{
  "claims": [
    {
      "claim_id": 10,
      "claim_text": "Solo practitioner model (one listing represents both brand and individual, e.g., insurance agents like State Farm, Allstate) is allowed by Google guidelines but Google support agents routinely don't understand this rule. Operators must escalate to product experts when support refuses.",
      "taxonomy": "factual",
      "sub_taxonomy": "regulatory",
      "source_quote": "with insurance agents, they fall under the practitioner model... they are set up like solo practitioners where you have a single listing that represents both the brand and the practitioner. And that is allowed by Google's guidelines. But let me tell you, their support agents do not understand that.",
      "source_practitioner": "Sterling Sky Inc",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUMo6NPd5KE",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 2.0
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 11,
      "claim_text": "Practitioner listings (lawyers, doctors, agents at a multi-practitioner firm): each individual practitioner is allowed their own listing in addition to the firm's listing. But you cannot have two practitioners at the same address with the same primary category \u2014 local filter (Possum) suppresses one.",
      "taxonomy": "factual",
      "sub_taxonomy": "regulatory",
      "source_quote": "Google has a filter. I've written a lot about it... Google filters out listings at the same address. So, if you've got two attorneys at the same address and they're both competing for, let's say, criminal attorney, San Antonio, Google's going to pick the stronger one.",
      "source_practitioner": "Sterling Sky Inc",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUMo6NPd5KE",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 2.0
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 12,
      "claim_text": "DBA (doing business as) does not entitle you to a second GBP listing. Listings require separate legal business registrations, not just trade names. Common operator confusion area.",
      "taxonomy": "factual",
      "sub_taxonomy": "regulatory",
      "source_quote": "having a DBA does not qualify you to have a second listing.",
      "source_practitioner": "Sterling Sky Inc",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUMo6NPd5KE",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 2.0
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 14,
      "claim_text": "Service-area business (SAB) with no storefront must hide the address. Showing residential or warehouse addresses without permanent signage and customer access triggers suspension. Permanent signage means signage that cannot be quickly taken down.",
      "taxonomy": "factual",
      "sub_taxonomy": "regulatory",
      "source_quote": "having a visible address if you are an SAB is probably one of the most common types of violations... when Google says permanent signage, they are purposely looking for stuff that you can't just set up and then take down later because people do this like all the time",
      "source_practitioner": "Sterling Sky Inc",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUMo6NPd5KE",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 2.0
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 18,
      "claim_text": "Google does not delete review data \u2014 even reviews that were filtered out for policy violations or lost to suspensions are retained in Google's databases. They become 'disconnected' from listings and can be reconnected with screenshots and support escalation.",
      "taxonomy": "factual",
      "sub_taxonomy": "platform_state",
      "source_quote": "reviews are never gone. They're somewhere in a database. Um Google doesn't delete data. Like they are a data company... so what ends up happening usually is they get disconnected from the listing and that can happen with a variety of different things, but often happens with suspensions.",
      "source_practitioner": "Sterling Sky Inc",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUMo6NPd5KE",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 2.0
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 21,
      "claim_text": "Account-level GBP suspensions: when one user account is restricted, all listings the account has access to are at risk. Agency dashboards (Sterling Sky uses sterlingsky.ca emails) avoid this \u2014 Sterling Sky has never seen agency-dashboard-account suspensions, only random Gmail account suspensions.",
      "taxonomy": "factual",
      "sub_taxonomy": "platform_state",
      "source_quote": "if your account is restricted by Google for any reason, then any Google listing that that account has access to is at risk of suspension... I haven't heard anybody using the agency dashboard have an account level suspension... the ones I usually hear of are like Gmails, you know, they have this random obscure Gmail and Google just suspends it",
      "source_practitioner": "Sterling Sky Inc",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUMo6NPd5KE",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 2.0
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 24,
      "claim_text": "Lawyers/medical practices/financial advisors are on Google's heightened-scrutiny list (YMYL adjacent). Reinstatement after suspension for these verticals is harder than other industries.",
