Friday, 31 December 2010

Technology in 2011: Pocket-lint's predictions http://goo.gl/4xvQJ

Privacy in the Social Economy - who cares?

I don’t peruse random people’s profiles. No one else I know does either. I don’t see identity theft being a major issue, if at all. So who are these mythical people who you don’t want to allow them to see your vacation photos.

Amplify’d from notaproblog.com
Don’t Worry About Privacy: No One Cares About You

The tech space has been up in arms over Facebook’s seeming disregard for user privacy, yet are we making much ado about nothing?

Before you jump on the Facebook-bashing bandwagon, ask yourself these three questions:

1. Is anyone forcing you to be on Facebook? Probably not. Then stop using it.
2. Do you share anything on Facebook you feel is too private? Then stop doing that.
3. Who the hell is looking at your Facebook profile anyways? Not many, if anyone.
Read more at notaproblog.com
 

The WikiLeaks Story… So Far [INFOGRAPHIC]

Who is your person of the year? Here are three good candidates

Amplify’d from www.penn-olson.com

Julian-AssangeBesides Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, Julian Assange is another ‘Person of the Year‘ frequently named by our readers. In fact, he is readers’ choice for Time’s magazine Person of the Year 2010.

2010 has been an exploding year for Assange and WikiLeaks. Almost every day we are hearing news about WikiLeaks. From whistleblowing, boycotts from Paypal and other partners to hacker attacks, WikiLeaks has snatched the headlines.

Read more at www.penn-olson.com
 

What We Want From Google in 2011 http://goo.gl/67NxV

17 Reviews on Technology, Business and Media in 2010

Amplify from Anthony Burke, WSI

It is the last day of the year so it is in order to review what has happened this year

Amplify’d from www.penn-olson.com

2010The last of day of the year never fails to keep me reflecting how time has passed. Our team has covered numerous year-in-reviews and ‘best-of the year’ as 2010 slowly fades away.

This post will summarize and consolidate what were shared.

We have also grouped these reviews under three category: (1) Technology, (2) Business and (3) Media.

Read more at www.penn-olson.com
 

Internet Television: The Future is Now Here

Jim shares how Revision3 came about in 2005 and how the web allowed them to create television without the overhead of a cable network. You’ll hear how Revision3 uses the web and social media to find an audience.

social media expert interviewIn this video I interview Jim Louderback, CEO of Revision3, an internet television network. Revision3 produces 20 shows for 18-34 year old guys (think technology, music, and culture) which are distributed online.

Read more at www.socialmediaexaminer.com
 

How the Internet has Changed the Way we Communicate

How the Internet is changing the English language and the ways we speak



As a linguist and an ex-English teacher, the evolution of language has always fascinated me.  Since the 15th century, the English language has evolved under the influence of technology but I would argue that this has been more in terms of style than structural changes to the language.  The first big change came in the 15th century with the use of printing presses which introduced new standardised grammar, spelling and punctuation styles. In the 19th century, telephony brought in new patterns of dialogue as people could speak to each other at greater distances.  Radio and TV broadcasting in the early 20th century introduced us to new styles and brought us sports commentators, chat shows and interviews.  However, it is the internet that has had a massive change both in the way we speak and how we write English.



Who could have predicted that internet technology would have brought us so much diversity?  For example, just think of the different technologies and the way we communicate in English using these technologies:

* the world wide web itself

* email

* chat rooms

* instant messaging

* the virtual worlds of games

* blogging

* twittering

* mobile phone texting

* social Networking


We do not speak or communicate in the same way when we are blogging as when we are texting and each technology has its own style of the English language.  These different styles of communication have exploded and will continue to evolve and you can see it in all forms of online marketing or offline marketing materials



Whilst the internet has produced some new vocabulary or “internet slang”, there are only a few hundred new English slang words in a language which has over one million words.  So the 20th century slang of  "groovy" and "funky" has given way to phrases like "lol" (laugh out loud), and "brb" (be right back) in the 21st century - but they are still relatively few.



So, although there are some new punctuation formats, e.g. emoticons, there have been no significant changes to grammar patterns or verb endings. The main change has been the style of language that we use when we communicate.



Lots of purists and people would like to preserve the correct way to speak English.  However, no one can stop trends in style and slang from changing the way we communicate. Whether it is cave men's drawing on walls, writing in sand with a stick, or sending a "tweet" to the other side of the world, the English language is something that will never be permanent and will be constantly changed by technology.
How to use local SEO for your business? ...harness local leads, nurture local customers, leverage local customer reviews http://goo.gl/sgri
AccountingWEB’s 2010 technology review - Ignore what we said, 2010 was the year of the iPad http://goo.gl/fI9Jw
Mending Wall: Matches and mismatches in IT stakeholder expectations - CTO/CIO Perspectives http://goo.gl/L7x0V
Local market dominance enables global reach ...optimize your online presence for local SEO http://goo.gl/sgri
What Offline Advertisers Can Teach Online Marketers http://goo.gl/yIa81

Thursday, 30 December 2010

How to stand out from the Blogging Crowd

With billions of blog pages produced weekly, here are some great tips on how to make your blog stand out from the ever increasingly crowded blog space.

social media how toIt’s no secret that the amount of new bloggers entering the blogosphere has made it both incredibly competitive and difficult to stand out.

By Nathan Hangen
Published December 9, 2010 Print

5 Ways to Make Your Blog Stand Out From the Crowd

Read more at www.socialmediaexaminer.com
 

2010 in review: What our 10 most popular posts say about the year in social media http://goo.gl/Haude

5 Ways To Integrate Social Media Into Your Company’s DNA

Social Media is where SEO was 3/4 years ago and should be embedded into any strategic marketing plans. Make sure your business can leverage the power of the internet and social media to improve brand,increase sales,reduce costs,make operational efficiencies and help your business communicate better with prospects and clients.

Amplify’d from www.jeffbullas.com

Social media is embedding itself in the human DNA as we connect and interact globally in an increasingly mobile social web. We have it wherever we go, on our iPhone, iPad or laptop.  If we aren’t connected we feel isolated, not in touch and feel like we are missing out. We are are social and the companies that we work for are social and there is a growing awareness that we need to weave the social media DNA into the fabric of the corporation.5 Ways To Integrate Social Media Into Your Companys DNA

Read more at www.jeffbullas.com
 

Make your business more productive

Can crowdsourcing work for your business and save you time? This is a great way to make you more productive. Check it out!

Amplify’d from outspokenmedia.com
One thing I’ve learned while running a small business is that it’s hard. Another thing I learned is that it doesn’t always pay to do everything yourself.
Read more at outspokenmedia.com
 

Small business SEO Go local!

