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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

35:53

Google GBP Suspension Increases?, The Future of...

The Near Memo ·

2025/10/01

Send us a textIn this episode of the Near Memo, Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal dig into Google Business Profile suspension increases over time, the broken state of reviews, and insights from Google’s Liz Reid on AI Overviews, AI Mode, and monetization. What do these changes mean for small businesses, SEOs, and consumers? Tune in for an unfiltered take.Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/subscribe/

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33:02

Google Review Extortion, Maps AR, What ChatGPT is...

The Near Memo ·

2025/09/25

Send us a textIn this episode of the Near Memo, Mike and Greg break down:The rise of Google Business Profile review extortion scams 📉Google Maps’ new AR feature: See it. Snap it. Ask it. 🗺️Why ChatGPT still falls short for local search vs Google 🔎YouTube’s strategic role in Google’s AI & local marketing future ▶️👉 Subscribe for more insights on Google, AI, and local marketing.Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/subscribe/

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49:32

Interview with Barry Schwartz: Review Ransom, The...

The Near Memo ·

2025/09/18

Send us a textIn this episode, Greg Sterling, Mike Blumenthal, and Barry Schwartz discuss various pressing topics in the digital marketing landscape, including the rise of local review ransom schemes, the ongoing debate about the state of the open web, and the implications of AI on search interfaces. They explore how Google's recent changes and the introduction of AI features are reshaping user experiences and the future of search. The conversation also touches on the challenges businesses face

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33:39

Google’s Action Links Crackdown, The “Declining” Open...

The Near Memo ·

2025/09/10

Send us a textWe discuss Google’s new guidelines for Business Profile action links, the company’s conflicting statements about the health of the open web in an antitrust case, and Apple’s rumored partnership with Google’s Gemini to power Siri. Together, these stories highlight Google’s tightening grip on local businesses, the shifting economics of publishing, and how Apple’s AI ambitions could reshape search traffic and advertising revenue.Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at

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33:05

AI Overviews in Local: When & Where, DOJ Google...

The Near Memo ·

2025/09/05

Send us a textWe dig into when/where Google’s AI Overviews (AIOs) appear in local, how people actually split tasks across Google vs. ChatGPT, what the DOJ’s remedies mean for defaults, and a fresh case where a brand-new local biz triggered an AIO—plus practical takeaways.Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/subscribe/

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26:42

AI Overviews & Why consumers like them, Reviews vs....

The Near Memo ·

2025/08/28

Send us a text Mike Blumenthal and Greg Sterling discuss three hot-button topics: Consumer vs. industry perspectives on Google’s AI OverviewsHow review expectations differ from actual behavior in the legal verticalWhy Datos data shows AI growth isn’t displacing search usageSubscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/subscribe/

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28:26

Google’s LSA Shake-Up, Google LSA Dark Patterns &...

The Near Memo ·

2025/08/21

Send us a text Google is consolidating Local Services Ads trust signals into a single verification badge — but is it really about trust or revenue? Greg and Mike discuss Google’s evolving ad strategy, the ongoing degradation of organic results, their "dark patterns" that elevate LSA usage and new BrightLocal data showing less than half of small businesses have claimed their Google Business Profiles. Plus: why email remains an overlooked channel, and whether AI tools like ChatGPT can realistic...

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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/

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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/

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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/

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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/

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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/

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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

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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/

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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,

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231 results

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