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

Mike’s Links:

• Google's Mueller on Ranking Impact of Poor HTML, Spelling and Grammar - Roger Montti - SearchEngineJournal.com - https://www.searchenginejournal.com/googles-mueller-on-ranking-impact-of-poor-html-spelling-and-grammar/410461/
• Ohio Bans Competitive Keyword Advertising by Lawyers - Technology & Marketing Law Blog - Blog.EricGoldman.com - https://blog.ericgoldman.org/archives/2021/06/ohio-bans-competitive-keyword-advertising-by-lawyers.htm
• How to Hire the Best Possible Local SEO Agency for Your Business - Miriam Ellis - Moz.com - https://moz.com/blog/how-to-hire-local-seo-agency
• Now it’s easier to show what your business offers on Google - blog.google.com  - https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/small-business/show-what-your-business-offers
• Google's Online Food Ordering Is Magical, and the Future of Local Search - Mike Blumenthal - NearMedia.co - https://www.nearmedia.co/googles-online-food-ordering-is-the-future-of-local-search/

Mary’s Links:

• Google simplifies YouTube ad creation for SMBs - George Nguyen - SearchEngineLand.com - https://searchengineland.com/google-simplifies-youtube-ad-creation-for-smbs-349736
• Google plans to change its Search algorithm to curb online abuse - Economic Times - https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/google-plans-to-change-its-search-algorithm-to-curb-online-abuse/articleshow/83432699.cms
• THE EXPERT ROUNDUP: Local SEO Tips 2021 - Chase Reiner - ChaseReiner.com - https://chasereiner.com/learn/local-seo-tips-2021

Carrie’s Links:

• Google Limits FAQ Rich results to a Max of 2 per snippet - Barry Schwartz - SearchEngineLand - https://searchengineland.com/google-limits-faq-rich-results-to-a-maximum-of-two-per-snippet-349739 & Brodie Clark on Twitter (if you have 5, google will pick the 2 they think most relevant) - https://twitter.com/brodieseo/status/1406421414689722374
• Google Showing new “Seen by Shoppers” Justifications - Barry Schwartz - SERoundtable (also first spotted by Brodie Clark) - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-local-maps-seen-by-shoppers-label-31624.html
• People Also Ask on SERPS seeing a decline. Brodie Clark on Twitter - https://twitter.com/brodieseo/status/1406592718139105289
• Most-Mentioned Place Topic Reviews Being Featured on GMB Listings - Al

Mike’s Links:

• Operators of MoviePass Subscription Service Agree to Settle FTC Allegations that They Limited Usage, Failed to Secure User Data - FTC.gov  - https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/06/operators-moviepass-subscription-service-agree-settle-ftc
• How Local Delivery Stops App Giants From Eating Restaurants’ Lunch - NearMedia.co - https://www.nearmedia.co/local-delivery-for-local-restaurants/
• Video: Obtaining a Personal Brand Panel - A Discussion with Jason Barnard - Local University - https://localu.org/video-obtaining-persponal-brand-panel/
• Google Local Spam Hall of Fame: Just How Long Can a Google My Business Name Be? - Blumenthals.com - https://blumenthals.com/blog/2021/06/10/google-local-spam-hall-of-fame-just-how-long-can-a-google-my-business-name-be/
• Google Local Spam Hall of Fame: We Have Some (real?) Winners - Blumenthals.com - https://blumenthals.com/blog/2021/06/10/google-local-spam-hall-of-fame-we-have-some-real-winners/

Mary’s Links:

• 79 Best SEO Chrome Extensions (With Tips & Screenshots) - Olga Zarzeczna - SEOSly.com - https://seosly.com/seo-chrome-extensions/
• Google Launches Small Business Advisors Beta - LocalU.org - https://localu.org/google-launches-small-business-advisors-beta/
• Become a Street Fight Thought Leader | Street Fight - https://streetfightmag.com/become-a-street-fight-thought-leader/#.YMdcqrdKiUm

Carrie’s Links:

