Exciting news for businesses has emerged from Google; they have announced the launch of their new Google+ pages, pages specifically designed for businesses using Google+.

With a growing network of over 40 million members, Google+ pages are a great new internet marketing resource you need to implement and capitalize on today.  It can also give you an additional web property and links to your website which are important in today’s digital world.

Here are some quick and easy tips to make sure you gain the most from your Google+ pages and help you get started.

1. Setting up your Google+ account

Choose an accessible email address

Unlike Facebook, Google+ does not currently incorporate extensive administrative capabilities. To easily overcome this limitation, make sure you create a specific email address for your Google+ business page during the set up process to allow more maneuverability.

A common access email address will allow you to better monitor and manage the services provided by Google+ and offer you the opportunity to incorporate multiple member access and contributors to your Google+ business page, as well as monitor updates and allow direct communication in one easy to find place.

We often setup a gMail account that includes all of the Google services such as Analytics, AdWords and Webmaster Tools.  You can use this account for Google+ as well.

Create your page

To create a page, Google+ has made the set up process as simple as possible. Simply visit http://plus.google.com/pages/create and select ‘create a Google+ page.’

You will then be asked to select from one of the following:

• Local business or place
• Product or brand
• Company, institution or organization
• Arts, entertainment, or sports
• Other

After selecting your classification, complete your basic business information into the form as requested.

2. Customize your public profile

By customizing your public Google+ profile you will increase your presence online. Make sure customers know they have landed at the right place and why they should purchase your products by updating your profile with:

• Your tag-line – or business elevator pitch
• An image, such as your company logo
• Investing a little time to show off some good quality content
• Offer free downloads and incentives to potential customers

3. Promote your Google+ page

Once you have completed the basics of your Google+ business page, you will be asked to promote your page! This means you have completed the Google+ account activation, setup and have gone live to more than 40 million waiting customers!

All you have to do next is allow your Google+ business page to work for you! Great ways to continue in the success of your site is to focus on:

• Generating leads
• Always providing fresh content
• Reacting and responding to fans
• Become engaging
• Adapt your strategy as required
• Optimize your Google+ presence

Good luck incorporating these three easy steps to monetize your Google+!

The Google AdWords program is the centerpiece of Google’s internet marketing product line.  Free to use and easy to setup, it affords advertisers anywhere in the world to generate targeted traffic to any web property they designate.

One of the main features that people like about AdWords is that it’s free.  But that’s also one of the pitfalls.  Since anyone can setup an account, and you don’t have to know what you are doing, it is very easy to throw away money with pay per click at an astonishingly fast pace.  So this begs the real question, what is the real value of Google AdWords?

Benefit #1 – Instant Visibility

AdWords offers website owners the chance to establish true validity, along with online awareness and marketability. Let’s say you just launched a new website and wanted to have it show up in front of potential customers immediately, AdWords is the single best tool for accomplishing this.  Advertisers also use pay per click to gain visibility for things like new products, announcements, special sales or offers, and similar items that they may not rank well for in organic listings.

Sample PPC (Pay Per Click) Ad

Benefit #2 – Traffic & Leads

The sexiest benefit of Google AdWords is that is can generate immediate traffic, which can potentially increase the number of leads your business is getting.  It’s not unusual for advertisers to earn good, valid business leads within a few hours of launching a campaign.

Benefit #3 – Benchmarking

Savvy marketers use AdWords to create performance benchmarks for their website.  Because you control your bids, you can monitor the performance of keywords and use that data to create long term SEO strategies that can turn your paid keywords into natural rankings.   As a form of pay-per-click advertising, Google AdWords is a vital component of any search engine-marketing endeavor.

Drawback #1 – Buyer Beware

As stated earlier, Google AdWords can be scary because while it looks simple, being good at it takes time and practice.  After all, why do you think they created a Google AdWords Certified Professional program in the first place?

For instance, the simple act of bidding and placement is more complex that it appears.  If you bid higher than the competition, logic tells you there is a good chance you will earn higher placement for ads and keywords. But this is not always the case, as Google has a “Quality Score” which is generated based on how well your keywords, ad and landing page perform.

Drawback #2 – Long Term Sustainability

The other issue with buying visibility is that once your budget runs out, your ads stop appearing.  So over the long term, it is very important to figure out the key metrics from AdWords to determine your actual ROI so you don’t keep paying for advertising that isn’t producing the results you need.

The secret to determining “real value” – Google Analytics

In order to determine the real cost of Google AdWords, you have to base your decision on the actual results and performance.  And the best way to do this is via Google Analytics.

