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

Mike’s Links:

• DoorDash is ending its delivery partnership with Walmart - https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/19/doordash-is-reportedly-ending-its-delivery-partnership-with-walmart/
• Wait, When Did Everyone Start Using Apple Pay? - https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-pay-iphone-wallet-apps-11660780139
• How the Find My App Became an Accidental Friendship Fixture - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/20/technology/find-my-app-friends.html
• Apple Maps could serve advertising to users in 2023 - https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/08/21/apple-maps-could-serve-advertising-to-users-in-2023
• A Dad Took Photos of His Naked Toddler for the Doctor. Google Flagged Him as a Criminal - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/21/technology/google-surveillance-toddler-photo.html#
• Ep 78 Minute 8:00 Google’s Review Spam algo nukes many legit reviews - https://www.nearmedia.co/ep-78-yelp-selling-its-business-data-googles-review-spam-algo-nukes-many-legit-reviews-tik-tok-for-brands/
• New LSA Layout Ben Fisher on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thesocialdude/status/1561126384017088512?s=12&t=HL5JdwN9fnCgzvSH-yjdMA

Carrie’s Links

• Google's Content Quality & Helpfulness Questions via @aleyda via @brodieseo -https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12-F9Z4NzDADOFRQtOiN-CtjY2aaqj-R5CcrJNCuTha4/edit#gid=0 
  • Google's 'Helpful Content Update' to Devalue 'Search-Engine First' Content and Elevate Authentic, Expert Voices in Search - Amsive Digital - form Lily Ray - https://www.amsivedigital.com/insights/seo/googles-helpful-content-update-to-devalue-search-engine-first-content-and-elevate-authentic-expert-voices-in-search/
  • New Google Helpful Content Update To Change SEO Much Like Panda Did Helpful content update - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-helpful-content-update-33949.html
• Google Maps: Your Review Isn't Posted Email via @seroundtable via @bubblesup (Amy Toman) - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-maps-your-review-isnt-posted-33959.html
• Core Web Vitals report - Search Console Help via Google Search Console Blog - https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/9205520
  • Url level info
  • Clarifying explainers/text to make it clearer
• New Academy Course: How to Optimize Location Pages - BrightLocal & Claire Carlile - https://www.brightlocal.com/blog/new-academy-course-how-to-optimize-location-pages/

Mike’s Links:

• Amazon files first-ever lawsuit over company allegedly selling fake reviews — Axios
  • https://apple.news/AkWjbqTUGT2ixtNcHbsGhzw
• Local SEO Conference Tips: LocalU in Denver
  • https://searchlabdigital.com/blog/local-seo-conference-tips-localu-in-denver/
• Stefan Somborac - Google now transcribing web menus to GBP menu editor 
  • https://twitter.com/StefanSomborac/status/1557779970046525441?s=20&t=cTYeSrHE_vONDc22_I2e8w
• About the menu editor - Google Business Profile Help
  • https://support.google.com/business/answer/9455840
• Opt out of display on Google Local and other Google properties - Search Console Help
  • https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/3035947?hl=en
• Hack to Get Back to Original GBP (GMB) Dashboard
  • https://onlineownership.com/hack-to-get-back-to-original-gbp-gmb-dashboard/

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Carrie’s Links

• LocalU Advanced Virtual - Nov 2, 2022
  • https://localu.org/upcoming-events/nov2/
• Wanna Speak? Pitch LocalU Advanced Here 
  • https://localu.org/speaking-pitches/
• LocalU Scholarship Application
  • https://localu.org/localu-scholarship-application/
• New Google My Business Categories [Updated Monthly] 
  • https://www.sterlingsky.ca/google-my-business-category-changes/
• Ads Panel now being displayed in Search & Maps for GBP profile. - Tim Capper
  • https://twitter.com/GuideTwit/status/1557298333328326658
• Google Maps Is Leading Abortion Seekers to Pro-Life Religious Centers
  • https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2022-google-search-abortion-clinic-crisis-pregnancy-center/
• Google Discover With Author Names Instead Of Site Name 
  • https://www.seroundtable.com/google-discover-author-names-33923.html

Mike’s Links:

