In this week’s update, learn about new performance metrics in Google My Business; a new health and safety overlay for local businesses; the introduction of subtopic ranking; dynamic tabs in GMB listings; third-party booking services for attorneys; and anomalies with GMB Insights data.

Happy New Year! In this week’s update, what to do if Google gets your listing info wrong; the value of Google Maps followers; new service features in local results; the definition of GMB categories; an antitrust action targeting AMP; and a boost in holiday sales according to MasterCard.

In our last update for 2020, learn about the latest GMB API update; a new location service from Amazon; the impact of “People Also Ask” on brand reputation; notes from a former Google quality analyst; listings for mobile food trucks; and the characteristics of top-performing grocery stores. 

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s new video profiles for businesses; Call History in the GMB dashboard; official release of Local Search Ranking Factors 2020; BrightLocal’s updated Local Consumer Review Survey; online ordering with Google from Burger King; and trying on makeup via Google Search.

In this week’s update, learn about Facebook’s new antitrust case; a study looking at local ranking for attorneys; an interview with Google’s Local Ads product manager; Shopify’s Future of Commerce 2021 study; new vaccine search results from Google; and updated landmark icons in Google Maps.

In this week’s update, learn about the new Community Feed in Google Maps; the expansion of Google messaging and insights; the December 2020 Core Update; changes in Google’s “Suggest an edit” feature; a “New” indicator in Google reviews; and a new icon for sites that meet Core Web Vitals standards.

In this week’s update, learn about Google messaging in posts; a new Google app paying microtaskers to take storefront photos; Search Console upgrades; why GMB keyword data doesn’t match Search Console; Google’s consulting service for small businesses; and new Google Maps overlays for hotels.

In this week’s update, learn about holiday updates in Google Maps; new COVID-19 messaging in Apple Maps; a test of new GMB dashboard features; how social media influences consumer purchases; the Google Guaranteed badge appearing in Maps; and issues with publication of Google review responses.

In this week’s update, learn about the launch date of Google’s page experience update; delays in publication of GMB reviews; the rollout of health and safety attributes for hotels; the new relevance of vertical search; the state of voice search; and a new digital-only offering from Chipotle.

In this week’s update, learn about a new study validating Yelp reviews; a spike in hijacked GMB listings; removal of bank reviews from the local pack; brands struggling with consumer loyalty; big ad gains in Q3 from major tech companies; and the top ten GMB changes in 2020.

In this week’s update, learn about Apple’s new search initiative; TripAdvisor products for restaurants and hotels; local search metrics that matter; a video explaining how Google search works; an uptick in GMB suspensions; and the factors that qualify a business for a label in Google Maps.

In this week’s update, learn about the U.S. antitrust lawsuit targeting Google; Foursquare’s new virtual assistant; the role of the GMB “direct edit” interface; GMB features that do (and don’t) impact ranking; Google Shopping enhancements for the holidays; and health and safety attributes for hotels.

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s new health and safety attributes; new “Place an order” links in GMB profiles; a study of GMB feature adoption; voting info from Google Assistant; wait times and busyness in GMB; using Duplex to improve GMB accuracy; and the expanded role of BERT in Google search results.

In this week’s update, learn about the response of tech companies to a House antitrust report; a new call history feature, virtual appointment options, and a change to video uploads in GMB; Yelp’s new alert about businesses accused of racism; a new local SEO checklist; driving directions on DuckDuckGo; and YouTube’s launch of ecommerce features.

In this week’s update, learn about the rollout of ratings, photos, and COVID-19 safety info in Apple Maps; a new verification prompt in Apple Maps Connect; COVID-19 severity in Google Maps; landmarks in Google Maps Live View; and the global launch of free Google Shopping.

In this week’s update, learn about increased engagement with local businesses on Nextdoor; an Apple Maps pilot in Australia; virtual appointment booking in GMB; new Google Local Ads features; service-area GMB updates; a new GMB video on local ranking; and COVID-19 severity in Google Maps.

In this week’s update, learn about the new Local Search Ranking Factors report; Google Shopping updates emphasizing local availability; Apple’s surprise iOS 14 update; a guide to TikTok for business; delayed photo insights in GMB; and emojis in GMB review attributes.

In this week’s update, learn about GMB’s new health and safety attributes; Verified Calls for Android; a new website that is crowd-sourcing business safety information; a GMB bug affecting service-area businesses; how to choose GMB categories; and new tech experiments in the grocery sector.

In this week’s update, read about Apple’s possible plans to launch a search engine; signs of another shakeup in local rankings; voice search ranking factors from SEMRush; Bing’s removal of Yelp reviews; making GMB profiles more clickable; COVID-19 tracking in Google Maps; predictions for a “Corona Xmas”; and GMB links to virtual meeting providers.