      "taxonomy": "factual",
      "sub_taxonomy": "platform_state",
      "source_quote": "They also are very skeptical of lawyers. Like, lawyers are on the list of like the naughty list. Like, they unfortunately have lied through their teeth for so many years to Google and Google knows it.",
      "source_practitioner": "Sterling Sky Inc",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUMo6NPd5KE",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 2.0
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 36,
      "claim_text": "Diversity update (Joy Hawkins documented): Google avoids displaying the same URL twice on a SERP. If GBP website URL = homepage, your homepage may not also rank organically \u2014 they conflict. Solution: target service pages organically OR use a dedicated GBP landing page.",
      "taxonomy": "factual",
      "sub_taxonomy": "platform_state",
      "source_quote": "this thing called the diversity update which is interesting. Joy Hawkins revealed this... Google doesn't love to display the same URL on the same page... You can actually fight yourself.",
      "source_practitioner": "Edward Sturm",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1awWMG1e5kY",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 2.0
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 38,
      "claim_text": "GBP eligibility for SaaS/online businesses: requires physical office where employees gather AND on-site customer interaction (signage, in-person service). Pure e-commerce without in-person customer service is not eligible.",
      "taxonomy": "factual",
      "sub_taxonomy": "regulatory",
      "source_quote": "If you have an office and you serve customers at that office, you can have a Google business profile. It is as simple as that for sure. If you have all your employees and they come to an office and your office has signage, absolutely, you're eligible.",
      "source_practitioner": "Edward Sturm",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1awWMG1e5kY",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 2.0
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 45,
      "claim_text": "Google has been around since 2005 (Whitespark founded), and the Local Search Ranking Factors survey has been published since 2008 (originally David Mihm, transferred to Darren Shaw in 2017). This is the gold-standard institutional artifact of the field.",
      "taxonomy": "factual",
      "sub_taxonomy": "historical",
      "source_quote": "It's been around since 2008, originally developed by David Mim... he handed it over to me in 2017",
      "source_practitioner": "Edward Sturm",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1awWMG1e5kY",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 2.0
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 46,
      "claim_text": "Google's 2025-2026 review guidelines explicitly prohibit: (a) spike patterns indicative of manipulation; (b) on-premises pressure to leave reviews; (c) requesting specific content in reviews ('please mention X city Y service'); (d) selective gating (only positive customers asked).",
      "taxonomy": "factual",
      "sub_taxonomy": "regulatory",
      "source_quote": "Content exhibiting unusual volumes of patterns or patterns of review contributions that are indicative of efforts to manipulate a place's rating... merchants should not require or pressure users to leave ratings or write reviews while on premises... Nor should they request that specific content be included.",
      "source_practitioner": "unknown",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcinjaxHRqk",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 2.0
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 54,
      "claim_text": "The 2026 Whitespark Local Search Ranking Factors survey collects data from 47 of the world's best local search experts who score 187 factors across four areas (local pack ranking, local organic ranking, conversions, AI search visibility \u2014 new for 2026).",
      "taxonomy": "factual",
      "sub_taxonomy": "platform_state",
      "source_quote": "47 of the world's best local search experts have completed a grueling 2-hour survey answering questions, scoring 187 factors across four different areas, including AI search.",
      "source_practitioner": "Whitespark",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDeAJUsdWm8",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 2.0
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 55,
      "claim_text": "Local pack ranking signal weights per the 2026 LSRF: 32% Google Business Profile signals, 20% reviews, 15% on-page signals, with link signals/citations/behavioral/social/personalization comprising the remainder.",
      "taxonomy": "numerical",
      "sub_taxonomy": "stat",
      "source_quote": "For local pack map rankings, what is on your Google business profile is the most important area to focus on where 32% of the signals. 20% is your reviews... 15% are onpage signals",
      "source_practitioner": "Whitespark",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDeAJUsdWm8",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 2.0
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 56,
