x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

The Near Memo

Greg Sterling, Mike Blumenthal & David Mihm

Exploring the big stories for the week at the intersection of local business & marketing across the spectrum of search, social and commerce. With Greg Sterling, Mike Blumenthal & David Mihm.

news tech news

All Episodes

31:02

Part 2- Barnacle SEO in the AI Era: Will Scott on...

The Near Memo ·

2025/08/14

Send us a textIn part two of this interview, SEO veteran Will Scott of Search Influence joins Mike Blumenthal and Greg Sterling to unpack how AI is reshaping search, why semantic SEO matters, and how to use no-code automation tools to scale content. Learn how to barnacle onto high-authority sites, repurpose content across platforms, and adapt to an AI-first search world.Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/subscribe/

en-us

32:52

Part 1: Barnacle SEO in the AI Era: Will Scott on...

The Near Memo ·

2025/08/07

Send us a text In Part 1 of this interview, SEO veteran Will Scott joins Near Memo to unpack the rise of Barnacle SEO in a world reshaped by AI. We explore how content visibility, listicles, and trusted sources like Reddit and Yelp are influencing AI-generated responses. Plus, we debate the viability of “GEO” as a term, Google’s evolving narrative, and the role of automation tools in SEO. Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/subscribe/

en-us

47:38

The Future of Maps: User Focused, Contextual &...

The Near Memo ·

2025/07/31

Send us a textGreg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal talk with mapping expert Goetz Weber about why today’s maps fail to deliver personalized, contextual experiences — and what needs to change. From intent modeling to the limits of monetization, from ChatGPT to Snap Maps, Goetz lays out a compelling vision for mapping 2.0: visual, social, and powered by AI. For relevant links and a transcript visit our site. Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/subscribe/

en-us

32:45

Pew & Ahrefs Reveal Click Declines & AIO Disruption,...

The Near Memo ·

2025/07/24

Send us a text This week, Greg and Mike dissect new data from Pew and Ahrefs showing how AI Overviews impact user click behavior, local pack visibility, and publisher traffic. They explore the branding mess of “AIO” vs. “GEO,” ChatGPT’s growing usefulness, and YouTube’s quiet dominance. Plus: a burrito search showdown and dishwasher repair gone AI. Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/subscribe/

en-us

36:55

Google Fixes GBP Alerts Sort Of, Expands "Ask for Me"...

The Near Memo ·

2025/07/18

Send us a text In this episode of the Near Memo, Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal dive into Google’s overhaul of its Business Profile dashboard notifications and why it's problematic, the rollout of Google’s AI-powered “Ask for Me” local quote feature, and ChatGPT’s growing impact on local search. Plus: Will businesses benefit from the Ask for Me feature? Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/subscribe/

en-us

31:44

Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT’s Search Shift, and...

The Near Memo ·

2025/07/10

Send us a textIn this episode of the Near Memo, Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal discuss fresh insights into how consumers engage with local AI Overviews, explore the theory that ChatGPT may be using Google's search index, and dig into the explosive growth and influence of Google's Local Guides program. The discussion also touches on zero-click search, ad transparency, and the implications for local businesses. Sponsored by GatherUp.Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at

en-us

39:38

GBP Suspensions, AIO Overviews & New Best Practices...

The Near Memo ·

2025/07/03

Send us a textGreg and Mike unpack the latest in local search: an uptick in suspensions, why AI overviews are shifting lower on SERPs, and what local businesses must do to thrive in an AI-dominated search world. Also, a pig roasSubscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/subscribe/

en-us

46:16

AI, Reviews & the Future of Local SEO: What Darren...

The Near Memo ·

2025/06/26

Send us a text Darren Shaw of Whitespark returns to the Near Memo to talk with Mike and Greg about what’s actually working—and what’s not—in local SEO as AI begins reshaping consumer behavior. From the rise of first-party reviews to YouTube’s power for B2B lead gen, this episode tackles how agencies can prepare clients for a future beyond Google. They also dig into the limitations of ChatGPT’s local recommendations, where blogs still make sense, and what digital PR might look like for small b...

en-us

36:31

How to Stay Verified on Google, Where Search Is...

The Near Memo ·

2025/06/13

Send us a text In this episode, Mike and Greg break down three major developments shaping the local search and AI landscape. First, they tackle the growing wave of Google Business Profile suspensions caused by rigid, AI-driven video verification—where even legitimate businesses are getting flagged. They offer practical advice on how to avoid getting suspended and why field-based verification is now essential. Next, they explore new consumer survey data showing a significant rise in people usi...

en-us

29:29

Google’s Next Move: AI, Antitrust Battles & the...

The Near Memo ·

2025/06/05

Send us a text In this episode of The Near Memo, Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal break down some of the biggest tectonic shifts happening at the intersection of AI, search, and antitrust law. The focal point? Google's claim that its Gemini AI now boasts 350 million monthly users. But what exactly counts as a user—and does stuffing Gemini into every app and product really mean it’s being used? Greg and Mike dig deep into how Google is leveraging its product ecosystem—Chrome, Gmail, Workspace...

en-us

39:01

Clicks Are Dead, Reviews Are King: Surviving Google’s...

The Near Memo ·

2025/05/30

Send us a text In this jam-packed episode of The Near Memo, hosts Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal welcome back Adam Dorfman, VP of Product at BirdEye, for a timely deep dive into the ever-shifting world of local SEO, AI Overviews, and Google’s evolving search ecosystem. The trio unpacks the seismic shifts happening in local search, AI-generated results, and the new metrics that matter when “clicks” no longer rule. From how Google is leveraging its own ecosystem to dominate AI outputs, to wh...

en-us

24:00

SEO Tactics from the Frontline: Real User Behavior in...

