Can Gemini Fix Google search by fixing both query refinement and the interface? Why are Google review ratings consistently higher than Yelp or TA and what is the impact? Reviewjacking Reflects Big Problems with Local Service Ads

Joy Hawkins of Sterling Sky and Darren Shaw of Whitespark share how Generative AI and ChatGPT are transforming their agencies at both a tactical and strategic level to improve content, reporting and employee results.

Google’s Newest Search Features: “Whipped cream on S.H. I. .T”.? Whitespark Research:  Exploring the Landscape of Local Business Reviews across 1 Million Listings, There is a lot of work to be done on the fake review front

“Running a startup is like being in a knife fight,” BeanBox Co-Founder and CEO Matthew Berk says, as he describes the arduous but rewarding journey from the world of SaaS to making a real-world consumer product.

GBP Call History’s History - What does it say about Google?Bright Local Local Business Discovery and Trust Report, How will Google’s SGE impact local search and what will it deliver?

Does recent Insights upgrade indicate new life for the GBP multi-location dashboard? GBP listing cleanup & more rigorous verification might mean less fraud but more work for honest businesses & agencies, Half of all users indicate dissatisfaction with Google but defaults make change hard.

“Clicks Are Not a ranking signal” except when they are, Google Comments on Review Fraud: “We are the victim here”, Google’s local and travel data creates better AI experience

In this expanded guest episode, author Purna Virji brings her many years of experience as a journalist, PR veteran, search marketer, speaker and content creator to content strategy and marketing.

An interview with Curtis Boyd of the Transparency Company on the big picture of review fraud - who does it and why, how to deal with it, and whether the new FTC fake review rules and Google's new(wish) filter mean for possible enforcement.

Upcoming Google Anit-trust case unlikely to change much of anything in the world of search, GBP (Google business Profile) support finally introduces a form to dedupe listings in Google Maps, When searching, consumers consider many results

Part 1 starts 00:13 - Do Google searchers enter the Local Finder? Local SEOs wonder whether searchers actually enter the Local Finder from the Pack results. We often think

Small and very small businesses (VSMBs) use search as a primary way to find new services, Google Business Profile (GBP) support is rapidly coming into compliance with new European regulations, AI generated artwork is NOT covered by copyright

Google Ambassadors (i.e. Gig Workers) now staffing GBP support poorly, New Google feature: Search Generative Experience while browsing, Are AI Generated review summaries the future of platform reviews?

Google VS Chat GPT Taste Test -which is more satisfying? Google Ad Liaison provided bad pruning advice to CNET, Consumers indicate that reviews are important but do they read them?

New Local Ad format is a local ad as local ads should be, New Google Business Profile (GBP) Guidelines clarify long “secret” policies, Google SGE finally includes reference links

Google continues to lose product search market share although now to social, Scammers hijack Airline phone numbers on Google…. again, Yelp scolds businesses for soliciting reviews.... again.

Apple Maps & Local Opportunities, Learnings from going undercover as a quality rater for Google, Is Google’s AI based SGE a dead end or the future of search?

The enshittification of Google Analytics - GA4 is largely unusable, Twitter, where art thou replacement? The FTC releases new review Guidelines & Rules for Reviews

Tiktok IS about Local but not the way you think, Google Perspectives: innovation for the SERPs or bandaid to prevent social media flight? New Google GBP feature “By Owner” & new Whitespark tool reflect reality that GBP is rented not owned

Marc Prioleau spent a majority of his career in digital mapping. He now runs Overture Maps Foundation, an open source project funded by Meta, Amazon Web Services, TomTom & Microsoft.

Google LSA reviews come, they go but LSA still sucks, Localized stories and visualizations are a path to SEO success for National Local Brands, Are AI driven personal assistants the future of search?

When should you ask for reviews for your business? Is Google SGE the real deal or just a placeholder? Apple Vision Pro might just be the next great thing.

Activist investor suggests Yelp sale, Google Merchant Center Next - a cool product without market? Bard's Journey as an Alternative to Google Search

AI will transform SaaS. Unbounce CPO Darby Sieben shares his thoughts on the AI revolution, how it has impacted his company and where it's all going.

