City & Local

Online Reviews

4 articles

Diverse community members and local business owners interacting positively on a vibrant street, symbolizing trust and authentic recommendations.
Business Spotlights

Nextdoor's 'Local Faves' revolutionizes local business reputation

Nextdoor, a platform often associated with neighborhood chatter, is directly challenging Yelp's review model by launching 'Local Faves,' a feature designed to combat bot-generated reviews with verifie

Marco Alvarez·September 12, 2026
A vibrant local coffee shop with customers enjoying themselves, showcasing community support and a positive online presence.
Community

Local Businesses Face Rising Costs for Digital Reputation Management

Dark Hall Coffee, a local Arizona shop, turned a rude online comment about its gothic theme and Pride representation into a viral T-shirt campaign.

Sophie Nguyen·September 5, 2026
Smartphone screen showing Google Maps with a prompt asking if a review was paid for, highlighting new transparency measures.
Business Spotlights

Google Maps Prompts Reviewers to Disclose Paid Reviews

A local restaurant owner recently encountered a new prompt on Google Maps asking if their glowing 5-star review was paid, signaling a significant shift in how online endorsements are policed.

Marco Alvarez·June 5, 2026
Holographic AI chatbot summarizing local business reviews on a city street, influencing consumer decisions.
Business Spotlights

Online Reviews' Hidden Flaws Reshape Local Business Decisions in 2026

Yelp is introducing an AI chatbot designed to analyze and summarize vast amounts of local business reviews, fundamentally changing how consumers will interact with online recommendations.

Marco Alvarez·April 23, 2026