> ## Content Index
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# Looking Back at 2021
- URL: https://www.nearmedia.co/looking-back-at-2021-and-to-the-future/
- Published: 2021-12-29T20:11:46.000Z
- Updated: 2021-12-29T20:36:58.000Z
- Author: Near Media
- Tags: News

Thank you for joining us for the first year of Near Media. 

Despite it being a hard year, we relished the opportunity to appear in your inbox and hope that we have added value to your daily life. 

For members, we produced a downloadable PDF that looks at Apple's improvements to Maps for local discovery and their increasing role as a source for SMB customers. If you sign up you will receive your copy:

[Subscribe to the Newsletter](https://www.nearmedia.co/#subscribe)

For the year we published 150 newsletters, 45 podcasts and 37 analysis posts, with help from [Adam Dorfman](https://reputation.com/?ref=nearmedia.co), [Miriam Ellis](https://www.solaswebdesign.net/?ref=nearmedia.co), [Andrew Shotland](https://www.localseoguide.com/?ref=nearmedia.co), [Chris Silver Smith](https://argentmedia.com/about-us/chris-silver-smith/?ref=nearmedia.co) and [Curtis Boyd](https://askfortransparency.com/?ref=nearmedia.co).

### Top 10 Most Read Articles for the Year

**Nov:** [Google's New Business Profile: When Search Becomes a Political Tool](https://www.nearmedia.co/does-the-gmb-rebranding-mean-more-or-less-than-google-say/) 

**Aug:** [Reviews on Apple Maps: A Complete Guide](https://www.nearmedia.co/a-look-at-apples-review-environment/) 

**May:** [How Google Came to Dominate Local Reviews](https://www.nearmedia.co/when-google-came-to-dominate-reviews/) 

**May:** [Confessions of a Google Local Guide](https://www.nearmedia.co/confessions-of-a-local-guide/)

**Nov:** [Apple Maps: The Road to Discovery (Part 2)](https://www.nearmedia.co/apple-maps-the-road-to-discovery-part-2/)

**June:** [Google's Online Food Ordering Is Magical, and the Future of Local Search](https://www.nearmedia.co/googles-online-food-ordering-is-the-future-of-local-search/)

**Nov:** [Apple Maps: The Road to Discovery (Part 1)](https://www.nearmedia.co/apple-maps-road-to-discovery/)

**July:** [Google to Permanently Allow Chains the Ability Create Posts via API](https://www.nearmedia.co/google-acknowledges-that-chains-will-be-able-to-post-via-api-going-forward/)

**July:** [The High Cost of Fake Reviews](https://www.nearmedia.co/high-cost-of-fake-reviews/)

**June:** [Local Listings Domino Theory](https://www.nearmedia.co/local-listings-domino-theory/)

### Top 5 Most Popular Podcasts & Videos

**EP 44:** [**Local Search Ranking Factors** Interview with Darren Shaw](https://www.nearmedia.co/ep-44-local-search-ranking-factors-interview-with-darren-shaw/)

**EP 40:** [**Google My Business Rebrand** \- Is it a chance to fix GMB or an opportunity to nuke part of the stack?](https://www.nearmedia.co/ep-40/)

**EP 10:** [**SWYFT** Opens New Avenues for SMBs to compete with Prime. Is the FTC getting serious about review enforcement? So long Yahoo Answers](https://www.nearmedia.co/episode-10/)

**EP 12:** [**Zagat** reviews rise from the Google ashes; The FTC ability to levy fines is knee capped by SCOTUS; Apple privacy changes AND review capability coming this week](https://www.nearmedia.co/the-near-memo-episode-12/)

**EP 31:** [**MailChimp** selling for $10b?, 1-800-Contacts sues Warby Parker over Adwords, Will Yahoo rise again?](https://www.nearmedia.co/episode-31/)

We wish you the best for the coming year. 

**Mike, Greg & David** 

PS We always appreciate your feedback so if you have suggestions please take our [2 minute survey](https://app.gatherup.com/f-96263?ref=nearmedia.co).