Archive for category Search Engine Marketing

Google Changes May Effect SEO

Posted by Sheryl Sargent in Internet Marketing, Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Social Networking, Web Design on May 4, 2011

If Google was a celebrity, it would be Joan Rivers – Obviously enhanced, possibly money-hungry, but fabulous nonetheless.

Let’s review the latest nip/tucks from Google…

Google Places: Now Infused with Hotpot

Introduced in November 2010, Google Hotpot offers recommendation to Google Search results. So when you’re looking for spicy Indian cuisine or the best place to get Precious Moments figurines, Hotpot displays a list of local places along with inline user reviews. Now this service is dropping its name and has been added to Google Places, which only makes sense. That’s probably where it should have started. Now through Google, you can rate businesses, be rated and make and receive recommendations, all while using the same profile. I too have grown tired of creating so many derivatives of my name. I draw the line at mizzIHEARTthaBIEBER97.

What this means for you? Well, Google isn’t saying. But what we do know is that you can never have too many positive reviews. Beef up your reputation with good PR through social media marketing and a likeable branding strategy.

Google Ads Become More Transparent

I’m sure you’ve noticed changes to Google Search with “Google Instant” and “Google Instant Previews,” where Google returns results as you type with a graphic overview of each result. (Just click that little magnified glass.) Google has now applied the same technology to pay per click ads (PPC). Read Google Instant Previews for Ads.

What this means for you? Now would be a good time to review (and revise if need be) your SEO strategy, at least for your landing page. Not sure how to tell if your site is optimized? Marion’s SEO Checker will help.

Although Google affirmed previews will not be considered in their decision-making algorithm, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Since the search process has been condensed, it’s more important than ever to ensure you’re using the right keywords and messaging to grab the attention of users.

Also, insist that your homepage is preview-friendly. In other words, you want it to be appealing because an unprofessional or dare-I-say flat out ugly landing page will probably repel more users than it attracts. Give your site a facelift with a custom web design.

Google Offers Google Offers

After Google’s unprecedented six billion dollar bid to acquire Groupon was rejected, Google found a new love to partner with…itself. Google introduced, Google Offers, their answer to daily deals, which is slowly hitting the mainstream.

What does this mean for you? Nothing…for now. Google is testing the service in Portland, Oregon with no word when they’re going to branch out to the rest of us.

Dinner +1

Google is rolling out +1, a feature similar to Facebook’s Like button…in fact it’s exactly like Facebook’s Like Button. The +1 button allows users to recommended different venues, recipes or even shoe repair stores for your friends to see as soon as they search for the related keywords. It’s available through Google Search at the moment, but the plan is for publishers to start adding the +1 button to their websites, and there’s no telling where Google is going to go from there.

What does this mean for you? It’s not clear that getting someone to +1 your site counts as a positive review. I would say so. While it’s still in the testing phase, Google has yet to integrate the results from this service into their complex algorithm, however we know Google and we can bet it’s not going to be too long, granted enough people choose to +1, +1. (Word of advice, get on the +1 bandwagon now. You don’t want to be the last.)

Buzz-ectomy

And finally, in non-Goolge related news, Marion gives our condolences to Yahoo for its shutdown of Yahoo! Buzz. Launched in 2008, the sun set on Yahoo! Buzz, the community-based news site. In its two year life span, the site never really gripped the public and thus it ends. O, Yahoo! Buzz, we hardly knew thee.

Custom Web Design, Graphic Design, Search Engine Optimization, Social Networking

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Customize your Web Design with Google Places

Posted by admin in Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Uncategorized, Web Design on March 23, 2011

A Google Places Map shows all of your business locations on a single map. It is good to have your locations listed on Google, but it is great to incorporate a Google Places map on your website. By customizing a Google map to show all of your local businesses within a region, your customers are able to locate and get directions to the nearest branch location.

For a customized Google Map, follow these steps:

Go to Google’s Homepage at www.google.com
Click on the Maps tab.
Click on My Maps.
Click on Get Started.
Log in by using an existing Google user name and password or create a new account.
Click on Create New Map.
Title your map and give a brief description. You can choose between creating a public listing or an unlisted listing. By creating a public listing, anyone searching Google can see it.
Click Save.
Now you can begin creating your custom map!
Zoom on the map to find your exact location and click the blue balloon to place a marker at that spot.
Once you have a marker, you can give it a title (e.g. Office – Northside) and then give a brief description (e.g. Address, Telephone, Email, and Office Hours).
Click OK to save that marker.
Continue this process until you have created all of the markers you need.
Tired of the blue balloons? Well add your own logo! While creating your marker click on the blue balloon and click Add an Icon. Then you can input a URL that has your logo.
Make sure to Save! Now you have created your very own Google map.

