• Google+ is an "all-in-one" social network that combines elements of Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Instagram, foursquare, LinkedIn, and others
• Bing and Yahoo have recently rolled out new Places for Business platforms – just like Google
• Yahoo gets a lot of their search results from Bing – meaning the two search engines often have extremely similar search results
• Google Penguin is an ongoing update to Google's algorithm that checks for and penalizes poor-quality links going to and from a website
• Vine is a new app for phones and tablets where users upload and share videos that are six seconds or less (same concept as Twitter but with videos)
• In order to leave a review for a business on Google, the reviewer must sign into a Google+ profile (or create one and join the Google+ social network)
• A giraffe can lick its own ears (that has nothing to do with Internet marketing, but picture a giraffe licking its own ears…funny, right?)
• Google Panda was originally an update (and is now part of Google's core algorithm) that checks for and penalizes sites with content that is thin or spammy
• Google+ has over 343 million active users – is your business optimized for Google Plus?
• When it comes to marketing on the internet,  "Slow and steady" wins the race!

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/10-mind-blowing-facts-about-google-2013-5?op=1#ixzz2VYYCOhVT

If you haven't already, you can manually upgrade your Facebook channel before June 5th. Whether you make the switch yourself or wait for YouTube to do it, the fact remains that all YouTube channels will be undergoing a makeover.

One of the main highlights of the new channel layout is the cover photo specifications. Overall, the main cover photo is larger (with a maximum resolution of 2120 pixels high by 1193 pixels high). As computer monitors get larger and, more to the point, as people begin to use their televisions as computer monitors, the need for larger and brighter images will grow. The new YouTube channel layout embraces that trend.

The "primary" area of the cover photo that will display on all devices is 1280 x 350. This will be the center of the cover photo, cropped out to display on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone. Here is an example, courtesy of an April post on Search Engine Watch.

Other features of the new YouTube channel will be a reorganization of the Videos and tabs on the channel. It is going to look quite different from the YouTube we are used to seeing now. The new design will also highlight your custom playlists more prominently. The playlist will display to the right of the video being viewed at any given time, so optimizing your playlists will be more important than ever if you want to keep visitors on your channel.

Another feature of YouTube that is relatively new is the personal YouTube channel. Google is now supporting the linking of a Google profile to a YouTube channel, meaning that an individual on Google+ can take ownership of the videos on his or her YouTube channel.

It used to be that the YouTube channel was just a Product in Google Accounts. Now it has been integrated with Google+ so that individuals can use video to generate fresh, engaging content and boost their Author rank. By attributing new videos to a Google+ profile, you are crediting those videos as fresh content for Google Authorship, which will be an essential building block of Google search results in 2013 and beyond.

For more insight and to ask how Orthopreneur Internet Marketing Solutions can get you up to speed on YouTube, contact us for a free consultation.

The only way to be a user of this new Places for Business Dashboard is to open a Google account now. If you already verified your Google Places (at any point over the last several years) you are stuck with the old Google Places for now.

We have had many clients ask us if we can move reviews from one listing to another. The answer has always been no. This new feature may change all of that, but unless you've been under a rock for the past ten years and never verified your business on Google, this update is not going to help you yet. Google plans to make the feature available to all Google users soon.

It is not as cut and dry as it may sound. Google has specific criteria needed to qualify for the movement of reviews. The primary point is this: if your business is not changing its name or address, your reviews will probably not be moved. So if you have two listings for your business and split reviews between them, this new feature is unlikely to resolve that issue. You would be better off using the "Report a problem" feature that has been in place for a while now, and hope that Google merges your duplicates into one and combines the reviews (easier said than done).

The "move reviews" feature is available for businesses that undergo a complete rebrand or name change; partnerships or affiliations that disassociate; and businesses that change their products or services. As it pertains to orthodontic practices, this update will have minimal impact at this time. Once the new Places for Business Dashboard is rolled out nationally, more practices will have a chance to corral some stray reviews.