• Get Same-Day Delivery from your favorite retail stores
  • https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/get-same-day-delivery-from-your-favorite-retail-stores
• Location Spotlight launches globally, plus more tools for professionals
  • https://business.twitter.com/en/blog/location-spotlight-global-launch.html
• How To Get More Reviews That Include Photos
  • https://leadferno.com/blog/how-to-get-more-reviews-that-include-photos
• Local Pack Headers: Curious, Overlooked Clues to the Mind of Google
  • ​​https://moz.com/blog/local-pack-headers
• New Google Search Dashboard Layout
  • https://localsearchforum.com/threads/new-google-search-dashboard-layout.59237/
• Google adding recency stamps to images in Google Maps - Mike Blumenthal on Twitter
  • https://twitter.com/mblumenthal/status/1555342230407217152?s=12&t=UToJxv2cwSuiPsDvhI_3Cw
• Lots of Google Posts removed - Joy Hawkins on Twitter
  • https://twitter.com/JoyanneHawkins/status/1555578235802501120
• Google updates Business Profile posts spam policies
  • https://searchengineland.com/google-updates-business-profile-posts-spam-policies-387006
• LSA duplicate problem: AdsLiaison on Twitter
  • https://twitter.com/adsliaison/status/1554096974416252929

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Carrie’s Links

• Google Search Is Very Broken Now: Outages, Indexing Issues, Pages Missing & More - via Barry Schwartz at SERoundtable
  • https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-is-broken-outages-indexing-missing-33891.html
• 6 Key Takeaways From LocalU Advanced Denver - via RioSEO
  • https://www.rioseo.com/blog/6-key-takeaways-from-localu-advanced-denver/
• Google's Local Services Ads platform has a problem with spam via Len Raliegh at Search Engine Land
  • https://searchengineland.com/googles-local-services-ads-platform-has-a-problem-with-spam-386890#.YulGsmeYwZI.twitter

Mike’s Links:

• ​​Who Is Collecting Data from Your Car? - https://themarkup.org/the-breakdown/2022/07/27/who-is-collecting-data-from-your-car
• Tim Hortons offers free coffee to settle mobile app class action lawsuits - https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/07/30/tim-hortons-offers-free-coffee-to-settle-mobile-app-class-action-lawsuits
• Google Cuts Off Reviews for Reproductive Care Clinics - https://www.nearmedia.co/google-shuts-off-reviews-for-reproductive-clinics/

Carrie’s Links

• Google search quality rater guidelines update: What has changed - Lily Ray - https://searchengineland.com/google-search-quality-rater-guidelines-changes-july-2022-386815
• New Google Business Profile in Search & Maps - Tim Capper - https://onlineownership.com/new-google-business-profile-in-search-maps/
• How to Craft a Click-Worthy Google Business Profile Post, According to Joy Hawkins, a GBP Expert - Via Buffer (and Joy Hawkins) - https://buffer.com/resources/google-business-profile-posts/
• The Ultimate Goal: Be A Contact On Your Customer’s Phone - New Feature - add your number to your client’s contact list. - https://leadferno.com/blog/the-ultimate-goal-be-a-contact-on-your-customers-phone

Mike’s Links:

• OpenAI expands access to DALL-E 2, its powerful image-generating AI system - https://techcrunch.com/2022/07/20/openai-expands-access-to-dall-e-2-its-powerful-image-generating-ai-system/
• Ep 74: Amazon & Google pander to the FTC, American Privacy Act: Opt-In/Out Battle, Instagram goes local - https://www.nearmedia.co/ep-74/
• Construction worker wearing a high-vis vest with an ad for a personal injury lawyer - https://twitter.com/benedictevans/status/1551582109852106755
• Outstanding Local SEO Takeaways from MozCon 2022 - https://moz.com/blog/mozcon-2022-local-seo-insights
• Local Landing Page Checklist - https://ricketyroo.com/blog/local-landing-page-checklist/
• The Rising Importance Of Images In Google Search - https://ducttapemarketing.com/images-in-google-search/
• Aircam.ai • AI Powered Photo Checker - https://aircam.ai/google-vision
• Stefan Somborac Messaging FAQ on Twitter - https://mobile.twitter.com/StefanSomborac/status/1549721775981953024
• How to read & reply to messages from your Business Profile - iPhone & iPad - Google Business Profile Help - https://support.google.com/business/answer/9114771?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS
• Google Tests "Reviews Aren't Verified" Label - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-reviews-arent-verified-label-33788.html

Carrie’s Links

• Spam in LSAs is rampant - Google doesn't seem to care? - https://twitter.com/lenraleigh/status/1550557036269780993
  • Tom Waddington shows a serp with 100 5.0 rated LSAs - mostly spam - multiple listings for same biz, etc. - https://twitter.com/tomwaddington8/status/1550855925623300098
  • Google Local Service Ads Seeing A Lot Of Fake Reviews - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-local-service-ads-with-fake-reviews-33810.html
• PAA Back to normal levels - Google has never said why or admitted an issue - https://twitter.com/RangerShay/status/1550058170420166656
• Visitor update tab seen in the wild - https://twitter.com/CaseyABryan/status/1551265789445283846
• LocalU Tickets & Sponsors - https://localu.org/den22/#tickets
  • Zipsprout - https://zipsprout.com/
  • TheTransparency CO - https

