Mike Blumenthal
@mikeblumenthal.bsky.social
All local, all the time. Now at Near Media. Always from Olean, NY
Changes to the Google LSA (Local Service Ads) program
Google Guarantee,Google Screened, and License Verified by Google ---> Google Verified. Effective 10/20/2025.
The Money Back Guarantee associated with the Google Guarantee badge will also be discontinued.
Google Guarantee,Google Screened, and License Verified by Google ---> Google Verified. Effective 10/20/2025.
The Money Back Guarantee associated with the Google Guarantee badge will also be discontinued.
August 20, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Changes to the Google LSA (Local Service Ads) program
Google Guarantee,Google Screened, and License Verified by Google ---> Google Verified. Effective 10/20/2025.
The Money Back Guarantee associated with the Google Guarantee badge will also be discontinued.
Google Guarantee,Google Screened, and License Verified by Google ---> Google Verified. Effective 10/20/2025.
The Money Back Guarantee associated with the Google Guarantee badge will also be discontinued.
A bad look for the McKean County Fair in the local paper and on the obituary page, to boot
August 16, 2025 at 9:29 PM
A bad look for the McKean County Fair in the local paper and on the obituary page, to boot
Why does the Great American Milipede need so many legs?
August 16, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Why does the Great American Milipede need so many legs?
Breaking news: Trump fires Bureau of Labor Statistics head because he doesn’t like her maths
August 2, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Breaking news: Trump fires Bureau of Labor Statistics head because he doesn’t like her maths
Screenshot from ChatGPT.
I assume that bad actors have been doing some sort of injection attacks and inserting bad links into ChatGPT answers? @lilyray.nyc has been showing how easy it is to get into these results. Time to pay the piper?
I assume that bad actors have been doing some sort of injection attacks and inserting bad links into ChatGPT answers? @lilyray.nyc has been showing how easy it is to get into these results. Time to pay the piper?
June 27, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Screenshot from ChatGPT.
I assume that bad actors have been doing some sort of injection attacks and inserting bad links into ChatGPT answers? @lilyray.nyc has been showing how easy it is to get into these results. Time to pay the piper?
I assume that bad actors have been doing some sort of injection attacks and inserting bad links into ChatGPT answers? @lilyray.nyc has been showing how easy it is to get into these results. Time to pay the piper?
Beauty in small spaces
My ice coffee
My ice coffee
June 24, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Beauty in small spaces
My ice coffee
My ice coffee
Marketing slogan found on a port a potty:
A royal flush beats a full house
A royal flush beats a full house
June 21, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Marketing slogan found on a port a potty:
A royal flush beats a full house
A royal flush beats a full house
Apple is expanding their sports content. In addition their real time sports reporting app they are now offering a Sports newsletter focusing on just your teams
Zero friction sign up. One click and done; no entries, no confirmations.
Zero friction sign up. One click and done; no entries, no confirmations.
June 11, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Apple is expanding their sports content. In addition their real time sports reporting app they are now offering a Sports newsletter focusing on just your teams
Zero friction sign up. One click and done; no entries, no confirmations.
Zero friction sign up. One click and done; no entries, no confirmations.
And in other breaking news…
June 6, 2025 at 10:58 AM
And in other breaking news…
Copies going fast.
May 7, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Copies going fast.
I had ChatGPT generate some ideas around trumps meme coin
It came up with
1. “$TRUMP: America’s John for Autocrats.”
2. “Everything’s for Sale. Just Ask $TRUMP.”
3. “$TRUMP: The Gigolo Who Billed the Taxpayer.”
I then asked it to create a t-shirt graphic and Chatgpt said:
It came up with
1. “$TRUMP: America’s John for Autocrats.”
2. “Everything’s for Sale. Just Ask $TRUMP.”
3. “$TRUMP: The Gigolo Who Billed the Taxpayer.”
I then asked it to create a t-shirt graphic and Chatgpt said:
May 3, 2025 at 6:34 PM
I had ChatGPT generate some ideas around trumps meme coin
It came up with
1. “$TRUMP: America’s John for Autocrats.”
2. “Everything’s for Sale. Just Ask $TRUMP.”
3. “$TRUMP: The Gigolo Who Billed the Taxpayer.”
I then asked it to create a t-shirt graphic and Chatgpt said:
It came up with
1. “$TRUMP: America’s John for Autocrats.”
2. “Everything’s for Sale. Just Ask $TRUMP.”
3. “$TRUMP: The Gigolo Who Billed the Taxpayer.”