GBP Image Not Approved, a bug or feature & how to tell, ChatGPT has added plug-ins & the web integration sucks, Yelp integration with Google Reserve reflects strange bedfellow and Yelp's weak position

Google I/O - How to make the interesting seem mundane, Google search and AI = SGE, The Rise of Bard: Expanding the Boundaries of Search, The Future of Search & Implications for Local

Understanding and managing the ever expanding Google Local Knowledge Panel, Google Local - tracking your way to success, Beyond Google Local - being ready to live without Google

Will AI totally destroy the review economy & what will replace them? Does declining Google Business listing totals reflect “peak” GBP? As social media fueled news sites fail opportunity abounds for sites willing to build own audience

Consumer Reports new app, Permission Slip eases privacy requests but is still a baby step, TripAdvisor Review Transparency Report highlights 2022 review increases but hides declining reviews, Google AI PR push masks lapses and fear

Unpacking Online Local Ads (OLA): The Pros and Cons of Google's New Ad Type for Local Businesses, Bard's Local SEO: Implications for businesses, The Impact of Chat Engines and Virtual Assistants on the Future of Local Search: Challenges, Promises, and Possibilities

Will Google merging Bard into Assistant resurrect assistants from the ashes? Wix integrates AI for SMB content in a way that will helps the SMB, Can GM build a better CarOS & throw CarPlay away?

Local Search Ranking factors with Darren Shaw: Big Takeaways and big changes from previous years, Local search difference makers & lesser known tactics, Conversion factors and myths

FTC proposes proposes amending Negative Option Rule to rein in subscription abuse, Google Bard goes local, sort of, The Bard use case is more generative and less searchy

New Google GPB Bug: Your Business is not visible to customers, TikTok rolling out search ads, will they come to local?, Social mapping tool Gowalla returns to the scene,

Google LSA expands to new categories & faces spam, ChatGPT making rapid and differentiating inroads into SAAS tools for Local, Why every company needs a “how we use Generative AI” FAQ

Bing isn’t a Google killer but it is important for a number of other reasons, Yelps’ remote work report likely indicates declining Yelp market share, How to deal with fake review attacks at Google

In Episode 102 of the Near Memo, we discussed how a recently implemented change in the Google Business Profile review filter is leading to more fake review attacks. Below is

Google Business Profile services positively impact rank, Local Seo Guide research: Which geo title tags have the most impact on local search rank? Impact of Google easing review filter to placate Local Guide on fake & missing review reports

Microsoft’s transformation of Bing with AI & other smart moves, Walmart overcomes stigma of evil & appeals to upscale shoppers, 100 Ecommerce execs are investing more in SEO & PP

In this extended episode we explore the role AI in general and ChatGPT is having on the work within digital agencies. What are the opportunities and challenges that agencies face when using it?

You don’t own Google but you do own your processes - make them work, AI and Automation is now officially a thing in SEO, and not just for writing, Generative AI will increase fake reviews, now what?

Mailchimp’s Campaign Manager - A sophisticated tool with misaligned marketing, Growing visibility of copyright implications of generative AI precedes solutions, Google’s GBP forums provide insights into bugs, practices and policy

Failings in Apple Business Connect Agency Model, Big agencies define local as a fad in CallRail survey, Technical SEO’s don’t get respect or resources

Why the new Apple Business Connect is so important, The value of stack ranking as a way to prune employees, AI’s rapid advancements and easy implementation will impact everything from audio chat bots to Excel

Washington AG sues Plastic Surgeon for review fraud under the federal Consumer Review Fairness Act for using NDAs to suppress reviews and more, Shopify targets big retail with modern, composable stack for enterprise, Bing to integrate ChatGPT & what that might mean

A fun and engaging conversation with Barry Schwartz about the Google UI, most important algorithm updates, coming impact of AI and whether Google has "gotten worse."

How different age groups think about reviews; Evolution of Apple’s Business Register - Why isn’t Apple targeting the Enterprise? Google’s Visual Elements Gallery demonstrates just how complicated search has become

How ChatGPT’s breakthrough ability to create content will significantly impact local, A deep dive into the common factors in Google Local’s new AI based review filter, David laments Google nuking a joke location that promotes a lame basketball tame

Authority Hacker Survey of Linkbuilders: Buying links works & so does content, Alexa pullback by Amazon points to difficulties with Voice, Content Moderation will be a focus in 2023 possibly leading to Twitter being banned in Europe or many more lawsuits in the US

Google ‘fesses up’ as the Google review bug saga continues, Takeaways from the Moz ‘Impact of Local Business Reviews on Consumer Behavior’ survey, Google promotes lame store finder to bulk GPB users, adding insult to the injury of forcing the new search (NMX) interface on them.

New Google Suggest Edit bug Nuking reviews? Google Business Profile test Now Showing Local Guide review quantities in a city. Is it helpful? AirBnB stops buying adwords & relies on brand & SEO. Can other brands give up Adwords?

