Get the Google +1 Button, NOW, HURRY!

• By: John E Lincoln
• Categories: Google, Social Media Optimization
• Comments: 2

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Are you excited about the Google +1 button? Well you should be. I mean it’s colorful, you can click it, it helps your rankings, what is not to like?

Get the Google +1 button for you site now.

Now that you have the +1 button, let us tell you about it…

Google has introduced the +1 button to make sites more personal and more social. By hitting +1, it will allow you to recommend a piece of online content to your friends, similar to the Facebook “Like” button.

The Google +1 button is available in two places, in search results (only when you are logged-in to Google) and on publishers sites who have taken the time to add it. Here is a statement from Google on the subject.

“Since we announced +1, we’ve gotten lots of requests from Google search users and webmasters alike for +1 buttons in more places than just search results. That’s why today we’re making the +1 button available to sites across the web. Sometimes you want to recommend a web page after you’ve visited it. After all, how do you know you want to suggest that great article on Spanish tapas if you haven’t read it yet?

Google has also implemented the + 1 button on their own sites including, Android Market, Blogger, Product Search and YouTube.

So How do you get the +1 Button for your Site?

Adding the Google +1 button is pretty easy if you have basic coding knowledge. First, you’ll need to visit the +1 button tool on Google Webmaster Central. Once you are there, you will be able to grab a small piece of JavaScript. Next, take this JavaScript and implement it to the area on your site where you would like it to appear. Google has made a few sizes and styles available. 

Will Google Wallet Change the Way we Buy Offline?

• By: John E Lincoln
• Categories: Google
• Comments: 0

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Are you sick of carrying around your wallet? Well then I have good news for you. You don’t have to anymore. That’s right, Google Wallet is here and it will change the way we buy offline.

What is Google Wallet?

Google Wallet is a payment system that allows you to make purchases by scanning the screen of your smart phone. Google Wallet can pass on information from credit cards, coupons and loyalty cards, all with the swipe of the phone. The payment feature of Google Wallet is being coined as single tap.

Why is Google Wallet So Exciting?

From an online marketing perspective, Google Wallet ties everything together. In the video below there is an excellent example of this well-rounded integration of current in-demand marketing features. Imagine that you are walking down the street and you start getting hungry. You decide to Google “lunch.” Offers pop up from all of the lunch locations listed locally in the area. You can then select an offer, add it to your Google Wallet, and then head in and make a purchase using your Google Wallet Tap to Pay feature.

Some are projecting that Google Wallet will bring a boost to offline sales in specific areas where smart phone usage is high. The main reason, Google Wallet simply makes it easier to pay.

We are already aware that Facebook has created a credit type system for deals and loyalty rewards. In addition, Facebook and FourSquare both offer locally-based deals. While this is the case, Google Wallet accounts for all of these items and more. With Google Wallet, and the advanced analytics that are sure to accompany it, Internet marketers will be able to track clear conversions from online to offline. Internet marketers will be able to track a user from mobile search to mobile purchase. Moreover, we will be able to track from QR code to mobile purchase, which brings increased value to QR marketing strategies.

What you need to know about Google Blocked Sites

• By: John E Lincoln
• Categories: Google
• Comments: 1

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Google is now allowing users the option to block certain websites from search results. This new feature is definitely not something to browse over. Because of this, I wrote an extensive post on Search Engine Land covering the topic. The article, titled Google Blocked Sites & Why Making a Good First Impression Matters covered a few key points. In this post will briefly summarize the article.

You now have the option to view a link which lets you block a website whether or not you are logged into a Google account. The option to block a website usually appears after you have visited a site and then bounced back to the Google search results page. Once you are back on the search results page you will have the option to block a site. If you click this option you will need to log into your Google account to confirm the block.

What Pandas Like: Need to Know info on Google’s Panda Update

• By: John E Lincoln
• Categories: Google, Search Engine Optimization
• Comments: 5

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While the Google panda update is still new, we do have some insight into the algorithm change. In this post we will focus on how the Google panda update has affected websites. We will also make a few recommendations on how to alter your SEO to improve post panda update rankings. There have been many posts focusing on what the Panda update is hurting; in this post we will focus on what the Panda algorithm update likes.

First, let’s get one general thought out; it is very difficult for search engines to determine “quality” content. The issue is that quality content is largely objective, dependent on the person evaluating it. This causes this update to be controversial and in some cases confusing. On the other hand, the reduction in rankings/traffic for sites creating large amounts of less substantive content (according to the Google algorithm) has created more room for other websites to breathe in the search space. This causes the update to be successful in many ways.

A large focus of the update was reducing the amount of “content spam” on the web. The issue of course is in determining what constitutes content spam. I think it is safe to say that we do not know exactly what content spam is at this point; we would need to better understand the exact evaluation criteria utilized by the Google algorithm. We really need to know, how the Panda update evaluates content specifically. However, at this point we can deduct information based on trends we have seen in website rankings and traffic over the past couple of weeks following the update. We also can gather information from other posts around the web covering the topic. So now that we have gotten some introductory thought out of the way, let’s try to figure out what Pandas Like about SEO content.

Google Announces Plus One (+1) Button!

• By: John E Lincoln
• Categories: Google, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing
• Comments: 5

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Google releases the plus one (+1) button! That is right folks. Google  is out hitting the streets marketing their new Google Plus 1 (+1) Button. This button could have major implications on the SEO and social media marketing industry.

Watch a Video on the Google +1 Button

So what does this mean? Well, like other social media share buttons, the + 1 button will be an excellent way for websites to increase their search engine optimization rankings. But this share button will not only allow websites to build relatively low quality back-links, it is much more than that.

According to Mashable, “Google plans to offer to publishers a +1 button that lets readers +1 something without leaving the publisher’s site.”

“Google’s button will instantly have a lot of appeal, given the company says +1 data will directly influence its market share dominating search rankings”

Mashable believes that the +1 button will be bad for content farms. This is more than likely, as people will have no reason to +1 bad content. Instead, only quality content will receive organic +1 marks. The issue is of course is that people may abuse this +1 system.

Google Updates Blogger!

• By: John E Lincoln
• Categories: Blogging, Google
• Comments: 1

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Google has updated the Blogger blogging platform, and the new interface is really sleek and simple. It is high time that Google updated Blogger. Hopefully, this update will not only take a look at the interface, but will also take a look at the SEO capabilities and plugins offered. All in all, the new backend interface looks a lot like WordPress. Don’t you think? Let’s hear your thoughts below!

Watch the Google Blogger update video below!