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Chris Crum at Web Pro News updates us on the new iPhone/iPad feature called “Google Now.” If you are a business owner or manager and you need help with Google in San Luis Obispo County, you should read this:

WebProNews–Google made local business pages (and the reviews contained within) a lot more visible this week, with the launch of Google Now for the iPhone and iPad. That includes negative reviews from anonymous, non-accountable “Google Users,” just so you know.

Google Now was introduced last year as part of the Android Jelly Bean update. It is often referred to as the future of search, or at least the future of Google Search. It pushes information to users when they need it (or when Google thinks they need or want it) without the user having to search for it.

Businesses: If you need help with Google in San Luis Obispo, call the experts at Access Publishing (805) 226-9890

The majority of Android phones still don’t even have it yet, but as time goes on, that will change. I only recently upgraded my own device to one that has access to the feature, and have only begun to learn first-hand just how powerful Google Now can be. The more it learns about you, the more it has to offer.

One of the things Google Now has to offer is a flow of suggestions for places that are near you when you spend any considerable amount of time in some location. For local businesses, this can be a great thing.

What’s not so great for a business, is when Google pushes negative reviews in front of any number of users.

Negative reviews are one thing, but anonymous reviews allow people to say whatever they want without being held accountable. Businesses are already suing people for defamation over some of the things they say in online reviews, when they are saying things they can be held accountable for. Anonymity just lets people say whatever they want. Even if they’re trashing your business. And anonymous reviews are still appearing right in front of Google Now users curious about what place Google is telling them is nearby.

Video describing the new ‘Google Now’

Read the full story at Web Pro News

Call Access Publishing for a free consultation on online marketing today – (805) 226-9890.

By Scott Brennan. Connect with him on Google+. Access Publishing, 806 9th Street #2D, Paso Robles, CA 93446, (805) 226-9890.

Read related stories

• Facebook for business in San Luis Obispo County
• How to get more reviews for small business
• Online Press Release in San Luis Obispo
• Ask your customers to use check-in apps

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Access at Paso Robles Business Expo

New video on web design, SEO, marketing and advertising shown

The team at Access Publishing attended the “Networking Event of the Season” this week. It was annual Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Business Expo, one of the largest business expos on the Central Coast.

The company was an official exhibitor with booth, for the tenth year in a row. Access Publishing founders Scott and Beth Brennan attended with co-workers Karli Twisselman, Paul Shannon, Paul Baker, Karen Battaglia and Sally Giordano.

“The expo had a fantastic turn out and we made dozens of new contacts,” Scott Brennan says. “Once again the chamber did a great job hosting the event.”

This year Access brought an HDTV flat screen a debuted a new video highlighting our web design, local SEO, internet marketing and print advertising products and service.

The theme for 2013 business expo was “There is No Business Like Your Business”. The event was Tuesday April 23, 2013 from 4pm – 7pm at the Paso Robles Event Center. The Chamber’s Business Expo is a great opportunity to grow relationships, find new vendors, customers and partners.

“The Chamber’s Business Expo has grown to represent a powerful meeting of local businesses representing hundreds of industries and companies in San Luis Obispo County,” said Mike Gibson, President/ CEO of the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce. “Each year, as the event grows, I take pleasure in the fact that we have created a forum for the business community to come together for a productive evening and meet new contacts. That is how we conceived this event: to benefit our members. I think we have succeeded.”

Access Publishing can create a new marketing video for your company – call us at (805) 226-9890.

By Scott Brennan. Connect with him on Google+. Access Publishing, 806 9th Street #2D, Paso Robles, CA 93446, (805) 226-9890.

Read related stories

• Facebook for business in San Luis Obispo County
• How to get more reviews for small business
• Online Press Release in San Luis Obispo
• Ask your customers to use check-in apps

The post Paso Robles Business Expo Success appeared first on Web Design, Online Marketing, Advertising | Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo (805) 226-9890.

How much is a Facebook Fan Worth?