The Near Memo ·

2025/05/21

Send us a text Welcome to Part 2 of our deep dive into the most revealing SEO and UX research of 2025. In this episode of the Near Memo podcast, Greg Sterling, Kevin Indig, and Eric Van Buskirk break down how users actually interact with AI Overviews on Google—and what that means for your SEO strategy moving forward. 00:55 – “Trust over Traffic: The SEO Paradigm Shift” 02:10 – “SEO as Traffic Cop, Not Traffic Driver” 03:33 – “Reddit, YouTube & Beyond: Tactical SEO Musts” 07:20 – “Google K...

en-us

32:37

Trust Before Clicks: What Google’s AIO UX Study...

The Near Memo ·

2025/05/15

Send us a text 🎙️ Trust Before Clicks: What Real Users Do With Google’s AI Overviews We’ve all seen the headlines: Google’s AI Overviews (AIOs) are changing search forever. But how do real people actually use them? In this episode of The Near Memo, we dive into the first behavioral UX study of Google’s AIOs, conducted by Kevin Indig and Eric Van Buskirk. The results? Totally eye-opening—and a little humbling for SEOs. This wasn’t another clickstream analysis. This was watching users scroll,

en-us

45:44

Google's Power Grab: AI Journeys, Monetized Moments,...

The Near Memo ·

2025/05/08

Send us a text In this thought-provoking episode of the Near Memo podcast, SEO veteran Cindy Krum joins Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal to unpack how Google's evolving use of AI, including MUM (Multitask Unified Model), is reshaping the search landscape. Krum explains how Google is moving from keyword- and entity-based indexing to modeling “journeys” that reflect a user’s intent — aligning with Google's long-abandoned concept of “micro-moments” like “I want to know,” “I want to go,” “I want...

en-us

33:03

AmpUp Webinar, Yelp’s Antitrust V Google, Google AIO...

The Near Memo ·

2025/05/01

Send us a text 00:00 GatherUp's AmpUp Webinar Overview 05:56 Yelp Antitrust Case Insights 13:32 Google Local Review's AI Overviews and Their Impact 26:45 ChatGPT's Shopping Capabilities and Future Directions In this episode, Greg and Mike discuss the upcoming AmpUp 2025 virtual conference with Mel Atia of GatherUp, focusing on local SEO, reputation management, and the impact of AI on digital strategies. They delve into Yelp's antitrust case against Google, exploring the implications for loca...

en-us

30:16

Know Before You Go: New on GBP Profiles, G Under...

The Near Memo ·

2025/04/24

Send us a text We discuss the latest developments in Google's antitrust trial and the introduction of new AI features in Google Business Profiles. They explore the implications of these changes for local SEO and user experience, as well as the potential future of search in an AI-driven world. The conversation highlights the challenges Google faces in maintaining its market dominance amidst evolving technologies and user expectations. 00:00 Exploring Google's New AI Features 11:17 Antitrust Tr...

en-us

30:40

The Future of Reviews: What Businesses Need to Know

The Near Memo ·

2025/04/18

Send us a textGreg Sterling, Mike Blumenthal, and Sammy Paget of BrightLocal discuss the evolving landscape of consumer reviews, focusing on how consumer behavior has changed over the years, the importance of businesses responding to reviews, and the impact of AI on review management. They explore the future of reviews, the decline in trust, and Google's policies regarding review authenticity, emphasizing the need for businesses to prioritize customer service and engagement.00:00 Consumer

en-us

29:48

From Stars to Skepticism: How Reviews Evolved & Why...

The Near Memo ·

2025/04/10

Send us a text 01:59 Evolution of Consumer Review Behavior 05:03 Trust in Reviews: A Declining Trend 08:14 The Impact of Fake Reviews and AI 14:18 Alternative Review Platforms and Their Trustworthiness 19:30 Key Findings from the 15-Year Review Study 22:07 Best Practices for Review Solicitation 29:22 Consumer Expectations and Business Responses In this episode, Greg Sterling, Mike Blumenthal, and guest Sammy Paget from BrightLocal dive deep into 15 years of consumer review research trends. S...

en-us

35:39

Google’s Euro DMA Headaches, GBP Local Chaos AND...

The Near Memo ·

2025/04/03

Send us a text In this milestone 200th episode, the NearMemo crew unpacks Google’s mounting regulatory woes in Europe, including fresh scrutiny under the Digital Markets Act. Mike breaks down a storm of GBP bugs and business suspensions and ponders the fact that Google is actually admitting to them.. Greg steers the convo into the evolving future of search—where AI, chat interfaces, and user expectations are reshaping everything. From legal battles to UI battles, it’s clear: the search landsc...

en-us

23:51

Surviving the New Google: Suspensions & Appeal...

The Near Memo ·

2025/03/27

Send us a text Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal discuss the current state of Google suspensions, the impact of AI overviews on local search traffic, and the evolving landscape of digital marketing strategies. They emphasize the importance of businesses becoming less reliant on Google and exploring alternative marketing channels while navigating the challenges posed by AI and changing search dynamics. Takeaways •Google's traffic dynamics are shifting, impacting everyone. •Suspension isues ha...

en-us

244 results

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

PBS News Hour - Full Show

PBS News

CD Voice

China Daily

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

Noa Levi

Jeffrey Epstein: The Coverup Chronicles

Bobby Capucci