Shopify study shows much higher churn than WooCommerce, why & what are the implications? SEMRush zero click study makes the case that the web clicks are still king. Apple Maps makes gains Vs Google Maps Functionality in Europe

Google doubles down on SMB deception to achieve political goals; iOS 16 elevates search but still fails at local and internet search; A blooming of search alternatives; competitors or ankle biters?

The impending demise of the local audiologists with the arrival of over the counter hearing aids, The growth in the use of content bots for local news, Facebook's shuttering of Neighborhoods and their persistent failures in local

Is Google’s Quick Read Feature useful or a Gen Z bone? Why Google Posts are rejected - Another Google AI first fail, Why Nearby, TikTok & Instagram need local seo now

Shopify creates an influencer marketplace; Google’s Helpful Content Update, why now?; Google’s AI-first approach is often wrong for business and society.

Part 1 David: Yelp has recently publicized their newest revenue stream; selling merchant data to marketers. It seems sleazy and is likely just a money grab by Yelp Part 2

Google whines to get Apple to integrate iMessage with RCS messaging, Axios’ local play gets highlighted in Cox buyout, Facebook B2B segments hold promise for lower cost, easier targeting

Shopify invests in Klaviyo for increased enterprise appeal, The golden era of hyper detailed location data intelligence is coming to an end, At Covid start E-commerce was eating retail, turns out it is retail and retail is ecommerce

Instagram evolves (?) to target Gen Z but leaves others behind, Google prevents reviews on listings that offer reproductive services, Local Packs show for 77% on Google commerce query SERP results

Amazon & Google pander to the FTC on reviews, American Privacy Act might become law but Opt-In/Out battle remains, Instagram (& Facebook) finally goes local with discovery search

Part 1 Video start 0:13 - Indie bookstores have rebounded strongly, why? Part 2 Video start 8:54 - Amidst broad privacy abuses the FTC is looking to target

Part 1 Video start 0:13 - Digital Markets Act attempts to limit gatekeepers & create an even playing field for business online Part 2 Video start 15:23  - The

The key to SEO is the Knowledge Graph so embrace entities, Google Offers shows Google’s playbook for dominating transactions, in light of the Supreme Court decisions data privacy has become even more important

Part 1 Video start 0:13 - Is Google Full of 'SEO Chum' and Less Useful? Part 2 Video start 4:18 - A Look at Google Local Results without

Chewy’s provides great CX and it goes viral, A look at the top 1000 queries on the desktop and what it says about local, John Oliver & Rand Fishkin look at the two antitrust bills that might pass this summer & how that might affect marketing.

Amazon getting into Local Ad space, Yep It search engine looks to deliver creator benefits, Apple delivers Buy Now, Pay Later Solution that is consumer friendly, Apple Spotlight search is moving front & center

Apple search engine coming to a browser near you? Google Business Profile product kerfuffle when ability to add products disappeared. Walmart to use stores for 3rd party local delivery.

Part 1 Video start 0:13 - Walmart does drones deliveries ahead of Amazon while gig deliveries are failing Part 2 Video start 7:18 - Google Marketing Live & I/

Saying goodbye to Bill Slawsk, a discussion around Goolge's promised Ad Center and how click throughs really do drive rank on Google.

SMB more successful with content, typical looks at SMBS often undercounts total ad spend, Google I/O dreams big for hardware but puts in stake around Local, Multisearch & Lens + Near Me

Amazon’s Earth Day promotions damage their reputation, Customer feedback & reviews can be so much more than just a number, With in store being up & e-commerce driving expectations, SMBs need an integrated digital approach.

Ratings vs Review Text - Which is more important for buyer conversions? Performance Max - Is Google’s newly updated automated ad product good enough to replace agencies? What is the future of advertising on Twitter under a Musk regime?

Amazon’s new Buy Prime looking to push Prime across much of e-commerce, What is the future on-online content? Will it be AI generated? What content works best for SMB research when buying SAAS products?

Google Search Dominates Digital Advertising, Google’s AI based Self-Updating Maps reflects failure to engage SMBs, Mobile SERP are Image Serps

Google claims Local, Real-time Inventory Improves Rank in the 3 Pack, Joy Hawkins offers LocalU Advanced highlights on Spam impact, review takedowns & and update to the Vicinity Update, GA4 Sucks, can Data Studio & analytic alternatives fill the void?

