Originally, the legislation would give the government the power to blacklist infringing websites and block their domains. That would mean that sites like YouTube, Digg and Reddit would almost certainly be blacklisted. Essentially, this is how the internet is monitored in China and Iran.

SOPA could mean enormous losses for many businesses, and people haven’t been afraid to speak up. In fact, many website owners protested the Act by moving their GoDaddy hosting accounts to other vendors because GoDaddy initially supported SOPA. Furthermore, on Wednesday, January 18th websites such as Wikipedia, Reddit and even Unleashed’s  are protesting the legislation by blacking out their own sites.

According to an official White House petition response, the Whitehouse claimed earlier that they would not support legislation that “reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risks or undermines the dynamic, innovative global internet.” However, as of Tuesday, January 17th the sponsor of SOPA said that the bill will indeed be discussed later this month or early next month. While the Obama administration declared they would not accept the bill as is, it is not completely out of the question. Protesters have received some response as the DNS (domain name system) blocking component of the bill has been taken out. That still leaves the government with the power to sue infringing websites, take away their funding, and sentence users to serious jail time.

There is a plethora of articles and information on this topic; we encourage you to educate yourself about this issue. After all, it could change the internet in massive ways, so it affects almost everyone.

Google doesn’t like duplicate content. If your site has content that is copy and pasted from somewhere else on the web, including pages on your own website, that’s going to drag down your credibility and ultimately your rankings in search results.

Google doesn’t like content that is keyword heavy. Using an SEO strategy of adding keywords to your content is a great move to increase your rankings in search results, provided that you do it in a fashion that doesn’t come off as forced. In other words, if you read your content out loud and it sounds awkward to you, chances are that it sounds awkward to the spiders as well. That’s going to have a negative impact on your search results.

Google is a popularity contest. If your site gets a lot of traffic already, Google takes that as a sign that your popularity equals credibility. After all, if everyone else is happy with what they’re seeing on your site it must mean you know what you’re talking about, right? That’s what Google believes. And they might have a point. People aren’t going to continue to visit your website if you are offering content that is essentially fluff. By posting original content with substance you can take advantage of the opportunity to show your expertise in your field and increase your rankings in search results.

Google loves fresh content. Not only do you have to post original stuff that no one else has, you have to do it on a regular basis. The best way for you to accomplish this is to have a company blog on your website. This will allow you to regularly post original content on a variety of topics, and implement several keyword strategies, all without changing up the content on some of the more standard pages of your website all the time.

If you aren’t ranking within the first three or four organic (non-paid) search results on Google, chances are that no one is finding your website at all. Most people don’t even glance at anything past the first page of search results. Do you? Regularly posting original content to your website that includes your keyword strategies will help you increase your rankings in search results. Ranking higher in search results can help increase traffic to your website. That’s great news for your business! How do you plan to convert that increased traffic from visitors into warm leads and customers? If you don’t already have a plan, it’s time to think about lead generation. But that’s another blog…

Some days, there are more darn things that Google has going on to keep you on your road to Web Nirvana than any of us can possibly know about.  One of the most interesting developments, which some of you already know about, is Google Insights (my boss knew, but he didn’t tell me!)  By collecting data on what people search for Google can produce interesting charts and graphs that might assist you in your business planning.

I was looking to see the number of  search inquiries, by month, for information on SEO for the last year worldwide!  The reason I chose to search worldwide is that there was not enough data from my initial search using only the U.S.  Start by going here, and you will see the how the search begins.

Here is part one of my search on SEO:

I clicked on Search terms, selected internet marketing, then went to the filter and made choices.
Then I got this cool chart:

This outcome verifies that my boss (The Ubergeek known as Chris Reilly) does know what he’s talking about when he says interest in SEO from clients goes down at Christmas  But look what happened in January!  That is exactly how our January is looking right now, except even bigger!  Don’t you love it when data proves your point?!  How often does that happen?!  The potential uses for this technology are immense.  One of the difficulties for many businesses is understanding the sales cycle.  By knowing that January is probably going to boom, we utilized December to get ramped up.  Of course, not all businesses will demonstrate such a strong correlation.  Still, when you consider how large this data set is the possibilities are fascinating.

I plan to see if there are some “common sense” correlations between when people search for things and when they consume them.  For example, if you know people catch colds in December, January and February, would we find that searches for chicken soup went up then as well?

