Twitter Too Many Mouths Not Enough Ears
March 2, 2011
Welcome to the Niche Internet Marketing Website Services blog at Tucson SEO Solutions.
Twitter Too Many Mouths Not Enough Ears
Before I go anywhere with this post I wanted to let you that that I am part of the problem. Twitter has too many voices and not enough ears. I came to this conclusion recently when I was checking my websites analytic’s. Since I had been using Twitter daily for several months I was curious on how many visitors actually had visited from Twitter. Wow, I was surprised by the fact that only a mere 7 people visited through Twitter and 84% of those bounced.in the last 30 days. That was a real attention getter for me.
Until a few weeks ago I had been manually adding tweets. It was then that I decided like many to put Twitter on auto pilot. I started using TwitterFeed and I am considering using HootSuite. I would now become a more active voice here dishing up the same information just like hundreds if not thousands of others. My voice was becoming louder but few are listening. This is one of the biggest problems people face using Twitter. It tough getting heard.
The first thing that I did was to put my blog on auto pilot so that my daily blog posts get delivered. This is real useful on busy days. Yes, My whole attitude towards Twitter changed. I still use it daily as an RSS feeder this part has worked tremendously well for me. Other than that I am simply another decibel in that din called Twitter.
Yes, I have become part of the problem. And I will still play the game for now knowing this. Very few people will ever visit my blog from Twitter . So I now see these visitors as a side benefit and not a goal. I am content in using Twitter as an RSS feed. It gives me lots to write about. So much so that I have managed to keep my blog posts scheduled 5 – 10 days in advance.
What say you?
What say you?
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If your business is located in the communities of Tucson, Yuma, Flagstaff, Tempe, Mesa , New River, Black Canyon, Arizona or beyond and you need Google Places SEO solutions please call Tucson SEO at 520-505-6024 Now!
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Oh Bye The Way Did I Tell You That I Gave Up Blogging For Links V 2.0
January 23, 2011
Welcome to the Google Places SEO blog at Tucson SEO Solutions.
Oh Bye The Way Did I Tell You That I Gave Up Blogging For Links V 2.0
For those who are new to this blog let me get you up to speed here. I have been a very big proponent of blogging for links. As with everything I am always multitasking. I endeavor to do multiple tasks at once. I like to consider it working smarter. When I would be blogging for links (leaving comments on other blogs to acquire backlinks) I would also be working on branding, networking, and learning.
Leaving blog comments solved four various elements of my marketing plan. I especially enjoyed the learning part of link building. I then would share what I learned with my readers. However, it has become increasing difficult for me as an SEO to get my comments past spam filters. Many blogger’s consider anyone that uses SEO as an anchor text for their comment links to be a spammer even if they allow keywords to be used.
It didn’t make any difference that I was providing lengthy useful comments because I was using SEO in the name field the spam filters automatically rejected me. On occasion someone who would rescue my comment from a spam filter but not often. With this in mind, I did a little experiment where I made 100 posts and recorded the url’s. I went back a week later only to discover 43% of my comments had been approved. I was very careful to leave good comments and to follow comment policies.
That is not what I would call a very effective link building experiment. So I thought about this for a little while and I decided to go another direction. I now almost exclusively build link on high Page Rank social media sites and I am glad that I do. If any of you have followed this blog you will likely already know that this site ranks on the first page of the Google results, as in 50 times.
That’s right, I report at the beginning of each month the sites rankings. The last time that I checked back on September first we ranked on the first page of Google for 50 keyword phrases. Some of these are not very competitive but they still are niche markets that we target. Then again, many of these results are in extremely competitive markets. The key to this success was abandoning blogging for links.
When I decided to abandon blogs the site ranked 31 times on the first page of Google. Two months later that number is at 50. Over the last two months I have almost exclusively used Web 2.0 social media sites for link building. I usually leave a site with 5 or more links. The process is extremely easy if you are prepared. I simply take what the site offers in the profile area. Then I add value to the site through blog or forum posts and comments. I take the time to do it right!
I have many blog posts covering multiple topics ready in advance. The key here is to provide quality and not spammy posts. I close all posts using a signature as if it was a formal business letter. It includes a tag line. That’s where I add my links, into the tag line. As long as you are adding quality material that goes along with the sites theme you are generally not going to have any problems.
