Category: Local SEO

Google AI Mode for Local Search: A Practical Guide for Practice Owners

 AI Mode is not the same as AI Overviews. It is a separate Google Search experience with a more conversational....

Review Extortion Is Now a National Issue. Here’s How a Local Practice Should Respond

 Review extortion used to feel like a rare local SEO problem. By late 2025, it had become a national business....

Anonymous Google Reviews: Should You Trust Them, and What Do You Do About Them?

 Late 2025 saw more anonymous-looking Google reviewer profiles appear in local search. For business owners, that raises a fair question:....

How to Respond to a Negative Google Review Without Making It Worse (with Three Templates)

 A bad review can feel personal. But the first response is the one that matters most. Many local business owners....

Star Ratings vs. Written Reviews: Which Actually Helps You Rank?

 Star ratings help customers make quick decisions. But written reviews often do more. They give customers context, and they can....

How Often Should You Get New Google Reviews? The Recency Rule Most Businesses Get Wrong

 A few new reviews every month usually work better than one large review push twice a year. For local businesses,....

What to Do When a Competitor Posts Fake Reviews on Your Google Business Profile (2026 Playbook)

 Fake Google reviews can hit fast. One day, your Google Business Profile is ranking well. Then a suspicious one-star review....

Your Google Business Profile Booking Link is Probably Broken. Here’s how to check in 60 seconds.

 If your business uses online booking through a third-party platform, your Google Business Profile may not be sending customers to....

Primary GBP Category vs Secondary Categories: What Google Does Not Tell You

 Your Google Business Profile primary category is one of the most important local SEO settings you can control. It helps....

Why Are My GBP Impressions Up but My Calls Down? A Diagnostic Walkthrough

 Your Google Business Profile report says more people are seeing you. But the phone is quieter. That feels wrong. It....