ASENZ Blog
Google back in China
Us Google-watchers thought we would drop an article on our blog to succinctly clarify the brief history and lingering issues between the PRC and Google.
2010 data suggests that mainland Chinese Internet users number close to 420 million eclipsing the US with about 240 million. Google and indeed all search vendors are likely to find the Chinese market increasingly attractive!
In 2006, Google launched its China-based search service with results subject to censorship by the Chinese government. Your search results announced as much at the bottom of each page! Then, three years later in March of 2009, the Chinese Government blocked access to Google’s YouTube site.
Frustrated, in March of this year, Google started redirecting searches to an alternate search site in Hong Kong to bypass PRC regulators. Hong Kong is not subject to the same censorship laws.
The Chinese Government responded by banning all Google search sites including Google Mobile. The ban was lifted a day later but Google, unwilling to cooperate with Chinese censors, closed its mainland search engine. Recently, a compromise was reached. China agreed to renew Google’s License and the latter promised to obey Chinese law.
Incidentally, Google is not the biggest search player in China and it continues to lose ground against first place rival Baidu, which reportedly indexes over 740 million pages. Now 10 years old, Baidu was the first Chinese company to be included in the NASDAQ-100 index.
Posted by Felice Hunt on 27th July, 2010 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: Google, Social Web, Social Media Business, Marketing Techniques 4 Easy Ways to Engage Your Facebook Fans
Over three million businesses, brands and celebrities have created Facebook pages, but not many know how to best use them. Some have successfully mastered this skill, so what’s their secret? Well, they’ve figured out how to move from “broadcast” mode into engagement and here are the four steps they’re using to engage their fans.
1. Ask Their Opinion
Facebook posts that ask questions provide an easy call to action.
2. Test Their Knowledge
Quizzes, Giveaways and Promotions are entertaining and lengthen the time a user spends engaged with your brand.
3. Pair Promotions with Content
Contests paired with the previous step will boost participation and pass-along rates.
4. Thank Your Fans
Give your fans something they value! This could mean all fans or one fan at random to get something really special.
Have you used any other techniques that have worked to successfully engage Facebook fans? Let us know!
Posted by Felice Hunt on 20th July, 2010 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: Social Media, Marketing Techniques, Social Media Companies, Using Social Media, Social Media Sites, Online Marketing Techniques, Social Media Business, Social Media Marketing, Marketing Tips, Small Business Online Marketing, Online Marketing, Online Marketing Tips, Social Media Use, Social Web HOW TO: Implement a Social Media Business Strategy
There are 5 points to put a social media strategy in motion. Having a policy alone isn’t good enough, there needs to be a plan in place.
1. Determine Your Objective
Why are you doing this and what are you hoping to accomplish?
2. Find an Internal Evangelist
Someone needs to be held accountable for the outcomes.
3. Consider Your Employees
This is an important one. Offer training. Organizations need to have an understanding of their employees’ level of knowledge and interest.
4. Check Your Tech
Be aware of your company’s technological capabilities and be sure that the system is combatable with the strategy.
5. Listen First
Don’t be afraid to ask questions!!
To learn more about this subject, visit:
http://mashable.com/2009/12/28/social-media-business-strategy/
Posted by Felice Hunt on 15th July, 2010 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: Using Social Media, Social Media Sites, Online Marketing Techniques, Small Business Online Marketing, Online Marketing, Social Media Business, Marketing Tips, Online Marketing Tips, Social Media Marketing, Social Media Use, Social Web Finding your Web Site’s Most Qualified Target Audience
Having hundreds of visitors viewing your site each day sounds exciting, but having visitors that convert into prospects, leads and buyers is much more gratifying and beneficial to the success of the company. It’s all about quality, not quantity.
The goal is to design your site to address the needs of your target audience(s) (keep in mind that most businesses have more than one target audience). In order to speak to and catch the attention of these people though, you first need to identify who they are. This can be done through research, reviewing past sales will allow you to analyze the types of people who normally purchase these products or services. The more detail you have, the better you’re able to target. In the case of more than one target audience, it’s important to complete this exercise for each. Don’t use broad content to try and address everyone’s needs at the same time. Each target needs to feel that you genuinely understand their needs and can offer solutions.
To read the full article, written by ASENZ VP Jean M. Rowan, visit:
http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2010/05/10/smallb4.html
Posted by Felice Hunt on 13th July, 2010 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: Marketing Tips, Online Marketing, Online Marketing Techniques, Online Marketing Tips, Social Media Marketing, Small Business Online Marketing, Social Web, Advertising Target Audience How to Engage and Convert Web Site Traffic for Profit
This article is all about helping businesses grow by establishing a web presence that will drive traffic to your site and then how to convert this traffic to business.
First, you need to identify the primary purpose of your web presence (the article provides a few examples of what your purpose could be). Then, once you’ve determined your primary purpose, it’s time to develop a unique selling proposition (USP). A USP is designed to distinguish your brand from competitors and emphasize these advantages (the article provides a more in-depth definition as well as questions you should ask yourself when constructing your own USP).
To read the entire article, written by ASENZ VP Jean M. Rowan, go to:
http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2010/04/05/smallb2.html
Posted by Felice Hunt on 12th July, 2010 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: Online Marketing, Online Marketing Tips, Online Marketing Techniques, Small Business Online Marketing, Marketing Techniques, Marketing Tips, Social Media Business, Social Web, Social Media Use How to Get More Leads by Getting Your Business on Google Maps
Last year Google exceeded the yellow pages for local business search. This means that more consumers are using Google to find your business than any other source. Are you there? While buying Google AdWords might be out of your budget, you can still be on the top of Page 1 for FREE. Yes, FREE!! Just submit your website to Google Maps.
Here is the process for you to get your site added to Google Maps.
Step 1: Add Your Business
Visit Google Local’s “Add/Edit Your Business” page. There you will be asked to enter your Google account login and password (or you can quickly create one) before entering the submission area. Once in, you need to provide standard business address and contact information, a 200-character description of your business, and the forms of payment you accept from consumers and your operating hours.
Step 2: Choose a Category
Next you will be asked to provide a category that best describes your business. You can enter a phrase here and Google will try to find a related category to make this process simpler for you. You have the option to appear in up to 5 separate categories.
Step 3: Preview and Select Verification Method
Your business listing along with a proof of your business’s mapped location is shown for your approval. Here you can make any necessary final edits to your listing. After that, you have to choose which verification method that Google will use to confirm your address; do you want Google to call you or receive a postcard to confirm your address? If you choose the phone call, be prepared to answer immediately! They are fast, but not informative. The call is just a computerized voice with no identification, which gives you a code to enter in your account.
Step 4: Verify
Follow the instructions provided to you by either the postcard or the phone and your listing will be active within 6 weeks.
If being at the top of Google is not enticing enough, there is an option to add a coupon so when someone clicks on your map listing, they can download the coupon for future use. Or if the searcher has clicked on your map listing from a mobile phone (as many of us do), they can see the coupon right on their phone.
Get your business found today. It’s easy and free.
Posted by Jean Rowan on 9th July, 2010 | Comments (1) | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: SEO, Keyword Research, Social Media Use, Social Web, Google Maps Qioptiq Site Launch
ASENZ Marketing just went live with www.qioptiq.com. The site is over 180 pages and was designed and configured in 3 months! Qioptiq has a worldwide presence with locations throughout Europe, Asia and the USA.
Posted by Felice Hunt on 2nd July, 2010 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
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