I had to post this article below. I don’t think I have seen a better written article about the truth when it comes to people who call themselves “Social Media Experts”.
This morning a few of us stumbled across some big advertisers using special characters such as the checkmark and an arrow in their sitelinks.
Little shocked because I assumed this was against the TOS. It's a huge distraction to that top paid ad. Organic results are slipping away faster and faster each day!
Screen shots:
What are your thoughts/comments? Leave a reply below.
Many people know the internet is a great resource for promoting and advertising a local business on the cheap. The problem is that TOO many people know the internet is a great local business resource for advertising on the cheap. Here are some cool tips to differentiate your business while still taking advantage of free internet social tools.
Twitter – Here is a cool way to step up your Twitter game, use it as a call to action! Tweet in the morning that the first customer who comes in and does something you specifically reference on Twitter gets a deal in return. For example; Tweet: First person in the store who yells “I love the Google!” gets 10% off. Not only is this a really cool way to differentiate yourself, but most people who realize they haven’t one will still stay to do some shopping, eating, etc.
Local Directories/Listings – Every major metropolitan area (and most non major metros) have web resources to help locals, local businesses and tourists find each other. These are usually free websites that will be happy to list your business, post a coupon, or allow you to write a quick article.
Find these resources by searching for different combinations of your location, your industry or service, and your desired resource. For example, if I owned a pizza joint in Charlotte, NC and I wanted to find a forum to post on, I would search for variations of the following; Charlotte NC Pizza Forums.
Google Local Listing – Most businesses have these listings setup, but if you don’t do it today. It’s a great tool that is completely free.
Google Street View – Street view is an extension of Google Maps that allows the searcher to view your location as if they were standing outside on the street. Make your brick and mortar business stand out by using your window space as targeted street view advertising. Example – “I know our place looks good on a computer screen but you got to see it in person!”
Just a few fun Friday tips to help your local business stand out. These tips aren’t going to allow you to retire ten years earlier but might as well try them out, what do you have to lose?
When I first started doing Internet Marketing I assumed keyword research was going to be my biggest challenge. Especially when I was unfamiliar with the clients products or services. I used multiple tools and with multiple estimates. Those always 'worked,' but I was never sure how accurate each of these tools actually was. Even more as each tool fed me different data.
Then along came a fellow internet marketer who had been in the industry many years longer than myself. He explained the best keyword research was spending money on Adwords. It was so simple, but was something I never really thought of. All you have to do is run a test campaign with some industry words on broad and phrase match. Check your search keywords report tool each day for about a week(depending on search volume). Put in negative keywords as the irrelevant show up. Remove the non converting keywords. Increase the bid/potentially separate out the 'winning' keywords while still on broad match. Let it teach you those ever so rare 'killer' keywords for the client.
Can we say automated keyword research with a chance to see conversion? Not to mention this is before we ever start the ever so long link building process. Never have to repeat or change your SEO game plan again with this simple trick.
Combine this with the new Google Instant suggested search results and your keyword research will be on fire.
Online Reputation Management sounds like a very official and complicated term, but the basis is pretty simple - What do your customers or business associates see when they search for you?
Anyone can write or create information about anything they wish to online. On blogs or websites there are no fact checks or filters on what someone could write about you or your company. Sometimes competitors even create negative PR or misrepresent information to the public about you. Other times results can be about a company with a similar name or maybe someone with the same name as yourself. Go ahead.. you know you want to do it. Google yourself.
What do the results say about you? If you a potential client was researching you without ever meeting you - what would their first impression be?
'Goolging someone' is becoming a very common trend. It started with employers researching potential employees. I admit to using it as a serious tool in making decisions in my past role as a hiring manager. Often we do it without even realizing. Researching a product or restaurant? Then technically you are looking at their 'Online Reputation.'
So what can you do if you have negative results? First if the bad results are related to you see if you have access to the profile or data. If you created it then go ahead and take it down - better yet mold it into something positive. If you did not create the data or it's related to someone else you could look into hiring an agency that provides Online Reputation Management Services.
Here at E-dreamz we specialize in building the right online image for you or your company. Contact Us for more details.
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