Antitrust Laws against self preferencing closer to passage in US & Europe, Google partners with CVS Minute Clinic on appointments in the Google Business Profile, Consumer review trust down since 2017 but usage is up in the past 2 years

Featured Snippets & Ranking- Jumping the Queue; Consumer Expectations for Business Responses: Chat vs SMS; Google Increasingly Showing Product Images in Local Packs to Gain Edge in Product Search Battle

Google goes local w/ product search and smaller stores filter, HomeAdvisor accused of cheating service businesses for years by the FTC, How do small businesses prefer to work with Sales people?

Google sued in class action by restaurants for adding Order buttons through 3rd parties to their Business Profile, Publishers argue ad providers are scraping too much content to deliver contextual ads, Yelp’s 2021 showed solid financials but user and review acquisition headwinds

Review reliance up but trust is down, where will it lead? Amazon kills bookstores for Grocery Business, Nextdoor’s 1st earning report surprises with small $, big losses & limited user base.

Yelp Elite reviews for sale; Core Web Vitals: No impact on Local ranking, Google offering SEO training, What will Google be in 10 years?

Will Google’s new AI summary tool give SEO's a better understanding of their content? Will it someday make SEO superfluous? Is Google’s Android Privacy Sandbox Real or Performative? What do Wix’s #’s say about how big the SMB market is?

Meta Messes Up But Blames Others; Yelp & Google claim they maintain review quality, & The FTC warns 10 review platforms to stop deceiving customers

Google GMB's Old Facebook Page Pwnd by Fake Reviews Vendor, Google abandons FLOC and moves toward contextual advertising standard with Topics & The FTC creates new guidelines banning gating and favoring review transparency

Radical bill to ban the use of personal data proposed in response to surveillance capitalism, Interesting survey of new SMBs indicate low but growing use of SAAS tools, Niantic is making AR interesting, profitable and more useful enroute to the metavearth

Vendasta buys MatchCraft and adds PPC to their mix, Despite Supreme Court decision the path forward for business is clear, TLDR bill attempts to make TOS clear, will it matter?

A proposed golf course raised $10 mil with NFTs as the funding model. Can Google ever compete in product search with Amazon? What would it take? American’s distrust of big tech is off the charts but continue to use them

Part 1 Video Starts 0:13 - Google Rolls out bigger, brighter Local Pack with more visuals [https://youtu.be/PkHTI6OR3e0] Part 2 Video- Starts 8:14 - Yelp Survey

In this interview with Darren Shaw we take a deep dive into the Local Search Ranking Factors. We look at the key take aways, the strengths and weaknesses of the survey and areas that Local SEO’s should focus on.

Apple Maps gets real about navigation & discovery; Twitter’s underperformance & CEO change point to a need for a new business model, Fired Xooglers claim “Don’t be evil” is an employment contract

67% of Consumers Trust ‘Local Businesses’ More than Internet-Only Brands and over 50% of their search are local; Apple Maps makes discovery push and position themselves for AR

Vista deftly rebranded & their success shows strength of SMB market, Can new search engines like You make a go of it in the face of Google? Google has expanded their SMB propaganda campaign into Adwords to gain SMB support against anti-trust regulation

This week we discuss just one topic, the rebranding of the Google My Business tools to the Business Profile. With enhanced in-search and in Maps editing, Google is trying (once

Amazon dips toes in local buy online and pickup in store, The arc of the impact of images in Google Local search, Google Local driving the bulk of leads in most industries

FTC details broad spread mobile ISPs privacy abuse practices amongst major carriers, Snap misses qt. estimates and blames Apple for shortfall, Rand Fishkin asks what if performance ads an analytics scam?

Part 1 Video Starts 0:13 - Squarespace’s “Everything to Sell Anything,” [https://youtu.be/J-ap1T6Q8N4] Part 2 Video- Starts 9:58 - Google vs. Lowe [https://youtu.be/

FTC lays groundwork for review fines with 700 companies IF they violate rules; Amazon creates a stealth XMAS toy offline catalog that is barely branded; Google Lens surfacing Local Packs with product shots

Google's latest visual search innovation, Yelp's new SaaS app for restaurants, and consumer reaction to Amazon and Facebook's latest devices.

Can new retail formats save department stores? How many real customers does Wix have? Will we see opt-in privacy options and what does it mean for marketers?

Shopify CAC, Marketing Benchmarks for SMBs; Is Your Customer Acquisition Cost Sustainable? Benchmarks for Every Industry; What Reviews Tell Us About How Walmart’s Supply Chain Issues; Twitter’s GMB Profile

B2B sales have changed forever with self-serve playing an ever larger role. Why is leading digital wallet Apple Pay uptake still so low? Will Facebook’s SmartGlasses make it out of the gate?

