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

 

Mike’s Links:

• How Macy's set out to conquer the department store business — and lost - https://www.retaildive.com/news/how-macys-set-out-to-conquer-the-department-store-business-and-lost/608277/
• Amazon to open first physical clothing store - https://www.retaildive.com/news/amazon-to-open-first-physical-clothing-store/617416/
• Google deceived consumers about how it profits from their location data, attorneys general allege in lawsuits - https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/01/24/google-location-data-ags-lawsuit/
• Gig Workers Were Promised a Better Deal. Then They Were Outsourced - https://www.wired.com/story/gig-economy-outsourcing-uk/
• Google: SEO Site Migrations Are Hard Because URL Signals Need To Be Forwarded - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-video-site-migrations-32775.html
• Understand the screening and verification process - United States - Local Services Help -https://support.google.com/localservices/answer/6226575?hl=en&co=GENIE.CountryCode%3DUnited+States
• Google is teaming up with 3C stump for SMB support against Google regulation - https://twitter.com/mblumenthal/status/1483859137293344775?s=12
• Google Autocomplete: A Complete SEO Guide - https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-autocomplete-a-complete-seo-guide/251407/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share-back-traffic
• Deprecation schedule  |  Google Business Profile APIs  |  Google Developers - https://developers.google.com/my-business/content/sunset-dates
• Google’s new ederated model for the local API l - https://developers.google.com/my-business/preview/content/upcoming_releases
• Everything You Need to Know About the Google Business Profile Manager Agency Dashboard - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-google-business-profile-manager-agency-dashboard/

Carries links:

•  Colan Nielsen presenting at Dudacon helping clients grow with local SEO - Tue, Jan 25  1 PM PT -https://t.co/e2kFuzaJYQ
• The State of Local Search 2022 – January 26, 2021 – 10am ET - Bright Local - https://www.brightlocal.com/the-state-of-local-search-2022-webinar/
• A Look at Leadferno with Aaron Weiche - 2/8 Webinar -https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2NQobjHMR3eW1aDRYuuTkQ
• Temporary Move for a Medical Practice | Local Search Forum - Local Search Forum - https://localsearchfor

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Joy's Links 
Ready to Take Target Practice on Businesses with Fake Reviews? - https://localsearchforum.com/threads/ready-to-take-target-practice-on-businesses-with-fake-reviews.58545/
When to list GBP Hours as 24/7 - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/when-should-i-list-my-google-business-profile-hours-as-open-24-7/
New Manager Limitations on Google Business Profiles- https://www.steadydemand.com/google-business-profile-new-manager-owner-limitations/

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Mike’s Links:

• ​​Deliveroo, Probing Restaurant-Delivery Snags, Plans to Open Own Eatery - https://www.wsj.com/articles/deliveroo-probing-restaurant-delivery-snags-plans-to-open-own-eatery-11641590210?mod=djemalertNEWS
• Walmart to bring in-home delivery to 30M US households this year - https://www.grocerydive.com/news/walmart-to-bring-in-home-delivery-to-30m-us-households-this-year/616687/
• 22 Smart Google SEO Tips for 2022 - https://moz.com/blog/smart-google-seo-tips-2022
• 15 Newsletter Growth Tips: From +1K to 17K Subs in 2 Yrs w/ #SEOFOMO - https://www.aleydasolis.com/en/content/newsletter-growth-tips/
• 2022 Local SEO Success: The Year of Everywhere - https://moz.com/blog/2022-local-seo-success

Carries links:

• Dallas Residents Push Back Against Unchecked Spread of Dollar Stores – DW - https://dallasweekly.com/2021/12/dallas-residents-push-back-against-unchecked-spread-of-dollar-stores/
• Major Updates to Google Knowledge Panels for Colleges & Universities - Brandon Schmidt - https://localu.org/updates-knowledge-panels-colleges-universities/
• Core Web Vitals are NOT more important than Links and Content - Right? - Joe Hall - https://twitter.com/joehall/status/1480515012351332354
• Unhappy Customer? Try These 14 Strategies To Make It Right - Forbes.com - https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/01/10/unhappy-customer-try-these-14-strategies-to-make-it-right/?sh=6a800b3fad34
• Omicron forces crippling closures for small businesses - NBCNews - https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/omicron-forces-crippling-closures-small-businesses-rcna11298
• First-dose vaccinations quadruple in Quebec ahead of restrictions at liquor and cannabis stores | CTV News - CTV News in Canada - https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/first-dose-vaccinations-quadruple-in-quebec-ahead-of-restrictions-at-liquor-and-cannabis-stores-1.5731327

