Are Google’s Social Changes Enough?

Image representing Google Talk as depicted in ...

Image via CrunchBase

Google has released a number of changes to its applications during its conference, Google I/O (with more to come). Google+ is mostly a deserted island, at least compared to Facebook and Twitter.  But, unlike, Facebook, Google has the opportunity to integrate integral applications socially.  Gmail is one of the most popular email programs.  Hangouts and Google Chat (Talk) are also popular.  People do spend time (and lots of it) on Google’s various platforms.  Unlike Facebook, these platforms are pretty important to the day-to-day running of many businesses.  While the changes Google has made certainly are a step in the right direction, it will be interesting to see how (and if) they continue to integrate their platforms.  Given the failing of Facebook Home as a way to integrate more fully with day-to-day activities, Facebook may want to keep an eye on Google (they probably already are).

Thoughts?

With a whirlwind of announcements at its Google I/O developers conference this week, Google’s vast suite of social products is finally starting to look like it was created by a single company and not cobbled together via a series of haphazard acquisitions. Here are the highlights of what’s changed…. Making Sense Of Google’s New Social Stuff: Messaging, Hangouts & Google+ by Taylor Hatmaker

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Google Wallet Makes It Easier than PayPal to Send Money

Google Wallet Logo

Google Wallet Logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So far Google Wallet has been on the sideline.  Well, it just got the call from the coach to check into the game.  Google is rolling out integration between Gmail and Wallet which means that getting and sending money may soon be as easy as sending an email.  This could have far reaching impact on eCommerce — think about selling products or services without having to setup an eCommerce website… Meet a client for lunch, get paid on the spot.  Obviously there are products like Square that provide mobile payment services, but they are a separate application and signup.  I wonder how close we are to the demise of credit cards — could be good for financial security — as long as you have a good Gmail password.  What about security in terms of phishing schemes…. Should be very interesting to see how this all pans out.

What do you think?

In the coming weeks and months, a dollar sign will start popping in Gmail accounts of people who already use Google Wallet, and a quick click lets users define the recipient and the amount they’d like to send along as an attachment. Since all of these transactions run through Google Wallet, the usual caveats are in place — sending funds from a connected bank account is totally gratis, but those who prefer to pay with credit or debit cards are subject to an additional 2.9 percent fee tacked on. You also need to be over 18 to take part in the funding fun, though. Google Folds Wallet Support Into Gmail So You Can Send Money As Attachments (TechCrunch)

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Big Data is the Next Gold Mine

CloudsCloud services and software as a service are flourishing.  IT departments are freed from having to support hardware and software infrastructure, and users get the latest software updates. But the backend of these types of services is the data that they are able to collect.  By being able to view a spectrum of users across many different industries and uses, many companies are able to collect valuable marketing data that is not directly related to the services they are providing.  The use of this data may be helpful for individuals as companies are able to leverage it to make a better match between want and need. The value of this information to marketers is clear.  Will companies and individuals be willing to contribute to this type of data collection, especially when most are blissfully unaware?  Time will tell.

The other reason is that the big part of big data really is important if you want to get a really clear picture of what’s happening in any given space. While no single end-user company can (or likely would) address search-engine optimization, for example, by building a massive store comprised of data from hundreds or thousands of companies as well as the entire web, a cloud service dedicated to that specific task can. This is why big data is the sweet spot for SaaS by Derrick Harris

Guest Blogging for Effective Link Building

Spider web

Spider web (Photo credit: Marcelo Tourne)

Links into your website are a signal to Google that you have good content. While you can just continue to produce good content and hope that you’ll build up the number of links coming into your site over time, guest blogging can help accelerate that process. A good guest blogging opportunity is with a site that is within your target market and has the same audience that you’d like to have.  An engaging post on a guest blog can go a long way to helping your link building efforts, but can also introduce you to more people who will hopefully become regular readers of your blog.

In the world of today’s SEO, it simply isn’t enough to throw some key phrases on your website’s pages, or start a blog to create a steady content stream. You need to build links. Traditional link building can include optimization of press releases for syndication, as well as solicitation of links from relevant external sites. But have you delved into the word of guest blogging?

In addition to great link building, guest blogging also affords you the opportunity to earn a great reputation as a thought leader, and offers exposure to your own blog, brand, and website, and much faster than it will take you to build the reputation of your own blog. It’s akin to publicity, but the kind you have to work hard to earn. Effective Link Building Secrets: Guest Blogging by LEE RUSH SCHWARTZ

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SEO or Content Marketing for Online Marketing Strategy

The Library

Should you start with search engine optimization (SEO) or content marketing for your online marketing strategy? Do keywords drive content or vice versa?  Lee Odden over at TopRank blog gives his thoughts on the matter….

There are quite a few studies showing that companies publishing more blog posts and more content in general equates to generating more business than those that don’t.

I suppose if you’re starting from scratch, adding any kind of content has the potential to improve a company’s ability to attract people seeking to buy. Since content creation is one of the biggest obstacles to companies realizing gains with content marketing, it’s no wonder that advice about how to produce articles, blog posts, infographics, white papers, and visual marketing has become so popular.

Which brings me to the point of this post. When looking for help with content marketing and content creation, there’s a difference between what one gets from a SEO agency and a content marketing agency. That difference is not so much about one being better than the other, but more about sizing up which is most appropriate for your situation. — What Should Lead Your Online Marketing Strategy: SEO or Content Marketing? by Lee Odden

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English: Shop Window High Street

Hopefully your website is doing more than just looking pretty (it does look good, right?). Ideally business websites are lead generation machines. Your website should be like a beautiful shop window luring potential customers to enter and take a look around.  Then your delicious wares entice people to take the next step and either buy from you or let you know they’re interested.  Many business websites miss the mark when it comes to lead generation.  Here are some ways to improve the lead generation on your website…

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