5 Reasons To Use Google Places

Google places, SEO, Small Business Marketing

Google Places

Google is the dominating search engine and one that majority of people turn to on their computers when they are looking for something. The current shift away from using desktop computers and into using the mobile and tablet has changed the way people search, but only a little bit.

The rise of apps has meant that we don’t necessarily search for things with a search engine but rather use an app for finding a restaurant, for example.

Yet there is one prominent Google service that you still need to pay attention to and that is Google Places. Here are five reasons why you can’t forget about Google.

1. Still The Most Relevant

There is no denying the fact that Google has a big upper hand against other local listings like Yelp or Foursquare. Although these are still good listings to sign up with your business there will always be more advantages for using Google Places.

Google has such a strong expertise in perfecting search engine functions that it is really important to take advantage of their products.

2. Allows Multiple Locations

If your business also works in multiple locations it is really simple to add all branches to your profile. This can ensure that your business is listed to people in various locations and that they can always find your office.

So make sure that you always include all locations, even if it is just an office space it can still improve the way customers find you.

3. Provides Reviews

Google Places also allows customers to review the businesses that they have been to and this is really important for getting your business improve its search engine ranking. You want to get people talking about your business and encouraging customer reviews is a great way to become more prominent business in your field.

4. Localisation Is Essential

In order to attract the right customers to your business you want to of course make sure that people near your business find you. Google Places is great for optimisation of local SEO and therefore essential for any business.

You also don’t necessarily need to use localisation in your searches in order to get local results. Google can get your exact location from GPS in smartphones and thus people who are near your business can find you really quickly.

5. It’s Free To Use

One thing that makes Google Places also an essential listings program to use is the fact that it is free to use. This means that small businesses don’t need to find more money to advertise but can get the same amazing benefits that bigger companies with more resources have. So make sure to sign up your business with this free service.

The above reasons are some of the most important reasons why you should start using Google Places. Although it is important to make your business visible in many online listings it is a good idea to start with Google Places.

It is simple to use and will provide your business a lot more internet presence.

Our guest blogger, Jonathan, is always looking for more information about various Google products and how entrepreneurs can use them to benefit their business.

The Vast Effects Of Favicons On Web Design

SEO

There are a multitude of sites that sell different products, content and services. It is definitely the small things that make for a more successful site because there is no end to the competition for any website no matter how old and experienced it is. It helps to have knowledge about a few helpful techniques that can aid you in your goals of being one of the most widely visited websites in your particular area of expertise. Sometimes the things that would escape the particular notice of a web developer or designer can be the ones that end up making a great deal of difference because users notice all the little things that may be helping or hindering them.

A favicon is a very useful element that is integrated into the design of many different websites and it is more than anything just a bar that has a list of chosen favorites on it. This can be an attractive and purposeful feature and users do tend to appreciate it because it makes their work easier when they are looking over content on a particular website.  To the layman a favicon may just have the basic function of a bookmark but now there are countless other uses for it and they really add to the overall appeal of a site. The favicon can be situated anywhere that is convenient but sometimes you have to look hard in order to find it. It can be up there with the browser’s address or in other possible tabs that are open at that time. Favicons are not just for making the life of site visitors easy, they have many other interesting uses that can really contribute to an online business.

Firstly, if you are a business website owner, your users will definitely want to see a favicon bar. They might change their mind about your site if they don’t. Apart from providing some much needed utility to your subscribers, a favicon can be used to get your message to the people on a more basic level. Favicon elements are basically little images and the brain picks those up quicker than long, boring paragraphs of content. By using basic favicons, you are actually attracting the attention of your users which in the end benefits you greatly as hits and sales increase revenue earned.

Another little unconscious thought process that the favicon bar creates in your users is awareness of the websites they are currently using. A little healthy comparison between them will help you as they will want to visit your website more often.

Another thing that favicon will do for you is that it will encourage your users to stick around. Favicons show impeccable judgment when it comes to web design and users always enjoy a well-designed site more than a poorly designed one. Appearance is everything in the online world. Favicons make you appear more credible and professional and this encourages potential buyers to trust you and your product. They might be a small, barely noticeable addition but their absence can have serious consequences.

Favicons are surprisingly good for promotional purposes. They can be small part of your overall brand image and small as they are, they do a pretty good job. Logos are something that we come across every day; when we go out to eat, when we buy clothing etc, which is why it is not such a bad idea to have one for your site. This will go a long way in really helping you learn how to create a website and also helping other people to instantly recognize your products and related written material.

Adam prattler works in a NZ Supplement Store. In his spare time, he likes to play soccer.

 

Are New Social Bookmarking Sites A Good Option For Backlinks?

Small Business Marketing, Social Media Marketing, , , ,

Social bookmarking

social-bookmarkingThe new buzz on the web has to do with social sites and it looks like the internet and SEO is headed firmly towards the social path. From social networking sites to social bookmarking sites, the internet is increasingly becoming a place for social activities and for people to socialize. The popularity of social bookmarking is on the rise and this has led to many new social bookmarking sites making their way into the market that is keenly contested for page rank (PR) ratings. There are many social bookmarking sites available all over the internet and people generally focus only on top social bookmarking sites list when it comes to using them for SEO or backlinks. However, some new social bookmarking sites have a decent PR rating and can be a good option for you. Such sites can be a resource that you can tap early.