With any successful online marketing campaign, web analytics plays a pivotal role. These statistics allow you to monitor daily, weekly, monthly, and even yearly web traffic rates. At the same time, it displays the number of hits that were generated via precise keyword and key-phrase searches and links.

If a particular set of keywords is not attracting web visitors that are converting into customers, subscribers or whatever goals you set, it is time to make changes to the campaign settings. You also have to concentrate on the keywords that are working well, while generating several variations and synonyms as well.

You can learn more about Google Analytics in one of our previous posts.

You Determine the Real Value

According to Avinash Kaushik, who wrote the popular book, “Web Analytics”, Google AdWords is a cost-effective solution to online marketing. Along with strategic SEO and advertising techniques, companies can effectively showcase their brands and products to mass audiences.

The real cost of Google AdWords, however, depends on your situation.  If being on the first page of Google for targeted phrases is of value, than you should have no problem coming to your own conclusion!

In today’s world, it’s not uncommon to hear someone say they “Googled” something.  Or more commonly, just “Google” it.

But just because “Google” has become synonymous with “search” on the internet, does that mean it’s the only game in town?  You might think so, but users and our analytics dashboard traffic reports show otherwise.  The most recent studies indicate that roughly 71.6% of search engine users use Google, but that leaves almost 30% using other sources.

While the use of their search engine has turned Google into a verb in today’s internet lexicon, some individuals prefer not to use the industry leader because of concerns over how their personal information is protected, among other reasons.  There are several alternatives out there from paid to open access. Some are better than others, so finding the best search engines besides Google, can be trial and error.

Yahoo to the rescue

For sheer name recognition, Yahoo holds strong as the number two search engine option. Once an industry leader, Yahoo is the #2 choice for the best search engines besides Google with roughly 14.3% of search engine traffic.

A few reasons people continue to love Yahoo include:

• When you open up the Yahoo search engine main page you find an easy to navigate site with loads of information available.
• The day’s top news is placed at the top center position of the main page and cycles through more than 40 stories that are currently trending.
• Trending topic keywords are displayed in the top right position.
• The left-hand side of the main page provides links to Yahoo services and information such as weather, email, games and job searches.
• Putting a keyword in the search engine quickly produces your classic list of related sites that relate to the topic.
• The right side of the page displays text advertisements with hyperlinks.
• The left side offers filtered search options based on the main search topic.

Many people stayed with Yahoo after they fell to number two because of the ease of use and accuracy of their searches.

bing a happy song

bing has been steadily on the rise as an option when looking for the best search engines besides Google since their debut in 2009. A Microsoft product, bing is marketed as a “decision engine”, and was known previously as Live Search, Windows Live Search and MSN Search. bing’s increasing popularity and aggressive marketing is quickly closing the gap between them and Yahoo, as they have roughly 9.9% of search engine usage.

A few things that bing users love include:

• The main page contains a huge interactive graphic that changes regularly and is based on varied topics that tie in to current events related to the topic.
• Across the top of the main page you will find several tabs to various types of searchable information such as images, shopping, news, etc.
• One key tab that sets bing apart from other search engines is the Search History tab. This tab does just what it sounds like it does and is a more useful tool tan you might think.
• Across the bottom of the home page you have the option to enable what is called Stay in the loop with bing. Clicking on this link takes you to a page where you can sign up to receive trending information in your email.
• Bing Trends is another bottom of the page link that will take you to a page that uses graphics and keywords to show the topics trending the highest on bing. The page will displays six days worth of topics.
• The popular now links are simply the top four trending topics of the moment that you can link to directly without having to go to the Bing Trends page.
• A search on bing takes you to the standard list of results, but provides additional information about the topic in an interactive pop-out window.

The best of the rest

There are several other options when searching for the best search engines besides Google, but when it comes right down to it, it is a personal choice. Yes AOL, Ask and Dogpile are still out there, but their percentage of search traffic is growing smaller and smaller over time.  Probably one of the main reasons is that many of these search engines don’t actually give their own results, many are part of the Google network meaning they show you Google search results from their own search portal.

Our best advice is to step outside the Google box and try a few others before settling on the one you’ll call your own.  Our guess is you’ll come to one of 2 conclusions – either a renewed sense of awe for why Google is so highly regarded, or you’ll begin to appreciate the finer points of why some other search engines manage to hold on.

It’s the ultimate internet dream…you have a product you’re passionate about, so you contact a local web developer to build an ecommerce site.  Then you sit back and wait while the billions of earth people trample a path to your new site and buy your stuff.

But for anyone who has tangled with ecommerce, they will attest to the fact that  it’s not quite so simple.

The fact is, there are oftentimes thousands of websites out there selling the same products or services.  So before you can convince someone why they should buy from you over these other sites, you must first get them to your site.  And that means being found on the internet when people search.

