Best Mike Blumenthal Podcasts (2024)

1
Google Expanding Local Results in the SERPS to the Exclusion of Organic 34:43

3h ago34:43

34:43

Send us a Text Message. Google Expanding Local Results in the SERPS to the Exclusion of Organic: While many SEOs have been focused on AI answers and how they are disrupting search, the story in Local search is different. AI Answers have yet to have any impact in Local but Google, over the past several years has dramatically increased their control …

1
Marie Haynes on Embracing Search's AI Future, and Why We Should Be Excited 1:27:20

3d ago1:27:20

1:27:20

In this month's BUMPER EDITION of Adventures in Local Marketing, Claire speaks to AI and search expert Dr Marie Haynes about all (and we mean all) things Google and AI. We cover how Google Gemini will underpin all of search going forward, dive into the Google API leaks, and take a detour to learn about a surprise meeting at Google I/O... It's the l…

1
Rand Fishkin Interview #2: Zero Click, Regulating Google & Coping with the New SEO Reality 46:58

6d ago46:58

46:58

Send us a Text Message. In this week’s podcast we discussed the evolution of zero-click search and Rand’s upcoming study with Spark Toro's clickstream data provider, Datos, to explore the impact of AI overviews and changes in zero-click searches across different regions. Rand argued for more stringent antitrust measures, drawing parallels between G…

1
GBP Chat is Dead, Consumers Frustrated with Search too, Local Takeaways from the API Leak 38:11

12d ago38:11

38:11

By Greg Sterling, Mike Blumenthal & David Mihm

1
Rand Fishkin interview on the importance and learnings from the Google Search Leak 32:45

20d ago32:45

32:45

Send us a Text Message. Rand helps us explore the implications of the Google Web Search leak and how it impacts our understanding of how the search ranking aglo actually works This week we interviewed Rand Fishkin of SparkToro on the details and importance of the Google Search API leak. In discussing the “biggest leak of the last 25 years” we look …

1
New SAB Local Ranking Factor & Interpreting Google AI Tea leaves around Search 36:36

27d ago36:36

36:36

Send us a Text Message. New SAB Local Ranking Factor: Service area businesses have long been a problem on Google Maps. Spam, privacy, suspension AND ranking issues have plagued them since the beginning. Now it appears that there may be hope on the ranking issue. Historically they were ranked around the location from which they were claimed regardle…

1
ChatGPT 4o Makes an Impression, Chaos that was Google I/O is Google, What Does it All Mean for SEOs? 45:03

1M ago45:03

45:03

Send us a Text Message. ChatGPT 4o Makes an Impression: OpenAI, not so subtly, introduced improvements to ChatGPT 4.0 just before I/O Google's event. The presentation was crisp and focused highlighting OpenAI's ChatGPT 4o enhanced speech capabilities and creative functionalities, such as summarizing audio streams shows and organizing the resultant …

1
Aaron Weiche on Developing a Conversion Mindset 43:19

1M ago43:19

43:19

In this episode, Claire chats to Leadferno's Aaron Weiche about how adopting a conversion-focused mindset can benefit agencies and their clients alike. Listen to learn: Why businesses often struggle to identify conversion events The importance of making a business easy to work with Why agencies should prioritize reporting on leads and conversions T…

1
Google finally fixing LSA reviews, Why Google fails, DOJ slidedeck details abusive Google practices 25:41

1M ago25:41

25:41

Send us a Text Message. Is Google Finally fixing LSA reviews? In a significant update for advertisers and businesses in the UK, Google has announced changes to its Local Services Ads (LSA) review system. Effective July 7, the existing LSA customer review URLs will expire and be replaced with URLs from Google Business Profiles (GBP), centralizing re…

1
From the Vault: Do searchers use Local Finder?, How many links does a local website need? Google's BS around content 25:18

2M ago25:18

25:18

Send us a Text Message. We're taking the week off, but here's an episode (#126) from the "vault" that we think you'll enjoy! Do Google searchers enter the Local Finder? Local SEOs wonder whether searchers actually enter the Local Finder from the Pack results. We often think no but our research indicates that not only do searchers enter the Local Fi…

