Last Week in Local: Local Search, SEO & Marketing Update from LocalU

Join Mike and Carrie as they discuss what's new at Apple Maps, how to do keyword research that will convert, tomorrow's LocalU Advanced, and much more!

 Mike’s Links:

• Reviews on Apple Maps: A Complete Guide - https://www.nearmedia.co/a-look-at-apples-review-environment/
• Chicago sues DoorDash, Grubhub for allegedly deceiving customers - https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2021/08/27/chicago-sues-doordash-grubhub-for-allegedly-deceiving-customers.html
• How to Research Keywords: A Step-By-Step Guide to Keyword Research - https://www.orbitmedia.com/blog/how-to-research-keywords-tips/
• An update to how we generate web page titles - https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2021/08/update-to-generating-page-titles

Carries links:

• Leadferno Launch - Congrats to Aaron Weiche and his team on this industry-leading SMS tool for businesses - https://leadferno.com 
• Thanks to Zipsprout, Places Scout and HighLevel for sponsoring LocalU Advanced
  • https://zipsprout.com/
  • http://www.placesscout.com/
  • https://www.gohighlevel.com/
• Google Posts Can Appear on 3rd Party Sites - spotted by Claire Carlile and shared on Twitter - https://twitter.com/rustybrick/status/1430490387332812804

Join Mike and Carrie as they discuss what's new at Google and Amazon, how to win in local search, and so much more!

Mike’s Links:

• iOS 15 Spotlight Improvements: Rich Results, Web Images, Photos Search, Lock Screen Access and More - MacRumors.com - https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-15-spotlight/
• Negative criticism: can the surge in Google review defamation cases be stopped? - The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/law/2021/jul/25/negative-criticism-can-the-surge-in-google-review-defamation-cases-be-stopped
• Amazon Hits Chinese Sellers With Crackdown on Fake Reviews - Bloomberg.com - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-18/amazon-amzn-cracks-down-on-fake-reviews-hitting-chinese-retailers
• WSJ News Exclusive | Amazon Plans to Open Large Retail Locations Akin to Department Stores - WSJ.com - https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-retail-department-stores-11629330842?mod=djemalertNEWS
• Amazon Installs Huge Lockers On A Chicago Park's Sidewalk, Confusing And Frustrating Neighbors - BookClubChicago.org - https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/08/13/amazon-installs-huge-lockers-on-a-chicago-parks-sidewalk-confusing-and-frustrating-neighbors/
• Python Web App To Find Broken Links On Any Website - tldrmarketing.com - https://tldrmarketing.com/seo/python-web-app-to-find-broken-links-on-any-website/
• Tool to Overlay Google Search Console Data with Google Algo Updates - tldrmarketing.com - https://tldrmarketing.com/seo/tool-to-overlay-google-search-console-data-with-google-algo-updates/
• Will Google Remove a Google Maps Review After the Owner of the GMB Page Replied to It?  -LocalVisibilitySystem.com - https://www.localvisibilitysystem.com/2021/08/16/will-google-remove-a-google-maps-review-after-the-owner-of-the-gmb-page-replied-to-it/?utm_source=tldrmarketing.com&utm_medium=referral
• How to Start a Local Restaurant Delivery Service: An Interview with Clay Seaman of Omaha LoCo - NearMedia.co - https://www.nearmedia.co/how-to-start-a-local-restaurant-delivery-service/

Carries links:

• Google Title Tag Update: A Highlight for Extraction Methods & Approaches to SEO - BrodieClark.com - https://brodieclark.com/google-title-tag-update/
• Is Google Showing Different Organic Titles in August 2021? | Amsive Digital Lily Ray -

Join Mike and Carrie as they discuss what's new at Google, how to handle negative reviews, SEC rule changes for financial advisors and online reviews, and so much more! 

