Advertise on podcast: Last Week in Local: Local Search, SEO & Marketing Update from LocalU

Mike’s Links: Maryland Apple Store first to vote in favor of unionization - https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/06/19/maryland-apple-store-first-to-vote-in-favor-of-employee-unionizationAn 'eat-ertainment' incubator: Why gaming restaurants are betting big on D-FW — The Dallas Morning News - https://apple.news/A1iMgW95CQCe8FWKgRnleVgGoogle Says It’s Time for Longtime Small-Business Users to Pay Up - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/20/technology/google-gsuite-small-business-fee.htmlContent-led link building - https://aira.net/state-of-link-building/content-led-link-building/Keywords in the GBP Business Name STILL Increase Local Rankings (June 2022) - https://youtu.be/6S64hoOJJcAGoogle Tests Local Pack Within An Expandable Menu - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-testing-local-pack-within-an-accordion-33600.htmlCarrie’s Links Google Search Testing Shopping Filter Button - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-shopping-filter-button-33581.htmlStarting June 30, LSA advertisers will need at least 5 reviews to run ads - https://twitter.com/adsliaison/status/1537921618579554304Deals tab w/ Offer posts more visible in US and Canada - https://twitter.com/ColanNielsen/status/1539205147586351104Congrats to Elizabeth Rule on promotion to Gold Product Expert for GBP - https://twitter.com/JoyanneHawkins/status/1537813513418203137Twitter now allows local businesses to display location, hours and contact info on their profiles | TechCrunch via techcrunch (and glen gabe on Twitter) - https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/15/twitter-now-allows-local-businesses-to-display-location-hours-and-contact-info-on-their-profiles/Congrats – a message button has been added to your Business Profile on Google. | Local Search Forum - https://localsearchforum.com/threads/congrats-a-message-button-has-been-added-to-your-business-profile-on-google.59077/How We Increased Revenue with Speed Optimization [Local SEO Case Study] - Amanda Jordan of RicketyRoo via Moz - https://moz.com/blog/local-seo-speed-optimization-case-study

Elizabeth’s Links: Ahrefs creates yep.com Twitter removes nofollow attribute from links in tweets - Chris Silver Smith at Search Engine LandGoogle May 2022 core update is finished rolling out - Search Engine LandDiscussing the early effects of the Google May core update - Marie HaynesProtect the Hours of Operation on Your GBP from Unwanted Google Edits - Moz - Miriam EllisHow AI and imagery build a self-updating map - Google Product Blog37% of Google Maps results for abortion services in trigger states directed people to fake clinics, nonprofit says - Business InsiderCheck air quality indexed right on Google maps (iPhone and android) - Google Product Blog John Oliver Last Week Tonight (HBO) - Via iPullRank on TwitterVideo Page Indexing Report Beta In Google Search Console - SERoundtable.comGoogle Ads To Address Concerns Over Third-Party Sales Solicitations & Poor Advice - SERoundtable.com Carrie’s Links Dallas taco shop owners to launch ghost kitchen inside Walmart in Plano Missing Reviews/ Reviews Disappearing | Local Search Forum - Joy HawkinsSterling Sky Acquires Classy Brain - SterlingSky BlogLocalU Advanced Denver - July 28, 2022 h/t @brightlocal    @si1very @rustybrick  @joyannehawkins  @ipullrank   @sengineland @miriam_ellis_   @seroundtable   

