Categories
Local Search SEO Storage

Google’s Insights on AI Generated Content: What SEO Experts Need to Know

At the recent Google Search Central Live Tokyo 2023 event, Google’s Gary Illyes and other experts shared valuable insights and recommendations on AI generated content. The event shed light on Google’s approaches and guidelines, providing useful information for publishers and marketers alike. Japanese search marketing expert Kenichi Suzuki summarized the key takeaways in a blog post, offering an overview of the event’s discussions.

This is an important topic for Rainmaker Reputation CRM Platform users because we recently added AI assistance capabilities to help our users. When adding copy to email and websites, or needing an image for websites and social posts, one can click a convenient button and add a prompt to generate copy or images.

One of the prominent insights shared during the event is that Google does not differentiate between AI generated content and content created by humans. Google’s primary focus lies in content quality, regardless of its origin. This information reaffirms that the search engine giant does not have a specific labeling system for AI generated content.

While social media companies in the EU are being encouraged to voluntarily label AI generated content to combat fake news, Google’s current stance on labeling AI generated content differs. The company suggests, but does not require, publishers to label AI generated images using IPTC image data metadata. However, regarding text content, Google does not mandate publishers to explicitly label it as AI generated. The decision to label or not label the content is left to the publishers, considering the user experience and context.

Kenichi Suzuki’s blog post emphasized that publishers should exercise caution when publishing AI generated content without human editorial review. Google advises against publishing such content as-is, highlighting the importance of having human editors review AI generated content before publishing. Similarly, for translated content, human review is recommended to ensure accuracy and quality.

Google further emphasized that their algorithms and ranking signals are designed based on human-generated content. As a result, natural content is given priority in search rankings. This serves as a reminder that despite advancements in AI, human-created content still holds significance in search engine rankings.

Regarding E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness), an essential aspect of content evaluation, the impact of AI-generated content becomes evident. AI lacks the necessary firsthand experience and expertise in specific topics, making it challenging to meet the quality threshold required for certain types of content. Google acknowledged internal discussions on this matter but has not yet established a policy. Once a decision is reached, Google will announce it to provide clarity to publishers and content creators.

The evolving nature of AI and its current lack of trustworthiness have led mainstream media companies to reassess their approach to AI generated content. While AI models like ChatGPT and Bard were not explicitly trained for content creation, Google advises publishers to prioritize the quality of their content regardless of its origin. Keeping a close eye on content quality remains crucial.

As the landscape of AI-generated content continues to evolve, publishers and marketers should stay informed about Google’s recommendations and policies. Striking a balance between leveraging AI technology and maintaining high content standards is key to success in the digital world.

Categories
Lead Generation Marketing Video Marketing

Rainmaker Reputation’s YouTube Content Strategy for Local Businesses

Are you eager to find a winning strategy to captivate your ideal audience on YouTube? Are you in search of a way to attract more high-quality leads? Did you know that Youtube videos can have a hidden, knock on effect with Local SEO? Look no further! In this article, we’ll unveil Rainmaker Reputation’s brilliant YouTube content strategy tailored specifically for local businesses. Get ready to boost your online presence and skyrocket your success!

How YouTube Works in 2023

Hold on tight because YouTube is not just another video marketing channel or social network—it’s the “second Google.” With over hundreds of millions of daily users, YouTube has evolved into an expansive reservoir of content, emphasizing quality and relevance above all else. Unlike other video-focused platforms, YouTube’s algorithm doesn’t chase attention or viral fame. Instead, it strives to serve each individual user with the most useful, top-notch content available. In essence, YouTube is more akin to a search engine or a personal FaceTime call than a conventional social network or television broadcast.

The astounding aspect of YouTube’s success lies in its ability to satisfy both marketers and consumers alike. Marketers need to appeal to consumers without causing boredom or annoyance while simultaneously driving sales. YouTube brilliantly manages to strike that delicate balance.

Now, let’s delve into how YouTube operates and how you can harness its power for your local business.

#1: YouTube: The Consumer’s Point of View

Prepare to be amazed because YouTube is popular with practically everyone who has an internet connection. (That’s a whopping 5 billion people, by the way!)

