Google Places: The Place to Be

Posted by ADMAX on Jul 23, 2011 in Da Blog! | 0 comments

What’s the first rule of real estate? Location, location, location. Google recently stated that one out of every five searches is related to location. That’s 2.6 billion local searches on a monthly basis and that is increasing steadily at 50% a year. Yeah, that’s a lot of zeroes in a month, which is why you need to claim your space on Google Places, now.

Having a good listing can increase your ranking on Google’s index, which only boosts your ability to commune more potential clients. Posting real time updates on events, sales or new products is possible Google Places. If that’s not worth it, I couldn’t tell you what would be.

Claiming Your Space

If you don’t have a Google account, you’ll need to create one. But that’s more great news because it’s free. Here are 7 ways to ensure you find success on Google Places.

Attack of the Daily Deal Couponeros!

Posted by ADMAX on Jan 20, 2011 in Da Blog! | 0 comments

Its a new era for bargain seekers with a constant stream of strongly discounted coupon offers: 40% off a Princess Cruise ticket, 55% off a facial, or 5 worth of laundry and dry cleaning for .

Entrepreneurs, venture capitalists,and big corporations are gambling that the new discount coupon promotional services represent a tectonic shift in consumer trends, and a profound new way to pull in new customers.

Last year, Groupon, one of largest players, turned down a $6 billion acquisition offer from Google, LivingSocial, and Web site that distributes daily deals for restaurants, spas and retail outlets, added $400 million to its coffers last week as investors continued to funnel money into the fast-growing company.
Even megalithic facebook is launching a Daily Deals program to test waters. Yahoo announced the launch of Local Offers program recently is partnering with websites like Groupon, LivingSocial, Gilt City, and others to provide a wide selection of local deals coupons from nearby restaurants or local retailers.

So what’s scoop here? Can these help or hurt a small business?

Reports Scott Kirsner at Boston Globe –

Salespeople from Groupon, BuyWithMe, LivingSocial, or coupon services are eagerly calling small businesses to get them to offer deep discounts on the products services. “People call you daily,’’ says Bob Schwartz, director of marketing at Boston Duck Tours. “ and once you offer a deal with one service, all others will call you assuming you’ll do a deal with them.’’

But could all this excitement about a new way of circulating coupons be an unsustainable blip?

Here’s how things work. Deals are offered for a few days only, and you have to pay up front with a credit card. You print a coupon to bring to the business, or, in some cases, show your mobile phone screen. As with old-fashioned coupons, there’s an expiration date.  These services emphasize they can help introduce new customers to a company without upfront outlays for advertising. Some of those customers may come back, or spend more than coupon value on that first visit, executives at services say.

And all is not golden as Forbes writes –

Groupon looks to be suffering the death of a thousand cuts—paper cuts, that is, from class actions around terms of its deals, state regulator cease–desist letters around its marketing of alcohol me-too business plans of 425 competitors that have flooded marketplace. As Groupon preps an initial public offering rumored to value it at $15 billion,the  question is: Are these problems just annoyances or signs of a more serious struggle to transform its cult following into a sustainable business for long run?

At Dellaria Salons & Spas of Allston, some of its 26 salons attracted repeat customers after offering coupons through EverSave and LivingSocial. But or locations just “really seemed to get deal-seekers who buy the coupon and jump from place to place,’’ says marketing manager Hayley Goff.

We call those customers “couponeros” they really take some of luster out of concept.

Tips For Businesses Using Daily Deal type coupon marketing –

To avoid plunderings of “couponeros,” Marketing pundit Tom Muse suggested that businesses offer structured deals that spread out the coupon’s discount over several visits. For example, instead of a one-time coupon that offers $30 worth of services, business should offer a deal that includes three coupons that are each worth $10 in services. Doing so may help develop a rapport with customer to encourage return visits and increase probability that business would make a profit with their deal promotion. Or suggestions include offering discounts on specific items rather than total bill, cross-selling products and services to customers, targeting less popular product or service items, and setting coupon redemption dates to increase off-peak or seasonal traffic.