1
An interview with Dana DiTomaso: To Google GA4 analytics hell & back again 33:13

2M ago33:13

33:13

Send us a Text Message. Dana DiTomaso brings her practical insights to the often murky waters of Google Analytics 4 (GA4). Dana, who wears multiple hats as the president and co-founder of KickPoint, shares candid thoughts on the challenges of demystifying GA4. She discusses the shortcomings of GA4, emphasizing its strong data collection capabilitie…

1
Ad Sales Up, Dr. Guilty of Violating Fed. Review Law, Content Only as Good as ChatGPT Will Fail 33:08

2M ago33:08

33:08

Send us a Text Message. Ad market dominated by a few players: The Internet Advertising Bureau released their annual report for 2024. Digital advertising reached a record-high of $225 billion, with the biggest share going to search ($88.8 billion) & display ($66.1 billion). The bulk of this income is distributed across the top 10 advertising platfor…

1
Julian Hooks On Staying People-first in an SEO-obsessed World 47:23

2M ago47:23

47:23

In this episode, Claire speaks to Julian Hooks, principal SEO consultant at Advertising Commissions and Senior Manager of SEO at Asurion, about the importance of customer-centricity in an industry obsessed with chasing the latest SEO trend or ranking factors study. Listen to learn: Julian's five-point guide to a customer-led strategy How to use cus…

1
Standardizing Review Processes to Avoid Fear, Google Cries Wolf Around DMA, The Future of SGE 28:31

2M ago28:31

28:31

Send us a Text Message. Reviews are Like Death & Taxes & Should be Treated that Way: Miriam Ellis wrote a great article at Moz providing small business owners tips on how to overcome their fear of reviews. But they really need to go further. Given that reviews, like death and taxes, are not going anywhere businesses need to not only remove their fe…

1
How your agency can increase retention and profitability by offering a fractional CMO as a service 34:59

3M ago34:59

34:59

Send us a Text Message. The need to move SMBs from Tactics to Strategy & how fractional CMO’s can do that: John Jantsch is a seasoned consultant, speaker, and bestselling author, notably recognized for his Duct Tape Marketing brand. He shares his journey of owning an agency for 30 years, highlighting his affinity for small to midsize businesses and…

1
Google Goes to Brussels & attempts to defend their DMA compliance 38:54

3M ago38:54

38:54

Send us a Text Message. In this special edition, Mike and David discuss their visit to Brussels to attend Google’s report on their compliance with the European Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA, targeting large tech entities including Google, aims to regulate their status as gatekeepers to the internet. This session, specifically addressing Google…

1
David Mihm on the State of Multi-location GBP Management 47:25

3M ago47:25

47:25

In this episode, Claire speaks to Near Media's David Mihm on the obstacles and opportunities that lie in wait when dealing with Google Business Profiles for multi-location businesses. Listen to learn: Why bulk verification can be such a struggle for enterprise businesses The best approach to managing local SEO between HQ and branch levels A two-lev…

1
How on page factors & Google updates, Learnings from a G Quality Rater, What is the future of SEO? 52:37

3M ago52:37

52:37

Send us a Text Message. What on-page factors are associated with sites that see big gains or declines after Google updates? Cyrus Shepard explains his recent research looking at correlations between a range of on page factors that might affect Google’s perception of your site and analyzes which factors were associated with increases or decreases in…

1
Google’s Core Update & FUD, Brightlocal Consumer Review Survey, Do Searchers Use the Local Finder? 42:54

3M ago42:54

42:54

Send us a Text Message. Google’s March Core Update & FUD: David Mihm sheds light on Google's March core update, marking it as an unusually impactful monthly adjustment from the tech giant. The update has sparked extensive conversation among SEO experts. He highlighted three key focus areas of the update: scaled content, largely driven by AI technol…

1
Consumer Research Highlights Limited Impact of EU Mandated Local SERP Change & On-going EU Challenge 33:24

4M ago33:24

33:24

Send us a Text Message. Consumer Research Highlights Limited Impact of DMA Mandated Google's SERP Changes: Near Media unveiled findings from their latest research on the restaurant vertical in Ireland, investigating the effects of Google's Search Engine Results Page (SERP) changes in light of the Digital Markets Act. The study aimed to ascertain wh…

