🚩 Google Review Blackmail: What You Need to Know Scammers are at it again—posting negative Google reviews and then demanding payment (often in the form of gift cards) to prevent future attacks. Do NOT pay them!

• Report and flag the reviews on Google.
• Submit a support request via Google’s Help Center.
• Don’t panic. While Google’s response can be uncertain, every report helps your case.
• Need support? Reach out to us—we’re here to help you protect your reputation!

🗺️ Service Area Changes in Google Business Profiles Google now disallows adding countries or states as your service area for local businesses. Instead, you must specify up to 20 cities, postal codes, or specific regions within a two-hour drive from your location. This mostly applies to mobile dental businesses, but it’s good info for everyone managing listings.

📉 June Core Update & Search Impressions Drop A recent Google update has led to significant drops (40–90%) in search impressions for many dental practices. Don’t overreact or stress—these fluctuations are common during big updates. Monitor your metrics, and stay tuned for things to stabilize.

⚠️ Suspicious Review Warnings Some Google profiles are getting “suspicious reviews removed” alerts. If you see this warning after flagging blackmail reviews, let us know—it shouldn’t penalize you for protecting your reputation!

🤖 AI-generated Content & Google Rankings A study found that Google does not penalize AI-generated content—as long as the quality is solid. In fact, 86%+ of high-ranking pages had AI-assisted writing. The key? Blend human expertise with AI, and always focus on delivering real value.

🔎 New Google Search Console Feature You can now compare the past 24 hours’ performance with previous periods in Search Console. Small but useful for tracking the real-time impact of changes!

💻 Core Web Vitals Bug If you see a weird drop in “good” or “needs improvement” URLs (but not an increase in “poor”), don’t panic. This could be a sampling issue, not a sign your site is in trouble.

Quick Tips:

• Always respond to negative reviews professionally.
• Focus on building quality content (AI is fine IF you add your expertise!).
• Stay calm during Google updates—most changes iron themselves out.

Got questions or need personal SEO help? Email info@firstdentist.com.

• (00:00) - Intro
• (00:34) - Google Review Scams
• (02:08) - Google Disallows Adding Countries Or States To Service Area Businesses
• (03:12) - June 2025 Google Update May Be Affecting Local Search Impressions
• (05:29) - Suspicious Review Warnings on Google
• (07:21) - June 2025 Core Update Underway
• (08:07) - Google generates nearly 13% of People Also Ask answers
• (09:29) - Google Search Console adds 24-hour comparison views
• (10:23) - Possible Core Web Vitals Bug in Google Search Console
• (12:50) - Barely Indexed Sites Can Mean Google Isn't Convinced Of The Site Overall
• (15:20) - Google AI Overviews rank below Position 1 in 12.4% of cases: Study
• (18:11) - Ahrefs Study Finds No Evidence Google Penalizes AI Content
• (20:59) - Closing & Contact Information

Google’s AI Overviews & Ads: What’s Changed? Google’s new AI Overviews are now appearing in search results, and surprisingly, advertisers are seeing the same rate of paid clicks whether AI is involved or not. What does this mean for you? Paid ads remain a vital piece of the marketing puzzle—even as search changes. If you’re running ads, you now have three placement options: above, within, or below the AI answer. Make sure you’re taking advantage!

Heads Up: Google is pushing “AI-powered” automatic bidding for ads, but Ross Dunn urges caution. These systems are a black box and often give you just the basics—conversions with very little context. A skilled ad specialist can capture granular insights on how your money is spent, which helps you make better advertising decisions.

Google Business Profile Updates If you’ve noticed changes in your Google Business Profile Q&A section, you’re not alone. Google is showing these only:

• If a user clicks a map pack result in search
• Across all searches in Google Maps You can still access all questions and answers via your business profile, so keep them updated! Proactively answer common or potentially deal-breaking questions—this saves time and may help convert more curious searchers into patients.

Is Your Data Telling the Truth? Traffic analytics are trickier than ever. With the phase-out of Universal Analytics (GA3), privacy changes, ad blockers, and now AI overviews in search, website traffic data is less reliable year-over-year. The key takeaway:

⭐ Focus your tracking and reporting on conversions, not just general traffic. ⭐

Make sure your conversion tracking (calls, form fills, multi-page visits, etc.) is properly set up. If you’re not sure, ask your team or reach out for help!

AI Agents & Website Congestion – Is Your Hosting Ready? AI bots are crawling the web more than ever. If you run a larger site or your hosting is on the basic side, be prepared to monitor and upgrade as needed. Limit plugins on WordPress, review your robots.txt, and consider a content delivery network if your site is media-heavy.

