No Break for Shoppers And Retailers: Holiday Shopping Ain’t Over Yet

When it comes to Holiday shopping, there is no such thing as a break for retailers and their Internet business consultants. Christmas may be over but the shopping frenzy sure isn’t.

According to figures gathered by the Marketing Pilgrim, 82% of US shoppers are hoping to take advantage of post-holiday sales. And there is, in fact, reason to hope. Stores aren’t just offering products on a discount, they are clearing the shelves. This trend is evident in both physical and online stores. Major online stores such as Target, Kohl’s and Amazon are slashing prices and the deals are just too irresistible. Meanwhile, Walmart is also making huge discount offers and they’re opening their stores early.

Here are more numbers to keep you and your Internet business consultant alert during this “wind down” week: four out of 10 Americans are still shopping, 47% are redeeming gift cards, 31% are returning gifts and 44% are “sick of shopping” while 20% are out of money. But come to think of it, staying indoors does not exactly mean they’re immune to the joys of shopping. A great deal is a great deal and it is bound to attract takers. So you see, there really is no reason to let your guards down this week while your competitors are making a killing on post-Holiday sales.

Happy Holidays!

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A Friendly Reminder From Google: Keep It Fresh

The year 2012 may be Year of the Dragon but for Google and the millions of e-commerce merchants and their Internet marketing service providers, it is the Year of Content.

In a report for the Internet Retailer, the search engine giant emphasized the need for fresh content as part of an updated search ranking algorithm. Fresh content includes (but are not limited to) news updates, article, blogs and even v-logs. According to Google, freshness of content affects 35% of searches.

This reminder from Google should come in handy as 2011 comes to a close. Many entrepreneurs and Internet marketing service providers are now planning or even polishing Internet marketing strategies for the next year and the need to churn out fresh, quality content should be on top of the priority list.

In the article, industry experts anticipate the freshness effect to kick in at around the second

quarter of 2012 but online retailers and Internet marketing service providers are encouraged to prepare as early as now. This emphasis on fresh content also increases the significance of a solid social media campaign in influencing organic search results—another point to note for Internet marketing service providers and their clients. Of course, when we talk of social media these days, it’s no longer just Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. There’s LinkedIn, Foursquare and of course, Google+. When it comes to social media, it’s all about a “strong social presence”—one that translates into links which then implies good content, something that Google heavily favors.

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Taking Advantage Of Facebook Functionality For Your Website (Part 2)

In our previous blog post, we shared with you five Facebook plug-ins which you can easily incorporate into your own website. Today, we are adding five more of those Facebook plug-ins.

Facebook may be facing significant competition from Google+ and there are still criticisms on the changes that it recently rolled out but the fact remains that it is still an indispensible part of any online marketing campaign. Any Internet marketing expert in their right mind will tell you that.

So call your own Internet marketing expert and read on to find out how you can maximize Facebook’s social media powers on your website through this plug-ins.

1. Like Box. This plug-in lets site visitors “Like” your Facebook page and view its activity stream directly from your website. This plug-in also lets you show a more detailed version of your stream when they “Like” your page. Word of caution, though. Keep the stream in the box only if you or your Internet marketing expert is actively updating your account with interesting content. Otherwise, use the Like Box settings to omit it from view because this can be a major turn-off for your website visitors. Plus, it can also hinder them from becoming a fan of your Facebook page if they see there isn’t anything interesting going on in your account.

2. Login Button. This button shows profile photos of your site visitor’s friends who already signed up to your site. The Login button should be complemented by a Registration function so you can come up with a community of site users logged on to your site via Facebook. Another great thing about this button is that is gives you and your Internet marketing expert a wealth of information about your site visitors because it gives you access to data they have shared on Facebook.

3. Registration. Like we said earlier, this plug-in should go hand-in-hand with the Login button because it lets users sign up for your website using their Facebook accounts. The upside to this is that it makes registration very easy for users because most of the input fields are already pre-filled with the user’s personal data if they are also on Facebook at the same time. If your website requires a login for visitors to be able to fully maximize it, this is a great alternative or even an addition to the traditional sign-up options.

4. Facepile. Facepile shows the Facebook profile photos of users who have “Liked” your page or have signed up to your site. Note, however, that this plug-in only displays photos of the user’s Facebook friends. So if the user has no friends who have “Liked” your page, then there will be no photos displayed. The main benefit of this plug-in is that it is a great way to encourage users to be part of your community.

5. Live Stream. This plug-in allows your site visitors to share Facebook activity and comments in real time. It’s a lot like the Comments plug-in except with Live Stream, the comments don’t remain permanently and the displayed comments depend on the height allotted for the plug-in. If you and your Internet marketing expert host live online events such as webinars and video presentations, this is a handy tool to have on your website. Another word of caution: as moderator, you cannot edit or remove comments but you can ban users from the live feed is they start typing in inappropriate comments.

Given these plug-ins, it is now up to you and your Internet marketing expert to determine which one best fits the kind of website that you have. Which ones have you used? Did they work out well for you? Let us know!

