Google has rolled out a new feature for Google Business Profiles that makes it easier to collect customer reviews. You can now generate custom QR codes that, when scanned, direct customers straight to your business’s review page. Google announced the update today on X: You can now create easy-to-scan QR codes that take customers directly … Read more
BrightLocal has released a new report analyzing 15 years of consumer review behavior data. The findings reveal shifts in how people research and buy from local businesses. Here’s more about the study and what it means for marketers. Historical Trends The report tracks the popularity of online reviews. It notes a rise in local business … Read more
Travelers today can effortlessly browse through countless vacation rental options with only a few clicks. With so much competition, a strong online presence is critical to success in the vacation rental space. With competition from large players like VRBO, Airbnb, and Booking.com, small local vendors can not solely rely on word-of-mouth or local listings. You … Read more
A Googler published an update to let businesses know that the ongoing outage is almost over and that most businesses that have lost review counts should have seen them return to pre-outage levels. Businesses that continue to experience a review outage should see their problem resolved within a matter of days. Google Business Profile Outage … Read more
![Surprising Review Stats To Feed Your Local Strategy [Study]](https://nicheplrnewsletter.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Surprising-Review-Stats-To-Feed-Your-Local-Strategy-Study.png "Surprising Review Stats To Feed Your Local Strategy [Study]")
If you’ve already walked a long mile in your local SEO shoes, chances are you have plenty of lived experiences that allow you to predict some of the responses to large-scale local business review surveys. It’s affirming to see, for example, that 85% of our respondents place a degree of trust in local business reviews, … Read more
Google confirmed an outage in business profile reviews that has resulted in missing reviews for many local business profiles and is working toward fixing the problem. Google Business Profile Google Business Profiles are a way for local businesses to add their business to Google and have it show up in local search and Google Maps. … Read more
As someone who knows a lot of local business owners, I know how important it is to get customers through your doors. While traditional marketing methods like flyers and newspaper ads still have their place, the digital era has opened up incredible new ways to reach local audiences and drive foot traffic, thanks to PPC … Read more
For small, mobile, local businesses operating without a fixed storefront, navigating the world of local SEO can feel like charting uncharted territory. Service area businesses (SABs) – think plumbers, electricians, mobile pet groomers, and the like – face unique challenges in establishing a strong online presence. However, by understanding the nuances of local SEO for … Read more
Google has updated its Business Profile rules for service-area businesses that sell age-restricted products. Now, businesses selling alcohol, cannabis, weapons, and similar items must have a physical storefront to maintain their Google Business Profile. We were alerted to this update by Stefan Somborac on X: Google actually uses the phrase “Businesses associated with…” not “Businesses … Read more
Google has updated Maps to include product-specific search capabilities, just in time for the holiday shopping season. This feature allows consumers to search for specific items and find nearby stores with available inventory. Key Features The update lets you search for products directly within Google Maps and find real-time inventory availability at nearby stores. Shoppers … Read more
Want to get rid of that sinking feeling of looking with envy at the high review volumes and star ratings of your top local competitors? You already know that both review count and ratings are contributing to these brands’ dominance in Google’s Packs and Maps. Today, I’ll share some good news that could help the … Read more
Google Business Profiles (GBP) are one of the best ways for a local merchant to get online exposure. But before your GBP becomes visible to the public, you must verify it by clicking on the Get Verified link. Screenshot from Google Business Profile, June 2024 When a business sets up a Google Business Profile, Google … Read more
Google Business Profiles (GBP) are one of the best ways for a local merchant to get online exposure. But before your GBP becomes visible to the public, you must verify it by clicking on the Get Verified link. Screenshot from Google Business Profile, June 2024 When a business sets up a Google Business Profile, Google … Read more
Small businesses face the ongoing challenge of standing out in crowded marketplaces, both online and off. One strategy that has gained significant traction in recent years is leveraging prominent, trusted local influencers to help boost online authority and visibility and grow the business. This approach enables businesses to tap into established community voices, build trust, … Read more
This post was sponsored by SOCi. The opinions expressed in this article are the sponsor’s own. As a marketer, you may feel like the ground is shifting under your feet with so many changes in the world of search. From Google’s recent announcement to release AI Overviews to all U.S. users to OpenAI revealing GPT-4o, … Read more
Google has announced that it will discontinue the chat feature in Google Business Profiles. The wind-down process will start on July 15, and the functionality will complete on July 31. The news was emailed to businesses, acknowledging the potential difficulty of the decision and emphasizing Google’s commitment to remaining a helpful partner in business management. … Read more
Google announced that it plans to reduce access to California news websites for a portion of users in the state. The decision comes as Google prepares for the potential passage of the California Journalism Preservation Act (CJPA), a bill requiring online platforms like Google to pay news publishers for linking to their content. What Is … Read more
As a business owner or digital marketer, understanding your local search ranking on Google is crucial for attracting nearby customers and increasing your online visibility. With so many consumers using search engines to find local products and services, optimizing for local search has become a key component of any successful SEO strategy. In this article, … Read more
