This Week in Local

Monica Ho, a local marketing expert who played a pivotal role in driving significant revenue growth for digital platforms, shares her insights on achieving $100 million in ARR. She discusses the importance of integrated marketing solutions and the challenges of tech bloat in today's landscape. The conversation dives into how AI is transforming local marketing by facilitating hyper-localized content and automation. Monica also elaborates on strategies for multi-location enterprises and the future innovations expected in the field.

In this episode of This Week in Local, we dive into the latest tech trends from SIGGRAPH 2024, with a special focus on the keynote featuring Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg and Nvidia CEO, Jensen Huang. The keynote highlighted the launch of new platforms for creating animated, human-like AI agents designed to revolutionize customer service for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).   Mike shares his thoughts on the feasibility of widespread adoption of these technologies by SMBs, touching on the Silicon Valley effect and the challenges of SMB tech adoption. This Week in Local is a Localogy production. To learn more, please visit Localogy.com.  Would you like to recommend a guest, ask a question, or sponsor an episode? Start a conversation with us at podcast@localogy.com.

In this episode of This Week in Local, we dive into the latest headlines surrounding OpenAI and its financial future.  Mike and Charles discuss the eye-catching report that OpenAI has only 12 months of cash left unless it secures significant funding. With a potential loss of $5 billion in 2024, they explore the sustainability of OpenAI's business model and what it means for the future of AI technology. This Week in Local is a Localogy production. To learn more, please visit Localogy.com. Would you like to recommend a guest, ask a question, or sponsor an episode? Start a conversation with us at podcast@localogy.com.

In E86, Mike and Charlie deep dive into the latest trends in venture funding, highlighting key insights from CB Insights and PitchBook.  They explore the significant impact of AI on venture capital, discussing whether AI is propping up the funding landscape and the scrutiny AI startups face from VCs.  The conversation also touches on the rise of deep tech and the resurgence of SaaS-based FinTech.  This Week in Local is a Localogy production. To learn more, please visit Localogy.com.  Would you like to recommend a guest, ask a question, or sponsor an episode? Start a conversation with us at podcast@localogy.com.

In E84, hosts Mike Boland and Charles Laughlin discuss the latest developments surrounding TikTok, focusing on the platform's ad spending growth and user trends.  Mike and Charlie analyze the slowing growth rate of TikTok's ad spending and user base, pondering whether it's a result of the legislative overhang or other factors such as the influx of TikTok Shop content. They also debate if the platform's core user demographic is evolving and how the commercialization of content might be altering the user experience. This Week in Local is a Localogy production. To learn more, please visit Localogy.com.  Would you like to recommend a guest, ask a question, or sponsor an episode? Start a conversation with us at podcast@localogy.com.

In E84 of “This Week in Local,” hosts Mike Bolin and Charles Laughlin dive into the evolving landscape of AI personal assistants with a focus on Ario, a Silicon Valley startup.  Ario, backed by $16 million in funding, aims to revolutionize the concept of personal assistants by leveraging large language models (LLMs) trained on individual user data. Mike and Charlie also discuss the importance of defensibility in AI startups, the significance of venture capital funding, and the evolving dynamics of the AI industry.  This Week in Local is a Localogy production. To learn more, please visit Localogy.com. Would you like to recommend a guest, ask a question, or sponsor an episode? Start a conversation with us at podcast@localogy.com.

In E83 of “This Week in Local,” Localogy analysts Charles Laughlin and Mike Boland discuss the recent partnership between Shopify and Target.  This collaboration allows Shopify merchants to gain additional exposure on target.com, providing a valuable distribution channel for small merchants.  The hosts break down the implications of this deal for Shopify, Target, and the broader e-commerce ecosystem. This Week in Local is a Localogy production. To learn more, please visit Localogy.com. Would you like to recommend a guest, ask a question, or sponsor an episode? Start a conversation with us at podcast@localogy.com.

In E82 of "This Week in Local," hosts Mike Boland and Charles Laughlin delve into the ongoing conflict between Meta and European data privacy regulators.  They explore how Meta's efforts to deploy Meta AI in Europe have hit a roadblock due to stringent privacy laws and the pushback from regulatory bodies, particularly in Ireland. This leads to a broader discussion on the challenges big tech companies face with European regulators, especially concerning the legality and ethics of using user-generated content for AI training. Mike and Charles also touch on similar standoffs involving Google and news publishers, drawing parallels with Meta's situation. They discuss the implications of these conflicts for the future of AI training data, referencing recent licensing deals like the one between OpenAI and News Corp.  This Week in Local is a Localogy production. To learn more, please visit Localogy.com. Would you like to recommend a guest, ask a question, or sponsor an episode? Start a conversation with us at podcast@localogy.com.

In E81, we dive into Amazon's latest moves in the local advertising space.  Co-host Mike Boland breaks down Amazon's pilot program for its sponsored display ads, revealing how it's expanding beyond traditional product advertising to include local service businesses. He discusses the involvement of key players like Hibu and Tiger Pistol and what this means for the future of local digital marketing. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of Amazon's first-party data strategy in an increasingly privacy-focused world. With insightful analysis on the competitive landscape and the potential challenges Amazon might face in navigating the fragmented local market, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the evolving world of local advertising and ecommerce. This Week in Local is a Localogy production. To learn more, please visit Localogy.com. Would you like to recommend a guest, ask a question, or sponsor an episode? Start a conversation with us at podcast@localogy.com.

In E80, SOCi's Damian Rollinson explains why direct optimization on core platforms like Google, Bing, Apple Maps, Yelp, and Facebook is now more critical than ever for local businesses. We explore the importance of long tail syndication in local SEO, its historical significance, and how its impact has evolved over time.  Tune in to get actionable insights and stay ahead in the competitive local search landscape.  Don’t forget to check out part one of our discussion in episode 74! Get the report from SOCI here: https://www.meetsoci.com/resources/insights/brands-franchises/long-tail-syndication-still-work-local-search/ This Week in Local is a Localogy production. To learn more, please visit Localogy.com. Would you like to recommend a guest, ask a question, or sponsor an episode? Start a conversation with us at podcast@localogy.com.