Send us Fan Mail

Greg 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/

Send us Fan Mail

Google 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 not be who you think

Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/subscribe/

Send us Fan Mail

This 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 clicks
• Forcing Google to predict user behavior with less data
• Increasing the importance of brand, task completion, and engagement signals

For local businesses and SEOs, the takeaway is clear:

👉 Winning now means owning the user journey, driving brand searches, and optimizing for task completion—not just rankings.

Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/subscribe/