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 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 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.