Mike’s Links:

• Local food delivery companies say Google devastated their business - FastCompany.com - https://www.fastcompany.com/90658514/google-restaurant-listings-local-delivery-services
• 15 tips for getting the most out of Google Trends - Blog.Google.com - https://blog.google/products/search/15-tips-getting-most-out-google-trends/
• Exciting news: Yoast joins Newfold Digital - Yoast.com - https://yoast.com/exciting-news-yoast-joins-newfold-digital/
• Does Moving Your Business Impact Rankings? [2 Case Studies] - SterlingSky.ca - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/moving-impact-ranking-local-seo/
• Google adds author URL property to uniquely identify authors of articles - SearchEngineLand - https://searchengineland.com/google-adds-author-url-property-to-uniquely-identify-authors-of-articles-351131

Carries links:

• Google My Business 'Photo Updates': A New Way to Get Customer Pics - Claire Carlile, BrightLocal - https://www.brightlocal.com/blog/google-my-business-photo-updates/
• Google Testing Review Count from Independent Sites - Spotted by Brandon Schmidt of YDOP via Twitter - https://twitter.com/brandonschmidt/status/1425450243957592066?s=21
• Wendy's To Open 700 Delivery-Only Locations In The Next Five Years - Pymnts.com - https://www.pymnts.com/restaurant-innovation/2021/wendys-to-open-700-delivery-only-locations-in-the-next-five-years/
• 5 Local Business Marketing Takeaways from MozCon Virtual 2021 - Miriam Ellis, via Moz - https://moz.com/blog/mozcon-local-business-takeaways
• How to Respond To Negative Reviews - Crystal Horton - BrightLocal - https://www.brightlocal.com/blog/how-to-respond-to-negative-reviews/
• How to Blur Your House Photo on Google Maps - Bill Hartzer - https://www.billhartzer.com/google/how-blur-house-photo-google-maps-2/
• SEC Rule Change for Financial Advisors: Are Google and Yelp Allowed? - Google Clarifies to Colan Nielsen & Reported in LSF - https://localsearchforum.com/threads/sec-rule-change-for-financial-advisors-are-google-and-yelp-allowed.57890/

https://searchlabdigital.com/suds-and-search/?wchannelid=mcnuqg9agy&wmediaid=wuz0pvo9zh - Suds and Search - https://searchlabdigital.com/suds-and-search/?wchannelid=mcn

Join Mike and Carrie as they discuss what's new at Google My Business, businesses booming during the pandemic, our phenomenal LocalU Advanced sponsors, and the bittersweet signing off of the inestimable Mary Bowling as she retires. We're going to miss you, Mary, but look forward to your upcoming adventures!

Mike’s Links:

• The Pandemic Business Boom - The Atlantic - https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/08/pandemic-business-boom/619674/
• Yelp Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results - Yelp.com - https://www.yelp-ir.com/news-releases/news-release-details/2021/Yelp-Reports-Second-Quarter-2021-Financial-Results/
• Yelp will let businesses list their vaccination policies - TheVerge.com - https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/5/22610865/yelp-vaccination-policies-businesses-staff-customers
• The Search Singularity: How to Win in the Era of Infinite Content - Animalz.co - https://www.animalz.co/blog/the-search-singularity/
• Google My Business Disables Select Categories for Service Area Businesses - Local University - https://localu.org/google-my-business-disables-select-categories-for-service-area-businesses/

Carries links:

• Claire Carlile Whiteboard Friday - UTM Tagging for GMB - Moz.com - https://moz.com/blog/utm-tagging-google-my-business
• A Guide to Google My Business Services and Google My Business Products - Claire Carlile - BrightLocal - https://www.brightlocal.com/learn/google-my-business-products-and-services-guide/
• Google Showing "Updated Today" on destkop "in stock" justifications - Brodie Clark on Twitter - https://twitter.com/brodieseo/status/1424265437190103044?s=21
• GMB Insights are case sensitive? Via LocalSearchForum - https://localsearchforum.com/threads/same-keyword-phrase-in-gmb-insights-but-separate-results.58058/
• Thanks to our Primary and Gold LocalU Sponsors - Zipsprout and Places Scout, respectively.  Get your tickets to LocalU Advanced today!
• And finally, We want to let everyone know that the inestimable Mary Bowling has officially retired from Last Week in Local! Please join us in thanking her for all she’s done for LocalU by sending her a Tweet to @marybowling with the hashtag #ThanksMary

Join Mike and Carrie as they discuss Mask Mandates from Enterprise brands, Amazon's employment dominance, QR Codes, and DoorDash Kitchens!

