Archive for the ‘Mobile’ Category

Fasten Your Seat Belts Because Google Changed Again

Wednesday, August 1st, 2012
Google Plus Logo

Google Plus

Just as we were enjoying our Memorial Day weekend, Google went quietly about making some significant changes to its algorithm that heavily impacts local businesses. If you want to understand how to keep being “seen” in Google, these new changes must be adapted in your practice’s online marketing program.

First Change: Google Search Results Went Hybrid

This past year, when we used Google for an online search, the results would show paid advertising at the top or far right (which only 25% of people click on), with local search results shown next — listed in packs of 7 or 10 and accompanied by corresponding map markers starting with the letter “A,”, followed by organic (non-local) results. Google has now integrated organic and local search results together, which currently display on the search results page in varying ways — in packs of 3, 5 or 7 for example, depending on the search query. Search results are still formatted with paid advertising at the top or right under the map on the results page, but you’ll now see organic results listed BEFORE, and blended with, local search results. How does a business become listed in this new hybrid format and at the top of local search results? What we have learned is to focus on the following:

  1. It is crucial to have a custom-designed website that can be optimized (coded) down to the page with local search terms, specific relevant industry keywords (veterinarian, pet cancer, etc.), and appropriate geographic regional terms.
  2. When choosing location keywords, check how close your business is to the center of the city. To do this, go to Google Maps (maps.google.com) and type in your city and state; e.g., Minneapolis MN. Google will then display a marker on the map with the letter “A” — where it considers the center of the city to be located. This letter “A” is what Google calls the “centroid.” The closer your business is to the this centroid, the more “votes” your local business listing receives toward being near the top of local search results for that city. With this approach, Google is attempting to make the search experience most relevant to the searcher’s query.
  3. Plentiful (five or more) positive online reviews help maintain good positioning in Google Local Search. Google purchased the Zagat review site and is now incorporating these reviews into Google local listings. Reviews are becoming increasingly important. Having reviews associated with your business listing is yet another key ranking factor and one of the many signals Google looks for.

To read the rest of this article in a PDF format please click here: Fasten Your Seat Belt – Google Made Changes Again

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Digital Marketing, Google, Marketing, Mobile, Online Reputation Management, Online Reviews, Search, Search Engine Optimization | Comments Off

Google Places— A Key Part of Your Internet Marketing Toolkit

Wednesday, June 6th, 2012

These days, more people are searching for businesses online than anywhere else. One important step to take to ensure your local business can be easily found is to verify your Google Places listing.

Verifying and taking control of your Google listing enables you to add relevant, accurate information, edit your listing as changes occur with your business, and respond to reviews, as well as add photos, videos, and special promotions.

Best of all, Google Places gathers important statistics to help you learn how your business listing performs. When you log in to your Google Places account, you’ll see the Dashboard, which has several categories of activity, with the default date range being the past 30 days (you can change the date range at the top right to suit your needs). These insights help you to make your listing more relevant to potential customers. The following statistics are shown:

Impressions 
indicate the number of times users saw your business listing as a local search result on Google, Google Maps, and Google Maps Mobile (on select mobile devices).

Actions report how many times users showed interest by interacting with your listing, such as clicking for more information on Maps, to get driving directions, or to go to your website.

Top Search Queries are the top Google search queries (on Google, Google Maps, and Google Maps Mobile) for which your business listing appeared, along with the number of times users saw your business listing in the search results for those queries.

If your business receives enough requests for driving directions, you’ll be provided with Where Driving Directions Requests Come From, a list of the top locations where your customers are coming from.

Please keep in mind that statistics may not be in real time. Statistics are compiled over the past 30 days and may take 48 hours to populate in your Places dashboard, so we can’t guarantee the complete accuracy of the provided statistics.

Creating a great listing takes just a few minutes—and it’s free. Google doesn’t accept payment to include particular listings or sites in their search results, making for a cleaner, easier experience for searchers. Places helps you proactively reach customers and build a relationship with them before they even walk through your door. They’ll find the information they need to know about your business, and you’ll discover insights about your potential clients to assist you in making important Internet marketing and business decisions.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Google, Marketing, Mobile | Comments Off