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Taking Advantage Of Facebook Functionality For Your Website

There is little to no doubt that you have a Facebook account for your online business. (If you don’t, call a social media agency now!) That’s great, of course. Being on Facebook alone is one big step for your Internet marketing campaign. If you and your social media agency are looking for more ways to maximize your presence on Facebook, how about integrating it to your website? It’s easy, it’s free and it adds a whole new dimension to what would otherwise be an ordinary e-commerce website.

Before we delve into recommended Facebook plug-ins, let us assure you that Facebook integration is not just a fad, it actually works. You can even ask your social media agency about it. There are many marketing studies which show that integrating a website to the social networking site actually boosts web traffic to the website itself and to the pages.

Here are five Facebook plug-ins that you and your social media agency might want to consider for your e-commerce website.

1. Like Button. This is probably Facebook’s most popular button. Having this on your website allows users to share pages from your site back to their own Facebook profiles—all in one click. It’s a great way to direct traffic to specific products on your website that would otherwise have been ignored. Talk to your social media agency about incorporating the Like button on every page and product on your site. You will soon find that just one click on the Like button can cause a chain reaction of awareness on a product.

2. Send Button. This button allows your site visitors to easily send content to their friends on Facebook. As compared to the Like button, the Send button communicates the message via a private message and not through the public news feed. For example, if you have an online fashion store, you might want to consider placing a Send button in addition to the Like button, in case your visitor wants to share the product or page to a friend.

3. Comments. If your website is not built on top of content management system (CMS), the Comments plug-in will be very useful for you. This plug-in is ideal for your product pages. It allows you to get direct feedback and you can even respond right away. Additionally, it eliminates the need for you and your social media agency to set up an entirely new comments solution for your website.

4. Activity Feed. The Facebook Activity Feed plug-in lets your site visitors see what their Facebook friends are doing on your sites via the Like and Comments buttons. The tricky part about this plug-in is that it only becomes really useful if your website has heavy traffic and your visitors are actively liking and commenting on your pages.

5. Recommendations. This plug-in allows you to give your site visitors personalized suggestions for pages they might be interested in. The recommendations are automatically created and compiled by the plug-in based on data from the most common activity or pages visited on your site. If the user is logged on to their Facebook account, the plug-in also takes into consideration the activity by that user’s friends. Like the Activity Feed, this plug-in is only best used if your site has heavy traffic. Otherwise, it can do more harm than good so use it sparingly.

Come back tomorrow for the second part of this post. And let us know what you think!

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Your Own PPC Management Checklist

ppc management checklist

Whether you love them or hate them in the real world, checklists are an integral part of PPC management. Making a list of things to do at the start of each month will not only improve your profits, but ensure that you’re campaign is running at its very best. Lists make sure you cover all the bases each time, every time.

We compiled the top five tasks every your pay per click management expert should accomplish for you every month. It’s important to run by these early into the month so that the changes you make will positively affect your site’s performance for the rest of the month. Although this does not mean you can only make changes once a month; feel free to do so anytime you see a glitch in your system.

First, run a keyword report on your top 10 keywords. You have hundreds of keywords at your disposal and it’s easy to get lost in them. Your top 10 will be enough to gauge how you are performing generally. Include your negative keywords as well! After dropping non-performing keywords, add some new ones based on new products and services.

Second, run a URL report. This will enable you to channel wanted traffic to your best pages and get rid of those who are slowing you down. Remember that a good PPC management plan is about editing what works and what doesn’t. If you’re running ads on the Content Network within AdWords, do a placement performance report and focus on your top five performing and non performing sites.

And our last and probably most important task: Always be on top of what’s happening to your sites. Before editing your keywords and URLs, take a look at the previous month’s performance. Are the new keywords generating the traffic you want? Do you need to tweak that page you edited?

PPC management is about staying on top of your campaign. There may be a few more tasks you need to add to this list especially if you’re just starting out in the PPC world. Did we miss anything? Let us know!

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Online Stores Outshine Offline Counterparts

If you are an online store owner, now, more than ever, is the time to step up your game. Now is the time to invest in Internet marketing services and solicit the expertise of a genuine Internet marketing service provider because according to a report from the Internet retailer, new data reveals that the growth of e-commerce outstrips that of physical stores.

The U.S. Department of Commerce revealed data that while total retail sales increased last November, the sales at online stores moved up at more than twice the rate. Sales from e-commerce and mail order make up more than 75% of the non-store retailer subsector. The figures also revealed that physical stores “continue to lose ground to e-retailers during the critical holiday sales period.”

One popular item that consumers increasingly buy online is consumer electronics. According to ComScore, approximately 30% of consumer electronics sales in the US are made online and online sales went up more than 15% in the third quarter of this year as compared to the same period last year. In response to this trend, many store retailers (like Sears and Macy’s) are extending their store hours to capture more Holiday sales.

In the long run, however, the response to this growing preference for online shopping should be to fortify online stores with better Internet marketing tactics from reputable Internet marketing service providers.

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A Look At Content Marketing

Here's something for you and your Internet business consultant to think about as you plan next year's Internet marketing strategy.

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Hanging Out On Google+ (Part 2)

In our last blog post, we told you why hanging out on Google+’s Hangout is good for your business. Today, we are telling you how to do it and what to do when you’re hanging out, courtesy of Social Media Examiner’s Marc Pitman.

