Mike Blumenthal

2 weeks ago | searchenginejournal.com | Mike Blumenthal |Loren Baker |Jenise Uehara Henrikson |Brent Csutoras

While a judge tossed several claims, she allowed Yelp’s core challenge – focused on Google’s alleged monopoly in local search – to move forward. The broader battle over Big Tech’s power is far from over. The central claims that Google unfairly used its dominance in the local search and local ad markets are now headed toward a jury trial. If Yelp prevails, the case could significantly reshape the structure of local search in the U.S. and beyond.

1 month ago | searchenginejournal.com | Mike Blumenthal

Google Business Profile (GBP) suspensions have steadily risen since January, and as they increase, appeal resolution times have grown significantly – from about five days to nearly five weeks. As a Platinum Product Expert in the Google Business Profile Support Forums, I help small businesses navigate Google’s GBP platform. For many of these SMBs, Google is a primary lead driver, and when their listing goes south due to a suspension, life can get very hard.

2 months ago | searchenginejournal.com | Mike Blumenthal

We have been testing Google’s newest “Ask For Me” Search Lab test. It is quick, easy, and impressive technology to request local quotes, but it is not at all clear that it is good for small businesses.

Jan 22, 2025 | searchenginejournal.com | Mike Blumenthal

Google is starting to roll out an AI-based Q&A feature to Google Business Profiles (GBP) on Google Maps for mobile. This feature will very likely replace Google Q&A, which has silently gone missing on some listings. The “Ask Maps about this place” AI feature was first announced in late October 2024, along with a number of other Google Maps AI enhancements, but has not been widely available or visible.

Jul 18, 2024 | nearmedia.co | Mike Blumenthal |Greg Sterling

At Near Media we've been documenting the impact (or lack thereof) of Google's new DMA-SERP features (e.g., Places Sites) on EU searcher behavior. And we've just completed a study covering Ireland, Germany and France. But this week seoClarity published rankings research on the Hotel vertical in Europe in the wake of Google DMA-compliance changes. The DMA applies to large "gatekeepers" like Google, Meta, Apple, Amazon and Microsoft and is supposed to level the playing field for competitors vs.