Mike’s Links: Walmart is using its thousands of stores to battle Amazon for e-commerce market share — CNBC - https://apple.news/AwYmylcLTSS-skfS2QStzAwHow One Billionaire With a 300-Year Plan Fueled the Popping Tech Bubble - https://www.vice.com/en/article/4awkjw/how-one-billionaire-with-a-300-year-plan-fueled-the-popping-tech-bubbleGoogle Messages disables RCS ads in India as it attempts to stop abuse - https://9to5google.com/2022/06/01/google-rcs-ads-india-pause/Find Google Duplicates & Analyze ALL Your Google Business Profiles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvmnfHIFGf0Snapchat displays restaurant recommendations in the Snap Map - https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/03/snapchat-restaurant-recommendations-snap-map/Add rates and availability to your Google Business Profile - Hotel Center Help - https://support.google.com/hotelprices/answer/10684696?hl=enConnect your Google Business Profile via WooCommerce - https://onlineownership.com/connect-your-google-business-profile-via-woocommerce/Google Image Thumbnails for Organic Results: What They Are, How They Work & Will SEO Help? - https://brodieclark.com/google-image-thumbnails/ Carrie’s Links Why EAT Inspires Local Content Creation - BrightLocal - https://www.brightlocal.com/learn/why-e-a-t-inspires-local-content-creation/Google Business Profiles Bug Temporarily Drops Product Management Features For Merchant Center - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-business-profiles-products-merchant-center-33513.html3 Things to Know About Google's Ad Image Extensions - Sterling Sky Inc - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/google-ad-image-extension/LocalU Tickets - https://localu.org/denver2022/GBP Reviews Missing, Why and What Can You Do About It? - Local University - https://localu.org/gbp-reviews-missing/

Mike’s Links: Walmart does drones deliveries ahead of Amazon while gig deliveries are failing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0tgtI-SMFIWalmart to begin drone delivery service to 4 million households - https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2022/may/24/walmart-drone-delivery-4-million-us-householdsGlenn Gabe on Twitter - Apple Search Engine On the Horizon? - https://twitter.com/glenngabe/status/1531256299014524935?s=12&t=hCLeY_4gWqgsK8bPQ_75gwDoes ‘Multisearch Near Me’ Signal a Visual Search Future?  - https://streetfightmag.com/2022/05/26/does-multisearch-near-me-signal-a-visual-search-future/Joy Hawkins on Twitter - Justifications on Google Maps Mobile - https://twitter.com/JoyanneHawkins/status/1529174985595559936Google releases May 2022 broad core update - https://searchengineland.com/google-releases-may-2022-broad-core-update-385435Aleyda Solis  on Twitter - broad core update recovery flow chart - https://twitter.com/aleyda/status/1530997555424894986?s=12&t=hCLeY_4gWqgsK8bPQ_75gw23 Million Internal Links - A Google SEO Case Study - https://zyppy.com/seo/internal-links/seo-study/ Carrie’s Links How to Strategize Your Local SEO Audit - Our own @ownyourserp along with Ben Fisher and Steve Wiideman - https://resources.duda.co/how-to-strategize-your-local-seo-auditWhen Amazon Drones Crashed, the Company Told the FAA to Go Fly a Kite  - https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-prime-air-faa-regulators-investigation-drone-crashes-2022-5LocalU Advanced Agenda - Denver July 28, 2022 - https://localu.org/den22

Mike’s Links: Bill Slawski, mentor & friend, passes away - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FzyJ0Bo85sAmazon tests using Flex drivers to make mall deliveries - https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/20/amazon-tests-using-flex-drivers-to-make-mall-deliveries-.htmlUnion claims Apple broke federal labor law at World Trade Center store - https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/05/19/union-claims-apple-broke-federal-labor-law-at-world-trade-center-storeGoogle Messages RCS is being abused for ads in India - https://9to5google.com/2022/05/17/google-messages-rcs-ads-india/Panic Buying Is The New Backlink - https://www.localseoguide.com/panic-buying-is-the-new-backlink/ Carrie’s Links Google Posts > Desktop Business Profiles | Local Search Forum - Offer Posts Not Surfacing via Joy Hawkins - https://localsearchforum.com/threads/google-posts-desktop-business-profiles.58986/Local SEO For Ukraine - LIVE - Weds May 25, 2022 - https://www.brightlocal.com/local-seo-for-ukraine/Surprise: ‘Near me’ brand names don’t rank higher for ‘near me’ searches  Chris Silver-Smith - https://searchengineland.com/near-me-searches-local-seo-optimize-or-avoid-385227%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B