I have used this method thousands of times and only once did I get a complaint. That site banned me for putting links into my profile although they didn’t have a policy that prohibited this at that time. I got in trouble by reviewing the site on this blog. So all a sudden a whole bunch of people are doing the same thing. OOP’s!
That’s my method. The real beauty of this is that you are not visiting a blog hoping to find something to comment about. You pick the topic hopefully something that is related to your business and the sites theme. Many of these social sites provide you with a blog or they have a forum. When I discover these I begin to grin. This all goes hand in hand with my marketing approach, Scratch My Back Marketing. If you help other people building links is easy. It still requires lots of time but it can be a joy rather than dull boring work.
The update: 04/21/2010: Well, it’s been almost 10 months since I gave up blog commenting for links and I am very glad that I did. My link building skills have blossomed well very since then. Now, instead of making comments and hoping that the link get approved I simply use better resources. I use social media and forums that allow me to start the topic and to be as involved as I want to be. This provides a more productive work environment.
The downside is that I miss getting to know blogger’s. I really do miss the educational aspects of blogging. I like learning from other blogger’s and experiencing new perspectives. This approach requires that I become the conversation starter which is second nature for me.
What say you?
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If your business is located in the communities of Tucson, Yuma, Flagstaff, Tempe, Mesa , Miami, Superior, Arizona or beyond and you need Google Places SEO solutions please call Tucson SEO at 520-505-6024 Now!
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A SEO Blog List: Another Small Business SEO Solution
January 10, 2011
Welcome to the Google Places SEO blog at Tucson SEO Solutions.
A SEO Blog List: Another Small Business SEO Solution
This was posted back in September of 2008. I have no idea how many of these blogs are still active.
As of 09/23/2008 the list contains 192 blogs.
10e20 – Chris Winfield has a stable of great writers. They cover SEO and general Internet marketing.
123 - Great social media site that offers tools and white papers.
5 Star – An affiliate marketing blog.
97th Floor – Search Engine Marketing and general industry blog
About.com – Web search
Accessible Web Design – Web Development
Ad Center Blog – Microsoft official site
Advanced Web Metrics – Analytics
Affordable Internet Marketing – Includes valuable tutorials on internet marketing
Aim Clear – PPC and Organic SEO
Algojunkkie – Search Engine Optimization Rescources
Alibi Promotions – Online marketing blog
Alister Cameron – Blogologist
All Business - A D&B company for small business resources and advice
Altogether Digital – PPC and affiliate marketing
Amplify Interactive – Maximizing online visibility
Andrea Yager – Internet Gazillionaire – Based on a true story
Andrew R H Girdwood – SEM topics
Andy Beard - Niche marketing
Antigua Web Solutions – Web Design, Linux, Blogging
Apogee Weblog – SEM and PPC strategies
Apple Pie And Custard – UK blog SEM, Social Media and PPC
Ask.com – Official blog
Ask Kalena – Search engine advice
AskaX World – Tips and tricks and other stuff
Ask The SEO Guru – One stop for SEO
Ask Owen – Your neighbourhood Geek
Attraction Marketing – All about marketing
Axandra – Search engine news
Baron VC – Social media
Beanstalk – SEO news blog
Big Foot Web Marketing – Make money blogging
Big Marketing For Small Business – Hosting internet technologies
Big Oak SEO Blog – SEO services co
Billy’s Blog – Multivariate testing, landing page and champaign optimization
Biznology – Internet and search marketing from author Mike Moran. A well written blog
Blizzard Internet Marketing – A newsletter on Internet marketing
B.L.Ochman’s What’s Next Blog.com - Blogging
Blog By Belinda Jackson - Web Chameleon online marketing
Blogger Design – More than just good content
Blog.gaiiucci.net – Social media and marketing
BlogStorm -SEO and online marketing from the UK
Blue Hat – Advanced SEO tactics
B P Wrap – Internet marketing and SEO from a different point of view
Brent Csutoras – Social media, online marketing and SEO
Brian Mark.blogspot.com – Online business
Brian White – Webspam, Google et.cetera
Britopian – Social media
Bruce Clay Inc. – Internet business consultants
