The Near Memo
By Greg Sterling, Mike Blumenthal & David Mihm
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Category: Tech News
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Episodes: 159
Description
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.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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An interview with Dana DiTomaso: To Google GA4 analytics hell & back again
|
Apr 26, 2024 |
|
Ad Sales Up, Dr. Guilty of Violating Fed. Review Law, Content Only as Good as ChatGPT Will Fail
|
Apr 19, 2024 |
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Standardizing Review Processes to Avoid Fear, Google Cries Wolf Around DMA, The Future of SGE
|
Apr 11, 2024 |
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How your agency can increase retention and profitability by offering a fractional CMO as a service
|
Mar 30, 2024 |
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Google Goes to Brussels & attempts to defend their DMA compliance
|
Mar 29, 2024 |
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How on page factors & Google updates, Learnings from a G Quality Rater, What is the future of SEO?
|
Mar 16, 2024 |
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Google’s Core Update & FUD, Brightlocal Consumer Review Survey, Do Searchers Use the Local Finder?
|
Mar 08, 2024 |
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Consumer Research Highlights Limited Impact of EU Mandated Local SERP Change & On-going EU Challenge
|
Mar 01, 2024 |
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Long tail searcher behaviors, Gemini switch appears, Content publishing being upended by search
|
Feb 22, 2024 |
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G-SERPs product searches, Google PR around review removals is puffery, Google Maps SGE a hot mess
|
Feb 15, 2024 |
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Will AI Improve SMB Websites? GMaps Getting Gemini, Bright Local Brand Survey Takeaways
|
Feb 09, 2024 |
|
10 years of SERP changes, Hidden Gems update is impacting Local Search, New EU Local Search Results
|
Feb 02, 2024 |
|
Fired Google Raters replaced w/ AI? SEO Tools are just tools, Hidden Gems & decline of Big Social
|
Jan 25, 2024 |
|
SGE NOT the Future, GBP End Days? Google Chooses Sizzle over Steak?
|
Jan 20, 2024 |
|
LSA Scam & Honest Businesses, Google Created a Shitty Internet? Generative AI & its Impact on Google
|
Jan 12, 2024 |
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Exposing the Google Local Service Ads Scam in Home Services: A Marketer's Insight
|
Jan 11, 2024 |
|
Businesses & Google SGE, Google Goes All in On Interstitials, Where is Bard Going?
|
Jan 05, 2024 |
|
The Google Review Fraud Landscape in Maps & LSA and How a Business Should Respond
|
Dec 20, 2023 |
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Will Google's Reactive Behavior to Search Quality & AI Solve Their Problems?
|
Dec 16, 2023 |
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Can Gemini Fix Search? The Impact of Google’s Rating Bias, LSA Reviewjacking
|
Dec 08, 2023 |
|
How Local SEO Agencies are using Generative AI & ChatGPT: Tips, tactics and strategies
|
Nov 23, 2023 |
|
Google’s newest search features, Whitespark: Reviews by category, Fake review enforcement failures
|
Nov 17, 2023 |
|
GMaps Immersive directions, Citations & Local Search, The GBP new small business attribute
|
Nov 09, 2023 |
|
Lessons in Building and Marketing a Consumer Brand
|
Oct 20, 2023 |
|
GBP Call History returns, Local Trust Report, SGE Where now?
|
Oct 12, 2023 |
|
Bulk Dashboard Comeback?, GBP listing cleanup, Alternatives to Google search
|
Oct 06, 2023 |
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So Clicks are a ranking signal? Google Comments on Review Fraud, Bard enhanced with extensions
|
Sep 29, 2023 |
|
High Impact Content Marketing in the Age of AI
|
Sep 22, 2023 |
|
What and why of review fraud on Google how to deal with it
|
Sep 15, 2023 |
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Google Anit-trust case unlikely to change anything, GBP deduping form, Searchers go deep in the SERPS
|
Sep 08, 2023 |
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Do searchers goto the Local Finder?, How many links does a local website need? Google's BS around creating great content
|
Sep 01, 2023 |
|
SMBs search to find services, GBP supports bends to European regs, No copyright for AI
|
Aug 25, 2023 |
|
GBP support using gig workers, SGE while browsing rolls out, AI Generated review summaries roll out
|
Aug 18, 2023 |
|
Google VS Chat GPT quality, Google proffers bad advice to CNET, Do consumers actually read reviews?