Local market dominance enables global reach ...optimize your online presence for local SEO



Until a few years ago when the Internet wasn't an omnipresent, all powerful phenomenon, the Yellow Pages used to be the golden goose of lead generation. Particularly for small and medium sized businesses, these local business directories worked wonders. While the medium of search has changed from offline listings to online business listings on search engines, the fact remains that people like to do business with local companies. Of course, every business owner wants to expand beyond the horizons of their physical geographic market, but dominating the local space is the stepping stone to big business outside.



With sustained online marketing, you may have gained an edge over competition in another city, country or continent. That's great. The thing to remember is that your biggest (and often seemingly "silent") competitor may be in your backyard! When your customers are searching for your products and services online, search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing are serving up local results to make things easy for online users. Does your business figure in the top ranks of these search listings? It's not difficult or expensive to get there; you just need to know how and must make efforts to stay there once you rise to the top.

Why the need for local brand building and visibility? ...it's not mere eye-candy; it might just be chocolate!



It's easy to be tempted by the sales volume and revenue that comes from out of city / country customers. But ignoring the potential of the local marketplace is not an option. The importance of local customers and regional sales is evident in the way global brands too are customising their marketing and product offering. Although implemented in an offline situation, a relevant example is that of the Kit Kat chocolate bar from Nestlรฉ. At the start of 2010, the company launched 19 different Kit Kat flavours in Japan to suit diverse tastes across districts in that market. Clearly, this is an example of trying to penetrate every little local pocket of the chocolate consumer market in Japan – dominate and rule!



In an online example of local marketing, the city of Manchester in Northwest England introduced a signature holiday gift wrap in late 2009. The multi-hued limited edition paper matched the city's logo. It was heavily marketed and sold on their tourism website's online shop. Without a doubt, the profits from online holiday season sales spiked by local customer activity.

How to use local search engine optimization for your business? ...harness local leads, nurture local customers, leverage local customer reviews



There are several simple ways to increase local search traffic and enhance credibility in your region. You can read detailed tips in the WSI Whitepaper titled "Driving Business with Local Search". Here’s an overview of how to implement local SEO for your business:



  • Use business mapping applications to get your business listed on search engines like Google, Yahoo!, Bing and so on.


  • If your website and contact information has already been included in local business databases online, verify that all the details are accurate and up to date. Never thought a postal code would be useful in Internet marketing? People are Googling these days for local businesses with postal / zip codes in the search window!


  • Make sure that your business listings drive search traffic directly to relevant pages on your website instead of leading visitors to yet another information site or portal.


  • Leverage content marketing - professionally written copy, photographs and videos about your company, products, services, people, etc. can have a huge impact on helping you dominate your online business listings.


  • Even in the absence of a website, your business (with a valid phone number) can get listed in local search listings. So while your website is in the works, get the ball rolling and start driving local customers to your door.




The more local business leads you gain with your SEO efforts, the greater your chances are to expand and nurture a strong database of local customers. Use social media and online reviews to leverage all the wonderful word-of-mouth publicity from these happy customers. There can be no greater referrals than glowing testimonials from local clients who are proud of their local business / service provider, i.e. YOU!



Here at WSI our WSI Digital Marketing Consultants are your best resource for local SEO; and your Internet marketing and local search traffic expert is only a phone call or click away. Call now on 01580 819529 to set up a free, no obligation "Local SEO" consultation for your business. Or fill out a simple online form to get in touch.
Facebook Overthrows Yahoo To Become The World’s Third Largest Website http://goo.gl/jAChi
2011 Cloud Computing Predictions For CIO’s And Business Technology Leaders http://goo.gl/gtFTV

Wednesday, 29 December 2010

Super Memory Breakthrough: Store Every Movie Made This Year on Your Phone (With Room to Spare) http://goo.gl/MFynM
Liking: Best of 2010: The Future of Business is Social from Brian Solis http://goo.gl/Zyzi6
Small business SEO - Go local! http://bit.ly/eZI802

General Insurance Systems for Brokers – minimum requirements for the UK Market

General Insurance Brokers who operate in the UK and Ireland general insurance market need a general insurance broking system that is a one-stop-shop for all of their customers’ insurance needs. Insurance brokers need to be able to personalise and customise insurance products and services to suit the specific customers’ portfolio. The UK general insurance market is very mature and competitive. Therefore, general insurance brokers need to be empowered to act as an insurance carrier and function in an autonomous self-contained way, providing full front and back office functionality for the entire administrative needs of their insurance broking operation needs.

General Insurance Brokers need a system that:





  • provides the broker with full front office and back office functionality


  • fully automates settlements with carriers


  • enables full policy administration life cycle; including quote, binding, rate, issue and service


  • provides claims management from first report and detailed point in time coverage verification


  • enables claim settlement through fast track and full-scale settlements with salvage and subrogation capabilities


  • includes billing collection and disbursement system with a flexible, dynamic payment schedule


  • has an advanced integrated workflow system that manages all follow-up activities as well as all marketing and cross-selling initiatives.




In summary a general insurance solution for brokers needs to provide distributed access to users, partners, associates and customers while facilitating the ownership and control of data, operations and processes.



General Insurance Systems for brokers need to support the definition, rollout and introduction of traditional as well as innovative and unique pre-brokered insurance products for the general insurance market. This will enable Insurance Brokers to leverage the advantage of green-field niche markets in a strategic way. These relationships will include affinities and selective clientele, while collaborating with pools of carriers via diverse sales and marketing channels.



JMR Consulting UK Ltd and IDIT IDI Technologies are working together to bring the IDIT general insurance software solution to the UK Market.  To find out more about the IDIT solution, please get in touch by using the contact form,  sending an email to info@jmruk.com or calling us on 0845 052 0900.
Are Business-oriented apps and m-commerce on the rise ? http://goo.gl/T2f7o
Tech in 2010 - touchy, feely, fun - it has been a great year http://goo.gl/CV3rj
Six social media lessons for businesses from 2010 http://goo.gl/NKpDv
Social Media in 2011: We Still Have a Long Way to Go http://goo.gl/qHI66

Tuesday, 28 December 2010

5 Ways To Integrate Social Media Into Your Company’s DNA http://goo.gl/u7sY1
Another late night is on the cards as we hopefully bring the ashes home tonight. Forecast is for a georgeous day in Melbourne.
Richard Hill focuses Worcester's sights on promotion after opening seven-point gap in Championship http://goo.gl/PO65b
England's Barmy Army revel in new-found respectability in Melbourne http://goo.gl/C4H7y
Five Organizing Principles for Social Media in 2011 http://goo.gl/YSXeK
2010 Social Media Wrap-up. Facebook Vs Twitter [infographic] http://goo.gl/HpMZQ