Erin Links:

• Google - GMB App Dead - https://support.google.com/business/answer/11402083
• Twitter Rolls Out Ability to “Unmention” - https://twitter.com/twittersafety/status/1546555047630159872
• Why Having A User-First Approach To SEO Is Important - Jesse McDonald - https://www.searchenginejournal.com/user-first-seo/456351/
• Google Indexing Problems - Barry Schwartz - https://searchengineland.com/google-confirmed-indexing-issue-affecting-a-large-number-of-sites-386526
• Content Consolidation Can Improve SEO - Dan Taylor - https://searchengineland.com/content-consolidation-seo-386518

Carrie’s Links

• Google Discover Stories With TikTok, Facebook, YouTube For Destination Queries - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-discover-destinations-stories-33754.html
• Google Taking Action On Recent One-Star Review Scams & Blackmail Threats - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-one-star-review-scams-blackmail-33764.html
  • Restaurants Face an Extortion Threat: A Bad Rating on Google (paywall) - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/11/dining/google-one-star-review-scam-restaurants.html
  • https://support.google.com/business/thread/171274322?hl=en - https://support.google.com/business/thread/171274322?hl=en
• LocalU Tickets & Sponsors - https://localu.org/den22/#sponsors
  • Zipsprout - https://zipsprout.com/
  • TheTransparency CO - https://askfortransparency.com/
  • Whitespark - https://whitespark.ca/
  • Leadferno - https://leadferno.com/
  • SterlingSky - https://sterlingsky.ca/

Elizabeth’s Links:

• Always have this one Google Maps feature enabled to prove your innocence - PhoneArena - https://www.phonearena.com/news/google-maps-keeps-user-from-jail-and-from-paying-a-hefty-fine_id141275
• Privacy advocates fear Google will be used to prosecute abortion seekers - https://www.npr.org/2022/07/11/1110391316/google-data-abortion-prosecutions
• Google proposes moving ad business to Alphabet to keep regulators at bay | Ars Technica - https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/07/google-proposes-moving-ad-business-to-alphabet-to-keep-regulators-at-bay/
• Google removes language in help doc calling hidden Search Console query data 'very rare' - https://searchengineland.com/google-removes-language-in-help-doc-calling-hidden-search-console-query-data-very-rare-386328
• Google PMax Campaigns add "In Location" targeting option - via Kasim Aslam on Twitter - https://twitter.com/kasimaslam/status/1544788738080854017
• Scammers are plaguing Chicago restaurants with one-star Google reviews and extortion emails: ‘The reviews just kept coming’ - https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-food-restaurant-scams-ever-sochi-google-reviews-20220708-vfacwqadanbvhlls76usgqf45a-story.html
  • Scammers Are Trying to Extort Bay Area Restaurant Owners With Torrents of One-Star Reviews - https://sf.eater.com/2022/7/7/23198900/google-review-restaurant-scam
  • Another Scammer Attacking Business - Google Business Profile Community - https://support.google.com/business/thread/170336010/another-scammer-attacking-business?hl=en

Carrie’s Links

• Related Questions showing in SERPs went from 54% to 27% last week. Isolated to desktop? What does it mean? Via Brodie Clark on Twitter - https://twitter.com/brodieseo/status/1546447344102608896
  • Related to PAA/Related Questions Spotted in Search Suggest Box - https://twitter.com/mblumenthal/status/1545150363526897664
• Major Bug on GBP Manager | Local Search Forum - https://localsearchforum.com/threads/major-bug-on-gbp-manager.59171/
• Should You Put Keywords in Your Google Business Profile (GBP) Business Name? via Darren Shaw on Twitter. - https://youtu.be/PmROSlxOZmg
• Google local justifications: Everything you need to know - Erin Jones via SELand - https://searchengineland.com/google-local-justifications-everything-you-need-to-know-386307

Mike’s Links:

