Merchynt's Local SEO Blog

How to Handle Negative Google Reviews Like a Pro (Step-by-Step Guide)

Negative Google reviews happen to every business. The key is knowing how to respond, when to flag them, and how to turn criticism into a trust-building win.

August 15, 2025

5 Proven Ways To Get More Google Reviews (Backed By Data)

Last month, we partnered with Dr. Victoria, a top-tier data scientist, to run an in-depth analysis of what actually impacts your rankings on Google Maps. After applying machine learning, statistical modeling, and real-world performance data, we identified the top 5 local ranking factors, but one insight stood out above the rest: reviews are the #1 and #2 most important factors for ranking locally. That’s why, even though our research covered multiple ranking signals, this blog post focuses entirely on reviews, because they move the needle more than anything else. We break down what Google reviews are, how they affect your visibility, and why they’re critical for trust, conversions, and local SEO. You’ll learn how to get more high-quality reviews the right way, without risking your Google Business Profile by using black hat tactics.

August 12, 2025

Can Google Detect Fake Reviews?

Imagine working hard to earn genuine reviews, sending follow-ups, using QR codes, and doing everything right, only to be hit by fake negative reviews that tank your Google rating. Or maybe you visit a highly rated business only to experience poor service, making you question whether those glowing reviews were real. In today’s digital landscape, fake reviews—positive or negative—can mislead potential customers and hurt your online visibility. Google considers fake reviews a serious policy violation and uses advanced AI systems to catch them. This guide breaks down how to identify fake reviews, from duplicate text to suspicious reviewer behavior, and gives you a step-by-step approach to report them effectively. You’ll also discover best practices to protect your Google Business Profile from further abuse and how tools like Paige can automate your review monitoring. Whether you're a local business owner or an agency managing Google Business Profile listings, this post gives you the tools to defend your reputation and improve your local SEO performance.

August 8, 2025

Newsletter

Google’s Begging You to Post on Your GBP

Google really wants you to post on your Google Business Profile. Like, really really. So much so that they just redesigned the whole posting experience to make it easier, smoother, and frankly, harder to ignore. Gone is the clunky “Add Update” button – replaced with a sleek new “Posts” hub where you can create updates, offers, and events without needing a PhD in Google-ology. This new interface also allows you to easily manage your existing posts if you need to make edits or delete content. This is a clear sign that Google is encouraging businesses to post more on their GBP, so if you haven’t been posting regularly, it’s time to start. Before you start posting everything you can think of, you’ve got to check out our expert tips to make sure your posts are optimized!

August 6, 2025

Newsletter

Why Google Could Come After Your GBP Next

If you’ve noticed more Google Business Profiles getting suspended lately… you’re not imagining it. Google’s been swinging the suspension hammer like they're Thor on a caffeine binge. According to Mike Blumenthal of Near Media, a jaw-dropping 40% of Google community forum posts in June were about suspensions. And here’s the kicker: it’s not always your GBP that’s the problem. Sometimes it’s your Google account (or someone else’s) that drags everything down with it.

July 23, 2025

Newsletter

Google’s Updates Just Changed the Game (Again)

If you've checked your heat map audit lately and thought, “Huh, that’s weird...”, you’re not alone. Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen a noticeable dip in local rankings across the board, and it’s not just your business, it’s happening globally. Businesses that used to rank in a nice, wide service area are now shrinking back closer to their physical locations. Combine that with lower engagement metrics like views and clicks due to how many people use Google AI Mode now, and yeah, it’s a bit of a head-scratcher. We’re tracking this trend closely and will share anything new we uncover, but for now, don’t panic - just stay consistent with your optimizations since now they help on Google Search, Google Maps, and AI Mode.

July 16, 2025

Image SEO Tips for 2025: How To Optimize Your Images for Higher Google Rankings

If you're still uploading stock images to your client’s Google Business Profile or using Canva graphics, you’re already losing traffic and visibility. Google’s AI-first search is changing the rules of the game, and you don’t want your client’s business stuck playing by the old rules. We’re now in an era where content is king, where images, videos, and AI-generated media are becoming more important than text. In this blog, we'll break down what’s changing, what matters now, and the steps you can take to stay visible and competitive in Google Search.

July 14, 2025

Google Wants You to Make the First Move 😉

Google has been dropping some not-so-subtle hints lately, and the message is loud and clear: they don’t want your Google Business Profile (GBP) to be a passive billboard on the side of the internet highway. They want it to be a full on, interactive engagement hub for your potential customers. Google is pushing businesses hard to start the conversation, not just wait around hoping customers will and they’ve made this easier than ever for busy business owners! Here’s a breakdown of exactly what Google wants you to do directly from their most recent newsletter to business owners…

July 9, 2025

Newsletter

Google’s AI Mode Has Arrived… Are You Ready?

The future of local search results has already arrived… but have you prepared your business for it? Over 50% of users are now using Google’s AI mode instead of regular old Google search. That means your business might be missing from the search results altogether if you haven’t taken steps to optimize your Google Business Profile and all around social presence for AI search results. Google’s even put AI mode onto the Google home page now, so this is definitely not going away. Since this is such a significant development in the local SEO world, we've compiled a list of our top 3 expert tips to stay ahead of these major new changes.

July 2, 2025

Newsletter

The AI Search Secret Nobody Told You About

Quick question: When was the last time you updated your YouTube channel? If your answer is “Wait, I have a YouTube channel?” we’ve got a problem. Because while you were busy optimizing your Google Business Profile, YouTube quietly became the second most-cited source in AI search results. That’s right, when people ask AI tools for local recommendations, there's a very real chance the answer comes from a video. And if that video isn't yours, AI is handing business to someone else who did remember to hit record. So yeah… it’s time to dust off the tripod.

June 25, 2025

Newsletter

Is Google’s AI Mode Hurting Your Metrics?

Google’s new AI mode metrics just started showing up in Search Console reports. Cool? Yes, but there’s a catch. Over 50% of users are now using AI Mode, but it doesn’t show the usual call, directions, or website buttons from your Google Business Profile when your business is shown to a potential customer. What does this mean, you ask? Your performance metrics on reports might look like a hot mess until this is sorted out.

June 18, 2025

The Truth About Google Business Profile Strength: Why That Green Circle Doesn’t Mean What You Think

After analyzing millions of data points from thousands of Google profiles, we discovered something surprising (and a bit alarming): That “profile strength” meter in your GBP dashboard? It’s basically meaningless. Let’s unpack why, and what matters if you want to rank higher on Google Maps.

June 16, 2025

How to Turn Bad Google Reviews Into Local SEO Wins

If you're obsessing over that one-star review, take a breath. Here's a wild truth: Businesses with a perfect 5.0 rating don’t always rank the highest on Google. In fact, after analyzing thousands of Google Business Profiles, we found that businesses with a 4.8 or 4.9 rating often outrank those with flawless reviews. Let’s break down how to transform every bad review into an SEO advantage, and when to get them removed entirely.

June 13, 2025

Google’s Secret Weapon for Local Businesses

June 11, 2025

Newsletter

Learn How To Master AI Search From The Man Who Helped Build Google Business Profiles

In case you missed it, Google just rolled out a brand-new feature called AI Mode — and it’s going to completely change the game for local SEO. That’s why we’re hosting a free virtual training tomorrow — and bringing in someone who understands this situation better than anyone else: Brad Wetherall – Former Director of Google Business Profiles at Google

June 10, 2025