Of course, this assumes that you have navigated the unknown social media landscape that is Google+. If you haven’t, call your social media agency or your Internet business consultant because it is high time that you do. If you’ve been following the Internet news lately, then you know that Google has announced that it is considering including Google+ activity as a factor in determining natural search engine rankings. So take that as your cue and dial your Internet business consultant for a quick meeting.

In the meantime, let’s look at the three very easy steps in setting up a Google+ Hangout.

1. Click on the “Start a Hangout” button. It’s on the right side of your Google+ profile.

2. Fix your hair. This is a visual hangout so make a good impression. Google+ gives you a virtual green so you can check your hair before going live.

3. Invite people you want to chat with. Make sure to invite individual people. Your Hangout shows up in your timeline, by the way. And in those who have you in their Circles. Remember what we said the last time: give your Hangout a cool and intriguing name so people will want to join you.

Aside from the normal chatting, Hangout also lets you share YouTube videos (via an integrated button). You can even start a Hangout from YouTube. Google’s online hub also gives you freedom to control audio and video so if something comes up that you don’t want your online pals to see or hear, you can always turn off the microphone or the video.

Like we said earlier, make sure to give a good impression by dressing up properly. It doesn’t have to be a coat and a tie all the time. It really depends on why you are hanging out. And don’t forget the background. Your Internet business consultant should tell you that your background is part of your overall branding strategy so choose wisely.

Here’s another great thing about Hangout: if no one shows up, your Hangout is removed from the timeline so you don’t have to worry about an embarrassing post that you went on a solo hangout.

With Google+’s Hangout, your main investment would be mostly time. And given the changes that are rolling out in the online marketplace, it is in you and your Internet business consultant’s best interest to take advantage of this feature. It all goes back to what we always say about social media—building relationships is key.

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Holiday Shopping Security Tips

Happy Holidays!

Christmas may be over but Holiday shopping sure isn't! Here's an infographic to help you keep your customers safe while online shopping courtesy of Marketing Tech Blog.

Hanging Out On Google+

So now that Google has let slip that your business activity on Google may soon affect your natural search engine rankings, it’s high time you learn and maximize the features of Google+. It’s okay if you and your social media agency are still on that experimental phase but the competition is learning fast and you have to keep up with the rapidly changing social times.

So for today’s blog post, we are borrowing firsthand Google+ knowledge from a user himself—Social Media Examiner’s Marc Pitman. Pitman likes to “hang out” on Google+ and he is sharing top tips on how to make the most out of this online meeting place.

First things first. Why hang out on Google+? For starters, it’s a great way to build on an existing relationship with your clients or with your business partners. Hanging out need not always be strictly professional. It adds a new dimension to social relationships. For example, if you need to have a quick meeting with your social media agency, you can do it on Google+. It’s budget-friendly too that way. With your circle of clients, you can use Hangout to talk about compelling topics that may or may not have anything to do with business. The key is to give your Hangout with an intriguing name so more people are encouraged to join.

You can also use Hangout as an extension of your office hours. And since it’s basically video chatting, it gives a more human dimension to your business. Hangout can also be used as a communication platform among colleagues or even as a venue to hold a meeting with potential investors. The communication opportunities are endless and if you have a really great social media agency backing you up, this Google+ feature alone can work wonders for your social media campaign.

Next up, three simple steps to start a Google+ Hangout and ideas on what you can do (aside from chat) while in it. That’s for tomorrow so be sure to come back and check us out!

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Can Google+ Help Improve Your Brand’s Search Rankings?

The answer: Most likely.

According to a report from AdAge, Google is “experimenting” with the idea of making a click on the +1 button as one of the factors for ranking in the search engine’s results. But Google may actually go deeper and take into consideration the size of a “circle” and how widely its content is being shared. For the uninitiated, a circle refers to the social network’s pool of users following the same brand.

What does this mean for e-commerce merchants and Internet marketing experts?

Well, for starters, any Internet marketing expert will tell you that this means brands should be more active on Google’s social space. Or be on it if you’re still immune to Google+’s charms. It’s not yet official but as early as now, some brands are worried that those who penetrated the new social network early might have more search advantages over the late bloomers. Some major companies, like Dell and Macy’s, are active on Google+. A large group of retailers, however, are still on an experimental phase with the newcomer. This vast majority is not really looking at their Google+ accounts as an opportunity to rank naturally on search engines. In fact, most of them are copying their Facebook content into their Google+ pages.

Is it time to reassess your social media marketing strategy with your Internet marketing expert? It probably is. After all, it will come as no surprise if Google gives more value to activity on Google+ than on Facebook when it comes to creating the algorithm for organic search results.

For entrepreneurs and Internet marketing experts, the official announcement of this recent change from Google, no matter how subtle it might be, is just a formality. Many brands are not waiting and taking any chances. Expect higher engagement on Google+ but do not forget the search engine giant’s number one consideration for higher search rankings—top quality and fresh content. Right now, Google+ or no Google+, that strategy can work wonders for online businesses.

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Creating That Killer Facebook Ad Campaign

Did you know that Facebook is estimated to have one billion users by 2013? With all that potential customers, you really do need a social media agency to help you take advantage of the opportunities on Facebook. Here's a visual guideline on how you can come up with a "killer" ad campaign.