|
Aug 10, 2023 |
|
New Local ad format, Updated GBP Guideline clarifies policies, Google SGE shows reference links
|
Aug 07, 2023 |
|
Google loses product search share, Phone #s hijacked on Google, Yelp scolds business for soliciting
|
Jul 28, 2023 |
|
Apple Maps KPIs, SEOs & Google quality guidelines, Google SGE usage decline
|
Jul 14, 2023 |
|
GA4 enshittification, Twitter alternatives, New FTC review guidance
|
Jul 07, 2023 |
|
TikTok IS about local, Google Perspectives perspective, New GBP "by owner" button
|
Jun 29, 2023 |
|
Overture Map Foundation goes open source to solve 3D mapping for the “rest of us”
|
Jun 19, 2023 |
|
Google LSA reviews suck, Localized stories and visualizations, The future of search
|
Jun 16, 2023 |
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When to ask for reviews, Is SGE a headfake? Is Apple Vision the next platform?
|
Jun 09, 2023 |
|
Yelp for sale? Google Merchant Center Next, Does Bard offer an alternative to search?
|
May 26, 2023 |
|
GBP Image Not Allowed bug, ChatGPT adds plug-ins & web, Yelp integrates with Google Reserve & Toast
|
May 19, 2023 |
|
Google I/O from the mundane to the future of the local customer journey
|
May 13, 2023 |
|
UnBounce - Using AI to increase conversions - Special Edition
|
May 10, 2023 |
|
Google's local Knowledge Panel the-cms you never knew you had - conversations with Claire Carlille
|
May 05, 2023 |
|
AI reviews on Amazon, Peak GMB listings, Implications of failing news sites
|
Apr 27, 2023 |
|
CR Permission Slip eases privacy burden, TA Report Hides Declining Reviews, Google Rushes to AI
|
Apr 21, 2023 |
|
Google’s Online Local Ads, Bard & Local SEO, The Impact of Chat on Future of Local Search
|
Apr 14, 2023 |
|
Google merging Bard into Assistant, Wix integrates AI for SMB content, Can GM build a better CarOS?
|
Apr 07, 2023 |
|
Local Search Ranking Factors Survey with Darren Shaw
|
Mar 30, 2023 |
|
FTC rules to rein in subscription abuse, Google Bard goes local, Bard is generative not searchy
|
Mar 23, 2023 |
|
New Google GPB Bug, TikTok rolling out search ads, Social mapping tool Gowalla returns
|
Mar 17, 2023 |
|
Google LSA adds new categories, ChatGPT changing local SAAS, Everyone needs a “how we use AI” FAQ
|
Mar 09, 2023 |
|
Bing not a G killer, Yelp research masks market share decline, Dealing with review attacks on Google Business Profiles
|
Mar 03, 2023 |
|
GBP Services impact rank, Local title tag impacts on rank, Google eases review filter
|
Feb 23, 2023 |
|
Bing transformed by AI, Groceries drive Walmart upscale & Ecommerce invests in PPC & SEO
|
Feb 17, 2023 |
|
How digital agencies can use AI with Joy Hawkins & Kevin Indig
|
Feb 08, 2023 |
|
Own your processes, SEOs need AI for automation, AI will increase fake reviews, now what?
|
Feb 03, 2023 |
|
Mailchimp Campaign Manager, Copyright implications of generative AI, GBP forums provide bug insights
|
Jan 27, 2023 |
|
Business Connect flawed agency model, Large agencies: Local is a fad, Technical SEO roadblocks
|
Jan 19, 2023 |
|
Apple Business Connect is important, Stack ranking of employees: effective or sadistic? AI’s next step: productization
|
Jan 12, 2023 |
|
AG sues surgeon for review fraud, Shopify targets enterprise retail, Bing to integrate ChatGPT
|
Jan 06, 2023 |
|
Barry Schwartz Talks All Things Google - UI, Algorithms and AI Spam
|
Dec 21, 2022 |
|
Age cohorts & reviews, Apple’s Business Register, Google’s Visual Elements → Search complexity
|
Dec 16, 2022 |
|
ChatGPT’s impact on local, How Google’s new review filter works, Google nukes The Beam (boo!)
