Posts Tagged ‘ News ’

Google+ Pages Yay or Nay?

November 10, 2011

As announced on Monday Google have opened up their Google+ pages to businesses of all sizes, brands and celebrities in the hope to trump the already existing social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Their aim is to help build deeper relationships between any kind of businesses and their clients by allowing them to share their thoughts, links, photos and promotions.

Much like Facebook, Google Plus pages allows commercial names to interact with their fans and critics as well as being able to broadcast recent news, there is even the chance to get live, face-to-face feedback from customers by holding video chats!

In order to help you get started Google have formed an online guide to show you how to create a page, promote it and then evaluate its success. It covers how to publish posts, launch hangouts and manage circles.

One important factor is that Google have now integrated Plus into its search engine. This means that searches can insert a ‘+’ symbol before their enquiry and be directed straight to the business’s Google+ page. For example type “+YouTube” in the search box and you will be taken straight to YouTube’s Plus page.

To many people Google+ pages is just Google’s own version of Facebook, but once you get started you will soon see there is a lot more to the story.

To discuss your social media optimisation further contact studio8search on 01865 842525

Facebook Places service has now finished

August 30, 2011

Facebook has removed Facebook Places, an app for location-based offers, almost one year after it was released, due to the fact that the service was not being used as much as Facebook had originally expected. On the other hand, now Facebook is re-focusing its efforts on the Check-in service.

Facebook is currently upgrading its “check in” tool; this will mean that you will be directed to your status, where adding content is possible. With this upgrade, Facebook’s intentions are to add more user content and relevant discussions, letting its users to be more socially interactive instead of only informing where they are.

Although Facebook Places and Facebook Deals has ended, businesses will still be allowed to offer deals (coupons and discounts) through the “Check In” tool.

To learn more about how Social Media and Facebook can help your business contact Studio8Search on 01865 842525.

Facebook removes Daily Facebook Deals

August 30, 2011

Facebook Deals were released in April 2011 as a trial programme. Facebook’s main objective was to offer online discounts and coupons from local business across five American cities: Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, San Diego and San Francisco (and recently Charlotte, Minneapolis and St. Louis were added).

After testing Facebook Deals for four months, it was announced last week that Facebook will not be continuing to offer this service. Earlier in the same week another setback was announced: the killing of Facebook Places.

A Facebook spokesperson said in a statement: “We think there is a lot of power in a social approach to driving people into local businesses. We remain committed to building products to help local businesses connect with people, like Ads, Pages, Sponsored Stories, and Check-in Deals. We’ve learned a lot from our test and we’ll continue to evaluate how to best serve local businesses”.

To other online discount industry leaders such as Groupon and LivingSocial this has come as good news as it reduces significantly the extra pressure the social network giant was putting in their business.

Daily Facebook Deals should not be confused with Check-in Deals, which are, at least for now, alive, although changed to survive to the removal of Facebook places. Announced in November 2010 to work with Facebook Places it allowed you to find and check-in from bars, coffee shops, restaurants and supermarkets through an app in exchange of free items, coupons and discounts etc.

To learn more about how Social Media and Facebook can help your business contact Studio8Search on 01865 842525.

Facebook Aims to Replace Texting!

August 16, 2011

The world’s largest social media site, Facebook has released an instant messaging application for iPhone and Android service that permits users to exchange messages with a single friend or even a group, and has the option to send the message via SMS. The app also offers the option to send location information. So far Facebook’s mobile messenger is only available in the United States, but it is expected to eventually roll out in other countries.

This app comes just about a month before Apple release a similar product, built-in the Apple’s new iOS 5.

However, the advantage of this app is that unlike Apple’s new feature that is only available on products such as the iPhone to iPhone and BlackBerry to BlackBerry, the Facebook app be created for other mobile operational systems, like Google’s Android.

Now we just have to wait for a Google+ messaging app and you can be sure that soon or later it will comes too!

To discuss your website and how to improve the amount of traffic and sales you gain through it, talk to Studio8Search. We focus on Social Media, SEO, PPC and more. Call us today on 01865 842525.

Google: a giant monster that never stops growing

August 16, 2011

When Microsoft released Bing, Google accused them of stealing Google’s search results. This week’s attacks have come after Google complained that Microsoft, Oracle and Apple were ganging up on it to stop Android through the use of “bogus” patents, which those companies apparently overpaid for, in Google’s esteemed wisdom.

There has been a huge criticism on Google’s power to continuously copy, expand and dominate someone’s business. Just observe the recently created Google+ and how it is attracting millions of users, some people say copying Facebook’s “Like” button, or Google’s coupon tool similar to Groupon offers.

