It appears that they offer services that don't impact rankings. Google posts are not a ranking factor and Google strips geotagging from photos.
I'm curious about Merchynt's Paige AI. Has anyone here used it? If so, what was your experience? Did it meet your expectations, and would you recommend it? I'd appreciate hearing any insights or opinions from those who've tried it!
Thank you!
I want to clarify some common misconceptions in the Local SEO space—particularly the idea that features like Google Posts, photos, Q&As, and other Google Business Profile (GBP) elements “don’t impact rankings.”
This conclusion is often based on narrow tested, outdated assumptions that don’t reflect how Google's local algorithm actually works in practice currently. I can say this with experience after managing campaigns across hundreds of business niches and running millions of data points with our own software each week targeting the trade area of each business in our beta program. Below are attached files that include a few location samples using our proprietary drive-time geogrid mapping before and after over a 3 to 6 month period. With only GBP AI automation and optimizations, we were able to achieve significant increases in rankings for top searched keywords within their actual trade area resulting in more calls, and increased market visibility and revenue.
In practice, we’ve consistently found that properly managed GBP profiles—which include regular, relevant posting, optimized media, ongoing Q&A management, consistent photo posts and service/product updates—do correlate with improved visibility in the Map Pack. But more importantly, not just arbitrary squares and circles, but the actual trade area of each local business, where over 95% of any local businesses actual customers and competitors are located.
Let’s remember: Logically, Google didn't build these features to be ignored. Posts, updates, Q&As, and photos are meant to increase engagement and improve relevance, which are core components of local ranking—particularly under the “Prominence” and “Relevance” factors. GPS rankings (Map Pack) are the key to lead generation, not just organic blue-link positions.
As for platform pricing: charging per location is not only justified—it’s essential. Unlike tools that offer only passive white label reporting and monitoring, Paige actively performs tasks that SEOs or VAs are currently doing manually. That includes photo posting, Q&A management, listing edits, review replies, and more. If you’re doing Local SEO seriously, you’re either paying a team to handle this or automating it with a software like Paige. It’s not comparable to platforms reporting only tools. Which brings up another point.
The reason we have been developing our tool coming out of beta next month is because of the positive results seen from hundreds of participants using AI automation for local profiles. Charging per location is also not new. The local SEO industry has clung to outdated strategies like monthly citation and directory subscriptions, especially in the franchise and multi-location management space for years. In our experience, a one-time creation of 5-7 trusted listings is sufficient in most cases, yet many SEO softwares continue to promote these as “necessary” every month, per location subscriptions.
Lastly, while many platforms provide only data, platforms like Paige are designed to act. They don’t just “report.” They help agencies complete SEO work that actually moves the needle—saving hundreds in labor and making scalable Local SEO possible.
A Google Business Profile (GBP) is one of the most critical components of local SEO. When consistently developed, maintained and fully optimized, it can significantly enhance a business’s visibility in local search results and directly drive leads, calls, and customer actions. GBP is not just a listing—it’s a dynamic asset that, when regularly updated and actively managed, contributes to stronger Map Pack performance and higher local relevance.