 

Backlinks on social bookmarking

  • The use of backlinks is something that is keenly followed by many websites to help increase their traffic and to rise the rankings of their website.
  • By having backlinks at the right places, one can generate good traffic and with increased traffic from quality backlinks, the ranking of the website is only bound to increase.
  • Social bookmarking sites are considered a great platform for backlinks and one can use these sites as they would use search engines and the tagging in the social bookmarking sites is similar to the keywords that are used in search engines.
  • Generally people used the sites that are on the top bookmarking sites list for their backlinks, but one should also consider the new social bookmarking sites as they can have untapped potential if used properly.

Finding new social bookmarking sites

Even new social bookmarking sites are not spared from PR Ratings. Therefore, you will be able to know the PR rating of even the new sites and that will help you to decide on whether to use that bookmarking site or to avoid it. Many new sites have PR ratings of five and above. These sites can be a good option, as they are still untapped, and can provide you access to a different set of people who you can use to build traffic to your site. Many blogs and websites will have the list of new social bookmarking sites along with their PR rating. By visiting such blogs and website, you will be able to find new social bookmarking sites that have untapped potential.

 Why new social bookmarking sites can be a good option

Every new site will have a set of new members that you can target and very few regulars of social bookmarking sites will join new sites, as they would be focusing on the top social networking sites list. This means, the new social bookmarking sites will have new users that could be targeted, to increase traffic to your website. The new social bookmarking sites that have a good PR rating would be a good option and it may be an option that will work out well for you.

Atanu Shaw is an online marketing consultant who has the experience and expertise of handling various online marketing campaigns. He works as Seo consultant on best seo company India.

What Can Make Your Infographic Go Viral?

Infographics, Small Business Marketing, Viral marketing, ,

The widely used tool of infographics have been taking an increasingly expansive share of the world’s web content as everyone from marketing specialists, governments, to scientists have begun to realize how much more effective visually engaging content can be. As marketing tools go, when created and shared effectively, infographics are by far one of the most useful tools in brand promotion with the potential to reach hundreds, thousands, or millions of viewers in a short time. To make your own infographic project simple and convincing, thus more shareable, follow these tips on creating the perfect viral infographic:

Set Your Goals

In various settings, we are most often striving to acquire new customers or to build our brand’s image and through marketing techniques, infographics set out to educate or entertain audiences to build an image. However, these two categories are actually quite wide in scope, so it’s best to narrow your goal further from there. With a goal to build your brand’s image, determine if you can narrow your goal to answering a common problem or showing statistical data that reveals trends, mysteries or scams as a part of your infographic. Such content has a great potential to go viral as it generates personal and emotional reactions to the subject.

Research, Research, Research

The research aspect of infographic creation requires research in a multitude of spheres. It is first critical to research your intended audience. Who do you want to reach and what do they care most about? During this research stage, you can also start to engage with this audience directly via social media. Follow them in all social channels, retweet their posts, thus initiating goodwill and a lubricating the soon-to-be-even-more-critical flow of information.

Research is also about finding credible sources from which you can harvest relevant information and data to add to the content of your infographic. It merits reiteration, so whether you collect data internally from:

  • Your own company
  • Your competitors
  • Public or social statistical databases
  • Annual reports of publically listed market leaders

Ensure that it is entirely credible. The debunking of facts in your infographic is a sure fire way to halt its viral movement across the interwebs.

Think Through the Design

First and foremost, your infographic needs both a persuasive header and an eye-catching overall design. These factors remain in your hands whether or not you choose to hire a professional designer for the job or to utilize free or paid online infographic creation software. For free software, start with visual.ly or Piktochart, but note that there are many other options if you cannot find a suitable template within these platforms.

And if you can’t seem to find the right design for your infographic, it might be the constraints of static two-dimensional space that prevent you from expressing your highly detailed and interconnected data. Bottom line, don’t rule out an animated infographic agency. As videos have arguably more viral potential than static graphics, if your infographic can be developed as an inspiring and informative video, that is obviously the way to go.

Saturate the Market

When you have your final product in hand, dedicate your marketing team to doing nothing but promoting it for the first few days. If you can saturate the market for only a week, you’ll secure more viral potential than if only one blog reposts your infographic weekly for the next month. Go both big and small with your infographic. Consider offering bigger platforms a 48 hour window of exclusivity with the content before you send it out to the wider public by engaging with smaller players through social media with whom you’ve hopefully already initiated some contact. Don’t be shy to ask everyone who shared your infographic to follow you and to reach out with a simple ‘Thanks for sharing!’ which goes a long way.

If you have some extra cash in your marketing budget, try paying for stumbles on StumbleUpon, as it’s really not expensive and can generate a significant number of likes, follows, and shares building desired viral content.

This guest-post was written by David Kovacs who is an online marketing enthusiast from Hungary and loves to share his thoughts and articles on various channels in topics related to marketing, business and SEO. If you have any question feel free to leave a comment or follow him on Twitter.