Each week, Greg and Ben answer your questions on digital marketing for local businesses … local search engine optimization (SEO), Google Business Profile, social media, email marketing, websites, online advertising and more.

Updates and Questions

• AI and Local SEO Webinar on March 4.
• Google Knowledge panel filled with AI driven services/GBPs.
• How do I reinstate a GBP that was voluntarily disabled by request?
• Google has stopped showing the opening date for a new business location on the GBP - is this a bug?
• What are some tips on how to film a video for verification?
• How should I manage a corporate Facebook account vs. the individual store location pages?
• What should I do if Google keeps asking for re-verification?
• Can I use my GBP to advertise for a new business?

Links mentioned in this session are available on our website at https://localmarketinginstitute.com

Each week, Greg and Ben answer your questions on digital marketing for local businesses … local search engine optimization (SEO), Google Business Profile, social media, email marketing, websites, online advertising and more.

Updates and Questions

• Local Searches on Google Chrome on mobile are disappearing in the Personal Injury space.
• Purchases from Etsy can now be made directly from AI Mode.
• Google deprecates short names for GBP.
• You can access LocalU Nashville video content by paid subscription.
• LocalU in Dallas in October 2026.
• New “Insights” feature in GBP.
• Google Posts bug now fixed.
• Can “Popular times” apply to an SAB?
• Is Bing still worth optimising for?
• How do I verify my business if my lease doesn’t allow me to put up permanent signage?
• What is the most I can do to fully optimize my GBP?
• What would cause a listing to become unverified?

Links mentioned in this session are available on our website at https://localmarketinginstitute.com

Each week, Greg and Ben answer your questions on digital marketing for local businesses … local search engine optimization (SEO), Google Business Profile, social media, email marketing, websites, online advertising and more.

Updates and Questions

• Google AI Overviews follow up questions take you to AI Mode.
• Google explores ways to opt out of search AI features.
• New research says AIs are inconsistent when recommending brands.
• Factors for what makes the Most Relevant GBP reviews.
• Does Google still send out verification postcards?
• Are there services that help track visibility in AI mode?
• Should I merge the listing of a location that’s closing with another listing at a different location to keep the reviews?
• Is there a platform that’s good for tracking how entities are showing up in AI Tools?
• What should I use for citations?
• Should I have a practitioner listing for my GBP if I have regular one with my name in the business name?
• What are some good tools for analyzing GBPs and websites?

Links mentioned in this session are available on our website at https://localmarketinginstitute.com

Each week, Greg and Ben answer your questions on digital marketing for local businesses … local search engine optimization (SEO), Google Business Profile, social media, email marketing, websites, online advertising and more.

Updates and Questions

• Google speaks on hiring GEO/AEO/SEO and buying AI optimization tools.
• Google’s Danny Sullivan says not to turn content into bite sized chunks for LLMs.
• Google announces new branded AI business agents.
• Google rolls out Personal Intelligence in Gemini.
• Google confirms Apple Intelligence and Siri will be powered using Gemini.
• Why does Google keep asking for reverification after changing my business name?
• When are products for SABs going away?
• Should I change my SAB to a storefront for more visibility?
• Do clients ever pay based on success in leads or sales?
• Are EV charging station listings considered a separate department if they’re located within a business?
• With the ‘Vehicles for Sale’ feature now deprecated, should I use the products section instead?
• Are there any tools that can predict Google’s confidence score?
• How do you answer the phone for LSA to train it not to charge you for bad leads?
• Should I offer yearly contracts for SEO marketing, or month-to-month?

Links mentioned in this session are available on our website at https://localmarketinginstitute.com

Each week, Greg and Ben answer your questions on digital marketing for local businesses … local search engine optimization (SEO), Google Business Profile, social media, email marketing, websites, online advertising and more.

Updates and Questions

• John Mueller from Google responds to questions on if Schema helps with LLMs and Google.
• How does using the same number for two GBP locations differ from a franchise using a 1-800 number?
• Is LinkedIn good for marketing?
• Should I use keywords in my company name?
• How do I add a WhatsApp number to my GBP?
• What type of photos should I use for an insurance agency?
• Has the AI calling to check prices feature been tested yet?
• Can you target private Facebook groups with Facebook Ads?
• Is it bad to spam keywords in company names in the Home Renovation trade?

Links mentioned in this session are available on our website at https://localmarketinginstitute.com

Each week, Greg and Ben answer your questions on digital marketing for local businesses … local search engine optimization (SEO), Google Business Profile, social media, email marketing, websites, online advertising and more.