Report says average Facebook Fan is worth $174

The New York Times ran a story this week that puts a dollar value on Facebook Fans. Social media marketing firm, Syncapse, has published a report that says the average value of a Facebook fan is $174.17.

How much is a Facebook fan worth to you? While $174.17 sounds outrageously high, fans obviously have value.

For this study, the value of a Facebook fan was determined by comparing actual fans versus nonfans across key criteria that determine enterprise value. In the study, the newspaper reports, the fan value calculation considers: One, product spending within the past 12 months. Two, loyalty and purchase intent in the future. Three, the propensity to recommend the brand to other potential customers. Four, the media and messaging value that is inherent with fan membership. Five, the propensity for fans to organically lure more fans. And Six, the emotional draw felt by brands or brand affinity.

Key findings of the report

• 11 percent of brand fans are more likely to continue using the brands than non-Facebook fans
• Facebook fans spend 43 percent more in respective categories versus non-fans

Lessons from the story

“Observe your customers and see how they use Facebook. If they are on Facebook, then you have an amazing opportunity to connect with them in a new way — as do your competitors. Second, you should experiment and learn firsthand.

“As you scale up, you’ll want to designate formal accountability for the social marketing efforts, and that often falls under the person responsible for marketing and customer acquisition.

“The biggest barrier to success is the time investment. Third, connect social marketing to business outcome. That may be awareness, lead generation, trials or even cold, hard sales. State your goal, define the success criteria, measure, and invest accordingly.”

How do you get more Facebook fans?

• First, ask all of your Facebook friends to “like” your business page.
• Second, ask your fans and friends for help spreading the message.
• Put a Facebook logo and link and a live Facebook feed on your website.
• Include a badge and link to your business page in your email signature.
• One of the easiest ways to get more Facebook fans is to use Facebook advertising. Set the ad campaign to target your local area, or categories, and first select friends of fans. Set the campaign to focus on acquiring new likes. Try it for a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of a month to test the effectiveness. Using this strategy most companies can gain fans at a cost of $1 to $2 each.
• The more advanced methods for growing your fan base involve creating compelling content that your fans want to share. Having a sense of humor and being a valuable resource will earn you fans without the ad expense.

Call Access Publishing for a free consultation on online marketing today – (805) 226-9890.

By Scott Brennan. Connect with him on Google+. Access Publishing, 806 9th Street #2D, Paso Robles, CA 93446, (805) 226-9890.

Read related stories

• Facebook for business in San Luis Obispo County
• How to get more reviews for small business
• Online Press Release in San Luis Obispo
• Ask your customers to use check-in apps

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Access Publishing is awarding prizes to 11 winners of its virtual Easter Egg Hunt in the city park

Dozens competed to see who could correctly guess the number of Easter eggs hidden in the Paso Robles city park. Guesses ranged from 10 to 100. The correct answer: There were 37 plastic Easter eggs hidden, including one in the Easter Bunny’s hands.

“We were originally planning 10 prizes, but two contestants were so close, we’ve thrown in an extra prize,” says Scott Brennan, CEO of Access Publishing.

Each winner will receive an Easter basket or a bottle of wine. Prizes are only available for pick up at Access Publishing, 806 9th Street #2D, Paso Robles, CA 93446. First come, first choice of prize. The winners who guessed closest to the real number are as follows:

• Jack Bridger
• George Korn
• Dominick Korn
• Nathan Glenn
• Debbie Baca
• Courtney Bridger
• Corey Hammond
• Connor McWilliams
• Jenn Korn
• Michele Lachance
• Stephanie Baro-Briscoe

Access Publishing created the virtual tour and contest at pasoegghunt.com to demonstrate new online tours called Google Business Photos. Access has photographed over two-dozen local businesses including hotels, restaurants and wineries.

Click on the photo check out the virtual Easter egg hunt.

Using Google’s Street View technology, you can click around the brick walkways and planters from the fountain to the old library. Just use a mouse to click and hold the screen to look up, look down, zoom in and out and spin around. Click on the arrows to walk around the park.