People flock to YouTube for a myriad of reasons, and luckily, the platform caters to all of them. Users turn to YouTube to:

Unwind and enjoy entertaining content.
Experience the power of music, audio, and video that resonates with them.
Learn about topics that pique their interest, conduct research, and gather information.
Escape the hustle and bustle of the outside world with a delightful distraction.
Just a quick glimpse at YouTube’s homepage reveals an array of content catering to relaxation, entertainment, knowledge acquisition, skill development, and emotional stimulation.

So, when you create content for YouTube, remember to ask yourself: Who is your content for, and what are these users doing on YouTube? What are they searching for? Once you’ve answered these questions, you can craft content that fulfills their needs and guides them toward achieving your YouTube video marketing objectives.

Here’s a simple trick: Create a fresh Google account devoid of any search history. Navigate to YouTube and search for keywords and phrases relevant to your target audience. Watch a couple of videos, and take note of the recommended content that YouTube suggests. By doing so, you’ll train the YouTube algorithm to mirror your ideal audience’s preferences, enabling you to create even more relevant, engaging, and compelling content.

#2: YouTube for Businesses: The Marketer’s Point of View

Prepare to witness the awe-inspiring potential of YouTube to convert viewers into loyal customers. When viewers see a real person on screen—authentic, unfiltered, and immediate—a profound connection is formed.

Furthermore, research has shown that the “distance to purchase” on YouTube is considerably shorter than on other content channels. In other words, it takes less time and content for viewers to decide that they want what you’re offering.

However, to reap these benefits, you must know how to navigate the platform effectively. People visit YouTube for their own reasons, and it’s crucial to align their goals with your own. So, take a moment to reflect on what you truly want to achieve. While many social marketers chase after viral content, pause for a second and ask yourself: Do you really want to go viral? And more importantly, how does it serve your business goals?

When you dig deeper, you’ll likely discover that your targets are more specific. Here are some examples:

You want to be the go-to channel for entertainment in your niche.
You want viewers to click a link and schedule a call with you.
You want viewers to subscribe to your channel, newsletter, or community to stay engaged with your content.
You want viewers to click through and make a purchase of your products, services, or courses.
The secret to an effective YouTube content strategy lies in integrating these goals with what your audience wants. By doing so, you’ll not only attract valuable viewers but also reward them with the content they crave while achieving your key metrics.

#3: How to Create a YouTube Content Library

Now, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of your YouTube strategy. Your aim is to reach the right people with the right content to accomplish specific goals. So, how do you achieve that?

The answer lies in creating a robust content library on YouTube. In this library, every video is interconnected through links, recommendations, playlists, and a cohesive sequence of ideas. Even your oldest videos play a vital role in your marketing funnel, as newer content builds upon the foundation laid by the existing videos.

Keep in mind that YouTube content has a long shelf life. When you establish a library of valuable content, it becomes a consistent source of search traffic, leads, and customer referrals that will continue to deliver results for years to come.

Your YouTube channel will transform into a self-perpetuating, ever-growing, and evergreen marketing funnel that constantly attracts new viewers and guides them through the buyer’s journey.

While live content and trending topics certainly have their place on YouTube, they are more suitable for specific types of channels like news outlets. Audiences respond differently to time-bound content, and although it may initially generate high views, it quickly fades away from search rankings and recommendations. To maximize your time and effort, focus on building a slow-burn, evergreen content library.

Now, you may be wondering what types of videos should populate your YouTube content library. We’ve already covered how to understand your audience through the algorithm. The next step is to merge those insights with your own goals for your audience.

Consider what actions you want people to take and link those conversions to specific topics. For instance, if your aim is to drive purchases, focus on creating videos showcasing product features and providing instructional guides. If your goal is to entertain viewers, delve into “softer” topics that share the origin story behind your brand.

Once you’ve identified key topics, it’s time to reverse-engineer your marketing funnel. Create videos catering to users who are completely new to your brand, those who are seeking to learn more, and those who are already experts on the verge of making a purchase.

