IAPA (Independent Automotive Professionals Association) is a trade association comprised of highly professional automotive repair specialists.  IAPA provides business resources for its members and promotes professionalism in the automotive service industry.  They strive to create goodwill between the motoring public and the automotive profession.  This creates an atmosphere of personal responsibility to clients.

Taylor Reaume is the founder of Santa Barbara marketing company Search Engine Pros.  Automotive industry professionals attending the event will learn new ways to promote their automobile business using Google and online marketing methods.  

“Generally, we have found the automobile repair industry to be behind the curve when it comes to online marketing methods.   There is less competition on Google in the automotive space when compared to other industries.  My advice is to get online. Get ranked. Before the rest of the pack starts to catch up and saturate the market with competitive web strategy. ” says Reaume, owner of Search Engine Pros, a Santa Barbara internet marketing firm.

Finding a marketing company with a full range of marketing services, including SEO and social media, is a smart move for automotive professionals today.  With Google being such a large part of the marketing mix today, marketing agencies whose core focus is SEO marketing are emerging as particularly attractive to business owners.

Reaume walks the talk and has built a successful Santa Barbara marketing company through educating and empowering locals at his weekly Santa Barbara Web Design and SEO Workshop (offered Thursdays at 5:30pm-6:30pm at 629 State Street). Reaume covers topics such as Google Adwords strategy, WordPress design, search engine optimization (SEO), SEO campaign management, branding consulting and social media marketing.  Reaume adds, “Web marketing and social media are the lowest cost tools for building a business today.”

About Search Engine Pros:  The Search Engine Pros are a group of internet marketing consultants and web marketers with proven track record for success. Known primarily as SEO copywriters and WordPress web designers, they maximize your profits through a low cost, highly effective online marketing plan which consists of a healthy mix of search marketing, SEO marketing, email marketing and SEO enhanced press releases.  They are among the top WordPress coders in the country. 

The post Search Engine Pros Presenting At IAPA (Independent Automotive Professionals Association) appeared first on The Search Engine Pros.

There are some very empty restaurants out there serving good food. There are also some very crowded restaurants serving OK food. Why are some restaurants busier than others? Did they hire a restaurant marketing company?  What’s their secret restaurant marketing sauce?

Just as there are many flavors of ice cream, there are many flavors of restaurant marketing. When it comes to marketing a restaurant, there’s a particularly effective flavor, called Storytelling.  Restaurant marketing ideas, trends and strategies are helpful, but the secret sauce to powerful restaurant marketing is about great storytelling.

Great food and great beer is a pre-requisite.  But what does your restaurant offer that others don’t.  Marketers call this your unique selling proposition, or USP. Forget about “lowest price” or “best quality”, how are you REALLY different? The best points of difference are remarkably subtle. 

Shaping perceptions in the mind of the customer base is where many restaurant owners tend to get lazy.   Smart bar owners are constantly focusing on their points of difference and storytelling in a smart way to win over the influencers.

Not all bar flys are created equal.

There are two types of bar flys.  You want the “influencer” type.  Not the loner type.  Influencers are the cool kids…the class clowns.  They typically have a large influence over a large circle of friends in close proximity to the bar. Usually these influencer type bar flys are great storytellers.

Last year, I spoke to a bar owner who estimated that his “influencer” bar fly added $100,000+ to his bottom line at year end. (This  puts the cost of working with a marketing agency into perspective. )

What’s your restaurants story?  What do you stand for?  Are you clear about it?  Is your staff clear?  It’s true you can’t be all things to all people, so don’t try. However, certain brand traits are non divisive and appeal to the majority without diluting the brand.  For example, are you supportive of animal shelters? (animal loving bar flys) Do you love bicycling? (bicycle loving bar flys) Do you provide free, helpful information about the local music events in town? (music loving bar flys). A professional marketing agency can help you gain clarity.

How do I market my restaurant cost effectively?

After clearly defining your brand, it’s time to choose a “platform” from which you can speak your brand messages.  Let’s talk about communicating those points of difference to the masses. I’m not talking bumper stickers people!

Unless you’re a chain, direct mail, radio, television are often too expensive.  Locally owned restaurants owners are competing on a different level.  Smaller fish need to swim faster with a sophisticated social media, SEO and web marketing plan to stay competitive.