Monday, 27 December 2010

Foursquare Adds Photos and Comments for Check-Ins http://goo.gl/ZBg3s
2010: The Year of Mobile? - Google and Apple Join the Party http://goo.gl/C0JM6

Saturday, 25 December 2010

Sports entities chase social media cash http://goo.gl/QEAWo
Facebook’s on a trajectory to more than double in value annually http://goo.gl/Qah8X

Friday, 24 December 2010

How Can Twitter Help an Offline Business? http://goo.gl/1Qh0f
Tech predictions for 2011: The winners and losers http://goo.gl/JRDUg

Thursday, 23 December 2010

Be brief, for no discourse can please when too long - Miguel de Cervantes Spanish adventurer, author, & poet (1547 - 1616)
How to: The Rise of agility - not just for IT projects http://bit.ly/hOlBBj
Great video on the 2010 mobile year http://goo.gl/0xoDq
Gartner Reveals Top Predictions for IT Organizations and Users for 2011 and Beyond http://goo.gl/rZ4xX
Reading: A Conversation About You, Social Currency and Social Capital from Brian Solis http://goo.gl/kESIc

Wednesday, 22 December 2010

Video - Ho...ho...ho..My Blackberry Is Not Working! - The One Ronnie, Preview - BBC One http://bit.ly/dJOFlh
The Santa Claus Guide to Perfect Project Management http://goo.gl/QLjgz
15 mind-blowing social media stats from 2010 http://goo.gl/G9IlL
How to combine Public Relations and Social Media ... powerful forces to boost credibility http://goo.gl/j1eTF

Tuesday, 21 December 2010

Pay-Per-Click and Web Analytics Go Hand in Hand http://goo.gl/afX05
How CIOs Should Be Helping Marketers http://goo.gl/XAmRF
Are we heading towards the ultimate convergence of search engines and social media? http://goo.gl/SId2r
How to clean-up your profile after a Facebook survey scam http://goo.gl/Dxnjk
How to Boost Your Sales with Twitter http://goo.gl/CaxNL

Monday, 20 December 2010

5 Easy Steps to Use the Power of Online Business Directories http://goo.gl/lNfHi
Pay-Per-Click and Web Analytics Go Hand in Hand - use data to drive greater traffic, conversion and performance http://goo.gl/afX05

Sunday, 19 December 2010

Dropbox 1.0 available with performance enhancements, Selective Sync http://goo.gl/FmLGW
Word Lens augmented reality app instantly translates whatever you point it at http://goo.gl/7Wty8
Why Personality Matters: Interview with Steve Shapiro http://bit.ly/e7EabB what is your corp personality?
Landing Page Design - Only 2 seconds - Glory or Gloom? http://ping.fm/Oudve

Saturday, 18 December 2010

Very nifty tool wold visuals http://goo.gl/uRJtb
Video Marketing for Business http://ping.fm/N1Ugn

Friday, 17 December 2010

How To Best Build a Multi-faceted Personal Brand? http://goo.gl/ioXk1

Thursday, 16 December 2010

How To Pick The Best Social Network For Your Brand http://goo.gl/zPuWI
eMarketer expects worldwide tablet sales to reach 81.3 million units in 2012 http://goo.gl/JtE4l
Almost 70% of all the insurance and reinsurance companies subject to Solvency II participated in QIS5 http://goo.gl/Me00O
Reading: Chris Brogan Blog - WHY INVESTING IN YOUR CUSTOMER IS THE BEST BET YOU CAN MAKE http://goo.gl/k08Kj
Global investment in renewables to total $1.7 trillion by 2020 http://goo.gl/xQlzl
Reading: Brian Solis - The Difference Between Friends, Fans and Followers http://goo.gl/zNKPr

Wednesday, 15 December 2010

Does your workplace policy cover social media? http://goo.gl/ROQ3z

Tuesday, 14 December 2010

IBM to Build 3 Petaflop Supercomputer for Germany http://goo.gl/YIuzS
The Top 50 Gawker Media Passwords = Bet you can guess these... http://goo.gl/5voCg
Passwords compromised at Gawker, Gizmodo, Lifehacker, Kotaku, Deadspin and more - some password tips http://goo.gl/v9ujb
Glory or Gloom? - why Landing Page Design is so important - because you only have 2 seconds http://goo.gl/cahj5

Monday, 13 December 2010

Random fact: 'Go', is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.
Social Media Is Greater Marketing Priority for Small Businesses http://bit.ly/gGJNT2 Facebook is now third most important marketing tactic
Glory or Gloom and why Landing Page Design is so important because you only have 2 seconds http://goo.gl/cahj5

Sunday, 12 December 2010

Workaholism May be Killing You [infographic] http://goo.gl/s0Mnj

Friday, 10 December 2010

Nor more Dell from Hell...? Dell To Launch Social Media Listening Command Cente http://bit.ly/gYKavM

Thursday, 9 December 2010

Insurers Underestimate the Social Media Opportunity http://goo.gl/ci0cx
How users Search, and then Socialize to Validate their Findings http://goo.gl/XwVdf

Tuesday, 7 December 2010

Search Engines and Social Media Channels Compete - but finding common ground helps customer engagement and conversion http://bit.ly/ffNT5g
Reading: Microsoft Builds Online Tracking Blocking Feature Into IE9 - comback for IE? http://bit.ly/ghLJrW
"A Duck's Quack Doesn't Echo, and no-one knows the reason why?" http://goo.gl/hNOqR
Blog post: Solvency II simply explained http://goo.gl/OlSv2
Video: What professionalism means to you - the market speaks out http://goo.gl/pjyuX

Monday, 6 December 2010

Econsultancy: Five things you can’t slack off this Christmas http://bit.ly/e14byZ
Reading: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Do: ‘Objectivity’ in the Age of the Internet http://goo.gl/D5unn
It's all slipping away from Ponting http://goo.gl/jpC6b
Reading: Amazon says WikiLeaks violated policy, not politics http://goo.gl/gIhoz
Search Engines and Social Media Channels Compete but finding common ground can help customer engagement and conversion http://bit.ly/ffNT5g
Reading: In Online Privacy Plan, the Opt-Out Question Looms - implications for marketing, media and ad industry? http://goo.gl/PMpzV
Reading: What will the integration of social networking and email mean for marketing? http://bit.ly/h9y415