New in Google Search: AI Mode & “Deep Search” US users now have an “AI Mode” in Google Search—with much longer, more in-depth answers. The new “deep search” can even generate expert-level reports citing multiple sources. Cool, but also full of potential inaccuracies—double-check before trusting important info!

The best news? Google Search Console will soon show data from AI-driven searches so you can see how much AI traffic you’re really getting.

Final Word: The digital landscape keeps shifting, but a solid focus on conversions and consistent profile management is key. Got questions or need help setting up tracking? Reply to this email or reach out at info@firstdentist.com.

• (00:00) - Intro
• (00:48) - A Note on the Future of Ads in AI
• (05:33) - Google testing “recently viewed” label
• (06:30) - Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up May 29th
• (07:07) - Google Updates When Local Questions & Answers Display
• (09:49) - A Note on Traffic Analysis
• (14:59) - Google’s Gary Illyes Warns AI Agents Will Create Web Congestion
• (18:46) - Google launches AI Mode to all U.S. searchers
• (20:42) - AI Mode in GSC
• (21:45) - Closing & Contact Information

🔍 LinkedIn Engagement: What Works Now

A recent LinkedIn study analyzed over half a million posts and found:

• Posts with links get 13.57% more interactions and 5% more views.
• Carousels drive the highest engagement (45%).
• Polls double engagement rates.
• Pure text posts perform worst.

Takeaway: Next time you post about your practice, add value with links, try interactive polls, or experiment with carousels to stand out!

🦷 Google Business Profiles: Watch for Review Bugs

A pesky bug is causing old, fake, or previously removed reviews to show up again in Google Business Profiles. Google has acknowledged this, but fixes may take time.

Tip: Double-check your online reviews and report persistent fakes. Stay vigilant, as these issues can resurface unexpectedly.

🤖 AI Search & Overviews: How Dentists Can Stay Visible

AI is changing how people search—and how Google decides which practices get seen. Organic search traffic is seeing a shakeup, but not all drops are bad news for patient acquisition. Here are Ross’s top tips:

1. Add Structured Data (Schema Markup)

• Think of it as a roadmap for search engines. Highlight key info like services, staff credentials, or new technology for richer search results.

2. Target 'Long Tail' Search Terms

• Use natural language phrases, especially for voice search. Patients are searching with full, detailed questions more often.

3. Use Authentic Images & Videos

• Regularly create and share office videos or patient experiences (with permission). Batch filming can create months of content in a single day!

4. Prioritize YouTube

• Repurpose videos for YouTube. High-quality, authentic dental videos can boost local visibility.

5. Encourage (But Carefully Manage) Interaction

• Discussion and comments can signal valuable content, but moderation is key to avoid spam or headaches.

6. Update Key Content Regularly

• Refresh cornerstone pages when you upgrade technology, add staff, or change locations. An up-to-date site signals life to both Google and potential patients!

🚩 AI Content & Google’s Quality Standards

Google’s new Quality Rater Guidelines are here. Key points:

• Don’t publish generic, low-effort AI content. Always edit, personalize, and expand with your expertise.
• Avoid misleading claims. Double-check AI-generated facts.
• Add value above the basics. Your unique perspective and local reputation matter!

🛡️ A Look Ahead: Controlling AI Access to Your Content

There’s early buzz around a new standard, LLMs.txt, which seeks to let site owners better control how AI crawlers (like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini) use your content. While still in the proposal phase, it's something to watch—and First Dentist will be ready to implement when it’s industry standard.

💡 Final Thoughts from Ross

SEO and search are moving targets—especially with AI in the picture. But with the right strategy, dental practices can keep growing. For personalized help or to get your next question answered on the podcast, drop us a line at info@firstdentist.com!

• (00:00) - - Intro
• (00:36) - - LinkedIn Engagement Study: Links & Carousels
• (01:51) - - Google Business Profile Bug: Removed Reviews Resurfacing
• (02:56) - - Improving Your Site's Visibility in AI Search
• (04:17) - - Tip 1: Add Structured Data with Schema Markup
• (05:26) - - Tip 2: Target Long-Tail Keywords for Voice Search
• (07:31) - - Tip 3: Incorporate Images and Videos
• (10:18) - - Tip 4: Encourage Visitor Interaction
• (11:14) - - Tip 5: Keep Your Content Fresh
• (13:11) - - Google Quality Rater Guidelines Update
• (15:56) - - AI in Search: Google AI Overviews Self-Linking Issue
• (16:53) - - Google Using AI to Clean Up Paid Ads
• (18:03) - - LLMS.TXT: Proposed Standard for AI Content Crawling
• (22:51) - - Closing & Contact Information