At each stage of the buyer’s journey, ask yourself:

What questions do people have?
What piques their interest?
What information do they need to move further down the funnel?
To effectively guide viewers through your marketing funnel, leverage playlists. This allows you to offer content tailored to different stages of the buyer’s journey, from beginners to those ready to level up their business.

Remember, your goal is to build a cohesive content library where every video is interconnected. Whenever someone watches one of your videos, you can recommend another clip to watch next, gradually guiding them through the marketing funnel until they convert.

Rainmaker Reputation’s YouTube content strategy for local businesses is a powerful tool Rainmaker Reputation’s YouTube Content Strategy for Local Businesses offers a powerful and effective approach to engage your target audience, drive quality leads, and build a strong online presence for your brand. By understanding the inner workings of YouTube and aligning your goals with the needs and desires of your audience, you can create a content strategy that resonates and delivers results.

YouTube, often referred to as the “second Google,” provides a unique platform for businesses to showcase their expertise, entertain, educate, and ultimately convert viewers into customers. Its emphasis on quality and relevance sets it apart from other social networks and positions it as a valuable search engine-like tool.

To leverage YouTube’s potential, it is important to view the platform from both the consumer’s and the marketer’s point of view. By understanding what users are looking for and tailoring your content to fulfill their needs, you can capture their attention, engage them, and guide them towards your desired actions. Additionally, recognizing that the distance to purchase is shorter on YouTube compared to other channels, you can take advantage of this by creating authentic and compelling videos that establish a connection with your audience and prompt them to take action.

Creating a YouTube content library is a fundamental aspect of Rainmaker Reputation’s strategy. This library acts as a comprehensive resource that encompasses various topics, stages of the buyer’s journey, and interlinked videos. By curating a diverse range of content that is valuable, informative, and entertaining, you can cater to different viewer preferences and guide them through the marketing funnel, from initial awareness to conversion.

Remember, an effective YouTube content strategy is not just about going viral but about achieving specific business goals. It is about building a long-term relationship with your audience, establishing your brand as a trusted authority, and providing valuable content that keeps viewers coming back for more.

With Rainmaker Reputation’s YouTube Content Strategy for Local Businesses, you have the tools and insights to make a significant impact in your industry. Embrace the power of YouTube, harness its potential, and watch as your brand’s reputation and visibility soar.

So, what are you waiting for? Start implementing Rainmaker Reputation’s YouTube Content Strategy for Local Businesses today and unlock the true potential of this remarkable platform!

Categories
Lead Generation Marketing Local Search

Unlocking the Power of Local SEO: Boosting Your Business in Your Community

Unlocking the Power of Local SEO: Boosting Your Business in Your Community

Have you ever wondered how some businesses in your neighborhood seem to always appear at the top of search engine results when you’re looking for products or services nearby? The secret lies in a powerful digital marketing technique called local SEO. Local SEO is all about optimizing your online presence to ensure your business gets found by potential customers in your specific geographical area. It’s like putting up a bright signpost that says, “Hey, we’re here, and we’re exactly what you’re looking for!” In this article, we’ll demystify the world of local SEO, exploring its benefits, strategies, and how it can help your business thrive in your community.

What is Local SEO?

Local SEO, or search engine optimization, is a set of strategies and techniques aimed at improving the online visibility of businesses in their local area. It focuses on optimizing various aspects of your online presence, such as your website, online listings, and customer reviews, to attract more local customers and drive foot traffic to your physical store or office. The goal of local SEO is to make sure that when people search for products or services in your area, your business appears prominently in the search engine results pages (SERPs).

Key Benefits of Local SEO:

1. Increased Local Visibility: By implementing local SEO strategies, your business will have a better chance of appearing in the top positions of local search results, ensuring more visibility among potential customers in your area.

2. Targeted Traffic: Local SEO helps you attract highly targeted traffic – people who are actively looking for products or services in your locality, making them more likely to convert into paying customers.

3. Enhanced Online Reputation: Local SEO encourages customers to leave reviews, which can greatly impact your online reputation. Positive reviews can build trust and credibility, leading to more business.