|
Dec 09, 2022 |
|
Survey:Buying links works, Why did Alexa fail? Moderation will be at center of Sec 230 debate
|
Dec 03, 2022 |
|
Google Review Bug Saga, Impact of Local Business Reviews, Google’s Missguided Store Finder
|
Nov 17, 2022 |
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GPB Bug Nuking Reviews, Google Review Location Surfaced, AirBnB Branding VS SEM for conversions
|
Nov 11, 2022 |
|
Just How Prevalent Are Zero-Click Search Results? (featuring Marcus Tober of Semrush)
|
Nov 04, 2022 |
|
Shopify disappoints on retention, SEMRush Zero Click research & Apple Maps vs Google Maps in Europe
|
Oct 28, 2022 |
|
Google 3-Pack: New Branded Ads, GBP Neglect, and Container Retail Models (feat. Krystal Taing)
|
Oct 20, 2022 |
|
Whitespark’s Effort to Reach an Underserved Part of the SMB Market with Its SEO Services
|
Oct 13, 2022 |
|
Near Media X NearSt: Google’s Insatiable Appetite for Local Inventory Data
|
Oct 06, 2022 |
|
How Nerdy Nuts Co-Founder Blended Creativity, PR, Influencer Marketing, and Tiktok to Fuel Success
|
Oct 01, 2022 |
|
Google goes Astroturf, iOS elevates search but fails, Search alternatives are blooming, why?
|
Sep 15, 2022 |
|
The demise of local audiologists, Content bots for local news, Facebook shutters Neighborhoods
|
Sep 09, 2022 |
|
Google Quick Read- useful or Gen Z bone? Why are Google Posts rejected? Why Nextdoor needs local seo
|
Sep 01, 2022 |
|
Shopify Influencer Play, Google’s Human Content Update; Why now? Google’s AI First Approach is wrong
|
Aug 26, 2022 |
|
Yelp selling its business data, Google’s Review Spam algo nukes many legit reviews, Tik-Tok for brands
|
Aug 20, 2022 |
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Google whines about iMessage, Axios acquired by Cox, Facebook B2B segments
|
Aug 13, 2022 |
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Shopify invests in email, End of location intelligence, E-commerce not eating retail, it is retail
|
Aug 05, 2022 |
|
Instagram evolves (?), Google turns off reviews for women’s clinics , Google Commerce SERP Trends
|
Jul 29, 2022 |
|
Amazon & Google pander to the FTC, American Privacy Act: Opt-In/Out Battle, Instagram goes local
|
Jul 22, 2022 |
|
Indie Bookstores Rebound, Privacy abuses both public & private, Ages 18-25 shun Google for Tik-Tok
|
Jul 15, 2022 |
|
EU passes Digital Markets & Digital Services Acts to rein in big tech & prevent fraud & deception
|
Jul 10, 2022 |
|
Entities not keywords, key to search, Google Offers shows playbook, Data privacy even more important
|
Jul 01, 2022 |
|
Google Search Quality Declining?, Google Local Test & Self-preferencing, Shifting search behaviors
|
Jun 23, 2022 |
|
The power of great CX, What % of searches are local? Antitrust laws & how marketing might change
|
Jun 17, 2022 |
|
Amazon doing Local Ads, Yep it, Apple BNPL & Search developments, Auto created Google Ads showing up
|
Jun 09, 2022 |
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Apple search engine, GBP product kerfuffle, Walmart stores to be used for 3rd party local delivery
|
Jun 04, 2022 |
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Walmart does drones, GML: AI, automation & images are future, Local inventory ad unit mimics 3-pack
|
May 27, 2022 |
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Mourning Bill Slawski, Will people use My Ad Center? Baby formula shortage shows CTR impacts rank
|
May 21, 2022 |
|
SMB more successful with content, Google I/O dreams big but puts in stake around Local, Multisearch & Lens + Near Me
|
May 13, 2022 |
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Earth Day promos damage reputation, CX - more than a #, SMBs need an integrated digital approach
|
May 07, 2022 |
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Ratings vs Review Text, Can G Ad automation replace agencies?, Will Musk torpedo Twitter ads?
|
Apr 30, 2022 |
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Amazon’s Buy with Prime; AI content & the future of the internet, What content drives SMB research?
|
Apr 23, 2022 |
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Google: Ad Domination, Self-Updating Maps reflects failure to engage, Mobile SERP are Image Serps
|
Apr 16, 2022 |
|
Live Inventory Improves 3-Pack Rank, LocalU-Spam, Review & Vicinity Update, GA4 Sucks-what’s next?
|
Apr 08, 2022 |
|
Antitrust Laws Closer, Google partners with CVS on appts, Consumer review trust down but usage is up
|
Apr 03, 2022 |
|
Featured Snippets & Ranking, Consumer Expectations: Chat vs SMS, Google Product Images in Local Packs
|
Mar 25, 2022 |
|
Google goes local w/ product search; FTC: HomeAdvisor cheated SMBs; SMBs dislike direct sales model
|
Mar 19, 2022 |
|
Google Sued Over GBP Order CTA, Publishers Sue Ad Providers, Yelp’s 2021 Traffic Declines
|
Mar 12, 2022 |
|
Review reliance up but trust is down; Amazon kills bookstores for Grocery Business, Nextdoor #s
|
Mar 05, 2022 |
|
Yelp Elite reviews for sale; Core Web Vitals: No impact on Local ranking, Google offering SEO training, What will Google be in 10 years?
