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  • Five For Friday: Tweets Within Tweets, Foursquare Gets A Facelift, And More!

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    1. Personal Preferences Killed The Check-In
    -Mashable

    Once upon a time, Foursquare made “checking in” at a location cool. But as of its latest update on Wednesday (8/6), the app has completely removed that feature. Now, those who want to broadcast their location to their social media spheres can do so with Swarm, Foursquare’s spin-off app that debuted in May.

    So what does that mean for Foursquare 8.0? Well, the app has a completely remodeled user experience: new colors, new logo, new layout, and new functions. Once you login, the app asks about your preferences (Are you into Pho? What about Chai Lattes?), then uses those preferences to provide recommendations just for you about places nearby. The app also provides filters to help you narrow down your findings. By using these filters and profiling users’ tastes, Foursquare has successfully become a more personalized version of databases like Yelp, and could potentially change the way people explore their cities. Pretty epic.

    2. Get Your Google Reviews On Your WordPress Blog
    -Blumenthals

    For those with WordPress blogs and websites, there is now a plugin that allows you to share your Google reviews on your page! Google Places Review lets WordPress sites embed Google reviews in two ways: The free, basic version provides a widget in the sidebar showing up to 3 of your most recent Google reviews. The pro version, which is available for $20, provides up to 5 reviews on any page using short codes. The pro version also allows you to filter by star ratings, offers optimized widget caching, and includes a customizable feature for collapsing and expanding reviews. Presumably, posting your reviews on your site can help boost consumer confidence, while providing easy exposure to your good reviews. A recent study by Dimensional Research found that 90% of consumers are influenced by positive online reviews, so get out there and show the interwebs how great you are!

    3. #Tweetception
    -MediaBistro

    For those who feel that retweeting simply isn’t enough, there was an interesting update from Twitter this past week: you can now embed a tweet within another tweet! All you have to do is copy and paste the URL of the tweet you want to embed, and then Twitter takes the wheel. The embedded tweet acts as a link that takes you through to the full version of that tweet (you can see my own #tweetception example below). The best part of this feature is that embedded tweets only use up the same amount of characters as any other shortened link, so you have roughly 115 free characters still left at your disposal.

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    If you want to get really fancy, the tweet-ception can go even further: you can embed a tweet that includes an embedded tweet into a brand new tweet (!)  – and they all link together in a chain. For now, this feature only functions on twitter.com and the official Twitter iOS and Android apps.

    4. Facebook Goes Down, So Does News Site Traffic
    -Marketing Land

    Last Friday (8/1), there was a brief Facebook outage that led to some interesting information. Chartbeat, a service that produces analytics for web publishers in real-time, announced that the overall traffic on news sites fell 3% during the downtime, which was ultimately less than an hour. What’s even more interesting is that the entrances to news sites via mobile devices dropped 8.5% during the outage, further proving just how important Facebook is to driving mobile traffic to online publishers. Another interesting factoid provided by Chartbeat shows there was also a “9% increase in homepage direct traffic,” meaning people look at homepages more when they don’t have Facebook to tell them what they should be reading. While all this information may seem fairly expected, it highlights just how powerful Facebook is as a news source.

    5.  You Can Now Delete Google Analytics Properties
    -SEO Round Table

    This week (8/5), Google made a quiet announcement on its Google+ Page stating that you can now delete Google Analytics properties within your various accounts. In the announcement, Google explains that this was not previously allowed due to how the accounts, properties, and profiles were all associated with one another. According to Google, they are “excited to bring this additional flexibility and consistency to our users, which is the first in a series of improvements to managing deletions in Google Analytics.” If you want to delete a property, all you have to do is go to the property settings within admin view, then click “Delete Property” at the bottom right of the page.

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  • Google+ Crush Saga: Your Guide To Social Media Sweetness

    Google+ is SO complicated! That’s what a lot of our clients tell us. They get frustrated and, to be honest, so do we.
    There are so many questions! It can be overwhelming.

    What kind of Google+ page should you create?

    Which Google+ page should you use for posts and updates? Which page should you connect to your YouTube channel? How many types of Google+ pages are there?

    To simplify this Google/YouTube situation, we’ve created this sweet little infographic to show:

    • Which pages you should create
    • Which page(s) you should use for regular posts and updates
    • Which page you should connect to YouTube

    As a reminder, there are three types of Google+ Pages:

    • Google+ Profile
    • Google+ Local/Social Page
    • Google+ Brand Page

    Explore the sweet and colorful world of Google+ Crush.