Bull3t – The rants and raves of the interweb
Bulldog Reporter Daily Dog – PR views, news and tools
Business OnLine – SEO blog
Cape Code SEO – SEO – Social Media and more
Capture the Conversation – Word Of Mouth Marketing – Social Media – Search Visibility
Cartoon Barry – Search round ups and personal muse
Charlene LI - Co-author of the book Groundswell
Christian Nielson’s Blog – SEO, webmaster, hosting
ClearSaleing – Advertising Marketing
Click Equations – Truth in search
Click Fire – Views, tools and content for webmasters
Clicky Media – Internet Marketing
ClickZ – News and advice
Clix – PPC
Closed Loop Marketing – Search Marketing and usability
Coffee Blogger - Blogging tips for fun and profit
Commerce 360 Blog – Paid and organic marketing and analytics
Comparisionengines – Understanding shopping engines
CompSci.ca – Technology
Compete – Analytics
Computer Chit Chat – Internet, blogging, and technology
Consumer Generated Media – The consumer is in control
Conversation Marketing – Internet marketing
Conversion Rater – Web conversion and more
Copyblogger – Copywriting tips
Cornwall SEO – Linkbait
Creative Business Growth – Links and social media
Daily Blog Tips – Very useful blogging stuff
Darin.cc – SEM
Darren Singleton – SEO
Dave B – Blogging, Twitter, and more
Dave Fleet - Internet marketing and social media
Dave Naylor – Search marketing
David Leonrdhart – SEO marketing
D Miracle – Small business solutions
Digerati – Internet marketing
Digital Biographer - Social media
Digital Products Review – The name says it all
Direct Marketing Observations – Marketing and technologies
Diva Marketing - Blog marketing
Dosh Dosh – Internet marketing
E-Business Advantage -Using WordPress to build an empire
E-Consultancy – New,Tips and Insights
Economics Of Selling Online – The name says all
E-Marketing Performance – Search marketing to render your competition powerless
E-Money Marketing – Online and general marketing
e-Writings – Online Public Relations
Endless Plain – The Serengeti Communications
Engine Works – Power through search engines
Eric Landers Blog – Life on the interwebz
Erum Munir – SEO
Expansion + PRoactive - Anticipation of PR trends and changes
Fathom SEO – Marketing, news and trends
Finding The Sweet Spot – Business strategies
Find Resolution – A community space for all things query marketing
Fiddy P – Get hits or die tryin
Flyte – Strategies For small business
Fresh Egg – Internet marketing and web design
Frogster - Web,frogs and internet marketing
Frye/Wiles – A creative agency
Fuel Interactive – PPC and more
Future Bells – Internet technology
Future Now’s Marketing – Optimization
Geeky Speaky – Blog, directory and forum
Get Elastic – Ecommerce
Get Started Today Online – Online business
ChrisG – Blogging and new media
Google Analytics – An unoffical Google analytics blog from ROI Revolution
Google Blogoscoped – Google
Google Operating System – Unoffical
Google Webmaster Central – Offical
Got Ads – Ads
Greywolf’s SEO Blog – SEO, social media
Groove Commerce – Ecommerece
Hamlet Batista dot com – Advanced SEM tips
High Rankings Advisor – Helping sites be the best that they can be
Hit Tail – Real Traffic,Real Time,Real Results
Hit Wise – A experian company
Hobo – A UK SEO blog
How To Start An Online Business – Moller marketing
Hubspot – Internet marketing
Huo Mah .com - The path to profitable traffic
iCrossing – Digital marketing
I’d Rather Be Writing - Technical communication blog
Ignite - The original social media site
I’m Not A Doctor – Marketing
Industrial Search Engine Marketing – Industrial, B-2B
I Need Hits – Marketing
Influential Marketing Blog – Marketing, advertising & PR stratagies
Inside The Marketers Studio – David Berkowitz’s marketing blog
Internet Geek Girl -Written by Stephine Agresta’s
Internet Marketing Strategy & SEO Techniques – Promotion and marketing techniques for all web pro’s
Internet Marketing Sucks - Internet marketing tabloid
iON – Post click marketing
It’s Write Now - Insights into writing and blogging and life optiminization
Jaan Kanellis – Search marketing
Jacob Morgan’s Blog – A different kind of marketing
John Cow – Making money online blogging tips
John Honeck – Just read it
Johnon.com – Webmastering & SEO
John W Ellis – SEM,SEO,PPC
Junta42 - Content marketing
Karl Ribas – Marketing
Komarketing Associates LLC. – Marketing
Leap Frogg – Make your website work
Learning SEO Basics – SEO
Leveraging Ideas – Social media, venture capital, and start up’s
Life Dev - SEO
Link Building Best Practices – Link building
Link Building & Development – Roger Montti’s insights
Link Worth – Thing’s internet
