EDITORIAL METHODOLOGY

How Local Signal tests, sources and updates its guidance.

This process separates Google’s documented requirements, third-party research and Itheta Labs’ first-hand observations so readers can judge each claim on its evidence.

Reviewed

Evidence hierarchy

  1. Primary platform documentation.Google Business Profile Help and official Google policies are used for platform rules, eligibility and stated ranking factors.
  2. First-hand testing.Itheta Labs tests profile changes, content processes and measurement methods on owned assets and suitable client projects.
  3. Named third-party research.Survey statistics are attributed to their publisher, year and market. US research is labelled as directional rather than presented as South African market data.

Testing process

01

Define

Record the business category, service area, baseline visibility and customer action being assessed.

02

Change

Apply a controlled profile or content improvement and document what changed.

03

Review

Compare visibility and customer-action data over a suitable period. Correlation is not presented as proof of causation.

Review and correction policy

Commercial pages are reviewed when pricing, scope or Google’s rules change. Guides display publication and modification dates and are reviewed at least quarterly. Material corrections are made directly on the affected page.

Readers can report an error to support@ithetalabs.co.za. Corrections are checked against the original source before publication.

AB

Editorial lead: Armand Briers

SEO strategist and Local Signal project lead at Itheta Labs. Published guides are reviewed by the Itheta Labs team for source accuracy, service relevance and current platform guidance.