The Local Memo

In this week’s update, learn about the popularity of generative AI in marketing; the rollout of Google’s Perspectives filter; LinkedIn’s test of generative AI in posts; a guide to images that improve conversion; wild fluctuations in search ranking; and red dots for unread content in the GBP interface.

This week’s update offers a larger-than-usual grab bag of important updates from Google, including local updates to the Search Generative Experience; support for social links in Google Business Profiles; the shutdown of Google Domains; the impact of hidden addresses on ranking; and several more items. Let’s get up to speed with the latest Google news.

In this week’s update, learn about a study showing consumers trust UGC more than influencers; Google’s updates to SGE; a possible cleanup of fake LSA reviews; Google’s new review recovery form for GBP; ten strategies to improve social media effectiveness; and Apple’s first foray into virtual reality.

In this week’s update, learn about Search Engine Land’s new SEO chatbot; Google’s new AI tools for Workspace; personalization of SGE results; Bard’s new location-sharing feature; the death of Post justifications; and how Instagram ranks content.

In this week’s post, learn about the rollout of Google’s new Search Generative Experience (SGE); the impact of SGE on local search; AI and the death of traditional search; a bug preventing GBP users from adding new owners; the influence of reviews on the purchase journey; and using GBP services to boost local ranking.

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s new popup display for Business Profiles; the imminent release of Meta’s Twitter competitor; ChatGPT as a local search tool; the return of “Image Not Approved” in GBP; expanded GBP options for language assistance; and the popularity of travel recommendations on Reddit.

In this week’s update, learn about all the important announcements from Google I/O; ChatGPT’s new update supporting web browsing and plugins; Meta’s multisensory AI model; Twitter’s new CEO; the launch of related topics in desktop search; and Google’s support for multiple languages in local listings.

In this week’s update, learn about the possibility that open source AI will surpass Google and OpenAI; Google’s plans to make search more “visual, snackable, personal, and human”; Google rolling out Bard to Workspace and Pixel; Bing’s new chat features; Yelp and Nextdoor’s new AI functionality; and the Semrush State of Search report.

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s possible announcements at this year’s I/O; the rollout of plugin support for ChatGPT; an Instagram tool to help brands find UGC; the rise of Twitter alternative Bluesky; Google’s clarifications on page experience; and new texts from Google confirming business listing details.

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s impact on the U.S. economy; Twitter’s new rules for advertisers; more AI news from Google; how the March Core Update impacted local search; top reasons for GBP suspension; and a new Instagram policy permitting five links in profiles.

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s new AI-based search engine; more of Google’s AI initiatives including image generation and a Chrome chatbot; Twitter’s launch of paid verification for businesses; Montana’s vote to ban TikTok; Google’s throttling of Local Packs; and the success story of SpamBrain.

In this week’s update, learn about Meta’s generative AI tools; Google’s new Asian-Owned and Latino-Owned attributes; Google’s most recent local interface experiments; asking quality raters to assess chatbot responses; the move toward integration of Bard in search; Bard’s incorporation of PaLM; and the growing popularity of retail apps.

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s fight against fake content in local; AI-generated Google reviews; Italy’s ban of ChatGPT; Twitter’s now public ranking algorithm; Google’s restructuring to emphasize Bard development; and generative AI reaching the public in Gmail and Docs.

In this week’s update, learn about Local Search Ranking Factors 2023; mixed reviews for Google’s Bard chatbot; ChatGPT’s launch of plugin support; image generation in Bing Chat; Google’s new restaurant menu options; and a preview of generative AI in Gmail and Google Messages.

In this week’s update, learn about generative AI in Google Workspace; the release of GPT-4; the U.S. launch of Meta Verified; threats to TikTok’s U.S. presence; Google’s “Not Visible” bug; and the rollout of the Google March update.

In this week’s update, learn about the imminent launch of GPT-4; ChatGPT for local SEO; Google Maps’ new content guidelines; reasons Google might reject a photo update; recommended dishes in reviews; Google’s updated desktop interface; 70 new business types in Local Service Ads; GBP products in Google Shopping; and Meta’s Twitter-like project.

In this week’s update, learn about optimizing content for Bing AI; Google’s update to Profile Strength in GBP; a spike in fake review attacks; guidelines for multi-location Google Posts; Meta’s AR/VR and AI initiatives; and why local businesses need “shelfies.”

