The 10 Commandments of Link Building

Courtesy of KliKKi search engine optimization.

Get ready for a new round of changes within the social/digital marketing spaces. Google+ opened it's doors with a limited launch last week. After using it for a few days, I can tell this will shake things up.

Google+ is Google's answer to Facebook and how they believe social activity should be done. Google knows social is all about sharing. They also know that not everything we share online is enjoyed by all of our friends. Their solution: Circles. Add people to your own custom circle to ensure the content shared fits a common or shared interest.

Want deeper connections? Create a Hangout for your contacts and everyone can join you in a video chat.

Content sharing is even made easier with Sparks, a content delivery/curation system providing you the topics you select. For example, I chose topics such as sports cars, tech news, website design, location based marketing and iPad apps.

Photos, videos, and even web content you have clicked the +1 button on can be seen within your public Google profile. (Which you'll need to use Google+) 

It's still early and more Google products are slated to be bolted on - Docs, Photos, Music, Apps, etc. Most anticipated will be their version of business pages. Noticeably absent are all forms of advertisements. One theory I have is that we won't see ads until the public launch and users have created their circles. Our circles could help Google create a new, hyper-targeted ad platform.

Google doesn't necessarily need to create a social networking platform that overtakes Facebook in size, they just need to create one that makes a ton of shareholder value. Even if they grab every Gmail user, that's still under 200mm users. However, once you start to add users who only use stand alone Google products, those numbers start to approach the massive numbers Facebook commands.

I like what I see so far; Google+ should be a disruptive force to twitter as well as Facebook. More sharing options (+1 button) and the ways in which this shared content functions within Google's Panda update will be another item to watch. 

Public launch is said to be within six weeks. More invites are rumored to be available soon. If you're interested, leave your Gmail address below & I'll send out as many as possible.

POST UPDATE: Google+ Business Pages should now be available within two weeks.

Get ready for a new round of changes within the social/digital marketing spaces. Google+ opened it's doors with a limited launch last week. After using it for a few days, I can tell this will shake things up.

Google+ is Google's answer to Facebook and how they believe social activity should be done. Google knows social is all about sharing. They also know that not everything we share online is enjoyed by all of our friends. Their solution: Circles. Add people to your own custom circle to ensure the content shared fits a common or shared interest.

Want deeper connections? Create a Hangout for your contacts and everyone can join you in a video chat.

Content sharing is even made easier with Sparks, a content delivery/curation system providing you the topics you select. For example, I chose topics such as sports cars, tech news, website design, location based marketing and iPad apps.

Photos, videos, and even web content you have clicked the +1 button on can be seen within your public Google profile. (Which you'll need to use Google+) 

It's still early and more Google products are slated to be bolted on - Docs, Photos, Music, Apps, etc. Most anticipated will be their version of business pages. Noticeably absent are all forms of advertisements. One theory I have is that we won't see ads until the public launch and users have created their circles. Our circles could help Google create a new, hyper-targeted ad platform.

Google doesn't necessarily need to create a social networking platform that overtakes Facebook in size, they just need to create one that makes a ton of shareholder value. Even if they grab every Gmail user, that's still under 200mm users. However, once you start to add users who only use stand alone Google products, those numbers start to approach the massive numbers Facebook commands.

I like what I see so far; Google+ should be a disruptive force to twitter as well as Facebook. More sharing options (+1 button) and the ways in which this shared content functions within Google's Panda update will be another item to watch. 

Public launch is said to be within six weeks. More invites are rumored to be available soon. If you're interested, leave your Gmail address below & I'll send out as many as possible.

POST UPDATE: Google+ Business Pages should now be available within two weeks.

Google is raising the bar for local listing results again by introducing a new method of serving results within Google Maps. (Not web listings - just when Google Maps is selected as the source)

Google is experimenting with serving results which best matches the descriptive terms used to describe those establishements.

What's the best place for these "descriptive terms" to come from? Your customer reviews! So, conceivably, our customers now have the ability to help improve our local listings and lend a hand with our SEO efforts when they write their reviews. 

Just another reason why it's so important to consider the experience you're creating for your guests; their reviews may now hold even more weight. 

For more info, check out Google's Small Business Blog Post. 

