Google Goes Social

Google eyes a piece of the social network pie with iGoogle.

Amidst a search engine overhaul and talks of Facebook’s aim at Twitter, Google (GOOG) is attempting to expand their already gigantic family of web experiences. By adding social gadgets to iGoogle, you can have the social features and functions of some of your favorite networks right on your homepage.

Will Google’s new social initiative get any traction?

Hear about it straight from Google.
“First, we’re excited to introduce social gadgets for iGoogle. Social gadgets let you share, collaborate and play games with your friends on top of all the things you can already do on your homepage. The 19 social gadgets we’re debuting today offer many new ways to make your homepage more useful and fun. If you’re a gaming fanatic, compete with others in Who has the biggest brain? or challenge your fellow Chess or Scrabble enthusiasts to a quick match. Stay tuned in to the latest buzz with media-sharing gadgets from NPR, The Huffington Post, and YouTube. To manage your day-to-day more efficiently, check things off alongside your friends with the social To-Do list gadget.”

New Google Search Coming Soon

Google Is Changing Their Search Engine.

The household search giant Google (GOOG)  is changing their search engine. Lucky for us all it is for the better. With faster results, more results, and better results, analysts are speculating this new innovation is in direct response to Microsoft’s Bing.

Mashable did an in depth test comparing Google’s current search, versus their up coming search.

“While this test was nowhere near scientific, we do have some solid takeaways:

New Google is FAST: It often doubled the speed of Google classic.

New Google relies more on keywords: SEO professionals, your job just got a lot harder. The algorithm’s definitely different. It has more reliance on keyword strings to produce better results.

Search is moving into real-time: Being able to get info on breaking events is clearly a priority for Google and Bing. With both Twitter (Twitter) and Facebook (Facebook) launching real-time search engines, they needed to respond.

It’s partially a response to Bing: At least, that’s how we feel. This new search has a focus on increasing speed, relevancy, accuracy, and the index volume, things that Microsoft really hit on when it released Bing. It feels as if Google “Caffeine” is meant to shore up any deficiencies it may have when compared to Microsoft’s offering, though it’s been in the works long before Bing launched.

The new Google will only get better as features are implemented and developed. The end result is a better search experience for the user. Competition really does breed innovation.”

Microsoft Moving Office Suite Online

Microsoft is bringing their Office Suite to a web browser near you in 2010.

In an effort to remain the productivity suite of choice amidst increasing operating system competition, Microsoft is moving their famed suite of applications online.  A recent purchase of the domain Office.com is spurring talk of Microsoft’s plan to use the domain for their products in place of their current office.microsoft.com.

Cisco is also planning to release a competing suite of products in the near future. While some are excited about the possibilities with these new products, security remains a concern.

What are your thoughts on the push to move these apps online?

Social Media In Business

Social Media Is a Necessary Avenue for Your Business

The world of business is changing. Social media is forcing marketers to do a little less talking, and a whole lot more listening. The beauty of this is businesses are able to get real time feedback on their products and services through Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn & other social media sites.

Here are Five Reasons Why Your Business Should Use Social Media:

1. Your competitors already are
2. To acquire new customers
3. To find out what current customers really want
4. To respond to customer concerns instantly
5. To manage your online reputation & build brand loyalty

New Look for Twitter

Twitter has a new homepage.

It’s true. Twitter is starting what looks like a brand overhaul with a new look to Twitter.com

Twitter users may see a new interface soon.

Once logged in to Twitter, everything looks the same as it has in recent history. How would you change the current Twitter interface if you could? More functionality? A different look?

Using Twitter Effectively- There is a Right & Wrong Way To Market on Twitter
3 Twitter Marketing Tips- Start Using Twitter Better Than the Rest
Build Your Twitter Audience- Some Proven Methods to Increase Your Twitter Following
Social Media Marketing + Twitter = <3 – Twitter Works Even When You Don’t

Search Engine Ad Click Through Rates

Click Through Rates can vary from medium to medium, ad to ad.

A recent study conducted in June of 2009 suggests your ad Click Through Rate (CTR) is also indicative of the search engine the ad is placed on.

Bing’s average Click Through Rate is well ahead of Google, and Yahoo holds strong in the middle of the pack.

Get Results With Email Marketing

Collecting your customer’s email address is a great way to grow your business.

Having the ability to re-market to your customers is invaluable in today’s climate. Your customer acquisition costs can be significantly decreased if you are able to stay in touch and collect more revenue from each customer.

Building an Email list takes creativity, and patience.

There are many ways to add a jolt to your list building. Have your customer service or sales reps ask for the email address of every person that they come in contact with. If you do not have a physical location, you can always ask for that information on your website. Make sure the email capture is above the fold and prominent.

Email marketing solidifies your company in the mind of the recipient.

It takes an average of 7 exposures to your brand before you are remembered and viewed as credible. By sending quality, relevant information on a regular basis you can kickstart that process.

Geotargeting Your Campaigns

Dialing your advertising spend down can improve your campaigns immensely.

With the ability to Geotarget ads across the major platforms (Google, Facebook, Yahoo, etc.) marketers have the ability to take a microscope to every region of their campaign. Instead of blanketing the entire country or globe with the same cookie cutter banner or ad copy, we can (and should) create ads that speak to the region(s) they are being displayed in.

Not only will Geotargeting lend to a high Click Through Rate on some ads, but inevitably a higher conversion rate as well.

Build Your Twitter Audience

Marketing With Twitter Takes Strategy, and Time.

There is a lot to be said for having a Twitter following that is engaged in your message. Sure you can search through Twitter and add people at random, but will they actually read your Tweets, or Click Through to your pages?

A great way to grow your Twitter following organically is to strategically add people in your industry.

Make Sure You Are Effectively Promoting Your Twitter Page.

You’ll want to make it as easy for everyone as you can. Place a link to your Twitter page above the fold, and as close to the top of your page as possible.

Twitter Counter is a tool that will display a count of your total Twitter followers. If you are fortunate enough to have a decent amount of followers already, it will build your credibility and persuade others to follow you.

3 Twitter Marketing Tips

Social Media Marketing is an important part of a modern marketing strategy.

Twitter is more than just the social network of the now. It is a proven way to market your business. Here are three tips on getting started with your Twitter marketing campaign(s).

1. Industry Relevant Twitter Username- If you are in the cellphone industry, an effective Twitter username could be CellPhoneTips, or Phones4Less.

2. Reliable URL Shortening & Click Tracking- The best way to improve your Twitter marketing campaign is to begin testing. See what kind of Tweets get the most attention by tracking every Click Through.

3. Join Your Industry Conversation- search.twitter.com makes it easier than ever to see what is happening in your industry. Adding helpful, relevant, or interesting information will establish you as an expert in the space.

Build Your Twitter Audience - Proven Tips To Grow Your Base of Twitter Followers