Sunday, 5 December 2010

Reading: Facebook Profiles Get a Facelift http://goo.gl/7Q9MX

Friday, 3 December 2010

For the "in between sessions" Ashes fans' guide: hidden Adelaide http://bit.ly/evmKC7
How to Start an Effective Mobile Marketing Campaign Part 2 of 2 http://goo.gl/Zg4RZ
Good news..I use this tool all the time..Xmarks Lives: LastPass Buys Downtrodden Bookmark-Syncing Service http://goo.gl/Bp4FM
Reading: Creative Destruction: Why Facebook and Twitter May be Doomed - true or false what do you think? http://goo.gl/mWqk1
Reading: Social ranking signals revealed: what Google and Bing are really using http://goo.gl/CvjFQ

Thursday, 2 December 2010

AbuseRank: reputation monitoring takes centre stage in SEO http://goo.gl/lUQjA
Reading: How long will Google's magic last? http://goo.gl/koBAa
Google and Europe...what do you think? http://goo.gl/LFi9d

Wednesday, 1 December 2010

BSI launches standard to make websites accessible http://goo.gl/g5oSc
Emarketer: 2011 Trends: Content Marketing Is Critical to keep your business ahead of the digital curve http://goo.gl/YuZ3S
How to Start an Effective Mobile Marketing Campaign Part 1 of 2 http://goo.gl/eZPvu
Breaking news - Alistair Cook will use a glass bat in Adelaide....so that Mitchell Johnson can see the stumps!

Tuesday, 30 November 2010

Is a Groupon acquisition the next phase in Google's local push? http://goo.gl/FVLUp
The 3 Pillars of Social Media Readiness http://goo.gl/RGapJ
Use Twitter to boost your sales http://goo.gl/EP3ag

Case Study: Mobile Marketing for Politicians

We have had great feedback from customers and prospects about how they can understand how mobile technology and mobile marketing can help their business by painting some simple scenarios on how best to use this for their business.  

So, we are continuing our series of short scenarios on how different business or, in this case a local politician, can make use of mobile technology and mobile marketing to better market their products and services.  All these example are simple ways that we think different businesses can use mobile marketing for business to support their business in innovative ways.  These are some practical ways that we think people can use this new technology and are illustrative only.

Here is another example of how mobile marketing for business could be used in a scenario for local and national Politicians & Elected Officials:

1. Sarah, a local mayor, wants to keep in touch with her local constituents. She publishes either a shared short code or a Call-to-Subscribe phone number on all of her direct mail pieces, in her email signature, on her stationary, and even on a billboard along the main commuter thoroughfare.

2. The marketing offer reads something like, “Sarah is listening. Text the word 'DEMOCRACY' from your mobile phone to receive SMS alerts on local issues. Give your feedback instantly.

3. Interested citizens would use their mobile phone to ‘opt-in’ to the town issues campaign. The citizen would text the keyword and receive a text back that is written something like, “Thank you for subscribing. I really care what you think. You will receive town issue alerts via SMS on your mobile phone. Unsubscribe at any time by texting STOP to 77777.”

4. Sarah is faced with an important town issue concerning a new development and wants to survey her constituents. She creates a mobile marketing campaign that reads something like, “Are you in favor of a tax increase for a new Springfield park?  Leave a msg at xxxxx-xxxxxx with your opinion. To stop msgs, text STOP to 77777” [msg: 140 character count]

5. Sarah engages her audience at rates cheaper than direct mail. The local community is happy that she cares what they think.

At the last election, politicians in the UK definitely started using social media to try and connect with their supporters and the voters.  However, it was no where on the scale that we saw from Obama during the UK elections.  However, the opportunity is there for national and local politicians to engage with their communities via mobile marketing technques.

LinkedIn Launches Share Button http://goo.gl/RXIVD
Local authority spend on CCTV may be nearing the £500m mark http://bit.ly/gwEQue what is the ROI?
In case you didn't notice, Google recently we made a change to show more results from a domain for certain types of queries http://bit.ly/hmoxNL
Humans Can Only Walk In Circles and We Don't Know Why http://goo.gl/Nqyvs
Congressman wants WikiLeaks listed as terrorist group...is this data terrorism? http://goo.gl/Nt4am
For PayPal, the Future Is Mobile http://goo.gl/ooZOn
16 Facts About Sleep [infographic] How well did you do on the sleep positions? It got me right! http://bit.ly/eKsikP

Monday, 29 November 2010

Video: Is this something that your sports team could use? http://bit.ly/fQd5JV
My blogpost: Boost Your Sales with Twitter http://goo.gl/CaxNL
I've blogged about this topic before and so is CIO.com - CMOs and CIOs: Can This Relationship Be Saved? http://bit.ly/gxAdIo
Try again - watching the Ashes highlights...can't see any green and gold in the crowd...?
Watching the 5th day Ashes highlights - where arfe th
Are CIOs Finally Embracing Social Media? http://goo.gl/PqmCw
American babysitter hit for six by Ashes mania on Twitter http://goo.gl/30jF9
HTML5's Potential as an SMB Superweapon - opens up mobile marketing http://goo.gl/axCmx
Be wise: Keep details to a minimum on social media sites http://goo.gl/Gn2jO
Tip - Download your FB information frm acct settings - If you are worried about Facebook ever closing your account down
Google buys Groupon for $2.5B? Neither company has confirmed the story, the acq follows a week of buyout rumors http://bit.ly/ezTPvy
The UK will go bust by 2019, according to our new report, On Borrowed Time http://goo.gl/wb117
Qantas to fly Twitter woman to Ashes http://goo.gl/fyI4o

Sunday, 28 November 2010

Google VP, Linus Upson - when the Chrome OS deploys, some 60% of all businesses could get rid of Windows http://bit.ly/gXeq4J
iPad 2 rumored to bring a Retina Display, more docks, and a camera http://goo.gl/3CskI

Google Has Done It Again! They've Changed the Local Game with "Place Search"

Google is not renowned for making radical changes to products and services or rolling out changes very quickly.  However, they have been very active of late and just when we were getting comfortable with local search, they flipped everything on its head with the introduction of Place Search.

  • Pay-per-click has changed
  • Organic search has changed
  • Online reviews now more prominent

"We're introducing Place Search, a new kind of local search result that organizes the world's information around places. We've clustered search results around specific locations so you can more easily make comparisons and decide where to go". - Google Blog, October 28 

7 Changes to Google Search:

  1. Elimination of the 7-Pack Google Map listing
  2. Ranking algorithm for local listings have been updated
  3. Google Places pages have greater visibility in new search result layout
  4. Local results surrounded by more information like including 3rd party review sites
  5. Information is grouped conveniently to make it easier to digest and compare
  6. New link for "Places" in the left-hand panel of the search results page so you can switch to these results whenever you want
  7. Google map now on the right side above the paid search listings, which scrolls as you scroll down the page

Google is Building in Web Intelligence

A Google Place Search result will begin appearing automatically on Google when they predict you're looking for local information. Their goal is make it faster and easier for searchers to find the local information they are looking for that will ultimately help them decide where they want to go.

