dba platform update october 2025

GBP Q&A API Depreciation
– Google is changing things, likely adding AI
– It might disappear for a bit
– AI generated Q&A and search bars on the FAQ section have been tested. It looks like we won’t have direct control.
– Want something specific to show up? Make Google Posts to showcase certain things.

GBP Bugs/Issues
– appeal delays
– verification processing delays (including videos, even up to 2 weeks)
– missing reviews

Google Posts Scheduling
– You can now schedule your posts (well, it’s rolling out)
– They are trying to make it more like a Social Media thing
– Don’t know how many you can post at a time, but they have discussed adding more robust features

GBP What’s Happening for Multi-Location
– Grabs event info from third-party areas
– Used to be just one location, now its multi-location
– its an event listing on the GBP listing

Google removes param &num=100
– No longer formally supported
– in response to AI system scraping
– effects rank trackers
– impressions go down, rankings go up, because now we are looking at page 1 instead of first 100 hits

Cookie Consent Banners
– when visitors decline consent tracking, GA4 will not collect data for that session
– If they click “no” and click around, their hits get lumped together into “Direct”

GatherUp Local Business Q3 Review
– not searchable, just from Yan’s secret stash
“how do you usually search for local businesses when you need something?”
most people still “I type my query into a search engine or maps” 75%
i use voice search on my phone or smart speaker 15%
ask AI 10%
personal recommendations under 10%
– so 10% of people now go to AI to find a local business

“how often do you click through on the links for AI responses”
– most people do not trust ai directly (only about 10%)
– 30% always check, 20% frequently, 25% sometimes, 7% rarely
“how often do you read online reviews before choosing a local business?”
– always 40%, frequently 35%, sometimes, 20%, rarely 5%, never 2%

The Customer Journey Tracking is Becoming More Complex
– AI Discovery search (awareness) to Google Brand Search to read reviews (Consideration) to Click to website/call (conversion)

Better Lead Tracking
– use UTM parameters on all links shared online
– implement call tracking software with dynamic number insertion
add “how did you hear about us” field to your contact forms
-train staff to ask every new customer “how did you find us today?”
– use a QR code on in-person materials to track offline-to-online traffic
– set up Google’s Consent Mode to model data from users who decline cookies

Google verification criteria for videos
– prooving the business exists (showing office or truck with signage)
– prooving you are the owner of the business (key to unlock vehicle or house)
– prooving where you are located
– support agents will literally go to google maps and look around and see if it matches
– the video you take may be cropped, so ensure the video is super clear
– for the locked door, you have to show its locked first and that your foot isn’t holding it open or anything
– don’t pan too fast

More channels, more visibility: apple integration (dba platform thing)
– seamless analytics and content opportunities agross google and apple
– apple has become more important, google has lost 30% of its search traffic in the last year probably due to apple and AI, so dba is in the process to integrate apple so you can see google and apple side by side
– dba platform has a beta available soon, if you’re interested contact Luke Luke@dbaplatform.com