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Mike’s Links:

• Amazon’s Alexa Stalled With Users as Interest Faded, Documents Show - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-22/amazon-s-voice-controlled-smart-speaker-alexa-can-t-hold-customer-interest-docs
• Alexa tells 10-year-old girl to touch live plug with penny - https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-59810383
• Barry Adams: On average Shopify now has better Core Web Vitals than AMP and Wordpress lags - https://twitter.com/badams/status/1478340899088343040?s=12
• The Influence of Local Guides on Google Reviews: Part 2 - https://streetfightmag.com/2021/12/27/the-influence-of-local-guides-on-google-reviews-part-2/
• Google now lets you place products at the top of your local and Maps listing - https://searchengineland.com/google-now-lets-you-place-products-at-the-top-of-your-local-and-maps-listing-378044
• An Image Content Analysis And A Geo-Semantic Index For Recommendations - https://www.seobythesea.com/2021/12/an-image-content-analysis-and-a-geo-semantic-index-for-recommendations/

Carries links:

• Update to College/University knowledge panels - Brandon Schmidt, via Twitter -  https://twitter.com/brandonschmidt/status/1473708236717101069
• Google Local Results Displays Bike Icon & Car Charging Icon - Barry Schwartz,  SERoundtable.com - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-local-bike-sharing-results-bike-icon-32694.html
• Low-quality translated pages on-site can drag down your main language high-quality pages. Via Glen Gabe on Twitter - https://twitter.com/glenngabe/status/1477649225605435393

• Pitch an idea for LocalU Advanced Virtual on April 5, 2022 - https://localu.org/speaking-pitches/
• Apply for a LocalU Scholarship  - https://localu.org/localu-scholarship-application/

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The SEO community has been abuzz over the news of the most recent Google update, dubbed the Vicinity Update by our own Joy Hawkins and the team at Sterling Sky. In addition to the Vicinity Update, Carrie and Mike discuss COVID-related changes for both Kroger and Google employees, updates to Whitespark's Local Rank Tracker, and more!

Intro Discussion - The Vicinity Update

• The Vicinity Update: What You Need to Know About Google's Largest Local Algorithm Update in 5 Years - Sterling Sky Inc - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/vicinity-algorithm-update/
• The ‘Vicinity Update’: Winners and losers from the November 2021 local update - https://searchengineland.com/the-vicinity-update-winners-and-losers-from-the-november-2021-local-update-377624

Mike’s Links:

• Kroger ends COVID sick pay, adds insurance surcharge for unvaccinated employees — ABC News - https://apple.news/A5n2yoM24RPaAnHQTs_oacQ
• Google tells employees they'll lose pay and will eventually be fired if they don't follow vaccination rules - https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/14/google-employees-to-lose-pay-if-dont-comply-with-vaccination-policy.html
• RTW: County has done us no favors - https://www.oleantimesherald.com/opinion/rtw-county-has-done-us-no-favors/article_b992634d-21ad-5089-b621-269daff3817b.html
• Local Rank Tracker Now Monitors Multiple Rankings - https://whitespark.ca/blog/local-rank-tracker-now-tracks-multiple-rankings/
• Why Are My Google Reviews Not Publishing? - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/google-reviews-not-publishing/
• The Vicinity Update: What You Need to Know About Google's Largest Local Algorithm Update in 5 Years - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/vicinity-algorithm-update/

Carries links:

• Google Maps Dock To Bottom Feature - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-maps-dock-to-bottom-button-32586.html
• Business Profile posts content policy - https://support.google.com/business/answer/7213077?hl=en

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Lots of great info this week, including rumblings of a local SERP update, Google’s new map interface, key factors in making reviews count, Starbucks has a new labor union, the most popular Yelp search filters, and so much more!