Updates and Questions

• Google Maps Q&A going away to be replaced by AI Q&A.
• GBP review appeals delayed.
• Danny Sullivan and John Mueller from Google discuss how AI SEO is the same as regular SEO.
• Google releases feature that uses AI phone calls to check business prices. 
• Google states the disappearing reviews bug has now been fixed.
• Google reviewer nicknames officially rolled out.
• Is it bad to use similar phone numbers for two different GBPs?
• Does having text on an image help with SEO?
• Does Google reject verification videos if there are faces in it?
• How do I get into the top rated businesses in Google’s AI mode?
• Why is Google not showing the tools that allow me to edit inside Google Search? 
• What should I do if I have a duplicate listing?
• If Google says reviews were removed for valid reasons, is it worth contesting it?
• Does Google AI use prices you set on your services for the “get a quote” feature?
• If you use AI to get prices, is it able to navigate a business’s phone tree?
• What should I do if Google has denied reinstatement after the appeal and review process?
• How much is a GBP rank affected by how recent the latest reviews are?

Links mentioned in this session are available on our website at https://localmarketinginstitute.com

Each week, Greg and Ben answer your questions on digital marketing for local businesses … local search engine optimization (SEO), Google Business Profile, social media, email marketing, websites, online advertising and more.

Updates and Questions

• Google launches scheduling and multi-location publishing on Google Posts.
• Google API implies Service Areas do not affect ranking.
• You can now leave anonymous Google Reviews.
• Google now sends notifications when review restrictions are removed from an account.
• Local Marketing Institute will be starting up a new newsletter.
• When searching a law firm, the GBP shows at the bottom of the page of results - is this a bug?
• How much should you fill out for an organization schema for a local business?
• Is it possible to close a competitor GBP that was acquired while transferring the reviews to the main profile?
• Should I use products to promote a service business such as a family attorney?
• Should I use extra long title tags for local?
• Do Service Areas in GBP have influence on Service Areas targeted in LSA?
• Is there any value to adding geo-coordinates to GBP Photos?

Links mentioned in this session are available on our website at https://localmarketinginstitute.com

Each week, Greg and Ben answer your questions on digital marketing for local businesses … local search engine optimization (SEO), Google Business Profile, social media, email marketing, websites, online advertising and more.

Updates and Questions

• Google Maps rolls out reviewer nicknames.
• Google LSA adds “get competitive quotes” and “request multiple opinions” buttons.
• Gemini 3 AI mode rolled out.
• GhatGPT uses Google for Atlas browser.
• Semrush acquired by Adobe for 1.9 billion.
• Extortion attempts for GBPs on the rise.
• How do I resolve my “pending edits” faster?
• What causes a website’s url to change to an OEM url?
• Are there any new developments in AI in Local Search?
• Should I turn on messaging for WhatsApp in my GBP?
• Why does changing my address for an SAB not trigger reverification after moving to a different state?

Links mentioned in this session are available on our website at https://localmarketinginstitute.com

Each week, Greg and Ben answer your questions on digital marketing for local businesses … local search engine optimization (SEO), Google Business Profile, social media, email marketing, websites, online advertising and more.

Updates and Questions

• When will Q&As no longer be available?
• How do I make videos to advertise my products on social media?
• How do I prevent an old GBP showing up on results after moving locations if I don’t have access to the GBP?
• How do I get customers to pay for higher priced items?
• Is it possible to have a separate GBP for another business at the same address if there are no suite numbers?
• What are some insights from the 2026 local ranking factor report?
• Can a hybrid SAB with a verified visible location verify a second location with a hidden address?
• Will Google filter out a GBP if there are different types of doctors at the same location?
• Will Google restrict my reviews if to incentivize employees to get customers to leave reviews by offering rewards?

Links mentioned in this session are available on our website at https://localmarketinginstitute.com

Each week, Greg and Ben answer your questions on digital marketing for local businesses … local search engine optimization (SEO), Google Business Profile, social media, email marketing, websites, online advertising and more.

Updates and Questions

• LSA removes guarantee badge.
• AI assistants prefer to cite fresh content.
• Study says only 1% of users click on AI citation links.
• Top web domains cited by LLMs.
• Microsoft CoPilot and ChatGPT offers Google Maps for local sources. 
• Review recency impacting ranking.
• Can I have two GBP listings at the same address?
• What are some ways to incorporate AI into your workflow for efficiency?
• Should I use an AI agent to help improve visibility?
• Are the product carousels showing up differently on Android vs. Apple?
• How do I remove spam reviews on Facebook?
• What should I do when the review reporting form doesn’t work?
• Does the “popular times” section in GBP influence rankings?
• Are there any problems related to not being able to receive new reviews?
• How do you get refunds for bad leads from LSA?

Links mentioned in this session are available on our website at https://localmarketinginstitute.com