What Does ChatGPT Search Mean for Local Search?
Chat GPT has launched its free search feature – the latest move that disrupts traditional search. We gather insights from Yext CDO Christian Ward.
Mike Boland
December 20, 2024
Mike Boland
Mike Boland, senior analyst with Localogy, was one of Silicon Valley’s first tech reporters of the internet age as a staff reporter for Forbes magazine starting in 2000. His comments have appeared in The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
Will Amazon Autos Transform Local Car Sales?
Amazon has found its latest conquest: selling cars. This follows its entries into massive new markets such as healthcare, advertising, and cloud computing.
Mike Boland
December 19, 2024
Google Goes to Washington: A Conversation with Andrew Shotland
What’s Google’s fate if it has to spin off Chrome? The latest figure to weigh in is Andrew Shotland, whom we interview for his insights.
Mike Boland
December 18, 2024
Local Radar: Sales Enablement, Financial Management & Podcasting
In this edition of Localogy’s Local Radar series, we examine newly funded companies Numa, Dinii, and AirDoctor.
Mike Boland
December 17, 2024
Personal vs. Personalization: Which Will Win in 2025?
What’s the difference between personal and personalization? Yext chief data officer and frequent Localogy conference keynoter Christian Ward sees a big difference between the two. Not only that, but one is facing its demise, and the other is primed to flourish. Can you guess which is which?
Mike Boland
December 13, 2024
Neighborly’s Home-Services Drive $4 Billion in Gross Revenue
Neighborly has rolled up several trusted local brands like Mr. Rooter, Molly Maids, and Mosquito Joe for a broad but focused home-services play. We captured the company’s drivers and dynamics at the recent Street Fight Live event.
Mike Boland
December 12, 2024
Location Intelligence: A Conversation with Foursquare
Foursquare continues to lead the way in a key subset of local media & marketing: location intelligence. It’s een at it for about 15 years, and continues to innovate and advance the state of the art. What’s the latest in its endeavors? We had the chance to catch up with CTO Vikram Gundeti to find out.
Mike Boland
December 11, 2024
Yelp Drops 20 New Features to Round Out 2024
Yelp today launched its end-of-year update. And it’s heavy on AI. Specifically, the company is positioning large language models to better connect consumers and local businesses.
Mike Boland
December 10, 2024
Local Beats: Ad-World M&A, Agentforce Amps Up, and OpenAI Monetizes
In this edition of Localogy’s Local Beats, we examine news and moves from Interpublic Group, Salesforce & OpenAI.
Mike Boland
December 6, 2024
Walmart Closes $2.3 Billion Vizio Acquisition
The wait is over for Walmart. The company has just closed its acquisition of TV maker Vizio. The acquisition first made news back in February, but has since been in a holding pattern due to standard federal regulatory approval. Now, Walmart is free to proceed with the all-cash $2.3 billion deal.
Mike Boland
December 5, 2024
Cyber Week Shopping: Naughty and Nice
The figures are in: Cyber week has reached record consumer spending levels – a positive sign amidst a softened economy. Indeed, several predictions called for a dip in non-essential spending this holiday season. The evidence looks good so far, though there’s still time for declines
Mike Boland
December 4, 2024
Local Radar: Delivery Robots, EV Charging & Creator Economy Monetization
In this edition of Localogy’s Local Radar, we examine newly funded companies KiwiBot, Agentio & Ampeco.
Mike Boland
December 3, 2024
Street Fight Live: A Practical Guide to AI
AI continues to hold equal parts hype and practical applicability. We got a rare and valuable taste of the latter in a panel discussion at Street Fight Live.
Mike Boland
December 2, 2024
Siri’s Fate in the AI Age Gains Further Clarity
What’s Siri’s fate in the AI age? Signs point to Apple keeping it around and upgrading it to modern LLM standards.
Mike Boland
November 29, 2024
Instagram Escalates the Social Mapping Wars
Instagram this week fired the latest shot in the ongoing social mapping wars. Users can now share their locations with friends via direct messages. Once those messages are received and activated, the recipient can see the sender’s live location within Instagram’s mapping feature for up to an hour.
Mike Boland
November 27, 2024
Local Radar: Mapping, Event Planning & Food Tech
In this edition of Localogy’s Local Radar, we examine Atlas.co, Partiful & Wonder
Mike Boland
November 26, 2024
Searching for Meaning in a Post-GPT World
What does AI mean for media companies, brands, and everyone else that has optimized themselves for search engines? This was the topic of a presentation at Street Fight Live from Yext VP of Strategic Partnerships, Brooke Henderson.
Mike Boland
November 21, 2024
Google Lens Doubles Down on Local Offline Shopping
Google Lens continues to be a sleeping giant in the world of local commerce. As a visual search tool, it can identify and contextualize items that you point your phone at. Carrying similar user intent as web search, Google is salivating over the idea of more high-intent query volume that flows from your camera.
Mike Boland
November 20, 2024
Tiger Pistol’s Latest Playbook Tackles Multi-Location Campaign Management
Tiger Pistol is on a roll. Just one week after launching its playbook on overcoming inflation, today it releases one on campaign management. Specificially, it guides brands to manage cohesive marketing efforts across several channels and geographies, and keep everything rowing in the same direction.
Mike Boland
November 19, 2024
Local Radar: AI Writers & ‘Travel Convenience’
In this edition of Localogy’s Local Radar, we examine newly funded companies Bounce, Cogna & Writer
Mike Boland
November 19, 2024