4. Competitive Edge: Optimizing your online presence for local searches gives you an advantage over competitors who are not utilizing local SEO techniques, helping you stand out and capture a larger share of the local market.

5. Cost-Effective Marketing: Local SEO is a cost-effective marketing strategy, especially for small businesses with limited budgets. It offers high returns on investment by reaching customers who are actively seeking your products or services.

Strategies and Best Practices for Local SEO:

Now that we understand the benefits, let’s explore some key strategies and best practices for effective local SEO:

  1. Optimize Your Website: Ensure your website is optimized for local searches by including your location in page titles, meta descriptions, headers, and content. Also, make sure your website is mobile-friendly for users searching on smartphones.
  2. Create a Google My Business Listing: Claim and optimize your Google My Business listing. Provide accurate and up-to-date information about your business, including address, phone number, website, opening hours, and customer reviews.
  3. Online Directories and Listings: Submit your business information to online directories and listings relevant to your industry and location. Ensure consistency in your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) across all directories to maintain accuracy and improve local search rankings.
  4. Local Keyword Research: Conduct keyword research to identify relevant keywords and phrases that people in your area are using to search for products or services. Incorporate these keywords naturally into your website content and meta tags.
  5. Localized Content: Create content that is specific to your local audience. This can include blog posts, articles, or landing pages that address local topics, events, or interests. This helps establish your business as an authority in your community.
  6. Online Reviews and Reputation Management: Encourage your customers to leave reviews on platforms such as Google, Yelp, and Facebook. Monitor and respond to reviews, both positive and negative, to show that you value customer feedback and are committed to providing a great experience.
  7. Social Media Engagement: Be active on social media platforms popular in your local area. Engage with your audience, share relevant content, and promote local events or partnerships. Social media signals can contribute to your local search visibility.
  8. Local Link Building: Seek opportunities to earn backlinks from local websites, such as local newspapers, community organizations, or business directories. These local links can help boost your local search rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Local SEO:

Q: How long does it take to see results from local SEO efforts?

A: The timeline for seeing results can vary depending on factors such as the competitiveness of your industry and the current state of your online presence. Generally, it takes several months to start seeing noticeable improvements in your local search rankings. However, consistent effort and ongoing optimization are required to maintain and improve your position in local search results.

Q: Is local SEO only for small businesses?

A: No, local SEO is beneficial for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re a small local business or a larger enterprise with multiple locations, optimizing your online presence for local searches can help you connect with your target audience in specific geographic areas and increase foot traffic to your physical locations.

Q: Can I do local SEO on my own, or should I hire a professional?

A: While some local SEO strategies can be implemented by business owners themselves, hiring a professional local SEO agency or consultant can provide expertise and save you time and effort. They can create a customized local SEO strategy, conduct in-depth keyword research, optimize your website, manage your online listings, and provide ongoing monitoring and optimization to achieve the best results.

Local SEO is a powerful tool for businesses looking to attract local customers and increase their visibility in their community. By implementing effective local SEO strategies and best practices, you can ensure that your business stands out in local search results, drives targeted traffic, and builds a strong online reputation. Embrace the potential of local SEO and watch your business thrive in the digital age while making a meaningful impact on your local community.

Categories
Reputation Management

Review Management and the Local Business

As a business owner, you know how important it is to manage your online reputation. In this post, let’s talk about the benefits of proper review management and how it can benefit your local business.

First, let’s define review management. Simply put, it’s the process of tracking and responding to online reviews of your business. This can include reviews on sites like Google, Yelp, and Facebook, as well as any other platforms where your business may have a presence.

So, what are the benefits of proper review management for a local business? One of the biggest benefits is the ability to improve your online reputation and attract new customers. According to a survey conducted by BrightLocal, 84% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations (BrightLocal, 2018). This means that positive reviews can significantly impact your business’s reputation and success.

By actively managing and responding to your online reviews, you can show potential customers that you care about their feedback and are willing to address any issues that may arise. This can help to build trust and improve your overall reputation.