I then asked it to create a t-shirt graphic and Chatgpt said:
I am starting to see AIO overviews on “‘local brand’ reviews”
Hard to imagine how this adds value over the previous (and still more common) display as it pushes all of the reviews except Google’s off the page
Hard to imagine how this adds value over the previous (and still more common) display as it pushes all of the reviews except Google’s off the page
May 1, 2025 at 12:03 AM
I am starting to see AIO overviews on “‘local brand’ reviews”
Hard to imagine how this adds value over the previous (and still more common) display as it pushes all of the reviews except Google’s off the page
Hard to imagine how this adds value over the previous (and still more common) display as it pushes all of the reviews except Google’s off the page
Exploring Google's Newest GBP AI Generated Feature: Know before you go
Google is quietly reshaping its Business Profiles with AI-powered features.
Know Before You Go—a new module that surfaces curated insights from reviews, websites, and social content. /1
Google is quietly reshaping its Business Profiles with AI-powered features.
Know Before You Go—a new module that surfaces curated insights from reviews, websites, and social content. /1
April 25, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Exploring Google's Newest GBP AI Generated Feature: Know before you go
Google is quietly reshaping its Business Profiles with AI-powered features.
Know Before You Go—a new module that surfaces curated insights from reviews, websites, and social content. /1
Google is quietly reshaping its Business Profiles with AI-powered features.
Know Before You Go—a new module that surfaces curated insights from reviews, websites, and social content. /1
Was in NM last week & saw this massive volcanic plug far away in the hazy distance. I initially figured out its name with a very laborious satellite Map search. Just tried the new ChatGPT image recognition with this crappy image
Here are the impressive, spooky results
chatgpt.com/share/6802a2...
Here are the impressive, spooky results
chatgpt.com/share/6802a2...
April 18, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Was in NM last week & saw this massive volcanic plug far away in the hazy distance. I initially figured out its name with a very laborious satellite Map search. Just tried the new ChatGPT image recognition with this crappy image
Here are the impressive, spooky results
chatgpt.com/share/6802a2...
Here are the impressive, spooky results
chatgpt.com/share/6802a2...
For me, spring is when the early wild leeks (ramps) are ready to be picked.
What is your spring?
What is your spring?
April 13, 2025 at 10:19 PM
For me, spring is when the early wild leeks (ramps) are ready to be picked.
What is your spring?
What is your spring?
How are airlines allowed to have this level of noise on their airplane?
April 4, 2025 at 7:25 PM
How are airlines allowed to have this level of noise on their airplane?
Apple Business Connect (their GBP equivalent) is now sending out an insights recap to local businesses.
I have not previously seen this and it looks new (to me)
Can you imagine a Google GBP alternative that doesn’t go wonky every week or two AND delivers clients
I have not previously seen this and it looks new (to me)
Can you imagine a Google GBP alternative that doesn’t go wonky every week or two AND delivers clients
April 4, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Apple Business Connect (their GBP equivalent) is now sending out an insights recap to local businesses.
I have not previously seen this and it looks new (to me)
Can you imagine a Google GBP alternative that doesn’t go wonky every week or two AND delivers clients
I have not previously seen this and it looks new (to me)
Can you imagine a Google GBP alternative that doesn’t go wonky every week or two AND delivers clients
Playing with the new ChatGPT image generator
Slooow but very fun
Me in various guises and styles
Slooow but very fun
Me in various guises and styles
March 29, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Playing with the new ChatGPT image generator
Slooow but very fun
Me in various guises and styles
Slooow but very fun
Me in various guises and styles
Google indicated that they had put in place a fix and that there are and would be extended delays in appeals.
We are seeing a leveling off and dropping of suspension posts so it appears to true.
Caution: it will be many weeks for appeal times to return to normal
We are seeing a leveling off and dropping of suspension posts so it appears to true.
Caution: it will be many weeks for appeal times to return to normal
March 26, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Google indicated that they had put in place a fix and that there are and would be extended delays in appeals.
We are seeing a leveling off and dropping of suspension posts so it appears to true.
Caution: it will be many weeks for appeal times to return to normal
We are seeing a leveling off and dropping of suspension posts so it appears to true.
Caution: it will be many weeks for appeal times to return to normal
This Company’s policy is no refunds of deposits, no matter what.
In this case they are being accused of not refunding a deposit even though the fiancé died 9 months before the event.
Process and policy are integral to reputation (if that isn’t obvious)
In this case they are being accused of not refunding a deposit even though the fiancé died 9 months before the event.
Process and policy are integral to reputation (if that isn’t obvious)
March 15, 2025 at 11:17 AM
This Company’s policy is no refunds of deposits, no matter what.
In this case they are being accused of not refunding a deposit even though the fiancé died 9 months before the event.
Process and policy are integral to reputation (if that isn’t obvious)
In this case they are being accused of not refunding a deposit even though the fiancé died 9 months before the event.
Process and policy are integral to reputation (if that isn’t obvious)
Somethings you see in Google Business Profile Insights you can't unsee:
March 11, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Somethings you see in Google Business Profile Insights you can't unsee:
I asked for the same image form both ChatGPT and the paragon of free speech Grok
March 2, 2025 at 5:38 PM
I asked for the same image form both ChatGPT and the paragon of free speech Grok