With the launch of Google+ Pages, businesses can finally join this new social site, but if you’re wondering if it is worth the time to commit to another social network, you are not alone. Many are keen to know what Google+ has to offer that they can’t already get on Facebook or Twitter.   Google+ has many features, such as Hangouts, Circles, and Ripple (and coming out with more all the time) which make it particularly useful for businesses – maybe even more so than for individuals.

 1. Getting to Know the People Behind the Company

Google+’s brand pages are much more than another place for businesses to advertise, but are a way for people to get to know and interact with those behind the company. This provides a great opportunity to build brand loyalty as consumers feel much more connected with a business when they can put a face with the overall public image.

Instead of mass messages to all followers, businesses are encouraged to form “Hangouts” where small groups of 10 users can participate in a video chat with someone of interest from the company. Those who are curious, but not involved in the chat, can stream the conversation and watch everything that happens. What better way to show customers you care than by speaking to them directly?

Who’s doing this: While promoting their recent movie, The Muppets held a Google+ Hangout where fans could chat with Kermit, Miss Piggy, and other famous characters. The Muppets were one of the first businesses to establish a Google+ brand page and serve as a good example of how to do it right.

 2. Posting Unique Content

Google+ and its users are not interested in seeing recycled Facebook content. Although both are social networking sites, Google+ has distinct differences which make it unique, and any content you post should follow suit. The purpose of the brand page isn’t to sell your product or service (at least not directly); the spirit behind the platform is to connect with your customers on a personal level. The best way to do this is through unique, interesting content – not parroting what can easily be found on your website or on a different social network.

Who’s doing this: William Sonoma has a clear understanding of the spirit of the brand page. Instead of focusing specifically on its products, they provide subscribers with useful dining and entertaining ideas as well as stories and daily recipes. Using this approach, even with Google+ pages in their infancy, William Sonoma has amassed over 84,000 followers.

 3. Effectively Utilizing the “Circle” Tool

Perhaps Google+’s most distinguishing feature is the ability to categorize followers into Circles. Although diehard Facebook fans would say this is merely a means of creating multiple versions of yourself, Google feels it makes it easier to personalize messages to like-minded groups of people. Business can categorize their followers into circles based on location, gender, age, whether they’re customers or employees, or virtually any other type of differentiation; then, tailor a message specific to each circle.

Another benefit is that Circle members only receive relevant content and won’t have to filter out information targeted at some other demographic. This encourages sharing, feedback, and the establishment of a micro-community within the overall follower base.

With the addition of Ripple, users can even track how their content is shared through the web. This information is invaluable to brands as they are able to pinpoint who is most engaged in their page and to whom they are passing along the information. With this knowledge, businesses can have greater insight into where they are succeeding and where they need to focus on more meaningful connections.

Who’s doing this: ThinkGeek is still growing, but it has a rather large cult following. This company knows exactly who its subscribers are and what they want. Its page connects users with one-of-a kind ,geek-related products, photos, and more. Instead of trying to appeal to everyone, ThinkGeek has focused on one niche and is proving that share rate increases dramatically when content is appealing.

The internet provides some of the best advertising resources, yet many small business owners are reluctant to take the plunge into online marketing. If you’re interested in getting an edge on the competition by employing social media, SEO, or another online strategy, then keep reading to learn more about who is out they are and what they are doing.

Who are the small business owners?

There are business owners in all segments of the population, however males dominate the industry at a rate of 72%. What’s especially impressive is the majority of people in small business have over 20 years experience in their field. This suggests they are knowledgeable about their trade, but it may also means they are stuck in old-fashioned advertising methods — which opens the door for innovative newcomers.

How much are they spending?

The average small business advertising budget is anywhere from 9% to 12%. However, the amount they’re spending doesn’t carry as much weight as what they’re spending it on. For example, traditional advertising mediums (print, radio, TV, billboards, etc.) are expensive, but more and more they are proving to be less useful. Also, some businesses think they are using online marketing, but they aren’t implementing it effectively. Statistics show 75% of small businesses are using social media as an SEO tactic, yet only 27% of them have an up-to-date SEO plan; this proves that many people aren’t entirely sure how to utilize such tools.

Who’s interested?

If you’ve seen the benefits of online advertising, you may find it hard to believe a shocking 56% of small business owners have no interest in this type of marketing. In fact, only 19% are actively using such methods. This is a classic case of “their loss is your gain.” While others waste time questioning the validity of an internet strategy, you can get a head start on building your online presence.

What about social media?

Although the majority of businesses aren’t too enthusiastic about online advertising, they do use social media to connect with people, and consider it a great way to build customer loyalty. Still over half believe it takes too much time, and 75% actually think it either doesn’t help them make a profit or costs them money? Marketing experts know that social media is one of the most cost-effective ways to create brand awareness, so why aren’t more businesses seeing results? Undoubtedly, the problem lies with poor execution. And now many search ranking factors are becoming driven by social interaction with your business and discussions about your business. No longer can social media be ignored.

Are they using SEO?