Source: AES Connect

Insider PPC: Negative Keywords

Even if you have you third party handling your PPC management needs, as the business owner, you need to know how your PPC manager actually manages your account. From a client’s perspective, hearing the word “negative” is not normally part of a pleasant conversation but in PPC management, looking at your negative keywords is just as crucial as working on your targeted keywords.

Many times too often, an important task such as regularly auditing our negative keywords list become forgotten in the midst of handling several different accounts. What happens is that PPC management experts make on-the-spot financial decisions to ensure maximum profit from ad spends. As a PPC client yourself, you need to stay on top of your own campaign and know what needs to be done to maximize your funds.

Editing negative keywords is an integral part of PPC management. If used correctly, negative keywords can improve efficiency and traffic volume. An audit is the process by which your list of negative keywords is reviewed regularly to ensure that they aren’t hindering the traffic you want. Because your customers’ and business’ needs are changing constantly, your negative keywords should be able to adapt accordingly. There isn’t an exact science when it comes to editing negative keywords. If you have been on a PPC management campaign for sometime now, you should already know by now what works for your products and get rid of keywords that bring in undesired traffic.

Make it a habit! Every time you have a new product or service, make sure that you coordinate with your PPC manager to add/drop keywords accordingly. PPC management experts recommend grooming your list every four to six months; try adding it to your own monthly checklist to avoid overlooking this important task.

Remember: regular negative keywords audit is an important aspect of PPC management because it ensures that qualified traffic (along with profits) are welcomed into your business.

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The Price of Privacy

Privacy is one of the common issues that online shoppers are wary of amidst the rapid growth of e-commerce. Normally, consumers would be hesitant to share data about themselves and their shopping behavior but according to a report from the Internet Retailer, many shoppers are willing to give up some privacy in exchange for free or discounted online content. KPMG LLP, an accounting and consulting firm, conducted the study.

This news may prove useful to Internet marketing service providers who are constantly in search of ways to reach out and communicate better with customers. According to the report, 52% of U.S. consumers would be “willing to let advertisers track their usage patterns and personal information” in exchange for discounted products or free online information. The survey, entitled Consumers and Convergence V: The Converged Lifestyle, also found that 43% are willing to regularly receive advertising messages but without sharing personal data as compared to the other 52%, in exchange for lower fees or services. The survey gathered data from 9,600 consumers in 31 nations.

In an era where gaining consumers’ trust is paramount, this study could help entrepreneurs and Internet marketing service professionals acquire data that may otherwise be difficult to obtain. According to KPMG’s national sector leader for media and telecommunications, companies face the challenge of gathering “compelling” consumer data while navigating tricky consumer privacy concerns and regulations. As an entrepreneur or as an Internet marketing service professional, it is important to note that the last person you want to offend, whether intentionally or not, is the customer because the backlash is truly damaging.

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Social Media Tips for Small To Medium Entrepreneurs (Part 2)

Last time, we gave you four real life social media tips from entrepreneurs who have taken their businesses to a whole new level. If you still aren’t convinced regarding the need for an Internet marketing expert or a social media agency to help you navigate the rapidly changing online marketplace, here are four more stories and tips from fellow entrepreneurs.

1. Use video. We have said this before and we will say it again. Use videos. With all the changes in the way search engines index web pages, adding short (three minutes or less) and compelling (use graphics and be genuinely funny/witty) videos is one way to get on top. The easiest first step is to create a custom channel on YouTube. Next question: what to upload? Start with instructional videos about your products or services. Any Internet marketing expert will tell you that this is a good way to add credibility to your company and if your videos are really compelling, it can even turn viewers into customers.

2. Market your video wisely. Don’t waste great video content by leaving it to rot in oblivion. Market it wisely. Seek the help of an Internet marketing expert to help you tag, title and publish the right way. It can significantly increase mileage. Check out our blog post on YouTube videos.

3. Monitor clients and prospects. Like we always say, great social media campaigns should always have a monitoring aspect. You cannot rest on your current success. Things happen and change fast in the world of Internet marketing. Create a Twitter list or add their blogs to your RSS feed. Find out what they are saying so you can anticipate their needs and you can respond faster. You can also ask your Internet marketing expert to help you foster your relationships with your strategic partners, like journalists or professional bloggers.

4. Share some secrets. No, we’re not talking about sharing your restaurant’s secret recipe. We are talking about developing content that answers tough industry questions or sharing how-to tips that really solve problems. This kind of content will make you stand out and will boost your search rankings. Write down the most difficult questions from your customers and create content by answering those questions. Your customers will love you for it.

Got your own real life social media tips? Share it with us!

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Social Media Tips for Small To Medium Entrepreneurs

If you have always been doubtful about what a social media agency can do for your business, here are some real stories and tips from real life businessmen who have taken their enterprise to the next level with social media, courtesy of the Social Media Examiner.

1. Use Facebook to reveal a more personal side of you. Providing useful industry tips is always important but add variety to your posts by sharing some “personal” stuff. Now, take note that by personal, we do not mean really personal. Share your passions, your interests or some really cool things you are doing right now, other than work. For example, if you like to cook, share pictures of your culinary masterpieces or a recipe of your own specialty. The point here is to keep your posts interesting, humorous, unique and most of all, authentic.