Social media, search engine optimization and email marketing are newer, better, more cost effective ways to spread the word.  By using these lower cost online marketing platforms to communicate your unique selling proposition, bar profits, and bar flys will increase.

Advanced restaurant marketing plans require critical thinking sessions with a marketing consultant every week.  The world of online marketing moves fast and staying current is crucial to success.  The marketing consultant should ideally have a degree in marketing and many years of experience in the field.   Testimonials are a good indicator of their track record.

“Break the illusion of separation with your customer base, one story at a time.”

The best restaurant marketing ideas tell stories about the people who work there, about the food, the patrons, the thinking behind the food. Like any good story, these are elements that help potential customers identify in some way with the restaurant. More connections = more likability.

Facebook just happens to be one of the easiest, and most effective platforms for storytelling in 2013.  So USE IT!  However, keep away from political commentary. Restaurateurs making divisive political comments on Facebook or Twitter will lose more customers than they make.

Local SEO with keyword research, directory submissions and reviews are three additional focus areas for restaurant owners. These are specialized marketing tactics that restaurant owners should consider allowing professional marketers to help with every month.  Staying competitive in business requires specialization of roles to keep operations running smoothly.

Optimize your web site for local search keywords your customers, and tourists, type into Google when searching for your business. Use your blog to add value to the reader.  Websites aren’t just for large companies; now more than ever, small local businesses are realizing the importance of having a website and implementing an Internet marketing strategy. Engage in local SEO practices and be sure you get a keyword research report from a reliable online marketing company before you start optimizing your site.

Internet directories are the new yellow pages.  Since the internet is the #1 place people go to find a restaurant now, it makes sense to get listed in as many local directories as possible.  There are 100′s of local directories in your area – find them and get listed.

Yelp and Google reviews are the black swans for restaurant owners today. Online restaurant restaurant reviews are perhaps the most overlooked area of restaurant marketing today. It’s important to get creative and find ways to increase the number of positive reviews on Google Plus and Yelp.  Consider teaming up with local food bloggers and turn them into brand ambassadors. Woo local food bloggers into reviewing your restaurant in return for a free meal. The back links will increase Google rankings, and the positive review will help your reputation.

Grow your email database and you’ll grow your restaurant business. Compared to direct marketing, email marketing is a less expensive way to stay top of mind with those bar flys.  Keep customers informed with educational, entertaining, engaging information through your email newsletter every month, tie the content into social media and blog.

Restaurants need to market themselves – how they tell their story and explain why customers should give them a try is critical to long term success. Restaurants need to communicate consistently and creatively to their audience, and not go broke in the process.  Get with a smart marketing company that’s familiar with the low cost, effective marketing tools and tactics.  There are literally 100′s of no cost ways to market a business with the internet today. Learn them, and execute consistently.

Can I do it all by myself?

Can you cut your hair all by yourself?   Well maybe yes, but how do you think it will turn out?  Smart bar owners stay focused on what they do best, running the bar, and let a professional marketer do what they do best, shaping perceptions and winning the influencers.

Execution is everything. A tennis player does not have time to stop mid swing and figure out how to swing the racket.   You have to go fast and stay consistent each month with your messaging.  Brand building is all about being ubiquitous in the mind of the customer base.

The need to improve perceptions about your restaurant hasn’t changed, but the mediums for doing so have changed dramatically in recent years (social media, blogging, email marketing, SEO press releases, online reviews).  Smart bar owners are using these new mediums to “influence the influencers” with smart brand messages.

Always remember, you could have a better product or service than your competitor, but if they’re telling a better story than you are, they’ll outsell you all year long.  It’s all about GREAT storytelling. This is an ancient truth in marketing, and it’s especially relevant for restaurants and bars.

Above all, stay consistent with your marketing every month and your restaurant business will be more successful this year.  Good luck, and here’s to capturing more market share and more bar flys in 2013.

Taylor Reaume

Founder/e-business Coach

http://www.TheSearchEnginePros.com

The post Restaurant Marketing in 2013: Why Storytelling Matters appeared first on The Search Engine Pros.

NOOZHAWK.COM - SANTA BARBARA, CA – 4/8/2013 – The Santa Barbara Business Expo brings together the brightest local business minds. Attendees will learn about the latest marketing trends, business tools, emerging web technologies and best practices in business. Speakers will provide valuable, practical insight about efficiency, purpose and direction.