• Average rating pins showing on Map - Tim Capper via Twitter - https://twitter.com/GuideTwit/status/1403444803770228739?s=19
• Chrome showing desktop notifications - Claire Carlile via Twitter - https://twitter.com/clairecarlile/status/1402937253056364545
• What are “Relations” in Google My Business - Joy Hawkins - SterlingSky.ca - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/what-are-relations-in-google-my-business/
• Delivery Button Showing in Local Pack - Sarah Blocksidge - via Twitter - https://twitter.com/SarahBlocksidge/status/1403374238703271936
• ICYMI: Whitesparks List of Hidden Address Citation Sites - Whitespark.com - https://whitespark.ca/hidden-address-sites/
• LocalU Tickets on Sale - just $99 - Scholarships available! - LocalU.org - https://localu.org/aug31

How to Get A Personal Brand Panel: A Conversation with Jason Barnard

Mike and Mary are joined by Jason Barnard of Kalicube to discuss the tactics a business owner or employee might take to obtain a Personal Brand Panel.

Mike’s Links:

• Speaking Pitches for LocalU August 3 - LocalU.org -https://localu.org/speaking-pitches/
• The Englishman trying to save American bookstores from Amazon via Benedict Evans on Twitter - https://twitter.com/benedictevans/status/1400376779676790787?s=12
• Resisting Amazon: An Interview with Author and Bookstore Owner, Danny Caine - Miriam Ellis va NearMedia.co - https://www.nearmedia.co/resisting-amazon-raven-bookstore/
• New York State to Revolutionize Antitrust - Matt Stoller via Substack - https://mattstoller.substack.com/p/new-york-state-to-revolutionize-antitrust
• Moz acquired by iContact, a subsidiary of J2 Global - SearchEngineLand.com - https://searchengineland.com/moz-acquired-by-icontact-subsidiary-of-j2-global-349273
• Google Won't Remove Negative Reviews That are Constantly Updated - Joy Hawkins - Local University - https://localu.org/updated-reviews-google/
• Google My Business (GMB) Deprecates ShortNames - Ben Fisher - Local University - https://localu.org/google-my-business-gmb-deprecates-shortnames/
• Google Adds Label - New On Google - Joy Hawkins - Local University - https://localu.org/google-my-business-adds-labels-for-new-listings/

Mary’s Links

• Amazon, Google and Facebook will be hit hard by the G-7 tax deal. Here's how they responded  - https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/07/g-7-tax-deal-amazon-google-and-facebook-respond-.html - CNBC.com
• 8 Ways to Champion Animals in Your Local Business Marketing Strategy - Miriam Ellis - Moz.com - https://moz.com/blog/champion-animals-in-local-seo

If You're Not Using the Products Feature in GMB, You're Missing Out!- Darren Shaw - Whitespark.ca - https://whitespark.ca/blog/gmb-products-feature/

Mike’s Links:

• Coalition of labor and advocacy groups seek return of the mask - Timesunion.com - https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Coalition-of-labor-and-advocacy-groups-seek-16205873.php
• Employers Can (Mostly) Require Vaccines For Workers Returning To The Office - NPR.org - https://www.npr.org/2021/05/28/1001116485/for-employers-the-law-is-mostly-on-their-side-when-it-comes-to-vaccines
• Stefan Somborac - Google allows phone number to be hidden (on Twitter) - https://twitter.com/stefansomborac/status/1398359149784842242?s=12
• Mike Blumenthal - New Local Finder test with location and LSA ads (on Twitter) - https://twitter.com/mblumenthal/status/1398320936584089608?s=12
• The  Ultimate Guide to Practitioner Listings on Google My Business [2021] - Joy Hawkins - SterlingSky.ca - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/gmb-practitioner-listings/
• Confessions of a Google Local Guide - Mike Blumenthal - NearMedia.co - https://www.nearmedia.co/confessions-of-a-local-guide/