Veterinary Marketing & Online Reviews: Accentuate the Positive

Monday, February 27th, 2012

Did you know that approximately 70% of local consumers reportedly trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations? Although some business owners are not so happy about the fact that reviews can be posted about their business without their consent or knowledge, these reviews can offer valuable feedback that might not otherwise be heard. Business owners can certainly influence the conversation and turn a negative situation into one that has a positive outcome for both the consumer and the business. With a large majority (and ever-increasing number) of consumers now searching for local services and reviews about those services online, its imperative that business owners become engaged in monitoring and improving their online reputation and credibility. Check out Beyond Indigo’s upcoming webinar, and learn how to use reviews to your advantage. We’ll be covering popular online sites where businesses find reviews posted, how review management works, as well as what you can do to improve your overall rating. In addition, we’ll be touching on some changes and additions to Google Places as well as the latest on the easy-to-use smartphone app for finding local services and posting reviews on Google. And if DIY reputation and reviews management sounds all too daunting, give us a call for an opportunity to let us show you how we can help.Google Places Mobile App

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Digital Marketing, Mobile, Search | Comments Off

Harnessing the Trend: QR Barcode Scanning and Your Veterinary Practice

Monday, June 20th, 2011

Mobio Technologies recently released a report that showcased a massive 4549% (yep, 4549%!) increase in the adoption of QR barcode scanning by technology users over the past year. As QR barcodes continue to grow in popularity, why not make them work for your veterinary practice?

What are QR barcodes, and what do they do?

If you think that you have never heard of QR barcodes before, chances are you just haven’t known them by name. Now popping up everywhere from Starbucks to your local supermarket, the codes (or “barcodes”) appear as a symmetrical square filled with randomly arranged black and white patterns, somewhat resembling a distorted version of a traditional barcode.

The QR barcodes are readable only via scanning applications available for download on most smart-phones and tablets. The user simply downloads the application from their device’s application marketplace, and points the camera at the code for a near-instant scan. Once the barcode has been scanned, it can automatically direct the user to website URLs, promotional materials, pictures, and more.

What this all means is that these powerful little boxes can be placed just about anywhere to give customers access to the exact information you are trying to provide them. While some consumers may not yet be familiar with the purpose of these barcodes, it is important to recognize that this is likely to change as they appear with ever-growing frequency.

Creating QR barcodes is quick and easy, and can be done for free through websites such as Kaywa QR-code in just a few minutes. Once you have created your barcode, simply download the image to your computer and you are ready to get started! Many mobile scanning applications such as the one offered by Mobio also allow you the ability to generate QR barcodes directly from your smart-phone, and email or text the image to anyone.

Many businesses both small and large have begun adopting these barcodes as a part of a tech-savvy marketing strategy, and as the numbers from the Mobio report seem to indicate, the response from consumers is overwhelmingly positive. Don’t wait to play catch-up, now is the perfect time to think about utilizing QR barcodes for your veterinary practice.

Now that I’ve created my QR code, what should I do with it?

Once your QR barcode is ready for use, there really are no limits to where you can use it.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Include QR barcodes on business cards – Allow your clients to instantly access your mobile-friendly veterinary website from their smart-phone or tablet.
  • Create a QR barcode for contact information – Include a barcode on your website that will allow users to instantly copy your number and address to their device.
  • Include QR barcodes on advertisements – Ensure that interested potential clients are sure to remember the name and website of your practice.
  • Use a QR barcode to offer special deals and promotions - Place on your website or in advertisements, allowing clients to quickly access your special offers and store them directly on their devices.

Embracing QR barcodes as part of your marketing strategy will help your practice stay ahead of the curve. Everyday more consumers are being turned on to the usefulness of these little codes, and we can expect to be seeing a lot more of them in the future.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Marketing, Mobile, Social media, Social Media Marketing, Uncategorized, Veterinary Marketing | Comments Off

Field Report from Silicon Valley by Tory Bers

Monday, January 10th, 2011

Working in social media marketing here in Silicon Valley is like being in the center of a hurricane. All the new technology start-ups, each with more amazing tools  and features than the last, are swirling around me every day. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up, but there are some sources of information that are must-haves for anyone in this game.

One such source is All Things Digital which is a technology information website sponsored by The Wall Street Journal. Recently they posted a video of two of Silicon Valley’s most admired leaders, Reid Hoffman, founder of LinkedIn and, David Sze of Greylock, one of the leading venture capital firms here in the valley.

The following video is an interesting look at their predictions for where social media is heading in the next decade.  If you find the world of social media interesting, then this video is for you:

Greylock View of The Future of the Social World

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Marketing, Mobile, Social Media Marketing | Comments Off

Mobile Keeps Getting Better

Monday, January 3rd, 2011

With the Consumer Electronics Show around the corner (January 6, 2011 in Las Vegas), Skype let it slip that it’s getting ready to release mobile video calling features for the iPhone 4 with support for other operating systems around the corner.   Mobile to mobile and mobile to PC video calls take the category to the next level. Soon there will be absolutely nowhere to hide!  For more information about CES and to keep abreast of all the announcements from the show, click here.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Mobile | Comments Off