Local marketing strategist Taylor Reaume is wearing several hats this year as the expo’s website designer, social media director and speaker.

“Many business owners are resistant to change,” said Reaume, owner of Search Engine Pros, a Santa Barbara Internet marketing firm. “However, neglecting a business marketing strategy is the kiss of death, as invariably those businesses will be outranked by competitors, while those who adapt to the future will thrive.”

In 2013, marketing companies have started broadening the scope of their marketing services to include SEO and social media. With Google being such a large part of the marketing mix today, marketing agencies whose core focus is SEO marketing are emerging as particularly attractive to business owners.

“Business owners are finding that they must execute swiftly, all at once, on a series of complex writing tasks to be successful with search marketing,” Reaume said. “Bewildered business owners are arduously blogging with little traction because their web strategy lacks a ‘connected’ approach. The cost of hiring and teaching an in-house employee is simply not cost-effective for most businesses. The number of hours required to learn this stuff is staggering.

“A connected, well-rounded web strategy over a one-year period will earn those rankings from Google, naturally. It takes time and focus. Search engines are the new yellow pages and rankings are the holy grail of marketing today. We explore the subtle nuances of your brand, USP, how you’re different, and promote you carefully and consistently every month. The highly custom blogs, press releases, Facebook posts, social media links, local directory submissions, email newsletters, etc., are all pivotal for a successful strategy. 

“Our Accelerator e-marketing plans offer a winning strategy that combines the best of the best, highly effective, lowest-cost Internet marketing tactics today. The 2013 marketing battlefield is even fiercer than last year. Let’s coordinate and launch our marketing arsenal to protect and increase your market share. Book a lunch date with me by connecting on my personal Facebook page.”

According to Taylor, building a business today is a matter of time and human resources, working smarter not harder. There are dozens of zero-cost ways to build a business through the internet, and it is simply a matter of knowing how to tie them all together into a unique strategy. Finding the time to learn, and then finding the time to execute consistently is proving difficult for most businesses. It is crucial to stay consistent with your marketing every month because success builds exponentially, and consistency is the secret sauce for brand building (and strong ROI).

As a premier sponsor of the event, Reaume will be speaking at the event and offering live website critiques. Reaume walks the talk and has built a successful Santa Barbara marketing company through educating and empowering locals at his weekly Santa Barbara Web Design and SEO Workshop (offered Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 629 State St.). Reaume covers topics such as Google Adwords strategy, WordPress design, search engine optimization (SEO), SEO campaign management, branding consulting and social media marketing.

“Web marketing and social media are the lowest-cost tools for building a business today,” he said.

The Santa Barbara Business Expo will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20 at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort, 633 E. Cabrillo Blvd. Click here for more information.

NOOZHAWK.COM ARTICLE:

http://www.noozhawk.com/article/040813_marketing_strategist_taylor_reaume_santa_barbara_business_expo/

The post Marketing Strategist Taylor Reaume to Speak at Santa Barbara Business Expo appeared first on The Search Engine Pros.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE NEW BANNERS 

LOGO: PNG VERSION

LEARN HOW to promote yourself and the Santa Barbara Business Expo using social media. This page is a great overview on how to use FACEBOOK, TWITTER, LINKEDIN, YOUTUBE, NEWSLETTERS, BLOGS, WEBSITES to promote SBBE 2013.

FACEBOOK: Let’s be friends! First, LIKE our page, then continue to stop by to LIKE US, SHARE, @MENTION and COMMENT when you’re online surfing around Facebook. Every little CLICK and interaction helps get the BUZZZ going!    https://www.facebook.com/BusinessExpoSB

Looking for specific wording? Start with this, and customize however you like.

Facebook Referral Template (420 characters or less):

The Santa Barbara Business Expo is coming up on April 20^th, 2013 and offers you a unique opportunity to network with business leaders and gain valuable insights into business marketing and business management in 2013.  The target audience is local business owners, professionals, and entrepreneurs.

Connecting and learning is a key focus of this April event, and many say it is the best business networking event Santa Barbara offers all year.  Visit the site at http://www.businessexposb.com

TWITTER: Tweet, tweet. Let’s rock these 140 characters.

Write about your love for the EXPO, your involvement, and where you’ll be April 20th, 2013! Need a place to start?