Almost all small businesses are using some type of SEO strategy and 52% plan to increase their optimization budget. Obviously, web designers are doing a good job of stressing the importance of high search engine rankings. Since SEO is so popular, it is important you are using the best, most current tactics to avoid falling behind the competition.

Although there are many aspects of online marketing that you can do on your own, some of the more specialized areas generally require the skills of an experienced SEO company. With the assistance of an expert, you can avoid common pitfalls and more efficiently take you business to the next level.

Now that you understand why you need a high-traffic blog, the big question is — how do you do it? There are specific reasons why some blogs outrank others even when, on the surface, they appear equally valuable. Don’t let your blog get lost in all the online noise. Instead, use these ten traffic-boosting tips.

1. Use Good SEO Practices

Search engines are at the heart of bringing traffic to your site, so you must employ certain strategies to get their attention. There are a many ways to make your site search engine compatible, but that’s a topic for a different post. If you need help, look at our post about anchor text and SEO tips.

2. Pinpoint a Share-Friendly Audience

If you want to provide your audience with appealing content, you’ve got to know who they are. Get to know your readers, and write about things in which they are interested. Remember, blogging isn’t all about words and paragraphs. Followers also enjoy unique infographics, videos, lists, and other things of interest.
Once you’ve targeted a broad audience, try to focus in on groups who are more likely to spread the word about your blog. These are people who frequent social networking and other sharing websites.

3. Join Online Social Community and Networking Sites

If your target audience hangs out in online communities, then you should be there too. Establish a personal and business profile, connect them with your blog, and begin networking and sharing opinions. Beside big-name sites such as Facebook and Twitter, there are also more niche related forums where you can connect with those specifically interested in your industry. Examples are: Reddit, Pinterest, Tumblr, Ravelry, and Newsvine.

4. Make an Impression

Once you join such sites, make an effort to get yourself noticed (in a good way). Add worthwhile comments, bring up debate-worthy topics, and offer useful links. Pretty soon, people will start to wonder who you are and will check out your blog to learn more. Never link-drop, troll, spam, or generally be a nuisance, or you will give you and your blog a bad name.

5. Monitor Your Analytics

Even a basic program such as Google Analytics can supply you with a wealth of information about how your site is working. Once you know where hits originate, which pages are most popular, and from where you’re receiving the most traffic, you can adjust your marketing strategy accordingly.

6. Allow Others to Use your Stuff (with a linkback)

If you have a talent for photography, graphics, illustrations, or anything else worth sharing, allow others permission to use your images as long as they give you credit and a link back to your site. Generally, if you put a such a request on your site, most everyone is happy to oblige. Website owners are always in need of unique graphics, so this is a great way to reach unlimited numbers of online users.

7. Link to Your Own Posts and to Others

They don’t call it web surfing for nothing. People love riding a wave of links and discovering new, interesting pages. If your current post relates to a previously written article — provide a link to it. And if someone else’s blog is relevant, then link to that too. Not only will your readers appreciate it, but other site owners will be grateful for the traffic and may even return the favor.

8. Guest Blog

A great way to get yourself noticed is by providing a guest blog on someone else’s site. If their readers like what you have to say, you can attract quite a few new fans. The first couple of sites you ask may say “no,” (especially if they are very popular), but don’t give up. If you have innovative ideas, eventually people will be begging for your content. Additionally, invite others to guest post on your site. It offers your readers a fresh perspective and also provides you with a nice break from blogging.

9. Create an RSS Feed

A person may love your site, and have every intention of coming back, but the internet is full of distractions, and more than likely, users will forget all about your blog (or at least where they found it). You can help prevent this by providing some subscription buttons on your page. Give guests the option to follow you through RSS or email and you’ll see many more return visitors.

10. Put a Link to Your Blog on Everything

Everything you do on the web should have a link back to your site — but not in annoying way. Simply include it in your email signature line, on your social pages, under your photos, and subtly embed it in your name when you make comments on forums. That way, people can choose whether to click or not.
Also, mention your blog during relevant, “real-life” conversations. Sometimes the best way to build traffic is through face-to-face encounters. Individuals you meet in a natural environment are usually more willing to join in a mutually beneficial relationship.

Whether your business is big, small, brick and mortar, or virtual it needs a blog. Websites alone cannot compete in today’s online environment where everyone is vying for attention. If you don’t have a blog (or if you do, but don’t put much effort into it), then consider these reasons why you need to start one and why you should put real energy into making it successful.

1. It Establishes You as the Expert

By writing regular blogs related to your particular industry, visitors can see that you have real knowledge about your business. This goes a long way towards building trust and helping potential customers feel confident in your product or service. Also, by including a comment section and responding to your reader’s postings, you can create a sense of community on your site. Once guests feel like they have a connection with you, they are more apt to stay brand loyal and share your site with others.

2. Good SEO Tool

If you want people to find you on the web, you’ve got to rank near the top of search engine results pages (SERPs). One of the best ways to do this is by having a popular blog with great information. If you only have a static website with rarely updated content, your site will never outrank a competitor’s who is providing a steady dose of fresh, interesting articles.