In this week’s update, learn about research showing more consumers are looking to social for search needs; service attributes as a ranking factor; ChatGPT prompts for SEO; third-party reviews and organic ranking; the share of Google search on Apple devices; the massive cost of Bard AI; the impact of continuous scroll on search traffic; Bing AI’s mobile launch; and Meta’s new paid verification feature.

In this week’s update, learn about Microsoft’s increased API costs; positive reviews for the New Bing; limitations on Bing chatbot usage; strange experiences with the Bing chatbot; GBP’s launch of profile strength and other new icons; Google’s crowdsourced approach to improving its Bard AI; local search trends for 2023; and Roku’s partnership with DoorDash.

In this week’s update, learn about Bing’s new ChatGPT integration; Google’s competitive AI tool, Bard; Google’s updates to Lens, Maps, and Translate; Twitter’s outage and longer tweets for subscribers; Google’s removal of special characters from business names; and Meta’s big investment in the metaverse.

In this week’s update, learn about ChatGPT’s growth and AI integrations from Bing and Google; a milestone in online retail; Yelp’s latest Trust & Safety Report; the imminent switch to Google Analytics 4; the inadvertent removal of Local Guide reviews; and Twitter’s move to shut down free API access.

In this week’s update, learn about Microsoft’s investment in ChatGPT; how AI helps Facebook boost usage; Apple’s search engine; the rise of influencer marketing; Google’s expanded vehicle listings; and a new DOJ lawsuit against Google.

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s layoffs and pivot towards AI; Twitter’s “For You” tab and Community Notes expansion; a ruling in India that may force Google to make room for app competitors; Google’s new explanation of UGC restrictions in Maps; a survey showing consumer frustrations with mobile shopping; and the demise of Google Post Insights.

In this week’s update, learn about Apple’s launch of Apple Business Connect; ChatGPT’s lack of local SEO knowledge; changes to GBP product lists; the state of location intelligence; academic research showing the value of online presence; and Google’s stance on automated content.

In this week’s update, learn about search engines utilizing ChatGPT; the impact of AI on SEO; the ranking impact and ordering logic of Google reviews; the slow rollout of Google’s latest updates; a retrospective of 2022’s algorithm updates; and an EU fine against Facebook.

In this week’s post, learn about big tech’s new mapping initiative; Twitter’s ban on links to other social media platforms; Google’s updated E-E-A-T guidelines; a new service-oriented version of the local finder; Google’s Visual Elements Gallery; and a prompt to add videos to Google Maps reviews.

In this week’s update, learn about the merger of the Waze team with Google Maps; the impact of the October spam update on location pages; Google’s disclaimer for third-party links; Twitter’s paid verification relaunch; Mike Blumenthal’s update on Google’s review filter; and continuous scroll on desktop.

In this week’s update, learn about a new Black Friday spending record; SOCi’s study showing the influence of reviews on conversion; Yelp’s survey on reviews and consumer trust; Google’s lawsuit against a business guaranteeing page one rankings; a new GBP feature showing time to edit approval; and the impressive launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s new guide to search ranking systems; suggested service areas for SABs; how to deal with missing reviews; Twitter’s feature plans; removing Zocdoc from business profiles; and more experiments with business profile layout.

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s new multisearch “near me” feature; consumer preferences for national brands during inflation; scammers impersonating business owners on Google; a new survey that finds 96% of consumers read reviews; Google’s updated photo layouts; and Twitter’s continued collapse.

In this week’s update, learn about Meta’s move to lay off 11,000 employees; video previews in Google Business Profiles; a Google bug that deletes reviews; the disappearance of Google photo views; the possibility of bankruptcy at Twitter; and the launch of TomTom’s new mapping platform.

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s new shopping features for the holidays; more users being pushed to the GBP Search interface; the question of review text as a ranking factor; the diminishing importance of backlinks; semantic photography in search; and a volatile first week for Twitter’s new regime.

In this week’s update, learn about the dramatic first days of Twitter under Elon Musk; the still-frustrating topic of Google Business Profile suspensions; a new survey showing TikTok’s popularity for restaurant recommendations; signs local pack frequency may be decreasing; the shuttering of the Google Maps COVID-19 layer; and a new study from Semrush suggesting zero click is much less common than you thought.