Live Search Webmaster Center – Offical site
Local MN Blog - Trends and news from Minnisota
Loc@l SEO – Local marketing made simple
Local SEO – We listed ourselves just because we can. This takes you to our Local SEO page
Manhattan Marketing Maven – Practical hands on marketing
Manish Pandey – My look on web 2.0
Marketing Blagger – Blogging, the internet and small business marketing
Marketing Experiments Blog – Insights, answers,and research
Marketing.FM - The intersection of marketing and technology
Marketing Logic – Matt Bailey’s knowledge
Marketing Pilgrim – SEO and more
Marketing Prof’s Daily Fix – Opinions, commentary, news
Marketing Vox – The voice of online marketing
Marketo – B2B marketing
Martin Boweling.com – Online reputation
Maryland Internet Marketing /Maryland SEO – SEM, SEO
Matt Cutts – The guru of Google
McAnerin Muse - Organic SEO
Media Buyer Planer – Advertising multimedia
Mediadonis – Marketing
Media Post’s Search Insider – The inside line on search marketing
Media Vision Blog – Marketing
Me Myself And I - Link building
Metamend – SEO, SEM
Micro Persuasion – Emerging technologies affect on marketing
Modern Street - A blog about the web
More Visibility – SEM, SEO, analytics
More Than Scratch The Surface - WordPress, websites & web developement
Mountain View SEO – SEO from the Home of Google
Muhammad Saleem – Social media
Multilingual Search - Global marketing news
My Creative Team Thinking - Advertising, marketing, PR and web design
Natural Search And Mobile SEO – Bryson Munie commentator
Natural Search Blog – A collective conscious
Neil Shearing’s – Marketing strategies
Net Business Blog - Affiliates
Newspaper Girl – Internet and affiliate marketing
Non-Liner Creations – Marketing
Nusuni Dot .Com – Ramblings about the internet
Occam’s Razor By Avinash Kaushik – Analytics
O’Flaherty – Technology, life and passions
Online Marketer.com - Marketing
Online Marketing Blog – Top Ranks blog on marketing, digital PR, social and search engine marketing
Original Signal - Web business
Out Of My Gord – SEO
Page Traffic Blog – Get new customer everyday
Pajama Professional – Maximize your earning potential in your PJ’s
Pandemic Blog - Insight into viral social media and marketing
Pandia Search Engine News – That’s what their about
Pepperjam – Marketing agency
Performancing – Helping bloggers succeed
Phil Bradley’s Weblog - Search, design and development
Pixelhead Online - Link building and SEO tip’s
PPC-Advice.com - Marketing advice
PPC Discussions – Paid search and everything in between
PPC Hero – PPC strategies, news and tips
Pro Blogger - Blogging
Pro Net Advertising - SEO
Pure Visibility - Marketing
Pushon – Marketing
ProBlogger – Blog tips and help
Pronet –
Radically Transparent - Reputation management
Ramblings About SEO - SEO, marketing
Randa Clay Design - Blogging and WordPress web design
Raven – Daily multiple choices of SEO articles
Read Write Web – Social networking
ReelSEO - SEO video tips
REO Speedwagon – SEO and more
Reve News – Affiliate marketing
Robin Good - Marketing
Ryan Shamus.com – Internet marketing in a web 2.0 world
Screenwerk - On and off line media
Searchblog – Search media, technology, and more
Search Brains – News for the professional
Search Cap: Daily Search Engine News Recap – Links to a multitude of articles
Search Engine Guide -Top dog of small business guides
Search Engine Journal – One of the best SEO resources
Search Engine Land - The of the Best SEO blogs
Search Engine Marketing Thoughts – Blogation – Affiliate marketing tips
Search Engine Optimization Journal - SEO
Search Engine People - Get found
Search Engine Tigers – Local and in house marketing tips
Search Engine Watch – SEO industry leader
Search Engine War – SEO and more
Search Marketing Gurus – Where marketing meets the information super highway
Search marketing Sage – Marketing
Search Perspective – Local search topics
Search Quant - Marketing
Search Rank – Link building guide lines
Search Views - Dispatches and discussion on search
Search Written – A study in content SEO
Seer Interactive - SEO
Sem Angel – SEM, web analytics
Semi - SEM insights
SEM Clubhouse – SEO, SEM
SEM Geek - Making sense of paid search marketing
SEM Hints - Marketing hints, tips and tools for online business
SEM PDX - Portland’s SEM community
SEM Scholar – SEO, SEM training and certification
Semvironment - Turning clicks into customers
SEO 2.0 - Lots of up to date information
SEO And Tech Daily – The daily scoop on SEO and more
SEO Aware - Improve your visability
SEO Blog – Marketing
SEO Blog Marketmou - SEO, SEM
