Category " Google"

There has been a huge increase in the ‘hyper-local’ scene for a few years now.  Ever since Google changed the way they show their local results, the local small business owner has gained a signifigant advantage over big box corporations when it comes to online reach.  The hyper-local movement, if you will, has created some great local review sites, the Check In feature (first on FourSquare, then on Facebook and Google+), some great local bloggers and a vast variety of local news websites (such as the patch system).

Along with these changes, business owners – particularly those in the service industry – have been given a great opportunity to really dominate their local landscape.

To take advantage of that potential, small business owners are doing what they think is obvious when it comes to getting that hyper-local traffic.  Following are some tips on getting your business noticed in local searches. (more…)

When you’re in business, there’s no better thing to urge you on like a competitor’s success.  Losing a big contract or opportunity to an industry neighbor is fuel enough to get most business owners moving.  Wouldn’t it be nice if, say, every time your competitor put up something new on their website, that you knew about it right away?

The great thing about the Internet is that everything (well, almost everything) is public.  Once you publish something online, it’s out there for your customers, vendors and competitors to consume – like it or not.

But most of your competitors aren’t going to visit your website on a regular basis to see what you’re up to.  And let’s face it – you’re not about to do that either.  What you need are a few automated shortcuts that can help alert you when there’s activity so you can be less of a reactive company.  And that’s what I intend on showing you today – ways that you can spy on your competitors. (more…)

We’ve heard stories for a while now about businesses being asked by Google reps if they could come in and take pictures of the inside of some bars, salons, etc.  And now we know why.

Yesterday Google announced (in limited areas) the availability of a new service called “Business Photos”.  Besides the outside of your building, a few product pictures and maybe one of the staff, businesses have been very limited in the amount of pictures they could upload to their Google Places listing.

With the new Business Photos option, Google will actually send a professional photographer to your business, take pictures, and make those pictures available as part of your Places page.

For now, this is only available in limited areas, and St. Louis is not among them.  Currently, Phoenix AZ, Orange County CA, Bay Area CA, San Antonio TX and St. Petersburg FL are the testing grounds.  If you are in one of those areas, go ahead and apply for the business photos service.  For the rest of you, keep an eye on this blog for updates.