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Mike Blumenthal

@mikeblumenthal.bsky.social

All local, all the time. Now at Near Media. Always from Olean, NY

290 Posts849 Follower39 Folgt
Mike Blumenthal@mikeblumenthal.bsky.social · 2w ago

Are the global legal systems finally catching up with the world’s biggest monopoly? Has Google figured out how to extract even more $ leveraging that monopoly via AI?

Near Media@index.nearmedia.co.ap.brid.gy · 2w ago

LSAS NOW P-MAX PPL Local Services Ads (LSAs) are merging into Google Ads and will run as Performance Max campaigns optimized for pay-per-lead goals. Google says, "This transition allows you to manage all your Google advertising in one unified platform while keeping the pay-per-lead model." The […]

Mike Blumenthal@mikeblumenthal.bsky.social · 2w ago

Cyrus Shepard, founder of Zyppy, joins @gsterling.bsky.social & Mike Blumenthal for P2 of the Near Memo local brand-building series — this time on the technical side: how Google and AI systems actually model a brand, and what a local business can do about it. www.nearmedia.co/ep-266-cyrus...

EP 266 - Cyrus Shepard: What Local Brand Actually Means to Google and AI

Cyrus Shepard, founder of Zyppy, joins Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal for Part 2 of the Near Memo brand-building series — this time on the technical side: how Google and AI systems actually model a...

nearmedia.co

Mike Blumenthal@mikeblumenthal.bsky.social · 3w ago

What is brand for a local SMB? In P1 of our branding series, John Janstch joins to decode why a brand is really a measure of customer trust & operational reality. We look at mining customer interviews to create brand messages & auto-referral loops to increase WOM www.nearmedia.co/ep-265-decod...

EP 265 - Decoding Local Branding with John Jantsch

We explore local branding with John Jantsch, examining how to build trust through offline distinctiveness, mine customer interviews to identify primary differentiators and leverage programmatic referr...

nearmedia.co

Mike Blumenthal@mikeblumenthal.bsky.social · 3w ago

How will people find your business when they stop using traditional browsers? Mozilla VP Raj Singh, reveals why the function of a website is shifting away from browser clicks toward AI chat & autonomous agents over the next 5 yrs. Business owners need to know how to adapt to this massive shift /1

gsterling@gsterling.bsky.social · last mo.

Relying on the earlier federal case that found Google to be a search monopoly (2024) a CA federal court has held that Yelp does not need to prove Google has a monopoly in search, in its local antitrust case against the company. www.courthousenews.com/federal-judg...

Federal judge's ruling gives Yelp a leg up in antitrust case against Google

A federal judge agreed to recognize another judge's determination that Google has a monopoly over internet searches.

courthousenews.com

Mike Blumenthal@mikeblumenthal.bsky.social · last mo.

In Guardian article Eric Schmidt is quoted as telling students vis a vis Ai: “If someone offers you a seat on the rocket ship, you do not ask which seat, you just get on,” Reminds of the that great Twilight Zone episode where post-apocalyptic aliens offer up book to Earth: “To Serve Man” /1

To Serve Man - help or a threat?
gsterling@gsterling.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Latest @nearmedia.bsky.social newsletter is out: What we know about ChatGPT ads, Claude goes local, AI citation ranking factors, Google now driving 91% of its own ad revenue. www.nearmedia.co/chatgpt-ads-...?

ChatGPT Ads, Claude Goes Local, AI Ranking Factors, Google's 91% Ad Revenue

ChatGPT Expand Ads, Offers Self-Service Driven by necessity, ChatGPT is rapidly expanding its ad platform. Earlier this week, OpenAI announced it was making ads more widely available. There are now t...

nearmedia.co

Mike Blumenthal@mikeblumenthal.bsky.social · 3mo ago

In 12/2025 the FTC accused 10 businesses of practices that violated the Consumer Review Rules. With a FOIA request, we identified the firms—from boutique pi lawyers to regional property managers—& the review abuses that they were accused of. www.nearmedia.co/tag/analysis/ No firm is too small

Local SEO Tactics & Strategic Recommendations ● Near Media

Proprietary consumer research, localized SERP analysis, and step-by-step performance improvement recommendations from longtime local search experts.

nearmedia.co

Mike Blumenthal@mikeblumenthal.bsky.social · 4mo ago

In one of a long line of egregious abuses of our society (massive privacy abuses, knowingly profiting from scams and algos that cause self harm), FB is once again in the news. And how do CMOs and marketers respond? Q: why did marketers abandon Twitter but not Meta? www.adweek.com/social-marke...