Another benefit of review management is the ability to identify areas for improvement in your business. By tracking and analyzing your reviews, you can identify patterns and trends that may indicate areas for improvement. This can help you better serve your customers and improve the overall customer experience.

In addition, review management can help you stay on top of any negative reviews and address any issues before they escalate. By quickly responding to negative reviews and working to resolve any issues, you can prevent a small issue from turning into a bigger problem.

So, how can you start properly managing your online reviews as a local business? The first step is to set up a system for tracking and responding to your reviews. This may involve using a review management platform or simply setting up alerts so that you’re notified when a new review is posted.

Next, make sure to regularly monitor your reviews and respond to them in a timely manner. Whether it’s a positive or negative review, it’s important to show that you’re paying attention and that you care about your customers’ feedback.

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask your customers for reviews. A survey conducted by ReviewTrackers found that only 33% of businesses actively ask for reviews (ReviewTrackers, 2016). By actively seeking out reviews, you can increase the chances of getting more positive reviews and improving your online reputation.

In conclusion, proper review management is an important part of any local business’s marketing stack. By tracking and responding to your online reviews, you can improve your reputation, identify areas for improvement, and stay on top of any negative reviews. By setting up a system for tracking and responding to reviews and actively seeking out new ones, you can drive better results for your business and build customer loyalty.

Categories
Marketing Technology

MarTech And The Local Business

As a business owner, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest marketing technology (MarTech) and how it can benefit your business. In this post, I want to talk about the benefits of improving your MarTech stack, specifically for local businesses.

First, let’s define MarTech. Simply put, it refers to the various tools and software that businesses use to improve their marketing efforts. This can include everything from email marketing platforms and social media management tools to analytics software and CRM systems.

So, what are the benefits of improving your MarTech stack as a local business? One of the biggest benefits is the ability to better target and personalize your marketing efforts. With the right MarTech tools, you can segment your audience and tailor your messaging and marketing campaigns to specific segments. This can lead to higher conversion rates and more customer loyalty.

Another benefit of improving your MarTech stack is the ability to better track and measure the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. With the right analytics tools, you can get a better understanding of what’s working and what’s not, and adjust your strategy accordingly. This can help you save time and money by focusing on the marketing channels and tactics that are delivering the best results.

Another benefit of MarTech is the ability to automate certain marketing tasks, freeing up time and resources for more high-level strategy and creative work. This can be especially beneficial for small businesses that may not have the same resources as larger companies.

In addition, MarTech can help local businesses better connect with and engage with their customers. With tools like social media management and review management, you can more easily respond to customer inquiries and feedback, which can lead to improved customer satisfaction and loyalty.

So, how can you start improving your MarTech stack as a local business? The first step is to assess your current marketing technology and see what’s working and what’s not. This can help you identify any gaps in your stack and areas where you can improve.

Next, do your research and consider the various MarTech options that are available. There are many tools and platforms out there, so it’s important to choose the ones that are the best fit for your business and your marketing goals.

Finally, don’t be afraid to test out new MarTech tools and see how they work for your business. The beauty of MarTech is that it’s constantly evolving, so there are always new tools and platforms to try out. Just make sure to track your results and see what’s working and what’s not. We offer Marketing Technology consulting and implementation for local brands here at Rainmaker Reputation.

The benefits of call tracking inbound calls and how it can benefit your business.

First, let’s define call tracking. Simply put, it’s the process of using a unique phone number or tracking code to identify the source of inbound calls to your business. This can include calls from your website, calls from online directories or listings, and calls from ads or other marketing efforts.

So, what are the benefits of call tracking inbound calls for a local business? One of the biggest benefits is the ability to track the ROI of your marketing efforts. With call tracking, you can see which marketing channels and tactics are driving the most calls and revenue for your business. This can help you understand what’s working and what’s not, and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Another benefit of call tracking is the ability to better understand your customers and their needs. By tracking the calls that come in to your business, you can get a better understanding of what your customers are looking for and how they found your business. This can help you tailor your marketing efforts and better meet the needs of your customers.