Getting traffic to ecommerce sites

There are 3 basic ways you can get internet traffic.  Social media participation is one strategy, paid search advertising is another, and then there’s search engine optimization (SEO) which is the “tried and true” long term strategy.  The problem with SEO is that its harder than it looks, and often times takes time to get results.

Going after good SEO results with ecommerce sites presents its own set of challenges because you have so many products on your website, and so much competition. That’s why WSI is offering a FREE informational webinar called “Five Steps to Optimizing an eCommerce Site for Search Engines” that will give you a step-by-step guide to getting better SEO results.

Just click the image below to find the registration link, or email me info@mywsiconsultant.com if you have any questions.

As a major search engine, Google has been the leader of the pack for quite some time and their constant innovations with things like Google Places are one of the big reasons why. From search to tools to advertising, the Google brand has expanded to unprecedented levels. And one of the most important changes Google has made in the last year has been with the changes to Google Local or Google Places as it’s now called.

By now I’m sure your familiar with the red pushpin on a map showing the locations of 7-10 of the businesses Google can find near the area you are searching for.  Here is a sample screenshot:

"pizza places Metairie LA" Google search results

You are also by now familar with the map which accompanies these markers:

Google Place Search

The Google Local tools recognize that to capture more regional businesses, there needs to be a simplified way to do it. Local businesses like ours deal with many challenges, from customer service, to product and service development and delivery to payroll. Because regional companies have so much to do, it is hard to focus on specific aspects of our businesses.

Google Local includes Google Place Search, designed to offer much more local content from regional advertisers. What this means for me is that I no longer have to spend my time trying to research and find local keywords, monitor the results, and modify bids for those keywords for my AdWords account.

Impact on Ratings & Reviews

The new Google Local format uses the location concept to find out what people are saying about my business in terms of reviews and ratings. These are two things I rarely had time to focus on in the past. This new tool finds all of that info for me so that I can use it to develop relevant Web content. I can also address the issues that I find by writing to consumers directly, which is something I used to have to pay a person to do for me.

Organic Positioning

The other aspect I really like with Google Local is that I can see the details that a local searching consumer is using to find my products and services. Google Place Search issues rewards to local businesses like mine with organic positioning when it finds complete and accurate content. For example, when it picks up a blog entry or article that I wrote, that info is considered and counts toward a higher placement by the search engine.

Since past attempts at organic positioning was something I wasn’t able to master, the new Google Local and Google Place Search has been a lifesaver in terms of leveraging the benefits of local SEO (search engine optimization) listing and placement. Now I can focus on continuing to build a richer rating and review level using these Google resources – which means my business will grow much more easily.

A Google change everyone will like

How many times have you wondered what a site looked like before you clicked on it?  If you’re like me, you often have that unsure feeling that the site being offered in search results might not be legitimate – or might not have what you want.

If you’ve ever had that feeling, than last week was a good one for you thanks to Google’s new Instant Preview feature.

Why Didn’t They Think of This Sooner?

Google preview is available by clicking on the new magnifying glass which appears next to the page title in search results.  When clicked, it pops out a wonderful screen filled with useful information such as:

• Full preview of the web page
• Highlights of the content relevant to your search

You can then click on either the Google listings, or the preview in order to visit the page.

What You Can Learn

Those of us who work in internet marketing know that Google has always been known for presenting quality sites even if they weren’t nice to look at.  However, now with the preview tool, those sites that are more appealing to look at have a better chance of getting the click.

Think about it – if you preview 2-3 sites before clicking and one is a nice looking site with clearly presented information, and the other is a dated looking site with hard to read text – which one would you click on.

So the lesson for site owners is that, sooner or later, nice looking sites will have an increased advantage over crummy ones – even in seo.

Kudos to Google (Again)

No matter what your opinion of Google, you have to admire their willingness to experiment with a good thing.  Google is the undisputed leader in search marketing with somewhere around 70% of all internet searches (depending on what study you look at).  And instead of resting on their success, they continue to push the envelope with new services designed to improve user experience.

The one digital marketing acronym everyone should know

SERP stands for Search Engine Results Page. When you type a phrase into Google or any other search engine, the results for that search appear on a new page in your browser. This is the SERP, and for businesses concerned with online marketing, being on the first SERP is one of the top priorities.

Why it matters to businesses

Let’s face it, who looks past page 1 for anything on Google? If a customer has to go to the second page of results to find your website, they are far less likely to find you or to conduct their business on your site.

What a typical SERP looks like

On the SERP, you will see three types of results.

• On the left side of the page is where one can find natural or organic listings, those which are placed there because the search engine finds them to be the most relevant to your search terms.
• Above those are the sponsored links. Companies pay the search engine to be placed in these positions.
• On the right side of the page are the paid advertisements, the PPC ads.