SEO Book – Learn rank dominate
SEO’Brien – Search and online marketing
SEO By The Sea – Research and services
SEO Chicks – The SEO blog with attitude
SEO Copywriting – Secrets from top writers
SEOCRACY – Databases free downloads Datapresser.com
SEO Design Solutions – Marketing services and solutions
SEO Diva – SEO advice and tips
SEO Expert & Consultant - Tony Adam
SEO:Gadget - SEO
SEO Home .com UK – SEO
SEOish - Google gadgets and SEO
SEOmoz – Read and rank better
SEO Pitfall – Tips, tools and techniques
SEOptimise – Marketing news
SEO ROI – Leaders demand results
SEO Rondtable – Another industry leader
SEO Scientist – Applying the scientific method to SEO
SEO Scoop – News, tips and theories
SEO Smarty – Consulting
SEO Snack – A tastey tidbit of smart SEO news delivered daily by many authors
SEO Space – Organic marketing B2B
SEO Speedwagon – Intrapromote co. looks at SEO
SEO Theory – And analytics
SEO Web Tips – Tips, tricks and tutorials
SEO Workers – SEO tools and more
SEO World – Strategies, tips and insider information
SEO-Yack Yack SEO – Not just any old SEO blog
Seth Godin’s Blog – Riffs on marketing, respect and the way ideas spread
Sexy Widget - Reviews and analysis of widgets, tool bars and distributed businesses of all flavors
Shandy King – SEO
Shimon Sandler - SEO, PPC and other marketing tatics
Shoe Money - Skills to pay the bills
Shoestring Marketing – For independent professionals and small business
Site Point Blog – Industry news for web professionals
Skelliewag.org - Blogging
Smackdown – SEO
Small Business Branding - Branding and marketing advice
Small Business Search – Marketing
Snydey Sense – Internet marketing
Social Desire – Social media
Social Marketing - Social Marketing
Social Media – Pod cast, blog and news channel
Social Media Club – Social media
Social Media Group – Putting the power of social media to work for business
Social Media Mom – Social media and networking
Social Media Optimization – Merging of traditional, SEM and social media
Social Media Systems – This blog focuses on social media, odds and ends, and WordPress stuff
Solo SEO – SEO for all
Somewhat Frank – Web, personal technology and social media
Soshable - Social media
Spinn – Internet marketing news and discussion forums
Spin Thicket – Advertising, PR and media news
Stephan Spencer’s Scatterings – SEO and web marketing
Straight Up Search – Oneup web blog for SEO and marketing
Tamar - The natural search conversion agency
Tech Crunch - Multiple authors profiling and reviewing new internet products and companies
Techmeme – Lots of topics
Technology Evangelist - News, articles, blogs and interviews
The Big Wave Blog – The latest from SEM industry lineup
The Future Buzz – Social media, marketing, PR and creating a buzz on the web by Adam Singer
The Invesp Blog – E-commerce and landing page optiminization
The Jungle Map – Your guide through internet marketing from your friends at Hippo Internet Marketing
The Link Spiel – Link Building
The Palatnik Factor.com – Marketing
The PPC Book - PPC
The Search For Conversions – Search market industry
The Shop.org Community – Marketing and consumer trends
The Social Media Marketing Blog – Social media insights in the increasingly complex world of new marketing
The WebMarketCentral Blog – Web marketing portal B2B
The Wpromter – PPC advertising, online marketing and the business of search
Tiger Two Tiger – Online reputation management from Tiger Two
Tim Nash – SEO blog and training
Topix – Search engine news from many sources
Traffick – Search engine enlightenment
Traffiked – Social media and internet marketing
Understanding Google maps & Yahoo Local Search - That’s all folks
Unlock The Online World – Blogging tips, tricks and other information
Web Analytics Book - Analytics
Web Analytics World – Authored by Manoj Jasra
Webatlantis – Your comprehensive collection of tips and winning strategies
Web Connoisseur – Dustin Woodard’s thought’s on search,analytics and the web in general
Web Ink Now – Online thought leadership and viral marketing strategies by David Meerman Scott
Weblog Tools Collection - WordPress
Website Magazine - Direct media exchange
Web Strategy By Jeremiah – How web tools enable companies to connect to customers
WhoIsAndrewWee.com - Blogging, affilate marketing social traffic generation
Winning The Web – Internet marketing strategies
WordPress Theme Designer – SEO
WordPress Web 2.0 Spotter – Guides, blogging tips and strategies
W S Radio’s – Live radio feds online marketing
Yahoo! Search Blog – A look inside the world of search from the people at Yahoo!
