%%term_title%

5 Reasons You Need One Google Account

June 16, 2013 by Theresa Wagar Leave a Comment

When I went to log into my Google Account for Gmail today, this was the image Google was showing me beside the sign-in box:

I realized as I was reading through the text that this image was a concept I had tried to explain many times.

While I can see one username and password as a security nightmare, the ease and simplicity of a single item to remember dwarfs the concern. Beside Google has a number of security precautions you can enable, including having Google ring your phone with a code every time you log-in. So for you, dear reader, I’ve created a list of reasons your webmaster desires for you to have the ONE password for all of Google.

Authorship

By creating a Google+ account under one username and password, you can show your photo next to your articles, blogs, etc. when they appear on a Google search. Studies are showing more folks are clicking the links with the author’s photo next to them.

Google Analytics

Knowing who, how, and from where someone is visiting your website are important metrics for any business to measure. Have a simple, but in-depth interface to do the measuring can be expensive – unless you using Google Analytics. A free website metrics tool, Google Analytics can provide analysis of your website visits, keywords, and even web browsers used. If you haven’t created and placed the tracking yourself, your webmaster can easily do it and add you as an administrator. All using your one Google username and password.

YouTube

When Google purchased YouTube a few years back , I noticed it didn’t take them long before our YouTube accounts were connected to our Google account. This can be a challenge if you have more than one YouTube account today since you will need a separate Google account for each. This transition has caused difficulties for clients who had to rediscover their YouTube accounts after the need for the SEO connection became apparent. Your best bet it to consolidate to ONE YouTube account. YouTube is currently testing have multiple administrators managing a channel.

Google+

Google+ may still be the new social media game in town, but with Google continuing the extend and improve features like Google Hangouts, Google Pages, and Google+ Local, if you haven’t setup an account by now, you will want to set started. Google+ interaction also improves your Google Authorship and potentially your Google search rankings as well. Since Burst Media announced in April 2013 that Google+ has more users now than Twitter, this newer social media site it picking up steam.

Gmail

After search, Gmail has been a hallmark of the Google brand. Setting up your Gmail account is the first step to harnessing the power of your Google account. Gmail can be a simple answer to many email issues.

you have multiple accounts elsewhere
you want to be able to use email on your phone without loosing it on your desktop
you just want a simple online interface for all your email accounts
you need help with spam filtering (especially for older domain names),

then Gmail can be a good solution.

While Google offers a number of other options, these are the ones I discuss with my clients the most. So if you haven’t started a Google account yet or you want to consolidate the ones you have, start by creating / consolidating your Gmail account at www.gmail.com

Have you setup a Google Account yet? What Google products can you not live without? Share your insights in the comments below.

How the New Google Plus Local Changes will Affect your Business

September 5, 2012 by Theresa Wagar Leave a Comment

In June 2012, Google finally announced and implemented its highly anticipated switch from Google Pages to Google+ Local and the implications for what this means for your business has dire consequences. It is vital that you understand the changes and begin to take advantage of Google + Local to boost your business before your competition does so. Fortunately, we have lined up a few innovative strategies for you in this article.

Google Pages to Google+ Local

Chances are if you’re reading this, you already have a Google Page for your business (if you don’t, you really need to go set one up right now). What this switch has done is basically place a “Local” tab on the left hand side of user’s browsers which allows them to click and instantly see any restaurants and businesses in their immediate area. Further, these pages are ranked in order of review scores with a special weight given to a user’s friends and family’s ratings.

Now, with just one listing, your business will be found across Google searches, maps, mobile apps and Google+. Plus, your customers can now review your establishment and recommend it much easier.

And this is such a vital switch because studies show that on average, 50% of all searches for businesses and restaurants are coming from mobile phones. That means that you could potentially be missing out on half of your customers if you aren’t taking advantage of Google+ Local. And with the mobile trend only continuing towards more and more people having iPhones, tablets and androids, the percentages of mobile app searches are only going to rise in the next few years.

But perhaps the biggest feature here is that these Google+ Local pages are being indexed. This means users will be able to find them on regular Google searches as well, so your chances of being found greatly increase…if you are getting customer ratings that is.

So What Should You Do?

Get a Google Business Page if you don’t already have one or, more importantly, claim the Google+ Local page ALREADY ready and waiting for you! Then, take advantage of the new page building features that Google is allowing with Local.

Post more pictures
Manage your profile with the new streamlined look and keep it lively
Host “hangouts” at your restaurant to boost attendance
Host more updates for increased interaction to stay fresh in customer’s minds
MOST IMPORTANTLY: GET REVIEWS

Why Getting Reviews is Essential

This last point is so vital because your business will now be found by digital word of mouth. The more people are talking good about you, the better off your business will be. Seems simple right? But the implications are much greater: because of the indexing, your ratings will be out there for all to see for all time with the click of a button.