3. Connects You with a Local Market

Even businesses that only serve their immediate area can benefit from a blog. Google generally tries to connect its users with local relevant search results. So, if someone searched “car repair,” Google would first offer suggestions near the searcher’s geographic location. However, if you’re not on Google’s radar, it won’t send any traffic your way.

4. Allows You to Expand into New Markets

If you’re a small town business, but you’ve always dreamed of expanding, a blog can help you reach a national or even a worldwide market. Once you’ve built a name for yourself as an expert (as mentioned in reason one), your site will likely appear any time someone makes a search relating to one of your postings. This provides you with the potential to exponentially multiply your customer base.

5. Gives You a Competitive Advantage

No matter the size of your city, almost everyone is going online to find information about products and services. If you don’t have a distinct presence on the web, you are basically handing over customers to your competitors. If you’re not the one blogging about your industry and communicating with customers then somebody else will. Would you rather have people come to you for answers or one of your rivals?

6. Builds Traffic to Your Site

It may seem redundant, but one of the major perks of increasing traffic to your blog is that it also boosts traffic to your main webpage. This is especially important if you have an e-commerce site since this is where you make your sales.

7. Keeps You on the Cutting-Edge of Your Field

When you’re responsible for writing weekly or bi-weekly articles, becoming stagnant in your field is nearly impossible. As your researching topics, answering questions on your comment board, and reading related news and blogs, you will hear all the latest happenings in your business. This will help you stay at the top of your game and always one step ahead of the competition.

8. Presents a Face with Your Brand

Communicating with consumers and putting personality in your writing puts a human face to your brand and keeps your business from looking like a mere money-making machine. It also allows you to control the message your brand imparts as you can personally tell visitors the purpose and mission of you business.

9. Encourages Repeat Visitors

Sure, visitors may not buy something the first time they come to your site, but if you continually entice them back with intriguing or helpful blog posts, it is more than likely they will eventually make a purchase.

10. Great ROI

Whether you write your own blogs or pay someone to do it for you, it’s going to cost time and money. Luckily, the many benefits of blogging make it a great return on your investment. Often, website owners are amazed how quickly their traffic and sales increases once they include a thriving blog.   

As we covered in our last blog post, Pinterest has been the surprise smash hit of 2011, skyrocketing into the 10 most visited social networks, and all this while it is still an invite-only platform.   The concept is simple enough, creating boards which users can “pin” pictures to.  But how can companies and brands use Pinterest to their advantage?  Here are 7 different ways your company can use Pinterest to reach out to it’s already established female user base and rising male user base.

#1 – Contests

You can easily create buzz and engage your customers on Pinterest by having contests.  These contests can run the gamut from “Best Board” to who can earn the most “repins”.   Photo competitions using your product or company logo, the possibilities really are endless, and Pinterest offers a new way for companies to create visually interesting interactions with their customer base.

#2 – Use Other Social Networks to Feed Pinterest

Pinterest is still the new kid on the block, and as a result, they do not have the massive user base that a Facebook or Tumblr has.  But you can use Facebook or Tumblr to point users to your Pinterest account, where they can interact in new ways with your company and brand.

#3 – Creative Communication

Using Pinterest, you can build more than a brand, you can build a community around your product or service.  Pinning photos of satisfied customers, and showing how they integrate your products into their everyday lives can create a new user experience.  For example, if you run a shoe store, you could pin a photograph of one of your customers wearing your companies shoes, and include a description of that photo describing how they used the shoe in their outfit.  This will make the customer feel special, and build a sense of community around your company.

#4 – Approving New Products/Designs

If you’re launching a new product, or redesigning an existing one, why not open yourself up to input from your customers?  Post several different versions of the product design, and get instant feedback on the products look and feel.  Because of it’s robust commenting system, Pinterest is the perfect place to try out new ideas, and gather intelligence on the market place before officially moving forward.  Try and think of it as a social media based focus group.

#5 – Promote More Than Products

The greatest temptation companies face, is to simply pin photos of their products or services on Pinterest.  But if you really want to engage your customer base, you’ll need to do far more than that.  Try making wardrobe suggestions if you are a clothing retailer, or find interesting news tidbits and ideas that relate to your products and services.  Pinterest users are savvy enough to recognize a self serving board where a company is only pinning photos of their products, and will generally avoid them when possible.  So make sure your boards are more interesting.

#6 – Daily/Weekly Pin Themes

One strategy a lot of companies have been using, is to create a daily pin theme to promote their brand.  The idea is to come up with a catchy slogan that can be tied to your brand, which is memorable enough so that images will get re-pinned.  These daily or weekly pin themes will almost always get repeat viewings, and will be re-pinned by other users.

#7 – Show Off Brand Personality

You can use Pinterest, to show off what your company is like, beyond the products or services you offer.  Is one of your employees in a band?  Does your company do a lot of charity work?  Well, now you have the opportunity to show off what makes your company unique from your competition, and really build a brand personality. Use Pinterest to show what makes you different, so you can stand out from the competition.