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03
Nov 2010
Posted by Jasmine
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Weekly Roundup: Google Places Changes Local Search and Getting the Most from Facebook

Google Place Search Changes the Local Game Again

I have been watching Google places and local search for most of this year mainly because I see its power to beat weak organic search results. Google moved the placement of the local seven box below the first three organic search results earlier this year which clearly indicates that they see the opportunity here too. This new iteration of Google Places takes it a step further and integrates the local search results with organic. This means a business can get a top spot in a Google search with very little effort—the optimization of their places account and few small changes to their website. Read my series “Optimize Your Business for Local Search” to learn exactly how to do this.

Ra Ra Wrong. How Facebook’s Cheerleaders Are Blowing Smoke

If your marketing strategy rises and sets on your Facebook Business Page and getting more “likes,” then this article should be a wake up call. Jay Baer raises an excellent point—Facebook pages are not a very effective marketing channel. Don’t get me wrong, we create custom Facebook pages all the time for clients and I’m not saying to completely abandon them or that they are a waste of money. The point here is that they are just a part of an overall, comprehensive marketing plan/campaign. Facebook business pages should never be the entire plan or campaign.

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Posted in: Blog, Internet marketing, Marketing, Marketing tips, Trends

13
Oct 2010
Posted by Jasmine
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Weekly Roundup: Following the Crowd, Marketing Trends

5 Trends that Will Shape Small Business in 2011

I don’t like to follow trends just for the sake of being trendy; however I do like to know what other people see as trends—it helps me determine which direction the marketing/business wind will blow. It is also fun to see how your own thoughts match up to those of the experts.

Overall, this article is fairly vanilla in its predictions. The last one about trusted networks as being a source of filtering information did catch my eye. It is an idea I have been exploring myself—I am working to position 910 West in just that position. It is a strategy that many businesses can use to help build their own street cred without having to create mountains of content.

Is Twitter for Business Even Worth the Trouble?

One trend that I have been watching and talking about a lot lately is the usefulness/longevity of Twitter. It seems that we are on the down side of the Twitter trend though there are still many prominent people who are Tweeting. This provides statistics about actual reach of Twitter (it is a lot smaller than you think) and asks whether it is a viable alternative to something like Facebook.

Why Social Supports Email in the Interactive Marketing Hub

Email is another marketing tool that has had its future questioned. I have been watching the debate closely because it success really is a mixed bag. In certain specific circumstances, I think it is a brilliant way to connect with clients and prospects. This article says much the same but he provides a lot more supporting evidence than I do.

Posted in: Blog, Marketing, Trends

16
Mar 2010
Posted by Jasmine
0 comments

Promote Your Local Business with Foursquare

Local search is a hot topic for 2010 and it is perfect for helping small service businesses to attract more customers. Some products translate easily over the web and can be sold to virtually anyone anywhere in the world. Service businesses don’t share that universal appeal. You may hear about a great vet in Texas on Twitter but if you are in Arizona, that does not help. You aren’t likely to drive to Texas to get your dog treated.

To meet this need, a bunch of new websites and technology has cropped up. Google has vastly expanded their business map features—you can post photos, videos, and it pulls reviews from all over the web. Foursqaure also presents a great opportunity to reach out to customers and reward your loyal followers. If you’d like to learn more about using Foursquare to promote your local business, then read on.

This is the action plan excerpted from a longer article “How to Drive More Customers to Your Local Business With Social Geotagging” from the Social Media Examiner blog.

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Posted in: Marketing, Resources, Trends

12
Feb 2010
Posted by Jasmine
1 comment

Everyone's Talking About: Facebook, Video, and Gilbert Small Business Alliance

This is the first post in a new series that I am starting to share the marketing emerging marketing trends. How do I decide what is a trend? There’s no scientific formula, but it based the things that I hear being talked about. Though there is not a lot of factual data involved, I do spend a lot of time researching what’s new in marketing and networking with business owners. I use my real world interactions to filter the info I get from the experts and whatever is left is what everyone’s talking about.

This month I have heard a ton of chatter about using Facebook and video as a marketing tools and how the Gilbert Small Business Alliance is helping grow businesses in the East Valley.

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Posted in: Blog, Trends