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

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

• Optimize Bing AI search by following SEO guidelines.
• What should I do if my domain host doesn’t support Wordpress sites?
• Is there any impact on Local SEO from the June 2025 core update?
• Is there an updated list of trigger words that cause Google Posts to fail?
• How do I do video verification if I have a Service Area Business?
• What should I do if Google denies relevant business categories for my GBP?
• Is having products on Law Firm listings helpful?
• Will sharing my ChatGPT chat potentially help with SEO?
• Has the visibility on car dealerships been affected since AI mode was introduced?

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

• New GBP feature for restaurants to highlight specials.
• Users of Claude find out how to get citations from it.
• AI overview increases, traffic for Local Search decreases. 
• Internet Marketing Ninjas acquired by Previsible.
• Google asks for chat number when setting up new GBP.
• Is there a way to accept Google updates en masse?
• What should I do if my SAB verification has been pending for weeks?
• Is GBP no longer accepting utility bills?
• How do I get verified quickly?
• How do I add the direct booking option to my GBP?
• What causes a listing to be suspended before it has the opportunity to get verified?
• What should I do if I got suspended because of a DBA name change?
• What is the average wait time for a human response/review from Google regarding the suspension of a profile?

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

• Bug causes knowledge panel to go missing on GBP.
• What should I do if a former employee hijacks my GBP and makes changes?
• How do I make sure I show up in local AI search?
• What are some best practices for local heat map software or competitor analysis?
• How do I get access to a GBP?
• Do hotels and villas qualify for a GBP?
• Are GBP Activities similar to GBP Posts?

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

• AI analysis for GBP reviews in Google Chrome.
• Google sends information edit rejection notices for GBP.
• Google tests replacing local map pack with AI overview.
• Can you get positive reviews from a community event if they didn’t do business with you?
• Why did my GBP get unverified when I changed the primary category?
• Are certain industries harder to get approved by Google for an SAB in a residential address?
• Is it important that customers don’t leave reviews while connected to the location’s wifi?
• Can I get a suspension turned over with only one document?
• How do I use AI, and what tools should I use? 
• Why are reviews not showing up in my GBP?

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

• Reviews for schools are going away.
• Q&A feature is being removed.
• Meta keywords impact ranking!?
• What should I do if my Phone number verification code won’t go through?
• How do I know why my verification was taken away if Google won’t tell me?
• If I’ve switched from brick and mortar to service area business, is it safe to hide my address on my GBP?
• How can you tell if a review is not within guidelines?
• How do I get reviews to show up on my GBP?
• Is reverification being triggered because of making changes on a new account?
• How do I get hours to show for another department without having to click on “more hours”?
• Is there a fix for things showing up as obsolete when requesting access through the agency dashboard?
• How do I create a successful GBP post?

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