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New Facebook Nearby feature

December 17th, 2012

Quick post – Facebook now has something new which adds to the social/local/mobile (SoLoMo) aspect of marketing and social media. They introduced a “nearby” feature for mobile iOS and Android apps. It looks a little something like this:

Nearby feature on Facebook

Today, my day was spent in Roseville and decided to see what my connections had to say about places nearby:

Places nearby screenshot

There were four or five total mentions once I scrolled down. The first example, I’ve heard of Axel’s Charhouse many times although have never been. I mentioned to Clint that I saw that he and Sarah have been there to which he replied “yep, many times”. As a consumer, I’m now more than likely going to check the place out.

It looks like my buddy David likes the Village Pub in nearby St. Anthony Village. It shows an average rating. Will I go sometime? Maybe. Since a buddy of mine happens to like it, I’m more likely to make a visit.

This type of feature isn’t new but it’s nice to now see this on Facebook and an additional way to implement SoLoMo into local marketing efforts.

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Facebook Public Profile and Fun Humbleness

March 10th, 2009

Today, I was hanging with Clint from Think SEM chatting about Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and blogs. I chuckled when he asked me how the new localmn Facebook Public Profile was doing. Why? It should be fine eventually but I started it up the wrong way!

So, the fun humbleness. I set it up, entered some content, photos and a couple videos including Ed Kohler returning an unrequested Verizon phone book. 19 whopping people became members of the public profile. I then put out a poll for favorite local bars and a giveaway for two Omnitheater tickets at the Science Museum of Minnesota.

Guess what? Not one bite. Why?

I didn’t start with an actual plan and committed the social media 101 sin of talking before listening.

I still don’t have a detailed plan actually. There are ideas which includes pimpin’ other local companies out whether they specialize in social media like SpyderTrap or auto repair shops who go out their way to not screw you like Northwestern Tire Co. in Minneapolis. There will soon be a print Yellow Pages contest coming up, but that’s still a tactic and not a strategy. The strategy will hopefully come soon.

Points on this?

  1. Create strategies before tactics
  2. Don’t be afraid to admit to hiccups
  3. Anything you or I write on the Interwebz is open to the public. Embrace it!

More to come…

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Facebook is So Last Tuesday. I Twitter Now.

January 2nd, 2009

It’s seems strange, but there is a mentality now where people (and marketers) are abandoning Facebook (and Flickr, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc.) to use Twitter instead.

So, to start a 2009 goal/resolution I finally wrote a new Search Engine Guide post yesterday showing how important it is for businesses to use all social media including Blogs, YouTube, Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, and others.

The example I used is in the article, but it explains how (as a consumer) I purchased a Kodak digital camera because of Kodak’s great use of many forms of social media. I really like Twitter, but if they were to concentrate their social efforts flooding me with Twitter updates only, I wouldn’t have given them any consideration.

I asked this in the SEG post too, but as consumers, have you made specific purchases due to positive experiences you’ve had in social media? If so, feel free to share!

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Posted in Social Media | 2 Comments »

Citysearch Gets More Local, Adds Facebook Connect Feature

November 19th, 2008

I’ve always been a fan of Citysearch and now they have a new beta site which is streamlined very nicely. It turns out that in 1995 they knew something about local search and social media long before many of us thought it was cool. Local listings and user reviews/ratings have been on their platform for years.

Now Citysearch has introduced themselves as a Facebook Connect connection. What does this mean? Many things probably, and here’s just one example.

First, Citysearch now has related hyperlocal (neighborhood) suggestions.

Neighborhood Suggestions

Neighborhood Suggestions

They now have the options to integrate Facebook and Citysearch users.

Facebook and CitySearch

Facebook and CitySearch

I’ve given Northwestern Tire in Minneapolis a positive Google Maps review, and decided to give them another one in CitySearch. It’s a very honest review. They only got 4 out of 5 stars simply because their hours are open while I’m at my full time job in Woodbury. Unless I go there on a day off, I’ll have to go to a Jiffy Lube or somethin’ where they’ll try to upsell me while they do a mediocre job at best.

Northwestern Tire Review

Northwestern Tire Review

Since this review gets published to Facebook, anyone of my current 88 Facebook friends can now see this review when they log in. With Facebook being viral, maybe Northwestern will benefit from it.

Plug on Facebook

Plug on Facebook

in Facebook, the links go directly to the Northwestern Tire Citysearch profile which now includes an honest user review from myself.

The Citysearch/Facebook connection is ingenious if you ask me.

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Posted in Citysearch, Local Search, Social Media | 2 Comments »

Bro-Sis Photography Marketing Update – Our Marketing Package Title, Facebook Ads, and a New Newsletter

September 11th, 2008

Every time I post regarding the Bro-Sis photography marketing project, I think there’s nothing to say. It turns out there is quite a bit, especially since it’s been awhile. We’ve both been busy with other priorities.