      "claim_text": "Local organic blue-link signal weights per 2026 LSRF: 33% on-page/website content, 24% backlinks, 10% behavioral signals.",
      "taxonomy": "numerical",
      "sub_taxonomy": "stat",
      "source_quote": "33% being what's on your website... 24% being the links coming into your website... 10% is coming from behavioral signals",
      "source_practitioner": "Whitespark",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDeAJUsdWm8",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 2.0
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 57,
      "claim_text": "AI search visibility signal weights per 2026 LSRF: 24% website content, 16% reviews (broader web + Google + own site), 13% citations, 13% links, 12% GBP, 9% personalization, 9% social, 4% behavioral.",
      "taxonomy": "numerical",
      "sub_taxonomy": "stat",
      "source_quote": "24% of it is based on your website... 16% of it is reviews... 13% citations, 13% links, 12% Google business profile, 9% personalization, 9% social, and 4% behavioral signals",
      "source_practitioner": "Whitespark",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDeAJUsdWm8",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 2.0
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 80,
      "claim_text": "Google has been around since 2005 (Whitespark founded), and the Local Search Ranking Factors survey has been published since 2008 (originally David Mihm, transferred to Darren Shaw in 2017). This is the gold-standard institutional artifact of the field.",
      "taxonomy": "factual",
      "sub_taxonomy": "historical",
      "source_quote": "It's been around since 2008, originally developed by David Mim... he handed it over to me in 2017",
      "source_practitioner": "Whitespark",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDeAJUsdWm8",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 2.0
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 88,
      "claim_text": "Google releases official GBP best-practice playbooks (2026 release): general GBP guide + industry-specific guides for service-area businesses, restaurants, hotels, tours/attractions. These are authoritative reference documents from Lisa Lansman's team at Google.",
      "taxonomy": "factual",
      "sub_taxonomy": "platform_state",
      "source_quote": "Google has just released several PDF playbooks for Google business profiles. Lisa Lansman at Google just released a treasure trove of information... The primary guide... bit.ly/gbp-guide-2026",
      "source_practitioner": "unknown",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQlkN53VfBA",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 2.0
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 2,
      "claim_text": "Google's December-February window has an elevated suspension rate per product expert observations (Vinet at Sterling Sky). Reinstatement specialists see seasonal spikes Dec-Feb consistently for two years running.",
      "taxonomy": "dated",
      "sub_taxonomy": "recent_news",
      "source_quote": "for the last two years December to February have been the toughest period for reinstatement.",
      "source_practitioner": "unknown",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8PM8w0E_jI",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 1.5
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 4,
      "claim_text": "Review responses (owner replies) now go through moderation before being published. Google has updated guidelines reflecting this. Owner replies that contain policy violations may be filtered out.",
      "taxonomy": "dated",
      "sub_taxonomy": "product_change",
      "source_quote": "Review responses, this is in the guidelines. Review responses may now go through moderation before being published to ensure they comply with content policies.",
      "source_practitioner": "unknown",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xES0M1yxZNA",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 1.5
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 6,
      "claim_text": "Owner responses to reviews are now factoring into AI's understanding of the business (not just human-trust signal). What you say in responses matters for AI visibility.",
      "taxonomy": "dated",
      "sub_taxonomy": "recent_news",
      "source_quote": "in an AI search world, what you actually say in your owner responses may be kind of important. Just don't go stupid with it.",
      "source_practitioner": "unknown",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xES0M1yxZNA",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 1.5
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 7,
      "claim_text": "Google's 'Ask Maps' (rolled out 2025-2026 in US and India) brings Gemini AI conversational search into Google Maps. Operators must monitor: (1) brand visibility in conversational queries, (2) sentiment, (3) accuracy of business info that AI returns about them.",
      "taxonomy": "dated",
      "sub_taxonomy": "product_change",
      "source_quote": "Ask Maps. It's up. It's happening. Legit... just in the USA, I believe, and in India... Ask Maps is like having AI mode in Google Maps. You can have conversations with Maps to plan trips, research local businesses... we need to think about, monitoring visibility, but not just visibility, we need to monitor sentiment",
