Latest news about Google reviews, the review industry, and UK trades. Stay informed with updates that matter for your trade business.
BrightLocal's 2026 survey: 45% of consumers now use AI for local business recommendations, up from 6% last year. Google's review share dips to 71%. The bar for star ratings keeps rising.
Checkatrade has launched an app inside ChatGPT letting consumers find, price, and book vetted tradespeople through AI. Also launched TradeMore, a free job management tool.
UK Construction PMI crashed to 38.2 in May — its lowest since the pandemic. Housing is worst hit, new orders at a six-year low, and costs rising fastest since 2022.
The DMCC Act's grace period is over and the CMA can now fine businesses up to 10% of turnover for fake reviews. Five investigations are underway with outcomes expected by September 2026.
Early analysis of Google's May 2026 core update confirms first-hand experience content outranked aggregators. Real tradespeople writing about their own work are the biggest winners.
Google has rolled out recurring post scheduling for Business Profiles — set a post once and it republishes automatically on your chosen schedule. No third-party tools needed.
The Strait of Hormuz reopening could ease UK construction material costs and reduce supplier uncertainty premiums that have been squeezing tradesperson margins all year.
The CMA has launched formal investigations into Autotrader, Feefo, Just Eat, Dignity, and Pasta Evangelists over fake and misleading reviews — the first using DMCC Act enforcement powers.
Google's May 2026 core update completed on 2 June. Directory sites lost rankings for "near me" keywords while real tradespeople with active profiles and genuine reviews gained ground.
Google's local ranking algorithm now prioritises engagement signals — photo views, review reads, profile clicks — over brand size. Active profiles outrank dormant ones.
Google has redesigned its Search box for the first time in 25 years and announced AI Information Agents. AI Mode now has over one billion monthly users.
The CMA has warned 54 businesses after finding more than half failed to comply with the DMCC Act's fake review rules. Grace period is over — fines of up to 10% of global turnover now apply.
Google is removing reviews at record rates following its April 2026 policy crackdown on incentives, staff name mentions, and kiosks. Businesses using compliant methods are unaffected.
ONS data shows UK construction new orders fell 10.5% in Q1 2026. Fewer projects entering the pipeline means more competition — and your Google reviews matter more than ever.
78% of local trade businesses are invisible to AI search engines like ChatGPT and Gemini. 88% have no plan. Your Google reviews are the deciding factor in whether AI recommends you.
Google's Vision AI now scans your Business Profile photos to verify your services and category. Your photos are no longer just visuals — they're a ranking signal the AI reads.
Google is now enforcing its review incentive ban against home services businesses. Discount-for-review schemes, staff name mentions, and review quotas can all trigger mass review removal.
Google's May 2026 core update is rolling out now — home services are seeing the sharpest local pack volatility. Here's what tradespeople should do while it settles.
Multiple local SEO trackers confirm Google is now penalising Business Profiles left idle for 30+ days. Profiles without fresh posts, photos, or reviews are losing impressions.
The CPA's Spring 2026 forecast predicts UK construction output will fall 2.5% this year — an unprecedented downgrade from its winter outlook. Private housing is worst hit at -7%.