Google is raising the bar for local listing results again by introducing a new method of serving results within Google Maps. (Not web listings - just when Google Maps is selected as the source)

Google is experimenting with serving results which best matches the descriptive terms used to describe those establishements.

What's the best place for these "descriptive terms" to come from? Your customer reviews! So, conceivably, our customers now have the ability to help improve our local listings and lend a hand with our SEO efforts when they write their reviews. 

Just another reason why it's so important to consider the experience you're creating for your guests; their reviews may now hold even more weight. 

For more info, check out Google's Small Business Blog Post. 

During a recent conversation, I memtioned three items I felt were the most useful to post on Facebook Pages. Ironicaly, those items also created a less than fortunate, yet memorable acronym: C.R.A.P. 

• Coupons
• Reviews
• (and)
• Pictures

In my opinion, anything else is just...crap. 

Anyone have a consistent formula they're using to post successful content on their Facebook pages? How are you gauging it's success? Comments, likes, data from your insights?

During a recent conversation, I memtioned three items I felt were the most useful to post on Facebook Pages. Ironicaly, those items also created a less than fortunate, yet memorable acronym: C.R.A.P. 

• Coupons
• Reviews
• (and)
• Pictures

In my opinion, anything else is just...crap. 

Anyone have a consistent formula they're using to post successful content on their Facebook pages? How are you gauging it's success? Comments, likes, data from your insights?

Everyone wants a fair online review for their business. The probem is, where's the best place to get a fair review? We've all seen the ranges of reviews, from raving fans to ranting lunatics.

According to a recent study which looked at the activity within CitySearch, Yahoo Local & Yelp - (Online Market for Reviews, Z Wang.) Yelp is the best place for fair and balanced online reviews.

The reason? Yelp's social community dynamic. User profiles are prominently displayed, profiles can be followed and easily connected to other social platforms. Plus, Yelp's users are simply more active than CitySearch and Yahoo Local. Active users want to be seen as credible sources.

71% of CitySearch's users have only posted one review; 51% of Yahoo Local's users are in the same boat. Yet only 9% of Yelp's users have posted just one review. They're active and they're more balanced - providing more 2,3 & 4 star ratings than the other platforms.

Google Places reviews isn't mentioned, but you have to imagine this is the next biggest competitor to provide an environment for fair and balanced reviews as their social efforts continue to grow. Also interesting is the fact AutoTrader.com selected Yelp as the review site of choice to link to dealer detail pages.

Yelp's community goes beyond reviews by offering location based check-in services, rewards and even an augmented reality feature called Monacle. (If you haven't tried it, check it out, pretty slick)

Which review site do you prefer? Why?

Everyone wants a fair online review for their business. The probem is, where's the best place to get a fair review? We've all seen the ranges of reviews, from raving fans to ranting lunatics.

According to a recent study which looked at the activity within CitySearch, Yahoo Local & Yelp - (Online Market for Reviews, Z Wang.) Yelp is the best place for fair and balanced online reviews.

The reason? Yelp's social community dynamic. User profiles are prominently displayed, profiles can be followed and easily connected to other social platforms. Plus, Yelp's users are simply more active than CitySearch and Yahoo Local. Active users want to be seen as credible sources.

71% of CitySearch's users have only posted one review; 51% of Yahoo Local's users are in the same boat. Yet only 9% of Yelp's users have posted just one review. They're active and they're more balanced - providing more 2,3 & 4 star ratings than the other platforms.

Google Places reviews isn't mentioned, but you have to imagine this is the next biggest competitor to provide an environment for fair and balanced reviews as their social efforts continue to grow. Also interesting is the fact AutoTrader.com selected Yelp as the review site of choice to link to dealer detail pages.

Yelp's community goes beyond reviews by offering location based check-in services, rewards and even an augmented reality feature called Monacle. (If you haven't tried it, check it out, pretty slick)

Which review site do you prefer? Why?

Google just announced their newest feature enhancement to Google Places: Google Business Photos. 

Marissa Mayer gave the scoop at today's Social-Loco event in San Fran moments ago.

Very simply, Google will shoot panoramic photos of businesses and include them within Google Places Pages. Limited rollout though; apply here & see the list of the initial locations available.

Location continues it's evolution.