In addition, call tracking can help you identify opportunities for improvement in your customer service. By tracking calls and analyzing the call data, you can identify patterns and trends that may indicate areas for improvement in your customer service. This can help you better serve your customers and build their loyalty to your business.

So, how can you start using call tracking for your local business? The first step is to choose a call tracking platform that meets the needs of your business. There are many options available, so it’s important to do your research and choose a platform that fits your budget and provides the features you need. We offer a platform that can handle all your call tracking and call attribution needs. It’s just one of the many benefits offered in the entire suite.

By the way… did you know Google Business Profiles, offered by Google, now allow for Call Tracking from any local business’s Google Business Profile. It’s THAT important. We can help you with this important new feature if you have not enabled it yet. Reach out to us via our Webchat.

Next, set up your call tracking system and start tracking your calls. This will typically involve creating unique phone numbers or tracking codes for different marketing channels or campaigns. Make sure to track as much data as possible, including the source of the call, the duration of the call, and any notes about the call.

Finally, analyze the data you collect and use it to inform your marketing strategy. Look for patterns and trends that can help you better understand your customers and optimize your marketing efforts.

In conclusion, call tracking inbound calls can be a valuable tool for local businesses looking to track the effectiveness of their marketing efforts and better understand their customers. By choosing the right call tracking platform, setting up your system, and analyzing the data you collect, you can drive better results for your business and build customer loyalty. So, it is a great tool to have in your marketing stack.

In conclusion, improving your MarTech stack as a local business can have a number of benefits, including better targeting and personalization, improved tracking and measurement, automation of certain marketing tasks, and better engagement with customers. By assessing your current stack, doing your research, and being willing to test out new tools, you can take your marketing efforts to the next level and drive better results for your business.

Categories
Internet Business

Why WordPress 5.5 Is Breaking The Internet

We often forget… the internet is connected by a lot of software. New bugs have a way of reminding us.

Why WordPress 5.5 is Breaking Sites

“Thousands of WordPress sites have become broken since updating to WordPress 5.5. WP 5.5 deprecated support for jQuery Migrate may have caused at least 10,000 broken sites. An issue with how themes handle pagination is causing other sites to break after updating to 5.5.”

“Thousands of WordPress publishers are experiencing problems because WordPress 5.5 shipped without a JavaScript library called jQuery Migrate.

jQuery Migrate is a library that acts like a bridge for older code to function on WordPress.

However when publishers stick to an older theme, particularly one that is no longer being updated, compatibility issues eventually creep in and that’s what happened with WordPress 5.5.”

How to Fix jQuery Migrate Bug

If the issue is related to a plugin that is using older JavaScript files, check out when was the last time that plugin was updated. If the last time it was updated was a year or longer, you might want to consider looking for another plugin that is more up to date.

Older plugins that are abandoned can become a security risk. Better to update to a new and well maintained plugin than continue using a plugin that might have security issues.

The name of the plugin is called, Enable jQuery Migrate Helper.

You can download the Enable jQuery Migrate Helper plugin here.

Enable jQuery Migrate Helper

We can vouch for it, it fixed many an issue on our wordpress sites.

Does your marketing agency stay on top of their technical chops?  If your website is often the first impression your prospect makes of your company, a bug can ruin that relationship before it ever starts.

Categories
Lead Generation Marketing Reputation Management

Why Reputation Management Matters To Google And How That Affects You

In early August of 18′, Google had another core update to it’s algorithm.  Google likes to keep the specifics and intricacies to it’s algorithm, one if it’s key intellectual properties, shrouded in mystery. That never stops articles from folks in the SEO industry from trying to reverse engineer or deduce from the downstream effects just what the algorithm update affected.

The consensus position has been quite peculiar.  It appears to be that the recent update affected Health Industry sites, from blogs to newsletters and the like, the most.  Lots of deduction going on, so I thought I’d go over my thoughts here.