1
Long tail searcher behaviors, Gemini switch appears, Content publishing being upended by search 33:24

4M ago33:24

33:24

Send us a Text Message. Long tail searcher behaviors: 10% of Discovery searches involve a brand search on Google: In our most recent multi-location consumer Google search behavior research analyzing restaurant searches we saw roughly 10% of all searchers use the scrolling map for location precision and we saw an equal number of searchers do a local…

1
Steve Wiideman on Navigating Big Brand Local SEO 49:45

4M ago49:45

49:45

In response to the findings of BrightLocal's Brand Beacon Report 2024, this episode sees us speak to enterprise expert Steve Wiideman about all things multi-location SEO. In this wide-ranging and tactical nugget-filled conversation, Steve covers the challenges and opportunities available to multi-location SEOs today, and shares his proven processes…

1
G-SERPs product searches, Google PR around review removals is puffery, Google Maps SGE a hot mess 34:18

4M ago34:18

34:18

Send us a Text Message. Google adds Reddit to product searches and spammers follow: We discuss a new study by Glenn Alsop that examines the prevalence of discussion and forum search features This module is a tacit admission on Google's part that its algorithm can no longer actually surface good organic content. LikeThe study, which analyzed 10,000 …

1
Will AI Improve SMB Websites? GMaps Getting Gemini, Bright Local Brand Survey Takeaways 34:30

4M ago34:30

34:30

Send us a Text Message. Will AI Improve SMB Websites? Consumers overwhelmingly prefer AI-generated content over human-created content across various formats, signaling a potential shift in online content creation. Businesses and agencies are adopting AI for content creation, citing effectiveness and cost reduction. However, concerns about the loss …

1
10 years of SERP changes, Hidden Gems update is impacting Local Search, New EU Local Search Results 25:20

5M ago25:20

25:20

Send us a Text Message. What 10 years of changes to the SERPS mean for marketers today: We discuss Andy Crestodina’s most recent article where he looks at 10+ years of changes to google search results and what they mean. He highlights the evolving dynamics of search engine optimization (SEO) and the importance of diversifying marketing strategies b…

1
Fired Google Raters replaced w/ AI? SEO Tools are just tools, Hidden Gems & decline of Big Social 37:50

5M ago37:50

37:50

Send us a Text Message. Will Fired Google Raters Be Replaced with AI? Last week Google terminated their relationship with one of the companies responsible for rating the quality of websites. Certainly Google has been on a cost cutting rampage of late with layoffs and product cancellations. But is the ending of one of their relationships with one of…

1
SGE NOT the Future, GBP End Days? Google Chooses Sizzle over Steak? 33:38

5M ago33:38

33:38

Send us a Text Message. SGE has huge impacts but is still just a testing ground: Some industries, like healthcare, are impacted by Google’s SGE (search generative experience) than others with 76% of queries analyzed being impacted by SGE. While other industries show lesser impact, it is still significant. But SGE is still just a test and one that i…

1
LSA Scam & Honest Businesses, Google Created a Shitty Internet? Generative AI & its Impact on Google 44:27

5M ago44:27

44:27

Send us a Text Message. How the Google Guarantee Scam Impacts Honest Businesses? The Google Guarantee Scam is frequently perpetrated by groups of foreign nationals working in relative anonymity and looking for a quick profit. While some blame goes to these actors, the ultimate fault and responsibility lies with Google. Honest businesses have been n…

1
Exposing the Google Local Service Ads Scam in Home Services: A Marketer's Insight 14:17

5M ago14:17

14:17

Send us a Text Message. Join us in this eye-opening discussion with Zachary Dotson, an experienced marketer in the home services industry, as he sheds light on a rampant scam in Google Local Service Ads. Learn how fake companies are exploiting the system with stolen licenses and profiles, bait-and-switch pricing tactics, and the impact on legitimat…

1
Businesses & Google SGE, Google Goes All in On Interstitials, Where is Bard Going? 32:05

6M ago32:05

32:05

Send us a Text Message. What Should Businesses Do About Google SGE? Google has not yet announced any concrete plans for the future of Search Generative Experience (SGE), and it is unclear how it will evolve in the coming years. SGE is still in its early, very crude stages and it is not yet known how it will impact search traffic. Many SEOS reacted …