2. Pick one social media channel and use it well. Just because there are new social media tools out there, it doesn’t mean that you have to use all of them. With the help of your social media agency, find the best social media marketing platform for your business by looking at where a high concentration of your target market might be. Use tools like LinkedIn’s search features or Follower Wonk. Once you have found your network, put 100% social media effort. This is a better use of your time and money than aimlessly targeting all platforms.

3. Use Facebook to grow your list. A truly thriving business has a strong list of leads that is continuously growing. There are many ways to do this but one tool you can utilize is Facebook’s opt-in strategy. Ask your social media agency to help you create a custom welcome tab. Using this tab, you can then create a “reveal tab.” Here, you can include a call to action to encourage non-fans to “Like” you and become a fan. Once you get the “Like”, you can use the opportunity to give a token in exchange for name and e-mail. It’s hitting two birds with one stone: you grow your list and you increase your fan base.

4. Make your Twitter profile count. Go all out in designing your Twitter profile, especially if you have a niche market. It says a lot about how professional you are and it gives your potential followers an idea of the kind of content they can get from you. This can be an added service you can ask from your social media agency. Another strategy is to find Twitter IDs that target the same market as you do and follow its followers. It’s a good way to get noticed.

More small business social media tips coming soon so make sure to come back and check us out.

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PPC Management Tips: Going Global

Now that you’ve got the lowdown on managing your local PPC campaign, you’ve set your sights to bigger and better markets – the rest of the world. You know that your PPC managementskills have been effective judging by the number of local and national clients knocking on your door. So maybe it is time for you to go global!

One of the first questions to pop into your mind would be: Are you ready to market internationally? Do you have the means to ship to other countries, handle foreign exchange and a customer service program that can cater to your potential customers 24/7?

One key point (and probably the most important) in international PPC management is research. The global market is full of potential – from new clients to bigger revenues – yet it is also diverse. Your potential clients will be coming from different backgrounds, time zones and will speak different languages. So the first thing you have to figure out is which niche in the world you want to conquer first.

For example, you want to do business in Japan where they predominantly speak and read Japanese, so you might want to get yourself a good translator – or better yet a bi-lingual employee. They can help you set up your PPC management campaign and translate technical terms (including your keywords) to slang better understood by the locals. Next, see if you can get your hands on a country specific domain.

And last but not the least, set your language targeting to whichever country/language you are aiming for – this will allow your PPC ads to appear in the countries’ Google/Yahoo! search engines. Google is popular among US and European markets while Asia prefers Yahoo! – this kind of PPC knowledge will save you a lot of money and effort when preparing your international PPC marketing campaign.

Going global may not be as easy as pie, but it will open many opportunities for your business. Keep in mind the pointers we have given and good luck!

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Twitter Now Has Brand Pages For Marketers

Here is a new “to do” item to add to your Internet business consultant’s list of social media targets. Like Facebook and Google+, Twitter now has its own brand pages. This change comes with the social media platform’s new look. Twitter has opened the proverbial doors to entrepreneurs and online marketers. According to a report from Marketing Pilgrim, the brand pages have two elements which are both free. First, brand pages can be customized with large header graphics for logos and taglines which is now more prominent as compared to the standard format wherein normally, a part of the page’s design is obscured by the timeline. Another element is an option to keep a specific tweet at the top of the timeline where in it also automatically expands to reveal an embedded photo or video sourced from Flickr or YouTube, among others. This auto-expand feature does not require any action from the user.

Another improvement that entrepreneurs and Internet business consultants should find interesting is the separation of @ replies and mentions. This enables the company to facilitate Twitter-savvy brands without getting in the way of regular messaging. According to Chief Revenue Officer Adam Bain, the launch is a collaboration with “strategic partners and advertisers.” He added that the marketers in the launch group were already active Twitter community members but that they were in search of new ways to make the micro blogging platform better, more interesting, more compelling and more provocative.

Twitter now joins the “commercialized” ranks of Facebook and Google+. This new social media marketing option should prove interesting since it is a free service. This levels the playing field for both mom and pop online stores and the industry heavyweights. One important thing to note for businessmen and Internet business consultants, though, is that Twitter’s target audience is more specified as compared to Facebook so at the end of day, entrepreneurs should go back to their marketing plan, seek advice from their Internet business consultant, and decide if Twitter’s updated features fit the bill.

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Is Your Social Profile Holiday-Ready?

The Holidays are in full swing! Are you Holiday-ready on your social media accounts?

Time to make a call to your Internet business consultant and spruce up your social profiles because believe it or not, brands and companies with better social media connection can score more purchase points this Holiday shopping season.

BizReport’s Kristina Knight has some expert tips to share on how to make your social profile Holiday-ready.

1. Talk to your Internet business consultant and together, decide a goal for this season. Increase sales? Launch a special Holiday item? Drive more traffic to your website? Once you have determined your goal, talk to your customers as they would talk to you. With so many merchants to choose from, each transaction is an opportunity to make a good impression. Good customer service plus value on every purchase always equals to repeat business.

