Here is today’s roundup of news related to local marketing and advertising, local media, technology, local commerce, consumer behavior and more.

Survey: Only 36% of SMBs Have an ‘SEO Strategy’ (March 18, 2019)
LSA Insider: “Despite the waning visibility of organic content, SEO is arguably more important than ever. The vast majority of search clicks occur on organic links/content. Yet, according to a survey from Clutch, only 36% of small businesses (SMBs) have an SEO strategy — though an additional 38% say they plan to in the future.”

Thinking of a Martech Partnership? Ask These Questions First (March 18, 2019)
LSA Insider: “About half of global CEOs are going to pursue a strategic alliance to drive corporate growth or profitability. And that thirst for partnerships applies to the martech industry. I thought a lot about the role of partnerships in martech as I read Tiffani Bova’s Growth IQ, one of the best business books I’ve read in years.”

Increasingly, Your Brand Is Its Reviews (March 18, 2019)
Street Fight: “While reviews are not necessarily permanent—given Google’s and consumers’ preference for recency–they are a much stickier brand association. And they show up *right* when someone is ready to make a purchase.”

The experience economy is here, and it depends on experience data (March 17, 2019)
VentureBeat: “A compelling experience can create a powerful emotional connection that drives loyalty and satisfaction. People today make brand decisions based on a range of factors — not just price. They embrace companies that embody their own values and reject those that fall short. And consumers today have more choice than ever.”

Digital out-of-home advertising is fracturing into many channels (March 15, 2019)
MarTech Today: “Digital out-of-home advertising is evolving so far beyond just being video billboards that, like mobile, the channel category may soon split into multiple channels.”