How to handle negative Google reviews & protect your brand
Negative Google review? Respond strategically to protect your reputation, rebuild trust, and turn unhappy customers into loyal advocates.
Topic: W. Michael Blumenthal
Google updates local ranking documentation
Are these changes signaling changes to how Google local rankings work or did Google just clarify its existing document.
Google’s Local Guide program: Wins, woes and what’s next?
Is Google’s Local Guides program a rewarding community initiative or a flawed system? Explore its successes, failures and ethical dilemmas.
This day in search marketing history: March 25
Google Panda patent granted, plus: Microsoft starts IndexNow push, mobile-friendly update details, AdWords remarketing and more.
This day in search marketing history: March 24
Google’s top 3 search ranking factors, plus: Google Maps blocks abusive business profile edits, Google penalties and more.
This day in search marketing history: March 11
Google officially acquires DoubleClick, plus: how dates in Google snippets work, nofollowing links, interest-based advertising and more.
This day in search marketing history: February 22
Google page experience update for desktop rolls out, plus: Google’s Pirate Update impact, Google Shopping experience scorecard and more.
This day in search marketing history: January 15
Facebook Graph Search launches, plus: brand profiles in Google knowledge panels, Rand Fishkin's last day at Moz, and more.
Report: Google Business Profiles bug causing reviews to disappear
A bug with automatically applied suggested edits leads to some businesses seeing all their reviews vanish from Google.
If almost everyone uses Google, does that make it a public utility?; Thursday’s daily brief
Plus, tips for choosing the right event to speak at.
Is more transparency from Google a good thing?; Wednesday’s daily brief
Also UGC spam, shopping policies, phone calls and more.
Video: Mike Blumenthal on how to rank in Google Local
We also talked about the local SEO community and COVID's impact on local search.
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.
Video: Mike Blumenthal on Google Maps spam resource issues
Google invests a lot in Google Maps but maybe in the wrong areas?
Google Search gets deeper into the ‘real-world’ with Busyness, Duplex and AR in Maps
Building the data bridge between online and offline.
Yelp introduces new ‘business accused of racist behavior’ consumer alert
Well-intentioned initiative might be problematic in some cases.
Apple Ratings is coming to iOS 14, how disruptive will it be?
The company may use device location to ensure review integrity.
Live with Search Engine Land
Live with Search Engine Land is a series of live discussions, presentations, tutorials and less formal meetups led by the editorial team at Search Engine Land. No matter the format, we want everyone to stay sharp and up-to-date on tactics and best practices. These weekly meetups are about giving great marketers a platform to inform, […]
Google allows retail chains to Post at scale via GMB API — will it last post-COVID?
Google Posts are free and can be a very effective communication or promotional tool.
Google reviews coming out of quarantine
New user reviews, photos, Q&A will return gradually, by category and country.
Google introduces new COVID-19 and Telehealth GMB links for healthcare providers
These new links are part of the company's larger effort to make healthcare information more accessible through Google Search.
Google My Business not functioning as expected under the strain of coronavirus
Many updates are taking considerably longer than normal.
Google resolves rejected Posts problem
New Posts will publish after "fix;" rejected Posts to go live this week.
Google Posts being rejected because of non-compliance with image guidelines
Google is apparently seeking to upgrade the quality of images in Posts.
Google’s ‘My Business Provider’ program replaces ‘Trusted Verifier’ for GMB outreach
But agencies, SEOs, and resellers are not eligible to become MBPs.
How verticalization and zero-click will impact local search in 2020
In the coming year it will be interesting to see how Google balances the priority of verticalization against the growing popularity of Google Maps as the first choice among searchers.
The big list of Google My Business changes, upgrades and tests in 2019
The key GMB updates of 2019 with local experts’ perspective on what's most significant.
LocalU acquired by Sterling Sky founder and SEL contributor Joy Hawkins
Hawkins says the Local Search Forum & the LocalU forum will merge.
Reviews platform GatherUp acquired by martech holding company ASG
Company run by local search veterans Mike Blumenthal and Aaron Weiche joins a larger portfolio of software companies.
Google showing mobile ‘search by photos’ option in selected local verticals
The new element appears to not have a fixed position but resides below the local pack, sometimes right below.
Google tests carousel local pack with ads included
In this new design, Google is not showing as many local results by default.
Millions of fake Google Maps listings hurt real business and consumers
Google says it is working on it, but is still positioned to profit as local businesses claw back visibility with paid ads.
Google adds short names and URLs to Google My Business listings
The new feature has yet to be publicized by Google, but local guides like Mike Blumenthal report that it's already available to some verified business in Google My Business.
SMX Overtime: The new realities of local search
SEO expert Damian Rollison offers insights into the sites that matter for local search and ranking besides Google My Business, and why you should put some time into managing all of them.
Leading local SEO predictions: Reserve with Google will grow, real-time local inventory gets real
GMB messaging, voice search optimization, local inventory data, Q&A and the decline of SMB websites are all explored.
SearchCap: Google search bar, new rich snippets & Bing partner program
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Bing Partner Program shifting to calendar-year qualificationsDec 3, 2018 by Robin Kurzer The change will take effect in January. Google launches Q&A structured data for Question & Answer pagesDec 3, 2018 […]
SearchCap: Bing Ads conversion reporting, Google local pack booking & Apple search ads
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Apple search ads expected to generate $2 billion in revenue by 2020Oct 22, 2018 by Amy Gesenhues The ad units are on track to bring in $500 million by the end […]
Google local pack now showing book, schedule buttons for some businesses
Google is now pushing booking and scheduling services in the local results through Reserve with Google.
Is Google rolling out a new more graphics-heavy design for local pack results?
Make sure to get your business photos in Google My Business in tip-top shape.
SearchCap: Moz with STAT & marketing automation
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: The Open Marketing Cloud: Mautic’s flexible, budget-friendly marketing automation platformOct 10, 2018 by Digital Marketing Depot Are you unhappy with your experience or results using one of the legacy marketing automation […]