Let’s Face It. Google Is Search.

Let’s call it what it really is, shall we? Despite efforts by Bing/Yahoo to stay relevant as well as efforts by Facebook and Twitter to enter the search game, there really is only one. For years, I’ve always had to add the caveat when discussing search marketing that “When I say Google, I mean Bing and Yahoo as well.”

I won’t be saying that any more. If we’re talking search, we’re talking Google.

It’s not that the others don’t exist. They do and they’re still somewhat relevant. Millions still use them on a daily basis so they cannot be ignored completely. However, when it comes to making decisions about search marketing, there’s only one algorithm that needs to be taken into account, one traffic source whose numbers should be used to steer the strategy.

The infographic below asks the question of whether or not Google is a monopoly. In reality, that’s not important, though the infographic points to a glaring fact that Google is the leader not only in market share but also in innovation and others, specifically Bing, are always just chasing the leader from a distance. The important takeaway is this: if you want to craft your strategy for search, particularly organic, mobile, and local search, then Google is the only thing to consider. Again, Bing and the other options are still valid, but if you build your strategy around Google, the others will eventually fall into line.

It’s been like that for a while. Google was the first to look at inbound links as a primary ranking factor and the others followed. Google was the first to truly integrate personalization and the others followed. Google was arguably the first to truly integrate social media into their search algorithm through the use of social signals, though in this case the competition wasn’t far behind. It doesn’t matter. Think Google when you’re thinking about your strategy and the rest will fall in line.

Paid search is a different thing altogether and many have found success with the cheaper clicks through other search engines, but even in that case the only way to truly hit a bulk level is through Google. Facebook is making strides in this arena, but they’re still worlds apart.

The funny part of it all is that Google is extremely vulnerable to manipulation, second only to Twitter when it comes to ease. Both rely more heavily on real-time data than the others, which is both their strength and vulnerability.

Here’s the graphic…

Source: Franchise Gator

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via Soshable | Social Media Blog http://soshable.com/lets-face-it-google-is-search/

Are Small- and Mid-Sized Conferences Better than the Big Ones?

This past week, I had the pleasure of attending two conferences that were completely different from one another. The week started (well, last week ended) with attending the infamous SXSW conference in Austin. From there, I attended “How to Run Your Dealership by the Book” in Charlotte.

On one side, I got to hear people like Al Gore, Matt Cutts, and Elon Musk talk about the future of the internet and the world in general. On the other side, I got to hear Bobby Compton, Troy Springs, and Dave Anderson discuss applying Biblical principals to running a car dealership. You couldn’t have had two conferences that were more different from one another. Now that I’m back home reflecting, I can say without a doubt that the small conference was where I gained the most useful knowledge, connections, and real friendships.

It says something about the state of conferences on the general and niche circuits today. Don’t get me wrong, there was a certain awe that’s always associated with the mega-conferences like SXSW, NADA, and New Media Expo that always give their attendees great takeaways from which they can make strategic changes to their business strategy, but the coziness of the smaller conferences lends something that you just can’t get at the big ones.

It’s the people. You can only talk to a handful of people in a day. Conferences often give us the opportunity to network and at the big conferences there are obviously more opportunities just based upon sheer bulk. However, the quality of the connections that I made at the smaller conference are the type that I believe will last longer, possibly indefinitely, and lead me and my company in different directions. With all of the masses of information that I took in at SXSW this month and NADA last month, I can say that most were really just useful tidbits. In Charlotte, I have tangible actions that are going to be applied immediately.

As you plan out the rest of your conference year and look to next year, take advantage of the cozy conferences. Next week, I’ll be speaking at both the Innovative Dealer Summit in Denver as well as the Internet Sales 20 Group in Dallas. Both are small – under 500 people combined – but I anticipate that I’ll learn more and meet more real people next week than at any of the mega-conferences. With the Automotive Marketing Boot Camp, AutoCon, Digital Dealer, and Driving Sales around the corner, those in the automotive industry should strongly consider attending them all. They aren’t NADA. That’s a good thing.

via Soshable | Social Media Blog http://soshable.com/are-small-and-mid-sized-conferences-better-than-the-big-ones/

Re-introducing Timeline

Although it hasn’t received the same pomp and circumstance as new News Feed, Facebook has announced another upcoming change to your experience: Timeline changes are on the way.

There has buzzing for a while with a new, cleaner layout for Timeline with screenshots from accounts in New Zealand showing up as leaks on tech blogs for a number of weeks. Even though the first rollout of Timeline may not have been received in the manner for which Facebook was hoping, the new changes are positioned in the same vein as the changes to News Feed: as A place for things you care about.