Sample Tweet (140 characters or less):

Connect with business leaders at Santa Barbara Business Expo 2013 on April 20^th  REGISTER: http://bit.ly/sbexporegister

Tweets by @BusinessExpoSB

BLOGS, EMAIL, NEWSLETTERS and WEBSITES: Let’s partner and cross-promote!

Post great content on your blog or website, and we’ll link to you and help spread your involvement! It’s good for everyone. Looking for a place to start? Here are some suggestions…

BLOG REVIEW TEMPLATE:

TITLES:

The Best Business Networking Event Santa Barbara Offers All Year: April 20^th,  2013
or
Santa Barbara Business Expo — Extraordinary Keynote Speakers , Key Marketing Trends & Emerging Web Technologies
or
Meet Local Business Leaders At Santa Barbara Business Expo 2013 – April 20^th

REPOST THIS ON YOUR BLOG:

Sponsors and Exhibitors are being sought for the Santa Barbara Business Expo, organized by the Women’s Community Business Network, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 20 at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Hotel & Resort, 633 E. Cabrillo Blvd.

Organizers plan on making the expo an annual event, to develop continuity along with the launch of the on-line Business and Services Directory.

The expo will feature area business people who will share their experiences and offer tips and tactics. The event will include dozens of displays, booths, hand-outs, samples, and information on a variety of organizations with business-oriented products and services.

Organizers say the Santa Barbara Business Expo is an interactive networking convention designed specifically for the needs of the Santa Barbara business community.

Expo speakers will focus on: the importance of networking in business; why your business must grow to survive; how to use social media for your business; funding your business; printing and advertising in 2013; and how Search Engine Optimization, or SEO marketing, can affect business.

• Lorrie Thomas Ross, http://WebMarketingTherapy.com on “Using Your Passion for Professional Success”
• Patty DeDominic, http://DeDominic.com on “Networking, A Contact Sport”
• Olga Mizrahi, http://ChunkOfChange.com, on “Your Unique Value Proposition”
• Taylor Reaume, http://TheSearchEnginePros.com on “101 Ways To Drive Traffic To Your Site”
• Robin Eschler, http://MarketingPromotionMix.com on “Funding Options For Small Business”
• Kathy Gruver, PhD. http://TheAlternativeMedicineCabinet.com on “How To Be Stress-Less”
• Sloane Reali, http://VocalCoachingBySloane.com on “Presenting You & Your Business”
• Nick Cavarra, http://SocialPunchMarketing.com on “The Power of Email Marketing”

Pre-registration for vendors for the expo is now open. Organizations looking to set up a booth and be a part of this exciting event should sign up quickly because the best and most visible spots will go first, event organizers said.

Premier Sponsors include The Search Engine Pros  Tremblay Financial and WC Business Network.

For more information, e-mail sandy@wcbusinessnetwork.com. Vendors will have the opportunity display products and services they feel will be of interest to the business community of the area.

More information may be found at the expo’s website: http://www.BusinessExpoSB.com

The post How To Recommend SBBE appeared first on The Search Engine Pros.

Santa Barbara, CA: The Search Engine Pros, a Santa Barbara internet marketing company that offers top web design, SEO marketing and social media marketing services, will be a premier sponsor of Santa Barbara Business Expo. The email and Google marketing consultants anticipate that the Expo will expose local marketers and business owners to key marketing trends, best business practices and emerging web technologies. Billed as an interactive business convention, the Expo will take place on Saturday, April 20 from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Fess Parker Doubletree Resort, 633 E. Cabrillo Blvd. in Santa Barbara.

The Search Engine Pros created the Expo’s web site, search marketing strategy and social media marketing strategy. The Santa Barbara marketing service will have a booth where they will provide live website critiques for Expo attendees as part of their effort to introduce business owners to the best WordPress and internet marketing strategies currently available. Santa Barbara business owners, professionals and entrepreneurs are all encouraged to attend the business expo to discover local resources for professional, financial, legal and personal needs and learn about web marketing. Attendees will find many networking opportunities available as they mingle with knowledgeable experts and like-minded business professionals.