Mike’s Links:

• DoorDash launches 15-minute grocery delivery in NYC - https://www.supermarketnews.com/online-retail/doordash-launches-15-minute-grocery-delivery-nyc
• Starbucks workers form their 1st union in the U.S. in a big win for labor — NPR - https://apple.news/AiPWQyhRcS56T78D2IbG_Hw
• Survey finds what makes reviews trustworthy — consumers want more than ratings - https://blog.yelp.com/news/survey-finds-what-makes-reviews-trustworthy-consumers-want-more-than-ratings/
• Exclusive: The most popular Yelp search filters - https://searchengineland.com/exclusive-the-most-popular-yelp-search-filters-377209
• 17 Content Formats for the Lead Gen Gunnel: How to Align Formats and Funnel Stages | Orbit Media Studios - https://www.orbitmedia.com/blog/content-marketing-formats-funnels/
• Seismic event or overblown rebrand: Local search experts weigh in on ‘death’ of Google My Business - https://searchengineland.com/seismic-event-or-overblown-rebrand-local-search-experts-weigh-in-on-death-of-google-my-business-376941
• 7 New & Ongoing Google Business Profile (GMB) Issues, December 2021 - https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-business-profile-issues-update/429129/#close
• Google rolling out new map and local interface in search - https://searchengineland.com/google-rolling-out-new-map-and-local-interface-in-search-377169
• EP 44: Local Search Ranking Factors Interview with Darren Shaw - https://www.nearmedia.co/ep-44-local-search-ranking-factors-interview-with-darren-shaw/

Carries links:

• Hotels Get Posts – sort of. Help Center Docs Update via Joy Hawkins on Twitter - https://twitter.com/JoyanneHawkins/status/1469636561310474241
• Do Links Still Matter for Rankings? A Study by Ahrefs & Patrick Stox - https://ahrefs.com/blog/impact-of-links/
• Local SERP Update? Lots of Volatility being reported – Joy Hawkins - https://twitter.com/JoyanneHawkins/status/1469028554390315012
• Possible Google local ranking algorithm update this past week – Barry Schwartz @ SEO Roundtable - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-local-search-ranking-algorithm-update-32562.html
• Problems with “Crawled not Indexed”?  You’re not alone – via Marie Haynes - https://twitter.com/Marie_Haynes/status/1468301594324307983

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December is here and the last week in local was a good one! Today, Mike and Carrie discuss all of the latest and greatest moments in local SEO from the past week, including Whitespark's 2021 Local Search Ranking Factors, how Amazon is taking the next step in world domination, changes to healthcare info on Google Business Profiles, and so much more!
 

Mike’s Links:

• More accessible web images arrive in 10 new languages - https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/accessibility/more-accessible-web-images-arrive-10-new-languages/
• Amazon is making its own containers and bypassing supply chain chaos with chartered ships and long-haul planes - https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/04/how-amazon-beats-supply-chain-chaos-with-ships-and-long-haul-planes.html
• The Amazon Empire Strikes Back - https://stratechery.com/2021/the-amazon-empire-strikes-back/
• 2021 Local Search Ranking Factors - https://whitespark.ca/local-search-ranking-factors/
• Local Search Ranking Factors 2021: What's New? - https://www.nearmedia.co/local-search-ranking-factors-2021/
• Apple Maps: The Road to Discovery (Part 2) - https://www.nearmedia.co/apple-maps-the-road-to-discovery-part-2/
• Manage COVID-19 Testing Information on Your Google Business Profile - Local University - https://localu.org/covid-19-testing-information-google-business-profile/
• Google Business Profiles Bugs and Fixes - December 2021 - Local University - https://localu.org/google-business-profiles-bugs-and-fixes-december-2021/

Carries links:

• Rank trackers differ from Client experience - Via Colan Nielsen - https://localsearchforum.com/threads/rank-trackers-differ-from-client-experience.58446/
• How to Use Instagram for Local Businesses - Erin Jones - https://www.brightlocal.com/learn/instagram-for-local-businesses/
• Healthcare Providers Add Insurance & Languages To Google Business Profile - SE Roundtable - https://www.seroundtable.com/healthcare-providers-insurance-languages-google-business-profile-32529.html

