In this episode, we delve into the latest developments in Google's local search landscape. We kick off with an exploration of Google's Search Generative Experience (SGE), a new AI-driven feature that's reshaping local search results. We discuss its potential impact on residential contractors and how businesses can adapt to this closed-loop system. Next, we tackle the issue of missing reviews on Google. We share insights from a new process that Google has introduced for reporting missing reviews, a critical aspect of digital marketing for home improvement businesses. We discuss the importance of reviews in reputation management, rankings, and revenue generation. We then shift our focus to the ethical acquisition of reviews. We discuss why businesses should avoid soliciting reviews in exchange for donations and the implications of Google's E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) concept on review acquisition strategies. Finally, we discuss a new development in Google Business Profile management - the introduction of text-based confirmations. We explore how this change can help businesses verify their profiles more efficiently and the implications for local search visibility. Join us as we navigate these changes and provide actionable tips for residential contractors to optimize their digital marketing strategies in the evolving local search landscape. Recover your Google reviews: https://support.google.com/business/gethelp Read the full article here: https://moz.com/blog/local-search-developments-q2-2023 www.contractorgrowthnetwork.com