Mike’s Links:

• Walt Disney Co., Walmart adopt Covid vaccine requirements for employees - NBCNews.com - ​​
• Introducing DoorDash Kitchens Full Service, a New Partnership Model for Restaurants To Grow Their… Doordash.com - https://blog.doordash.com/introducing-doordash-kitchens-full-service-a-new-partnership-model-for-restaurants-to-grow-their-f0ac15fb9755
• QR Codes Are Here to Stay. So Is the Tracking They Allow. - NYTimes.com - ​​
• SOCi Acquires Brandify, Melding Location Marketing Strengths - StreetfightMag.com - https://streetfightmag.com/2021/07/29/soci-acquires-brandify-melding-location-marketing-strengths/
• Snapchat Launches 'My Places' to Highlight Local Businesses of Interest Within the Snap Map - SocialMediaToday.com - https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/snapchat-launches-my-places-to-highlight-local-businesses-of-interest-wit/604093/
• Apple's New Places, Retail Site Search, Advertisers Paying Google Taxes - NearMedia.co - https://www.nearmedia.co/apples-new-places-retail-search-advertisers-paying-google-taxes/
• Google to Permanently Allow Chains the Ability Create  Posts via API - NearMedia.co - https://www.nearmedia.co/google-acknowledges-that-chains-will-be-able-to-post-via-api-going-forward/

Carrie’s Links

• Ultimate Guide to Getting Started with Email Marketing for SMBs - Carrie Hill - SterlingSky.ca - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/ultimate-guide-starting-email-marketing-small-business/
• Google wants to know how your business is doing - Spotted by Colan Nielsen, via Twitter - https://twitter.com/ColanNielsen/status/1420772580705832960
• Cars for Sale GMB Inventory Visible on Desktop - Spotted by Yan Gilbert of LocalFalcon and Sterling Sky - https://twitter.com/YanGilbertSEO/status/1420091722495840256
• Amazon now employs almost 1 million people in the US — or 1 in every 169 workers - NBCNews.com - https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/amazon-now-employs-almost-1-million-people-u-s-or-n1275539
• How To Use Handwritten Notes To Build Relationships And Better Your Business - Clara Capano - Forbes.com - https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil

Mary's Links:

• Email Marketing and Why it's So Important [Infographic] - Social Media Today - https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/email-marketing-and-why-its-so-important-infographic/603510/
• Create Your Own Email Newsletter - We'll Show You How! - Email Tool Tester - https://www.emailtooltester.com/en/
• The Ultimate Google Data Studio Dashboard for Local Keyword Research - Andy Simpson - https://www.brightlocal.com/resources/keyword-research-data-studio-dashboard/
• Whitespark Local Search Summit - Site Review Clinic Opportunity - Whitespark - https://summit.whitespark.ca/talks/gmb-listing-review-website-clinic/
• Why did Executive Roof Services Sue Over Negative Review - Jason Brown - Review Fraud - https://reviewfraud.org/why-did-executive-roof-services-sue-over-negative-review/
• Alliance Linking: More Stories behind a real-life Link Building Case Study - Dixon Jones, https://blog.majestic.com/case-studies/alliance-linking-part-2/
  
  

Carrie's Links:

• A reminder on qualifying links and our link spam update - Google - https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2021/07/link-tagging-and-link-spam-update
• Posts for Hotels is “not working as intended” and will be going away when Google gets it fixed - Joy Hawkins via Twitter - https://twitter.com/JoyanneHawkins/status/1419646337293901824
• Google Tests The Local Pack With Map Placed On Right Side via SERoundtable & Kishanu Karmakar on Twitter - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-local-pack-with-map-on-right-side-31801.html
• Google categorizes what organic search traffic drops look like Barry Schwartz - https://searchengineland.com/google-categorizes-what-organic-search-traffic-drops-look-like-350624
• Google Now Shows ‘Ranking Factors Box’ in SERPs to Explain Results - Jamie Pitman - https://www.brightlocal.com/blog/google-ranking-factors-box-explains-results/
• Do Google Posts Impact Ranking? - Joy Hawkins - ​​https://www.sterlingsky.ca/do-google-posts-impact-ranking/

Mike's Links:

• Dollar General plans to hire 50K new employees amid blazing store growth - https://www.retaildive.com/news/dollar-general-plans-to-hire-50k-new-employees-amid-blazing-store-growth/603388/
• You Can Now Remove Phone Numbers From Google My Business LIstings - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/remove-phone-number-google-my-business/
• How to Succeed With Google Posts: What We Learned From Analyzing Over 1,000 Google Posts - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/google-posts/
• Category: Store vs. Shop. Product: Wheels vs. Tires - https://localsearchforum.com/threads/category-store-vs-shop-product-wheels-vs-tires.57975/

Mary's Links:

• 5 Top Enterprise Local SEO Challenges (& How To Solve Them) - https://www.searchenginejournal.com/enterprise-local-seo-challenges/413212/
• Agency Edition: New Ways To Engage with Clients and Employees - https://uberall.com/en-gb/resources/blog/agency-edition-new-ways-to-engage-with-clients-and-employees
• Living Headstones QR Code - https://www.monuments.com/store/headstones-accessories/living-headstones-qr-code
• QR Codes for Businesses - https://www.qr-code-generator.com/qr-codes-for/

Carrie's Links:

• Kroger Workers Couldn't Get $4 Raise, but Shareholders Get $1 Billion - Business Insider - https://www.businessinsider.com/kroger-closed-grocery-stores-worker-raises-stock-buyback-2021-7
• GMB Dashboard pencil click now leads to popup for editing info via Claire Carlile - https://twitter.com/clairecarlile/status/1417085848466644995
• Posts coming for Hotels? Some are seeing the option and the posts publish - via Nevena Ivanova on Twitter - https://twitter.com/BeHuTo/status/1417023002156404739
• Some GMB Support via Chat coming back online - via  Usama Ali on Twitter - https://twitter.com/U_Ali_Lcoal_SEO/status/1415641164359815170
• Justin Mosebach and Andy Simpson seeing a "Local Pack" without the map - via Twitter https://twitter.com/jlmosebach/status/1415415804703780868

Mike’s Links:

• What We're Seeing From the June & July Core Updates [Case Study] - Sterling Sky - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/june-july-2021-core-update/
• Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy  - The White House - https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/07/09/executive-order-on-promoting-competition-in-the-american-economy/
• A Google Multilocation SEO Strategy: How To Get The Most Out Of Keywords - Media Post - https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/364937/a-google-multilocation-seo-strategy-how-to-get-th.html
• An Easy Way To Download Images From Google Docs - TLDR Marketing - https://tldrmarketing.com/seo/an-easy-way-to-download-images-from-google-docs/
• Yext Search Data Hub - Yext - https://www.yext.com/search-data-hub
• Brodie Clark - New Local Pack Justification (on Twitter) - Twitter - https://twitter.com/brodieseo/status/1414176723856289796?s=12

Mary's Links

• Retail Statistics You Should Know - Small Business Trends - https://smallbiztrends.com/2021/07/retail-statistics.html
• Rental Property Marketing Tips - GenMarketing - https://genmarketing.co/apartment-marketing-blog/
• Pet Startups Are Having a Field Day - Wired - https://www.wired.com/story/pet-startups-are-having-field-day/
• Catering Business Optimization Tips - African Exponent - https://www.africanexponent.com/post/8654-powerful-optimization-tips-for-catering-business-2021

Colan’s Links:

• Ben Fisher - Messages from GMB Posts - Twitter - https://twitter.com/TheSocialDude/status/1413178493400084480 
• How To Optimize Internal Links - Greg Gifford - https://searchlabdigital.com/blog/how-to-optimize-your-internal-links/
• Shoehorning Cities into the Address Field of a Google My Business Page - Phil Rozek - https://www.localvisibilitysystem.com/2021/07/08/shoehorning-cities-into-the-address-field-of-a-google-my-business-page/

Mike’s Links:

• Fired by Bot at Amazon: ‘It’s You Against the Machine’ - Yahoo Finance - https://www.google.com/amp/s/finance.yahoo.com/amphtml/news/fired-bot-amazon-against-machine-100013296.html
• Original Content and Original Authors Identified by Google - Bill Slawski - GoFishDigital.com 0-https://gofishdigital.com/original-content-and-original-authors/
• Dallas Morning News sues ‘Black Hat’ operator for printing its articles without permission - Dallas Morning News - https://www.dallasnews.com/news/courts/2021/07/01/dallas-morning-news-sues-black-hat-operator-for-printing-its-articles-without-permission/
• Google on how it ranks search results and prevents obvious spam - SearchEngineLand.com - https://searchengineland.com/google-on-how-it-ranks-search-results-and-prevents-obvious-spam-350218