A roster of speakers will provide insights into networking, unique value propositions, funding options, stress reduction and email marketing. Taylor Reaume, marketing expert and founder of The Search Engine Pros, will present “101 Ways To Drive Traffic To Your Site in 2013.” His speech will cover the common pitfalls associated with building and implementing an internet business strategy using Google search marketing. Reaume will also answer questions about online marketing costs and SEO budgeting. “Business owners will benefit by learning 2013 marketing tips and networking advice from local thought leaders in Santa Barbara,” commented Reaume. “This is a great opportunity to grow your business by developing connections with local prospects and vendors.”

Other Expo events include an Art Show directed by Julia St. Morgan, an Author Showcase featuring a number of authors and the opportunity to have a professional headshot taken by Linda Blue Photography. Interested businesses can register electronically, follow the Expo on Facebook, or contact the Women’s Community Business Network at (805) 452-3632 for further information.

The Search Engine Pros have developed over 400 websites and online businesses since 1998. Reaume leads an open discussion that covers the latest internet marketing trends, social media tools and search marketing strategies each Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Santa Barbara Marketing and Web Design Workshop. Attendees discuss how to generate more leads from their website via Google site optimization and pay per click.

The Search Engine Pros, located at 629 State Street, #204, is a full-service web marketing firm which offers online marketing and web design in Santa Barbara. Further information on the company or its free 30 page website analysis can be found by visiting www.thesearchenginepros.com or calling 800-605-4988.

The post Santa Barbara Marketing Company Becomes Premier Sponsor of SBBE 2013 appeared first on The Search Engine Pros.

Tuesday, April 2
Bobby McFerrin
at The Granada Theatre

Tuesday, April 2
Jesse Cook
at Lobero Theatre

Thursday, April 4
1st Thurs. Free Parent Workshop: Sleep Workshop
at Peanuts Maternity & Kids

Saturday, April 6
Mariachi Los Camperos De Nati Cano
at Arlington Theatre

Sunday, April 7
NEIGHBORFOOD

Wednesday, April 10
An Evening with Barbara Cook: Let’s Fall in Love
at Lobero Theatre

Wednesday, April 10
An Evening with Barbara Cook – Let’s Fall in Love
at Lobero Theatre

April 13 – April 14
Four Seasons
at The Granada Theatre

April 13 – April 14
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Arlington
at Arlington Theatre

Saturday, April 13
Decorate a Garden Pot
at Peanuts Maternity & Kids

Sunday, April 14
The Romeros
at Lobero Theatre

Monday, April 15
Arlo Guthrie
at Lobero Theatre

Tuesday, April 16
Sapphire Princess

Tuesday, April 16
The Romantic Germans with Kyoko Takezawa, violin
at Lobero Theatre

Thursday, April 18
Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation presents Saks & The City VI
at Saks Fifth Avenue

Friday, April 19
András Schiff, piano
at Lobero Theatre

April 19 – April 20
World Premiere of The Bet
at Arlington Theatre

Saturday, April 20
Paul Kelly and special guest Sam Baker
at Lobero Theatre

Sunday, April 21
Santa Barbara’s Founding Day
at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park

Saturday, April 27
“Dream On By”
at Lobero Theatre

Saturday, April 27
“Dream On By”
at Lobero Theatre

Sunday, April 28
CIRQUE WINGS-The New Cirque
at Arlington Theatre

Monday, April 29
Jay & Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie
at Lobero Theatre

Tuesday, April 30
David Sedaris
at Arlington Theatre

Thursday, May 2
Neil deGrasse Tyson
at The Granada Theatre

Friday, May 3
Brad Mehldau Trio and The Bad Plus
at Lobero Theatre

Saturday, May 4
Bernadette Peters
at The Granada Theatre

Tuesday, May 7
Sapphire Princess

Tuesday, May 7
United States Air Force Band of the Golden West
at The Granada Theatre

Sunday, May 12
Sapphire Princess

Tuesday, May 14
Sweet 1700s with Alessio Bax, piano
at Lobero Theatre

Saturday, May 18
Eilen Jewel Band and special guest The Far West
at Lobero Theatre

May 18 – May 19
MAHLER “RESURRECTION” FINALE
at The Granada Theatre

Saturday, May 18
Un Paseo en Oro

Thursday, June 6
Jessy J
at The Granada Theatre

Thursday, June 13
The World Estimated

The post Upcoming Spring Events in Santa Barbara appeared first on The Search Engine Pros.

The post Corporate Social Responsibility – Easy Steps to Give your Company CSR appeared first on The Search Engine Pros.

