This week covers Google’s new post view counts for Google Business Profiles, a critical scam involving fake phone numbers in Google Maps photos, how to optimize citations for better AI visibility, a comprehensive strategy for local businesses to build AI search visibility, and a deep dive into the 72 ranking signals influencing Google Maps.

This Week’s Top Stories:

1. Google Adds Post View Counts To Business Profiles: Local businesses and their marketing partners can now see combined view counts for Google Business Profile posts from Search and Maps, providing a direct metric to evaluate content performance and refine strategies. Source
2. Google Maps Phone Number in Photo Scam: A new scam sees malicious actors uploading AI-generated photos with fake phone numbers to legitimate Google Business Profiles, potentially diverting customers to scammers. Businesses must vigilantly monitor their GBP photos. Source
3. 2026 Playbook: How to Optimize Citations for AI Visibility: Citations are gaining renewed importance as AI tools rely on structured and unstructured third-party sources for local business recommendations. Focus on quality citations from high-ranking sites to influence AI. Source
4. How Local Businesses Can Build Visibility In AI Search: A holistic approach combining optimized listings, strong review profiles, consistent brand mentions, and active social media is crucial for local businesses to gain recommendations and visibility within AI search platforms. Source
5. Inside Google Maps: 72 Ranking Signals and the Architecture Behind Local Search: New data reveals 72 distinct ranking signals powering Google Maps and local search, offering unprecedented detail into how entities, web signals, proximity, and semantic systems determine local visibility. Source

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