In this week’s update, learn about new rich menus from GMB; ratings and photos in Apple Maps; the characteristics of the average GMB profile; updated GMB guidelines for hours and virtual offerings; new GMB badges for “LGBTQ-friendly” and “Women-led”; and Apple and Google reports on consumer mobility.

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s search trends showing a need for connectedness; Foursquare’s new accreditation; a primer in GMB attributes; wildfire boundaries in Google Maps; Snapchat for local businesses; and new GMB metrics in Search.

In this week’s update, learn about an update that lets businesses optimize their GMB listings directly in Search and Maps; a glitch that temporarily disrupted rankings; expanded service features in GMB reviews; contactless gas payments on Waze; and recommendations for voice search and Knowledge Panel optimization.

In this week’s update, learn about the “photo updates” pilot and a new "Call" button in Google My Business; a list of items that are not ranking factors; a survey showing consumers want mask enforcement; another survey showing consumer preference for contactless transactions; and a clarification from John Mueller on the influence of negative reviews on ranking.

In this week’s update, learn about public user profiles in Google Maps; the proportion of Google properties in search results; the impact of primary category on GMB features; a new COVID Alert app in Canada; the GMB “Black-owned” attribute; and John Mueller’s comments on the impact of negative review sites.

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s new paid feature and online operating hours in GMB; a guide to Core Web Vitals; proximity as a less important ranking factor; and Yelp data showing consumer interest related to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

In this week’s update, read about ecommerce’s unprecedented growth in 2020; Google’s “Wear a Mask” alert; new GMB notifications for suspended and duplicate listings; Google hours updates showing to the public; Yelp’s COVID-19 page title updates; and the new Web Core Vitals component in the Google search algorithm.

In this week’s update, read about Uber’s acquisition of Postmates and the growth of online delivery; multiple appointment links in GMB; new delivery management options in GMB for restaurants; the impact of COVID-19 as measured by Google Trends; the launch of Walmart’s subscription service; and telehealth as a new fixture in healthcare.

In this week’s update, learn about Apple’s new navigation features and other iOS14 updates; Google’s expansion of free product listings; changes in GMB hours updates; TripAdvisor’s attributes for health and safety; new “Black-owned” attributes from Google and Yelp; a new carousel display in Google Maps; and the beginning of CCPA enforcement.

In this week’s post, learn about Yelp and TripAdvisor’s new health and safety attributes; a major upgrade for Siri; Google’s updates to Messaging for enterprise; new one-star rich snippet results; Nextdoor’s launch of Business Posts; and a new search engine with a privacy focus.

In this week’s update, learn about new Google Maps features; the online care attribute appearing in search; GMB recommendations for online offerings; how to interpret GMB Insights; new image carousels in the local pack; and e-commerce gains during the pandemic.

In this week’s update, learn about Snapchat’s upgraded map; a new business model from Starbucks; the increased cost of dining out; an outbreak of Google listing spam; new GMB notifications for removed reviews; and the display of services and owner info in mobile search.

In this week’s update, learn about the appearance of Black Lives Matter Plaza in Google Maps; the addition of secondary hours in Google profiles; destination page highlighting for featured snippets; the role of voice tech in retailer reopenings; the value of location data during COVID-19; and signs of waning interest in local reviews.

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s support for virtual services; Foursquare’s new Recovery Index; a spike in big box store visits; consumer preferences for returning to stores, according to Salesforce; changes to the GMB COVID-19 help page; and the real deal on May’s local ranking update.

In this week’s update, Brandify’s study reveals pandemic search trends; Google offers guidelines for hotels affected by COVID-19, and adds insurance information to healthcare profiles; Google Maps makes it easier to find wheelchair accessible places; Google review attributes expand to more categories; and a new site lets you check for algorithm updates.

In this week’s update, learn about the restoration of Google reviews; Yelp’s new features in light of COVID-19; Google’s launch of secondary hours; support links in GMB for businesses in need; Facebook’s emails to businesses; and McDonald’s reopening plans.

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s May core update; a parallel update in local results; a major reopening for Starbucks; easing of restrictions in some states for restaurants; Yelp’s new virtual services category; Google’s new coronavirus testing SERP; and consumer opinion on the reopening of retail stores.

In this week's update, learn about the gradual easing of restricted business operations in several states; Foursquare’s updated study of foot traffic during the pandemic; new offerings from adapting businesses; older reviews and Q&A reappearing in GMB; Bing’s new help page for COVID-19 updates; and how to showcase your products in GMB.

In this week’s update, learn about free inventory feeds from Google Shopping; newly prominent retail attributes in Google My Business; a new multi-company initiative to help small businesses; Google’s Marketing Kit updates for COVID-19; new Quarantine Insights from MFour; and the persistent problem of fake reviews.

In this week’s update, learn about Google’s new testing center listings; COVID-19 info links for healthcare providers; updates on new attributes for shopping categories; Infogroup’s crisis response features; the good and the bad for retailers during the pandemic; and plans from Starbucks for a phased reopening.