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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

33:47

Review Fraud, FTC Fines, and Yelp’s Legal Strike

The Near Memo ·

2026/04/23

Send us Fan MailGreg and Mike discuss the shifting landscape of local search. From the FTC’s latest crackdown on incentivized reviews to Yelp’s attempt to fast-forward their antitrust case against Google using recent federal rulings. We also explore the expansion of LSAs and the transition from the "Local Pack" to AI-driven "Ask Maps."Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/subscribe/

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38:30

Google Reviews Crackdown, Meta vs Google, and the AI...

The Near Memo ·

2026/04/16

Send us Fan MailGoogle just changed the rules on reviews—and businesses may already be getting penalized. Meanwhile, Meta is projected to overtake Google in ad revenue, despite ongoing legal battles and ethical concerns.In this episode, Mike Blumenthal and Greg Sterling break down:• Google’s new review enforcement signals• Why marketers are frustrated with rising ad costs and unclear ROI• The surprising shift toward AI-driven search (ChatGPT, Ask Maps)• Who actually wins the AI race—and why it may

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28:32

Google Lied About Click Data — Here’s What Actually...

The Near Memo ·

2026/04/08

Send us Fan MailThis episode explores how Google actually uses click data (despite years of denial) and how that reality intersects with the rise of AI Overviews. Cyrus Shepherd connects the dots between antitrust trial revelations, API leaks, and patents, showing that click behavior—especially “last longest click”—is a core ranking signal.The discussion then shifts to how AI Overviews are reshaping search:Reducing traditional clicksForcing Google to predict user behavior with less dataIncreasing

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28:17

AI, Reviews & Intent Pages: What Actually Drives...

The Near Memo ·

2026/04/02

Send us Fan MailIn Part 2, Steve Wiideman joins Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal to cut through the AI hype and explain what’s actually working in multi-location SEO today.Despite growing attention on AI tools and “agentic commerce,” the real drivers of visibility are still foundational: intent-driven content, strong review signals, and brand awareness.They also explore how zero-click search is changing attribution, why websites are becoming data sources for AI, and what local search will look like

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25:59

Multi-Location SEO: What Actually Works (And What...

The Near Memo ·

2026/03/26

Send us Fan MailWhat does it really take to scale SEO across hundreds (or thousands) of locations?In this episode of the Near Memo, Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal are joined by Steve Wiideman to unpack the operational, strategic, and technical realities of multi-location SEO.They explore testing frameworks, content strategies, franchise challenges, reviews, imagery, and the evolving nature of search behavior.If you manage local SEO at scale, this is a must-listen.Subscribe to our newsletters and

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39:06

State of Google Business Profile 2026: Impressions...

The Near Memo ·

2026/03/18

Send us Fan MailGoogle Business Profile impressions are dropping fast—but conversions aren’t.In this Near Memo episode, Greg Sterling, Mike Blumenthal, and Adam Dorfman unpack BirdEye’s latest data and explore what’s really changing in local search.From AI Overviews and LLM-driven discovery to Google’s new Ask Maps interface, they examine how search behavior is shifting—and why Google still controls the final decision point.They also dig into:Category vs brand search behaviorIndustry-level

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44:29

From the Archives: Local Search Ranking Factors —...

The Near Memo ·

2026/03/13

Send a textIn this archive episode of the Near Memo podcast, Darren Shaw of Whitespark joins Mike Blumenthal, Greg Sterling, and David Mihm to discuss the influential Local Search Ranking Factors study.The panel breaks down how the survey works, what has changed in local search, and how the rise of AI interfaces like ChatGPT and Gemini could reshape how businesses are discovered online.They explore:Why review volume and recency drive rankingsHow behavioral signals may outweigh traditional SEO

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58:53

How should agencies build a business around Google...

The Near Memo ·

2026/03/06

Send a textIn this episode of the Near Memo podcast, Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal host a panel discussion with Eric Levine (Leadwise HQ, former Google LSA team), Claudia Tomina (Reputation Arm), Matt Casady (Sterling Sky), and Crystal Horton (Google Business Profile Platinum Product Expert).Together the panel explores how agencies are actually managing LSAs for clients today.Topics include:• The real ranking factors behind Local Service Ads• Whether LSAs are still a DIY product or require

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36:48

AI, Strong-Arm Tactics & a Shifting Review Landscape...

The Near Memo ·

2026/02/25

Send a textGoogle AI & Click Economics Google is replacing structured GBP data with AI-generated summaries, nudging users into AI Mode, and expanding monetization pathways. Aleyda Solis’ study and Near Media research show ads — especially LSAs — are siphoning clicks.Data Moats & Scraping Crackdowns Google restricts scraping, disrupting SerpAPI. The move reinforces Google’s data advantage against ChatGPT and Perplexity while signaling an increasingly closed ecosystem.Reviews, Inflation &

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40:24

AI Visibility vs Google Ranking: Rand Fishkin & the...