In this week’s update, learn about the impact of inflation on consumer search; local SEO maintenance tasks you shouldn’t neglect; updates on Google suspensions and review removals; new local features in search results; third-party links in healthcare profiles; and the prevalence of Google-owned features in product searches.

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s new ticket pricing feature in business profiles; an experimental “Hear about this place” feature in local results; an unconfirmed Google algorithm update; the fundamentals of influencer marketing; Twitter’s Link Spotlight feature for Professional Accounts; and the long road to build the metaverse.

In this week’s update, learn about a wave of Google suspensions plaguing business owners; subjective attribute scores in GBP insights; Google’s guidelines on review gating; the removal of health and safety attributes; Walmart’s foray into immersive shopping; and Yelp’s new report on business growth in non-downtown neighborhoods.

In this week’s update, learn about the local highlights (and some others) from Google’s recent Search On event; an academic study on the impact of fake reviews; free Google Fi for Local Guides; the completion of Google’s latest algorithm updates; and an updated look for the Local Finder.

In this week’s update, learn about tips for holiday marketing on Facebook and Instagram; the FTC’s guidance to consumers on fake reviews; Meta’s new tools for creators; Google’s new Product Reviews Update; the impact of the Helpful Content Update; and what happens in one minute on the internet.

In this week’s update, learn about a bug causing service area businesses to disappear from search; Google’s September Core Update; new rules from Google on review incentives; Google testing “beta questions” in reviews; anonymous Google reviewers; and coverage of TikTok as a search engine in the New York Times.

In this week’s update, learn about retailers’ preparations for Black Friday 2022; the end of the Helpful Content Update rollout; Google’s new timestamps in local photos; a virtual conference about Google Search; using Facebook competitions to build engagement; and Instagram’s new topics feature for Reels.

In this week’s update, learn about which kinds of businesses are eligible for Google Business Profiles; the modest impact of the Helpful Content Update; increases in brand app adoption; Facebook’s shuttering of Neighborhoods; surprising stats on Facebook popularity with Gen Z; and the normalization of Local Pack Headers.

In this week’s update, learn about Meta as a destination for shopping; the rollout of Google’s Helpful Content Update; TikTok’s experimental “Nearby” feed; Nextdoor’s 2022 Neighborhood Favorites; photo captions in GBP; and the reach of Instagram Reels.

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s new helpful content update; the features of local pack headers; the best times to post on social media; the impact of products on local ranking; new Reels features on Instagram and Facebook; and a recent spate of Google Post removals.

In this week’s update, learn about a change to the GBP dashboard for multi-location users; how Instagram selects Recommended Posts; Google’s new ability to auto-populate restaurant menus; the consumer demand for business messaging; a major Google outage; and a new disclaimer on Google reviews.

In this week’s update, learn about Twitter’s listings-like Location Spotlight; Google’s new attribute for Asian-owned businesses; a help doc update regarding Google Posts; the shutdown of Live Shopping on Facebook; a guide to GBP conversion factors; and Yelp’s new discovery-based interface.

In this week’s update, learn about Instagram’s searchable map; another extension for third-party cookies in Chrome; an FAQ option in Google Messages; Google Business Profile changes and updates; new features and experiments in Google Maps; and Google’s decision to shut down reviews for reproductive clinics.

In this week’s update, learn about the popularity of social platforms for search amongst younger users; increased reliance of consumers on trustworthy reviews; Google’s shutdown of the GMB app; multiple user profiles on Facebook; Google Maps routing for electric vehicles; and creating the most engaging social media posts.

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s new algorithm tracking page; how to become a Yelp Elite reviewer; how to market your business on TikTok; Musk’s attempt to back out of the Twitter deal; a bug causing Google listings to disappear; and a guide to Google justifications.

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s new review carousels and photo-first profiles; Google’s decision to automatically delete visits to abortion clinics; a guide to Twitter’s ranking factors; identity filters in Google Shopping; how brands can best engage on social issues; and an inflation-based spike in grocery store app usage.

In this week’s update, learn about Local Cards as a potential replacement for the 3-Pack; Google’s new “LGBTQ+ owned” attribute; the Musk team’s request for more Twitter data; the impact of page speed on local search performance; Google’s latest statement on keywords in domains; and consumer sentiment on ad personalization.