This workshop was presented on May 9th 2012, for the next PLUGGED-IN Lunch Networking Workshop please CLICK HERE!

 

 

Online LOCAL Marketing

We are going to explore all kinds of ways to make your business grow thru LOCAL ONLINE services like:

• Google & Bing Maps
• Facebook Places
• Yelp Reviews
• Foursquare

• The Apple SIRI search

 and much more...

PRICE $ 17 Includes Workshop, Lunch, Beverage and Gratuity.

Seating is limited so please reserve your spot in advance. 

Click on the link below to reserve your spot!

www.destinyg.com/plus/plugged-in-lunch

 

Our 4th Plugged-in Lunch Networking Workshop at the Half Shell Oyster House will be Wednesday May 9th at 12pm. Every 2 weeks we feature a new Business Development topic while you enjoy a phenomenal lunch in the Half Shell Oyster House private meeting room. This is also a great NETWORKING opportunity.

Topics will range from the use of Social and Internet Marketing to Online Solutions & Business Coaching.

MENU: Choose an item from each column

• Half Shrimp Po-Boy • Half Voodoo Shrimp Po-Boy • Half Uptowner • Half Chicken Club• Half Reuben

• Cup of Gumbo • Garden Salad

• Soft drink • Ice tea • Water

The Half Shell Oyster House of Sarasota is located at 1991 Main Street, Sarasota, FL

Facebook Event:    http://www.facebook.com/events/159217754207266/

 

Once again Google's results are showing up differently.  The google local listings are now displaying throughout the traditional search result page with reviews, images, videos. The google map that used to be in the center area at the top is now on the right hand side. When you scroll down looking at results, the map follows you down the page and overlays over top of sponsored listings.  Review sites have been receiving tremendous weight in the engines and have also helped local listings rank in the map area.  The results are changed once again.

 

If you haven't claimed your local listing yet or become a Google place, its time to do so.  Results are favoring local small businesses. (click here to learn how to add your business on Google Local Maps)


We have noticed a change in how Google is displaying the search results for certain cityname+keyword searches. For those of you who often search for something that includes a location (or a city name) along with a keyword, you might be interested in how Google is changing the search results.

Here is a screen shot of the search results change:

From time to time, Google does experiment with the search results pages at their search engine. The fact that the search results are now featuring the Google Map image on the right side, where we would normally see Google AdWords ads, is a major change for Google. Furthermore, we typically have not seen Google actually “hide” the Google paid ads like they are doing here. The Google Map image actually stays in view and hides the Google AdWords ads when you scroll down the page.


Here is a screen shot of the Ads hidden by the map:

Google now displays your current location on the left side of the search results and you can actually change it, so this is getting more and more interesting.

Results are favoring local small businesses and organic searches instead of the Ads so this is a great change. Get your local listing and promote your business thru Search Engine Optimization to increase your Organic visibility, Google Adwords keeps loosing importance.

Here's a good example of Google maps helping you on your internet marketing campaign. If you search for SEO Sarasota (Search engine optimization Sarasota) which is one of the services we provide in one of the areas we provide it locally you'll find us on the map at the very beginning of the first page of Google.

You can make your business come up locally on the first page of google or bing very easily using maps.

Many people don't know that you can actually add your business into google's map or bing's map systems. This is a very easy, FREE way to put your business on the first page of google if someone is searching LOCALLY. Adding your business into GOOGLE's MAP or BING'S MAP can help your company's website come up on the first page with selected keywords when people is searching in your area or using the city or state that you are located in the search string.


How to create a Google Map entry for your business?
You just need a GOOGLE ACCOUNT... If you have a gmail or use any of the google or youtube services you already have one.
Login with your google account or create one here (https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount)
After login go to Google maps (http://maps.google.com/) and click on the Put your business on Google Maps or go directly here (http://www.google.com/local/add/)
Follow all the steps in google's map entry creation.
Remember to use KEYWORD ORIENTED descriptions, names and information. This will help your google map entry come up with those keywords in the search. Also remember you need to be RELEVANT, you need to have those keywords also on your website, blog entries and other profiles you might have.
At the end of the process google will ask you to verify your business, you can do it thru a postcard to your address (takes time) or the easy way, by phone (We recommend this one).


How to create a Bing Map entry for your business?
The process is the same, but you have to create a live.com msn.com or hotmail.com account (click here to create one: https://signup.live.com/)
Then login to it and go to this address to put your business into the BING MAP (https://ssl.bing.com/listings/ListingCenter.aspx)
Follow the steps, using KEYWORD ORIENTED content.
And verify your business thru their process (they only have the postcard option here).

On the other hand if you have a new website, embedding a google map inside your website will help you bring Google to your website faster for indexing. But remember, your website has to be search engine friendly, you should have a blog, use tags, and have a nice organized keyword oriented copy inside your site. Without that you will not be RELEVANT for google or bing and the MAPS could just not come up on the search.

For more information about SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION (SEO) tips, click here.
For more information on Search Engine Friendly affordable Joomla Websites, click here.