The next part of the results gives you a map that shows hot spots relative to your geographic search.  Since mine was the world here’s what I got:

So no surprise about India, but Indonesia is having an SEO burst?  What’s that all about?  North America and the UK are lagging behind the other guys?  I’m cringing a little…

Finally, you’re given the most commonly associated search terms for your subject:

No earthshaking outcomes here either, but note under the column “Rising Searches” we find “internet marketing 2011.”  That folks, is our collective future.

Another section called Real Time Insights Finder has some tremendous information on how to use the data for planning and many other things.  You are just going to have go check all this out.  “Why must I Chuck?” you might ask.  The answer is, “Because all these tools are going to put money in your pocket this year.”  Is there a better reason than that?

So seriously, get your Geeks tuned up, or hire us because 2012 is going to be crazier and more profitable than 2011!

I had previously written about using the Mastermind group by asking questions to a trusted group of business associates in your Google+ Mastermind Circle.  Posting important background information related to the question is easy enough to manage as well.  Seems like a straightforward process, right?  The thing we did not discuss was the importance of how you structure your questions to get worthwhile answers.  This is an issue even in a face to face setting, so I know it can be in your new online world.

In order for you to “facilitate” your group, you should consider asking close ended questions as much as possible.  Some speculation is entertaining and even useful but make sure you actually get answers to what you really need to know.  Here are some examples of typical open ended business questions that reflect actual concerns, followed by proper close ended (no beating around the bush) questions:

Q.      (open ended) How should I best spend the $12,000 I have budgeted for advertising?  Yellow pages, Facebook, AdWords, SEO?  Let the groaning subside please.  The better (closed ended) question(s) are:

Q.      I have $12,000 to spend this year for advertising, should I spend $1,000 a month on the yellow pages?    After everyone tells you, “uhhh…no” you can drill down to other approaches.

Q.      I have $12,000 to spend this year for advertising, should I spend $1,000 per month on SEO?

Q.      I have $12,000 to spend this year for advertising, should I spend $1,000 per month on Facebook ads?

An even more classic open ended example would be the following:

Q.      I want to hire someone besides my spouse to be my bookkeeper.  How do I construct the process so that my spouse can clearly see the winner was based on qualifications and not hate me for not selecting them?  What you really wanted to know was whether your gut instinct about not hiring the spouse was valid or not, so why torture yourself and others about process?  Besides if your spouse is a bookkeeper, she’ll see through your scheme anyway.

The closed ended question would be:

Q.      Should I hire my spouse to be my bookkeeper?  Probably another, “uhhh…no” moment.  Then your next question might be:

Q.      How should I tell him or her that hiring spouses is not a good idea?  (I’d suggest nepotism is not good for company morale, but I wouldn’t want to be there for the discussion!)   Sometimes your Mastermind Circle is a support group, and who doesn’t need a little support?

The people you pick for your Circle are going to be very busy humans in most cases.  Providing them with closed ended questions will make their participation much easier.  You will get commentary regardless, because some folks just like giving you their opinion!

Since others in the Circle will see all the comments, there will be ancillary conversations that develop and potentially go down some interesting roads.  You need to decide how far to let those conversations go before bringing the focus back to you and your problem.  The way to handle this is by pointing out that while you appreciate all input, you have some specific issues to solve.  They want to be helpful.  That is what they signed up to do, so don’t hesitate to reel them back in when necessary.

Another benefit of the Mastermind Circle is the creation of potential blog content.  I’m sure Google+ was not necessarily cast in this role by Google, but imagine the great stuff your group will say.  I would consider asking your Circle members whether some of their advice could just be repeated verbatim.  Imagine reading a blog with an action dialogue in response to one of your questions:

Google+ Circle Question:  I have a guy who owes me quite a bit of money and writing and calling him hasn’t produced any results.  Should I just go see him?

Participant 1-Yes, you should go see him alright, you should walk in the door and ask him to write you a check at that moment.

Participant 2-Depends.  Is he a big monster?

Participant 1-Doesn’t matter if he’s big…

Participant 2-Well I don’t want to “poke the bear” and end up bloody AND unpaid!

Participant 1-If you don’t show some backbone, people are always going to owe you money.  The guy is never going to take a swing at you.  He’s too embarrassed to react that way.  Just go in the morning before someone else has had a chance to work him up over money issues.

