Here is the straightforward intel on surviving the latest algorithm updates without losing your marbles:
1. The “One-Take” Video Verification
Google now demands hard proof that a business is real, and they want it filmed live on a mobile device.
- No Hollywood edits: Like a perfectly beat-matched DJ set, your verification video must be one continuous, unedited take. 1 Verify your business with a video recording – Google Business Profile Help Google Help
- Plan the route: Start outside on the street. Clearly film the street signs, the building number, and the permanent business signage before walking inside.
- Show who’s boss: You have to prove you actually manage the place. Unlock a staff-only door, log into a booking system, or open a till. Simply pointing a camera at a pile of tools won’t cut the mustard.
- Keep it clean: Ensure the video is at least 30 seconds long, but make sure you don’t accidentally film sensitive customer data or bank details.
2. The Review Police
The Trust and Safety boffins have unleashed their AI to sniff out fake or manipulated praise, and they are not messing about.
- No name-dropping quotas: As of April 2026, it is strictly forbidden to set review quotas for staff or to pressure customers into naming specific employees in their write-ups.
- No cherry-picking: “Review gating” – the old trick of only asking happy customers for a rating while hiding the link from grumbly ones – is completely banned. You must ask everyone.
- Public naming and shaming: If the algorithm catches a profile using fake reviews, it won’t just delete them quietly. It now slaps a highly visible public warning banner right on the business profile for all to see. Oh, the indignity!
- Zero bribes: You cannot offer discounts, freebies, or entry into a prize draw in exchange for a review.
3. The Rise of Robot Q&A
With AI now scraping websites to answer customer questions directly on the search page, your own content needs to be utterly foolproof. Keep those Gutenberg blocks clean and ensure your local FAQs are clearly structured so the bots can digest the facts without getting confused.
4. Ad Dashboards Merging
Keep a close eye on the accounts you manage. Google is slowly pulling Local Services Ads into the main Google Ads ecosystem. Make sure your budgets and tracking aren’t suddenly going wonky as the two platforms intertwine.
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