Ep 153: Standardizing Review Processes to Avoid Fear, Google Cries Wolf Around DMA, The Future of SGE

Part 1 starts 00:13 - Reviews are Like Death & Taxes & Should be Treated that Way

Miriam Ellis wrote a great article at Moz providing small business owners tips on how to overcome their fear of reviews. But they really need to go further. Given that reviews, like death and taxes, are not going anywhere businesses need to not only remove their fear but create stringent business processes around getting AND contesting reviews that removes their emotions from the process.

Segment Reference Article: How to Acknowledge and Cope with Fear of Local Business Reviews

Part 2 starts 10:40 - Google Cries ‘Wolf” When it Comes to DMA Compliance

Google's approach to DMA compliance seems to prioritize its interests, presenting a false dichotomy between new compliance changes and the previous state, which was more favorable to all parties. Google needs to innovate rather than blame DMA for negative outcomes, and to really increase opportunity within the search results there needs to be stringent regulation on self-preferencing, especially with first-party data, particularly entity data.

Segment Reference Articles: 

Complying with the Digital Markets Act

Google: DMA Hurting Local Biz

Part 3 starts 17:36 - The Future of SGE

Google’s SGE experiment is still just that; an experiment. There is speculation that it will be formally introduced during Google I/O in May. When it is, will it move behind a paywal, will it become just another universal result or will Google take some third path. Equally importantis whether Google generative AI will continue to receive legal protection under Sec 230. 

Segment Reference Articles:

Google AI Paywall

Marriage of AI & Search

Why Isn't SGE Better?