What this Means to Your Business 

If you are optimising your products and services using local keywords, the new Google Places Search will definitely impact how they appear in the organic listings. It is important for you and your business to be well educated on these changes as well and understand what they need to do to ensure your local listing is optimised effectively.

 

What is the point of Twitter? Emma Barnett speaks to chief, Dick Costolo, Evan Williams and Jack Dorsey to find out. http://bit.ly/hwncS8
Just what is the point of Twitter? Emma Barnett speaks to its chief, Dick Costolo, Evan Williams and Jack Dorsey to find out. http://goo.gl/ekboM
10 Steps To Kickoff A Social Media Campaign http://goo.gl/pE9WW
The Ashes 2010: Australian press reaction - 'England rise again' http://goo.gl/ep0GM
Inside Edge Newsletter: Digital Marketing tips for business delivered straight to your Inbox! Join now http://goo.gl/zNfSp
Great Ashes commentary from Gower...ha..ha..with a sore foot http://goo.gl/DrHZS

Saturday, 27 November 2010

Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA 2010 winners - IDIT IDI Technologies in position 413 with impressive 430% growth http://goo.gl/GLBxZ
Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA 210 winners IDIT IDI Technolgoie
Online Spending Continues to Surge [Infographic] http://goo.gl/Sulhi
Check this post our - The main reasons why Microsoft Office 365 rocks http://goo.gl/Xkz49
10 things you might be doing that could hurt your career http://goo.gl/rxfMc
The 'Facebook killer' won't look like Facebook http://goo.gl/6ZkKQ
Twitter Isn’t Sure What Twitter Is, CEO Costolo Says. http://goo.gl/WWFn4

Friday, 26 November 2010

Awesome visualizations of internet and web tech http://goo.gl/XJuPr
Mobile phones will overtake PCs as the most common web-access devices worldwide by 2013 http://goo.gl/Hpl6q
12 Ways to a Great Corporate Culture http://goo.gl/VzV51
Ten Life Lessons From Richard Branson http://goo.gl/xUE6Y
The Size of the Mobile Market [infographic] http://goo.gl/VNKtB

Thursday, 25 November 2010

Ten reasons why senior managers don't write blogs http://goo.gl/CAQpR
Ues please: For Google, the Browser Does It All I want a PC that starts up in seconds! http://goo.gl/rt0Ma
The innovation trend at LinkedIn is exciting. http://goo.gl/UQwHN
LinkedIn Goes Beyond Your Online Profile - To Image and Reputation Management http://bit.ly/grZrnt

Wednesday, 24 November 2010

Why Social Media Is Top Priority for Search Marketers http://goo.gl/7fjJo

Blogging for Business and how to Build a Reputation - Walking the talk

Blogging for Business and how to Build a Reputation - Walking the talk

Blogging is a great way to show your customers, employees and other stakeholders that you're serious about "walking the talk". The Web has revolutionised the way business is conducted and it's not only because you can connect with your prospects around the globe in the blink of an eye. It has also become easier for your customers to find your competitors or post feedback (positive or negative) on your products / services.

Transparency is the key to a "healthy" organisational climate. Blogging lets customers have a close (but structured) view of your operations and keeps your staff in the know of what's happening in the organization. Rather than let perceptions roll asunder, you can maintain significant control of your business / brand reputation and stay connected with sustained and consistent blogging.

Blogging to get your message across...

  • It's cost-effective Customer Relations Management (CRM): By providing a forum for your customers to talk about their experiences with your product and service, you'll get the kudos directly and likely be the first to learn about "issues".
  • Helps you be better prepared for damage control!
  • A vital link to your employees: Staff buy-in is critical, no matter how brilliant your market strategy may be. Maintain a close connection by keeping your employees in the loop and build morale by acknowledging their contribution.
  • Sowing the seeds for innovation: Creative, new ideas offer a fertile ground for innovation and help you stay ahead of the game. What better way to get in to the mind of your consumers and/or stay in constant touch with their changing needs?

To know more about the essentials and best practices for blogging, join us for a webinar entitled "Blogging to Build a Reputation". You can also contact our Digital Marketiing practice via the contact form.

Tuesday, 23 November 2010

10 things email marketers need to know about Facebook Messages http://goo.gl/prw3y
NZ High Court rules that a former cricketer accused of match-fixing over Twitter can pursue his Twitter libel case. http://goo.gl/54j11
Blog Marketing and How to Market Your Blog http://goo.gl/kQLc1

Monday, 22 November 2010

Five rules for the data-driven business http://goo.gl/VZd5l
Facebook homes in on world of Google 'Let me be your homepage. In so very many ways' http://goo.gl/0Lcly
The History of Online Video In A Nutshell Or Rather, An Image http://goo.gl/QkUs0

10 Tips for An Effective Corporate Blogging Strategy

An Effective Corporate Blogging Strategy - Lets you build a strong and reliable brand image
 
How do you get your customers to see your company/brand as the best solution to resolve their problems? One highly effective method is by rolling out a strategic corporate blogging plan. Whether you're a banker, a multinational company or the local grocer, bringing your clients on the same page as you requires a good deal of thinking, smart strategies and flawless execution by an effective team.

Ten tips on creating a successful blogging forum:

  1. Determine your purpose (and timeline) and a create a theme that's in line with your USP
  2. Select the right people to drive your message across
  3. Be clear, concise and hard hitting
  4. Make sure the process is seamless, have a growing library of information for ideas
  5. Maintain a healthy dialogue and convey sincerity
  6. Avoid "selling" and marketing overkill
  7. Enjoy the praise but use negative feedback to take your service up a notch
  8. Let your customers be your most avid promoters; use blogging for powerful word-of-mouth advertising
  9. Make your clients aware of your blogging forums - engage, involve and inspire them!
  10. Monitor and track your blogging efforts to optimize results
You know your business can benefit from blogging; you're just not sure where to begin, right? An experienced WSI Consultant will fuel up your blogging strategy and help you walk the talk!

Call now to set up a free, no obligation consultation on 01580 819529 . Or fill out a simple online form to get in touch with one of our Digital Marketing Consultants here.

