Google Banning Their Ads on Sites With Pop-Under Pages

Google has decided to give clarification around sites with pop-under pages.  A pop-under page is one that pop up in front of your browser window.  The page thus obscures the content that you want to read and have to click off of the pop-under page.  You can read the full release here but in short Google states:

“Pop-under ads can be annoying as well, as they will “pop under” your window, so that you don’t see them until you minimize your browser. We do not believe these ads provide a good user experience, and therefore are not suitable for Google ads.

That is why we recently clarified our policies around pop-ups and pop-unders to help remove any ambiguity. To simplify our policies, we are no longer permitting the placement of Google ads on pages that are loaded as a pop-up or pop-under. Additionally, we do not permit Google ads on any site that contains or triggers pop-unders, regardless of whether Google ads are shown in the pop-unders.”

The policy should put webmasters and site owners on notice that Google is taking seriously ads that are unhealthy for both individuals reading content and advertisers.  It will be the responsibility of the website owner to know whether they are compliant with Google’s rules.  The failure for non-compliance may result in the banning of the user to place ads using Adsense.

https://falconconsultingandmarketing.com/google-banning-ads-sites-pop-pages/

Internet Marketing for the Restaurateur

So you have decided to open up a NYC restaurant or NYC bar.  You have done all of the preparation of your menu as well as the decor of your establishment.  Now it is time to get customers to come in and enjoy your latest cocktail and tremendous dishes.  Even the very best of restaurant and bar owners need to drive customers to their business.  Some have the luxury of having been in the industry for many years and have a recipe of success.  Some believe word of mouth is the most important ingredient but for many just starting out that isn’t a luxury.  This is where internet marketing comes into place.  It may be the a significant factor on whether your business may be profitable or not.

Many people now are using their smartphones in order to find where to find a great place to eat. Whether you are in Forest Hills or the East Village many people are typing in Google or Yelp and finding great new places to eat.  They are looking at the online menu and checking reviews to see if the eatery is one that is suitable for themselves and their guests.  That is why it is important to stay up to date with your website and other social platforms in order to make it more accessible for individuals to find you.  As such, here are some tips we believe will help you establish an online presence to make hungry customers find you:

1. Use local maps like Google Maps- You should get on the search engine results that has a map feature.  Many people that are looking for a restaurant are searching by location first.  That is why it is imperative to do so.  Google Maps is the most important of the searches as it dominates the searches.  You should also invest in Bing and Yahoo’s map directories.
2. Make sure that your website is mobile responsive and updated- As you are aware, most searches will be done via mobile searches in the future.  That is why it is important to have your site be mobile responsive and updated often.  The reason why you would want to update your website is to inform your potential customers of any changes to your menu and any promotions that you have. Establishments do run promotions for specific occasions like Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day.  It is important to give your customers up to date information to know so they will feel comfortable coming back to your site and finding out what you have been up to.  It is also important that you use words to describe your menu.  Optimizing your menu would allow the search engines to pick up particular foods so if somone is looking for “stuffed crabs” in Bushwick, they would be able to easiliy find your establishment.
3. Be proactive with social media- After claiming your listing on directories like Yelp it can be a battlefield for restaurateurs.  Many people go to social media sites just to complain and rarely offer positive feedback.  It is important to stay on top of the discussion of your business in order to resolve any potential public disaster nightmares.  With respect to Yelp customers, it is helpful to ask to resolve whatever situation a customer had at your eatery and do so accordingly.  This shows customers that you do care about what is being said about your business and are attentive to the needs of the consumer.  A positive way social media can affect your business is if you ask customers to leave feedback on your Facebook page or leave a Yelp review.  In order to make it easier for customers to complete these tasks is by making it simple by giving a discount such as a free drink if they leave a review or leaving information on the bottom of their receipt.  We have found giving out something for a discount or free works better however.

Internet marketing for restaurant and bars is a challenge for many and shouldn’t be marginalized.  The consumers of the present and future are using technology to find what they want and will do so with a flash or with a quick search.  It is important that your business stay on top of the latest trends in the food service industry.

Falcon Consulting & Marketing is a digital marketing agency headquartered in New York City assisting businesses fulfill their SEO and overall marketing needs for many years.  We assist one client at a time reach their revenue goals and understand the restaurant industry extensively.

https://falconconsultingandmarketing.com/internet-marketing-restaurateur/

Google For Jobs Is Live and Looks To Become Top Search Choice For Hiring

Google has introduced Google For Jobs in the United States and is collaborating with other companies in order to roll out an interface that will likely be the most search way of searching for employment in the future.  Google will be collaborating with Monster, Jobs.net, Care.com, Local Job Network, Jobing, Jora, Facebook, Linkedin, Careerbuilder, Glassdoor, Ziprecruiter and others.  From all indication it looks like Google will be collaborating with the dominant employment sites instead of competing directly with them.

The service will allow you to type in the particular job you are interested in and thereafter turn on the alerts and receive notifications when a job that meet your criteria becomes available.

According to Google’s release which you can read in full here:

“Starting today in desktop and mobile, when you search for “jobs near me”, “teaching jobs”, or similar job-seeking queries, you’ll see in-depth results that allow you to explore jobs from across the web.  For many people, a job needs to satisfy some key criteria, like commute time, job specialties they’ve honed or the hours they have available to work.  For many jobs, you’ll also see reviews and ratings for the employer from trusted sites right alongside the job description, and if you’re signed in, for some jobs you’ll see how long it will take to commute to the job from home.  We’ll continue to add filters and information in the future.  Looking for jobs is a personal and complex journey, and one that we’re trying to support in this new search experience.”

Once you find an applicant finds a job that they believe they are compatible with, Google will direct you to the job site in order to begin the application process. For jobs that appeared on multiple sites, Google will link you to the one with the most complete job posting.