Which is the best place for my business on SERP?

Everybody wants to be #1 on Google for their dream phrase, but sadly everyone can’t be first. Even so, there are strategies for placement on search results pages that may benefit you such as occupying multiple positions on the page. Today we look at sponsored results, regular organic results and local results as 3 opportunities to show up on the page. Stay tuned to future blog posts to learn more about this.

How to evaluate how “good” is your website?

When we talk to new clients, most of them fall into one of 2 categories. First are the people who know they have a lousy website and need a new one. We applaud these people for being reasonable and open to suggestions.

However, the 2^nd crowd thinks their websites are great. And we have to be careful with this because websites are sometimes like children, in that only a parent can call them ugly without fear of a fist fight.

The brutal truth

At the end of the day, the goal is to get people to your website and get them to become customers. And the truth is that if your website isn’t good enough, your online marketing efforts may be largely wasted. And in today’s economy, that’s a luxury most of us can’t afford.

Questions to consider if your website passes the “smell test”

• Does it engage visitors quickly? You have about seven seconds to convince someone who comes to your website that they want to stay, and this time includes load time.
• Does it load quickly? Not only does load time count towards engaging visitors, it also affects the way that search engines rank a website. Slower sites are ranked lower, so ensuring that yours loads quickly is a necessity.
• Does it have great content? When the visitor feels engaged with the site, they want to read more and take part in conversations on the website. They are more likely to turn into customers when they find your site interesting, and more likely to return regularly.
• Does it set you apart from competitors? This is more than great graphics or pleasing colors. Smart design involves placing the information in a way that will lead to conversions, such as clearly telling visitors how your are different than everyone else that offers the same service.

Don’t Ignore Your 2010 Business Card

Remember, your primary digital asset is not your Facebook page or your Twitter account or a really great email ad; it is your website. Take the time to make sure that your website is representing your business well and serving as an effective business tool.

Internet marketing 101

Businesspeople often say that they feel that they are wasting money on advertising but that they are not sure which money is being wasted and which is translating into profits. In fact, John C. Penny (JC Penny Founder) once said that half of his marketing money was wasted, he just wish he knew which half.

Now that much of the budget for marketing pursuits is devoted to online marketing rather than tangible, traditional advertisements, it can be nothing short of overwhelming, especially for time strapped business owners and managers.

The shift to online from traditional media

The popularity of Google has changed the way potential customers find companies and select products. For most people, the process starts online with a search. This has resulted in a complete change in the way marketers approach sales techniques to reach potential clients.

Here are some terms that will help you understand online advertising as it exists currently, in the world of social media and Google:

• SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It refers to the way a website is built and positioned in order to be seen and ranked highly by popular search engines.
• PPC stands for pay per click and refers to a type of advertisement that can be placed on Google. Customers pay Google a set rate for each person that clicks on their ad.
• Social media and social networking refer to websites dedicated to connecting people for various purposes, whether it is for fun, business, or potential collaborations. Websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn provide unique opportunities to connect with other businesses as well as your customers.

Where to start?

If the shift towards digital marketing has you stumped, you are not alone. The most effective online marketing approaches incorporate each of these three components into a comprehensive plan that reaches consumers where they are, in any and all of these places. This is something that is hard, if not impossible, to get “out of the box” so to speak and requires careful planning and work to get the results you want.

Does pushing the “search” button takes too long?

Google instant is a new feature from Google that you have probably already noticed, especially if you have been a little frustrated thinking Google was broken this past week.

The whole thing with Instant is that results are updated right before your eyes.  As you type the phrase suggestions appear or disappear.  So what may start as a single word gets more specific as you type longer phrases.

Question – how long does it take to push the button, and is going without it really an improvement?

What exactly is “Instant”?

Google Instant is based on the assumption (maybe study) that we read faster than we type.  So Google figured if they show you more results as you type, you can find what you want faster.

Time Savings

Google says it will save you 2.5 – 5 seconds per search.

Add it up…50 searches a day x 2.5 seconds is 125 seconds or 2 minutes.  X 360 days that’s 750 minutes or 12 hours a year!  Do you really think this search tool will save you 12 hours per year?

Predictive Search

Google is actually trying to predict what you want – and show it to you so you don’t have to go searching.

Suggestions from Google

Google is now giving you results without even typing in the whole search term.

Some things to note

1. Like all of Google’s newer features, You CAN turn it off in your preferences
2. Don’t worry about Google finishing your kid’s search with dirty phrases.  Safe search is enabled if you already have that done.
3. They say it doesn’t slow down your internet connection.