Mike’s Links: Amazon’s surprising new delivery partners: Rural mom-and-pop shops - https://www.vox.com/recode/2022/5/9/23063528/amazon-rural-small-business-delivery-program-hub-partners-uspsDC Restaurants Turn A Profit With No Tips & Higher Salaries - https://stories.zagat.com/posts/dc-restaurants-turn-a-profit-with-no-tips-higher-salariesFour Years Ago, This Chick-Fil-A Started Paying $17 An Hour. It Transformed the Business. — Entrepreneur - https://apple.news/Awuv7X_KWQ2q9POyB89deWwGoogle Throws More Reviews into the Filter Van - https://www.localvisibilitysystem.com/2022/05/10/google-throws-more-reviews-into-the-filter-van/ Hotel Place Topics now showing Thumbs Up/Down (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/mblumenthal/status/1525876039213367301?s=12&t=96uD9EC0VsBkqx-kxCb0RgCarrie’s Links 5 Things to Check When Your Google Business Profile Rankings Drop - Sterling Sky Inc  - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/google-business-profile-ranking-drop/Google I/O 2022: Multisearch to Gain Local Information, Powerful Scene Exploration Feature Teased | Technology News - https://gadgets360.com/internet/news/google-io-2022-search-multisearch-local-results-lens-scene-exploration-feature-2965650Related: Multisearch & Lens + Near Me - https://www.nearmedia.co/ep-64/LocalU advanced tickets at https:/localu.org/den22Pre agenda pricing expires 5/24 at midnight  

Mike’s Links: This 'rater' gets paid $10 an hour to teach Google's algorithm — and he's not alone - https://finance.yahoo.com/news/google-raters-paid-to-teach-algorithm-204308901.htmlGoogle "More About" Search Carousel - ​​https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-more-about-33370.htmlTom Waddington: LSA Carousel Test - https://twitter.com/tomwaddington8/status/1523004677331333120Google Adds Guidelines for Delivery-Only Food Businesses - Local University - https://localu.org/google-delivery-only-food-business/    Carrie’s Links Greg Sterling shared https://www.shopify.com/blog/small-business-marketing - Sent out a blog post urging smbs to incentivize reviews, It has since been updated, but it is a signal that sometimes these platforms are NOT marketers, and SMBs are done disservices by thinking they are.Joy noticed late last week that if your Q&A has questions and answers, but only ONE unanswered question - https://twitter.com/JoyanneHawkins/status/1519644439760850944Google has added “this biz doesnt exist” as option to the business redressal complaint form. - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-maps-business-redressal-form-business-doesnt-exist-33368.htmlTickets on sale for LocalU Advanced in Denver -pre agenda pricing for the full day is $649 through May 24, 2022 - https://localu.org/upcoming-events/denver2022/Local SEO For Ukraine - LIVE May 25, 2022 - https://www.brightlocal.com/local-seo-for-ukraine/Local SEO Strategy Webinar, June 7, 2022 - 1pm ET - Elizabeth Rule, Steve Wiideman & Ben Fisher - for now you can register w/ the Duda event bot on Facebook - will update when a direct registration link is shared - https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fm.me%2F100848038927591%3Fref%3Deb_share_event--UEdUeXJpTkJ1RUQ5K1hudHNVbVZpZz09%26fbclid%3DIwAR17FQOiYocg7WGi0ttumwKV11tF3wrUginGhy9HDiOBtIVUOayZ0Ey95Zk&h=AT0Dfx7kMPuFHJa5tyMy2Fo0keY7sALmNr6Ou8KE3nqkFQWGNB3MqT0Kuf9rGW6XmVNwwbYX5-QgDvT3gN2zGzmJUvNW1YXnokCEipitH4xlypb2XjBLNHoIlXEbavD57LqRYW4&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT3TmYHbr1uJScQl1z8NBObi1ImVmJ6DJmubs6Eu0Gvl_n01WKjcdFmoIXgYK2iB_Zb0irAtUGxvFFqgSWI0HzF6j72MSPHnCIz9SglxXlUMUMFe9saswiIaeTP14zlRgtTa1xnkJHQ1jzDowyCyo5ZoN8ua5ATVU5Fz_FPZrqVYzgvf8biVlLwPciI76JsNoH3gzoSWjWV99w