Meta Has Made Child Exploitation a Cost of Doing Business

Meta has not only survived multiple scandals, its advertising revenue continues to creep up.

adweek.com

Mike Blumenthal@mikeblumenthal.bsky.social · 4mo ago

AI search is rewarding something familiar: hyper-local, intent-driven pages For multi-location brands, this isn’t a new tactic— it’s an under-leveraged asset now driving visibility in ChatGPT We interviewed Steve Wiideman on strategies and tactics for local success of multi-location brands

Mike Blumenthal@mikeblumenthal.bsky.social · 4mo ago

AI search is rewarding something familiar: hyper-local, intent-driven pages For multi-location brands, this isn’t a new tactic— it’s an under-leveraged asset now driving visibility in ChatGPT We interviewed Steve Wiideman on strategies and tactics for local success of multi-location brands

Mike Blumenthal@mikeblumenthal.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Will ads denigrate the Apple brand? Steve Jobs wasn't against the concept of advertising, but he was famously harsh about ads he found uninspired, intrusive, or lacking "emotion." Will Apple ads in Maps be helpful or intrusive for consumers? Will they help or hurt Apple's image?

Near Media@index.nearmedia.co.ap.brid.gy · 4mo ago

LOCAL ADS COMING TO APPLE MAPS Apple will be launching local ads in Maps in the next few months, according to a report from Bloomberg. Apple Business Connect (soon Apple Business) listings must be claimed to participate. This is something that has been coming as part of Apple's broader ads […]

Near Media@index.nearmedia.co.ap.brid.gy · 4mo ago

Multi-location SEO isn’t about tactics—it’s about execution. This episode, with Steve Wiideman, breaks down the real challenges brands face, from internal friction to content strategy, reviews, and shifting search behavior. Plus: what AI means (and doesn’t).

EP 249 - Why Multi-Location SEO Is So Hard (And What Actually Works) Part 1

Multi-location SEO is less about algorithms and more about execution inside complex organizations. In this episode, the team explores how brands struggle with internal alignment, why testing beats tactics, how reviews and imagery drive visibility, and how search behavior is shifting toward long-tail and conversational queries. Interested in sponsoring this podcast or our newsletters please reach out to mblumenthal@nearmedia.co E-mail Mike ### **The Podcast Deets** ### **Segment 1 (** 00:00 – 07:30**)** **Foundations & The Scientific Approach to SEO** Steve Wiedemann outlines his background and approach to SEO as a discipline rooted in testing and experimentation. The conversation highlights the difficulty of documenting SEO due to constant change and the need to rely on fundamentals. ### **Segment 2 (** 07:30 – 17:00**)** **Why Multi-Location SEO Breaks Down** The group explores the real challenges of scaling SEO across large brands—organizational friction, legal constraints, dev bottlenecks, and franchise complexity. Education and alignment emerge as the biggest barriers. ### **Segment 3 (** 17:00 – 25:30**)** **What Actually Drives Performance: Content, Reviews & Behavior** The discussion shifts to practical execution: imagery, user-generated content, reviews, and long-tail queries. They highlight how real-world customer behavior—not keywords—should drive strategy. ### **Key Takeaways** * Multi-location SEO is primarily an **organizational challenge** * Testing beats tactics—always * Reviews and imagery are **core ranking + conversion signals** * Franchisee participation is low—but highly impactful when it happens * Long-tail and conversational queries are increasing * SEO success requires **consistent execution, not hacks** **👇 Watch by topic:** 00:00 Intro & Steve Wiedemann background 02:30 Why SEO is hard to “teach” (and constantly changing) 05:00 The scientific approach to SEO testing 07:30 Biggest multi-location SEO challenges 12:40 Photography, reviews & user-generated content 17:00 Getting franchisees to actually take action 20:10 Common SEO mistakes brands make 22:00 Long-tail search behavior & menu-driven queries 25:30 The shift toward conversational search ### Related Links Steve Wiideman“SEO STEVE” WIIDEMAN WEANS BUSINESSES AWAY FROM OLD-SCHOOL AGENCIES WITH A REVOLUTIONARY, SELF-EMPOWERING SEO ROADMAP Specializing In Strategic Planning For Multi-Location And Franchise Brands, Wiideman Consulting Group Founder Has Created Powerful Key Strategies for SKECHERS, Public Storage and Linksys Steve Wiideman is a big believer in a famous quote by Jim Rohn, the influential entrepreneur, […]Wiideman Consulting GroupBooksWe offer high-end search engine optimization strategy, consulting, training, and guidance, with core competencies in multi-location and e-commerce SEO & SEM.WiidemanRyan Jones - Detroit SEORyan JonesRyan Jones on Search Engine Journal Sign up for our new Legal Marketing Newsletter. Once a month, no fluff, just good ideas. Sign Up ### **Full Transcript** of the Near Memo –> on-line