Participant 2-Well you’re a big monster yourself 1, I’m a micro person by comparison…

Facilitator-Folks, I need some solid advice here.  Don’t get worked up.  Just shine some light on this.

Participant 3-Be polite and ask him if you can speak privately with him for a few minutes.  He knows why you’re there.  Make sure you know before you get there what you’re willing to leave with and be prepared to talk about alternatives, such as a collection agency.

Facilitator-Thanks, now that is good advice.

Participant 2-But what if he is a big monster?   just sayin’…

This is certainly a real life problem that many business people are dealing with now and by sharing this conversation in a blog, you will find a high level of appreciation for sharing what your Circle had to say.  Besides, a little bit of entertainment in problem solving is okay!

I am looking forward to adding to your Google+ Mastermind Circle value, so don’t hesitate to comment on this blog if the Spirit moves you!

 Here at Unleashed Online Marketing, we pride ourselves as being “early adopters.”  You know, those guys that want to take the newest software or website out for a “test drive?”  So while we typically help businesses with SEO, Facebook, LinkedIn, AdWords, et cetera,  we are always thinking about the big picture.   What tools or other strategies might help businesses that do not necessarily cost money?  Turns out that Google+ is bursting with potential.  So despite being the oldest life form in the building, I got onto Google+ pretty fast.  As a result of my enthusiasm, I have come up with several potential uses for it.  This one is the best, so I thought I’d share with all of you.

Do you ever feel like you need to brainstorm about a business issue, but you don’t have anyone outside of your office to do that with?  There are some issues that you don’t want to share with staff, no matter how close you might be with them.  Besides, you know how quickly the statement, “I’m thinking about reorganizing” transforms into, “That so and so is going to lay us off!”

There are some great mastermind groups out there.  At Unleashed we belong to My Business Advocates and once a week we eat lunch together and have one person present a business issue that they are currently concerned about. The process works very well and I’d like to give credit to Jared Passey for facilitating.  As a consequence of letting others be honest about their ideas members have rebranded, created new marketing campaigns, learned about the law, employees have been hired, and employees have been fired.  Members have avoided run ins with the IRS and done business with one another! We believe trust is the reason the process works.

So for those who like the idea of brainstorming but don’t eat lunch and don’t like to share in groups, Google+ might be the answer you’ve been looking for.  Google+ allows you to share in a more private forum by creating different circles for different groups of humans.  What is really called for in this situation is creating a circle of people you trust.  You control who gets into the circle and who doesn’t.  You don’t have any accidental “friends” like in other social media (where’d that guy come from?).

The mechanics of getting this done are really straightforward.  Now that anyone can get on Google+, (you previously had to be invited), you simply invite your advisors to participate through email and when they respond, add them to your “Mastermind Circle.”

Spokane International Airport (SIA) is a developer’s dream come true.  Encompassing 4,800 acres or 7.5 square miles, there is an existing industrial park with plenty of room for expansion.  SIA is owned by the City of Spokane and Spokane County, so there is broad based support from local elected officials to promote development at SIA.  The State of Washington has offered the following incentives for aerospace businesses.

• Reduced Business and Occupation (B&O) Tax Rate
• B&O Credit for Property/Leasehold Taxes paid on Aerospace Business Facilities
• Sales & Use Tax Exemption for Aerospace Businesses for Computer Hardware/Software/Peripherals

Meanwhile, we have school districts gearing up to increase Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing (STEM) programs for children from elementary school through high school.  Institutions of higher learning have demonstrated their ability to create custom programming for new industry and we have a University District where we just broke ground on the new Medical School.  GSI and the local elected officials recently demonstrated their ability to rapidly react to the needs of a new industry by working with Caterpillar to build a 500,000 square foot distribution center which will create 150 new jobs.

Is there a reason not to have Boeing in Spokane?  <crickets>

I will personally, (along with a bunch of other people) go to Olympia and try to get more tax concessions from the Legislature.  We should not miss this opportunity because another state recognizes the value of these jobs and Washington does not.   Arizona, while usually not a role model, did manage to keep Intel investment in Arizona.   Intel has had special tax legislation passed on at least two occasions, and both times they built huge manufacturing plants, rather than going to another state!  Why can’t we defer Boeing taxes if they build a new plant in Spokane?  What is the value of the jobs created versus say five years of property tax?  I think you do not have to be an economist to understand the value of those new jobs to all of Eastern Washington.