Yahoo! Search Marketing Blog – Official site
Yahoo! Publisher Network – Advertising
Yoast - Tweaking websites
Yodel Anecdotal – Yahoo! company site
Your SEO Mentor - Learn SEO from your mentor
What say you?
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If your business is located in the communities of Tucson, Yuma, Flagstaff, Tempe, Mesa , Chandler, New River, or Cave Creek, Arizona and beyond and you need Google Places SEO solutions please call Tucson SEO at 520-505-6024 Now!
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What Color Is Your Citationbait?
December 9, 2010
Welcome to the Google Places SEO blog at Tucson SEO Solutions.
Before I get into today’s post I want to recognize and welcome our visitors from the Arizona communities of Glendale and Tempe. Please know that you are here because I have specifically targeted you and your businesses need to rank well in the Google Places search results. I hope that you find this information useful.
You will want to start by reading Citationbait Your New Friend? first.
What Color Is Your Citationbait?
You have all likely heard of white and black hat SEO previously and most discussions likely involved link building. Well, now with Google Places search we are no longer focusing so much on link building. No, the discussions now center around acquiring citations. Thus the concept of citationbait.
Citations are Google Places equivalent to backlinks. They are after all, activities on other websites that can influence your Google Places search rankings. In link building we often talk about linkbait or methods that we can use to attract backlinks. The more useful backlinks the better or the theory goes. Linkbait is simply any effort to attract backlinks.
Now, for any of you who have been around SEO at all you likely have already heard of White and Black Hat SEO. Well, it also exists with Google Places SEO. When we are discussing citations we need to be discussing what are white hat methods and what are black hat. In other words what is an acceptable practice and what is not.
But before I go any further I should review what is a citation. They can come from several sources. Citations can include mentions on blogs or listing on local business directory sites. They may also include reviews from sites like Yelp, reviews from local directory sites, and reviews placed directly into your Places account. You should keep in mind that negative reviews can hurt your listing. So what we want from our Citationbait efforts are positive reviews.
Citationbait is simply the act or process of gaining positive citations for your Google Places business listing. The more positive citations that you acquire the more likely that your listing will rank higher in the Places Search results. Its all about obtaining attention of those who are motivated to assist your business. And this all is made much easier if you have meet or exceeded your customers expectations.
The cornerstone of any successful citationbait program begins with meeting the needs, wants, and desires of your customers. If you do this then acquiring citations should be like a leisurely walk in the park. Often all it takes to acquire a positive citation is you being motivated enough to ask for a positive review. It can be that simple.
We then must ask, what then is an acceptable citationbait process and what is not. I think that it is safe to say that paid and fake reviews are consider black hat and not a good strategy. Of course determining what is fake or paid can be a challenge for Google. That is why I believe that Google created its Hotpot review service. I personally believe its real purpose is to prevent review spam.
Now, that part was easy. So let’s consider some more possibilities. Is it acceptable to ask for reviews from your suppliers? What about asking your friends or family to write you some reviews?