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Happy Cyber Monday, everyone! Carrie and guest host Erin discuss notable news in local search from the past week. Last week, we saw quite a few changes at Google, including reviews and bolded text as ranking factors, GBP for the auto industry,  the value of quality content over hype, new Google Maps features, and our amazing sponsors for tomorrow's LocalU Advanced event. (tickets still available at LocalU.org/Nov30)

Carries links:

• 99 Problems: Local SEO for Auto Dealers Ain’t One - Colan Nielsen - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/local-seo-auto-dealers/
• I’d like to take this final chance to shout out to our LocalU Advanced Sponsors for the November 30th event.  We’re lucky enough to again have Places Scout sponsoring LocalU.  Mark Kabana and the team at PS really go the extra mile to make tools that help local SEOs get on track and complete tasks - from map grid rankings, to historic screenshots of SERPs, to competitor tracking and reporting that can help with spam fighting - definitely a really great tool for any Local SEO to have in their arsenal. PlacesScout.com
• Again returning to LocalU Advanced as a sponsor is the incredible team at Whitespark. Whitespark made its name in the citation game, but they offer Local SEO as well as the Local Search Ranking Factors study.  Their ranking and reporting tool is unparalleled, their SEO knowledge & writing/newsletter is must-watch SEO, and they curate and share the Whitespark Local Search Summit every year - which is definitely worth the price of admission. Whitespark.ca
• A first-time sponsor this event is The Transparency Company. Curtis Boyd and his team are building a world-class tool to help agencies determine where fake reviews are showing up for their clients (or if their prospects are faking reviews) - they also guide you through how to report and clean this up with a tool you can subscribe to and a Chrome extension. AskForTransparency.com
• Another first-time sponsor, but long-time attendee is Dan Vance and the Advanced Local team.  They have developed a specialty in automotive repair LocalSEO serving clients in the US and Canada.  Their team covers the gambit from GBP optimization and ranking to traditional SEO, Social Media, and a variety of paid ads platforms. AdvancedLocal.com

Erin's Links

• How Marketers can adapt to Google’s local SEO changes  - https://searchengineland.com/how-marketers-can-adapt-to-googles-local-seo-changes-376371
• John Mueller of Google offers helpful tip with regards to text bolding as a ranking factor - https://twitter.com/johnmu/status/1462775511508262923?s=21
• Google confirms something we've known for a while  - https://twitter.com/joyannehawkins/status/1463588414872297474?s=21
• Area busy-ness feature in Google maps - https://www.t3.com/news/google-maps-users-are-getting-a-cool-free-upgrade

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Carrie and Mike discuss all the best news in local search from the past week, and this past week was a good one! This week they're discussing automation, a hotel calling the police on a granny over some hurt feelings, Apple maps, disappearing GMB categories, more local search news, and our awesome sponsors for next week's LocalU Advanced event!

Mike’s Links:

• The Automation Charade - https://logicmag.io/failure/the-automation-charade/
• Starbucks, Amazon Go open cashierless store concept in NYC - https://www.retaildive.com/news/starbucks-amazon-go-open-cashierless-store-concept-in-nyc/610340/
• GMB to GBP: 3 Invitations for Google to Alter Their Indifference towards SMBs - https://moz.com/blog/gmb-to-gbp
• Google Maps Adds Pickup At Kroger, Restaurant Price Ranges, More Indoor Navigation & More - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-maps-pickup-krogers-restaurant-price-ranges-more-indoor-navigation-32430.html
• Apple Maps - the Road to Discovery - Part 1 - https://www.nearmedia.co/apple-maps-road-to-discovery/
• 99 Problems: Realtor Local SEO Ain't One - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/real-estate-agent-seo/
• 99 Problems: Local SEO for Dentists Ain't One - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/dentist-local-seo/
• Hotel calls police on grandma after bad review - https://www.11alive.com/article/news/investigations/the-reveal/hotel-calls-police-grandma-bad-review/85-377e243e-f05c-46e9-85f7-8a0748c7b71d

