Brad Wetherall, former head of Google My Business, reveals insider knowledge about how Google evaluates and ranks business profiles in the evolving search landscape. He shares crucial insights on trust factors, ranking signals, and how AI is reshaping local search strategies.

• Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) remains critical despite the focus on AI and LLMs
• The three most important ranking factors are business name, primary category, and reviews
• Consistent review frequency matters more than total volume for ongoing relevance
• Google has an internal "trust" algorithm that evaluates profile owners based on their editing history
• Fake reviews can result in a 90-day review collection ban, making manipulation not worth the risk
• Brand mentions are becoming more valuable than backlinks in the AI era
• The AI overview feature heavily utilizes GBP data, making profile accuracy increasingly important
• Photos should be geo-tagged and added regularly rather than all at once

Guest Contact Information: 

linkedin.com/in/bradwetherall

More from EWR and Matt:

Leave us a review wherever you listen: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon Podcast

Free SEO Consultation: www.ewrdigital.com/discovery-call

With over 5 million downloads, The Best SEO Podcast has been the go-to show for digital marketers, business owners, and entrepreneurs wanting real-world strategies to grow online.

Now, host Matthew Bertram — creator of LLM Visibility™ and the LLM Visibility Stack™, and Lead Strategist at EWR Digital — takes the conversation beyond traditional SEO into the AI era of discoverability.

Each week, Matthew dives into the tactics, frameworks, and insights that matter most in a world where search engines, large language models, and answer engines are reshaping how people find, trust, and choose businesses. From SEO and AI-driven marketing to executive-level growth strategy, you’ll hear expert interviews, deep-dive discussions, and actionable strategies to help you stay ahead of the curve. 

Find more episodes here: 

youtube.com/@BestSEOPodcast

bestseopodcast.com

bestseopodcast.buzzsprout.com

Follow us on:

Facebook: @bestseopodcast
Instagram: @thebestseopodcast
Tiktok: @bestseopodcast
LinkedIn: @bestseopodcast

Connect With Matthew Bertram: 

Website: www.matthewbertram.com

Instagram: @matt_bertram_live

LinkedIn: @mattbertramlive

Powered by: ewrdigital.com

Support the show