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New Ranking Formats on Google’s Local Search Results

Several years ago when Google’s local search was new and just a map with pin drops Google would show anywhere from 1 to 10 results on the map. About a year ago Google updated the local results to display as they are now, with the business information of the results in the main content area and a corresponding map on the right-hand side of the page. These results appeared in a standard format, display either as a 7-pack, 3-pack or 1-pack.

Recently however the standard 1, 3 and 7 pack formatting has been changing. We have been tracking multiple search phrases and from our finding we have found the typical 7-pack being replaced. The new local results for searches that normally displayed a 7-pack are now showing 4-packs, 5-packs and 6-packs. This change has been very frustrating from some because searches that were showing seven results and are now showing less are bumping the end positions off the first page. We have also tracked the several search phrases that have now started displaying an 8-pack which can be seen if one searches: PR Firms San Diego CA. Click on the link to go directly to the results (http://goo.gl/yHL96).

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Google’s New Privacy Polices and Terms of Service Announcement

If you did not see the notification for Google’s new privacy policy on Friday or over the weekend I am sure you will see them in the near future. The new changes to the privacy policy will not take place until the first of March but Google wants to be sure to spread the word beforehand.

Aside from rewriting many of the policies to be structured in a more simplified and have less repetition. Google has also said that they plan on getting rid of 60 different privacy policies. The replacement policies will span across multiple Google products and are designed to be a more straightforward and readable for the users.

In regards to the changes in polices and terms of services themselves. Google’s quick summary of the changes reflect that they are trying to tailor the best search results generated for you on what you have looked and expressed interest in past search and browsing activity. These tailored results will only display when logged to your Google account. Users will still have some control in their account setting to control which results display and there will be a feature available to turn off the custom tailored results. The simple fact in the manor is that if you don’t want to see tailored results then you should probably conduct your searches while not signed into your Google account however incontinent that maybe.
Google Privacy Policy

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Websites Protest SOPA & PIPA Today

Today many websites are protesting in the hopes to increase awareness about the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA). Big names such as Google, Twitter, Craigslist, Wikipedia and many more are protesting by either completely censoring their website or devoting large sections of their homepage to the protest by providing resources people can read to further educate themselves on what these acts actually would mean for the internet and how it is controlled.

Below are several examples of websites protesting SOPA and PIPA.

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Tips For Your Social Media Campaigns

If you are a small business or artist, read the following tips to help boost your online presence!

1.  Facebook: Try subscribing to the Facebook Marketing Bible.
There are hundreds if not thousands of helpful resources with articles, how-to guides, and case studies.

2. Twitter: Following the right people and holding authority.
The amount of followers, reviews, comments, shares, and likes the user has is a great indicator of whether or not you should be following them too.  When it comes to authority, make sure you have relationships with well-known brands/people and display information about your success through press releases, published works, or what innovative and successful business strategies you have created. This will show your audience that you are reliable and accurate.

3. LinkedIn: Advertising as an Opportunity.
With LindedIn Ads, you can target your audience by demographics such as industry, LinkedIn groups, and titles. You can also create and measure split-tests to see which ads are most successful.

4. Google+ Brand Pages: A New Opportunity.
In addition to the already well-known social media campaigns, Google just launched its own campaign for business. Google+ for business focuses on professional and industry-specific information. It also offers the ability to host live video chats called “Hangouts” where you can engage with the public on a more personal and time-valued level.

5. Social Media In General: Use Time To Your Advantage!
Choosing the right timing is key, and sometimes less is more. If you host a Q&A or something of the like, pick a limited amount of times to do this and your audience volume will increase because they know they can only reach you during this time. Under the same guidelines, putting deadlines on your offers makes it more likely for people to act on it.

 

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Gmail’s new look!

 

Gmail will be switching to a new look soon, and here’s the scoop:

-Elasticity: You can now transition from any desktop to mobile screen sizes and your inbox will always display the same way.
-Improved Search:  Customize your search easier and even have the ability to create a filter with the “Advanced search options”.
-Improved Conversation View:  The content of your messages display upfront and profile images that your contacts have selected to show (or images that you’ve selected to show for them) make it easier for you to see who you are talking to.
-New Look: You can choose how many messages are displayed,  change the size of your chat window, choose from several new themes to personalize your inbox, how you use labels and gadgets, and how the calendar displays…to name a few!

Check out the tutorial to learn more about each new feature of Gmail by clicking here.

 

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