How will LinkedIn's Company Pages impact social media marketing? http://goo.gl/JD1jX
How will Instant Preview affect e-commerce design? http://goo.gl/qnMY4
Case Study: Mobile Marketing for Politicians http://goo.gl/1BY6X
20 Things I learned about browsers and the web http://goo.gl/mAE7Z

Sunday, 21 November 2010

Are cookies off the menu in the new online Europe? http://goo.gl/fXq6H
The flow of spam is disrupted, briefly http://goo.gl/anHpc
What's Australian for lbw? Lost beaten and walloped!
The Ashes 2010 countdown: 5 days...

Saturday, 20 November 2010

Mobile Marketing for Sports Clubs

We have had great feedback from customers and prospects about how they can understand how mobile technology and mobile marketing can help their business by painting some simple scenarios on how best to use this for their business.  

So, we are continuing our series of short scenarios on how different business or, in this case a sports club, can make use of mobile technology and mobile marketing to better market their products and services.  All these example are practical ways that we think different businesses can use mobile marketing for business to support their business in innovative ways.  Here is another example of how mobile marketing for business could be used in a scenario for a Local Sports Club:

1. David, a football coach of a local team, needs a quick way to keep in touch with his players and their parents. Because nearly every one of his players has a mobile phone and are just as adept at texting as they are at football, he creates an SMS campaign at the start of the season. Every player is told to subscribe to the short code from their mobile phones for team updates. In the orientation kit provided to parents, the shared short code is promoted.

2. The marketing offer sounds something like this [imagine it being said in a big booming football coach voice],“If we want to win, we all need to be on the same page. Sometimes things come up throughout the year. Scheduling changes. Game announcements. Pep talks, tactics. And I may not have time to call each and every one of you. So take out your cell phone and text the word 'GAME ON' to 77777 now. All announcements will be delivered via your mobile phones.

3. The players, not wanting to get on their coach’s bad side, will take out the phone and subscribe. They will receive a canned text that sounds something like this, “Go United! You have subscribed to the team’s alert line. Unsubscribe at any time by replying STOP to this msg.”

4. The season gets off to a bumpy start and the coach decides that he needs to call an impromptu morning practice. A run a 6:30 AM in full gear. David logs into the application and creates an offer that reads, “Rise and shine. Extra practice tomorrow morning at 6:30 AM. Meet at the fields and be ready to run.  To stop msgs, text STOP to 77777” [msg: 133 character count]

5. Everyone gets the message and can act easily on the football coach's instructions.

So mobile technology can be used in many different ways.  This is just a simple way that it could be usef for a Sports Club. We are sure that you can see the possibilities of mobile technology and mobile marketing for larger clubs and for ways of keeping in touch with players, parents and supporters on a bigger scale.  Here at WSI Digital Marketing, we can help you leverage this exciting new technology in ways that you may not have though of so give us a call on 01580 819529 or via our contact page.

Twitter Facts & Figures [infographic] http://goo.gl/4VHy0
Berners-Lee: Facebook 'threatens' web future http://goo.gl/MlXuY

Friday, 19 November 2010

Are you interested in driving your business forward throughy better use of digital marketing http://goo.gl/sgri
What innovations will rock our world in the next 25 years - can anyone forecast that far ahead, here's a try...http://goo.gl/er2su
Google Launches Interactive Book to Teach Everyone About the Web http://goo.gl/24DuW

Thursday, 18 November 2010

happy Mens Feet up boys today is Mens' day
Short video - Digitisation of the Economy and impact on business http://goo.gl/GXlY0

Wednesday, 17 November 2010

5 smart phone ideas; http://bit.ly/9yA96J
Google Has Done It Again! They've Changed the Local Game with "Place Search" http://goo.gl/AzlhH

Tuesday, 16 November 2010

Another case study - Mobile Marketing for Politicians http://goo.gl/1BY6X
10 Steps to Better Content Marketing & SEO http://goo.gl/0JZ0j

Mobile Marketing for Language Schools and Tourist Attractions - Case Study

We are continuing our series of short scenarios on how different business can make use of mobile technology and mobile marketing to better market their products and services.  All these example are practical ways that we think different businesses can use mobile marketing for business to support their business in innovative ways.  Here is another example of how mobile marketing for business could be used in a scenario for Language Schools & Tourism Attractions

1. Mary, the Executive Director for a private language school, has a challenge. She has 3 different sites, more than 200 students (none of whom have English as a first language), and a need to quickly communicate with her students in a medium that she knows that they use (mobile phones). The old method of important news being read off at the start of class is not always timely (nor understood). Mary is also always looking to find ways to improve school revenues.

2. Mary subscribes to a shared short code that is used to broadcast school news. All students are encouraged to subscribe to the school's campaign upon enrollment. The shared short number is also advertised across the school on posters and in the welcome packages received by every student. The message reads something like this, “Send SCHOOL NEWS to 77777 to receive school news, bulletins, and city promotions from our partners”.

3. Students, upon seeing the short code offer, text the message from their mobile phones. They are greeted with an auto-reply message from Mary thanking them for registering for the service.

4. A local tourist attraction wants to bring more international students through their turnstiles. The tourist operator creates an offer for Mary to send to her students, paying the school a referral fee for any student who visits. The offer reads, “School City Tour tomorrow. Show this msg and get a free gift. Only £20 per person. See Mary if interested.” [msg: 143 character count]

5. Everyone makes money and is grateful for the service

Do you run a Language School or a Tourist Attraction or do you know somebody who does.  Can you see this type of scenario working for them.  If you can, then contact us on our Digital Marketing Contact Page and we can help you leverage the power of mobile marketing to build your brand, generate leads or communicate better with your customers.  Give us a call!

100Gbps Ethernet threat to fibre channel http://goo.gl/oqXr4

Monday, 15 November 2010

Facebook's New Messaging: Five Reasons Why It Matters and an invite to fb messages (they don't call it email) http://goo.gl/DzGxb
A brief description of how "Place Search" works http://goo.gl/AzlhH
Google Has Done It Again! They've Changed the Local Game with "Place Search"
Facebook Announces New Messaging Service http://goo.gl/IFxFT
What Are the Benefits of Email-Social Media Integration? http://goo.gl/IwpqB
Start-Up Plans a More Personal Social Network or a severe case of social-networking fatigue..what do you think? http://goo.gl/BF96E
Will Facebook kill the US dollar http://goo.gl/ezp66

Mobile Marketing - A Mobile Technology Glossary

Our previous posts last week on mobile marketing and mobile technology have caused quite a lot of interest.  One of the questions that I have been asked is about some of the new terms, acronyms and language that is used when experts and businesses are talking mobile.  It is always a good idea for experts and customers to talk the same language, so here is a short mobile technlogy glossary to help you:

3G
3G is third-generation mobile technology that includes wide-area wireless voice and broadband wireless data, all in a mobile environment.