With hundreds of millions of active users,  Facebook’s fan pages are an effective way to capitalize on internet marketing for events, organizations, businesses, bands, or products that need to build an audience.

Facebook Fan pages are visible to everyone who visits, can grow as big as needed, and can provide the administrator with helpful page insights about visitors.  When someone becomes a “fan” of your event, that information appears on their wall for their friends to see.

As a Santa Barbara marketing company we often help businesses promote their events with a Facebook fan page.  Fan pages are a great way to generate awareness for the event and draw new visitors.

After you create a page for your event,  you need to start using it to promote your event. Our Santa Barbara marketing consultants recommend the following:

• Promote The “Get Notifications” Option: When driving visitors to your Facebook fan page, make sure to tell your sponsors, speakers, and vendors about the “get notifications” option. Facebook doesn’t always post every update or notification, but checking this option will make sure your fans get updated every time you post something new and exciting about your Santa Barbara events.

• Pre-plan Status Updates: Did you know you can schedule status updates now on Fan Pages?  Get your core team together, and have each person come up with 10 status updates.  Next, schedule at least 50 updates to go out during the months leading up to the event.  Keep the updates engaging, entertaining or educational.

• Link to a Website: Have an online location where visitors can find complete information. Make sure that the page also has a link back to your Facebook fan page.

• Post Frequent Updates: For effective event promotion in Santa Barbara, you need to keep interested parties constantly updated on news about your event. Whenever there is a new speaker, entertainer, or sponsor let your fans know.

• Use the Facebook Comments Plugin: Your event registration page should allow the use of Facebook comments so that your event receives additional visibility each time a visitor makes a comment.

• Connect With Partners: Encourage your sponsors, speakers, and vendors to cross-promote your event on their Facebook pages. You can also include their names, logos or photos in your updates to keep the cycle going.

• Consider Facebook Ads: Targeted Facebook ads can help draw attention and interest to the fan page for your event.

Be sure to use other forms of social marketing to promote your Facebook fan page. Make sure any Tweets or YouTube videos you have direct visitors to your site. Event marketing in Santa Barbara will be far less difficult if you follow these quick tips above.

Need help with Facebook marketing strategy?  Our Santa Barbara marketing consultants can help you build a fan page, create an event, or promote an event using Facebook fan pages. Once you’ve seen the power of Facebook to attract visitors, attendees and sponsors to your event, you’ll wonder why you waited so long.

The post Santa Barbara Marketing Company Explains How To Promote An Event With Facebook appeared first on The Search Engine Pros.

That’s according to a recent report that, frankly, has some confusing claims and stats.

The data is from GlobalWebIndex, a site/service that I can’t claim to have ever heard of before. The company says it does 130,000 Internet usage “interviews” in 31 international markets — covering about 90 percent of the global Internet-using population. We reached out for clarification about the data and how it’s collected earlier today, but the company has yet to reply.

As for the data, GlobalWebIndex says that 25 percent of worldwide Internet users are now active on Google+ at least once a month — second behind Facebook (51 percent), but ahead of YouTube and Twitter (both 21 percent).

GlobalWebIndex defines an active user as one who “used or contributed to” a social network.

The numbers get confusing, at least to me, when GlobalWebIndex says that Twitter is the fastest-growing social platform. The report says

• Twitter’s active usage grew by 40 percent in 2012 to 288 million users, and
• Google+ grew by 27 percent to 343 million active users and passed Twitter

Those two statements don’t seem to fit together. If Twitter grew by 40 percent to 288 million active users, it started with about 205 million. If Google+ grew by 27 percent to 343 million, it started with about 270 million active users … which would already put it ahead of Twitter. So, it seems that either the stats or the claim that Google+ just now passed Twitter is wrong.

Nonetheless, it seems inevitable that Google+ will pass Twitter in worldwide usage, if it hasn’t already. Google is building Google+ as a “social layer” into all of its products and services. For the past year, all new Google accounts are also Google+-enabled accounts. And because of how Google+ is baked into so many Google products, you can be an “active” Google+ user without ever visiting Google+.

Google itself recently reported having 135 million “in-stream” users. About two weeks after that, Twitter reported having 200 million active users.

Postscript: Brett Petersen, GlobalWebIndex’s Director of Strategy Consulting, shared an explanation about how the company gathers data that we’ll repost in full.