Mary's Links

• Google My Business Spam: What it is and How to Fight Back - A Servant's Heart Web Design and Marketing - Tim Colling - https://eldersell.com/online-marketing/google-my-business-spam-what-it-is-and-how-to-fight-back/
• Transcript for Tackling web spam, search quality, and more! - Search Off The Record Podcast - https://search-off-the-record.libsyn.com/transcript-for-tackling-web-spam-search-quality-and-more
• Fake Google My Business Listings: A Local SEO Case Study - Restoration Rocket - https://www.restoration-rocket.com/fake-google-my-business-listings/
• Pandemic Wave of Automation May Be Bad News for Workers- NYTimes.com - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/03/business/economy/automation-workers-robots-pandemic.html

Carrie’s Links:

• How Location Page Providers Stack Up for Core Web Vitals | Local SEO Guide - Rachel Anderson - LocalSEOGuide.com - https://www.localseoguide.com/how-location-page-providers-stack-up-for-core-web-vitals/
• What Everybody Ought to Know About Events & Google My Business - Joy Hawkins, SterlingSky.ca - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/events-google-my-business/
• Local Search Industry Survey: Local SEO Pay, Pricing & Performance - BrightLocal.com - https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-search-industry-survey/
• Google Maps Offensive Continues as Apple Starts Mapping New Regions - Autorevolution.com - https://www.autoevolution.com/news/google-maps-offensive-continues-as-apple-starts-mapping-new-regions-164630.html

Mike’s Links:

• What Google's FAQ Schema Update Means For Your SEO Strategy - Brodie Clark Consulting - https://brodieclark.com/googles-faq-schema-update/
• Rich Snippets, including review, how-to, and faq, can be impacted by Google’s broad core updates (and other major algorithm updates) - GSQU.com - https://www.gsqi.com/marketing-blog/rich-snippets-impact-google-algorithm-updates/
• Domino Pizza's Website Violated the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)-Robles v. Domino's - Technology & Marketing Law Blog - https://blog.ericgoldman.org/archives/2021/06/domino-pizzas-website-violated-the-americans-with-disabilities-act-ada-robes-v-dominos.htm
• Google My Business for Vacation Rentals (Holiday Homes) - Clearing Up The Confusion - Online Ownership - https://onlineownership.com/google-my-business-for-vacation-rentals-holiday-homes-clearing-up-the-confusion/
• To Post or Not to Post: 7 Quick Tips for Google Posts - Joy Hawkins - Moz.com - https://moz.com/blog/7-google-posts-tips

• Mary’s Links:
  Amazon and Google investigated in UK over fake product reviews - CNN.com - https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/25/tech/amazon-google-fake-reviews/index.html
• The Complete Guide to GMB Attributes for Local SEO - Marshall Nyman - SearchEngineJournal.com - https://www.searchenginejournal.com/local-seo-gmb-attributes-guide/411732/#close
• Structuring Your Website's Menu Layout for SEO - MadMangoMarketing.com - https://www.madmangomarketing.com/blog/structuring-your-websites-menu-layout-for-seo#/
• Vibranium and Other Elements of Local Landing Pages That Actually Convert - Amanda Jordan - LocoMotive.agency - https://locomotive.agency/local-seo/elements-of-local-landing-pages-that-actually-convert/
• GMB Everywhere - Free Local SEO Tool - GMBEverywhere.com - https://gmbeverywhere.com/
• Local Search Summit by Whitespark - Summit.Whitespark.ca - https://summit.whitespark.ca/

Carrie’s Links:

• How to Influence "Years in Business" in the Local Pack Results - Joy Hawkins - SterlingSky.ca - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/gmb-opening-dates/
• Google My Business Management 101 - Niki Mosier - BrightLocal.com - https://academy.brightlocal.com/course/google-my-business-management-101
• Google Local Pack Review Filters Smiley Faces - Spotted by Claire Carlile - reported by Barry at SERoundtable.com - https://ww