But beware, Google wants the reviews to be genuine. You’ll want customers to enter their reviews from home (or different internet addresses – not just your business location). Reviews also require a Google+ account.

Don’t dismiss the Google+Local pages as another “waste of time” online marketing charade. Google is continuing to take steps to place greater and greater emphasis on these pages in their search results. Be sure to claim or develop your page before your competitors do to get a leg up on this important local online marketing tool.

How to Use Google+ Local Reviews to Promote Your Business

June 25, 2012 by Theresa Wagar Leave a Comment

Your business’ Google+ Local listing is an integral part of your online reputation, and is an invaluable tool when it comes to the Internet marketing of your business. One essential factor that contributes to the success (or lack thereof) of your Google+ Places listing is customer reviews. In order to make the most out of your Google+ Places listing, you should have plenty of relevant, high-quality customer reviews. How do you handle the reviews aspect of your Google+ Places listing? Here are some tips for how to get and respond to Google+ Places reviews.

Getting Reviews:

Ask for them. This is the simplest way to get Google+ Places reviews. If you have satisfied customers or clients (and you should!), then make it a point to ask them to visit your Google+ Places listing and submit a review. Remind them that posting a review to your listing is easy: they simple click on the “Write a Review” button at the top left-hand corner of your listing and type away. They will need to be logged into their Google+ account to create the review.

Your Google+ Local listing link. Google+ Local provides you with a personalized link that you can send to your email or snail mail list to direct people to your listing and ask for reviews. You can also include your link on all of your business correspondence, advertisements and marketing materials. Don’t forget to include a link for reviews from your website, too.

QR codes. Generate a QR code linked to your Google+ Local listing and put it on anything and everything related to your business that your customers may see, along with a simple request to visit your listing and write a review. QR codes will take any smart phone user directly to your Google+ Places listing with a quick and easy scan.

Third-party sources. List your business in directories like Yelp, Bing, Yahoo! Business listings, and Foursquare and all reviews submitted to those sites will automatically link to and be listed on your Google+ Local listing. However with the transition to Google+ Local, the Google+ reviews are viewable first and carry a heavier weight with Google

Responding to Reviews:

Negative reviews. It never fails that some people simply won’t be happy with your business, no matter what you do. It is important that you preserve your business’ reputation by responding to these reviews promptly and diplomatically. Make a public attempt to resolve any issues, and express your perspective in a way that is neither self-justifying nor insulting to the customer.

Positive reviews. Thank your satisfied customers for their support, and offer them incentives to keep coming back. By offering coupons and referral rewards publicly, via the Google+ Local listing forum, you are encouraging potential customers to give you a try.

Take advantage of everything Google+ Local has to offer by enlisting the help of competent professionals like us, Premier Design Websites. We can be reached by phone, at 757-342-7960, or via email: getlocal@premierdesignwebsites.com.

3 Easy Ways Google Maps and Google + Local Will Deliver Customers to Your Door

June 13, 2012 by Theresa Wagar Leave a Comment

Drive more Customers to Your Door If you know anything about business web marketing, then there is no doubt that you’ve heard of two powerful offerings from the Internet powerhouse, Google: Google Maps and Google + Local. Google Maps is an interactive map application that encompasses features like driving directions, zoom in/out, multiple map views, business location and contact information, and more. Google + Local is an extension of Google Maps, bringing points of interest from Google Maps to life with individualized Places pages. If your business is not using both Google Maps and Google + Local to attract new customers, then you should work on setting up your Google presence, and right away. Want to know more? Here are three easy ways Google Maps and Google + Local will deliver customers to your door:

Highly targeted marketing.

When you complete your Google + Local listing, you have the option of targeting your listing for your ideal consumer market in a number of different ways. You do this by enriching your content with keyword phrases that are aimed at reaching the very people your business serves, by choosing categories for your business that will attract those who are most likely to become paying customers, and by creating ads and deals that are specifically designed with your primary market in mind.

Your Google Maps place marker.

When you create your business listing on Google + Local and have the corresponding business location marked on Google Maps (with that familiar blue pin that Google users have come to know and love), you are literally making your business available to everyone who searches for a business like yours in your area. That means that even if someone doesn’t know the exact name of your business, or that person is searching using general keywords that pertain to your business, your business’ location marker will show up on the Google search Map results.

Two powerhouses, working together.

Think of it this way: everyone who searches the Internet using Google (and let’s face it, that’s practically everyone who uses the Internet) sees both Google + Local page listings as well as Google Maps results. This means your business has an even greater chance of standing out and getting the attention you want it to when you take advantage of using Google + Local and Google Maps together.

Take advantage of everything Google + Local has to offer by enlisting the help of competent professionals like us, Premier Design Websites. We can be reached by phone, at 757-342-7960, or via email: golocal@premierdesignwebsites.com.