4 Reasons Why You Need the AWESOME Google+

Ok, I have a Gmail (awesome), use Chrome as my browser (double awesome), and I use an Android phone (double dipped awesomeness).
You may say I'm a little biased in my loving the Google+ update, but here's why you will love it (if you don't already)

1.Currently, Google+ is bigger than Twitter with 359 million active users!

• I always talk to business owners who don't understand the point of Twitter.  For a lot of business types, Twitter doesn't help much.  On the contrary, everyone needs a Google+ account to link to their former Google Places entry.  At 2 billion searches a day you need to be as integrated with their platform as possible to be included in the searches.  In 2010 it was found that 94% of web traffic from Google comes from being ranked 1st on a page.  Plus with the +1 feature, if any of a person or their friends +1 your page then you are more likely to show up in their results (recommendations from a friend are more relevant than a stranger).

2.The Layout is the best combination of Pinterest and Facebook (I call it PinBook!)

• Pinterest is the fastest growing social network ever and Google noticed.  Only thing is it is not very "social".  The comments are pretty much buried in the stream.  The new layout is clean and engaging.  Any business owner can arrange their products in a very clean professional way without needing a fancy web designer!  Plus, your posts will directly link to your Google+ Local listing.

3.If You’re in Any Business With High Quality Imaging This Is A Must!!

• Google+ is now going to be your darkroom!   In an all cloud based system Google can automatically enhance the color and contrast tones in an image, remove read eye, make your plush greens really pop, soften skin, sharpen certain parts of an image remove noise, create an HDR from a set of images, and toggle back and forth any changes easily!  The greatest feature is called Awesome.  Basically, if you ever upload a series of images, Google+ will try to animate them in a GIF automatically………..If you take a bunch of family portraits it will stitch together the best possible one………If you panorama it will create the best from your batch………..This is all on autopilot people!!!!

4.Lastly, The Hashtag System is  A Marketing Dream

• Ok, everybody knows what a hashtag is.  It can be a great marketing tool to tie into a niche, but many don’t use it.  Honestly, before the update I only used them on Twitter and Pinterest.  Google has them beat! 
• Basically, you can set your own hashtags or Google will set one for you based on the context of the post!
• Behind the scenes Google will identify and rank any relevant conversations across the network.
• When you click the hashtag, it flips the post over and you can see related content within that card!!  That is live SEO and potentially far more successful if done correctly.   Gee wiz!!!
• This system gives you an extremely easy way to be found in someone’s interests as long as your posting relevant content that others find useful. 

 

In short,

 

Google+ has arrived!

 

There are a total of 41 improvements to Google+, but those are just my top 4.

Photo credit:  www.myviralweb.com

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You’re Going To Lose A Lot Of Money

Did you know that since 2005, more than 80% of all credit card breaches have occurred at a small business?

Sounds like a horror movie doesn’t it?  Sadly, it is reality. 

Everyday I see more and more businesses being “sloppy” about PCI compliance (Payment Card Industry if you’re a little more than sloppy……).

• Some have all of their clients credit card numbers on an Excel spreadsheet anyone can get to……………
• Some have a binder with all of the customer’s credit info so they can charge them on a recurring basis without having to call…………….
• Some even have to get a customer’s credit card number written on a basic invoice with one of their technicians who later brings it to the shop to be charged………..

All of these are a big no no that can result in fines anywhere from $90 to $500,000 and possible civil litigation from the consumer on top of that!!


In 2006, 40% of businesses that reported breaches had them come from contractors, employees, and business partners……………..

So how do you protect yourself?

1. Protect stored card holder data
1. If you have to keep customer’s credit info, do it the smart way.  This means no paper records or folder full of the info.  Use the computer.  It's kind of a useful tool............
2. Encrypt the data
1. The easiest way to do this is to have a payment processing system that has encryption with it already.  Preferably one that has a web based system of storing the data.  That way it is never physically in your possession. 
3. Assign a unique user ID to each person that may have access to the data
1. This does 2 things.  One is that not just anybody can access the data.  Two is that if something does happen, you can more readily find the culprit.

In short, if you’re keeping your customers’ credit info do an assessment of your security.  If it’s still “old school” you definitely need to upgrade to a safer and more modern system for your customers and your protection. 

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3 Things All Small Businesses Should Do

So you've been in business for a while.  Things are going pretty good.  You're paying your bills.  Your doors are still open,............but you're they're all the time!!  

Are you running your business or is your business running you?  And when I say "run" it I mean being the most efficient with the least amount of your most valuable resource, ………..time.  

Owning your own business is supposed to provide you the greatest luxury of owning your time.  A poll in 2009 poll concluded that out 39% of small business owners work more than 10 hours per day.  Struggling businesses are probably closer to 70% working more than 12 hours a day! 

So how can you stop this conundrum? 

By being more efficient. 

There are a lot of missed opportunities for marketing and sales in small businesses  that some know about and some never thought of.

1.  Social Media

I can't stress this enough.  For some reasons businesses think they don't need social media.  Take Twitter for instance.  Stephanie Wagner says "Twitter not only facilitates real-time businesses-to-consumer communication, but it also facilitates business-to-business and consumer-to-consumer communication. Twitter has transformed the platform of business communication. " That is marketing gold.  Plus,
ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS ARE FREE!!!!!

2.  Get customers’ emails (if you’re not already)

Email is one of the biggest revolutions in marketing today.  Even if you’re not a great marketer, it provides great opportunity.  Jay Baer concluded from a study that 44% of email recipients made at least one purchase last year based on a promotional email.  In 2012, 85% of the world uses email…………So basically, if you get all of your customer’s email addresses you may be able to get 1 extra sale from 44% of them!  That’s potentially huge!!  Don’t miss the chance.  The easiest way to get their emails is to use it for their receipt or invoice.  If you’re not paperless, then hurry up!

3.  Watch your competition

This may seem like common sense, but I don’t mean just watch the competition and hate them.  If they appear to be doing more than you, see why.  Are they using more social media?  Is their page better placed on search engine results?  Are their online listings more complete than yours?  There’s nothing wrong with learning from your competition.  There is something wrong with being obliterated by them for simple reasons though!

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