• 76 Fake Charities Shared a Mailbox. The I.R.S. Approved Them All. - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/03/us/politics/irs-fake-charities.html
• A New York Starbucks abruptly closed – was it retaliation for a union drive? - https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jul/04/new-york-starbucks-closed-union-drive
• Google Maps adds new store location feature, Locator Plus, Reserve with Google integration, new analytics and more - https://searchengineland.com/google-maps-adds-new-store-location-feature-locator-plus-reserve-with-google-integration-new-analytics-and-more-386085
• Google Adds Pros & Cons To Search Result Snippets - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-pros-and-cons-snippets-33661.html
• Google Auto-Selects Background Colors For Search Result Snippet Images - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-auto-select-background-colors-images-33674.html
• Google Maps Tests New Local Panel With Images At Top & Tabs For Reviews - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-maps-new-local-panel-with-images-tabs-33673.html
• Celeste Gonzalez - Find business by review carousel test - https://twitter.com/celestexlili/status/1542604675521732609?s=12&t=upH6eS2eV1GsAELDvuIDZA
• 21 Local SEO Moves & Situations I Have Never Seen a Business Penalized for - https://www.localvisibilitysystem.com/2022/06/29/21-local-seo-moves-situations-i-have-never-seen-a-business-penalized-for/

Carrie’s Links

• Free SEO Keyword Tool - Term Suggest by Joe Hall - https://termsuggest.com/
• LocalU Permanent Early Bird Pricing - Localu.org/den22 
• LocalU Launched My Career and Changed My Life - Darren Shaw on LocalU - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEQHrNpAl-U

Mike’s Links:

• Twitter partners with Shopify to bring merchants’ products to Twitter Shopping - https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/22/twitter-partners-with-shopify-to-bring-merchants-products-to-twitter-shopping/
• Oh, My MUM. Or how to think SEO in the era of algorithms based on AI - https://www.iloveseo.net/oh-my-mum-or-how-to-think-seo-in-the-era-of-algorithms-based-on-ai/
• A Look at Google Local Results without 'Self-Preferencing' - https://www.nearmedia.co/what-might-google-local-pack-look-like-if-there-were-no-self-preferencing/
• Krystal Taing wins Google Product Expert Education Award - https://twitter.com/joyannehawkins/status/1540448351400902656

Carrie’s Links

• ​​Optimize Your CTA: Better Alternatives To 'Click Here' - Kim Krause Berg - https://www.searchenginejournal.com/cta-better-alternatives/447419/
• Almost Half of GSC Clicks Go to Hidden Terms - A Study by Ahrefs - Patrick Stox -https://ahrefs.com/blog/gsc-hidden-terms-study/
• Keyword Strategy Made Simple: How to Rank Higher and Convert More Searchers | Rio SEO - Carrie Hill, Josef Sperzel, Chad Klingensmith, & Scott McNulty - https://www.rioseo.com/events/keyword-strategy-made-simple-how-to-rank-higher-and-convert-more-searchers/
• YouTube Shorts guide: How to get noticed - Erin Jones -https://searchengineland.com/youtube-shorts-quick-content-get-noticed-385649
• Effective zero-volume keyword research and why it’s important - BrightonSEO April 2022 - Mark Williams Cook - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPkVG8nPpd0

Mike’s Links:

• Maryland Apple Store first to vote in favor of unionization - https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/06/19/maryland-apple-store-first-to-vote-in-favor-of-employee-unionization
• An 'eat-ertainment' incubator: Why gaming restaurants are betting big on D-FW — The Dallas Morning News - https://apple.news/A1iMgW95CQCe8FWKgRnleVg
• Google Says It’s Time for Longtime Small-Business Users to Pay Up - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/20/technology/google-gsuite-small-business-fee.html
• Content-led link building - https://aira.net/state-of-link-building/content-led-link-building/
• Keywords in the GBP Business Name STILL Increase Local Rankings (June 2022) - https://youtu.be/6S64hoOJJcA
• Google Tests Local Pack Within An Expandable Menu - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-testing-local-pack-within-an-accordion-33600.html

Carrie’s Links

• Google Search Testing Shopping Filter Button - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-shopping-filter-button-33581.html
• Starting June 30, LSA advertisers will need at least 5 reviews to run ads - https://twitter.com/adsliaison/status/1537921618579554304
• Deals tab w/ Offer posts more visible in US and Canada - https://twitter.com/ColanNielsen/status/1539205147586351104
• Congrats to Elizabeth Rule on promotion to Gold Product Expert for GBP - https://twitter.com/JoyanneHawkins/status/1537813513418203137
• Twitter now allows local businesses to display location, hours and contact info on their profiles | TechCrunch via techcrunch (and glen gabe on Twitter) - https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/15/twitter-now-allows-local-businesses-to-display-location-hours-and-contact-info-on-their-profiles/
• Congrats – a message button has been added to your Business Profile on Google. | Local Search Forum - https://localsearchforum.com/threads/congrats-a-message-button-has-been-added-to-your-business-profile-on-google.59077/
• How We Increased Revenue with Speed Optimization [Local SEO Case Study] - Amanda Jordan of RicketyRoo via Moz - https://moz.com/blog/local-seo-speed-optimization-case-study