Are you one of the millions of Americans who own a smartphone? Then you're probably aware of voice search. You hold down a button on your phone, ask a question out loud, and voilà! In a matter of seconds, your phone gives you an answer. The New Language of Voice Search However, Siri doesn't just magically have all the answers. Instead, your phone's virtual assistant transmits your question directly to a search engine (most likely Google or Bing, but we'll refer to Google from now on for … [Read more...] about How Voice Search Is Changing the Way You Need to Write
5 Examples of Google Not Caring About Your Best Interests
How many times have you heard Google claim its most recent update is designed to improve user experience? We hear this claim so frequently, it's fair to call it Google's M.O. However, when Google refers to users, is it really referring to advertisers? The truth is, for many users—particularly small business owners who seek local visibility on Google—their best interests often do not align with Google's. At the end of the day, it's a corporation, and its bottom line is all about revenue. You have … [Read more...] about 5 Examples of Google Not Caring About Your Best Interests
Are You Aware of This Threat to Your Google Maps Listing?
Do you have a Google Maps listing for your local business? When was the last time you checked it? Google Maps listings are under constant threat of being altered without the manager's knowledge or consent. In this blog post, we'll examine what's behind this chronic problem, how it can impact you, and what you can do to protect yourself. Let's jump in, shall we? Anyone Can Edit Your Google Maps Listing First things first: How can your listing be changed without your say-so? It's … [Read more...] about Are You Aware of This Threat to Your Google Maps Listing?
12 Reasons Using Multiple SEO Companies Is a Terrible Idea
You've heard the saying, "Two heads are better than one." You've probably heard it too many times to count. It's so ingrained in our minds, in fact, that we apply it to virtually every situation we find ourselves in. However, there are many scenarios in which two heads are NOT better than one. Online advertising is one of them. If you're working with one SEO company and decide to hire another one, you won't be doubling your chances at success. You won't promote your business twice as fast. You … [Read more...] about 12 Reasons Using Multiple SEO Companies Is a Terrible Idea
Top 3 Behaviors That Will Hurt Your Web Presence
At Prospect Genius, we've spent years and years perfecting our online advertising services and adapting them to meet Google's changing standards. We do this so we can provide the most effective advertising possible and produce satisfying results. However, our efforts can only take a client so far if that client is doing things that are inadvertently sabotaging their online advertising campaign and web presence. To keep your campaign successful, stay on Google's good side by avoiding these three … [Read more...] about Top 3 Behaviors That Will Hurt Your Web Presence
Google's New Policy Lets You Separate Business and Personal Accounts
Do you remember having to pass along your Google log-in information when you first signed up with us? That's because, due to one of Google's flawed policies, we needed it in order to access your business's listings and data. It was a flawed policy because it forced you to consolidate all of your Google applications under one username, regardless of whether they were for personal or professional use. This policy created a lot of headaches and confusion, which is why we're so relieved that it has … [Read more...] about Google's New Policy Lets You Separate Business and Personal Accounts
Outdated Google Hacks You Need to Stop Using
Google is constantly refining and updating its algorithms to generate the most helpful and relevant search results possible for its users. As a business owner in the year 2014, you're well aware of this. You've probably seen firsthand the changes—some more subtle than others—in Google+ Local, Google Places for Business, and even standard Google search pages. But did you know that these algorithm changes have a significant impact on the advertising strategies that businesses are allowed to … [Read more...] about Outdated Google Hacks You Need to Stop Using
Why Changing Your Company Name Isn't Easy
It's frustrating to hear that your plans to change your company name aren't as feasible as you thought. We get it. But online advertisers aren't just being uncooperative or lazy when they tell you that a company name change isn't as easy as just switching the header on your website. "Why," you ask, "in the age of high-speed everything, does it take so much time and effort to make a simple change? Isn’t the Internet supposed to make life easier?" The hard truth is that the Internet's blessing is … [Read more...] about Why Changing Your Company Name Isn't Easy