Don’t forget to add this map to your website. If you currently have a Contact Us page, you can upload this map and use it as a tool for your customers to easily locate the closest branch to them without ever leaving your site!

Looking for even more customization? Talk to the amazing and talented people at The Marion Group for all of your web design needs.

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Blogging Part II: ‘Why Am I Doing This?’

Posted by Sheryl Sargent in Brand Building, Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Social Networking on January 21, 2011

Previously, I divulged my formula for creating a marketable blog. To motivate you to actually do it, here is the rundown on what makes blogging so useful.

Reason 1: Your blog is the “Big Daddy” of all social media.

Not Facebook, not Twitter, but indeed it’s your company blog that is the cornerstone of social media marketing (SMM). When used effectively, it functions as the hub of SMM – a space where you drive all social traffic. Twitter and Facebook have suffered glitches in which users could not access or communicate with their fans/followers as normal. However, your blog is an online space that you have control over. Furthermore, a blog allows you to have more personal, in depth conversations. Even though you can post “notes” on Facebook, people typically expect all other social media platforms to be brief and immediate.

Reason 2: Blog means Better Listings on Google…and other search engines.

As mentioned in my previous blog, when your blog is on your website, the more articles you publish, the deeper your website becomes. This means, you’re expanding your website, adding a new page with each blog you release, which aids in search engine optimization. Add this to quality content with keywords relevant to your business, and you’ve increased the possibility of improving your ranking. In other words, people are more likely to find your website.

Reason 3: It’s easy enough…

Posting a blog allows you to communicate your branded message, interact with customers and/or other businesses and give your business a voice without the formality other marketing tactics require (e.g. a press release, brochures, web design, etc.) It’s a relatively inexpensive, ongoing tool that can be used at your discretion.

Blogging is absolutely beneficial and one of the easier methods to promote your brand. The hardest part sometimes is simply finding the time.

Up next…How to add more hours to the day… (Spoiler: Sleep less.)

Brand Building, Company Blogs, Public Relations, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing, Social Networking, Web Design Houston

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Blogging Should Never Be Painful: A Quick ‘How to’

Posted by Sheryl Sargent in Brand Building, Entertainment, Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Social Networking on January 20, 2011

I’ve been suffering from writer’s block for the past week and FINALLY I’m cured. Ironically, this is the topic that had me stumped:

HOW TO WRITE A MARKETABLE BLOG

(Sub-Rule: Stop Thinking So Hard)

If I adhered to this, I would’ve had this article for you last week…

By not adhering to this simple rule, you risk stifling your creative flow, and your readers will pick up on that…Then they’ll stop reading.

Rule 1: Develop a Strategy

Your blog should be consistent with your brand strategy. You should know who you’re targeting and the message you want to deliver.

Rule 2: Content Matters

Don’t let anyone tell you differently. Not only does content matter to the person reading it, but search engines pick up on it to. That’s why it’s important to have a catchy title with a keyword or two placed in the mix. Then (naturally) place those same keywords throughout your blog article for the web crawlers to find, aiding your site with a more visible ranking.

Rule 3: Get to the Point

Obviously, I’m a little lenient with this rule, but as rule of thumb, try not to give readers a textbook of information. That’s what Wikipedia is for.

Rule 4: Link Your Blog Off

Including internal links helps with search engine optimization (SEO). The more internal links you can reasonably include, the better.

Rule 5: Highlight the Important Stuff

For the skimmers out there, myself included, it’s ideal to have an article where the important points are emphasized through a bulleted list, bold print or all caps. Also, when it comes to creating a list, you can relay the same information, while making the article an easier, faster read.

Rule 6: It’s about Quality AND Quantity

Get in the habit of developing quality content frequently. The more blogs you release, the deeper your site becomes which, in turn, increases its visibility to search bots. This can potentially improve your ranking as well, especially if you jam pack it with relevant keywords.

Rule 7: Have Some Personality

This is important if you want to keep readers interested all the way to the end. Your blog should be just as personable as you.

Rule 8: Spell Check

(No explanation required.)

Now zealously start writing and get ready to publish your new and improved blog.

Up next…why you’re writing a blog in the first place…

Brand Building Services, Company Blogs, Internet Marketing Houston, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing

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