    Mix and match pages to form the correct combination, create the appropriate profile, and send the right social signals. First, choose how you’d like to play the game by selecting one of the paths.

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    If Google+ Crush Isn’t Your Type of Game, Just Read the Manual:

    • Are you looking to use your G+ profile for personal reasons (not associated with a business)? Start posting on your Profile Page and connect this page to your YouTube Channel.
    • Are you a business with just one location? Start posting on your Local/Social Page and connect this page to your YouTube Channel.
    • Are you a multiple location business? Create a Local/Social Page for each location. You should post to your Brand Page and connect your Brand Page to your YouTube Channel.

    Sugar crush! Remember, Google likes it when you play in their sandbox, so go ahead and start posting on Google+ and use YouTube channel to create your unique videos.

    And, above all, crush it!

     

  • Are Your Keywords Sabotaging Your SEO Efforts?

    Choosing the right keywords to target is one of the most important aspects of a successful SEO campaign. The goal of SEO campaigns is to get more online visibility, more traffic to your site, and more sales and leads. Keyword selection is central to bringing these goals to life.

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    Keyword Selection Must-Haves

    When choosing keywords, make sure they:

    1) Are RELEVANT to your business

    Keywords should answer the questions: What do I do? What products and services do I offer?

    2) Are SEARCHED often

    If the goal is to bring more users to your site, you need to make sure users are actually searching for the keywords you select. Hint: use Google’s Keyword Planner to help you decide what keywords have the greatest search value.

    3) Bring up the RIGHT SEARCH RESULTS that your business should appear in

    You always want to do a Google search of the keywords you are considering. Make sure they represent a search that you have a realistic chance of ranking for and that your direct competitors are appearing in. For example, a bedding store in Mobile, AL might think “Mobile Bed” is a good keyword. In actuality, that keyword brings up national sites that carry movable beds.

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    Your Go-To Keyword Research Tips

    With those 3 items in mind, below are a few tips to use during your keyword research process. Take it from me, comprehensive and strategic keyword research and selection can make or break your SEO efforts.

    1) Be very thorough when brainstorming keyword variations. You’d be surprised how much search value differs for small variations such as “buy gold,” “gold buyer,” and “cash for gold.” The goal is to think of every possible way people are searching for your business and then narrow them down from there!

    2) If you are a local business, be realistic when choosing what geo-modifiers to target. If you are a dentist in Metairie, LA (a suburb of New Orleans), it will be very difficult for you to rank on the first page for “dentist new orleans.” Check out the search results for that keyword, and you’ll see why! It’s best to be practical and start your focus on where you have a reasonable chance of ranking on the first page.

    3) Try and try again! Sometimes you might target a keyword for 6 months to a year and don’t see the results you want. Don’t give up; Google is constantly changing its algorithm, so revisiting your keyword strategy and making changes is perfectly normal and to be expected.

    Do you have more keyword research tips and tricks to share? Leave them in the comments below!

  • Five For Friday – Off With Your Map Packs: Google Changes Algorithm, Yelp Is An SEO Genius, And More!


    1. Upload 12 Second Videos Via Yelp’s iPhone App

    As promised back in May, the roll-out of Yelp’s video review upload for iPhone users happened this past Monday. This update allows local businesses to add 3 – 12 second videos via the Yelp Mobile App. We don’t want you to get confused though, these videos aren’t your typical spam annoyance. These videos are more than just “video reviews”. They offer business owners the opportunity to give their visitors a short glimpse into what their company is truly about (the atmosphere, employee interaction, etc.), and all before ever stepping foot in the business.

    While there is no determined roll-out date as of yet, don’t frown Android users. Your video claim to fame will be coming soon via Yelp’s Android app.

    2. Moz Updates to Local Search Query Triggers 23.4% Drop In Google 7-Packs

    MozCast has attempted to set their search query so that it accurately reflects what viewers are looking for. As a result, the seven map-packs originally provided in search results have now dropped an estimated 23.4% due to the Google Local algorithm change. Some queries, such as wedding makeup, train tickets, bed & breakfasts, etc., seemed to have actually lost local map packs all together.

    We aren’t sure what other changes this update will bring to the table, but we do know that its impact on the search results for small, local businesses has substantially been affected. Overall, it is unfortunately resulting in decreased visibility. All we can do now is wait on the real world results of this update, and come up with a solution to advise our clients accordingly.

