Google’s Core Update & FUD, Brightlocal Consumer Review Survey, Do Searchers Use the Local Finder?

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Google’s March Core Update & FUD:
David Mihm sheds light on Google's March core update, marking it as an unusually impactful monthly adjustment from the tech giant. The update has sparked extensive conversation among SEO experts. He highlighted three key focus areas of the update: scaled content, largely driven by AI technologies; site reputation abuse; and what is known colloquially as "parasite SEO." The latter involves strategies to boost article visibility and rankings through dubious means, undermining the quality and reliability of search results.

The concept of "scaled content" pertains to the bulk creation and dissemination of AI-generated articles, a trend that raises questions about content originality and value. Meanwhile, the term "site reputation abuse" remains somewhat ambiguous, with Mihm relying on insights from a LinkedIn post by Solis to decipher Google's intended targets with this update.

How much of this is enforceable and how much is FUD is debatable.
Brightlocal Consumer Review Survey:
We discuss the key findings from the recent BrightLocal review survey

• Trust in Reviews: The survey confirms that online reviews continue to be a critical factor in consumer decision-making, with a strong preference for businesses rated at four stars or above.
• Importance of Recent Reviews: Consumers place high value on the freshness of reviews, indicating the necessity for businesses to continuously generate new, positive feedback.
• Expectation for Response: There is a clear expectation among consumers for businesses to engage with and respond to reviews, signaling this as a factor in building trust and loyalty.
• Concerns Over Review Fraud: The survey highlights consumer concerns regarding the authenticity of reviews, emphasizing the need for transparency and authenticity in review management.

How Often Do Searchers Use the Local Finder?
We discuss data from our recent search behavior study that sheds light on how frequently users access the Local Finder. Search behaviors diverge significantly across devices and verticals, with a marked preference for using the Local Finder feature more on mobile devices and more on queries that are less price sensitive and more reputation driven.
The Near Memo is a weekly conversation about Search, Social, and Commerce: What happened, why it matters, and the implications for local businesses and national brands.
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