Mary’s Links

• Google launches new ad formats for local campaigns and pickup later option for local inventory ads - Barry Schwartz - SearchEngineLand.com - https://searchengineland.com/google-launches-new-ad-formats-for-local-campaigns-and-pickup-later-for-local-inventory-ads-348959
• New From Google Marketing Live: Hotel Ads, Local Ad Campaigns, Product Feeds, Customer Match & More - Barry Schwarts - SERoundtable.com - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-marketing-live-31493.html
• Jobber and Google Partner to Help Home Service Businesses Book New Work with Local Customers - Businesswire.com - https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210519005138/en/Jobber-and-Google-Partner-to-Help-Home-Service-Businesses-Book-New-Work-with-Local-Customers
• Amazon devices will soon automatically share your Internet with neighbors - ArsTechnica.com - https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/05/amazon-devices-will-soon-automatically-share-your-internet-with-neighbors/

Carrie’s Links

• Colan Nielsen on Building Your Unique Local SEO Playbook - Colan Nielsen, Kristian Bannister - BrightLocal.com Adventures in Local Search podcast - https://www.brightlocal.com/podcast/colan-nielsen-on-building-your-unique-local-seo-playbook/
• Does Upvoting a Review Help it Show Up Higher on Google? - Joy Hawkins - SterlingSky.ca - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/upvoting-reviews/

Mike’s Links:

• Apple refuses removal of Facebook App Pro-Palestinian 'review bomb' - Apple Insider.com - https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/05/24/apple-refuses-removal-of-facebook-app-pro-palestinian-review-bomb
• Privacy on iPhone | Tracked | Apple - Youtube.com - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w4qPUSG17Y&feature=youtu.be
• Latest Digital Marketing News May 2021 - Saijo George - TLDR Marketing - https://tldrmarketing.com/
• Google Store, No Data for Profit, Snap AR Spectacles - Greg Sterling - NearMedia.co - https://www.nearmedia.co/google-local-store/
• What Happened to Yelp: A Hospitality Reviews Case Study - Mike Blumenthal - NearMedia.co - https://www.nearmedia.co/the-competitive-world-of-hospitality-reviews/
• Google Ditches AMP Badge In Search; Will It Matter? [Survey] - Lily Ray - SearchEngineJournal.com - https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-retires-amp-icon-survey/406770/
• Google I/O: AI Everywhere, AR Maps, Shopping Graph - Greg Sterling - NearMedia.co - https://www.nearmedia.co/google-i-o-mums-the-word-maps-shopping-graph/

Mary’s Links

• How to Find & Fix Overspend on Your Branded Search Campaigns - Neli Robertson - GoInflow.com - https://www.goinflow.com/blog/branded-search-campaigns/
• Complete Guide Archives - BrightLocal.com - https://www.brightlocal.com/tag/complete-guide/
• Introducing Getting Started with Page Experience - Google.com Team - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSG-7VmyrC4
• SEO Takeaways & SEO Tips From Google I/O 2021 - Olga Zarzeczna - SEOSly.com - https://seosly.com/seo-takeaways-from-google-io/

Carrie’s Links

• What Business Types or Categories Don't Have Access to Google My Business Posts? - Joy Hawkins - SterlingSky.ca - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/categories-without-gmb-posts/
• How To Build a Freelance Management System - Tess Voecks - LocalSEOGuide.com - https://www.localseoguide.com/how-to-build-a-freelance-management-system/
• SEMRush Chat - Weds 5/26 @ 11am EST -  Andrew Shotland & Greg Gifford - https://twitter.com/semrush/status/1396822376000675843
• Optimize for how customers actually search - Greg Gifford - Local Search Tuesday - https://searchlabdigital.com/blog/optimize-for-how-customers-actually-search/
• Are You Ready to Sell Like QVC? - Miriam Ellis - Moz.com - Video Sales - "while supplies last" "guest Hosts" - https://moz.com/blog/

Mike’s Links:

• Kroger, blasted for ending hazard pay, gave CEO $22 million - LATimes.com - https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-05-16/kroger-blasted-for-ending-hazard-pay-gave-ceo-22-million?_amp=true
• Schema.Org Markup Validator Is Now Live (Beta) - TLDRMarketing.com - https://tldrmarketing.com/seo/schema-org-markup-validator-is-now-live-beta/
• Schema Markup Validator Bookmarklet - Sitebulb.com - https://sitebulb.com/resources/guides/schema-markup-validator-bookmarklet/
• Why Google Reviews Are Important - Darren Shaw - Whitespark.ca - https://whitespark.ca/blog/why-google-reviews-are-important/
• Call History Data Now Rolling Out To Google My Business Dashboard - Brodie Clark Consulting - https://brodieclark.com/call-history-google-my-business/
• Mask Mandates Are Going Away, COVID Anxiety Isn't - Mike Blumental - NearMedia.co - https://www.nearmedia.co/survey-mask-mandates-are-going-away-the-publics-anxiety-isnt/
• How Google Came to Dominate Local Reviews - Mike Blumenthal - NearMedia.co - https://www.nearmedia.co/when-google-came-to-dominate-reviews/