What saves Google is that really, it isn’t too different of other companies. There were mp3 players before iPod, as well as touch screen mobile phones before iPhone or Internet Explorer before Firefox, Chrome and Safari. This is going to be a continuous battle which we are sure we haven’t heard the last of!

To find out more on how you can grow your business online and get yourself found in Google talk to Studio8Search. Call us today on 01865 842525.

Google+ Users Soar Amid Social Network Clash

July 19, 2011

The battle for social network users is heating up with research estimating the number of Google Plus users is rocketing.

A study released this year found that the new service could have almost five million users in the US alone – up from 1.7 million users a week ago.

Google is currently limiting the number of people who can use the service, as it tries to fix any bugs within the system.

The search engine’s product allows users to limit which friends information and updates are shared by allowing you to group your friends in “Circles”.

However, Google has a great deal of catching up to do if it is to match Facebook, which last week revealed it had reached 750 million active users.

To discuss your own social media strategies contact Studio8 today on 01865 842525.

Need a Local Business? Well Search officially Rules!

July 14, 2011

When Internet users look for a local business, search is the winner according to research from Local Search Association.

The majority of 18 to 34 preferred search, as did those aged 35 to 54. Among older users of 55+, yellow pages

are still used as the first point of call to find a local business rather than search engines like Google. However,
this statistic is likely to decrease as more and more older users become internet savvy.

Studio 8’s SEO team can optimise your website for Google Places and local online search results.
Why not contact us for more help and advice on local search optimisation.

New gTLDs

June 24, 2011

A fundamental change to the way brands, consumers and SEO companies connect on the Internet is among us. Icann, the power accountable for Internet domains, has agreed a plan to expand the 22 currently available domains (.com, .net, etc.) to permit trusted brands and organisations to apply to own and operate their own gTLDs (generic top-level domains).

Business leaders must assess, understand and weigh the strategic prospect to own their own .brand domains. The cost and effort of applying for a .brand domain is significant, (£115.000) but a failure to act now may result in unnoticed, online competitive issues in years to come.

For many years, search engine optimisation specialists have said that search engines such as Google have used the global (e.g., .org or .com) and country-level domain (e.g., .de or .co.uk) on a website to affect the ranking of search results within the search algorithms. Search results for “apple iPod nano” from a trusted .apple gTLD will be perceived as trustworthy not only by Google but also by searchers scanning a search result page.

Websites with mature SEO strategies will take advantage of the gTLD changes to drive traffic for their direct online channels. One thing is certain, there will be SEO winners and losers and more businesses will need to employ SEO agencies.

For more information or how to set up a new gTLD, contact Studio8 on 01865 842525.

Launch of another Mobile Website!

May 19, 2011

We’ve just launched another mobile sites for MB Locksmiths of Kidlington – http://www.oxfordlocksmiths.com/

If you’ve ever tried to view a website on your smartphone you’ll know how frustrating it can be constantly rotating your phone, zooming in and out on pages and trying to find the information you need.

There are now an estimated 2 billion mobile phones in the world and smart phones are now outselling PC’s! We truely do live in a Mobile World and it is that reason that businesses now understand that a mobile website is vital to compliment your pc/laptop website and ensure your audience stays with you at all times.

Mobile websites are unique to Apps in that they do not rely on different operating systems in order to function correctly – therefore if you have one customer using Android and another using Apple’s operating system – they will both be able to access your information.

Go mobile now for new business and revenue possibilities.

We from studio8search would be happy to discuss you mobile website.

01865 842525

Info@studio8search.com

“Google Business Photos” gives users an inside look to establishments

May 9, 2011

Google is now rolling out another service to Google Places which operates like an indoor version of Google Street View.

Business owners can invite Google photographers into their establishments to take high-quality images of their businesses. Google Business Photos is meant to give your restaurant, hotel or shop a greater presence online by showing potential customers what your business is really like.

This is a great opportunity to help your business stand out above the competition and get discovered on Google. Potential and current customers will be able to visit your establishment from their computers or mobile phones.

Photographers are currently visiting businesses in the United Kingdom, the U.S., Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, France and Australia. Pictures will be uploaded on the place page of the business. Business owners can also manage and upload their own photos by signing into Google Places.

Higher conversion and customer response are just a few of the reasons, why your website or profile should have this imagery. And the best thing is that this great service is still free to businesses.

To discuss optimising your Google Places page and getting great shots for your business contact Studio8 on 01865 842525

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