Google’s Euro DMA Headaches, GBP Local Chaos AND Uncharacteristic Google Comms & AI Search Futures

04/03/25 • 35 min

In this milestone 200th episode, the NearMemo crew unpacks Google’s mounting regulatory woes in Europe, including fresh scrutiny under the Digital Markets Act. Mike breaks down a storm of GBP bugs and business suspensions and ponders the fact that Google is actually admitting to them.. Greg steers the convo into the evolving future of search—where AI, chat interfaces, and user expectations are reshaping everything. From legal battles to UI battles, it’s clear: the search landscape is shifting fast.
00:00 Celebrating the 200th Episode (sort of)
01:23 Europe to Google: Play Fair or Pay Up
13:48 Google’s GBP Meltdown: Bugs, Delays & Suspensions—Oh My! And They Admit It!
21:42 The Future of Search: Bing’s Chance, Google’s Dilemma, and the Chat UX Revolution
Takeaways

David discusses his recent trip to Europe and the implications of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The DMA aims to create a fairer digital market, particularly regarding Google's self-preferencing practices.
There is a lack of awareness among marketers in Europe about the DMA and its potential impact.
AI overviews from Google may fall under the DMA's regulations due to their proprietary nature.
The conversation highlights the need for businesses to adapt to changes in search interfaces driven by AI.
Google's current challenges with Business Profiles are causing significant issues for businesses.
Google, in uncharacteristic fashion actually admitted to these problems. Is this a new, more transparent Google or just a temporary change because so much has gone so wrong in such a short time.
The hosts discuss the potential for Bing to innovate and capture market share in the evolving search landscape.
Marketers should monitor traffic and visibility in AI platforms like ChatGPT and Copilot.
The hype around AI in search is significant, but its impact on traffic is still developing.
The conversation emphasizes the need for marketers to stay informed and adapt to rapid changes in the digital marketing environment.

Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/subscribe/

Send us a text

David discusses his recent trip to Europe and the implications of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The DMA aims to create a fairer digital market, particularly regarding Google's self-preferencing practices.
There is a lack of awareness among marketers in Europe about the DMA and its potential impact.
AI overviews from Google may fall under the DMA's regulations due to their proprietary nature.
The conversation highlights the need for businesses to adapt to changes in search interfaces driven by AI.
Google's current challenges with Business Profiles are causing significant issues for businesses.
Google, in uncharacteristic fashion actually admitted to these problems. Is this a new, more transparent Google or just a temporary change because so much has gone so wrong in such a short time.
The hosts discuss the potential for Bing to innovate and capture market share in the evolving search landscape.
Marketers should monitor traffic and visibility in AI platforms like ChatGPT and Copilot.
The hype around AI in search is significant, but its impact on traffic is still developing.
The conversation emphasizes the need for marketers to stay informed and adapt to rapid changes in the digital marketing environment.

Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/subscribe/

Previous Episode

Surviving the New Google: Suspensions & Appeal Delays, AI Overviews, & the Future of Local Marketing

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Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal discuss the current state of Google suspensions, the impact of AI overviews on local search traffic, and the evolving landscape of digital marketing strategies. They emphasize the importance of businesses becoming less reliant on Google and exploring alternative marketing channels while navigating the challenges posed by AI and changing search dynamics.
Takeaways
•Google's traffic dynamics are shifting, impacting everyone.
•Suspension isues have been fixed but appeals times for reinstatement have increased significantly.
•AI overviews are reducing visibility for organic search results.
•Businesses should be cautious when making changes to their listings.
•The importance of managing Google Business Profiles is highlighted.
•Only a small percentage of businesses actively manage their reviews.
•Building a brand independent of Google is crucial for success.
•Social media is a primary channel for customer engagement amongst SMBS.
•AI traffic is not a substitute for traditional search traffic.
•Google's strategy is to retain users by integrating AI into search.

01:36 Update: Google Suspensions/Reverification Fix and Backlog
05:36 The Rise of AI Overviews in Local Search
11:27 Navigating the Future of Google and AI
16:56 Marketing Strategies in a Changing Landscape

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Next Episode

From Stars to Skepticism: How Reviews Evolved & Why Trust Is Declining - Sammy Paget Interview Part1

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01:59 Evolution of Consumer Review Behavior
05:03 Trust in Reviews: A Declining Trend
08:14 The Impact of Fake Reviews and AI
14:18 Alternative Review Platforms and Their Trustworthiness
19:30 Key Findings from the 15-Year Review Study
22:07 Best Practices for Review Solicitation
29:22 Consumer Expectations and Business Responses
In this episode, Greg Sterling, Mike Blumenthal, and guest Sammy Paget from BrightLocal dive deep into 15 years of consumer review research trends. Sammy shares insights from BrightLocal’s long-running consumer review survey, highlighting how online reviews have evolved from novelty to necessity in the purchase journey. But as the role of reviews has grown, so has consumer skepticism.
The trio discusses the sharp drop in review trust, the increasing sophistication of fake reviews—especially those powered by AI—and the paradox that while people trust reviews less, they still rely on them heavily. They also explore the growing use of alternative platforms like local news, YouTube, TikTok, and Reddit as sources of business recommendations. Plus, they examine generational behavior and cultural differences in review reading habits.
Whether you're a local business owner or just fascinated by how we evaluate things online, this segment is packed with context and conversation on how trust and behavior around reviews is shifting—and what that means moving forward.

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