A is for App…

The expression of that which is important to you is largely attributed to further, more prominent app integration on your personal page. Now adding content from app such as Pinterest, Instagram, Fab, Netflix or Goodreads is easily trackable, organized and in your reach.

There are even options being rolled out to add items from your friends feed to your own app organization. For example, if you saw that your friend read a book recently that you also are interested in, you can add it to your Goodreads section with ease:

App promotion has become more and more important to Facebook lately so this change seemed inevitable.

So, how is the new layout?

Interestingly enough, the new Facebook layout is, to some extent, similar to the old one – only more visual and with a cover photo and Timeline’s functionality.

When the change takes place on your page, you will notice that the about section has returned to the upper most left-hand position on the page below your picture. A quick rundown of personal facts: employment; education; where you live; where you’re from and now followers/fans is, once again, back in its old location. A sample of your friends and their thumbnails are housed below the your about section and above a sampling of your Facebook photos. Your app activity is also now on the left side of your page for consistency and so that you (or until they change things) know generally where it is.

But here’s the catch, the new version of Timeline makes this column customizable. If you would rather have your most recent photos from Instagram on the top, do it. Facebook has said that they want users to have more control over the look of their own Timeline. Simply use your Collection Manager and pick your order. It’s not quite MySpace, but that got too out of hand back in the days…

You will also notice that your status updates and posts are now always in the right-hand, larger column. The sizing mimics the new sizing in new News Feed which reinforces Facebook’s push towards a more visual interface and less clutter.

So, will this change please people with reminiscences of the great wall? Will users go crazy over this change? Will anyone notice? Will Batman get out of the evil clutches of the Joker’s plan? Let us know in the comment section.

Images courtesy of Facebook

via Soshable | Social Media Blog http://soshable.com/re-introducing-timeline-2/

Choosing Whether to Bring God Into Social Media Marketing

There’s something that is often missing in marketing and it’s even harder to find when you put the words “social media” in front of “marketing”. It’s God.

It is politically correct to keep religion away from business. We are part of the all-inclusive society where differences are ignored and disagreements are frowned upon. As a result, it’s hard for those of faith to operate their business with their faith as the guiding force.

One of the reasons that I came to the Automotive Super Conference was the title of this particular conference: “How To Run Your Dealership By The Book”. Clearly, this is different than any other automotive conference out there (and there are many – I’ll be speaking at two more next week). There are like-minded people here. The presentations are focused. The attendees are open to hear what is going to be said. It’s a real honor to be here.

With that said, it brings to mind the question that I often get asked, “How does one express their faith online and particularly in social media when it isn’t accepted?”

It’s an unfair question. The reality is that acceptance should not be the goal in social media. If that’s your goal as an individual, this is probably the wrong venue. If it’s your goal from a business perspective, that’s a different story. Is it possible to offend people by expressing religious views as a business? Yes. Is it worthwhile? To me, the answer is yes, but it’s not my place to tell others whether it’s for them or not. I’m comfortable with it. I crave it, actually.

The real question is, “Are you comfortable with it?” It sounds like a simple cop out. It is. While I would love to say that every business should be open about their beliefs, I know that’s not realistic. I can only encourage it. Otherwise, I encourage you to ask me questions about how to do it with your business. More importantly, I encourage you to pray. If you really want the answer, any answer, it’s always best to go to the source.

via Soshable | Social Media Blog http://soshable.com/choosing-whether-to-bring-god-into-social-media-marketing/

I Agree with PETA and Not Mashable About Grumpy Cat. The World Must Be Ending Soon.

It isn’t just the fact that I detest waiting in lines and the one that led to the infamous Grumpy Cat was long. It’s the sheer fact that there is absolutely no reason why an animal should have been at SXSW in the first place. Shame on Mashable for allowing (encouraging?) this sort of PR display using an animal. Hurray to PETA for…

Oh no. I won’t go that far. While I’ve never been a fan of the tactics that PETA has used and in this case I believe that they are correct to be trying to “free Grumpy Cat” from the clutches of social media exploitation, I won’t go so far as to compliment them.