 

Carries links:

• dozens of healthcare Categories disappeared from the Google Business profiles dashboard - https://twitter.com/ColanNielsen/status/1461709594770747395
• I’d like to take this chance to shout out to our LocalU Advanced Sponsors for the November 30th event.  We’re lucky enough to again have Places Scout sponsoring LocalU.  Mark Kabana and the team at PS really go the extra mile to make tools that help local SEOs to track and complete tasks - from map grid rankings, to historic screenshots of SERPs, to competitor tracking and reporting that can help with spam fighting - definitely a really great tool for any Local SEO to have in their arsenal. PlacesScout.com
• Again returning to LocalU Advanced as a sponsor is the incredible team at Whitespark. Whitespark made its name in the citation game, but they offer Local SEO as well as the Local Search Ranking Factors study.  Their ranking and reporting tool is unparalleled, their SEO knowledge & writing/newsletter is must-watch SEO, and they curate and share the Whitespark Local Search Summit every year - which is definitely worth the price of admission. Whitespark.ca
• A first-time sponsor of this event is The Transparency Company. Curtis Boyd and his team are building a world-class tool to help agencies determine where fake reviews are showing up for their clients (or if their prospects are faking reviews) - they also guide you through how to report and clean this up with a tool you can subscribe to and a Chrome extension.

Support the show

This week, Mike and Carrie discuss our upcoming LocalU Advanced event on Nov 30, what's new at Google, the 2021 CTR Research Study, big web brands using political allies to battle antitrust probes, and more!

Mike’s Links:

• The Truth About Those Dollar Stores - https://www.consumerreports.org/dollar-stores/the-truth-about-those-dollar-stores/
• Yelp launches new home feed experience on iOS - https://blog.yelp.com/news/yelp-launches-new-home-feed-experience-on-ios/
• 2021 CTR Research Study: The Largest Ever for SEO - https://www.seoclarity.net/mobile-desktop-ctr-study-11302/
• Google expands propaganda push to Adwords & Other business products - https://www.nearmedia.co/does-the-gmb-rebranding-mean-more-or-less-than-google-say/
• Amazon, Facebook and Google turn to deep network of political allies to battle back antitrust probes - https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/06/10/amazon-facebook-google-political-allies-antitrust/
• How Location Page Providers Stack Up for Core Web Vitals - https://www.localseoguide.com/how-location-page-providers-stack-up-for-core-web-vitals/
• Adding alt text to product images: SEO Split Testing Lessons from SearchPilot - https://www.searchpilot.com/resources/case-studies/seo-split-test-lessons-adding-alt-text/
• Local SEO for 'Adult' Businesses is Beyond Crazy - https://onlineownership.com/local-seo-for-adult-businesses-is-beyond-crazy/
• Thibault Adda: Google showing image carousel on desktop brand searches - https://twitter.com/thibaultadda/status/1458923202302943236?s=12
•  

Carries links:

• I’d like to take this chance to shout out to our LocalU Advanced Sponsors for the November 30th event.  We’re lucky enough to again have Places Scout sponsoring LocalU.  Mark Kabana and the team at PS really go the extra mile to make tools that help local SEOs get track and complete tasks - from map grid rankings, to historic screen shots of SERPs, to competitor tracking and reporting that can help with spam fighting - definitely a really great tool for any Local SEO to have in their arsenal. PlacesScout.com
• Again returning to LocalU Advanced as a sponsor is the incredible team at Whitespark. Whitespark made its name in the citation game, but they offer Local SEO as well as the Local Search Ranking Factors study.  Their ranking and reporting tool is unparalleled, their SEO knowledge & writing/newsletter is must-watch SEO, and they curate and share the Whitespark Local Search Summit every year - which is definitely worth the price of admission. Whitespark.ca
• A first-time sponsor this event is The Transparency Company. Curtis Boyd and his team are building a world-class tool to help agencies determine where fake reviews are showing up for their clients (or if their prospects are faking reviews) - they also guide you through how to report and clean this up with a tool you can subs

Support the show