In this podcast episode, Danny Leibrandt, founder of Pest Control SEO, interviews Mike Blumenthal, co-founder of Near Media and a veteran in local SEO with over 40 years of experience in marketing. Mike shares his journey from working in a family business to becoming a key figure in local SEO, highlighting his early involvement in the internet and the development of content management systems. He recounts the shift from traditional marketing methods like Yellow Pages to digital local SEO, emphasizing the impact of Google's integration of Google Maps and Google Local.Mike discusses the evolution of local SEO and the significance of consumer behavior analysis in understanding market trends. He explains how Near Media conducts in-depth research on consumer behavior, employing a unique method of tracking real-time user interactions to gain insights into decision-making processes across various industries. Mike emphasizes the importance of optimizing for the user rather than just for search engines, noting that quality user experiences are critical for better search rankings.The conversation also covers the impact of AI on local SEO, with Mike predicting that Google's knowledge graph and local data will remain crucial despite the rise of AI-driven tools. He underscores the value of first-party feedback over solely focusing on public reviews, advocating for businesses to prioritize genuine customer feedback to improve services.Mike also touches on the practical challenges and insights gained from running multiple projects simultaneously, including LocalU, GatherUp, and now Near Media. He shares his thoughts on the future of local SEO, suggesting that Google will continue to leverage its strong local knowledge base while integrating AI where applicable.The episode concludes with Mike offering his contact information and encouraging listeners to reach out with questions, highlighting his commitment to sharing knowledge and supporting the SEO community.Mike Blumenthal, Co-Founder Of Near Media:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mblumenthal/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mblumenthalNear Media: https://www.nearmedia.co/Blog: https://blumenthals.com/blog/Email: mblumenthal@nearmedia.co Danny Leibrandt, Founder of Pest Control SEO:Facebook: https://facebook.com/DannyLeibrandt LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dannyleibrandt/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DannyLeibrandt Website: https://dannyleibrandt.com Pest Control SEO Podcast Platforms:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PestControlSEO/podcasts Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TCL0LhZbsJS6mzanqnnT1?si=7d918c77a6234ce2 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pest-control-seo-podcast/id1741176782 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0bb5254-5d6c-4940-8211-085157cc1239/pest-control-seo-podcast Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Pest-Control-SEO-Podcast/B0D1FCN28S?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:29 The Evolution of Marketing and Digitalization

08:02 In-Depth Consumer Behavior Analysis

17:21 Optimizing for the User and the Importance of Reviews

22:35 Insights from the Google Data Leak

27:48 Super In-Depth Consumer Behavior Analysis

31:23 Thoughts on Local Service Ads

35:40 The Journey of Near Media

42:21 The Importance of Consumer Behavior Research

51:04 The Value of First-Party Feedback

57:04 The Future of Local SEO and the Role of AI

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