If your SEO “strategy” still looks like buying 10,000 map citations for $5 on a sketchy website, spinning the same blog post 47 different ways, or keyword stuffing your business name with enough terms to make a thesaurus blush, Google just circled your number. 🎯 Their August 2025 Spam Update is here, and it’s built to crush every spammy, outdated, and flat-out ridiculous tactic people still try to use.

Think of it this way: old-school spam SEO is basically the mullet of marketing. Sure, it had a moment, but now it just makes you look out of touch. Cloaking, keyword stuffing, spammy backlinks—you name it, Google’s onto it. They’re like that super-smart friend who sees through all your lame excuses. So, what’s a business to do?

Here’s What Actually Works (Because Cheating Is So Last Decade):

• Focus on Reviews: Google cares a ton about the quantity and quality of reviews your GBP has, especially in the last 90 days. So, gather reviews consistently every week and encourage customers to leave detailed feedback that mentions your services (keywords). Pivo AI can automate this!
• Optimize Everything: Don’t leave any stones unturned when you optimize your GBP. Add all of your services and descriptions, fill out the attributes, add your products, add Q&A’s, and so on. Google needs all the info possible about your business so they can show you to the right users. Pivo AI can automate this too!
• Don’t Forget Social Media: Your business needs to be active on platforms other than just Google. Create profiles and post regularly on social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Google will take notice, and your audience will appreciate it! Pivo AI can even automate your social posting!

The big takeaway? Google isn’t just “anti-spam”; it’s actively promoting businesses who do things the right way. Every time they roll out an update like this, it’s their way of saying, “Stop trying to outsmart us and just run your business like a grown-up.” So, ditch the sketchy backlinks, retire the keyword soup, and let modern SEO tools do the heavy lifting the right way.

A Word of Warning: Profile Suspensions Are on the Rise ⚠️

Google just suspended thousands of business profiles, and many business owners are shocked by the sudden crackdown. Our CEO, Justin, explains why these suspensions are happening, what triggered them in mid-July 2025, and how you can protect your business from losing visibility on Google Maps.