Google now allows users to leave reviews under a custom nickname instead of their real name. This new pseudonymous identity applies across all public contributions in Maps and Search. Why it matters: Clients in privacy-sensitive niches (legal, medical, finance, home services) may feel more comfortable leaving reviews, which can boost review volume. Spam filters still work the same, Google sees the real account behind the nickname.

We’re going live today from 16:00–17:00 (Amsterdam time) for our weekly SEO session.Jump in, ask your questions, and get practical insights you can apply immediately. 🔗 Join here: https://meet.google.com/dfn-ksdi-uos 📞 Or dial: +31 20 257 6890PIN: 495 818 435# See you there! 👋

In about an hour I’ll be hosting a live SEO Q&A.Got questions about keywords, content, technical SEO, backlinks, or anything else? Join in and ask them live. 🔍 🗓 SEO LiveWhen: Wednesday, November 26 · 4:00 – 5:00 PMTime zone: Europe/Amsterdam 🔗 Join via Google Meet:Video call link: https://meet.google.com/tph-onzq-nsq

Hi everyone! Just wondering if anyone has any insight on bot traffic. Google ads has been turned off for one week. See attached.

OpenAI rolled out a new shopping research feature inside ChatGPT, and it’s basically a personalized buyer’s-guide engine. Here’s the gist: 🛍️ What it does You tell ChatGPT what you’re looking for → it asks a few smart questions → it builds a full buyer’s guide with prices, reviews, specs, and images pulled from across the web. Think “Which monitor should I buy?” or “Find me the best running shoes for trail ultras.” 📱 Available today Rolling out now on web + mobile for all logged-in users (Free, Go, Plus, Pro). Powered by a shopping-optimized GPT-5 mini model. 💡 Why it matters This pushes early-stage product research into ChatGPT instead of Google.Users can refine results (“More like this” / “Not interested”), and the model updates in real time. For retailers? Visibility is going to depend on how well your products show up in OpenAI’s system + the allowlisting process. ⚠️ Not perfect yet OpenAI admits it can get price/availability wrong, so always double-check on merchant sites. 🛒 What’s next OpenAI plans to add direct purchasing via Instant Checkout, meaning you’ll be able to go from discovery to buying without leaving ChatGPT. This is a big one for search, e-commerce, and anyone in SEO. Early-stage intent is moving fast.