See related stories:

Attract new customers with a 360-degree virtual tour of your business
KCOY News features Access as local marketing business offering virtual tours
Check out this video showing how the tour works
Frequently asked questions about Google Business Photos

About Access Publishing

Access Publishing has 20 years experience and expertise in local small business marketing and advertising. We help business owners craft compelling messages to potential customers. Use our expert writers, graphic designers and SEO specialists to help bring more sales in your door.

Posted by Scott Brennan, Access Publishing
806 9th Street #2D, Paso Robles, CA 93446
scott@accesspublishing.com, (805) 226-9890
Join Scott on Google+

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Here’s a cool new review tool that makes it easy for customers to review your business. It links to your company’s listings on several review sites. Contact us for details (805) 226-9890.

Getting reviews is important for building up a company’s online visibility. Search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo rely on reviews to help rank listings on their websites. Good reviews establish the credibility and trustworthiness of a business. Here are some tips on how to get more reviews for small business people.

1. Ask for reviews

The number one tip for getting more reviews is to ask for them and to train you staff to ask for them. The next time a customer tells you what a great job you did for them, ask them for a review. When you go above and beyond expectations, ask for a review.

2. Make it easy for customers

Hand your customers Review Generator Cards to encourage them to leave a positive review.

Hand your customer a card with links to reviews sites like Google+ Local, Yelp, Yahoo, Facebook, CitySearch, InsiderPages and more. With more options, they can choose a familiar website.

3. Add links to your website

Add links to your “Contact Us” or “Testimonials” page on your website and let your customers know they can simply go to your website to find places to leave a review.

4. Follow the rules

Ask for authentic reviews. Most sites have polices and conditions. They are important to follow. They usuallly prohibit owners, managers and employees from leaving reviews. If the review site’s filter detects a fake review, it can punish your company with lower rankings. Don’t send an email blast to dozens of customers asking for reviews. Multiple testimonials written in a single day or even in a week can trigger the spam filter and cause the reviews to disappear.

Related articles:

• Google reviews get an updated filter
• You need to ask for online reviews every week 
• 10 reasons why Yelp filtered your review 
• Access Publishing launches a new online marketing service

By Scott Brennan. Connect with him on Google+. Access Publishing, 806 9th Street #2D, Paso Robles, CA 93446, (805) 226-9890.

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She will lead print division as advertising director

Karli Twisselman

Access Publishing hired Karli Twisselman this week as its new advertising director. Twisselman, a Paso Robles native, brings over nine years of experience as an advertising representative, ad director and general manager at the Paso Robles Press and Atascadero News.

“Karli is an extremely talented advertising and marketing adviser here in Paso Robles,” says Scott Brennan, CEO of Access Publishing. “We are excited to have her on our team.”

Twisselman will oversee all of Access Publishing’s print publications including the San Luis Obispo Visitors Guide, Central Coast Active, North County Access, Your Cambria Phone Book, Templeton Chamber Guide, Heritage Ranch, and Oak Shore Directories.

Twisselman will work closely with the print sales team, ensuring client’s goals and expectations are met when advertising with Access Publishing.

“I joined the Access team because I saw that it was a great fit,” says Twisselman. ”They are local hard working people striving together for a common goal, to make an impact locally to create great products and services! I look forward to making a positive impact here,” she says.

Twisselman was born and raised in Paso Robles, and attended Cal Poly majoring in Business Marketing concentrating in Marketing, while minoring in English. She loves to spend her free time with her husband Curtis and three children Aidan, 5, Taylor, 3, and Kaysee, 1.

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The Cheat Sheet

Using Facebook for business in San Luis Obispo County is a great way to interact with your loyal clientele and potential customers. Figuring out how to do it successfully is the hard part. Here’s a great info-graphic to review when creating Facebook posts. 

Optimize your company’s Facebook for business in San Luis Obispo County with help from the Internet marketing consultants at Access Publishing. Access is located in Paso Robles with a staff of full-time writers, graphic designers, website developers, photographers, Google experts and marketing consultants.

Take control of your local search results!