nearmedia.co

Near Media@index.nearmedia.co.ap.brid.gy · 5mo ago

Google is replacing GBP data with AI summaries, ads are siphoning clicks, review fraud is rising, and scraping is being blocked. Here’s what it means for local search, LSAs, and the future of trust in 2026.

EP 245 - AI, Strong-Arm Tactics & a Shifting Review Landscape Are Reshaping Local Search

Episode 245 examines Google’s expanding AI integration into local search, evidence that LSAs — not AI Overviews — are draining clicks, new restrictions on scraping review data, and new data from Yelp and Bright Local showing emerging consumer frustration with review fraud. The episode explores how trust, monetization, and AI personalization are reshaping local marketing. Interested in sponsoring this podcast or our newsletters please reach out to mblumenthal@nearmedia.co E-mail Mike ### **The Podcast Deets** ### **1️⃣ Google AI & Click Economics (00:00–14:00)** Google is replacing structured GBP data with AI-generated summaries, nudging users into AI Mode, and expanding monetization pathways. Aleyda Solis’ study and Near Media research show ads — especially LSAs — are siphoning clicks. ### **2️⃣ Data Moats & Scraping Crackdowns (14:00–22:00)** Google restricts scraping, disrupting SerpAPI. The move reinforces Google’s data advantage against ChatGPT and Perplexity while signaling an increasingly closed ecosystem. ### **3️⃣ Reviews, Inflation & Consumer Backlash (22:00–36:00)** Yelp’s Trust Report and BrightLocal’s 2026 study show persistent fraud, rising consumer anger, review inflation in legal, and AI becoming the third source of recommendations. ### **Key Takeaways** * Google is integrating more AI in the Local Brand Panels * LSAs are the real click siphon — not AI Overviews. * Google is tightening control over review data. * Review inflation is undermining trust. * Consumers want harsher penalties for fraud. * AI search is increasing awareness but not eliminating click behavior. * Local marketers must diversify trust signals beyond Google. ### **👇 Watch by topic:** [ 00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fobx3u0Vk_0) Introduction & Episode Overview 01:30 Google Replacing GBP Content with AI 08:30 AI Mode & Monetization Signals 10:30 Are AI Overviews Killing Clicks? 14:00 LSAs as the Real Click Drain 16:00 Google Blocking Review Scraping 19:00 Yelp Trust & Safety Report 22:00 BrightLocal 2026 Review Survey 25:00 Consumer Anger Over Review Fraud 27:00 Legal Vertical Review Inflation 31:00 AI as the Third Source of Recommendations 35:00 Multi-Platform Validation Behavior 36:00 Final Thoughts ### **Related Links** Google Maps ‘limited view’ was hiding reviews, images for signed-out users U: Fixed]Google Maps is more than just a navigation app, as it contains a treasure trove of data about locations across…9to5GoogleBen Schoon[[Google Maps Reviews API] Low success rateSerpApi’s Status Page - [Google Maps Reviews API] Low success rate.[Google Maps Reviews API] Low success rate **Search Isn’t Just Turning to AI, it’s being Re-Monetized: Text Ads Are Taking a Bigger Share of Google SERP Clicks** **2025 Yelp Trust & Safety Report****** **Local Consumer Review Survey 2026: Star Ratings Keep Rising, Old Reviews Don’t Cut It** Sign up for our new Legal Marketing Newsletter. Once a month, no fluff, just good ideas. Sign Up ### **Full Transcript -- > ****On-line**

nearmedia.co

Mike Blumenthal@mikeblumenthal.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Zero-click search is growing fast—that doesn’t mean sales are gone It doesn’t kill sales-It changes who owns the click “Commerce isn’t ending: it’s relocating” Discovery & attention are shifting off yr site & to platforms you don’t control “don’t build on rented land” may no longer be good advice