      "source_practitioner": "unknown",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xES0M1yxZNA",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 1.5
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 30,
      "claim_text": "Google's review filter is sweeping more aggressively in 2025-2026 to combat fake reviews. Legitimate reviews are getting caught in the sweep. Operators are losing 100+ legitimate reviews per profile in some cases.",
      "taxonomy": "dated",
      "sub_taxonomy": "recent_news",
      "source_quote": "we're seeing a real sweep happening right now where Google they appear to be working on their review filtering algorithm... a lot of legitimate reviews get picked up in the sweep",
      "source_practitioner": "Sterling Sky Inc",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uDSUPsa78U",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 1.5
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 39,
      "claim_text": "Google's review filter is sweeping more aggressively in 2025-2026 to combat fake reviews. Legitimate reviews are getting caught in the sweep. Operators are losing 100+ legitimate reviews per profile in some cases.",
      "taxonomy": "dated",
      "sub_taxonomy": "recent_news",
      "source_quote": "we're seeing a real sweep happening right now where Google they appear to be working on their review filtering algorithm... a lot of legitimate reviews get picked up in the sweep",
      "source_practitioner": "Edward Sturm",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1awWMG1e5kY",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 1.5
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 40,
      "claim_text": "GBP Q&A section is being deprecated as of late 2025/2026. Google is replacing this functionality with 'Ask Maps' (AI-driven Maps interface).",
      "taxonomy": "dated",
      "sub_taxonomy": "product_change",
      "source_quote": "Q&A is going away. Google's deprecating the Q&A section right now... they deprecated the Google business profile API for Q&A. So the Q&A is going away. They're replacing it with the ask maps.",
      "source_practitioner": "Edward Sturm",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1awWMG1e5kY",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 1.5
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 50,
      "claim_text": "GBP Q&A section is being deprecated as of late 2025/2026. Google is replacing this functionality with 'Ask Maps' (AI-driven Maps interface).",
      "taxonomy": "dated",
      "sub_taxonomy": "product_change",
      "source_quote": "Q&A is going away. Google's deprecating the Q&A section right now... they deprecated the Google business profile API for Q&A. So the Q&A is going away. They're replacing it with the ask maps.",
      "source_practitioner": "unknown",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E65qfzVs6yg",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 1.5
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 61,
      "claim_text": "Business open/closed status at time of search is a major and recently-elevated ranking factor (rose to #5 in 2026 LSRF). Businesses begin to drop in rankings ~1 hour before close ('closes soon'), and after close, open competitors rank above them.",
      "taxonomy": "dated",
      "sub_taxonomy": "product_change",
      "source_quote": "if your business is closed, you're generally not going to rank. Google wants to show businesses that are open... about an hour before you close, your rankings will start to slip",
      "source_practitioner": "Whitespark",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDeAJUsdWm8",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 1.5
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 68,
      "claim_text": "Citations are returning in importance because AI/LLMs lean heavily on the broader web (especially industry-specific directories, BBB, Chambers of Commerce, Facebook, LinkedIn). Citations also drive AI visibility more than they drive traditional local pack rankings.",
      "taxonomy": "dated",
      "sub_taxonomy": "recent_news",
      "source_quote": "Citations are back. And I wouldn't say citations are really back. If you look at the factors for local pack map rankings, those roughly stayed about the same... But where they are important is the AI search visibility.",
      "source_practitioner": "Whitespark",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDeAJUsdWm8",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 1.5
    },
    {
      "claim_id": 89,
      "claim_text": "GBP's 'Insights' panel (new 2025-2026, distinct from old 'Performance' which used to be called Insights) gives optimization recommendations comparing your profile to competitors. Only appears when profile is under-optimized; well-managed profiles don't see it.",
      "taxonomy": "dated",
      "sub_taxonomy": "product_change",
      "source_quote": "there's another crazy thing. This is newish. Uh Deepa Gandhi has shared this which is a new little section in your Google business profiles. It's called insights... different from the performance section.",
      "source_practitioner": "unknown",
      "video_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbP4-u08HCY",
      "credibility": 0.5,
      "priority_score": 1.5
    }
  ],
  "total_verifiable": 28,
  "selected": 28
}