Each week, Greg and Ben answer your questions on digital marketing for local businesses … local search engine optimization (SEO), Google Business Profile, social media, email marketing, websites, online advertising and more.
This Week’s Updates and Questions
- Google announces release of the September 2026 spam update.
- Google turns local knowledge panel into AI overview.
- Google AI mode tests text link ads.
- Google shows more external links in AI overviews.
- AI overview links to AI Mode.
- Google tests Local Service Ads with larger image and highlight boxes
- Google Merchant Center auto enables native checkout.
- Google gives 4 days to reject a user suggested edit
- Google sends email notifications when detecting a spike in spam reviews on your GBP.
- Does posting on GBP have a positive effect on AI visibility?
Links from This Week’s Session
- Google spam update
- Local knowledge panel as AI overview
- AI mode text link ads
- More external links in AI overview
- AI overview links to AI Mode
- Local Service Ads larger image boxes
- Google Merchant Center native checkout
- GBP 4 days to reject suggested edit
- GBP notifications for spam review spikes
- Local Link Match
