NK Digital Media

Google Plus and Local Business: Things to Know

Navinderan Kesiven — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:20:42 +0000

Over the past, Google’s latest launch in the social media space ,Google Plus has generated a great deal of buzz, and it stands out as the fastest-growing myspace or facebook ever, with recent surveys claiming over 170 million users .Google Plus have been Google’s most successful venture inside the social space, after a number of social projects it’s got launched to mixed results. So, what on earth is Google Plus, and why does it matter for local businesses? Here’s a quick rundown of what you ought to know:

What is Google+ ?

Google Plus is a social media network, with similarities to Twitter and Facebook, however , many interesting differences also. The site is build across the understanding of offering users some control over who they share information with by way of a feature called “Circles.”Essentially, a circle can be a crowd you define and curate, designed tailored for sharing information. The site also features “Hangouts,” which can be group video chats, and “Sparks,” that happen to be streams of content from round the Internet on topics you’re enthusiastic about.

As opposed to creating a wall like on Facebook, the leading user experience is via viewing feeds of information, much like Twitter or even the Facebook news feed. But what’s unique about Google Plus is that you may view one feed of everybody you’ve put into a circle beneath “home” view, select to examine unique streams of info using the circles you’ve created, or view an rss feed called “incoming” if you have added that a circle that you simply haven’t combined with your own. You not restricted to this short character length, and you can edit a post and finally shared it. As being a Facebook wall, you possibly can discuss people’s posts and get connected to many people, and when they’ve posted publicly, you are able to reply to someone’s post even when they didn’t share it directly to you.

Google Plus integrates the +1 feature, which includes being similar to a Facebook “Like,” with the exception that it doesn’t actually share this article with your Google Plus profile. One example is, you possibly can +1 a comment or even a post on the search engines+, like everyone else can +1 a web site or post which has added the +1 button.

What Can Businesses do on Google+?

Here’s a few ways you being a business owner may use your Google Plus for your business and learn the rules of engagement on this new social site and that means you’ll be well prepared to make use of the business pages.

Connecting – Due to Circles function, Google Plus is a good location to connect with different people online, including people inside your industry and community. Creating circles that help you share and meet up with different types of groups is a superb strategy to use Google Plus to enhance your visibility and increase your personal brand as a local business owner. You may also use the Hangouts features to be a digital networking platform, by sharing messages or creating video chats with associates, mentors, or peers.

Linking – As a business owner, building your very own business page and linking on your business’s website, review pages, and social sites throughout the web is an excellent way to get your online business presence available in Google Plus in order to create more one way links to your sites. You should definitely list your business name is likely to personal Google+ profile beneath “About” section. You possibly can share about your company in a number of places with your Google Plus Page, such as the introduction, bragging rights ( one example is, XYZ Spa Named Relaxation Spot of the Year), Services, and contact sections. If your profile is public, people are able to discover links towards different portions of your online business’s web property through your individual Google Plus profile.

Sharing – Google+ is an excellent place to share content. So, sharing short article links, specials and deals, and also other specifics of your business, community, or industry can help you talk with other like-minded company owners and help you learn and market your expertise.

The Future of Google+ and Local Business

As the user base expands , Google+ is set to be an important tool for local online marketing. Google recently ended its contract with Twitter to source its real-time search, and it’s likely Google+ will become the company’s source for real-time search data. There is potential for the social network to impact search discovery and SEO, especially since public posts on Google+ are available to search engines. Google Plus may also be an important tool for reputation management, especially if they integrate Google Places Pages with Google Plus Business Pages, as many expect will happen.

The bottom line is that Google is an important player in the digital space, and as Google Plus continues to evolve, now is a great time to get involved as a local business owner. Have you joined Google Plus yet? What are your initial thoughts? What features or tools do you hope they’ll add as they begin to work with businesses on the site? Leave your thoughts in a comment!

Facebook tagging…have you been utilizing it?

Navinderan Kesiven — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:08:46 +0000

Here’s a tool that you should leverage! Facebook tagging, enables you to identify and reference people in photos, videos and notes out of your page or/and personal profile. It’s a great way to let people know what and who you’re referring to.