|
Feb 26, 2022 |
|
Will Google’s AI make SEO superfluous? Is Google’s Android Privacy Sandbox Real or Performative? What do Wix’s #’s say about how big the SMB market is?
|
Feb 19, 2022 |
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Google spams Congress w/ SMB emails, Amazon hits $31B in Ad sales, Apple Tap to Pay available soon
|
Feb 11, 2022 |
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Meta Takes a Dive, Yelp, Google take review high ground & FTC warns review Platforms
|
Feb 05, 2022 |
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GMB PWND by spammer, Google moves toward contextual advertising & The FTC updates review guidelines
|
Jan 28, 2022 |
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Bill to end surveillance ads, SMB use of SAAS tools low & growing, Niantic’s path to the metaverse
|
Jan 21, 2022 |
|
Vendasta buys MatchCraft, Business required vax shows path, TLDR bill requires TOS simplification
|
Jan 14, 2022 |
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NFTs as a funding model? Can Google compete in product search? Distrust of tech companies is high.
|
Jan 08, 2022 |
|
Google rolls out new Local Packs; Yelp Survey: text reviews are best; Local Guides dominate Google reviews
|
Dec 18, 2021 |
|
A deep dive into the Local Search Ranking Factors with Darren Shaw
|
Dec 11, 2021 |
|
Apple Maps goes from goat to great, Twitter needs new model, Fired Xooglers sue over Don’t be evil
|
Dec 04, 2021 |
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Uberall consumer survey: 50% of search is local, Apple Maps pushes business discovery & AR forward
|
Nov 20, 2021 |
|
Vista rebrand elegance, Opportunities for new search engines, Google expands SMB propaganda campaign
|
Nov 13, 2021 |
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Google My Business Rebrand - Is it a chance to fix GMB or an opportunity to nuke part of the stack?
|
Nov 06, 2021 |
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Amazon local BOPIS, Impact of images in Google Local search, Google Local driving the most leads
|
Oct 30, 2021 |
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FTC: mobile ISPs abuse privacy, Snap blames Apple for shortfall, Performance ads an analytics scam?
|
Oct 22, 2021 |
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FTC lays groundwork for review fines; Amazon creates a stealth offline catalog; Google Lens surfacing Local Packs with product shots
|
Oct 15, 2021 |
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Squarespace’s “Everything to Sell Anything,” Google vs. Lowe, and Has the Local Pack Outlived Its Usefulness?
|
Oct 08, 2021 |
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Google Enhances Lens for Image Based Commerce, Yelp Goes Front of House SAAS for Restaurants, Amazon and Facebook stymied by new consumer attitudes toward privacy
|
Oct 02, 2021 |
|
Can new retail formats save traditional stores? How many real customers does Wix have? Will we see opt-in privacy options and what does it mean for marketers?
|
Sep 25, 2021 |
|
Shopify benchmarks SMB CAC; Reviews tell the story of Walmarts inventory woes; Twitter & WhatsApp now offering local business pages
|
Sep 17, 2021 |
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B2B sales have changed forever with self serve playing an ever larger role. Why is leading digital wallet Apple Pay uptake still so low? Will Facebook’s SmartGlasses make it out of the gate?
|
Sep 10, 2021 |
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MailChimp priced at $10b for Intuit proves value of SMB SAAS, 1-800-Contacts sues Warby Parker over trade name use in Adwords, Will Yahoo have a new life after Verizon sale?
|
Sep 04, 2021 |
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Biden encourages all departments to go all in on increasing competition, Will Craiglist decline create opportunity for NextDoor?, Will public notification of facial recognition deter shoppers?
|
Sep 04, 2021 |
|
Walmart to make deliveries for SMBs, The SMB social media disconnect, Thinking about Apple reviews
|
Aug 27, 2021 |
|
FTC takes big swing at FB, Survey: What SMBs really need, Can a Local food delivery co-op compete?