Access Publishing offers online marketing, search engine optimization and web design in Paso Robles, Atascadero and all of San Luis Obispo County. Call today for a free consultation. (805) 226-9890.

Related articles:

• Ask your customers to use check-in apps
• Access Publishing launches a new online marketing service 
• You need to ask for online reviews every week

Ask me about using Facebook for business in San Luis Obispo County.

Posted by Scott Brennan, Access Publishing
806 9th Street #2D, Paso Robles, CA 93446
scott@accesspublishing.com, (805) 226-9890
Join Scott on Google+

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Access Publishing creates virtual tour of city park to showcase Google Business Photos

See how many Easter eggs you can find hidden around the center of the downtown Paso Robles city park and be entered in a contest to win prizes at pasoegghunt.com.

Click on the photo to join in the virtual Easter egg hunt.

The new virtual Easter egg hunt showcases the beauty of the city’s downtown park including the historic Carnegie Library, the Acorn Building’s clock tower, planters, walkways and picnic grounds.

The Easter Bunny is sitting on the steps of the Carnegie Library with five Easter baskets for the lucky children who win the contest.

“It’s a great way to view and interact with the park and have some fun playing a game too,” says Jack Erhart, the local photographer who shot the park.

Using Google’s Street View technology, you can click around the brick walkways and planters from the fountain to the old library. Just use a mouse to click and hold the screen to look up, look down, zoom in and out and spin around. Click on the arrows to walk around the park.

Count all the plastic Easter eggs you find along the way. There are more than 30. All correct entries will be entered in a raffle for 10 prizes including the baskets and local wines for adults 21-and-over.

Rules allow one entry per person. Deadline for entry is midnight on Easter. Winners will be notified by email and on the website. Prizes will be available for pick up the Monday after Easter in downtown Paso Robles.

Paso Robles advertising and marketing firm Access Publishing created the virtual tour and contest. Access Publishing is a Google Trusted Photographer. Its team creates online tours called Google Business Photos. They have photographed over two-dozen local businesses including hotels, restaurants and wineries.

See related stories:

Attract new customers with a 360-degree virtual tour of your business
KCOY News features Access as local marketing business offering virtual tours
Check out this video showing how the tour works
Frequently asked questions about Google Business Photos

About Access Publishing

Access Publishing has 20 years experience and expertise in local small business marketing and advertising. We help business owners craft compelling messages to potential customers. Use our expert writers, graphic designers and SEO specialists to help bring more sales in your door.

Access Publishing specializes in serving small businesses in Paso Robles, Atascadero, Templeton, San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, Oceano, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Morro Bay, Los Osos, Cambria, San Miguel and all of San Luis Obispo County.

Posted by Scott Brennan, Access Publishing
806 9th Street #2D, Paso Robles, CA 93446
scott@accesspublishing.com, (805) 226-9890
Join Scott on Google+

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Hacked PCs falsify billions of ad clicks

Online investigators have exposed a network of hijacked computers that defrauded advertisers by generating billions of fake ad views. The so-called botnet scheme, which hijacked 120,000 residential PCs in the US and cost advertisers millions of dollars a month, highlights the increasing complexity and opacity of online advertising.

Spider.io, a London-based start-up that tracks web browsing activity, estimates traffic from the “Chameleon” botnet accounted for almost two-thirds of the total visits to certain websites. The inflated number of page views increased advertising revenues for the websites’ owners.

In a report published on Tuesday, Spider.io said the hijacked PCs generated up to 9bn ad views or “impressions” every month across a network of more than 200 sites. Sophisticated software even mimicked cursor movements and mouse clicks, giving the impression that potential consumers were visiting the sites.

“It is difficult to imagine why one would run this type of botnet across a cluster of 202 sites other than to commit display advertising fraud,” Douglas de Jager, Spider.io’s chief executive, said in the report. The websites that attracted the traffic charge an average 69 cents per thousand ad impressions, meaning the botnet is costing advertisers about $6m a month.

Read complete story at the Financial Times

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