It appears to me that the update re-enforced what some call Authorship, the reputation of an author of any piece of information.  The idea here is that Google wants to also track and record WHO writes what, and whether the author’s opinion is RELEVANT.  To back that statement up, have a look at the recent explanation updated in the Google’s Search Quality Guidelines titled “reputation of the creator of the content”

The key point to see from the Search Quality Guidelines excerpt is that going forward for the foreseeable future, we know that Google will prioritize validating the online sources that tell them who you are and what you are all about.  It shouldn’t be overlooked that this falls right in line with current news stories about Google’s problem with expectations that they also be a fact checking source.  We will see how that ball of wax goes, but for small to medium businesses, there’s a much more bottom line consideration here…

The recommendation in the screenshot is directed at employees of Google with the task of manually auditing a page, so we know it’s about as close as Google will get to telling US how to meet their standards.  (Yes, this is the world of SEO, and it’s why we spend SO many hours with our faces glued to video screens) coincides with what many SEO pundits claim is important in building trust with Google, and that is proving to Google your entity’s relevance and trustworthiness.  In other words, validating that some one or some thing exists in the real world.   It’s a real challenge Google has always had to handle.  They’ve made great strides in this endeavor, and for our purposes, there is no greater way for a small to medium sized business to tell Google directly who you are, where your business is located and other real world facts than claiming and filling out your Google My Business listing.

Clearly, Google is recommending here that we take great interest in our own Reputation Management.  It can’t be said enough, but your Online business’ (or even your personal) reputation IS your reputation.  Think of what people searching for your business name will see when they search for you in Google.  Ask yourself… what links are there from position 1 thru 20.  Are they all links directing the surfer to a page that speaks well of you?  Are reviews of your business visible on the links displayed there?  Are those reviews complimentary, or telling the surfer to look elsewhere?  Or do you even see links to competitors, who by having their link there, have a good chance to take that potential customer away from you?

MOST businesses and individuals of course, are not thinking about the possibility that one can affect what we see in these important searches.  The ones that do are…

found in Google by prospects who want and need products and services they offer, every day.

Call Rainmaker Reputation Local Search and Digital Marketing Agency for a free audit (usually $200.00) that will show you how you compare to competitors, how they could be taking customers that should be yours, if you have a blind spot leaking potential customers to competitors that could be ringing your phone today.  We can be reached at 888-406-3484

 

 

 

Categories
Internet Business

Is Your Local Marketing Agency Employing Solid Security Practices On Your Website?

We have a story here that should make every local business owner call their Local Marketing agency.

How hack on 10,000 WordPress sites was used to launch an epic malvertising campaign

Security researchers at Check Point have lifted the lid on the infrastructure and methods of an enormous “malvertising” and banking trojan campaign.

The operation delivered malicious adverts to millions worldwide, slinging all manner of nasties including crypto-miners, ransomware and banking trojans.

The researchers told The Register that they have observed over 40,000 infection attempts per week from this campaign (that is, at least 40,000 clicks on malicious adverts) and said the campaign was still active. They reckon the crims are getting a decent return on their ad spend so they can afford to outbid legitimate publishers.

Check Point claimed that the brain behind the campaign – whom it dubbed Master134 – redirected stolen traffic from over 10,000 hacked WordPress sites and sold it to AdsTerra, a real-time bidding ad platform. They wrote that AdsTerra then sold it via white-label ad-serving tech from AdKernel* and advert resellers (ExoClick, EvoLeads and AdventureFeeds) which then went on to sell it to the highest bidding “advertiser”.

WordPress is the most widely used blogging and website creation platform out there.  It’s code substitutes for 1000s of man hours a coder would have spend to make such a tool from scratch.  It’s easy to use.  It’s got an enormous support from independent developers who make Plugins that extend the tool to other innovative uses.

That necessarily makes it a favored target of hackers.  In the story above, WordPress sites were compromised, and used to divert traffic from their intended pages, to the hackers chosen sites that placed malware on the surfer’s computer.

Imagine your business’ site being taken not only out of the game of turning a prospect into a customer, but sent that potential customer to be abused by a hacker’s intentions.

Would your business take a reputation hit with your customers?

