How to Get Your Business Found in Google Local Search

Ever typed a business name or category into Google and saw a list of Google Maps results and their corresponding addresses plotted on a map? Well, that would be Google Places, a great feature of that allows businesses to list their addresses on Google Maps and be found when someone does a Google search for your industry near your location.

So how can you get your business to come up on a map in search results? EASY! Just list your business with in Google Places. Log in with your Google account (or you can create one), then follow the instructions to list your business. The important thing to remember here is that you want to be found in Google's local search, so you MUST list a local phone number. An 800 or 900 number will not work because these numbers do not have a local area code. Thus, you should list your local number to ensure you get the results you are looking for.

This is a great feature of Google, and an excellent tool for businesses because these results are front and center in search results and offer customers a visual of your location. This is essentially free advertisement in search results. Get your business listed today!

Oldest Twitter User Passes at 104

Ivy Bean, thought to be the oldest Twitter user, passed away July 28th in her care home in a small English town at the incredible age of 104.

Bean was very popular on Twitter, boasting more than 56,000 at the time of her death. She had tweeted over 1000 times and was also an avid Facebook user (which she joined at the ripe age of 102).

The news of her death was posted on Bean's Twitter account (@IvyBean104), which had been informing followers about Bean's deteriorating condition over the past few days.

The post reads:

Ivy passed away peacefully at 12:08 this morning...I'm sorry it took me so long to tell you but it was a very difficult thing to do.

Mrs. Bean shows us that social media knows no bounds. Networks such as Facebook and Twitter are open to anyone and everyone that wish to participate. You will be missed, Ivy.

How to Help Yourself with Yelp

These days most customers are either reading and/or writing online reviews for just about every business out there. Before buying a car, they may research the dealership. Before hiring a mover, they may check for reviews online. And, believe me they are going online and posting reviews if they feel ripped off or cheated.

As a result, services such as Yelp have become an important factor in the decision making process of consumers. What does this mean for you? It means a few things, actually.

First, your business should be on Yelp. Yelp allows businesses to create listings with the information necessary for consumers to find you. You can 'claim' your business to add phone numbers, store hours, menus, product offerins, etc. I would advise claiming your business and adding as much information as possible so potential customers are able to easily find you.

Also, stay on top of what customers are saying about your business online. If a customer posts an irate review that is full of errors or false information, Yelp allows business owners to dispute a review. Be sure to keep tabs of what customers are saying about you, then use the information to better yourself. If the reviews are untrue, dispute them and have them removed. You ultimately need to tap into what your customers think of your business, and Yelp is one of the places where people are really talking.

When Blogging, Avoid PR and Marketing

I know this sounds contrary to the goals you have for online marketing, but trust me. A blog that gives viewers information rather than attempting to sell them something will do wonders for both your image and your sales.

If you are maintaining your blog correctly, it should become a repository of analysis, opinions, tips, and tools that are provided by your company for the benefit of your customers. The insight and expertise that this type of blog can demonstrate is far more useful than any PR pitch or marketing stunt.

Avoid trying to sell your readers in your blog, this is not the place. Add information that provides value to your readers. Remember that your knowledge and opinions are priceless to your customers. If you don't have an opinion on a certain topic, feel free to poll your readers and get a feel for the view of your community.

Remember that blogging is your chance to take your mind off of marketing. Do this, and you will realize that the analysis you provide will sell your company better than any press release ever could.

QR Codes Now Appearing on Sanitation Trucks

QR codes now appear on roughly 2200 New York City Department of Sanitation trucks.  The QR codes pull up instructional videos that tell residents how to recycle.

Proving that QR codes may be the way consumers initially interact with companies in the future, the NYC Sanitation Department is leading the way with this public outreach effort.

Didn't I tell you yesterday this technology was going to be big?

Calvin Klein Replacing Racy Billboards with QR Codes

Calvin Klein billboard with QR code

Calvin Klein has replaced two of its billboards in New York and one in Los Angeles with a bright red QR code rather than another racy image of scantily clad models.

QR (short for quick response) codes are barcodes that can be scanned with a smartphone camera and then used to pull up special features or additional advertisements.  The code in the Calvin Klein

Previous Calvin Klein billboard

 billboards links to an exclusive "uncensored" commercial followed by links to share the ad with Facebook and Twitter.

These codes are appearing more frequently in traditional advertising in an effort to increase consumer engagement with brands.  This is an up and coming trend that is already popular in Japan and should be watched carefully by small businesses.  It may prove worthwhile to invest in this technology and include your own QR code in future advertisements.  The more consumers interact with your brand, the more likely they are to associate with and ultimately stick with the brand.

Connect with Travis on Facebook!

Since I have my personal Facebook profile locked, as I have advised you to do as well, I was hearing complaints that clients and contacts wanted to interact with me via Facebook but were unable.  Well, problem solved!

I have created a Facebook Page (just like your business should have!) to allow any and everyone to connect with me and ask any questions they may have via Facebook.

So if you enjoy the blog, enjoy my tweets, or just enjoy making my acquaintance...please 'like' me on Facebook.

Trends in Social Media: Mobile Ads

Due to the trend towards location based social media and mobile interaction, advertisers are trying their best to take advantage of this new ability to reach consumers at the most critical moment: the moment they make an in-store purchase.

Major players such as Google and Apple are creating mobile ad agencies and many applications now include mobile ads. Small businesses should monitor this trend as it progresses, and get in on the ground floor of advertising to their customers when it is most relevant, when they are in or near your location.

Trends in Social Media: Location, Location, Location

Twitter allows location based tweets, and allows searching by location. Facebook has announced intentions to support location information. Mobile social media apps such as Foursquare and Gowalla are becoming popular for letting others know your whereabouts. And Google has been using location information to personalize your search experience for some time now.

This trend toward an emphasis on location is great news for businesses as many are catered to local clientele. Small businesses should look into adding themselves to these services and offering discounts to customers that 'check in' most often.

Trends in Social Media: Mobile Payments

Although the idea of mobile payments is relatively new in the United States, the developing world has been rapidly adopting these services for some time now. Add the recent interest in the States to the fact that major players like Visa are pushing toward mobile payments and companies like PayPal already have mobile payment apps for iPhone, Blackberry, and Andriod phones, and what do you have?

You have a shift towards mobile payment systems, thats what. Being able to make and take payments directly from your mobile phone is the latest trend and going to be the way of the future of commerce. Small business owners are going to want to keep a close eye on  this!

How Companies Should Respond to Online Reviews

Customer review sites such as Yelp and Epinions allow customers to post reviews of companies and the products or services they offer. Of course, it goes without saying that some of these reviews are less than shining and this could reflect negatively upon a company. Let's be honest, one eloquent negative review could ruin a small business.

So what do you do? Well, Yelp allows businesses to respond to the negative reviews and an up-and-coming startup called Pley will provide a forum for business owners to review customers. However, when responding to customer reviews, there are some rules you must follow in order to reverse negative publicity.

When should you respond?
-If you genuinely need to make amends for a mistake
-When the customer is missing the facts (or has incorrect information)
-When the review develops legs and many are responding with similar opinions
-If the customer is angry with you, and not just his/her own life (or business in general)
-When someone reads the review and is offended for you

How should you respond?
-Listen to what customers are saying
-Be honest and open in your response
-Remain calm and do not attack the customer
-Speak like a human being and avoid industry jargon
-Promise to be better in the future

Think you can do it?  Try it out!