I will, however, express extreme disappointment in the fact that dozens, even hundreds of people were allowed to handle the cat. Anyone who has ever owned a cat (I’ve owned a few even though I’m allergic to them) knows that cats in general like to be petted, rubbed, and engaged with in most manners but being picked up and held is not one of their favorite activities. Shame on the owners for allowing this. Shame on Mashable for participating. Shame on the people waiting in line to torture the cat with their filthy paws. Get a life, people. Buy a Grumpy Cat t-shirt or something. Don’t wait in line to get the thrill of putting a picture of Grumpy Cat and yourself on your Facebook wall.

It truly tainted the whole SXSW experience for me, even more than getting kicked out of the Al Gore speech, but that’s a different story altogether. Signing off from Austin. Unfortunately, I won’t be telling any more of the stories I had planned. They don’t deserve any more attention.

Update – Actually, I still don’t agree with PETA. They apparently looked at the logistics and gave it their approval at two hours a day. What a joke.

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• ‘Grumpy Cat’ recounts experience at SXSW

via Soshable | Social Media Blog http://soshable.com/i-agree-with-peta-and-not-mashable-about-grumpy-cat-the-world-must-be-ending-soon/

Chevy Goes Heavy at #SXSW with #ChevySXSW

If you had to pick one brand that was really killing it at SXSW 2013, it would be Chevrolet. That’s right, the automaker from the industry known for clinging to traditional advertising techniques continues to have a handful of brands – Chevy and Ford in particular – that are finding success in progressive digital techniques.

I’ll go into much more detail about what Chevy is doing here, but if first impressions are anything, Chevy is making a splash in my book. You can’t go outside without seeing a “Catch a Chevy” branded vehicle circling the Austin Convention Center. They have several events ongoing, but one thing in particular that has been more successful than some may have expected is their hashtag, #ChevySXSW.

Normally, companies find very little success when they try to hijack hashtags. The primary hashtags get all the action and most of the “hashtag-alongs” get mediocre action with too many negative hashtag interactions. Chevy has been able to blow it out of the water.

Here are some images so far, but I’ll be giving a comprehensive report or two about the SXSW experience when I get back. Live-blogging is not my strong point.

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• Go Chevy! Chevrolet Unveils Branded Wayin Hub at SXSWi for Unparalled Social Engagement


• Chevrolet Unveils Branded Wayin Hub at SXSWi for Unparalled Social Engagement

via Soshable | Social Media Blog http://soshable.com/chevy-goes-heavy-at-sxsw-with-chevysxsw/

Your Google+ Cover Image is Now Insanely Large

It doesn’t get much bigger than that.

Google hasn’t forgotten about their social network. In the last week, they’ve pushed developers to include Google+ API sign in and now they’ve added a few more refreshes to the UI.

Reviews can now be seen through a link on a user’s profile. Any public reviews are listed, including the rating, location, and review itself. You can learn a lot about someone based upon what they thought about Pedro’s Taco Stand.

The About section of profiles has been partitioned to show links you’ve associated with your profile, your “Story”, work, education, basic information, places you’ve checked in, and apps. They’ve always had this information and some people will be surprised to find out that it’s so easily available.

The last chance is a big one, so to speak. With a maximum upload size of 2120 x 1192 and a presentation size that fills most screens, they’ve trumped Facebook’s cover photos by a large margin. That’s not to say they’re better. Just bigger.

Do you think it looks better this way?

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• Google+ Rolls Out Design Changes Ahead of Facebook ‘New Look’ Launch


• How Will Google Glass Change Dating?


• This Chart Illustrates Google’s Insane Growth Over the Past Few Years

via Soshable | Social Media Blog http://soshable.com/your-google-cover-image-is-now-insanely-large/

More Evidence that Women Rule Social Media

Women rule social media. There have been numerous studies that show that sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest are dominated by women. 75% of women according to Pew Research Center use social networking sites compared to 63% of men. This is important to understand.

First, it reinforces what we already knew, that businesses should be gearing their messages around their products, services, or industry in a way that can appeal to both sexes with an emphasis (in some cases) on women. More importantly, it tells us that some businesses should consider tailoring portions of their social media strategy specifically around women. This is not a universal conclusion; it depends on the business itself. With products and services that appeal to both sexes such as cars and gadgets, the old thinking that marketing should be geared towards men is, well, old.

There’s a caveat to the study. Because of the increased emotional attachment that women demonstrate with their social media profiles versus men, it’s much easier to turn them negative towards a brand when the wrong messages are posted.

This infographic by Weber Shandwick breaks down the study and shows us that women are the “low hanging fruit” in social media marketing.

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• 7 things Google+ could do today to make it less of a ghost town

via Soshable | Social Media Blog http://soshable.com/more-evidence-that-women-rule-social-media/