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    3. Yelp: Seo Genius or Manipulative Mastermind

    Ever wondered how Yelp, the business review site less formally known as “online urban guide”, could possibly outrank Google in its own search results? Whether it be amazing SEO tactics, pure manipulation, or sheer luck, we suggest that you jump aboard the Yelp train. Go out of your way to claim, optimize, and actively manage your Yelp listing. Whether it is by encouraging satisfied consumers to leave positive reviews on the listing, or just making sure all your information is completely accurate and consistent, glam it up as much as you can.

    Until further notice, a good SEO strategy is having a good Yelp strategy.

    4. What Are You Really Exposing When Logging In Socially?

    We all are guilty of it, signing into websites using social media. It’s quick, simple, and there are fewer logins to remember, right? Wrong. Logging in with social media basically allows anyone to access the map of your road trip through life. Any personal information you have throughout your social media accounts, whether it is public or hidden, can be accessed when agreeing to login socially. While this may not be as alarming to some as it is for others, it can be kind of creepy.

    Whether it stems from attempting to save your precious time for something more valuable, or if it’s just sheer laziness, no one bothers to read further into what they are actually signing up for. Next time you decide to “Login With Facebook”, take a few minutes to login into the nifty Social Profile Navigator created by industry leading social login provider, Janrain. You’ll be surprised at the data you’re allowing these websites to see.

    5. Where Do Your Consumers Leave Their Online Reviews?

    Getting positive reviews can be a grueling task, but is ultimately worth it due to the positive effects it can have on your online visibility. Owner of GetFiveStars.com, Mike Blumenthal, strives to provide insight to local businesses and connect them with their consumers to ultimately create a strategy based on leveraging only positive reviews to increase their online visibility. Mike conducted a study to better understand what percentage of consumers actually take the time to leave reviews, as well as to find out where they prefer to leave reviews online. Out of the 2,671 respondents, a whopping 22.2% admitted to actually leaving reviews at least once a year. Then, they were asked where they preferred to leave their online results. Here are their answers:

    There is no surprise that Google comes out on top, but take a look at who even trumped Yelp, the SEO mastermind and the top business review site. Without even having any designated section to place reviews for a business, consumers prefer leaving reviews on Facebook. Most consumers feel extremely comfortable when navigating through Facebook. Users are more likely to leave a review at their own free will because of Facebook’s non-threatening environment.

    Although Facebook currently has no way of leveraging these assets in a concrete way, we believe that its popularity in the local review space on the web will continue to grow and remain a strong contender in the future months to come. We strongly encourage your business to partake in this natural (and free) SEO strategy — before competitors begin to catch on!

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  • Survive Your Serving of Google’s Pigeon Pie

    Late last week, influencer Erika Karas wrote an informative blog about Google’s algorithm update, Pigeon. The new Pigeon update might make it more difficult for individual businesses to rank among sites that Google deems more useful and relevant to local searchers’ results. Most local directories received a boost in rankings thanks to Pigeon. It makes sense if you consider the fact that when most people search for things like “pizza New Orleans,” they want to see a list of their options along with reviews, making sites like Yelp and Zagat more relevant than just a link to one pizza place in the area.

    So, how can you make sure you stay relevant with this in mind? First, search for common phrases that your targeted audience looks for. Next, see what sites Google is ranking highest and get your business on there with detailed and correct information.

    In the research I’ve done since the algorithm update, these are the sites I’ve found most often: Yelp, Zagat, Urbanspoon, Thumbtack, TripAdvisor, and Yellowpages. For obvious reasons, Google Plus is the first place your listings should be claimed and optimized. Yellowpages and Yelp are also great places to start, because they both have backend business portals that make it easy to claim and update your listings. They also require phone verifications by the business, which makes them more authoritative and trusted by Google. It’s best to provide as much information as possible in these listings and be consistent in the information you provide. Your name, address, phone number, website, and hours of operation should all be the same on your listings as they are on your website.

    Also, look out for categorical sites like HealthGrades, RateADentist, HomeAway, and the like that are relevant to your industry. You might want to look into getting your business on these industry sites, as they will also play a key role in rankings post-Pigeon. In some of my Pigeon research, I noticed our golf and dental clients were affected the most. These clients were pushed down in rankings in favor of categorical sites like RateADentist and GolfNow.

    Although these tips aren’t guaranteed to aid your rankings, they will help keep you relevant and appearing among industry-specific results.

  • Mobile, Mobile, Mobile: Why You Should Be Optimizing In The App Store

    marysilva1Who are we kidding? Mobile is already here and it is here to stay. With the shift from desktop to mobile for everything you can imagine, and the continued growth of app creation, it has become extremely important for creators to optimize their apps for in-app store rankings.

