In this episode, Greg Sterling, Mike Blumenthal, and Barry Schwartz discuss various pressing topics in the digital marketing landscape, including the rise of local review ransom schemes, the ongoing debate about the state of the open web, and t...

We discuss Google’s new guidelines for Business Profile action links, the company’s conflicting statements about the health of the open web in an antitrust case, and Apple’s rumored partnership with Google’s Gemini to power Siri. Together, thes...

We dig into when/where Google’s AI Overviews (AIOs) appear in local, how people actually split tasks across Google vs. ChatGPT, what the DOJ’s remedies mean for defaults, and a fresh case where a brand-new local biz triggered an AIO—plus practi...

Mike Blumenthal and Greg Sterling discuss three hot-button topics:Consumer vs. industry perspectives on Google’s AI OverviewsHow review expectations differ from actual behavior in the legal verticalWhy Datos data s...

Google is consolidating Local Services Ads trust signals into a single verification badge — but is it really about trust or revenue? Greg and Mike discuss Google’s evolving ad strategy, the ongoing degradation of organic results, their "dark pa...

In part two of this interview, SEO veteran Will Scott of Search Influence joins Mike Blumenthal and Greg Sterling to unpack how AI is reshaping search, why semantic SEO matters, and how to use no-code automation tools to scale content. Learn ho...

In Part 1 of this interview, SEO veteran Will Scott joins Near Memo to unpack the rise of Barnacle SEO in a world reshaped by AI. We explore how content visibility, listicles, and trusted sources like Reddit and Yelp are influencing AI-generate...

Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal talk with mapping expert Goetz Weber about why today’s maps fail to deliver personalized, contextual experiences — and what needs to change. From intent modeling to the limits of monetization, from ChatGPT to S...

This week, Greg and Mike dissect new data from Pew and Ahrefs showing how AI Overviews impact user click behavior, local pack visibility, and publisher traffic. They explore the branding mess of “AIO” vs. “GEO,” ChatGPT’s growing usefulness, an...

In this episode of the Near Memo, Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal dive into Google’s overhaul of its Business Profile dashboard notifications and why it's problematic, the rollout of Google’s AI-powered “Ask for Me” local quote feature, and C...

In this episode of the Near Memo, Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal discuss fresh insights into how consumers engage with local AI Overviews, explore the theory that ChatGPT may be using Google's search index, and dig into the explosive growth ...

Greg and Mike unpack the latest in local search: an uptick in suspensions, why AI overviews are shifting lower on SERPs, and what local businesses must do to thrive in an AI-dominated search world. Also, a pig roas

Darren Shaw of Whitespark returns to the Near Memo to talk with Mike and Greg about what’s actually working—and what’s not—in local SEO as AI begins reshaping consumer behavior. From the rise of first-party reviews to YouTube’s power for B2B le...

In this episode, Mike and Greg break down three major developments shaping the local search and AI landscape. First, they tackle the growing wave of Google Business Profile suspensions caused by rigid, AI-driven video verification—where ...

In this episode of The Near Memo, Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal break down some of the biggest tectonic shifts happening at the intersection of AI, search, and antitrust law. The focal point? Google's claim that its Gemini AI now b...

In this jam-packed episode of The Near Memo, hosts Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal welcome back Adam Dorfman, VP of Product at BirdEye, for a timely deep dive into the ever-shifting world of local SEO, ...

Welcome to Part 2 of our deep dive into the most revealing SEO and UX research of 2025.In this episode of the Near Memo podcast, Greg Sterling, Kevin Indig, and Eric Van Buskirk break down how users actually interact with AI Overviews on Go...

🎙️ Trust Before Clicks: What Real Users Do With Google’s AI OverviewsWe’ve all seen the headlines: Google’s AI Overviews (AIOs) are changing search forever. But how do real people actually use them?In this episode of Th...

In this thought-provoking episode of the Near Memo podcast, SEO veteran Cindy Krum joins Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal to unpack how Google's evolving use of AI, including MUM (Multitask Unified Model), is reshaping the search landscape. Kr...

00:00 GatherUp's AmpUp Webinar Overview05:56 Yelp Antitrust Case Insights13:32 Google Local Review's AI Overviews and Their Impact26:45 ChatGPT's Shopping Capabilities and Future DirectionsIn this episode, Greg and Mike disc...

We discuss the latest developments in Google's antitrust trial and the introduction of new AI features in Google Business Profiles. They explore the implications of these changes for local SEO and user experience, as well as the potential futur...

Greg Sterling, Mike Blumenthal, and Sammy Paget of BrightLocal discuss the evolving landscape of consumer reviews, focusing on how consumer behavior has changed over the years, the importance of businesses responding to reviews, and the impact ...

01:59 Evolution of Consumer Review Behavior05:03 Trust in Reviews: A Declining Trend08:14 The Impact of Fake Reviews and AI14:18 Alternative Review Platforms and Their Trustworthiness19:30 Key Findings from the 15-Year Review St...

In this milestone 200th episode, the NearMemo crew unpacks Google’s mounting regulatory woes in Europe, including fresh scrutiny under the Digital Markets Act. Mike breaks down a storm of GBP bugs and business suspensions and ponders the fact t...

Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal discuss the current state of Google suspensions, the impact of AI overviews on local search traffic, and the evolving landscape of digital marketing strategies. They emphasize the importance of businesses becom...