Alerts
Text or multimedia notifications containing time-sensitive information such as news, updates, weather that are pushed to opted-in mobile subscribers.

Bluetooth
A communication protocol that allows mobile phones with Bluetooth capabilities to send and receive information wirelessly over short distances.

Click to Call
A link on a mobile Web site (WAP site) that initiates a call from that phone to a phone number.

CSC
CSC is the abbreviation for common short code.

End User
A wireless subscriber.

Keyword
Keywords is an unique word (or number) assigned to customers who would like to offer their customers or friends the ability to join their group text messaging list from their own mobile phones. Frequently, the keyword will be the name of the business or something that is memorable. For example: JFred’s Seafood Restaurant may choose “Fres” or even “seafood” as their Keyword.

LBS (Location Based Services)
Location-based services provide information to cell-phone subscribers based on their current location. For example, providing information on nearby restaurants.

MMS
Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) is similar to SMS except MMS can include not just text, but also sound, images and video. MMS messages can even be sent from a mobile phone to an email address.

Mobile Originated (MO)
An SMS or MMS message that was originated on a mobile phone.

Mobile Terminated (MT)
A SMS message originated from another mobile phone or PC and sent to or “message terminated” to a mobile phone. The MT message would be viewed by the recipient in their text message 'Inbox'.

Mobile Marketing
Any activity that enables a company to communicate and actively engage with its customers via a mobile device.

Mobile Search
Initiating a search from a mobile device.

Opt-in
Opt-in is a way of collecting mobile and Internet users' personal data and verifying that the subscribers intention and agreement to receive mobile messages. Within the opt-in context, user acceptance is necessary before any mobile marketing solicitation.

Opt-out
The process where the subscriber revokes their consent to receiving mobile messages. All mobile messages should contain instructions to Opt-out.

All new technologies and/or business initiatives always bring a new set of terms and acronyms so we hope this list helps you and your business make some sense of these terms. Contact us at WSI Digital Marketing for help and advice with your mobile marketing plans.

Video: http://ping.fm/MsoP4

Sunday, 14 November 2010

Yahoo! Accepts OpenID Authentication with Google http://goo.gl/9pD5
How Facebook Could Beat Google to Win the Net http://goo.gl/rGViu
Blogpost: Internet Users are Hungry for Content http://goo.gl/hKKYK
True Leaders Are Also Managers http://goo.gl/2lPjc

Mobile Marketing for Business - Conference & Event Organizer

Mobile Marketing Series of Business Scenarios:

We have had great feedback from customers and prospects about how they can understand how mobile technology and mobile marketing can help their business by painting some simple scenarios on how best to use this for their business.  

So,we are continuing our series of short scenarios on how different business can make use of mobile technology and mobile marketing to better market their products and services.  All these example are practical ways that we think different businesses can usemobile marketing for business to support their business in innovative ways.  Here is another example of how mobile marketing for business could be used in a scenario for a Conference & Event Organizer:

1. Jane, the conference coordinator for a local tradeshow, wants to provide her conference attendees with a value-added service. She wants to be able to communicate with them over the duration of the event with numerous offers. Email won’t work for most as they do not all have email on their devices. However, the majority of attendees do have cell phones. So, Jane creates multiple shared short code campaigns for conference attendees: one for “Things to do while in town”, two for “Conference Scheduling Announcements”, and three for “Post-conference feedback”

2. Jane publishes the shared short codes on the pre-show marketing material with the message, “Text 'CONFERENCE' to 77777 from your mobile phone and be alerted to local city events via text message during your visit to the conference.” The same announcement and the other numbers are promoted during the opening address.

3. Conference attendees subscribe to the campaign and receive a message from one of the sponsors [hey... never miss out on revenue generating sponsorship opportunities] thanking them for attending and informing them that they have opted in to the service.

4. One of the sponsors is running a golf tournament during the conference. But on the day of the tournament, hurricane force winds and rain, dampen the enthusiasm. Jane, thinking quickly, offers to communicate via text message to all attendees to promote a new in-door wine and cheese instead of soggy golf. Jane logs in to the Texts.com short code service to initiate a campaign.

5. Jane composes a brief text message as follows: “Rain has washed away the golf. Join {sponsor} for a hosted wine and cheese instead at 1234 main street starting at 2:00 PM. To stop msgs, text STOP to 77777” [msg: 156 character count]

6. Jane is a hero!

How are using mobile marketing and mobile technology for your business? If you need any help or advice on how best to make this work for your business, then get in contact with us via our Digital Marketing Contact Page or give us a call on 01580 819529

Pay Per Click Marketing for Small Business

What is Paid Search Marketing?

Paid search marketing uses a direct response advertising model that allows advertisers to purchase premium placed ads of their choice on search result pages, advertising networks and content sites such as blogs, news sites, etc.  This advertising model is often referred to as Pay per Click (PPC) and is often a key element of an effective Internet Marketing toolkit.

How Does PPC Advertising Work?

Paid search programs allow site owners to "bid" on the terms they wish to appear for. You agree to pay a certain amount each time someone clicks on your listing. Websites that utilize PPC ads will display an advertisement when a keyword query matches an advertiser's keyword list, or when a content site displays relevant content.

Such advertisements are called sponsored links or sponsored ads, and appear adjacent to or above organic results on search engine results pages, or anywhere a Web developer chooses on a content site.

Pay-Per-Click Advertising Lets Companies...

  • Reach prospects when they are actively looking for information or products and services related to their business
  • Run cost effective advertising campaigns, as this type of advertising is less expensive than any other type of traditional advertising and lets business owners have control over their budget.
  • Have flexibility and control. You can edit your campaigns and ads at any time (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Ads start running for the first time almost immediately after you activate your account with your credit card or direct debit information. (Advertisers in certain countries can pay by bank transfer. In this case, ads run when the first payment is received.)

Industries That PPC Works Well In

  • Heating and Air
  • Plumbing
  • Electricians
  • Dentists
  • Cosmetic Surgeons
  • Car Windscreens
  • Car Repair
  • Garage Doors
  • Laser Hair Removal
  • Car Dealers
  • Legal Services
  • Day Spas
  • Restaurants
  • Carpet Cleaners
  • Cleaning Service

These are all services that people need immediately and used to go to the Yellow Pages to look for.  If you are keen to succeed with a Digital Internet Marketing Strategy, then PPC should be one of the tools you should seriously look into.