1
The Google Review Fraud Landscape in Maps & LSA and How a Business Should Respond 45:02

6M ago45:02

45:02

Send us a Text Message. The Google Review Fraud Landscape in Maps & LSA and How a Business Should Respond: Google Review Fraud Landscape (10:17): Estimates that 18% of reviews across various platforms are fake. Home service industries, such as locksmiths, moving companies, and HVAC, are heavily affected. Legal sector is also impacted, with fake rev…

1
Will Google's Reactive Behavior to Search Quality & AI Solve Their Problems? 22:13

6M ago22:13

22:13

Send us a Text Message. Will Google's Reactive Behavior to Search Quality & AI Solve Their Problems? Google is struggling to adapt to the changing market dynamics, including the rise of AI, TikTok, and criticism of declining search result quality. Google's efforts to retain younger users by modifying its search results to include more engaging cont…

1
Can Gemini Fix Search? The Impact of Google’s Rating Bias, LSA Reviewjacking 31:08

7M ago31:08

31:08

Send us a Text Message. Can Gemini Fix Search? Google’s current interface and attempts at query refinement are largely broken. Google’s new Gemini upgrade to SGE appears to offer advanced search query refinement capabilities and individualized user interfaces that could resolve both of those issues. The potential or customized and visually diverse …

1
How Local SEO Agencies are using Generative AI & ChatGPT: Tips, tactics and strategies 46:44

7M ago46:44

46:44

Send us a Text Message. In this extended episode of the Near Memo, Greg Sterling , Joy Hawkins, Darren Shaw & Mike Blumenthal explore the role of generative AI and how it has evolved one year after CHat GPT was released. We cover: Experiences and opinions on the use of AI tools like ChatGPT in SEO and content creation. The effectiveness of AI in di…

1
Stefan Somborac on The Life and Times of a Google Product Expert 41:01

7M ago41:01

41:01

In this episode, we speak to Google Business Profile *Platinum* Expert, Marketing Metrology's Stefan Somborac, about what it's like to volunteer to help, and most importantly learn from, local businesses posting in the Google Business Profile Help Community (what a mouthful!) Listen to learn: Why the new EU reinstatement process forms part of a "pe…

1
Google’s newest search features, Whitespark: Reviews by category, Fake review enforcement failures 30:20

7M ago30:20

30:20

Send us a Text Message. Google’s Newest Search Features: “Whipped cream on S.H. I. .T”.? While Google's new features aim to enhance user interaction and personalize the search experience, they may not address broader user concerns about search result quality and privacy. And in fact may, as David points out, might just be whipped cream on a not ver…

1
GMaps Immersive directions, Citations & Local Search, The GBP new small business attribute 26:29

7M ago26:29

26:29

Send us a Text Message. Google Maps from useful to bloat? Google Maps continues to add new features and functionality and as it has become a primary search engine for Google and its forward facing brand it has included so much functionality that it suffers from extreme bloat. The new immersive directions exemplifies the problem. but Maps is a deep …

1
Lessons in Building and Marketing a Consumer Brand 59:10

8M ago59:10

59:10

Send us a Text Message. “Running a startup is like being in a knife fight,” BeanBox Co-Founder and CEO Matthew Berk unexpectedly says, as he describes the arduous but rewarding journey from the world of SaaS to making a real-world consumer product. From Local Search to the Speciality Coffee Business: Matthew Berk’s personal and professional path to…

1
Crystal Carter on Powerful Applications of Schema Markup 45:36

8M ago45:36

45:36

Schema might not be a ranking factor, but that doesn't mean you can leave it in the 'to do' pile. In this episode, structured markup master Crystal Carter lifts the lid on all things schema: Why it's not as scary as you think it is Why it's business-critical for some industries What to do (and not do) if you receive a schema warning How to use a CM…

1
GBP Call History returns, Local Trust Report, SGE Where now? 33:39

8M ago33:39

33:39

Send us a Text Message. GBP Call History’s History - What does it say about Google? Google Business Profile Call History has been problematic from the start because it made the business of calling a business more like roulette. When it disappeared after months of barely functioning every thought it had been nuked. But it's back. Its chaotic develop…