This update is encouraging because it shows Google addressing the reviews situation. Over the past 18 months, the reviews area on Google has been nothing but a messy headache for most businesses. Call it a step in the right direction (even if it's a baby step). You can read more about this update on the Google Business Help Forum.

Google tends to roll out their updates unannounced, so the fact that we were even warned about this Maps update will come as a surprise to many. It appears this update is intended to improve the functionality and esthetics of the Maps area. I do not expect the rankings to be impacted much, if at all, by this update. However, Google rankings are fluid. Change should be anticipated regardless of updates.

Initial speculation about when this Maps update might be released pointed to Google I/O which was Wednesday 5/15 thru Friday 5/17 (today). Google I/O is an annual Google developer conference. What we ended up seeing out of Google I/O was a preview of the new Google Maps, and an updated user interface on Google+. The new Google+ supports larger images, and has taken on a three-column look.

Most times, updates are rolled out gradually. Some users may see the new Google Maps interface before others. Here is a link to request an invite to new Google Maps.

Given the boom in local search and also mobile search, it makes sense that Google would overhaul the Maps area to better accommodate mobile users. Stay tuned for insight on the latest Google updates, as they are showing no signs of slowing down.

Marketing on the Internet continues to move at lightning speed and it is a struggle to keep up.  I am a firm believer in Pareto's Principle and the 80/20 rule:  20% of your marketing brings in 80% of patients. This philosophy has served me well for over 30 years, both in private practice and in my own business.

It is impossible to implement every program presented today; no one has the time. It can also be tricky to determine what programs or ideas will work best in your particular practice for ROI. And if you implement a new program, which programs do you let go to allow your staff time to manage new programs successfully?  Each practice is different and consequently so are its best marketing tactics.

My recommendations to all my clients is based on many factors.  Staff training and skill set, time to invest in marketing to achieve best results, and budget are at the top the list.

Orthopreneur will now be offering  periodic updates and information on Internet marketing, social media, SEO (search engine optimization), and announcements we feel would be of benefit to you and your team to facilitate your marketing.   Educating doctors and staff on the world of Internet Marketing has always been a primary goal of Orthopreneur.  Subjects will change from week to week,  so watch for my posts. Every marketing pearl counts!

Also…Feel free to forward me posts and info you feel will be of interest to others. Email mk@orthopreneur.com.

Orthopreneur's Tips, Tricks and Tools  March 10, 2012

1. Kaleidoscope™  In my opinion, Best New Marketing Product so Far in 2012 for Internal Marketing. Thumbs up for ROI for both saving staff time and $$$ – Introduced at Damon Forum and Ortho2 Users Meeting.

Have a monitor screen mounted on the wall of your office taking up space that few people are viewing? Need to promote your practice more to patients? Here is the answer!  Digital marketing tool constantly changing with random and personalized content designed to attract the attention of current patients while in your office with up to date news, entertainment, weather, and more.

Check it out on their website!  Inexpensive way to promote your business.  Set it up once a month and forget it.  Tell Charis Santille that Mary Kay Miller sent you.

2. I am frequently asked how to write a good blog post.  Whether you do it yourself or outsource to someone else, this is great advice.

12 Things That Will Kill Your Blog Post Every Time by The Daily SEO Blog

3. Did YouTube Redesign Rearrange Your Site? - Supposedly this new update is more user friendly.  I am not sure I agree from a business standpoint, but it may be for viewers.  If you haven't checked out your Youtube page lately… take a look.  You made need to make some adjustments.  YouTube's Announcement

4.  Facebook is Changing Its Look Again – New Timeline Update? I am not a Facebook expert but I am receiving many questions on the latest update that will go into affect soon.  Many Facebook users and especially business owners are very frustrated. Here are a few posts that may help make the transition easier.

How To Create a Facebook Cover – Includes exactly how to upload and dimensions needed for artwork

Here is another link on how to make the best use of  Timeline Pages.

Feel free to forward my email to your friends and colleagues. Comments are also welcome below.