    App Store Optimization (or ASO, as it is known) is basically SEO for the app store search ecosystem. Much like major goals in SEO, the main goal of ASO is to drive more traffic to your app page in order to gain more downloads. In order to effectively optimize your app page, you must first understand your audience and what your target consumers would search for to find you.

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    Research firms, such as Forrester, have released studies in the past showing that most applications are discovered through general browsing and searching of the app store. From a user standpoint, when I am looking for a new app I first look for things that are relevant to my search terms and then weigh the options based on the number of downloads and ratings/reviews. This is much like the user experience when looking for local businesses online.

    This means that the best thing you can do for your app is provide relevant keywords in the title of your app. The other two determining factors (downloads and ratings) will come naturally once you improve your App Store Optimization. Keep in mind, however, that is not just the number of ratings, but the quality of ratings that really matters. Providing consumers with in-app support for encountered issues is a great way to help garner primarily positive reviews in the app store.

    Back in January 2013, Moz published the Top Three Inbound Marketing Strategies for Mobile Apps, a great resource for those looking to improve their ASO and app store rankings.

  • Our Newest Influencers

    New space, new team members. July has been an incredible month for Search Influence. If you’re interested in joining the SI crew, visit our careers page!

    With all the extra space in the CBD, we continue to grow! Search Influence is proud to recognize its newest team members.

    briceBrice Bathel – Junior Web Developer

    Brice is originally from Marrero, LA and currently lives in Harahan. Brice went to Holy Cross High School and went on to attend LSU and UNO. He previously worked in programming home automation. Brice is interested in web design.

    clareenClareen Ward – Junior Account Associate

    Born and raised in San Francisco, Clareen came to Loyola University – New Orleans to study Mass Communication. Before joining the Search Influence team, Clareen worked in event planning for a local food and wine festival here in New Orleans. In her free time, she loves to travel, cook, and spend time with her family and friends.

    Gabrielle

    Gabrielle Bethancourt – Junior Internet Marketing Associate

    Born and raised in New Orleans, Gabrielle graduated from Tulane with a degree in English in May of 2013. She then spent 8 months teaching English in Spain and traveling through Europe. Although Spanish churros, Belgian waffles, and Italian pasta are all delicious, there’s nothing quite like gumbo and jambalaya. Gabrielle’s excited to be back home and joining the SI team.

    jamieJamie Joyce – Junior Internet Marketing Associate

    Jamie Joyce is extremely excited to join the Search Influence team. Originally from Nashville, Jamie is currently a rising junior at Tulane University where he is focusing on Communications. Before coming to SI, Jamie worked as a PR consultant for Ragusa Consulting in New Orleans. In his spare time, Jamie likes to go to shows, ride his bike, and explore the city.

     

    Congratulations Brice, Clareen, Gabrielle, and Jamie! If you are interested in joining the Search Influence team, visit our careers page and send us your résumé.

     

  • “Pigeon” Algorithm Update Released Thursday 7/24/14

    Pigeon: The New Google Local Search Algorithm Takes Flight

    Google “Pigeon” algorithm update pic on Search Engine Land

    Yesterday, July 24th, 2014, Google pushed live what Search Engine Land is calling the “Pigeon” update. SEO sources are reporting that this update is specifically affecting the local search algorithm. This update has further intertwined organic and local indicators, algorithms and results, and it has the potential to affect the rankings of many small businesses.

    Matt McGee said it best on Search Engine Land: “[Update will] benefit big directory sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor — sites that have stronger SEO signals than small, individual restaurants and hotels are likely to have. For those businesses and websites, local search has just gotten a lot more difficult.”

    Small businesses will likely notice an effect on their rankings. Whether the effect is positive or negative is yet to be seen.

    Additional Details:

    • Major directories such as Yelp, Zagat, Urbanspoon, TripAdvisor, and others are seeing increased page 1 rankings and influence in the search results
    • The update has only been released to US English results, but the percent of queries impacted has not been reported
    • Google said that this new algorithm improves their distance and location ranking parameters, and aims to provide a more useful and relevant experience for searchers seeking local results, although it may make it more difficult for individual businesses to rank in the search results

    Like so many of Google’s updates, this is a first pass which will certainly have tweaks and updates as it goes along. In every algorithm update it typically takes a few weeks before we understand the full impact.