|
Aug 21, 2021 |
|
Google devastates local food delivery, The boom in pet adoption leaves Vets overwhelmed, Amazon sellers paying to delete negative reviews
|
Aug 14, 2021 |
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Yelp’s Positive Q2 Reports, When do SMBs Hire Key Roles & How to Create Content When AI Writes Well
|
Aug 06, 2021 |
|
FB profits on way to metaverse, Apple & SnapChat up their SMB Maps play & Privacy seems less likely
|
Jul 30, 2021 |
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Google makes reviewing easy by adding attributes to restaurant reviews, Fake reviews are costly to SMBS but Google seems incapable of squashing them, Square’s new bank is a threat to traditional SMB banking relationships
|
Jul 23, 2021 |
|
Biden encourages all departments to go all in on increasing competition, Will Craiglist decline create opportunity for NextDoor?, Will public notification of facial recognition deter shoppers?
|
Jul 17, 2021 |
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Google Play store antitrust suit futile?, Good Local content makes the difference, Yext
|
Jul 10, 2021 |
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FB Bulletin = newsletter + social, Shopify creates Ad Network, Supreme Court Ruling re-opens scraping question
|
Jul 02, 2021 |
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FLoC is flailing, Privacy Success of DuckDuckGo, Businesses need employee vaccination policies
|
Jun 26, 2021 |
|
The local arc from inventory to ordering to monopoly and consolidation
|
Jun 18, 2021 |
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Apple killed email? Google’s crazy Local business names; In person conferences are wonderful & weird
|
Jun 12, 2021 |
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Fake Review Solutions, Google’s Grand Vision for Search, How a Local Bookstore Fought Amazon & Won
|
Jun 05, 2021 |
|
Confession of a Local Guide, Google’s push for privacy, SMB Platforms for marketing & ops automation
|
May 29, 2021 |
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Are Yelp’s problems self-inflicted?; Google I/O AI & Local Shopping; Google going into Retail, really?
|
May 22, 2021 |
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Shopify makes the case for local ecommerce, Why do consumers desire to buy local but still buy at Amazon?; How did Google win the review wars vs Yelp?
|
May 15, 2021 |
|
Apple Tracking Opt-in Only 4%, Shopify focuses on helping SMB be better, Facebooks Neighborhood, a NextDoor clone, is likely to be like Nextdoor but worse
|
May 08, 2021 |
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Is Apple being paternalistic to not allow advertisers to provide ATT incentives? Can Yelp make their way with transactions? Amazon, amazing profits, amazing (& ruthless) efficiencies
|
May 01, 2021 |
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Zagat reviews, but shorter & more visual, rise from the Google ashes; The FTC ability to levy fines as a deterrent is knee capped by SCOTUS; Apple privacy changes AND review capability coming this week.
|
Apr 23, 2021 |
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Episode 11: FB Survey: increased SMB e-commerce & struggles, What will consumers do when the economy opens? SubStack creates program to develop local news
|
Apr 17, 2021 |
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Episode 10: SWYFT Opens New Avenues for SMBs to compete with Prime, Is the FTC getting serious about review enforcement, So long Yahoo Answers, will anyone get this product category right?
|
Apr 10, 2021 |
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Episode 9: Website Builder SquareSpace acquires restaurant backend restaurant system Tock; Google My Business shoots themselves in the Messaging foot; GroundTruth stays true to the SMB and acquires display advertising platform, Addy
|
Apr 03, 2021 |
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Episode 8: Google fights with Rand Fishkin over “zero-click” searches. Can a rating only review ever be defamatory? Will Yahoo’s brand rise from the ashes as a Verizon subscription service? Written by Near Media Filed under Conversations
|
Mar 27, 2021 |
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Episode 7:The impact of a year of covid ⁃Surveys indicate the vast majority of consumers favor rigorous mask enforcement by businesses ⁃Online commerce is becoming table stakes for small local businesses ⁃The trends in advertising and privacy fa
|
Mar 20, 2021 |
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Episode 6: How the advertising duopoly has created alternative income models, Tock, the restaurant friendly delivery model, Deconstructing Google’s recent post about Local Guides and Photo Updates
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Mar 13, 2021 |
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Episode 5: Google’s privacy first stance benefits ...Google, What is the reality of the public’s trust in Google, How Volvo going direct portends radical shifts for car dealers
|
Mar 05, 2021 |
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Episode 4: Facebook Hides Behind SMBs, Hey's New Newsletter Product, and Wal-mart Innovates with Video
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Feb 27, 2021 |
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Episode 3: Australia vs. Facebook, Ghost Kitchens, and Microtargeted Ads
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Feb 19, 2021 |
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Episode 2: GMB Messaging, Local Commerce at Google, Privacy
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Feb 12, 2021 |
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Episode 1: Amazon's PR Stunt, Newsletters, and Clubhouse
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Feb 06, 2021 |