2. Target your audience. We know you do this all year round but for this season, do not be fooled into thinking that just because there are many shoppers out there, some of them will eventually go to you without having to exert extra effort. If anything, Holiday season is a time to come out with more engaging campaigns. This season is about sharing and giving so make it easy for your customers to share your products and your services with their loved ones. Ask your Internet business consultant about ways to take advantage of social and mobile trends.

3. Take advantage of social recommendation. For example, on Facebook, users can see pages or products their friends have liked. Reward your customers for sharing. On the social sphere, a good recommendation will literally take you places. A brand who is active online has more chances of doing better in business.

Before you launch into full Holiday operations mode, make sure your social profile is just as ready as you are so you won’t miss out on any opportunities!

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PPC Management On A Budget

Starting out your PPC management campaign can be a nightmare, especially if you’ve been reading articles that say you have to have to spend a gazillion dollars to succeed. That wouldn’t be a problem if only you weren’t the owner of a small time business looking for your place in the World Wide Web.

The truth is, you don’t need a lot of money to succeed in pay per click advertising. What you do need are a few tips and tricks to help you maximize your meager advertising budget. First off, curtail your general keywords and focus more on specific long tail ones. For example, change ‘second hand books’ to ‘second hand bookstore in the bay area’. The first keyword is highly competitive and will generate unnecessary traffic.

Do some research and find out which niche in the market you can profit from the most. This way, you can generate a focused PPC management campaign that allows you to conserve your budget. PPC management experts also recommend allotting money towards ‘learning’. Learning is the way you know how effective your campaign is; knowing what works and what doesn’t will help you create a small, yet profitable operation.

Look up which ones generate the most clicks and see how you can optimize them even further. Drop a keyword if it receives minimal response from your clients. This ‘testing’ and ‘learning’ phase may seem like a waste of money, but most PPC management consultants agree that it is what differentiates the winners from the losers.

Once you’ve established your campaign, let it be. You’ve got to let it generate enough statistical data to make intelligent changes. Make sure your campaign has made profit before your decide to increase your campaign budget. Let it run for a few days then increase it again. Keep at this until your goals have been met.

So you see, PPC management on a budget can be done slowly but surely. Keep checking in for more tips and tricks!

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Video Ads Are Moving Up

Ads on television used to be a bane (but a necessary one) and yet it was something that viewers understood. TV ads existed for a reason. And then came online videos. Alas, freedom from ads! Of course, this is not entirely true as video-sharing sites like YouTube took advantage of banner ads across the bottom of videos.

According to a blog post from the Marketing Pilgrim, video advertisement viewing is now greater than video viewing itself. This has something to do with the fact that videos are increasingly becoming longer. In fact, some networks run full episodes of their TV shows online. The online viewing space is also a place where you can find documentaries, concerts and practically everything that’s on video. Given this evolution of our viewing habits, our tolerance for online video ads has also increased.

As an entrepreneur, how do you respond to this trend? Is it time to call your social media agency for a new Internet marketing campaign? Maybe it is.

Let’s look at some numbers.

The average number of ads for every long-form video increased from 3.1 in the first quarter of the year to 5.02 in the third quarter. Instead of viewers getting scared off by too many online ads, what we are seeing is an increasing number of viewers willing to interrupt their viewing with occasional ads. Long-form videos had an 82% completion rate while mid-form videos had a 70% completion rate. Meanwhile, short-form videos registered 56% completion rate. Online viewing (of long-form videos) is also starting to take the place of primetime TV with peak hours between 9pm to 11pm. Short videos tend to become popular in the late afternoon.

Before you have your social media agency channel all your budget and efforts to online ads, you also need to take into consideration the role that mobile devices are playing in this growing trend. For example, with an iPad, viewers can stream shows via apps that give you access to anything that’s on TV. With mobile gadgets, it is easier to watch videos any time of the day and anywhere your audience might be. So what this means is more video, more ad opportunities, and more chances to reach out to a potential customer, minus the high cost of a few advertising seconds on air.

With 2011 coming to a close, you and your social media agency need to start planning for the business year ahead. Make sure to include video ads on your priority list.

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Business With A Cause: Social Entrepreneurship

First off, what is social entrepreneurship?

It’s an enterprise that does more than just make profit, it’s a business that makes a tangible and positive impact on the society. Social entrepreneurship recognizes the need to make money but at the same time recognizes a responsibility to help solve social, economic and even environmental issues. According to an article by Tom McSherry for Entrepreneurs-Journey.com, each business should have a socially entrepreneurial aspect to it. He emphasizes the need to take care of our resources and give back even in small ways.

How do we go about starting a social enterprise?

Like all businesses, it starts with an idea. But not just any idea. It has to be a “viable idea.” It should be one that is potentially profitable and at the same time helpful to a bigger cause. Thus, social entrepreneurship requires tremendous amounts of creativity. If you have an existing business, you can team up with your entire staff and think of ways to make your business more socially entrepreneurial. And because we live in a social world, you also might want to bring in your Internet marketing service provider to think of ways to better spread your message and make the most impact. After all, Internet marketing services are not just about helping you market your product or service, it is also about helping you communicate better.

One of the easiest ways to do this is by letting your customers know that each time they purchase from you, a portion of that money goes to a charitable cause. While this is not social entrepreneurship in the strictest sense, it achieves the same effects. As a business owner, you can also choose to donate to microfinance groups, which helps other entrepreneurs like yourself (but with far less resources and opportunities).