Come on Boeing! I hope you have someone in your company who has Google Alerts set to pick up any “Boeing” references on the net! We have a Trader Joe’s now!  No city anywhere will be as nice to you as Spokane and the quality of life your people will have here is second to none!  I bet the Mayor would even declare a “Boeing Day” in your honor! (okay, I’m just sayin’ maybe…)

Learn more and register at:

http://www.aafspokane.com/11/2011-2012-lunch-programs

AdWords. Pay Per Click. Banner Ads.

You’ve seen these words numerous times, but what do they really mean? And more important, how can you make them work for you and grow your business?

Please join us we welcome Chris Reilly, founder of Unleashed Online Marketing, as he discusses how to use paid online advertising to get large returns with small budgets. His lunch presentation will include:

• Planning and managing successful Google AdWords campaigns.
• Getting your ads on search engines, websites, videos, mobile devices, and more.
• Social media advertising on sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.
• The business side of online advertising.
• How agencies can take their clients to the web profitably!

Workshop
Following the lunch presentation, Chris will offer an in-depth workshop offering step-by-step instructions on how to properly setup and manage Google AdWords campaigns. Along with Chris, campaign managers from Unleashed will also be available during the workshop for one-on-one instruction.

Using a blog to write about what a business does well, or what sets a given business apart from its competitors, can be a great way to educate and attract potential customers. It is a good idea to speak to a business’ strengths when blogging. A blog can also be used to highlight areas where a company has experienced success.

Blog writing also gives businesses the opportunity to connect with their customers on a more personal level. In order to really connect with customers, a website needs more engaging content than just a static “about us” page and product descriptions.  Additional content such as blog posts are the perfect opportunity to display the passion and enthusiasm one has for an industry. Customers recognize and relate to passionate businesses and are more inclined to do business with them as a result of that passion. If a blog is written with enthusiasm, customers may be more likely to comment and ask questions, leading to further interaction and communication. This is a good thing.

Furthermore, a blog can give a business the chance to let customers know that they are viewed as more than a financial transaction. Providing valuable information and helpful tips on a business’ blog will show customers that a business genuinely cares and is willing to share some of their expertise free of charge. Calling attention to customer’s success on a blog is also a great way to show customers that a business takes a sincere interest in their customers and wants to see them succeed. This type of blog posting may even lead that customer to return the favor and post positive information about your business on their own blog.

Lastly, blogging can be a great way to help a business rank more highly when it comes to Google searches.  Google frequently checks websites for new content and tends to rank websites that consistently update their content more highly in their listings.  Blogs may also be a great opportunity for link building and can easily be tailored around keywords or phrases that a business is targeting.

In conclusion, having a blog is an essential part of any business social media platform. Blogs create greater customer to business interaction, can let customers know their business is valued, and allow business to rank more highly with Google, all of which may help your business.  If you need some help with your company’s blog, give us a call. Whether you just need some guidance and consultation or the entire setup and management of your blog, we can help.

To create a truly compelling campaign, it’s essential to know your market inside and out, because what you discover may surprise you. Luckily, with online tools available to businesses today, it’s easier than ever to find the answers to these basic questions about your audience, and to create a more targeted approach in advertising efforts.

Google Analytics is great starting point to learn about your market, providing businesses with a wealth of information, including where page views originated. Using the tool, you can see if a potential customer found your website through a link on Facebook, an online directory, a display ad, or simply visiting your website directly. This can be powerfully effective in learning how customers discover your site, whether they prefer twitter or Facebook etc., allowing you to focus your attention where it provides results.

Google Analytics also allows you to see the geographical region your visitors are from, and even whether they accessed your website from a computer or smart phone, which may impact a business’ entire marketing strategy.

Social media outlets have also joined the target marketing game, most notably Facebook. After creating a business fan page, users can develop display ads to target specific groups. For example, if a car company has a new SUV that they plan to market to two distinct groups, soccer moms age 30-45 and senior citizens age 55-65, the company can create different ads to appeal to each. Plus, through the power of Facebook, the ads will only be shown to people fitting into each respective category. If you want to get really specific, you can even target those who ‘like’ specific interests, companies, or products related to your business.

Of course, for new users, navigating these tools can be a bit tricky. But, in our experience, they can also be wildly effective. If you’re interested in learning more about how Google Analytics and similar tools work, we offer a series of ‘Get Smart’ classes to teach business owners and marketers alike how to get the most out of their online marketing efforts. We’d love to see you there!