The Near Memo ·

2026/02/18

Send a textIn this episode of Near Memo, Rand Fishkin joins Greg Sterling, Mike Blumenthal, and David Mihm to unpack the future of AI search, brand visibility, and digital measurement.Is AI rank tracking possible? Are zero-click journeys killing websites? And how should local businesses measure marketing performance in a world where attribution is breaking down?Rand shares new research on AI brand visibility across ChatGPT, Claude, and Google AI, discusses why performance marketing metrics are

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28:55

The Truth About Google Local Service Ads: Rankings,...

The Near Memo ·

2026/02/12

Send a textGoogle Local Service Ads have become one of the most powerful placements in local search — especially in competitive verticals like personal injury law.But what actually drives ranking and performance?In this episode, we examine the real mechanics behind LSAs: review cadence, responsiveness, bidding structure, and the psychology of visual presentation. We explore how headshots and photo sequencing influence trust, why logos don’t convert, and how review manipulation creates competitive

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29:40

Inside Google Local Services Ads: Ranking Signals,...

The Near Memo ·

2026/02/06

Send us a textLocal Services Ads have become the “top-of-the-page” battleground for high-value local categories—especially professional services. In this episode, Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal talk with former LSA team member Eric Levine about how LSAs evolved, what really influences rank, and how Google’s lead marketplace mechanics shape outcomes. We break down “request multiple options,” lead billing, the big ranking signals (reviews, responsiveness, radius/service area), why LSAs often win

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42:08

AI Isn’t Replacing Local Search — But It’s Rewiring...

The Near Memo ·

2026/01/30

Send us a textAI isn’t killing search — it’s reshaping how people discover, evaluate, and choose businesses.In this in terview with Crystal Carter of Wix, we unpack how large language models, AI assistants, and emerging “agent” experiences are changing consumer behavior, local search, and brand visibility. From ChatGPT and Google’s AI-driven results to personalization, intent modeling, and task completion, we explore what actually changes — and what doesn’t.We also dig into:• Why AI acts more like a

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42:53

Inside Google Local Rankings and the Review Purge

The Near Memo ·

2026/01/20

Send us a textClaudia Tomina joins Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal to unpack what the Google API leak reveals about local rankings, why reviews are being removed at scale, and how AI Overviews, Gemini, and agentic shopping are pushing transactions into Google’s AI interfaces. A must-listen for anyone managing a Google Business Profile in 2026.Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/subscribe/

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29:18

AI Is Breaking Local Search—But Google Still Decides...

The Near Memo ·

2026/01/14

Send us a textAI tools are changing how consumers discover local businesses, but Google remains the system of record for trust, reviews, directions, and contact. This conversation explores how AI reduces cognitive load, concentrates visibility, and amplifies brand demand—forcing local marketers to rethink SEO beyond rankings.Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/subscribe/

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28:34

Why Local SEO Is Breaking for Law Firms (And What...

The Near Memo ·

2026/01/08

Send us a textLocal SEO, reviews, and Google LSAs are no longer working the way law firms expect. In this episode of Near Memo, Gyi Tsakalakis (AttorneySync) joins Mike Blumenthal and Greg Sterling to explain why rankings and traffic are misleading, how LSAs reshape legal demand, why review cheating is rampant, and how brand trust has become the real competitive moat.If you’re relying on Google visibility alone to grow a law firm, this conversation is a wake-up call.Subscribe to our newsletters and

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33:50

Google’s AI Mode Is Rewriting Local Search — What...

The Near Memo ·

2025/12/23

Send us a textGoogle’s AI Mode and ChatGPT search are reshaping local discovery. This deep dive interview with Michel van Luijtelaar of GMBapi explains what’s changing, how users behave inside AI results, and what local businesses must do now to stay visible and trusted.Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/subscribe/

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28:07

Google’s Review Algorithms Are Tightening — Here’s...

The Near Memo ·

2025/12/19

Send us a textIn this episode of The Near Memo, Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal talk with Michel of GMB API about what new data reveals regarding review removals, fraud detection, incentivized reviews, and regional legal differences across Europe and the U.S.The conversation explores why reviews are increasingly central to AI-driven search experiences, how enforcement tools can unintentionally harm small businesses, and what this all means for trust, visibility, and competition in local

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30:12

AI Agents Are Coming: Jes Scholz Reveals How to...

The Near Memo ·

2025/12/11

Send us a textIn this episode, Jes Scholz joins Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal for a deep dive into the forces reshaping search: AI agents, the rise of conversational interfaces, the 60/40 brand-activation model, content freshness, multimodal distribution, and why your database — not your website — may determine your competitive future.Jes explains what marketers must do now: update your content strategy, test your site with agents, fix your UX friction, and prepare your database for

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33:11

AI Mode, Gemini 3 & the Future of Search: Jes Scholz...

The Near Memo ·

2025/12/04

Send us a textIn this packed episode, Jes Scholz joins Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal to explore where AI search is really headed. From conversational interfaces replacing the search box to the competitive implications of Gemini 3, Jes explains why Google’s index is shrinking, why publishers must evolve, and why consensus around brand salience — not keywords — decides visibility.We also cover local search dynamics, review-based consensus modeling, multi-touch attribution myths, and how to create

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258 results

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