HOW:

Include the “@” symbol before you type the name of that person you would want to reference, a drop-down menu will show that will show you a list to select your on friends, Pages, groups, events and applications.

Friends you tag as part of your status updates will be given a notification and your post will also show on their walls. They’ll have an option to remove tags of themselves whenever they wish.

WHY:

You need to share news or information that you believe would interest or benefit a selected Page, Person or Group.
You intend to help spread the word of someone else’s work or news.

BENEFITS:

It offers you the capacity to interconnect and expand your network.
Others who will spot your site might also want to connect to you when you’re presenting yourself as being a person of value.
It’s a faster strategy to spread your message around other networks.

REMEMBER:

You possibly can’t use tagging in the comment (only works inside your status update).
Offer value and stay relevant.
NEVER spam or promote yourself when tagging.

When used strategically, tagging generally is a great method to cross-promote with other people on Facebook. You need to be make to use tags in positive ways.

NOTE: You will only be capable of tag individuals that have their privacy settings setup to allow it.

Test it!! Tag me or my Facebook Page in your next status update (you’ll should like my page or perhaps be my buddy first).

Now Is The Time To Take Any Local Business Mobile

Navinderan Kesiven — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:45:57 +0000

: google-mobile

In today’s device-driven world, plotting your local business mobile presence isn’t only a nice add-on, it’s a necessity. You skill to increase your company’ visibility, ensure an excellent customer experience and ultimately drive new sales through smartphones all rely on you having the mobile landscape and laying the foundation for achievement.

Here’s a quick guide to get you started on the technique to “mobile-izing” your business using apps and search engine marketing.

Why Mobile Is vital

Research on the growing relationship between mobile and local is endless. Approximately 61% of smartphone users conduct local searches on phones, in accordance with new research conducted by comScore and released by Localeze and 15miles.

Virtually all these users you will need to buy: 72% of the surveyed said they made an investment in their most current smartphone-based local search. There’s hardly any denying that mobile is the place your web visitors are and that you have to be.

Rise of Mobile Local Marketing

Search Vs. Apps? Try Both

The ways consumers conduct someone’s place of business searches for their cellular phones vary. While many rely on major yahoo and google to locate a local company’ website or its listing over a local site, about 50 % of (49%) of mobile users use search-based apps, good Localeze and 15miles study.

It’s clear that new and potential customers are considering a number of channels to locate yourself on their cell. Capturing their eyeballs requires your company to become present on as numerous of platforms as you can, or maybe you risk losing customers in your competitors.

Tackle Your Mobile Website

For all those trying to locate your business by using a major search results on the mobile device, your website could possibly be the very first thing they’ll find and visit. But after that their experience be once they view your internet site around the small screen? Would they capable to easily short-circuit and find the knowledge they need?

Google launched an initiative recently called “Go Mo” that encourages businesses to develop mobile-friendly sites. A mobile-friendly site is a version of your respective desktop site that may be formatted to some mobile screen, has readable text, and includes large-enough buttons for users to easily thumb through and take actions.

The initiative cites many different research indicating that consumers want and expect mobile-friendly sites, and that they play a vital role in whether consumers engage a local business.

A few of the top findings include:

71% of users expect a mobile site to load as fast as a desktop site, according to a 2011 study by Copuware
57% of users wouldn’t normally recommend a business which has a bad mobile site, while 40% have taken on a competitor’s site after a bad mobile experience, according to the same Copuware study
Nearly one out of 5 visits to a small company’ mobile-friendly site ends up with an instantaneous call to a business, as outlined by internal Q4 2011 data from DudaMobile, a mobile website developer that partnered with Google for the initiative (and since you will see, the numbers are much higher using categories)

Source: from DudaMobile

What are key circumstances to take into consideration when thinking of what your mobile-friendly site need to look like?