Google’s all-seeing search robots still can’t find comments on private pages within Facebook, but now any time you use a Facebook comment form on other sites, or a public page within Facebook, those comments will be indexed by Google.  What does this mean for you and your Facebook privacy online?  Nothing if you have privacy controls setup on your Facebook page which is recommended for any business and personal site.  I do not recommend changing these security settings to allow your patients comments to be indexed. It would open your Facebook page to spamming and negative comments you can't control.

However, if you comment on other sites or public pages within Facebook, what you say can now haunt you in the future.  When in doubt whether to speak out or not , say nothing.  Error on the side of caution. Before this update, Google's bots were unable to crawl the comments section of sites that used third-party commenting engines such as Disqus, Facebook, and Intense Debate. This is no longer true –and a potentially sticky situation for people who are hyper-sensitive about privacy issues.

As adults, hopefully we understand the consequences of our actions online but adolescents and teens today may not grasp the long term ramifications of what they say online today and how it could negatively impact them in the future.  Food for thought… especially if the Googlebots can go back and index previous comments.

Here are two links to interesting blog posts explaining the update sent to me today by one of my exclusive clients Dr. Derek Sanders at Orthodontics Only in Miami, FL.  Thanks Derek for keeping us all in the loop.  This latest Google update is creating quite a stir.  Where will it all end in the future?

If you find something online you would like to share with everyone, send me an email at mk@orthopreneur.com or comment below.  This is what social media is all about and a great way to help each other.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/243011/google_now_indexes_facebook_comments_paranoid_can_relax.html

http://www.webmonkey.com/2011/11/your-facebook-comments-coming-soon-to-a-google-search-near-you/

Here is the link to Google's latest announcement about the changes in Google Places announced on 7/21/11.  http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2011/07/ongoing-evolution-of-place-pages.html  This is a must read.

What they don't tell you is this:

1. The reviews area is not working in most areas of the US and Canada, even though it is now easier to post a review.  Be Patient!!  I will let everyone know when the reviews area is live again.
2. In the past week Google reverted back to the old system of only giving out GOLD STARS for Google  Reviews. Reviews from other sites on the Internet can still be found inside your listing from 3rd party services such as Yahoo, Demand Force, Insider Pages, etc. but the stars that help attract attention are gone.  Here is a link from a Sesame Communications  email that highlights the real scoop on what is really going on.   Seems Google is backpeddling at the moment with regards to its reviews tactics.
3. I have also noticed in the past few months, Google Places, after beta testing maps business listings for almost a year, seems to also be reverting back to the old format based on location rather than SEO. Many of my clients that were number one in the maps area with an integrated organic page ranking are now located in a different maps position based on Google's idea of demographic, while retaining  their number one  ranking below in organic search.   Since Google Places is the NEW YELLOW PAGES, this is a significant change and may not be to your advantage, so it is important to know how your listing may have changed and that it may affect you visibility online and new patient referrals.

It is still against Google policy to solicit reviews from patients and they are still tracking IP addresses in their algorithm as far as I know.  Keep this in mind when creating reviews contests.  You don't want to wake up one morning to find all your stars and reviews gone.  Slow and steady… stay the course.  There is no magic bullet when it comes to reviews on Google.  Even they are subject to scrutiny. Be smart with your Internet marketing tactics.

Now is the time to get your ducks in a row to organize an effective Google reviews marketing strategy and be ready when the doors open again to post reviews.  If this is all Greek to you, feel free to contact me at 877-295-5611 or email mk@orthoprenuer.com for a complimentary Internet marketing consultation to discuss what can be done to improve your online presence.

Next week I will discuss the latest updates with the algorithm that can affect your page ranking in local search.  It's a Google world whether we like it or not and if you want to be affective with your online marketing, seek gold stars and Google reviews.

I find most professionals and their staff do not have a good understanding of how SEO (search engine optimization) and Internet marketing works and integrates correctly to achieve optimum exposure of your Internet marketing programs on local search. There are five pieces to the Internet marketing puzzle. Find out what they are how they will enable you to attract more new patients to build your business.

Make sure you add your name and email address to the right to access video training on how to test your website in your local area. For more information, contact 877-295-5611 or email office@orthopreneur.com to schedule a free online evaluation of your local visibility on Google.