1
Bulk Dashboard Comeback?, GBP listing cleanup, Alternatives to Google search 28:19

9M ago28:19

28:19

Send us a Text Message. Bulk Dashboard Comeback?, GBP listing cleanup, Alternatives to Google search Segment 1 Title (100 chars): Will GBP rescue the multi-location Business Profile Manager dashboard from the trash bin? Google recently added a new functionality to the Business Profile Manager dashboard: they upgraded the bulk Insights download to m…

1
So Clicks are a ranking signal? Google Comments on Review Fraud, Bard enhanced with extensions 23:28

9M ago23:28

23:28

Send us a Text Message. “Clicks Are Not a ranking signal” except that they are: If we have learned anything over the years with Google it is that you need to take with a huge grain of salt. While they might not lie, they have such narrow definitions and unstated assumptions that you really don’t know what they mean. Recent evidence in the antitrust…

1
High Impact Content Marketing in the Age of AI 55:18

9M ago55:18

55:18

Send us a Text Message. What Is Content?: Purna Virji and I discuss what motivated her to write the book, how she defines “content” and why she took a very expansive approach to content strategy and marketing. She also discusses the foundation of great content and what digital marketers can learn from traditional marketing. Creating ‘High Impact’ C…

1
What and why of review fraud on Google how to deal with it 37:09

9M ago37:09

37:09

Send us a Text Message. The big picture of review fraud - who does it and why: We explore the full range of review fraud from fake positive reviews, black hat negative reviews and review extortion with Curtis Boyd of the Transparency Company. How widespread is it, is it growing, which categories are most likely to participate in it and why. How to …

1
Google Anit-trust case unlikely to change anything, GBP deduping form, Searchers go deep in the SERPS 21:54

10M ago21:54

21:54

Send us a Text Message. Upcoming Google Anit-trust case unlikely to change much of anything: Google’s antitrust case is starting next week. Google filed for a summary judgment and some of the issues were decided in their favor. Only two remain; The payment to Apple as the default iPhone search engine and whether Google uses Search Ads 360 to thwart…

1
Mike Blumenthal on What Google's Past Can Teach Us About Its Future 38:53

10M ago38:53

38:53

In this episode, Near Media's Mike Blumenthal highlights the Google trends we should all be paying close attention to, discusses the evolution and importance of images in Google Business Profile, and introduces upcoming Near Media consumer research that could change how we look at searcher behavior. Listen to learn: What the future of Google Busine…

1
Do searchers goto the Local Finder?, How many links does a local website need? Google's BS around creating great content 25:18

10M ago25:18

25:18

Send us a Text Message. Local SEOs wonder whether searchers actually enter the Local Finder from the Pack results. We often think no but our research indicates that not only do searchers enter the Local Finder on a regular basis, they also scroll deep and often pick a business not in the top three. Local link building is hard but NearMedia research…

1
SMBs search to find services, GBP supports bends to European regs, No copyright for AI 29:33

10M ago29:33

29:33

Send us a Text Message. How SMBs buy services: Despite what we may think, neither word of mouth nor social are how small and very small businesses buy payment solutions. Search was where it was at. This survey likely can be extrapolated to any SAAS product or service. While it takes longer and is harder to gain search traffic, search and SEO ultima…

1
GBP support using gig workers, SGE while browsing rolls out, AI Generated review summaries roll out 26:34

10M ago26:34

26:34

Send us a Text Message. Google Ambassadors (ie Gig Workers) now staffing GBP support poorly: Google Business Profile support has added a new layer of first level support using what they call Google Ambassadors. These are “passionate brand advocates” working as gig workers. While it provides a comforting, warm body to the chat support experience, it…

1
Google VS Chat GPT quality, Google proffers bad advice to CNET, Do consumers actually read reviews? 24:31

11M ago24:31

24:31

Send us a Text Message. Google VS Chat GPT Taste Test: In blind testing, users appear to prefer ChatGPT search results over Google by almost 2:1. Those are the findings of the test's creator, ClickPop, which requires some caveats. Nonetheless, the outcome suggests the Google brand and familiar UI may be a bigger factor in Google's dominant search p…

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