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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.

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All Episodes

32:27

EU Targets Google, Listings Get Suspended, and AI...

The Near Memo ·

2025/03/21

Send us a text In this episode, Greg and Mike discuss the recent EU findings regarding Google's non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the implications of algorithm changes leading to increased suspensions and verifications, and the evolving landscape of AI competition, particularly focusing on Google's strategies to retain users amidst rising AI technologies. They also explore the future of local SEO and its unique position in the market. takeaways Google's violation of the DMA...

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38:53

Google GBP Suspensions Update, AI in Local Search,...

The Near Memo ·

2025/03/13

Send us a text Buckle up for another Near Memo packed with search drama, AI experiments, and a high-speed Tesla takedown. Mike and Greg dive into Google’s ongoing Business Profile suspensions, unpack the latest AI-driven search changes, and speculate on whether Elon Musk has permanently tanked Tesla’s brand. Plus, a peek at Google’s antitrust battle and what losing Chrome could mean for search dominance. 00:00 The State of Google Business Profile Suspensions 09:39 Trump's DOJ to Force Google ...

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31:23

The Rise of GBP Suspensions, Is Google's 5 trillion...

The Near Memo ·

2025/03/07

Send us a text 00:00 Overview of Topics 01:07 Increase in Business Suspensions - Resinstatements very slow 06:27 Google's Search Query Insights - Is Google Cooking the Books? 21:03 Google's AI Mode as the Future of Search We discuss the recent increase in suspensions and the delay of reinstatements on Google, the implications of Google's five trillion search queries, and the impact of AI on search. They explore the new AI mode being introduced by Google and how it is the shape the future of ...

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48:16

The Evolution of Local Inventory Solutions with...

The Near Memo ·

2025/02/27

Send us a text 00:00 Introduction to Last Mile Retail 06:04 Evolution of the Business Model 11:35 Market Changes and Competition 17:03 Understanding Good Local SEO 23:03 Microsite Strategy and Implementation 29:47 The Role of AI in Marketing Strategies 37:30 Navigating Paid Campaigns and Google Optimization 45:55 Enhancing Customer Journey and Content Strategy - Last Mile Retail started by addressing the challenge of local inventory visibility online. - The company has evolved to serve enter...

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64:53

Unlocking Google Business Profile Secrets with Brad...

The Near Memo ·

2025/02/20

Send us a text The Near Media team + several Google Product Experts and Brad Wetherall discuss various aspects of Google Business Profiles, including internal mobility at Google, the challenges of maintaining institutional knowledge, and the complexities of review management. They delve into the recent discrepancies in review counts, the importance of communication from Google, and the impact of trust scores on local guides. The discussion also covers creative strategies for enhancing review ...

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36:31

Missing Google Reviews, Ask for me - SMB Timesuck,...

The Near Memo ·

2025/02/13

Send us a text Greg and Mike discuss various topics related to Google's recent changes and features, including issues with review counts on Google Business Profiles, the introduction of the Ask for Me automated calling feature, and the implications for small businesses. They also explore the new Gemini reasoning model and its potential impact on local search and consumer behavior. The conversation highlights the challenges and opportunities presented by these developments in the context of sm...

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43:26

Google Maps: New Features, The Importance of Brand...

The Near Memo ·

2025/02/07

Send us a text In this episode, Greg and Mike discuss the 20th anniversary of Google Maps, highlighting its evolution and new features. They delve into the newest Map Top Lists feature, the implications of recent messaging features for businesses and the ongoing decline in consumer trust in online reviews. The conversation also introduces Google's new 'Ask for Me' AI feature, exploring its potential impact on local businesses and consumer interactions. Takeaways - Google Maps revolutionized ...

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22:23

Google Review Fraud, FTC & Business concerns:...

The Near Memo ·

2025/01/30

Send us a textIn this episode, Mike Blumenthal and Greg Sterling continue their discussion with Curtis Boyd, CEO of the Transparency Company, focusing on the pervasive issue of review fraud. They explore the current landscape of consumer trust in online reviews, the implications of new FTC regulations, and the challenges businesses face in maintaining review integrity. Curtis shares his optimistic outlook on potential solutions and emphasizes the importance of transparency in the review proce...

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32:37

Google Review Fraud & Its Economic Impact: Interview...

The Near Memo ·

2025/01/23

Send us a textIn this episode, Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal discuss the state of review fraud with Curtis Boyd, CEO of the Transparency Company. They explore the complexities of fake reviews, including the different types and metrics used to identify them. The conversation delves into the role of AI in generating fake reviews and the economic impact of review fraud on consumers and businesses. Curtis shares insights from a recent report estimating the financial damage caused by fake revi...

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39:42

Navigating Google Reviews - Part 2 of Brad Wetherall,...

The Near Memo ·

2025/01/16

Send us a textIn this episode, Greg and Mike welcome Brad Wetherall, former Director of Operations for Google Business Profile and now CEO of Bitwise Consulting. They discuss the challenges of fake reviews, Google's approach to detecting and managing them, and best practices for businesses to enhance their online reputation. Brad shares insights on the importance of engagement, the role of AI in review management, and the need for businesses to understand Google's policies regarding reviews. ...

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33:20

How Does Google GBP Support Really Work? Brad...