First, we do have a description and an almost-finished title for those who will be attending our speaking engagements. Tentatively, we’re shooting for January 1 to be ready. Here’s a fun little email exchange we had this morning regarding the title:

Heather: “How To Make the Internet Your Marketing Bitch”. What do you think?

Me: I honestly absolutely love that title.

Heather: As much as I love the name, I think we’ll have to tone it down a bit for certain audiences. Any ideas?

Me: How about “How To Make the Interwebz Your Marketing Biznatch”? I find that “biznatch” is a more polite way of saying “bitch”.

Heather: Did Danielle (our niece) teach you that?

So, we need to change the word “bitch” to something that relates to photography and results. Any suggestions? Feel free to reply!

Heather’s also decided to start running Facebook CPC ads. Originally, she’s going to target married Madison females ages 24 and up and will set a daily cap. It looks like this will go out to around 1500 Facebook users.

This may be a broad demographic. If she’s reaching her daily cap too early, she’s ready to use tags to target mothers, children, and religious interests which apparently knocks this down to around 80 Facebook users. We’ll keep you posted of the results.

Heather also sent out a Constant Contact email to current clients with new information regarding the Tin Shed pictoblog, the Tin Shed Facebook page, her new Web site, as well as a notes about her infant son Carver and the Operation Smile campaign. The newsletter was sent out today and already half of them were opened.

Today, she also filled out a “local information” document I sent to her to fully display her in many local profile sites including Google and Yahoo Local, and different Internet Yellow Pages. So, I’ll be pretty busy submitting the listings. :)

In the meantime, check out her consulting blog. Turns out that Mazomanie, WI (where her studio is) hit the big time.

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Posted in Blogs, Bro-Sis Project, Internet Yellow Pages, Local Search, Social Media | 1 Comment »

Favorite Posts of the Week – What Can I Say? Search is in the Family

August 15th, 2008

BuyOnlineNow is run by my sis and bro-in-law. Fellow co-worker and Twitterer @jackpotjewell got permission to re-publish an article regarding how we’re tops at proficiency in the online office supplies business.

The article itself helps explain the success. One particular excerpt…

They track execution from acknowledgement to dispatch to delivery keeping customer informed at each stage. At the webstore browsers can see straight away the 5 Star Customer Rating Service continuously updated rates BON an impressive 4.8/5.

There are many reasons BON is successful. A huge reason is because of the incredible customer service we have. I wish I could explain it better, but it’s literally second to none. See what others have to say.

When it comes to e-commerce, there are ways to make your site both search friendly and easy-to-navigate, but don’t forget about customer service. It can make or break you.

Original article from the Proficiency Post.

———-

My sis Heather is now on Facebook and writes her initial experiences with it. Many here know we’re starting a project together. Many others don’t know that she’s new to search and social markeing and has been enbracing it. She’s already a direct mailing guru but probably already “gets” Facebook marketing more than most search marketers even though she’s only been at it for a couple weeks.

———-

In short, I’m related to smart people.

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Favorite Posts/YouTube of the Week – YouTube Analytics, Paper Shredders, and why Facebook is not LinkedIn

March 28th, 2008

Minnesota-based again, with the first favorite being somewhat based from Minnesota.

One of the YouTube founders is from St. Paul, and they are now offering up analytics. I don’t know how detailed they get, but it can possibly be a remarkable tool to measure and market your YouTube videos to your targeted audiences. Jennifer Laycock from Search Engine Guide provides a very good write-up on it.

I’m biased on this, but one of the Jeremy’s at Rochester-based BuyOnlineNow.com has a cool yet informational YouTube video on one of Fellowes new Intellishred jam proof shredders sold at the niche OrderPaperShredders.com site. The 70′s “adult” music theme adds to the touch.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-nUIo_iRcc]

You want this shredder. You need this shredder. You don’t want to be without one, do you?

Aside from bad hypnosis in the previous sentences, I’ll probably buy this one. My current shredder truly sucks.

Finally, Holly from the New Brighton-based Risdall Marketing Pie blog writes on how Facebook is not LinkedIn. I especially like point number four stating that LinkedIn is getting really good at what they do. It works there. Does it really need to work on Facebook? I’ve benefited and gained clients from LinkedIn and use it as a professional networking tool, yet my current Facebook profile picture is this:

Peter from The Family Guy

This will probably change at some point as I do “loosely” use Facebook as a business tool, but right now I guess it’s “what it is”.

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Posted in Minnesota Business, Social Media | 2 Comments »