Oh No! The social media giant Facebook has changed! Not to worry, this does not mean businesses have to change their entire social media strategies because Facebook did away with “Check-ins”, but did they really?
A couple of weeks ago Facebook was said to change some key features of its platform. Some of the changes made were page privacy, ads to target interests, location tags (Location tagging means that people can tag statuses, pictures, and people with their exact location and they do not have to be on a mobile device.) and recommendations on place pages. Rumors were that Facebook was also removing check-ins and places, but it seems that they haven’t done either yet.
Google has recently updated its Place pages by removing third party online reviews. There are a variety of reasons for this, but one significant reason is likely due to an ongoing anti trust suit filed against Google. One of the issues was that Google places used reviews from Yelp, Tripadvisor, and other review sites which helped Google provide more value for the places product. But the bigger issue was when Google then started showing Google Places higher up in the rankings over these same sites they were pulling content from. In addition, the recent explosion in review generation on google directly is a contributing factor (“we don’t need your stinkin’ reviews!”). Not anymore anyway.
Continue reading “Online Review Management in the new world: 3rd party reviews disappear from Google Places” »
BIA/Kelsey consulting group reported that the daily deal market is expected to grow to near $3.93 billion by 2015. There is constant speculation about the real effectiveness of these programs. Some business owners believe that it doesn’t help businesses in the long run because only the coupon cutters use them and never return to pay full price. While the other 50% of businesses seem to like the deals, getting effective returns, and believe it is a vital part of their social media strategy
Continue reading “Local Search Marketing: Tips for Small Business Owners who offer Daily Deals Online.” »
Google’s New Review Filter shows a need for monitoring online reviews. The new Google Places page is generating quite the buzz across the net as it has created new opportunities for businesses to reach local markets. Consequently, analyzing how Google Places compiles, filters, and displays customer reviews is a crucial step to managing a business’s online reputation and developing a strong online presence on local search.
So what do Google Places’ latest changes mean for online reputation management?
Continue reading “Missing Reviews from Google Places?” »
As anyone with a following can tell you, there will always be critics. This is doubly true in the information age, where expanding your reach through blogging and social media opens you up to a world of new opportunities, and new criticisms along with them.
Outside the net, we hear the echo of our parents in our ears, saying, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” We try not to openly complain—especially when someone gives us something for free! Often, this rule gets thrown out the window when it comes to our interactions on the web.
The result can have positive or negative effects on your business, depending on how you handle it. On the one hand, you can get a valuable honest assessment about what you’re doing to make your customers happy or unhappy. On the other hand, if you take unwarranted criticism too seriously, it can end up diluting your brand or even your product.
1. Try Not to Be Hurt – Sometimes people criticize because they have a legitimate concern, and sometimes they criticize because they’re having a bad day. If you take things too personally, you will end up causing yourself undue stress, and you won’t enjoy your work as a result. Take everything with a grain of salt, and consider the source.
2. Differentiate Complaints from Venting – Not all criticism is constructive. Think about it from the customer’s perspective. Venting acts like a release—it allows someone to express their frustration when something goes wrong. Complaining often has no resolution—the complainer is trying to use their dissatisfaction to reinforce negativity. Customers venting provides an opportunity for a response, while complaints have no next step. Figuring out which is which will help your business and your stress level.
Read more: HubSpot’s Inbound Internet Marketing Blog
A great business can take years to build a positive reputation, but it can be destroyed almost overnight with a few bad reviews. In the past, when people talked about your business, it was behind your back and you almost never heard about it. Today, most of these dialogues are right in front of your own eyes. For better or worse, internet buzz is there for the entire world to see. There are an enormous number of review sites, forums, facebook pages and twitter feeds where your business is subjected to hearsay and rumor mongering! Reputation management has become an essential task for every business. But for many small businesses, it is overwhelming. There are over 20 high-traffic sites such as Yelp and Google Local where customers or disgruntled ex-employees may be posting reviews. How can you keep up with all the comments, reviews, and chatter about your business across the web?
Continue reading “Secure Your Business from Negative Internet Buzz in 2 Easy Steps” »
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