Google Local Pack With Trending Icons On Business Listings
Have you ever seen a “trending this week” icon and messaging in the local pack in the Google search results? Here is a screen shot of this coming up for an SEO somewhere in Madrid. I personally cannot replicate this but I don’t think I’ve ever seen t…
Google Warns They Will Test Google Assistant’s Duplex Next Month
Google announced yesterday that they will start publicly testing the Google Assistant Duplex feature that allows Google AI to call a venue and make an appointment or reservation for you automatically. They demonstrated this at Google I/O back in May a…
Google My Business Has A Manual Review Bug
If you have any locations in Google My Business that requires manual reviews, it may result in a bug that leads you to a 404 page not found page. I am told Google is aware of the issue and working on a fix. For now, you may need to speak to someone a…
Google My Business Agency Account Migration Tool
Google’s Allyson Wright, a Community Manager for Google My Business, shared in the Google Business Help forums that they are currently doing a limited rollout of a new agency account migration tool. Allyson said the tool will help “improve the process…
Google Tests Minimalist Local Pack Again
We’ve seen it before, a more subtle and more minimalistic layout and design for the Google local pack in the mobile search results. Here is another screen shot of it, this time from Mike Blumenthal.
Google Tests Explore Carousel For Local Results
Google is expanding their test of the explore carousel for local results. This was first spotted back in May by Sergey Alakov and respotted by Dan Leibson the other day. The explore carousel looks to show similar local venues or places to your Google…
Google Tests Search Box For Local Business Reviews
Google seems to be testing a search box in the reviews section for a local business listing in Google Maps and web search. I personally do not see this yet but Ben Fisher posted a screen shot of this on Twitter.
Google My Business “Located In” Feature For Address Information
We know Google Maps can list businesses as being in a mall or other locations. But did you know some businesses can set that information by editing their information in web search. When you see a local result in Google, and you click suggest an edit…
Google Moves Google Posts At Bottom Of Search Results
Google is apparently moving the Google Posts in the knowledge panel down a bit, to the bottom area of the local knowledge panel. This was first spotted by Mike Blumenthal and Ben Fisher and posted by Joy Hawkins in the Local Search Forums.
Google My Business Adds Family Led Attribute Icon
Google My Business has just added a new attribute that Google My Businesses can add to the list of attributes. The new attribute is for “family led” businesses, and this adds on to the women led and veteran led attributes that are already available.
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Here Is Google My Business Video Verification Feature
A couple years ago we reported Google was testing a way for you to verify your local business in Google My Business over a video call. Well, here is a screen shot of a business seeing that option when they are trying to verify their business in Google …
Google Posts Now Allows 1,500 Character Posts
Previously, Google Posts had a 100 to 300 word limit in your Google Posts. Now Google has a 1,500 character limit for Google Posts. It is a more precise number and lets those writing Google Posts know exactly when Google will cut them off.
Google Stops Showing Sexual Assault Attorney Local Listings
Google may have stopped showing listings for searches for Sexual Assault Attorney in Google, both Google Maps and web search. The local panel does not seem to come up very often anymore and/or some listings have been recently removed.
Google Tests Like & Dislike Buttons On Hotel Search Result Photos
Google is testing showing like and dislike thumbs up and down buttons in the hotel search results specifically on photos. You can like or dislike a photo within a specific hotel search result.
Google Tests Tabs On Branded Knowledge Panels
Sergey Alakov spotted Google testing tabs for a knowledge panel for branded search terms. So not specifically for a local knowledge panel but for a brand name.
Google Maps Now On Apple CarPlay & It’s Okay
Right before I went offline on Tuesday night, Apple approved a new version of the Google Maps app for iOS that added CarPlay support. This is something I’ve been waiting for since March 2016, when I got my new car with Apple CarPlay.
Google My Business Reviews Can Now Be Edited In Local Panel
Now you can edit the reviews and responses you leave for local businesses in Google Maps and Local directly in the local knowledge panel when you expand the reviews. Google has added an “edit” button to reviews or responses you have left directly in t…
Google Maps Showing Future Open Dates For Businesses
Google is now able to show the date a business will open in the future, if the business owners enters such information into Google My Business. It can show the exact date or the month and year directly in the local panel on web search or Google Maps.
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Google My Business Adds Localized Business Names
I am told this isn’t exactly new, but I don’t think I’ve covered this before. Google My Business now lets you edit the localized version of the business name. Craig Harkins shared a screen shot on Twitter of Google My Business letting him edit the Mc…
Google Releases Google My Business API v4.2
Google has released a new version of the Google My Business API, this one is version 4.2 and adds a nice set of features. The new features include the ability to verify listing directly on native platforms, new GoogleLocations endpoint, expanded searc…