One of the frequently asked questions about Facebook and other social networks is: Where is the return on investment? The truth is, there usually isn’t one. This article supports the argument that social networking nurtures existing relationships but does not create new ones.  Most orthodontic practices I queried agree with this.

As my clients know, I have never been a big fan of Facebook as an Internet marketing tool for an orthodontic practice. People use Facebook to socialize and look at pictures. When it comes to marketing your business, I believe Facebook gives you great ability to build relationships with your current patient base, but it rarely has a tangible effect on new business.

For my money, Facebook has not yet earned a prominent place in well-structured Internet marketing strategies. Its role is secondary, more on the public relations side, with customer retention and brand management. New patients online is generated with clicks to your website, not your Facebook page. Spending time and effort with page ranking on Google and the other search engines with SEO is a better return on Investment.

This article cites a report by the research firm Forrester which states that only about a quarter of businesses surveyed experienced any kind of tangible growth because of social media. The flip side of that statistic is that almost 75% of businesses that invested time and money into social media campaigns saw little or no positive results. The article even states that on a list of ten customer acquisition tactics, social networks ranked last.

The article also has some interesting foresight about the growing popularity of iPads. Apple’s newest creation has been available to consumers for less than a year but the iPad and other tablet devices already represent nearly half of mobile retail traffic. What that means is nearly half of all online shopping not done on a laptop or desktop computer was done on a tablet device. That trend is expected to continue in 2011, which means website designers must now consider how a page will appear on a tablet device. Already, websites have had to adapt to increased Internet use on cell phones and smart phones. Tablets devices like the iPad introduce yet another important wrinkle to website design. 

To read the article, click here.

With roughly one third of American cell phone users now toting smartphones in their palms, pockets, and purses, your marketing content is accessible to them everywhere they go, any time of day. It seems like an advantage worth exploiting, but how? How can your message make it through all the filters, all the applications, all the text messages, and reach today’s tech-savvy consumer? One way that is sure to gain momentum and is considered trendy is the QR Code.

Short for “Quick Response Code,” it is a small, two-dimensional barcode that prompts the user’s mobile device to display whatever text or URL has been programmed into it. It began in Japan as a way to track auto parts for vehicle manufacturing; now the use is broadening.

Think of it like a UPC tag that can be placed anywhere in the world. Just like cashiers at the grocery store scan your items for price and inventory tracking, scanned QR Codes immediately display the desired information, and the interaction is documented for tracking purposes.

Any camera phone equipped with a barcode scanning application can utilize QR Codes. Most smartphones are equipped with barcode scanning capability right out of the box. With the technology in place to literally scan the world with a cell phone, the possibilities are plentiful.

Mailing out flyers? Print a QR code on them and direct prospects straight to your website. Paying for advertising at a bus stop? Slap a QR Code on your ad and catapult the consumer straight to your marketing content while they wait for their ride.

Because of their small size and simple nature, QR Codes can be placed almost anywhere: business cards, emails, billboards, posters, menus, etc. Already, QR Codes are being printed on merchandise such as t-shirts, hats, and travel mugs – creating a society of mobile marketers in the truest sense of the term.

As for your business, QR Codes can bridge the gap between consumers’ smartphones and your marketing message. The simplicity of the QR Code is perhaps its most appealing feature: point a mobile device at the code, scan the image and you are immediately brought to the desired content.

When you verify your business listing on Google Places, they supply you with a QR Code that directs users to your online listing.

Another perk is the ease with which QR Codes can be tracked. As soon as someone scans your QR Code and zips to your content, it is logged for your monitoring purposes. Any marketing campaign must be tracked to determine whether it is worth continuing or repeating; the QR Code makes that easy to do.

As smartphones become less of a status symbol and more of a standard, comprehensive marketing strategies will undoubtedly include QR Codes to utilize the advanced technology. Don't get left behind; contact Orthopreneur Internet Marketing Solutions for a free consultation to find out how we can help you stand out from the crowd with your internet marketing efforts.

Do you have a creative idea on how to use QR Code? Leave a comment below.