Mary’s Links

• Google Local 10 Packs seen in the wild again - Brodie Clark via Barry Schwartz on SERoundtable.com - https://twitter.com/brodieseo/status/1394172527291760644
• GMB Competitor Audits: Rank Higher and Convert More Often - Amanda Jordan - LOCOMOTIVE Agency - https://locomotive.agency/local-seo/gmb-competitor-audits-rank-higher-and-convert-more-often/
• How to Fix Common Service Area Business Issues in Google My Business - Sherry Bonelli - Search Engine Journal - https://www.searchenginejournal.com/gmb-service-area-business-problems/406476/
• How Much Does Local SEO Cost? - Gary Shouldis - 3Bug Media - https://3bugmedia.com/how-much-local-seo-cost/
• Language models like GPT-3 could herald a new type of search engine - Technology Review - https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/05/14/1024918/language-models-gpt3-search-engine-google/

Carrie’s Links

• How to “Unfilter” missing Google Reviews - Jason Brown - LocalU.org - https://localu.org/unfilter-missing-google-reviews/
• Save the Date - LocalU Advanced August 31, 2021 - Tickets go on sale first week of June - https://localu.org/std-aug31
• Good Reminder to check out how your s

Mike’s Links:

• The FTC weighs in on repair restrictions - FTC.gov - https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2021/05/ftc-weighs-repair-restrictions
• Only 4% Opting-in, FB's Nextdoor Clone, Online Impulse Buyer - Greg Sterling - NearMedia.co - https://www.nearmedia.co/only-4-opt-in-fbs-nextdoor-clone/
• The real-world impact of keyword stuffing in Google My Business - Colan Nielsen - SterlingSky.ca - https://searchengineland.com/the-real-world-impact-of-keyword-stuffing-in-google-my-business-348509
• Does Having GMB Posts Help or Hurt Google Rankings? - Ben Fisher - LocalU.org - https://localu.org/gmb-posts-help-hurt-ranking/

Mary’s Links

• State of Payments Report - Podium - https://www.podium.com/state-of-payments/
• 2020 Google My Business Insights Study - Rio SEO - https://www.rioseo.com/google-insights-study-2020/

Carrie’s Links

• in 2017 Opposition to Net Neutrality Was Faked by ISPs, New York AG Says - NY Times via Greg Sterling - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/06/technology/internet-providers-fake-comments-net-neutrality-new-york.html
• Google Updates Workflow for contacting support - via FrancastroKW on Twitter - https://twitter.com/FrancastroKW/status/1389918222527475712
• BrightLocal Local Rank Flux Tool broken - sent out an email indicating it was a possible bug.  Hasnt been updated since May 6 - https://twitter.com/brightlocal/status/1390318938362466307
• Glitch reported in LSAs around 5/6 that caused inflated spending - changed bid mode from maximize leads to max per lead- via lenraleigh and Tom Waddington on Twitter - https://twitter.com/tomwaddington8/status/1390010178729283585
• How to Get Review Notifications When You Manage Over 100 Google My Business Listings - Joy Hawkins - Sterlingsky.ca - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/how-to-get-review-notifications-when-you-manage-over-100-google-my-business-listings/ 

Mike’s Links:

• Amazon's Ruthless Efficiencies - Mike Blumenthal - NearMedia.co - https://www.nearmedia.co/amazon-ruthless-efficiencies-cartoon/
  • [Carrie] California appeals court finds Amazon responsible for third party sellers’ products - The Verge.com - https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/1/22414185/california-appeals-court-amazon-marketplace-responsible-third-party-hoverboard
• Andrew Shotland on LinkedIn: #andrewshotland #SEO #localseoguide - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/localseoguide_andrewshotland-seo-localseoguide-ugcPost-6793562015395909632-YJva/
• Case study: More content is not always better for ranking in Google - Joy Hawkins - SearchEngineLand.com - https://searchengineland.com/case-study-more-content-is-not-always-better-for-ranking-in-google-348324#.YIwaxn0Q0uw.twitter
• WordPress Saves Creative Commons Search Engine From Shutting Down - SearchEngineLand.com - https://www.searchenginejournal.com/wordpress-saves-creative-commons-search-engine-from-shutting-down/405400/#close
  • Beautiful Free Images & Pictures - Unsplash.com - https://unsplash.com/
• Do Google My Business Identity Attributes Impact Ranking? SterlingSky.ca - Colan Nielsen - SterlingSky.ca - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/do-google-my-business-identity-attributes-impact-ranking/

Mary’s Links

• Pet Retailer [Case Study] - RioSEO - https://go.rioseo.com/Pet-Retailer-Case-Study-Download.html
• Title Tags Are The On Page Ranking Signal - Are Yours Optimized? - Darren Shaw - Whitespark.ca - https://whitespark.ca/blog/title-tags-for-local-seo/
• Do Citations Still Matter for Local SEO? - Darren Shaw - Whitespark.ca - https://whitespark.ca/blog/do-citations-matter-local-seo/
• Supply Chain Disruption Can Become Opportunity for Small Businesses -  TheBalanceSMB.com - https://www.thebalancesmb.com/your-small-business-supply-chain-survival-kit-4058575

Carrie’s Links

• Google Adding Links To Featured Snippets That Lead Back To Google - Barry Schwartz, SERoundtable.com - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-links-featured-snippets-more-queries-31352.html

Mike’s Links

FTC to Speed  Rulemaking to Fight Digital Deception - Mike Blumenthal - NearMedia.co - https://www.nearmedia.co/the-ftc-improves-rule-making-to-deal-with/

Google Page Experience Update Is Not Launching In May 2021 - Barry Schwartz -SERoundtable.com - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-page-experience-postponed-31278.html

That's NOT a Google Search Ranking Factor - Ryan Jones - SearchEngineJournal.com - https://www.searchenginejournal.com/not-a-search-ranking-factor/324087/

Google Maps Privacy Nutrition Label - Mike Blumenthal - NearMedia.co - https://www.nearmedia.co/google-maps-app-privacy-label/

Google My Business Consolidates Food Ordering Fields on New Tab - Krystal Taing - Local University - https://localu.org/google-my-business-consolidates-food-ordering-fields-on-new-tab/

• Google Expands Restaurant Online Order Integration - Mike Blumenthal - NearMedia.co - https://www.nearmedia.co/google-expands-restaurant-pickup-integration/

Rebranding Your Business | Checklist for Google My Business & Local Search - Joy Hawkins - SterlingSky.ca - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/rebranding-your-business-checklist/

Mary’s Links

Google My Business (GMB) Terminology – Un-Official - Ben Fisher - SteadyDemand.com - https://www.steadydemand.com/google-my-business-gmb-terminology-un-official/

Google Using Website Representation Vectors to Classify with Expertise and Authority - Bill Slawski - GoFishDigital.com - https://gofishdigital.com/website-representation-vectors/

Labor shortage pinches, vexes restaurateurs across Nebraska, country - Omaha.com - https://omaha.com/entertainment/dining/labor-shortage-pinches-vexes-restaurateurs-across-nebraska-country/article_81424224-a4ad-11eb-8ddf-37ef2719d3aa.html

Check the crying about restaurant labor shortages — Tone Madison - https://www.tonemadison.com/articles/check-the-crying-about-restaurant-labor-shortages

There's a simple solution for companies struggling to hire: Pay workers more - BusinessInsider.com - https://www.businessinsider.com/labor-shortage-solution-pay-workers-higher-wages-2021-4

Carrie’s Links:

Google Scraping Website Content to Add New Services in GMB - Allie Margeson, Whitespark.ca - https://whitespark.ca/blog/auto-added-gmb-services/

Google local