Google+ Business Pages, no rules - yet.

The release of the Google+ Business pages yesterday introduce many businesses and new users to the new kid on the social playground. Now companies, artists, performers, individuals and brands can have a page a la Facebook to spread their word. Geat and long awaited, G+  finally has relevance to the business community.

This is a big shot over the bow for Google to companies like Facebook. The intention is to woo businesses with the promise of pertinence and relevance in search. If the forecasts prove true, soon a search for "+anybusiness" should yield that company's Google Business Page. Marketing GOLD! Not just yet...

Due to reasons yet explained, anyone can setup a Google+ Business Page for any company they choose. I could be IBM or Starbucks or Sears and Roebuck. That's going to mess with the accuracy of any search until Google has a method to verify that someone from the business in question is establishing the new Business Page legitimately. When you create a Google+ Business Page, it becomes a subset of your Google+ identity. Right now, a checkbox next to a "terms of use" statement is what validates your worthiness to create such pages. Google has said that they intend to incorporate a badge system that once hovered over, would signify that this Google+ page is the real deal. So the question is, where are the badges and how was this released without them?

Yesterday when the curtain came up on this, I scrambled into manifest destiny mode to quicly capture all of our brand names and get a Google+ page up for each of our brands ASAP. At the same time, a coworker, equally connected online, was doing the same thing. Highlighting the problem at hand, we were sitting less than 25ft from each other, thinking we were both beating the world to the punch and claiming our company's valuable names on Google+. Until I posted a tweet saying the Google+ Business Pages were live and saw a tweet announcing our company's new Google+ Page (that I hadn't posted) the plan was working well. I learned as early into the launch as possible that we had both created duplicate "official" pages for SIGNARAMA, EmbroidMe, Billboard Connection and Plan Ahead Events. So anyone could have done that, too. And I thought I was on top of the whole Google+ Business Page release?

We'll eventually be able to verify by address or some neat Google means that we are the rightful creator of our brand's Google+ Business Pages. Until then, we have issues with duplicates or unauthorized copycats. I'm glad we're not in a mission-critical industry, like Homeland Security! I have faith that Google will sew it all together now that it's being discussed worldwide. They have a good set of ideas to help push this Business Page concept forward and back it up with the search results that can drive traffic to the pages. The correct, verified, authorized Business Pages.

Yelp works for us, too.

Yelp.com was originally just a restaurant review site. People could leave reviews of where they've eaten and others read the reviews and decide for themselves if they'd like that type of dining/eating experience.  As of late, Yelp is changing to become involved promoting all types of businesses, which bodes well for our franchisees. You can enter a business profile and "claim" your location similar to Google Places, Yahoo, Bing, etc.  It's easy to do and has shown to help your free SEO efforts once people visit the Yelp entry for your business and leave reviews. You can create a free Yelp Business Account which allows you to get your business listed on the Yelp site and gives you the opportunity down the road to advertise on Yelp if you choose.

Here's a link to a quick video about Yelp and the Business Accounts. 

Just a neat tip on a Friday!

-dm

28% = Landslide warning.

A company called the Pew Internet Project released a study earlier this week stating that 28% of American adults now use their smartphone as their primary conduit to the Internet.  This means that they spend more time and invoke more instances with the online world via a 4.5" x 2.5" phone screen vs. using a PC or a Mac. Huh?

Apple introduced a new method of updating the software on it's popular iPhone products, it involves updates that happen via the network, wirelessly into the device. That's how you'll receive the new iOS version 5 says Steve Jobs. No longer are you required to plug your phone into an iTunes equipped computer.  Reason? Many of the new users that have come on board with the two networks supporting iPhone (AT&T, Verizon) don't have a computer!  They are getting the phone to allow themselves to be online.

The seismic shift from computer to mobile device is flowing right by us.  I last blogged of the new reality whereby the customer steers more of the service attitude by having incredible review power - instantly. (See last post) With the growing popularity of QR codes and the free QR code reader apps for the Droid and iPhone, the consumer carries the web in their pocket. This can be your web they tote around if you're using QR codes to direct buyers to your products. As a result, our franchisees have begun putting QR codes on signs, windows, vehicles, shirts, mousepads, stress balls, all over!  A SIGNARAMA can do this for your advertising and graphics, an EmbroidMe can QR code your apparel and promotional products.  Have a look at the report, it's interesting!

Pew Internet Project report on mobile web users.

Then have a look at what some of our stores are doing QR code-wise.  You can find one near you...

EmbroidMe     SIGNARAMA

Like never before...

This holiday shopping season, "Black Friday" is being hijacked.  TV and radio will have their ads as usual.  The lines will still be at the mall, the traffic still churning early in the am, but a swelling undercurrent is changing the game.

The social media sites are the new focal points. Twitter is ablaze with special offers and coupons, good at traditional retailers and/or online merchants.  Facebook groups and Facebook ads target people where they spend countless hours. (See live stats, WARNING: Fasten seatbelt first, this is WILD! http://tinyurl.com/356y6s )  The action is on your PC, Mac or smartphone now.  Shopping before the holiday rush now equates to sitting at a computer, thumbing through offers, and planning where you'll spend your money this season.  This is a profound change that shouldn't be ignored by our retail franchisees.

Have you made an investment in social media? Do you have an upkeep a Twitter page for your store?  You should. It's free financially, but like anything relationship-wise, it demands an investment in time.  You have to collect and suggest followers, and follow them back to form a community of folks with like interests.  Then you have to keep updates flowing on your Twitter site to make it relevant and interesting A new feature of Twitter is called "lists", which allows a user to categorize the people or businesses he/she follows and sort them for easy reading.  This is a great addition to help users organize the many "tweets" or messages that parse through your system once you develop followers and look to keep up with those you follow.  Shoppers will use Twitter this season like the coupon inserts of the newspapers I once delivered in New York.  Nothing was as big and heavy as the Sunday edition the week before Thanksgiving here in the US.  Now it's all in your hands, 24/7.  Have at it!

Knowing this is not a fad, can you commit to making this change to add to your existing marketing efforts?  I say "add" because it is not a replacement for traditional face to face sales... thankfully!  You need both.  Get a friend, relative or "Gen Y" employee to manage this for you.  Be a reliable and informative resource online to your clients all year, not just in the holiday crush.  This works, like most plans, if you'll work, too.  Happy tweeting, and Happy Thanksgiving!  See you online...