GoMo has ten best practices worth noting, that we’ll summarize here:

Ensure that is stays quick:mobile users are short in time, so prioritize content and features that mobile users need most, condense large blocks of text into bullets, and compress images to hurry up loading.
Simplify navigation: make a clear navigation and convey a search functionality to let customers find what they’re seeking.
Be thumb-friendly: design your website so users can easily press large buttons to get into content.
Design for visibility: ensure it is feasible for users you just read with distinct contrasts between text and backgrounds.
Make it acessable: make sure the site is visible on all kinds of cellular devices (e.g., don’t integrate Flash).
Ensure it is all to easy to convert: help it become simple for users to purchase something or get hold of your business, understanding they’re working at a virtual keyboard.
Allow it to be local: will include a functionality that can help people discover and have to your account – including adding your address or store locator for the landing page.
Help it become seamless: allow users to convert as much of the functionality in the desktop site to mobile.
Use mobile site that redirects: a mobile site redirect is a code that automatically recognizes in case a visitor is applying a mobile device, and directs them to the mobile-friendly version of one’s site automatically.
Listen, learn and iterate: solicit input out of your audience and enquire of your desktop site users what they desire in a mobile version of the site.

That has a mobile-friendly website that’s convenient to use, you’ll not merely provide your visitors will the feeling they’re looking for, but you’ll are more likely to manage to get their call, their business, and their recommendation.

Get Listed. Get Listed Again. Repeat.

Local sites also play a critical role in local mobile search since their business listings appear one of many first search engine additionally , on their popular apps.

Such as your website, local sites and their corresponding apps provide the most critical information mobile searches are looking for: your small business name, complete address and phone number.

Additionally, local sites and apps provide mobile-friendly user experiences that we know consumers want.

Source: comScore

See above to get a report on the most used mobile apps for a facility searches. While the local business is probably already listed on most if not all of these, it’s imperative that you have a look and be sure all the info is accurate or longer-to-date (and when you’re not listed, list yourself). Benefit from free tools to add pictures, menus, prices, hours and also other key information your customers will be hunting while searching on-the-go.

Also check approaches to improve your listing: either through direct advertising and deals, or organically by incentivizing customers to publish favorable reviews once they’re pleased with your service. These types of efforts will probably be valuable in helping the attractiveness of your company to mobile users looking at your listing.

Through this two-sided approach that recognizes the need for both mobile-friendly websites and local sites from our mobile search experience, you’ll be on your way to realizing the potency of this new medium to operate a vehicle customers on your business.

Facebook Timeline for Businesses: 10 Most Crucial Features You Must Know

Navinderan Kesiven — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:45:15 +0000

Facebook Timeline for brands has finally rolled out and each Business Page is going to be automatically be switched towards the new Timeline by March 30th 2012. So enjoy it or not, you’ll need to make the appropriate adjustments for your Business Page.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Covers

The Timeline cover picture is to will surely create a real impression with your visitors so play the role of creative! Make use of a unique image that represents your Page and business. You can get a new cover as many times as you desire, for events, different seasons, using different themes, etc. as long as you’re following Facebook’s cover terms.

According to Facebook, your cover image cannot contain:

Price or purchase information, such as “40% off” or “Download it at our website”
Contact information, such as web address, email, mailing address or other information intended for your Page’s About section
References to user interface elements, such as Like or Share, or any other Facebook site features
Calls to action, such as “Get it now” or “Tell your friends”

Covers should not be false, deceptive or misleading, and mustn’t infringe on organizations’ intellectual property. May not encourage or incentivize individuals upload your cover image to their own personal timelines.

2. Profile Pictures

The big profile banners within the left are actually gone. It’s been replaced by way of a simple profile picture which shows on the bottom left corner of one’s cover image. This may be considered a good way to show your business logo or any image to display your brand across your different social media channels.

3. Custom Pages and Apps

You are unable to put a default landing page. This is used by many businesses to direct people a custom page for example a Welcome or promotion page. With all the new Timeline, visitors land directly on your Page wall. This will definitely get people to upset numerous businesses had committed to this feature.

4. Tabs

Your tabs for apps, pictures, videos, events and likes now appear under your Page cover. You could have nearly 12 tabs but only 4 appear underneath the cover plus the picture tab will be the first anyone to appear and cannot be moved.To change the order of the other tabs:

Expand the views and apps menu by clicking on the to the right of your Page’s views and apps
Hover over the position you’d like to put a view or app and click the pencil icon that appears
Choose the view or app you’d like to swap into that spot from the menu
To remove a view or app, select Remove from Favorites in step 3.