Mike’s Links: Localogy Acquires Localized Marketing News Pioneer Street Fight - https://www.localogy.com/localogy-acquires-localized-marketing-news-pioneer-street-fight/Instacart searches for a direction as its pandemic boom fades - https://www.seattletimes.com/business/instacart-searches-for-a-direction-as-its-pandemic-boom-fades/Ratings vs Review Text - Which is more important for buyer conversions? - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=09jDV4hB3KkWhat Should Be in Your Local SEO Bug-Out Bag? A Checklist - https://www.localvisibilitysystem.com/2022/04/30/what-should-be-in-your-local-seo-bug-out-bag-a-checklist/Google Business Profile Manager Is Going Away Early 2022 (Updated: Not Going Away) - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-business-profile-manager-going-away-early-2022-33317.html#:~:text=businesses%20with%20multiple%20profiles%20will%20continue%20to%20have%20access%20to%20Business%20Profile%20ManagerGoogle Reduces Visibility Of Business Edits With Color Changes To Updates - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-reduces-visibility-of-business-edits-33322.htmlCarrie’s Links Infinite Scroll on Page 1-  - https://twitter.com/brodieseo/status/1521090389498757120The politics of Section 230 reform: Learning from FOSTA's mistakes - https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-politics-of-section-230-reform-learning-from-fostas-mistakes/White House didn't tie Section 230 reforms to Musk | AP News - https://apnews.com/article/Fact-Check-Section-230-Musk-Twitter-709111336397JC Penney owners Simon and Brookfield prepared to buy Kohl's for $8.6B, NY Post reports | Retail Dive - https://www.retaildive.com/news/jc-penney-owners-simon-and-brookfield-prepared-to-buy-kohls-for-86b-n/622653/Victoria's Secret and Pink open Amazon storefront to stoke beauty sales | Retail Dive - https://www.retaildive.com/news/victorias-secret-and-pink-open-amazon-storefront-to-stoke-beauty-sales/622936/At Least 66.5% of L

Mike’s Links: Amazon targets rival Shopify with a new ‘Buy with Prime’ service - https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2022/04/21/amazon-targets-rival-shopify-with-a-new-buy-with-prime-service/Fake reviews to be illegal under new rules - https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61154748Scammers used AI-generated faces to pose as a Boston law firm - https://thenextweb.com/news/scammers-used-ai-generated-faces-to-pose-as-a-boston-law-firmGoogle Site Kit gains ideas to write about section - https://searchengineland.com/google-site-kit-gains-ideas-to-write-about-section-383673The Visual Future of Local Search - Part 3 - https://www.nearmedia.co/google-and-the-visual-future-of-local-search-part-3/ Carrie’s Links Beware: Google Business Profile Messaging Spam & Scam Attempts - Barry Schwartz -https://www.seroundtable.com/google-business-profile-spam-scam-attempts-via-messaging-33288.htmlGoogle Analytics Real Time Reporting Bugs With Universal Analytics Won't Be Fully Fixed - Barry - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-analytics-real-time-reporting-bugs-33291.htmlOffer Posts Appearing in a Deals tab on the GBP on Mobile - Claire Carlile - https://twitter.com/clairecarlile/status/15172430601067970624 Components of Local SEO Strategy - Duda webinar with Elizabeth Rule of Sterling Sky, Anton Schulke, Ben Fisher and Steve Wideman - https://t.co/mi6SFaTybwHow to get reviews for local SEO: The must-do list - Erin Jones - https://t.co/cESJK7EvRM

Mike’s Links: As long-running legal feud slogs on, Lampert and Sears Holdings creditors ordered to mediation - https://www.retaildive.com/news/as-long-running-legal-feud-slogs-on-lampert-and-sears-holdings-creditors-o/621813/Greg's SEO Presentation from Brighton SEO - https://searchlabdigital.com/blog/gregs-seo-presentation-from-brightonseo/9 Local SEO Tips From Top Experts - https://www.searchenginejournal.com/9-local-seo-tips-from-top-experts/445229/The Visual Future of Local Search - Part 1 - https://www.nearmedia.co/google-and-the-visual-future-of-local-search-part-1/The Visual Future of Local Search - Part 2 - https://www.nearmedia.co/google-and-the-visual-future-of-local-search-part-2/ Carrie’s Links Google Screened Local Results At This Business Carousel via Saad Alikhan - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-local-screened-results-at-this-business-carousel-33227.htmlGA3 to GA4 goals import, but read the help docs first - via @rustybrick & @CharlesFarina - https://www.seroundtable.com/universal-analytics-goals-import-google-analytics-33268.htmlGoogle Business Profile with Joy Hawkins | Local Search Clinic - listen to the recording from Joy Hawkins and Claire Carlile - https://www.brightlocal.com/local-search-clinic-april-2022/Upcoming changes to your Brand Accounts | Local Search Forum from the LSF - lots of discussion about what to do with tips from Krystal Taing, Joy, and a few others. - https://localsearchforum.com/threads/upcoming-changes-to-your-brand-accounts.58895/

