workaround.
Analysis Google Business Profile: 'Your Business Is Not Visible To Customers' There are many reasons you might see the "your business is not visible" message. But Google isn't going to tell you why.
Analysis Step-by-Step Guide to Fighting Fake Google Review Attacks 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.
Analysis Google Business Profile Forum: Support Avoidance Strategy Google's motto appears to be "release buggy products and externalize their costs."
Analysis Should You Invest in Apple Business Connect? 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.
Analysis Google's New Review Algo: What We Know 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.
Analysis A Guide: Why Are My Reviews Missing on Google? 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.
Analysis Google's Suggested GBP Updates Nuke Reviews Make sure you know your GBP CID numbers and have backups of your reviews; you'll need them sooner or later.
Analysis Semantic Photography: Low Hanging Fruit to Increase Google Local Conversions Google is placing increasing emphasis on visual search. This presentation talks about how to scale a photographic effort for multiple locations.
Analysis Google Cuts Off Reviews for Reproductive Care Clinics Google has shut down new reviews for Planned Parenthood and other reproductive healthcare businesses. The action raises a number of unanswered questions.
Analysis A Look at Google Local Results without 'Self-Preferencing' What would Google local search results look like if Google couldn't put the Local 3-Pack at the top of search results? A recently discovered test may give us a clue.
Analysis Google on a Review Takedown Tear Legitimate reviews appear to be collateral damage from a stepped up Google effort to address review spam.
Analysis Amazon, Just Say No to Earth Day Marketing 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.
The Visual Future of Local Search The increasing role of images in the local SERPS is driven by Google's rapidly accelerating "understanding" of images. It impacts the search results in a significant way & image uploads of high-quality images to your Business Profile improves visibility & conversions.
Analysis The Visual Future of Local Search - Part 3 The specific steps should you be taking now, using high-quality images to improve conversions and how to future-proof your location(s) for Visual Search.
Analysis The Visual Future of Local Search - Part 2 With advanced image recognition provided by their Cloud Vision AI, Google has made images more relevant to search intent.
Analysis The Visual Future of Local Search - Part 1 One of the trends in Local has been Google's increasing use of images in search results. Google has expanded the space devoted to images, increased the number of images and enlarged their size. In Part 2 & 3 we will look at its impact on SEO.
Analysis Google Local Finder Becomes a Product Finder Google is putting increasing emphasis on local product inventory search as it tries to better compete with Amazon.
Analysis Google: Adding In-store Products Can Improve Local Rankings Google now explicitly states that in-store product availability is a local ranking factor in its own Google Business Profile documentation.
Analysis Consumer Review Trust Down but Usage Up 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.
Analysis Google Review Growth in Decline Google was gaining reviews until 2017. Then everything slowed way down.
Analysis Details from the FTC's 'HomeAdvisor Cheated SMBs' Complaint We got a copy of the heavily redacted complaint, which contains numerous claims of misrepresentations to SMBs.
Analysis Google Increasingly Showing Product Images in Local Packs Google has been working steadily for at least a decade toward real-time product inventory in local search results.
Analysis HomeAdvisor Cheated SMBs for Years – FTC 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.
Analysis Yelp's Hidden Headwinds: Declining User Traffic and Aging Reviews Yelp made structural changes during COVID that improved performance, but there are major obstacles to growth going forward.
Analysis Google Automates SMB Emails to Congress to Plead Antitrust Case Feeling nervous, Google is intensifying its anti-antitrust campaign, lobbying SMBs to "take action" and automating their emails.
Analysis The 10 Review Platforms Who Got FTC Warning Letters Ten review management platforms were put on notice by the FTC. Here they are and what got them into trouble.
Analysis FTC's Review Guidelines Part 2: Platforms The FTC's guidance for review platforms is sweeping. But enforcement will be selective and "closed platforms" are the most likely targets.
Analysis FTC's Review Guidelines Part I: Business Marketers The FTC's new guidelines simplify many things about review solicitation and moderation, but other areas are now murkier.
Analysis Google GMB's Old Facebook Page Pwnd by Fake Reviews Vendor Google allowed a fake reviews company to snatch its old Facebook URL.
Analysis With $4.2M Fine, FTC Kills 'Review Gating' The agency signaled it's going to get tough on brands and platforms that engage in review manipulation.
Analysis Apple Maps: The Road to Discovery (Part 2) Apple is just getting started with its push into local business discovery and monetization for Apple Maps. AR is also in its future.
Analysis Apple Maps: The Road to Discovery (Part 1) Apple's many recent updates to Maps to improve business discovery and transactions points to long term trend towards both building out Maps and integrating it in the future world of AR.
Analysis Google’s New Business Profile: When Search Becomes a Political Tool Google, in an effort to regain control of the antitrust narrative, has brazenly and deceptively enlisted small businesses to argue the company's case.
Analysis FTC to 700+ Brands: Deceptive Endorsements Will Lead to Financial Pain The FTC is trying to lay the groundwork for substantial fines against high-profile violators of its endorsement and review guidelines.
Analysis What Reviews Tell Us About How Walmart Is Really Doing 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.
Analysis Reviews on Apple Maps: A Complete Guide 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.
Analysis Google to Permanently Allow Chains the Ability Create Posts via API Google has decided that chains will be able to create Google Posts via the API on an on-going basis. This feature will not disappear once Covid abates as was previously noted in the GMB API documentation.
Analysis The High Cost of Fake Reviews 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.
Analysis Change Is Afoot at the Newly Revitalized FTC A newly invigorated FTC is taking a much more activist position on a range of issues, potentially including local.
Analysis Featured Google's Online Food Ordering Is Magical, and the Future of Local Search Google's online ordering test offers a highly streamlined process that is so smooth you realize the future is here, and it is now.
Analysis Image Packs and the Localization of Google Product Search In the past, image search optimization was complicated and returns were minimal for local businesses. That's all starting to change.
Analysis Featured Confessions of a Google Local Guide Google incentivizes quantity over quality with user-generated content. Local businesses should take control of their profile images or be at the mercy of the UGC hordes.
Analysis What Happened to Yelp: A Hospitality Reviews Case Study Google critics argue the company's search monopoly harmed Yelp. A closer look reveals a more complex story with missed opportunities.
Analysis Mask Mandates Are Going Away, COVID Anxiety Isn't As official mask mandates lift, our survey shows many consumers are still anxious. That puts a challenging burden on local business owners.
Analysis How Google Came to Dominate Local Reviews Google owns the local review economy. It wasn't always that way. Here's how it happened.
Analysis Amazon's Ruthless Efficiencies In Amazon's efficiencies and ruthlessness we see all of the contradictions of American commerce and culture.
Analysis Google Expands Restaurant Online Order Integration 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.
Analysis FTC to Speed Rulemaking to Fight Digital Deception Rebecca Slaughter, the acting Chair of the FTC, disdains fake reviews and has elevated rulemaking at the FTC to do something about it.
Analysis Google Maps Privacy Nutrition Label 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.
Analysis Data: As States Reopen, Local Businesses Grapple with Mask Dilemma * 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
Analysis Deconstructing Google’s Local Guides and Photo Updates Post Like all Google releases it generated massive press. We cast our penetrating 'Kreminologist’s' eye on its many details.
Analysis Google Surfaces Small Business E-Commerce Sites in Local Results A new "online stores" card started appearing in some mobile search results, offering a mix of SMB e-commerce and national brands that sell locally.