Also, you can now change the large thumbnails tabs for most apps you DIDN’T create. Here’s how:

Click: Admin Panel > Manage > Edit Page > Apps. Click “Edit Settings”, then next to “Custom Tab Image” click “Change”.

5. Pinning posts

Pinned posts are Page posts that admins have chosen to display prominently near the top of their Page. A pinned post always appears inside the top left of the Page’s timeline and contains a flag in the top-right corner. A pinned post will there for 7 days. And then, it’ll go back to the date rrt had been posted on the Page’s timeline.

Posts from folks who just like a Page aren’t permitted be pinned posts. Page admins is only able to pin posts produced by the Page.

Because you still cannot set a default website landing page, pinning what to the most notable with the Timeline may be a fantastic strategy to include; images, websites, call-to-action trying for the people to click the tabs under the cover photo or everything else that will promote engagement.

6. Highlight posts

Highlight important stories by simply clicking on the star icon from the top right corner of your post. It will expend your site within the two columns so that it is more visible to your visitors.

7. Messages

Page visitors are now able to send private messages to Page owners. It is a fantastic new feature!

Realize that as far as I understand, Pages still can’t initiate the contact unless they’re replying in a very message sent because of the fan.

8. Milestones

Milestones are key moments you’ve chose to highlight on your own Page. Milestones are automatically expanded to widescreen and can display pictures at 843 pixels wide and 403 pixels tall.

To add a milestone:

Click Milestone in the sharing tool at the top of your Page’s timeline
Add a headline, location, date and details for your milestone
Choose to add a photo
Click Save

You can also add Milestone from anywhere with your Page’s timeline, scroll to your spot and then click + to create a milestone or other type of story to particular date.

Here again, this enables one to get creative and employ this feature to incorporate important and interesting events you would like to give your prospective customers.

9. About

You need to use around 160 characters (including spaces) inside your “about” section. It’s another good idea to provide a link to your site on this section. You can customize the description by exploring the about box.

But if your Facebook Page is categorized like a Place Page or Local Business, the “About” content on your Timeline will show an address, phone number, and hours. If you wish to Change the category of your page:

Click: Admin Panel > Manage > Edit Page > Basic Information. Click “category”, then select the appropriate category for your business and finally click Save Changes at the bottom.

10. Admin Panel

You have access to the admin panel over the rest your Page. It offers a fast snapshot of the notifications, and as well offers you usage of your Insights, New Likes and Messages. You can even manage and edit your page from there. It is possible to elect to hide and expand the admin panel from view

Other features you should know

Friend Activity: Within the right side of your Timeline, people will spot stories precisely their friends are interacting with your Page throughout your Page timeline. When visiting your Page, each visitors might find an alternative view with the right side of the Timeline in accordance with how their friends have interacted along with your page.

Activity Log: Beneath manage button, you can view your complete Page posts from your activity log, including the ones you’ve chosen to cover. It’s also possible to highlight, delete, hide or affect the date of a post from here.

Posts Dates: It is possible to customize the date of an post each time as well as move it down or down your Timeline in line with your date.

Facebook Timeline Image Measurements

Facebook cover photo size : 850 x 315 pixels – that’s 850 wide by 315 high
Facebook profile image size : 180 x 180 pixels square
Facebook navigation tab size : 110 x 74 pixels – that’s 110 wide by 74 high
Facebook custom pages – such as welcome pages and entry forms – are expected to be 810 pixels wide (they were 520 pixels) however there is talk is this may change so stay tuned
Facebook milestone image size : 843 x 403 pixels – that’s 843 wide by 403 high

Some studies show that a whopping 90% of Facebook users don’t return to a fan page once they click the Like button. They only see and interact with your content in their news feed.

According to Social Media Examiner

It’s very important that you simply try and keep audience engaged which means your posts come in their newsfeed. Which informs us that although you must optimize your Facebook Page Timeline features, investing lots of money inside design may not be the absolute right place to put your money. It really is definitely possible to create a successful Facebook Page without breaking the bank!

Simply make sure that you understand each of the Timeline features and ways to best make use of them, develop a posting strategy, come up with a unique visual impact for your visitors and add valuable posts on a consistent basis to your Timeline.

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