An algorithm update, free listings on Google Hotels, and a shiny new “estimated cost” field in the local pack. March brought a series of iterative changes to local search—some experimental in nature, others seemingly overdue—so let’s get straight to it. Google’s latest search ranking algorithm update In the last week of February, Google rolled out […]
Desktop messaging, review snippet stars, restaurant search filters… February’s local search updates may not have reinvented the wheel, but they have improved quality of life for business owners, marketers, and anybody seeking to drive local growth. Let’s get straight to it. Google adds black-owned business label and scroll-to-text on product results With the relevant timing […]
The calendar may say 2021, but local search is still adapting, evolving, and learning from last year’s wild challenges. In fact, January brought significant changes including new listings UI, unsolicited features, crowdsourced confirmation of health and safety features, and a huge opportunity for price drops to dominate product-related searches. Let’s dive straight in! Google My […]
This month in local search, Google made great strides in call histories, review solicitation, and… haircuts? Let’s cut straight to the chase and break down exactly what you need to know about the latest updates in an industry that changes faster than any other. A new “Call History” feature for Google My Business Starting with […]
September was a mixed bag in local search. While Google’s COVID-related updates continued as expected, the search giant’s primary competitors—Apple and Bing—both adjusted their review integrations in a way that hurt a different big player in the review market. Unsurprisingly, the pandemic is prompting consumers to reconsider how they judge and choose businesses, so changes […]
Although there were few surprises this month in local search, Google released a number of significant updates as they lean in to plans they’ve been preparing all year—including changes in shopping, a greater emphasis on mobile page speed and reviews, and a smattering of new COVID-related mechanisms. None of these updates should come as a […]
Last year, most people were unaware of attributes despite them being a feature of Google My Business (GMB) in many business categories. They provided useful information to consumers (and some handy SEO side-effects) but were underutilized. It was not until the global onset of COVID-19 that Google attributes suddenly became a critical local optimization strategy. […]
Reopening can be complicated for businesses with distributed local footprints, especially in the highly regulated financial services industry. That’s why we hosted a Local Search Masterclass to help industry marketers get the most valid information in front of their audiences as they look to return to physical locations. Some key insights in this masterclass included: […]
Google’s updates are not slowing down. As we grow accustomed to life with COVID-19 and how to do business amid social distancing practices, updates to the local search ecosystem have stopped becoming stopgaps and are now full-fledged long-term changes. To ensure marketers are making the most out of these trying times, it is crucial to […]
Full shelter-in-place orders were in place all over the world for much of April 2020. Unsurprisingly, most local listing developments were in direct response to the pandemic. But that doesn’t mean these updates will cease to be relevant after COVID-19. Many of Google’s product releases are general “quality of life” improvements that could potentially have […]