I suggested in an earlier post, Citationbait Your New Friend?, that you might simply want to start by asking your customers for reviews. You could do this in person or from your newsletter if you use one. I also suggested that you place a sign in your place of business asking for reviews. But these suggestions only will work if you have a loyal customer base.
You could set-up a citationbait program that only generates negative responses and that would definitely backfire on you. So if you are considering a citationbait program be aware this is best reserved for those companies with a loyal customer base.
I previously suggested creating a discount coupon flyer that also includes a request a positive review? I personally really like this approach. It allows you to ask for a favor (the positive review) while you are providing a saving with your discount coupon. But the bottom line here is that you have to be able to produce a satisfied customer.
If you don’t provide great service Google is likely to punish your business in the Places Search results. Quality customer service is more important than ever.
Update 12/09/2010: This one is a definite OMG! quality to it. Google just rolled a Hotpot based review contest for the Portland, Oregon area. The top 5 reviewers in their contest will be awarded dinner for 10 at any restaurant in the Portland area. But doesn’t this break their own rules. This one is just unfolding and it all ready is creating an uproar. The prizes will exceed $13,000.
But Google say’s this about incentives. “Reviews are only valuable when they are honest and unbiased. Even if well-intentioned, a conflict of interest can undermine the trust in a review. In addition, we do not accept reviews written for money or other incentives. Please also do not post reviews on behalf of others or misrepresent your identity or affiliation with the place you are reviewing.”
Well, I must admit this looks like they have broken there own rules with this one… Stay tuned for more!
What say you?
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Detailed Website Review – Audit
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If your business is located in the communities of Tucson, Tempe, Mesa , Chandler, or Glendale, Arizona, or beyond and you need Google Places SEO solutions please call Tucson SEO at 520-505-6024 Now!
Tucson SEO… Solutions that create probabilities out of possibilities.
Google Places Search Provides Bloggers A Louder Local Voice
November 30, 2010
Welcome to the Google Places SEO Services blog at Tucson SEO Solutions.
Before I get into today’s post I want to recognize and welcome our visitors from the Arizona communities of Yuma, Kingman, or Ajo. I also wanted you to know that you are here because I have specifically targeted you and your businesses need to rank well in the Google Places search results.I hope that you find this information useful. And if you need Google Places SEO services that you will consider Tucson SEO Solutions.
Google Places Search Provides Blogger’s A Louder Local Voice
I have been writing about Google Places Search a lot lately. It seems like there is something new to be discovered everyday. Then today, I was searching for the url for the original Google announcement about Places Search, so I could update yesterdays post, Places Likes Are The New Off Page SEO. I had failed to include live links to the post and wanted to add them. That’s when I noticed this and did a screen shot.
My post from yesterday was now ranking for locally based searches for Google Places Search in the third position. It was sandwiched between multiple Google listings. This kind of stuff has been happening a lot lately. It just goes to show the power of the blog when writing about current events. Your posts can now gain prominence for your topic in your community and very quickly.
Previous to Places Search, I would likely have had to include the word Tucson in the Page Title to have acquired a ranking like this so quickly. Even then it might have been difficult to accomplish something similar. This has huge implications as Places Search is opening new vistas of opportunity locally. But this also may make getting noticed on a national scale much more difficult.
I just can’t seem to say enough good things about Places Search, but then I am coming from a position of strength in the local rankings. I have also been noticing that the top three or four sites for local markets are doing very well but others lower in the rankings it a not so much situation.
The reality here is that 60 -80% of searches do not express a local intent when searching. But Google still will provide them with a mix of national and locally based organic results. And if there are local competitors with Places listing these are included as well.
For my industry there are certain services that Google does not allow to be used in our Places listings. You can not use the word Google or Google Places in your listings. So even though I provide Google Places SEO I can not promote this here. But with any roadblock there are always options and the ones Places provides are much to my liking.
I now, am able to connect with local businesses that were just simply typing in SEO or Search Engine Optimization. Previously, I had missed this large pool of potential customers. So you can count me in as a big fan of anything that gets may site in front of eyeballs in Tucson Yuma, Ajo, or Kingman. Even though we have a very large national presence most of my business is local or Arizona based. So having the ability to get in front of this group is huge.
This is all because of Places Search and I am not alone here. Without doing anything additional Google is gifting many top local sites with a larger basket of potential customers. So I have to ask how is your local website ranking?
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