Archive for March 11th, 2010

Google Adds Blue Dots to Product Search Results

Just a quick update to inform you that if you’re using Google’s product search , whether on your computers or mobile devices such as iPhone or Android phones, you can now check whether a particular product is in stock on a store nearby. You can check out the product’s availability by clicking on the “blue dot” included in the search results. This is particularly useful if you’re out on the street and saw something which you might want to buy. You can just search for the product on your mobile phones, and if Google mobile search returns a search result with a blue dot, you can check it out to find out where you can buy the product. You can also see the distance of the nearest store from your current location. Some popular retailers are already participating in the said feature including Best Buy, Sears, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn or West Elm. To try this feature, point your iPhone, Palm WebOS or any Android phone to google.com, tap on the “more” link and then choose “shopping” from the options. Alternatively you can check out the “shopping results” section from the Universal Search results provided by Google mobile search. Check out the SEO Tools guide at Search Engine Journal . Google Adds Blue Dots to Product Search

I Admit It – These Videos Taught Me a Few Social Media Tricks

I have been enrolled in the Market Motive social media online course for close to two months now.  Each week I have been given a social media topic and have been responsible for viewing a certain number of films which go into detail about the topic being taught.  There have been a wide range of social media topics such as a week dedicated to Twitter and another dedicated to Youtube. Personally, going into the course I thought I was pretty familiar with the social media areas I was anticipating studying. I was excited to learn more of course, but didn’t have the highest of hopes. I honestly thought it would be nice to have a recap on the social areas I work with daily and after a few months of reiteration, I would obtain a certification to show off my knowledge. I have to say my original thoughts were narrow minded. I have been continuously surprised at the insight I am gaining each week.  Until now, I have been responsible for watching videos each week and partaking in conference calls with the faculty.(The course takes a turn now and the responsibilities change but I will write about all of that in a few days). The videos have each had such detail. They are unique to the faculty members who make the videos and specialize in the areas they are teaching. Video Topics A small amount of the material covered Blogging for Business Permalinks, RSS feeds, key word longtail , pitching check list Video & Youtube Popular categories, channel, market share Viral Marketing Brand, conversion, campaign styles, viral themes Social News Networks Do’s and don’ts across various networks, strategies to becoming more successful on each Twitter Appropriate business decisions, tools, connecting on and offline, tracking Flickr Titles, tags, descriptions, search engines and Flickr Facebook How to utilize Facebook for your business with Facebook connect and ads LinkedIn Advertising on LinkedIn, groups Online Press Releases Wire Services, measurement, Keyword positioning   Market Motive resources that have been provided to me and that have impressed me throughout each week’s video viewings: 1) Examples of useful books to buy pertaining to the areas being taught that week which are based on social media current events and practices. 2) Informative commentary (humorous when applicable and serious when appropriate) Current Authoritative Timely 3) Graphs 4) Tools that the faculty use and recommend Seo plug ins Twitter tools Better headlines Tracking your Brand 5) Viral Marketing Brainstorming Checklist 6) Pitching check list Brief Video information for each week: 1)  Length of each video is provided 2)  2-7 videos necessary to watch each week 3)  Average 25 minutes per video Viewings do not have a specific deadline but rather anticipated due dates which are flexible. They are listed as an ideal due date but it is up the student to get things done in a timely manner. Weekly meetings with the faculty help ensure that students are on track and are not missing any points. 4)  One Quiz to follow all videos combined for the week The quiz each week is just for practice. A grade is assigned but does not count toward the overall grade. They are meant as preparation for the final exam and reiterate the material in the videos. The quizzes help make sure the students have understood what is being portrayed in the videos. Check out the SEO Tools guide at Search Engine Journal . I Admit It – These Videos Taught Me a Few Social Media

15% Off Search & Social Spring Summit for SEJ Readers!

I am very happy to announce the countdown to Search & Social Spring Summit 2010, the official search marketing and social media conference of Search Engine Journal! Search & Social Spring Summit 2010 is the second annual conference from Search & Social, the team behind Search Engine Journal, DailySEOTip, IMBroadcast and various other search marketing projects. With a lineup of speakers and experts that includes Search Engine Journal editors and some of the sharpest minds in the search marketing industry, Search & Social Spring Summit 2010 is a CAN’T MISS conference you really must attend. Search Engine Journal is also offering a special added discount to our readers! Just enter the code sej when you register and you will save 15% off our ticket price of only $525! Attendees can expect to learn, at this affordable conference, the latest trends and successful marketing approaches by speakers. Furthermore, the theme of the Search & Social Summit Conference Series is INTERACTION and networking. Not only will you listen to informative presentations, but you will also be able to network and interact with the moderators, presenters and sponsors during and after sessions. The conference will not just be two days of sessions and networking, but Search & Social will also provide 3 meals a day and plenty of snacks for all attendees. We will open each day with a breakfast buffet, a lunch, group dinner & happy hour, and parties & networking events that run all night! Search & Social will keep you fat & happy during the conference with free food, open bars (special happy hours each night) and a bar & refreshments in the conference room . With a waterfront view and in an air-conditioned outdoor complex, it will be exclusive to the first 120 registrants. This allows a smaller and more relaxed atmosphere where attendees can network and market their companies on the spot. This is not to mention the 50+ business contacts that they can walk away with at the end of the conference. There will also be informative advanced material and a Q&A forum to push it further. Chris Winfield , Todd Malicoat , Brent Csutoras , and Rae Hoffman will be returning to the podium with topics such as Facebook, Twitter and Your Business and Link Building Tactics. And of course the founders of Search & Social; Dave Snyder, Loren Baker and Jordan Kasteler, will be sharing some researched SEO and internet marketing strategies. The Search and Social Spring Summit 2010 will be held at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Tampa, FL on May 3-4, 2010. This two-day conference is a premier forum that will bring together a search marketing community who are eager to learn and open to networking with other like-minded individuals. REGISTER TODAY for Search & Social Spring Summit! But don’t forget your Search Engine Journal coupon code sej when you register and you will save 15%! Check out the SEO Tools guide at Search Engine Journal . 15% Off Search & Social Spring Summit for SEJ

My “Couch Talk” Local Marketing Interview With Chuck Reynolds

For those of you that do not know Chuck , he has a great deal of experience with geo games as well and other geo apps, local search and marketing, and is not only a marketer but a heavy engaged user of all the services he talks about. I wanted to interview him about businesses using local social networks such as FourSquare, (because he is a very active user) and help share some insight to those business owners wondering how to use.  You can follow Chuck Reynolds on Twitter here. Local Marketing For Small Business Couch Talk, Yelp & Foursquare from Chuck Reynolds on Vimeo . Matt Siltala, owner of Dream Systems Media shares his love and passion for SEO and all things social on his Internet marketing blog . Check out the SEO Tools guide at Search Engine Journal . My “Couch Talk” Local Marketing Interview With Chuck

3 Tools to Analyze the Sentiment of Your Brand Social Mentions

Sentiment analysis is something very new and immature. Sentiment analysis allows you to identify general attitudes towards your brand (or a product). The goal of sentiment analysis is to assign a given social media comment with a degree of association to three basic categories: positive, negative or neutral. 1. Social