Paid Search Marketing Platforms

There are many PPC providers but the three largest network operators are Google Ad Words, Yahoo! Search Marketing, and Microsoft adCenter and all three operate under a bid-based model. Cost per click (CPC) varies depending on the search engine and the level of competition for a particular keyword.

If you would like advice on the best approach to take then call Anthony Burke on 01580 819529 or use the contact form on our webpage.

Saturday, 13 November 2010

Why Google can’t build Instagram http://goo.gl/Ily6U
Check us out - Digital Marketing Solutions With Results that Really Matter http://goo.gl/BIrHg
10 Tips for An Effective Corporate Blogging Strategy http://goo.gl/te7Di
The origins of our Webified age were hardly auspicious. Where Tim Berners-Lee started http://goo.gl/Ainge
Facebook’s Gmail Killer, Project Titan, Is Coming On Monday http://goo.gl/VDLvz
Web Browsing Takes a Social Turn http://goo.gl/7mt1R
10 Tips for An Effective Corporate Blogging Strategy http://goo.gl/sgri

Friday, 12 November 2010

Infographic: Being a web developer or a web designer doesn’t exactly give you an edge with the pretty girls http://goo.gl/hQid6
We are the best - The Bizarre British Lying Down Game http://goo.gl/Tcp8l
A small spat highlights a big issue: who owns your online identity? http://goo.gl/VtHuW
How To Deliver a Powerful Follow Up Message http://goo.gl/Ihg2I
How Marketers Can Keep Brand Fans on Board http://goo.gl/o00oj
Social networking slowly taking over e-mail, says Gartner http://goo.gl/ZcZMU
Foursquare: Rest in Peace? what do you think? http://goo.gl/VRcIB
Android phone solves Rubik’s cube in 12.5 seconds http://goo.gl/37OJf

Thursday, 11 November 2010

Fortune 500 Nearly Doubles Use of Twitter http://bit.ly/cLqhsc
10 Tips for An Effective Corporate Blogging Strategy http://goo.gl/te7Di
Reading: Social media: Redefining the lifetime value of the customer? http://goo.gl/Duymy
5 Lessons for Brick and Mortar Small Businesses from a Website Perspective: Is Your Store Readable? http://bit.ly/cQsYIX
UK needs cyber attack capability: minister http://reut.rs/bgUv6q
How Social Media killed the new Gap logo http://bit.ly/aFzTa9
With web 3.0, what is the vision?

Wednesday, 10 November 2010

Digital Marketing Solutions With Results that Really Matter http://goo.gl/BIrHg
Reading: Who are All of These Tweeple? from Brian Solis http://goo.gl/0CBIA
Digital Archaeology show reveals 'lost' web sites http://goo.gl/kyejd
Worked example: Mobile Marketing for Sports Clubs both large and small http://goo.gl/rByjw
BlackBerry PlayBook To Sell For Under $500: iPad Beware! http://goo.gl/kR2CS
10 ways to destroy your management career http://goo.gl/CnoQ4
This website provides an independent and open tool for scanning your Facebook privacy settings. http://goo.gl/5TQu
If you think social media is about roi you'll be disappointed http://goo.gl/JcZP7
Man loses $20 million after taking laptop for repair http://goo.gl/nLnVc

Tuesday, 9 November 2010

My blog: Blogging for Business and how to Build a Reputation - Walking the talk http://goo.gl/zrMRj
Is your laptop cooking your testicles? http://goo.gl/TKbq3
Google Instant Previews: will it change site design? http://goo.gl/OYXD0
Case study: Mobile Marketing for Business - Conference & Event Organizer http://goo.gl/yYYVn

Monday, 8 November 2010

Reading: Is it worth switching to a new browser? RockMelt browser is social http://goo.gl/uz36T
Is a nine year old too young to work in IT? http://goo.gl/xsDeQ
Web Browsing Takes a Social Turn - New Browser from Netscape founder - http://goo.gl/0OonZ

Sunday, 7 November 2010

Pew: Only 4% of Adults Use Location-Based Services http://goo.gl/r0tRA
Clare Balding comes to rescue of cramped commuters http://goo.gl/PWDlv
Personal Branding Workshop for Business Consultants for B2E http://goo.gl/Be4cU

Pay Per Click Marketing for Small Business

What is Paid Search Marketing?

Paid search marketing uses a direct response advertising model that allows advertisers to purchase premium placed ads of their choice on search result pages, advertising networks and content sites such as blogs, news sites, etc.  This advertising model is often referred to as Pay per Click (PPC) and is often a key element of an effective Internet Marketing toolkit.

How Does PPC Advertising Work?

Paid search programs allow site owners to "bid" on the terms they wish to appear for. You agree to pay a certain amount each time someone clicks on your listing. Websites that utilize PPC ads will display an advertisement when a keyword query matches an advertiser's keyword list, or when a content site displays relevant content.

Such advertisements are called sponsored links or sponsored ads, and appear adjacent to or above organic results on search engine results pages, or anywhere a Web developer chooses on a content site.

Pay-Per-Click Advertising Lets Companies...

  • Reach prospects when they are actively looking for information or products and services related to their business
  • Run cost effective advertising campaigns, as this type of advertising is less expensive than any other type of traditional advertising and lets business owners have control over their budget.
  • Have flexibility and control. You can edit your campaigns and ads at any time (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Ads start running for the first time almost immediately after you activate your account with your credit card or direct debit information. (Advertisers in certain countries can pay by bank transfer. In this case, ads run when the first payment is received.)

Industries That PPC Works Well In

  • Heating and Air
  • Plumbing
  • Electricians
  • Dentists
  • Cosmetic Surgeons
  • Car Windscreens
  • Car Repair
  • Garage Doors
  • Laser Hair Removal
  • Car Dealers
  • Legal Services
  • Day Spas
  • Restaurants
  • Carpet Cleaners
  • Cleaning Service

These are all services that people need immediately and used to go to the Yellow Pages to look for.  If you are keen to succeed with a Digital Internet Marketing Strategy, then PPC should be one of the tools you should seriously look into.

Paid Search Marketing Platforms

There are many PPC providers but the three largest network operators are Google Ad Words, Yahoo! Search Marketing, and Microsoft adCenter and all three operate under a bid-based model. Cost per click (CPC) varies depending on the search engine and the level of competition for a particular keyword.

If you would like advice on the best approach to take then call Anthony Burke on 01580 819529 or use the contact form on our webpage.

Social Media Marketing for Business รข€“ Workshop for JMR Consulting UK http://goo.gl/jHsRa
We found a really great presentation on Slideshare - Social Media http://goo.gl/qWop