MailChimp priced at $10b for Intuit proves value of SMB SAAS, 1-800-Contacts sues Warby Parker over trade name use in Adwords, Will Yahoo have a new life after Verizon sale?

FTC says Facebook Resorted to Illegal Buy-or-Bury Scheme to Crush Competition After Failed Attempts to Innovate, Clients tell all: What small businesses need from marketing agencies today, How to Start a Local Restaurant Delivery Service: An Interview with Clay Seaman of Omaha LoCo

The unintended consequences of Google ramping up Local Food ordering; local delivery devastated, a surprising outcome of Covid includes Veterinary burnout and a shortage of animal Vets, In the strange world of review abuse merchants pay (or abuse) for negative review takedowns

Yelp recovers from pandemic lows, SMBs hire key staff later than thought and how to create content when AI writes it all

We discuss the Facebook Metaverse, the non impact of Apple's actions, Apple & Snapchats improved local mapping, and how privacy seems ever further away.

Google makes reviewing easy by adding attributes to restaurant reviews, Fake reviews are costly to SMBS but Google seems incapable of squashing them, Square’s new bank is a threat to traditional SMB banking relationships

Biden Executive order sets stage for Executive branch cooperation to increase competitiveness in US, Does a declining Craiglist create an opening for NextDoor in classifieds? Will facial recognition notices slow down shoppers?

Google Play store antitrust suit futile? Case Study: Good Local content succeeds against Google algo updates! Yext Search Data Hub provides interesting GMB Insights Data across 600,000 listings

Facebook releases Bulletin, a subscription newsletter that integrates FB comments; Is Shopify creating a cross website Ad network to assist their SMB’s ad efforts?; The Supreme Court orders a review of the HiQ-LinkedIn dispute that could endanger scraping & Martech stacks

Google’s delay of FLoC is due to both the confusion in the market & rejection by leading platforms. The successes of DuckDuckGo follows customer demand for privacy How to navigate the new covid reality vis a vis employees without losing customers?

An exciting week in local. We explore the local arc from inventory to ordering to monopoly and consolidation

Apple killed email? Google’s crazy Local business names; In person conferences are wonderful & weird

Is there a solution to fake reviews?; Google’s Grand Vision for search is nothing if not ambitious; How a local bookstore is fighting for his business and his community in his fight against Amazon.

Are Yelp’s problems self-inflicted?; Google I/O: they flex their AI muscles and move further into local products with the Shopping Graph; Google going into Retail, really?

Apple Ad Tracking Opt-in at 4% in US is much lower than anticipated;
Shopify focuses on helping SMB be better & retain customer relationships & gain access to better rates and capital; Facebook Neighborhoods, a NextDoor clone, is likely to be worse due to poor moderation

Zagat reviews, but shorter and more visual, rise from the Google ashes; The FTC ability to levy fines as a deterrent is knee capped by SCOTUS; Apple privacy changes AND review capability coming this week.

FB Survey: increased SMB e-commerce & struggles. What will consumers do when the economy opens? SubStack creates program to develop local news.

Website Builder SquareSpace acquires restaurant backend system Tock; Google My Business shoots themselves in the Messaging foot by showing competitors when a consumer attempts to message a specific business; GroundTruth bets on the SMB market with acquisition of Addy.

Episode 8: Google fights with Rand Fishkin over “zero-click” searches. Can a rating only review ever be defamatory? Will Yahoo’s brand rise from the ashes as a Verizon subscription service?

The impact of COVID-19 one year into the pandemic: consumers prefer rigorous mask enforcement by businesses, eCommerce has become table stakes, the trends in advertising and privacy favor the triopoly.

How the advertising duopoly has created alternative income models, Tock and the restaurant friendly delivery model, deconstructing Google’s recent announcements about Local Guides and photo updates in Google Maps.

Google's first privacy stance benefits...Google, Measuring the Public's Trust in Tech, and Volvo's Direct-to-Consumer Model Portends Radical Shifts for Car Dealers.

Facebook Hides Behind SMBs, Hey's New Newsletter Product, and Wal-mart Innovates with Video.

The Near Memo is a weekly conversation about Search, Social, and Commerce: What happened, why it matters, and the implications for local businesses and national brands.

Welcome to the Near Memo. Our conversation about the important developments of the week and beyond.

Mike Blumenthal and David Mihm join Greg Sterling for the first episode of The Near Memo podcast, where they discuss Amazon's recent PR stunt, the recent activity and interest around newsletters, the arrival of Clubhouse, and privacy.