Please find the details on our research methodology below: 

RESEARCH AND METHODOLOGY The GlobalWebIndex is conducted quarterly and the data collected by self-completion online surveys. The survey is the exact same in every market but is localised by language and local brands where relevant (i.e. asking respondents about local websites only in the relevant markets). The samples themselves are structured using quotas on age, gender, and education levels to ensure that our sample is representative of the internet population in each market. Other than that, the sample is completely random. To that end, all of the research we collect is representative of the internet population in each market and not the national population as a whole. Furthermore, we never survey the same respondent twice within a 12 month period.

This approach provides both trend data and large local samples. This coverage is unique and we are the only global data source who survey multiple times a year, providing the same data in every single market that is operated. We only use data that we survey and do not published or provide any tracking data or third party statistics.

HOW WE RECRUIT RESPONDENTS We recruit internet users aged 16-64 from the most highly respected research panels in the market research industry including Lightspeed Research, uSamp, Toluna, YouGov and GMI. Our panel partners are responsible for the recruitment and incentive provision for the respondents in each market.

ENSURING THE HIGHEST QUALITY DATA The survey is always served in the local language and incorporates many leading techniques to guarantee high-quality data, such as rotating questions, sections and options, utilising new question techniques like “drag and drop” and measuring response patterns to remove respondents who complete inaccurately or too quickly.

We believe that, despite all the advances in analytics, big data analysis and social listening, there are still impossible challenges in creating clear and simple metrics that cover internet access across all devices, enable segmentation by very specific consumer types and provide global reach. Add to this the growing need to track and measure opinions, attitudes, needs and motivations to support sophisticated strategy; consumer research is increasingly the only way to do this. This is why we work with some of the biggest internet brands in the world.

The data is frequently benchmarked against other forms of data including audience measurement services, publisher data and local market research.

Read more: http://marketingland.com/report-google-now-2nd-biggest-social-network-worldwide-31908

The post Google+ Now 2nd-Biggest Social Network Worldwide appeared first on The Search Engine Pros.

Small efforts can pay off big

If you don’t have the time for a full scale digital marketing campaign, the simplest thing you can do is update your Facebook and Twitter status, and wish your followers  a Happy Valentine’s Day.  You may also wish to update your Facebook cover page to celebrate the spirit of this romantic day – keep the images eye-catching and use a call to action. Ditto for Twitter – a V-day Twitter header image and background, in combination with a compelling message about your offerings – can encourage followers to take the desired action.

Got V-day Marketing Automation?

For a more serious direct marketing approach, consider planning ahead.  All great marketing requires great planning.  But planning is not enough.  Nowawadays, you need the help of a good friend named ‘marketing automation’ to stay competitive.   Doing things manually is not cost effective and will likely land you in the therapists office.

How consistent is your marketing?

Businesses with automated email marketing systems stay front-and-center in customers’ and leads’ minds more easily than those that don’t. Email continues to be a powerful medium for customer engagement. So, if you have a V-day special offer, it makes sense to implement a drip email campaign that serves as a reminder of the big day, delivers useful information (how to woo your spouse/girlfriend) and follows up with your specials/promotions.

Something like this:

Last week of Jan – focus on V-day awareness, gift ideas, subtle sales message(s)

First week of Feb – launch your promotion, present incentives and make an impression

11^th and 12^th Feb – create a sense of urgency about gifts and continue with promotion

13^th Feb – offer tips to those late to the V-day party on gift ideas or planning surprises for their partners

15^th Feb – Solicit testimonials actively, encourage customers to share V-day stories, make this the highlight of your social media conversations; pictures and infographics can go on Pinterest, videos and articles on Google+, Twitter and Facebook.

An optimized press release is also a great way to get the message about your V-day specials across to your audience. Don’t overly promote; cushion your sales message with tips and advice. Keep it interesting and worthy of reading.

These tips will also come in handy come holiday time. Put on your thinking cap and make the most of your digital media campaigns!

All of us at The Search Engine Pros would like to extend a Happy Valentine’s Day for you and your sweetheart. We strive to offer the absolute best web strategy at the best prices with customer service that is unrivaled. Our business depends and grows based on word of mouth and we never forget that. Thank you again for all your past support and we look forward to serving you in the future.

Your Search Engine Pros Team

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