The Near Memo ·

2025/01/10

Send us a textEver wonder how GBP twists the dial to approve an edit? Why they use video verification and what a trust score is? In Part 1 of this interview we learn the answers to those many questions and more. 00:15 Introduction to Brad Wetherall and His Journey02:53 Transitioning from Google to Bitwise Consulting05:34 Understanding Google Business Profile Support Structure08:03d Support Strategies and User Journeys11:08 The Evolution of Support Systems at Google13:36 Challenges in Sup...

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40:05

2024 Local SEO Highlights: Brand Power & Local; AI's...

The Near Memo ·

2025/01/03

Send us a textGoogle Leaks & NavBoost: How Engagement & Brands Shape Local SEO Rankings in 2024: Mike unpacked revelations from Google's algorithm leaks and their likely importance for Local SEO. We dove into "NavBoost," a technique where Google rewards high engagement and brand signals with better rankings. Think clicks, brand searches, and even driving directions contributing to a business's prominence.Greg and David noted how brands dominate the search game. We broke down why...

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34:23

Exploring Google’s DMA Compliance & User Search...

The Near Memo ·

2024/12/20

Send us a textStephanie Verilhac of Siinda discusses the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) and its impact on search behavior. Siinda's research with Near Media showed Google's dominance persists despite compliance changes, with users favoring its ecosystem. Regional differences in search trends were highlighted, including Irish “near me” preferences, French brand loyalty, and Germans' ad clicks. Photos, reviews, and business websites play key roles in user decisions. Verilhac noted Google's part...

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34:29

The Limits and Future of AI Impact on Maps; Search...

The Near Memo ·

2024/12/12

Send us a textAI and Maps: Current Limitations (many) and Future Prospects (good): We explore a recent piece by cartographer Kames Killick on how AI will be shaping the geospatial landscape & mapping, despite the mixed results today. Current tools struggle with complex queries, such as mapping open businesses along a route and broader queries that AI should be able to handle. Despite limitations, innovations like geo-trained AI and object classification suggest potential for enhanced loca...

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34:50

GBP’s Naming Shift, Fishkin’s Search Query Insights,...

The Near Memo ·

2024/12/06

Send us a textExtended GBP Business Names - Spam or Legitimate Descriptors?We explore Google's growing tolerance for extended taglines & descriptors in business names via the Google Business Center and its impact on local SEO strategies. Examples include businesses embedding descriptors like “best plastic surgeon” or “sexual harassment lawyer” into their names that were escalated to Google but were deemed acceptable. These additions act as taglines and significantly boost search visibilit...

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31:00

GBP Suspension Woes & Support #fails, Siri...

The Near Memo ·

2024/11/23

Send us a textGoogle Business Profile Suspension Woes (01:32–11:03)The discussion highlights rising frustrations with Google Business Profiles, focusing on increasing suspension rates and difficult reinstatement processes. Businesses face bottlenecks with video verification and unclear policies. Legitimate operations often fall victim, showcasing systemic flaws in Google's automated support and limited pathways for resolution. Siri’s AI Search Evolution (11:03–20:35)Siri’s transformation...

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55:19

Exploring AI Overviews, SearchGPT & Google’s...

The Near Memo ·

2024/11/15

Send us a textAI Overview and Google Search Trends: In a discussion on AI search trends, Mark Traphagen from SEO Clarity shared insights on Google’s search generative experience (SGE) and its limited functionality in delivering localized results. His analysis highlighted that SGE results in the U.S. tend to be highly informational (91%) and less transactional, especially for keywords related to products. According to Mark, Google’s AI-driven search lacks the capacity to enhance local se...

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46:22

A Google “Pardon”?, Siri’s Search Improvements,...

The Near Memo ·

2024/11/09

Send us a textGoogle's Antitrust Battle: Legal and Political Shifts: As Google’s antitrust trial unfolds, recent shifts in U.S. leadership may change the tech giant’s outlook. With Trump’s election win, the likelihood of drastic regulatory action against Google, such as a breakup, appears to be reduced. The new administration’s stance on big tech could soften the Justice Department’s approach, shifting from aggressive oversight to a more business-friendly posture. While there’s bipartis...

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33:28

AI in Local SEO, Siri Finally Gets Local Search, ...

The Near Memo ·

2024/11/01

Send us a textAI in Local SEO: Challenges and Opportunities: We dive into how AI is reshaping local search. Key insights from Andrew Shotland’s analysis reveal that Google’s AI overviews appear inconsistently in local searches, mainly showing up for broader queries, while lower funnel searches rely on the local pack. New platforms like Perplexity, with licensing from Yelp, seem to offer promising results for complex local queries, potentially challenging Google’s dominance in local sear...

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57:10

Conversation with Raj Singh, the founder of...

The Near Memo ·

2024/10/26

Send us a textIntroduction and Background (00:01 - 10:30)The conversation opens with Greg Sterling introducing Raj Singh, the founder of Soloist.ai, an AI-powered website builder targeted at small businesses and freelancers. Raj shares his background as a serial entrepreneur, highlighting his previous ventures, such as Pulse, acquired by Mozilla, and his journey through the tech landscape from file-sharing companies to AI-driven website creation. This segment sets the stage by exploring Raj’s...

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244 results

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