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New LinkedIn Subgroups – Uses and How to Set One Up

June 24th, 2009

Last night I received an email from LinkedIn. Here’s part of it.

LinkedIn Subgroups

LinkedIn Subgroups

It’s pretty slick. I logged into my LinkedIn account, went to a group I created and a prominent Subgroups tab appeared right on top.

New Subgroup Tab

New Subgroup Tab

Click on the Subgroups tab and you see this.

Subgroups

Subgroups

This gives a good generalization of what makes up a Subgroup. What it doesn’t do is show you how to create one. Luckily, it’s not too hard to figure out but initially takes some digging around.

If you’re on your LinkedIn home page, you can click on the Groups icon. From there, you can over the Actions link which will give you a drop down menu with a link to Create a Subgroup. Note: only managers of the group will show the Subgroup option.

Create a Subgroup

Create a Subgroup

From there, you can then create a Subgroup very similar to how you would create a group itself.

I admittedly don’t do nearly enough with the localmn group itself and don’t see any Subgroups in the near future.

So, what are good examples to create Subgroups? One could be national brands who want to localize their groups. This makes sense. Any other ideas? I’d love to hear your input.

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Google Maps Listings Now Include a Reporting Dashboard

June 5th, 2009

Well, Google definitely did a cool thing a couple days ago. They now offer a reporting dashboard for your local business listings.

Of course, Google provides an intuitive YouTube video tutorial:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjeCmHwqVpU]

Here is a small sample of two different businesses in two different areas:

Status and Statistics

Status and Statistics

This is slick but it gets better. The lower stats are for a piano instructor in a SE Minnesota city. Google is showing the top impressions.

Top Search Queries

Top Search Queries

Notice that none of the top 10 search queries included a regional qualifier? This has to do with Google showing local results without showing the local search. In a business such as piano instruction, it looks like they’re showing somewhat relevant stat results. This could be different in other industries.

One small glitch. The instructor doesn’t have a website and Google’s showing 6 clicks to it.

No Actual Website

No Actual Website

They also provide where driving directions came from. I could really see this useful for lawyers. Depending on the practice area, if a lawyer from Minneapolis was getting many requests from St. Paul, maybe opening a St. Paul branch would be a good idea.

Keep in mind, this is all totally separate from Google Analytics. The new Google Maps reporting dashboard is for your Google local listing visits.

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Cool Video Testimonial for Clint Danks

June 5th, 2009

I have known Clint since 2005 and can absolutely vouch for his expertise at ThinkSEM. He understands PPC like most others do not.

Don’t take my word for it. Check this out! Two days ago while both of us were in Seattle for SMX, the President of a staffing software company (Gregg) decides to make a YouTube testimonial video. Clint knew he was getting some sort of testimonial, but had no idea it would be via YouTube.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQeAN-r0ZpA&]

Gregg also embeds the video on his blog. Way to go, Mr. Danks!

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2nd Fun Seattle Morning Run

June 4th, 2009

Again I’m copying the concept of Ed Kohler by mapping out runs… without the mapping. A big reason for this is because of the SMX Seattle conference that just wrapped up. I’m hoping to provide a dedicated post regarding the conference, but face it. If you’re following the conference at all, you’re already receiving enough blog posts and tweets regarding it. I’ll post my thoughts later.

So, before the conference this morning I left the Marriott and started a northbound run at the Bell Street train station on Alaskan Way.

Bell Street Station

Bell Street Station

Ran up Alaskan Way, turned up some hills and wound up at Olympic Park and found art.

Art

art

Ran up Lower Queen Anne and found a Dick’s Burger location. This rivals the Lions Tap for you fellow Twin Cities readers. I did not stop to eat. It was 7:00am.

Dick's Hamburgers

Dick's Hamburgers

Took a Mercer Street run and saw the Queen Anne hill. It’s steep. I did not run up the hill.

Fremont Hill

Queen Anne Hill

Ran back toward Seattle Center and saw where the Sonics used to play. I cannot cheer for the OKC Thunder :(

Arena once known as the Sonics home :(

Arena once known as the Sonics home :(

You can’t beat the old VW Bus in the Seattle Center.

VW Bus

VW Bus

You can’t help but taking a pic of the Space Needle

Space Needle

Space Needle

Running back to the hotel I ran across a few very cool shops

Cool bar

Lava Lounge

Get ‘yer local punk and metal at Singles Going Steady

Singles Going Steady

Singles Going Steady

Last picture overlooking Alaskan Way

Alaskan Way

Alaskan Way

The end. Off to conference. Good sessions represented.

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Pictures of a Fun Seattle Run

June 3rd, 2009

Ed Kohler is the king at this and I haven’t registered for MapMyRun.com yet, but figured a tour of Belltown/Downtown Seattle was in order.

Got up early this morning for a quick run before day-one of the 2009 Seattle SMX conference.

Woke up to see this partial Puget Sound view from Alaskan Way and Blanchard.

View from Hotel

View from Hotel

There’s a sweet running and biking trail right under the Alaskan Way Vioduct. Driving on it or running below it would be less then stellar if an earthquake happened.

Alaskan Way Vioduct

Alaskan Way Vioduct

Wound up running a 1.5 mile or so to SODO and took a picture of a Safeco Field sign.

Safeco Field

Safeco Field

Running up 1st Avenue, the Pyramid Ale building across from Safeco was in view. It’s a good brew.

Pyramid Ale

Pyramid Ale

Since I’m by Safeco, it makes sense to run around the Seahawks Quest Stadium, quite possibly the coolest NFL (and soccer) stadium built to-date.

Qwest Stadium

Qwest Stadium

And of course, the Seattle Sounders FC also plays there.

Seattle Sounders - Now Part of the MLS

Seattle Sounders - Now Part of the MLS

From there, it’s a run to Pioneer Square. I heart Pioneer Square and spent many nights there during my 20′s.

Pioneer Square

Pioneer Square

Spent a few late-night dollars back in the day at this Pioneer Square Pizza joint. I’m not sure if it was called Mario’s Pizza at the time.

Mario's Pizza

Mario's Pizza

My old buddy Jim used to work at this magic store in the mid 90′s.

Magic Store

Magic Store

I thought this was a fireman tribute to 9-11 but it appears to have been built before then.

Firefighter Statue

Firefighter Statue

I’m not sure what this was about. It was around 1st avenue and Madison.

1st Ave and Madison

1st Ave and Madison

Alley in downtown Seattle. It’s certainly not a bad alley.

Not a Bad Alley

Not a Bad Alley

Back to the waterfront. Neat view of West Seattle.

View of West Seattle

View of West Seattle

Lastly, a quarter-mile from the hotel, Pier 62-63.

Pier 62-63

Pier 62-63

The run turned into between quite a little jaunt. Very fun. I hope to do the same tomorrow morning in a different neighborhood. I heart Seattle.

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