Let’s remember how we got here…

Back in the internet’s infancy, one of the challenges for mass adoption of financial transactions on the web was security.  Entering your credit card data on a website was held in the same regard as “don’t get in vans with strangers”.  And for good reason!  It was such a problem, that many of Wall Street’s best prophets claimed the Internet would be a fad.

What changed it all was Trust.  In time, as the technology evolved, we learned to trust the idea of buying from a website with a credit card.

But as the story above shows, this Trust has to be earned and continually protected.  Would you hesitate to call your favorite plumber if one day you see that his website was hacked?  How much more damaging could a hacking intrusion be for an Attorney?  A health care professional? These doubts seeded in the mind of a prospect who made an active search in Google looking for you, can torpedo your bottom line and you may never even know it.

Rainmaker Reputation handles all their clients’ sites, including keeping them secure and monitored.  All sites are backed up routinely for quick re installs.  Because of the highly technical and hands-on nature of our work on our clients’ sites, we feel we are the ones best situated to be responsible keeping the site secure and TRUSTED.

If your Local Marketing Agency does not include securing your website, the tool your customers interact with every day and is most often responsible for the very first impression upon your customer, secure and safe from hackers and protecting you from lost revenue…

you might ask them why not?

I don’t know why they don’t, but we do.

Call us at 1 (888) 406-3484 and we will be happy to see how your website is performing.

See also:

Local Marketing Agency Austin Tx

 

 

 

Categories
SEO Storage

60 Minutes asks How Did Google Get So Big?

Steve Kroft of 60 Minutes interviews Gary Reback:

Gary Reback is one of the most prominent antitrust lawyers in the country widely credited with persuading the Justice Department to sue Microsoft back in the 90s, the last major antitrust case against big tech. Now he is battling Google.

Steve Kroft: You think Google’s a monopoly?

Gary Reback: Oh, yes, of course Google’s a monopoly. In fact they’re a monopoly in several markets. They’re a monopoly in search. They’re a monopoly in search advertising.

Those technologies are less than 25 years old, and may seem small compared to the industrial monopolies like railroads and standard oil a century ago but Reback says there’s nothing small about Google.

It’s a fascinating interview, and flashback into how Google has morphed into the dominant player in the flow of information in the U.S.

Any small business owner might take note of the Yelp’s Jeremy Stoppelman’s demo of how Google controls the information if there is a search for your brand or service.  It clearly illustrates that if Google is the first place a customer thinks to look for a solution, they have the most influence on your reputation.

Ignoring this fact and leaving it to chance can make or break your year.  We can exert control over what that first impression is, and turn it into a factor that influences any searcher to pick up that phone and call your service.

Click here to read the whole thing about How Google Got So Big.

 

In other news, Google Removes ‘Don’t Be Evil’ Clause From Its Code of Conduct

Google’s unofficial motto has long been the simple phrase “don’t be evil.” But that’s over, according to the code of conduct that Google distributes to its employees. The phrase was removed sometime in late April or early May, archives hosted by the Wayback Machine show.

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Internet Business

Firefox upgrades it’s browser… it’s called Quantum

Probably the main tool every Search Engine Marketer, Engineer, and Specialist uses the most is the browser.  Seemingly, the leader is Google Chrome, as it’s integrated with Google, and of late most important of all, fast.

That might have changed.

Mozilla introduced an upgrade to their Firefox browser Tuesday to narrow or surpass that standard.  And what a cool name… Quantum.

Some early tests show it’s speed doubles the gains of previous Firefox versions.

Firefox accounts for 6 percent of browser usage today compared with 55 percent for Chrome and 15 percent for Apple’s Safari. Narrowing it just to personal computers — Mozilla’s primary focus for the Quantum upgrade — Firefox has 13 percent to Chrome’s 64 percent. (See CNET’s exhaustive Firefox Quantum article)

A less publicized detail in this story is that three years into a five-year deal to use Yahoo’s search engine by default in the US when performing searches from Firefox, the nonprofit organization said it’s gone back to Google in the US and Canada.

So, Google’s search dominance has been enhanced.  If your business is not taking advantage of Google being everywhere, give us a call.  Regardless of your biz model, there is a place for using Search to bring in more customers to your bottom line.