https://conqueror.capital/blog/ Dated posts explaining Google, Meta and platform changes for small business owners, with primary sources. Evergreen how-tos live in our guides. en-us Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-spam-update-thin-pages-check https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-spam-update-thin-pages-check Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Google's September 2026 spam update finished on October 8. How to find copy-paste city pages, unread AI posts and pages that help no one, and what to do. https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-manual-actions-check https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-manual-actions-check Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 SEO consultants report more Google manual actions for thin and scaled content. Where to find the report, what it means and a monthly routine. https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-ads-text-customization-previews https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-ads-text-customization-previews Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Google Ads now previews sample AI-written headlines for AI Max text customization before you opt in. What to look for and how to set text guidelines. https://conqueror.capital/blog/local-services-ads-missed-call-charges https://conqueror.capital/blog/local-services-ads-missed-call-charges Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Google says an unanswered Local Services Ads call in business hours can be charged after 20 seconds. What changed and how to set up your phones. https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-ads-ai-max-reporting-columns https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-ads-ai-max-reporting-columns Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Google Ads added AI Max columns for brand inclusions, locations of interest, commission and optimized targeting. What to check each month. https://conqueror.capital/blog/local-services-ads-lead-charge-status https://conqueror.capital/blog/local-services-ads-lead-charge-status Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Local Services Ads leads show Charged, Not charged, In review or Credited, with a 30-day review window. How to read your bill against booked jobs. https://conqueror.capital/blog/schema-markup-plain-english https://conqueror.capital/blog/schema-markup-plain-english Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Schema markup is a small block of code that tells search engines the facts about your business. What it does, what it doesn't, and how to check your site has it. https://conqueror.capital/blog/track-where-customers-come-from https://conqueror.capital/blog/track-where-customers-come-from Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 If you don't know which calls came from Google and which came from your website, every marketing decision is a guess. Simple ways to start measuring this week. https://conqueror.capital/blog/resource-hub-vs-blog https://conqueror.capital/blog/resource-hub-vs-blog Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Should you add a blog to your website or build a separate resource hub of customer guides? How each works, when each makes sense, and the rules that apply to both. https://conqueror.capital/blog/nap-consistency-cleanup https://conqueror.capital/blog/nap-consistency-cleanup Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Your name, address and phone should match everywhere online. A step-by-step listing clean-up for Google, your website and directories, including multi-location. https://conqueror.capital/blog/monthly-website-plan-vs-one-time-build https://conqueror.capital/blog/monthly-website-plan-vs-one-time-build Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 A local business website is never finished. How a one-time build compares with a monthly plan, what to ask before you sign, and what changes at scale. https://conqueror.capital/blog/who-owns-your-domain-name https://conqueror.capital/blog/who-owns-your-domain-name Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Is your domain registered to a former designer or agency? How to check who controls your domain and Google Business Profile, and how to fix it. https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-business-profile-categories https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-business-profile-categories Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Your primary category helps decide which searches your Google Business Profile shows up for. How to pick it, when to add secondary categories, and how to change them safely. https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-business-profile-updates https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-business-profile-updates Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Updates are short posts on your Google Business Profile. What to post, what to leave out, why phone numbers and links don't belong in the text, and a weekly rhythm you can keep. https://conqueror.capital/blog/page-for-every-town-you-serve https://conqueror.capital/blog/page-for-every-town-you-serve Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 A page per town only helps when each one is genuinely different. A simple test, what a useful town page contains, and when one service-area page is the better choice. https://conqueror.capital/blog/local-services-ads-move-to-performance-max https://conqueror.capital/blog/local-services-ads-move-to-performance-max Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Google is migrating Local Services Ads to Performance Max campaigns with pay-per-lead goals, starting August 2026 in the US. The timeline, what stays, what changes, and what to do. https://conqueror.capital/blog/local-services-ads-requirements-ai-images https://conqueror.capital/blog/local-services-ads-requirements-ai-images Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Google renamed its Local Services platform policies to Local Services Ads requirements on July 31, 2026, and from August 2, 2026 bans AI images in the EU and New York. What