    This update from Google plays into a long-term strategy we’ve practiced at Search Influence: Barnacle SEO. Barnacle SEO has been getting a lot of attention lately because of Google’s love of big sites. What we’ve learned, over the years, is that it’s important to be present in all the places Google, and customers, would look for a business like yours.

    Rest assured, like the other updates before it, we’ll assure our clients are well positioned for the future.

    For more information check out these articles:

    Google “Pigeon” Updates Local Search Algorithm With Stronger Ties To Web Search Signal

    Pigeon: Search Engine Land’s Name For The New Google Local Search Update

  • Five For Friday – Get Your Workout On From Work, Weird Al Becomes Content King, and More!

    Five For Friday – Get Your Workout On From Work, Weird Al Becomes Content King, and More!

    #51. Any Mac User Can Test OS X Yosemite Beta

    For the first time in more than a decade, Apple will allow any Mac user to test OS X Yosemite before its full release. A public beta program will allow one million users to sign up and try the new features that come with Yosemite. The new OS is still under construction and will officially premiere in the fall. How can you be part of this beta test? Check out Mashable’s how-to for the one million curious Apple enthusiasts.

    2. And The Emmy Award Goes To…

    In addition to announcing its nominations for the Primetime Emmy Awards, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences also released the nominations for Creative Arts Emmy Awards, with categories including Outstanding Commercial. Budweisers’ “Puppy Love” and GE’s “Childlike Imagination” lead the nominations. Check out the full list of nominees!

    3. Here’s Why Weird Al Dominated Social Media This Week

    weirdalWeird Al Yankovic’s latest songs are trending because of his partnership with different content studios (and, of course, for the content itself). Over the course of a week, he released a new music video, each produced with a different partnership or artist in order to promote his first album in three years, “Mandatory Fun.” Some of the partnerships include content portals such as College Humor, Funny or Die, and Nerdist.

    4. Move Over Standing Desks, Cubii Is the Latest Office Must Have

    Sitting can kill you! That’s why so many companies are investing in treadmill and standing desks. However, multifaceted office furniture can be extremely expensive and most companies are not willing to take in the extra overhead cost. Cue Cubii, the “Sitting Exerciser.” This pint-sized elliptical has been designed to fit under an office desk (you won’t bump your knees!) and also includes a companion app to track your workout.

    5. Facebook Introduces “Save”Appleblog2

    For those who hated endless scrolling in order to go back to that hilarious video on your NewsFeed, Facebook introduced their  “Save” feature this week. Items saved by Facebook users will resurface on their NewsFeed. To learn more about this feature, visit Facebook’s official blog.

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  • Call Me, Tweet Me (If You Wanna Rank Me) – Google Update Favors Mobile Sites

    UpdateAllTheCrustySitesImageRecently, Google released a blog about the importance of having a modern website that supports modern devices. Google has always put emphasis on the user’s experience. Now, they are trying to avoid sending users to sites that don’t promote a good user-friendly experience.

    Google explains that flash sites will display a warning in their search engine results. This warning can be detrimental to business owners with flash sites, or any site Google deems not compatible with modern devices. If users see this warning in the search engine results pages they will be less likely to click on the site. Essentially, it does not matter if a business’s site is ranked at the top of the page or the bottom; if this error warning is displayed the click through rate will be obliterated and the traffic to the site will plummet.

    How does this update affect you?

    Google is pretty vague in their blog, using Adobe Flash sites as an example and leaving it open ended insinuating that other types of sites may also be affected. Even though Google doesn’t provide a list of sites that may be affected, this should be a wake up call for all site owners. Any business with a website that is not compatible with mobile devices should be prepared to make upgrades. At this point, not doing so can bring site traffic to a standstill.

    Google is not saying it, but sites that are affected by this updated should expect to see their keyword ranking drop as well. With the stress put on user experience, it is unimaginable to think that Google would possibly allow sites that don’t promote a good user experience to rank higher than sites that do.

    Next Steps!

    Google recommends to all sites that don’t support various devices, to make the appropriate upgrades. Google references Web Fundamentals and Web Starter Kit, two resources that can be utilized by Webmaster to make the upgrade process smoother.

    It will be interesting to see how this update will evolve in later updates, and to see its effects on ranking algorithms. Will Google begin to rank sites according to their responsive design? Will they begin to rank those sites with responsive designs higher than sites that don’t? We will just have to wait and see. Business owners with a site that is not does not support all devices should call a web developer straight away!

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    Thanks to Hyperbole and a Half for All The Things image.