The great thing about social entrepreneurship is that there is a market for it. More and more people want to make informed choices before purchasing and a lot of customers are becoming more socially conscious regarding their spending and shopping habits. If you can serve a need and help the environment in the process, people will want to help you do that. Of course, part of your socially entrepreneurial business plan should be to keep your market informed of the cause you are supporting and how they can be part of the solution. This is where Internet marketing services come in handy. An Internet marketing service provider can help you “package” your message so that it makes an impact on your audience and on your business as well.

Do you have any ideas on how to make your business more socially entrepreneurial? Share it with us!

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Facebook Promises Better Privacy Protection

For any Internet marketing expert, Facebook is still a gold mine for Internet marketing opportunities. Admittedly though, the social networking giant has some privacy issues that need to be addressed. Now, an Internet marketing expert may have to adjust to a shift in Facebook’s privacy policies.

In a report for the Internet Retailer by Allison Enright, Facebook agreed to get its user’s consent before sharing information and to submit to privacy audits, under a proposed agreement with the Federal Trade Commission. Under this new agreement, Facebook must get consent before sharing information beyond the scope of the privacy settings they selected. In addition, the Palo Alto, California-based company must also maintain a program that will protect customer confidentiality and address current privacy risks.

Founder and head honcho Mark Zuckerberg said that these changes signify Facebook’s “clear and formal long-term commitment” to give users tools to control the information they share on the world’s most popular networking site. Zuckerberg also noted that the company has already looked into some of the issues involving advertisers receiving user data they were not supposed to have access to. The company has also created two executive positions to better address future privacy issues. Erin Egan has been named Chief Privacy Officer, Policy, while Michael Richter has been assigned as Chief Privacy Officer, Products.

In the article, Zuckerberg was quoted saying that while the company admits to some mistakes in the past, Facebook is committed to becoming a “leader in transparency and control around privacy.”

For any Internet marketing expert, this serves as a challenge to find effective ways to market on Facebook without violating the ever-changing boundaries of privacy.

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Holiday Season Is Mobile Shopping Season

In an article for the BizReport by Helen Leggatt, a mobile shopping survey conducted by Motricity revealed that 70% of shoppers intend to use their mobile devices far more often this year as compared to last year. The survey, which gathered the insights of 403 American adults, also revealed that men are the biggest mobile spenders, spending $312 on average for mostly big-ticket purchases. On the other hand, women spent an average of $222 on purchases made via their mobile devices.

This trend, which reiterates the need to focus Internet marketing service efforts on mobile campaigns, is surprisingly led by mobile users within the ages of 25 to 44 who feel that “shopping using their device is more convenient.”

Whereas mobile shopping was scoffed at just two years ago, the figures in this study reveal that mobile is fast becoming an important aspect of Internet marketing. In the recently concluded Black Friday, mobile purchases accounted for 14.3% of all online shopping traffic. That figure is more than double than what IBM recorded last year. Here’s another figure to think about: sales from mobile devices reached almost 10% of digital retail transactions which is three times more than last year.

For e-commerce merchants and Internet marketing service providers, these figures are indicative of trends and industry movements that need to be incorporated into planning the marketing strategy for 2012.

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Three Things To Avoid When Marketing A New Product

Having a great product does not mean that you can sit back, relax and wait for profit to come to you. One way or another, you have to market. And these days, the place is to be is online. Now, you’ve armed yourself with an Internet marketing expert to help you navigate the ins and outs of the online marketplace. Good for you. Again, this does not mean that you can sit back, relax and let them do the job. As the business owner, you have to be aware of what you want and what you do not want for your business.

Here are three things you do want to do to avoid a shortcut to business fiasco.

1. Creating a product first then selling later. Have a battle plan. Find out if there is a market for your product. If so, is this a niche market? Where should you go to be able to reach them more effectively? Make sure that there is no lag time between polishing your product and selling them. Knowing how you will sell your product will help you create your product in such a way that you maximize all your advantages. Work hand in hand with your Internet marketing expert. Let them do the marketing research for you while you use the data they gather to improve your product.

2. Creating product names that are too cute or too clever. What you call your product can make a huge difference on how it will perform on the market. Trivia: The famous book “Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus” was originally released under a different title but it bombed the first time. After its title was changed, it became a hit! Look at your leading competitors and learn from them. What makes their name such a hit? Don’t try to be too cute or too creative. As the newcomer in the industry, you have to learn and master the rules before your break them.

3. Thinking that the most important part of your product is the product. Of course, your product should be topnotch, bar none. But don’t exhaust all your resources on perfecting your product. Save some for marketing. No matter how great your product is, if it doesn’t reach the hands of your target market, then all your efforts are futile. So be smart about allocating your time, efforts and resources. Maximize the abilities of your Internet marketing expert and watch your fledgling enterprise grow steadily.

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Apps Are Up In 2012

There is no question about it, we are living in the digital age. I’m sure you don’t know anyone without a mobile anymore. Take your pick between PSPs, smart phones, tablets, notebooks and desktop computers. Everybody is somehow connected to the Internet.