owners must check. https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-call-ads-end-call-assets https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-call-ads-end-call-assets Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Google is deprecating call ads. New call-only ads could no longer be created from February 2026, and existing ones stop getting impressions in February 2027. How to move to call assets. https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-ai-optimization-guide-local-business https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-ai-optimization-guide-local-business Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 On May 15, 2026 Google published a guide to optimizing for AI Overviews and AI Mode. Its local business advice, its list of AEO/GEO tactics to ignore, and what to do. https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-spam-policies-ai-responses https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-spam-policies-ai-responses Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 On May 15, 2026 Google clarified that its spam policies apply to generative AI responses in Search. Which policies trip up local businesses and how to stay clear. https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-spam-reports-manual-action https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-spam-reports-manual-action Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 In April 2026 Google said spam reports may be used to take manual action. What that means when a competitor uses spam or fake listings, and which form to use. https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-search-profile-badge https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-search-profile-badge Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 On September 16, 2026 Google documented a Search profile badge for websites. What a Search profile is, who qualifies, and why it is not your Business Profile. https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-third-party-seo-tools-guidance https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-third-party-seo-tools-guidance Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 On June 5, 2026 Google added guidance on judging third-party SEO tools, AEO/GEO services and advice. What it says and how a small business can use it. https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-faq-rich-results-removed https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-faq-rich-results-removed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Google says FAQ rich results stopped appearing in Search from May 7, 2026 and removed the documentation on June 15. What small business sites should do. https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-back-button-hijacking-spam-policy https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-back-button-hijacking-spam-policy Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Since June 15, 2026, Google can demote pages that hijack the back button. What counts, why ad scripts and plugins matter, and what small business sites should check. https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-site-reputation-policy-eea-update https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-site-reputation-policy-eea-update Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 On August 28, 2026 Google changed how its site reputation policy is enforced in the EEA and published criteria and examples. What it means for sponsored pages, coupons and partner content. https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-review-snippet-incentivized-reviews-guideline https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-review-snippet-incentivized-reviews-guideline Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 On July 24, 2026 Google added a review snippet guideline against fake and undisclosed incentivized reviews. What it says, how it fits local business markup, and what to fix. https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-business-profile-review-reply-moderation https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-business-profile-review-reply-moderation Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The Business Profile API now reports whether a review reply is pending, approved or rejected, and which policy a rejected reply broke. What changed and what to do. https://conqueror.capital/blog/ftc-fake-local-business-listings-lawsuit https://conqueror.capital/blog/ftc-fake-local-business-listings-lawsuit Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The FTC and Illinois sued a company accused of creating thousands of fake local home repair listings with fabricated reviews. What was alleged and what to do. https://conqueror.capital/blog/ftc-consumer-review-rule-warning-letters https://conqueror.capital/blog/ftc-consumer-review-rule-warning-letters Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 In December 2025 the FTC warned 10 companies about possible Consumer Review Rule violations. What the rule bans, what penalties apply, and what to change now. https://conqueror.capital/blog/search-console-ai-overviews-ai-mode-report https://conqueror.capital/blog/search-console-ai-overviews-ai-mode-report Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Google added generative AI performance reports to Search Console, covering AI Overviews and AI Mode. What changed, who can see it, and what to do. https://conqueror.capital/blog/search-console-branded-queries-filter https://conqueror.capital/blog/search-console-branded-queries-filter Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Search Console added a branded queries filter that separates searches for your business name from everything else. What it does, limits, and how to use it. https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-business-profile-qa-api-discontinued https://conqueror.capital/blog/google-business-profile-qa-api-discontinued Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Google discontinued the My Business Q&A API on November 3, 2025. What that means for tools that managed your profile questions, and what to do now.