Mike’s Links: Amazon Intends to Appeal Union Victory in New York — The Wall Street Journal - https://apple.news/AVxR8-7XzS1-s2CRDr_dZpAGo beyond the search box: Introducing multisearch - https://blog.google/products/search/multisearch/Google indexing, 80% indexed in 24h, indexed or re-credited - https://indexmenow.com/en/Stefan Somborac on thread on AI Hours Update on Twitter - https://twitter.com/stefansomborac/status/1513110891625074689?s=12&t=nMDNPOry_bn0cuunUngwLAHow AI and imagery build a self-updating map - https://blog.google/products/maps/how-ai-and-imagery-build-self-updating-map/Google Local Finder Becomes a Product Finder - https://www.nearmedia.co/google-local-finder-becomes-a-product-finder/ Carrie’s Links  Onebox preview vs overlay in maps test - spotted by Punit via Twitter - https://twitter.com/punit6008/status/1511992120499789827The State of Spam Fighting: What We Learned From Analyzing 5,306 Listings in 16 Industries - https://www.sterlingsky.ca/google-maps-spam-study/LSAs add more categories - via Joy Hawkins on Twitter - https://twitter.com/JoyanneHawkins/status/1511798810783191057

Mike’s Links: How Google and Amazon bankrolled a 'grassroots' activist group of small business owners to lobby against Big Tech oversight - https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/30/how-google-and-amazon-bankrolled-a-grassroots-activist-group-of-small-business-owners-to-lobby-against-big-tech-oversight.htmlLeaked: New Amazon Worker Chat App Would Ban Words Like “Union,” “Restrooms,” “Pay Raise,” and “Plantation” - https://theintercept.com/2022/04/04/amazon-union-living-wage-restrooms-chat-app/Amazon workers in New York City vote to form first U.S. union at retail giant - https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/amazon-union-new-york-city-staten-island-jfk8-first/#Consumer Review Trust Down but Usage Up - https://www.nearmedia.co/consumer-trust-in-reviews/Writing Google reviews about patients is actually a HIPAA violation - https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/1/23006132/google-patient-reviews-hipaa-doctors-yelpDamian Rollison note about GBP page on ranking including products as a ranking factor - Twitter - https://twitter.com/damianrollison/status/1511117722163187713?s=12&t=hrgr1Cjx84rks7G7uFCARAHow to improve your local ranking on Google - Google Business Profile Help - https://support.google.com/business/answer/7091?hl=en8 Q1 Local Search Developments You Need to Know About - https://moz.com/blog/q1-2022-local-search-developmentsGoogle Business Profile review management tool expands support to those with many local listings - https://searchengineland.com/google-business-profile-review-management-tool-expands-support-to-those-with-many-local-listings-383372How to remove reviews from your Business Profile on Google - Android - Google Business Profile Help - https://support.google.com/business/answer/4596773?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroidHow to Remove a Permanently Closed Google Business Profile Page from Google Maps for Good - https://www.localvisibilitysystem.com/2022/03/30/how-to-remove-a-permanently-closed-google-business-profile-page-from-google-maps-for-good/Google Maps rolling out toll pricing, more detailed navigation, and new iOS integrations - https://9to5google.com/2022/04/05/google-maps-new-navigation/Carrie’s Links My Google Business Profile Vanished. What Do I Do? - Sterling Sky Inc - Colan Nielsen https://www.sterlingsky.ca/my-google-business-profile-vanished/New Offer Posts Feature? | Local Search Forum  - https://localsearchforum.com/threads/new-offer-posts-feature.58843/