Aside from communication, software for these gadgets has been sprouting like gremlins doused with water. It is estimated that iTunes has about 500,000 apps available, followed by the Android store with 300,000 and Windows Marketplace at 40,000. There are apps for the weather, the stock market, yoga classes and making your very own movie. You can get blow by blow updates from a CNN reporter in Beirut, and he can even show you what he’s eating for dinner!

Naturally, all businesses want to dig into this goldmine. As a business owner, I’m sure you’ve thought of contacting an Internet marketing expert about how you can possibly profit from an app. According to a study done by the Millennial Media Mobile Mix, music and entertainment have become the number one category for apps. Games used to be number one in 2010 but dropped to second place this year. At number three for two consecutive years is communications.

An Internet business consultant can point you to a local app developer and help you find your niche in the digital age. For example, if you are small organic farmer looking to expand your business, you can develop a free recipe app for healthier cooking. The app may be free, but you can also use it to link to your own website to encourage users to purchase ingredients from you.

One of the things that an Internet business consultant might tell you is this: the number of people purchasing gadgets will only rise in the future. App sales are estimated to grow by 50% in 2012. That means there is a lot of room to fill in the ever-growing world of apps and a lot of opportunities for you and your Internet business consultant to explore.

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Your New Social Media Tool: iPhone

If you have been living under the rock and have failed to notice, social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter can be a goldmine for promoting your business. Studies have shown that there are more people going online than those who are watching television or reading the newspaper. Now, people are not just going social, they are also going mobile.

This is where the iPhone comes in. Perhaps the most popular touch screen mobile device today, the iPhone is normally seen as the “cool” smart phone rather than the handy business phone for the mobile entrepreneur. However, Social Media Examiner’s Tom Martin shares how the iPhone can become a handy social media tool for creating, not just blogs, but video logs or v-logs!

If you have a social media agency working with you, this is a new project that you can ask them to help you with: tap the full potential of the iPhone! Imagine doing social media marketing at the touch of your fingertips, literally!

According to Martin, using the iPhone app called iMovie, you can record, edit and even add special effects to your video clip and post it online. He also recommends the Flare app, which allows users to zoom during video recording. Portable microphones such as the Brando Mini Mic or the KV Connection iPhone Microphone Adapter can be utilized to get quality sound even in the noisy workplace or in an outdoor location with distracting ambient noise.

When it comes to photos, external iPhone lenses are now available in the market. You can create SLR quality photos with the fish-eye, telephoto, macro and wide-angle lenses. Photo editing is also a breeze with a software called Photogene which allows you to retouch your photos as soon as you take them.

With enough creativity and resourcefulness, the iPhone can truly become your portable multimedia production device! If you’re not on the iPhone or you’re not planning to get one, then have your social media agency explore this fertile mobile ground especially with the new iPhone 4s.

Do you have your own iPhone tricks? Share it with us!

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Localizing Your PPC Management Campaign

One of the reasons why businesses go online is to attract customers from all around the world. Most of us think that the farther your reach, the better profit you’ll make. Well, there is certainly some truth in the last statement, although online businesses often forget that they are within reach of a sleeping dragon—the local market.

One reason to engage the local market is that you can save on shipping costs and can even have your goods picked up at your store. You can also save on advertising—local community centers and bulletin boards are great places to post ads. If you don’t have the time to do the legwork, you can reign in local clientele with these PPC management tips and tricks.

You can start by using geographic qualifiers in your keywords. For example, instead of just ‘cupcakes’, you can modify that to ‘Fort Lee cupcakes’. This way, you can cater to someone who lives six blocks away from you—beneficial to both you and your client because the client is ensured that the cupcakes are freshly baked and you don’t have to drive to another state to make a sale. Set a radius that you can realistically service; you can use geographic reports to locate areas that generate the most clicks.

By now, PPC management shouldn’t appear as troublesome as it did a few paragraphs ago.

Include words like ‘local’ and ‘neighborhood’ in your ads to let clients know you’re locally based. Also, take advantage of PPC ad scheduling by ensuring that they appear strategically; not when you’re about to close or sleep.

Lastly, avoid sending your money to waste by maximizing the use of negative keywords. Add every state that you aren’t servicing to your PPC campaign’s negative keywords list. This way, you can avoid entertaining out of state clientele. It is also wise to include services you do not offer to avoid unnecessary traffic.

Remember that there is profit in the local market—use the tips above to improve your business performance by localizing your PPC marketing strategy.

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Saturday Musings On Mobile Marketing

Here's a grain of mobile Internet marketing wisdom from Dan Hollings you might want to ask your Internet business consultant about.

Happy weekend!

94% of SMS messages are viewed, 62% are remembered and 22% of value-add messages are forwarded to friends - yet I'm still looking for a business owner that has tapped TEXT messaging as a part of there marketing strategy. I know they're out there, but they are the rare exception, not the rule.

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All About PPC Landing Pages

Just before the work week ends, here are some PPC management things to ponder upon.

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Why Infographics?

Remember the infographic we shared on how to make an infographic? Here's another infographic to explain to you why you should do it!

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The Difference Between Advertiser And Consumer

Something to chew on for entrepreneurs and their Internet marketing experts.



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Social Media And Your College Application

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