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Search behavior has forever changed. How can you stay ahead of the pack?
Learn some strategies to help you harness the power of local search and succeed in 2021.
Google My Business adds messaging to desktop interface
Businesses can now message with customers through their web browser, not just the mobile app.
Google officially displays years in business in local pack
After several months of testing, Google has officially launched this new label that shows how many years your business has been in operation.
How are local service ads impacting Google Ads accounts?
Make sure you are paying attention to the local service ads option with Google Ads, even if it is not yet available for your industry.
Google My Business updates flag review feature
The new form and options are much more detailed now, compared to the old method.
Yelp launches “health and safety measures” community feedback feature
Yelp launches new rating feature for community to leave feedback on local business social distancing and mask compliance.
Google My Business launches new performance reporting
You can access these new reports within Google My Business under the insights section.
SEO year in review 2020: COVID forces platforms to adapt their local and e-commerce offerings, and more
Even a pandemic couldn’t slow down developments in the search industry. Here’s our recap of the year’s most important stories and news.
Google Maps local listing now showing web search results
As you scroll through the local listings in Google Maps, Google may show you web results at the bottom.
As local media lose budgets, Field Day offers ‘last mile activation’ for brands
The company says it offers local human outreach at scale.
Even as more people shop online, searches for ‘available near me’ up over 100% vs. last year
Google's Reena Nadkarni explains what retailers can do to drive local sales.
Google expands local business message & map query analytics
Consumers will be able to message with businesses in more ways and businesses will be able to see more local insights.
Google Guaranteed badge starting to appear on Google Maps listings
Google seems to be testing how consumers react to Google Guaranteed badges in places other than in Local Services Ads.
Google’s new Small Business Advisors program aims to help SMBs grow
Don't think of it as an enhanced version of Google Support.
How to check Google search results for different locations
When doing SEO, make sure to focus on search results specific to your location -- this is where your true competitors are.
The 2020 holiday season is here: Get your digital house in order
Retailers that win the delivery wars will win the holidays.
CallRail’s Lead Center is a virtual phone system and contact center for SMBs
The platform builds on the company's call tracking and analytics capabilities.
Holiday 2020 is do or die for many SMBs
Small businesses need to focus their marketing on key consumer sites, especially Google, for survival into 2021.
Social Shorts: Snapchat’s rising ARPU, Facebook’s moves on Nextdoor, Instagram’s age controls
Snapchat’s North America ARPU shoots up Snapchat reported revenues increased 52% year-over-year to $679 million and average daily active users (DAUs) increased by 18% year-over-year to $249 million for the third quarter of the year. One stat that stood out to us in particular was the average revenue per user (ARPU) in North America. Overall […]
Video: Mike Blumenthal on review attribution in local search
Reviews can be used for a way to speak to your customers and as a competitive intelligence tool.
Google Search gets deeper into the ‘real-world’ with Busyness, Duplex and AR in Maps
Building the data bridge between online and offline.
Google tests local ads in Maps auto-suggest results
A local ads shows up as you start typing.
What’s behind the badge that powers Google’s local trust layer?
A new designation across Google’s business units and ad types that used to be confined to LSAs will now live within a new class of “trusted” GMB profiles.
Yelp introduces new ‘business accused of racist behavior’ consumer alert
Well-intentioned initiative might be problematic in some cases.
Google testing new ‘call history’ feature for Google My Business
The missed call log will remain available to businesses for 45 days.
Google My Business and reviews gain in 2020 Local Ranking Factors survey
But rankings and conversions aren't always the same thing.
Google takes Local Services Ads to Europe
Searches for local services grew more than 25% YoY across European countries.
Yelp brings Ads Dashboard into Yelp for Business, debuts new ads features
Advertisers can now optimize for goals such as phone calls, website visits or messages, add negative keyword targeting and more.
The rise of reputation experience management
Reviews and ratings influence search rankings and customer acquisition. Here's how marketing and customer experience teams can work together to improve both SEO and customer outcomes.
Google brings bidding to Local Services Ads
Only selected advertisers will get access to the auction during the beta period.
Google local ads gain Smart Bidding for store sales, ‘pick up later,’ service attributes
The company is investing heavily to address the dominant online to offline use cases, including buy online, pickup in-store.
Google rolling out video appointments, online classes to local business profiles
The booking can occur through GMB but the class or consultation won't happen on the business profile.
A new era has arrived in local search: Google’s Local Trust Pack
The variables that drive performance for LSA extend beyond the prominence, relevance and proximity factors we have built strategies for.
Local businesses can highlight COVID-19 ‘health & safety’ measures with Google My Business
The attributes should start appearing in Search and Maps soon. They are intended to give consumers confidence and manage their expectations.
A Corona Xmas: Why physical stores will power online shopping this holiday season
Most shoppers are more likely to make an e-commerce purchase if they can return the item in a local store
Apple Ratings is coming to iOS 14, how disruptive will it be?
The company may use device location to ensure review integrity.
Voice SEO: Different tactics required for Google Assistant, Siri and Alexa
Study by SEMrush found only 1% overlap in answers to the same voice queries across platforms.
See how visits to retail, grocery, workplaces are trending with Google Mobility Reports
How to use Google (and Apple) mobility reports to see how movements have shifted during the pandemic.
The average GMB profile has 73 reviews, 45 photos, 5 Posts and a star rating of 4.08
The findings come from an analysis of 2.4 million local listings in over 30 business categories.
Yelp’s updated ‘Request a Quote’ and new ‘Nearby Jobs’ provide lead-gen for SMBs
No longer merely a 'review site,' Yelp repositioning as a 'one-stop local platform' to communicate and transact with local businesses.