9 nearby search trends you need to know about from the second one sector of 2022

Just like you absorbed everything Enthusiasm for local search in the first quarter, Q2 came along with a bundle of new events and surprises. Don’t worry if you missed any of the key notices and observations – here’s a small list for you:

1. New statistics on persistent reviewers

Curtis Boyd included some statistics that I had never seen in my presentation at the LocalU conference. As covered in the tweet above from Joy Hawkins8% of dissatisfied customers or spammers whose first rating is removed will return and write a new one. 60% will simply republish their initial review or one that is quite similar, and 40% will make their second one even worse.

The main thing is that you have to constantly monitor inspectionshowever, ease of removal can be short-lived unless you monitor your profiles and try to remove anything that violates Google Content Guidelines.

2. Both Google and Yelp promote eco-friendly features

Oh reports that “plant-based” searches have been increasing by 56% each year for an average of three consecutive years, and that “EV-filling” searches are recording an average annual increase of 41%. In response to the growing global demand for more planet-friendly services, Yelp introduced a number of new searchable attributes, including “available EV charging station”, “plastic-free packaging”, “providing a reusable tableware”. “You are allowed to bring your own container,” and “composting containers are available.” These are in addition to existing filters such as “vegan” and “bicycle parking”.

Meanwhile, Google encouraging local guides focus on local environmentally friendly businesses and services. For example, Google suggests including sustainability details in reviews, mapping recycling centers, and adding recycling attributes to lists. Google reports that the five most sought-after recycling needs are metal, electronics, cardboard, batteries and cans.

Take these signals from Yelp and Google as signs that the time has come for all local businesses to discover, develop, and promote the greenest possible practices they can implement. Sustainability is essential.

3. Major removals of inspections follow FTC warnings

2022 we started with new FTC warning that review platforms will be held accountable for false estimates they publish. It may be a coincidence, but Google seems to have reaped a high gear by taking reviews. Kot reports Near Mediathe local SEO industry experienced a dramatic increase in complaints due to loss of review, which began in the first quarter and continued into the second quarter.

Unfortunately, Google’s removals were too broad and legitimate ratings are thrown along with spam. If the local businesses you market are caught up in Google’s new-found zeal to fight spam and are aware that legitimate ratings are lacking, they can get in touch with Googlehowever, there is no guarantee that the ratings will be restored, and it may be better to simply continue with your strategy for continuous acquisition of inspections.

4. Google declares products a local search visibility factor

Damian Rollison noticed a lot of updates for Google document about how to improve your ranking in local search, as they have newly ranked products that add products to your GBP as a visibility factor. For regular readers of my column here at Moz, it won’t come as a surprise that Google is doing everything in its power to promote its shopping capabilities in its quest to compete with Amazon. As mentioned, Google’s location is a big advantage over Amazon, and given the big carbon reduction at local compared to remote delivery, it will be better for all of us if more shopping is facilitated through Google’s localized product features than with any service-based on long distance shipping. Now is a great time to take advantage of increased visibility by filling profiles with as many basic products as are offered by the local businesses you market.

5. Google’s trusted store badge has been released

Speaking of shopping, and as reported Search engine roundtable, Google is now rewarding certain merchants with a highly visible trusted store badge, as shown in the screenshot above of the Google Shopping interface. Remember that Google Shopping has filters so customers can find local businesses. Barry Schwartz suggests that a local company earn the following badge:

“… the badge is available to merchants who provide excellent shipping and return services. Merchants receive the Trusted Store badge based on their performance against metrics compared to other merchants, including, but not limited to, shipping speed, shipping and return costs, and return deadlines.

Google has stated that such badges appear to provide “more traffic to lesser known retailers,” and this would be understood as even a smaller local brand could find that the trust permeated by the badge could increase sales, which is due to increased traffic.

6. Google is testing the “In this place” feature.

Saad AK noticed a test that will be of interest to local businesses located within larger venues. Here we see a list for a slide that is nested within the list for a major attraction. I was unable to repeat this test, but there is a notable example of the increasing accuracy with which Google continues to map local communities.

7. The Business Compensation Complaint Form finally gets the much-needed new code

Finally, you can finally tell Google that “this business doesn’t exist” via Business law complaint form. As reported on The land of search enginesthis new option is important because it clarifies that what you are trying to report to Google is in fact a non-existent business, rather than simply complaining that a legitimate business has the wrong information.

When Google takes action based on fake ad reports, it can remove the remnants that stand between your customer and increase visibility. When successful, the fight against spam can cause some of this the easiest local search ranking you’ll ever earn.

8. Mobile application Adios Google My Business

I extend my condolences to all local SEOs who, like Claire Carlile, tearfully say goodbye to the Google My Business mobile app and are asked to switch to updating lists via Search and Maps instead.

A lesson that new local SEOs will quickly learn is a lesson about self-protective detachment from any Google product or feature. They go away, rename themselves, dry up and blow away like autumn leaves. It’s always a good idea to try out new Google features once they’re introduced, but never associate your entire local search marketing strategy with them because they’re experimental in nature and can disappear at any time.

9. Place the sticks behind the theme, which at first glance expand communication with emotions

Mike Blumenthal noticed this commendable effort by Google to further identify topics that people often mention in reviews. When you think about it, it’s actually not very helpful to know that people often mention something like “accessibility” that refers to a hotel without any further context. Do reviewers say accessibility is good or bad?

Thanks to this little thumb icon, this test allows us to see at a glance that people are dissatisfied with the accessibility of this company. It’s amazing to think of how shortcuts like icons can carry so much in a few pixels of screen space. This is one attempt that I hope we will implement more widely!

Forward to Q3

With sunny summer days ahead of us, local businesses and their marketers should follow one important development story: the results S.2992,, American Choice and Innovation Online Act. You may have already received it crazy emails or other messages from Google or Amazon it urges you to believe that regulating monopolies like theirs will harm small businesses like yours.

Like many of my peers, I was offended on behalf of local business owners. Their intelligence is offended when they are told that they are afraid of powerful companies that do not have the opportunity to prioritize their own products – to the detriment of diversity and innovation. In fact, I think most local business owners would be thrilled if this law became law and resulted in more direct traffic to their sites instead of Google gadgets or a more diverse landscape of reviews, perhaps even highlighting review platforms that could work better when dealing with spam in inspections or communicating with small and medium-sized enterprises.

Big technology is counting down the millions of dollars the company has helped raise in hopes of sending this bill to the trash, but if their efforts fail, local businesses could witness the start of a surrender that could actually bring the ball back in our court – the court of local community, creativity and choice. Sunny days, really.