Category: Local SEO

Do you need more reviews to rank better? Is your lack of reviews hurting your business? Our case study tests the impact of Google reviews on local ranking.

Google seems to be testing linking the “Reviews” button you see in the local panel, on a Google Business Profile, to AI Overviews. So when you search for a business, see the local panel on the right side, and then click on “reviews,” you are taken to an AI Overview result.

Google’s Lisa Landsman interviewed Google’s Google Business Profiles Verification Product Manager, Sheerna. They discussed a lot of the concerns many local SEOs and small businesses are dealing with around GBPs and also the challenges they have with managing the service.

Google is relaxing its photo guidelines for Local Service Ads. This may result in photos that were not previously allowed, may be allowed after May 22, 2025. I am not sure if these photos will automatically show up in your Local Service Ads or if you need to manually approve them after May 22nd.

Google Posts/Updates are starting to disappear from the local panels within Google Search. I saw complaints about this yesterday and tested it by adding a post myself on my business, it was there, until it wasn’t. Now I see a huge number of complaints that posts or updates are missing from Google local panels.

Google Posts/Updates are starting to disappear from the local panels within Google Search. I saw complaints about this yesterday and tested it by adding a post myself on my business, it was there, until it wasn’t. Now I see a huge number of complaints that posts or updates are missing from Google local panels.

Google has added video previews to the video verification within Google Business Profiles. Google’s Lisa Landsman said this will help with “submitting, ensuring clarity and accuracy – saving you valuable time and reducing the need for resubmissions.”

Google has added video previews to the video verification within Google Business Profiles. Google’s Lisa Landsman said this will help with “submitting, ensuring clarity and accuracy – saving you valuable time and reducing the need for resubmissions.”

Google sent emails to Google Ads advertisers about new Local Service Ads additions to its terms for its providers that they must accept by June 5, 2025 or else their ads will no longer serve in Google Search or Google Maps.

Google sent emails to Google Ads advertisers about new Local Service Ads additions to its terms for its providers that they must accept by June 5, 2025 or else their ads will no longer serve in Google Search or Google Maps.

Google is testing a newish section in the Google local panel to tell searchers how far that business is from your location. Google is testing adding either a “Get there” data point and/or a “From your location” data point.

Google seems to be rolling out a new metric in the Google Business Profiles performance report for “messaging clicks.” This was a feature we had in the old Google My Business reports in 2020 but it went away. But now it seems to be returning.

Last November, Google began using AI to generate review summaries in Google Maps. Well, now they seem to be showing up in the local knowledge panels on the right side of the Google Search results page.

Advertisers have been complaining all day about being unable to manage their LSAs.

It seems the Google Search local feature that showed Questions and answers on local panels is no longer working for most businesses. I know Google disabled them in India, but they worked fine everywhere else.

Changing your business name is something that happens a lot with local search. Here are the places that you need to update online to help transition to a new name in Google My Business.

Expanding your business to a new location? Optimizing for one location is simple, but things get tricky when you open multiple locations in the same city. Here’s how we helped a home service business dominate an entire market without tanking their existing rankings.

Google Business Profile edits may have a bug or some sort of glitch. A number of local SEOs are reporting seeing the message, “Your edit was not approved” when trying to make simple edits to Business Profiles.

Sterling Sky’s Colan Nielsen tests whether setting a service area in your Google My Business listing affects your organic or maps ranking. Read on to find the scoop!

Are you seeking guidance on enhancing your automotive local SEO? Look no further! Our dedicated team specializes in SEO for car dealerships, delivering tailored solutions to elevate your online presence. With our expertise in car dealer SEO and auto dealer SEO, we’re equipped to attract qualified leads and drive sales through effective strategies. Learn more…

We’ve seen the clipable coupons within the search results for several years now and in store listings and many places, but have we seen them in local knowledge panels? Maybe, I am not sure.

Discover Sterling Sky’s latest insights into optimizing images for mobile search results. Explore our findings on image visibility in Google’s mobile SERPs and unlock strategies for getting an image next to Google search result.

Google Business Profile Performance metrics can be tough to interpret. In this article, we empower you with a breakdown of the metrics so you can strengthen your competitive advantage.

How does geotagging photos affect local SEO? A 10-week study reveals surprising effects on ‘near me’ vs city-based Google ranking.

Google seems to be testing removing the green checkmark from the Local Service Ads. I was able to replicate this for the same query, and the same set of advertisers. In one case it has the Google Screened checkmark in green and in the other, it does not.

Unlock the power of Local SEO for Dentists and drive more patients to your practice. Discover expert Dental SEO services designed to improve your online visibility and increase your practice’s growth!

Want a simple, high-impact Local SEO tip that takes 10 minutes to implement? This one change can boost local pack rankings significantly.

Prepare for the future of search by blending GEO and SEO strategies to improve retrievability and brand recognition.

Labeling your Google Business Profile as kid-friendly is not new, but I don’t believe I have ever seen an icon that represents that within the Google Business Profile listing within Google Search. The icon is a pack of crayons that says “Good for Kids.”

Labeling your Google Business Profile as kid-friendly is not new, but I don’t believe I have ever seen an icon that represents that within the Google Business Profile listing within Google Search. The icon is a pack of crayons that says “Good for Kids.”