For employers, you can post on any of the sites that are collaborating with Google or use their integration guide which you can review here.  In being consistent with their press release about it being a collaboration, employers will not be able to post positions directly through Google.

https://falconconsultingandmarketing.com/google-jobs-live-looks-become-top-search-choice-hiring/

What To Do To Keep Your PPC Online Marketing Gleaming

Pay-per click advertising (PPC) is one of the most effective ways to drive traffic to your site and increase your conversion rates.  For most, you will receive the fastest return on investment (ROI) and you can measure your results pretty easily.  This online marketing feature can be vital for start-ups and other companies who have not invested in long term search engine optimization (SEO).  Google AdWords is the leading platform for online marketers. Adwords is a system whereby keywords and search terms are bidded on by companies and ads are shown to your potential customers in search results.

While most digital marketing agencies use a formulaic system to manage your Adwords campaigns, there are some other ways to keeping your Adwords marketing up-to-date to keep up with the competition.

The one thing that all owners and marketing executives should keep in mind is that search marketing is ever changing.  As a result light to dramatic changes need to be addressed in your current campaign. The reason for the fluctuations is because customer language changes and your competitors are always trying to adjust to societal norms that may reflect on the language that is being used.  Just like life itself, your advertising is alive and constantly changing.  Because of this you should address keywords and search terms accordingly in order to stay on top.

Here are some other tips you should use in order to stay current with your PPC marketing:

1. Advertising during business hours- if your business is only open during traditional hours such as from 9 a.m.  through 5 p.m. then you should advertise accordingly.  You will be losing a considerable amount of money if you do not have someone picking up the phone when your customers are looking at your ad.  In the long term, it may affect your business if you have customers calling your business and you do not have a customer service team available to manage queries from potential buyers.

2. Rotate ads to keep them fresh- if you look at the ad customizer feature you have the option to rotate your ads.  By rotating your ads, you will keep them fresh and customers won’t be bored by stale content. You should be aware that customers who are looking to buy your product or service are keeping up with your ads in order to get an idea to purchase immediately.  Because of this you should always remain vigilant in updating content so your customer base believes you care about what you put out online.

Using these little tweaks will help your business grow.  If you need assistance with managing your pay per click campaign then using a digital marketing agency with knowledge on the management side would be helpful for your organization.  They will be able to maximize your budget by adjusting to changes in your niche.

https://falconconsultingandmarketing.com/keep-ppc-online-marketing-gleaming/

How To Use Social Media To Recruit The Best Employees

Employee recruiting has certainly hit the digital age.  With online sites such as Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter and Google out there, employers have a tremendous opportunity to reach qualified candidates for positions with low marketing budgets.  Linkedin in particular is a strong flatform for finding experienced candidates.  With a membership of close to 500 million, it is the go to place of finding like minded professionalsthat may want to transition into a new business culture.  So how do you make your business attractive to these candidates?  Here are some tips that we have seen through time that have worked.

1. Participate in groups that share your company’s goals-  Being active and engaged in groups will spark communication with people who are in your field and may be highly qualified.  By being constantly in the medium, your company will be a thought leader and once you do have an available opening candidates will be inclined to apply for positions with your organization.

2. Engage with current employees to gain trust- it is always a great idea to communicate and have communication with current employees.  Current employees are a tremendous way of finding good candidates as they have their own networks of school chums and colleagues from previous employment that they still communicate with.  Showing that there is a culture promoted by employees makes your business look like it has a great work environment that some candidates covet.

3. Share content that shows that your business is a thought leader- finding a great candidate is one thing.  Most people would like to know whether your business is reputable enough to join.  Creating and sharing interesting and relevant content through your social media platforms may be the tipping of the scale in having a potential employee join your organization.  It is also a positive idea to share posts that embodies your company’s culture.  Not only will that breed goodwill but also promotes employee engagement.

4.  Create an attractive company page on Linkedin- once you have completed a page, it can be found on the search results.  It will thereafter be the easiest way for candidates to see your page, culture and job openings that are available.  It is important to highlight your company’s values and goals.

5.  Be proactive- many experienced people are contacted by staffing professionals and other businesses via social media.  It is important to stand out of the crowd.  The best way of doing this is by being personal.  Try not using template emails to prospective recruits.  Instead be as personable as you would like your company to be.  Most people engage when they believe they are not being hit with a generic sales pitch and it is important for you to stand out from the crowd.

Social media is becoming the pre-eminent way of finding new talent.  However it is not the only strategy that you should be using. Some businesses may find it easier and efficient to use traditional media as well as online job posting boards such as Craigslist and Monster.  The key is finding the right balance that will assist you in attracting the best candidates for your position.  Don’t cut off all of your options when looking for your next star employee.

https://falconconsultingandmarketing.com/how-to-use-social-media-to-recruit-the-best-employees/

Google Ranked as Best Global Brand According To New Report

BrandZ which is the world’s largest brand equity database holding data from over 650,000 consumers and professionals across 31 countries, comparing over 23,000 brands has released their annual list of Top 100 Global Brands.  According to the report, Google has topped the list for the second year in a row beating out Apple which held the top spot for 5 consecutive years prior.  You can read the report here.  Besides Apple, Google has beat out perennial competitors such as Microsoft, Amazon and McDonalds.  The value of Google has also increased with their estimates calculating the worth of the company to be $245,581 billion.

The impact that a brand has on future purchases or the perception about a product is what is considered brand equity.  The word equity indicates that an asset has been procured. In brand equity, the asset is intangible and is measured in terms of the value attributed by a consumer or potential consumer to the product or service. Brand equity is thus overall transferred into consumer goodwill and propensity to prefer or buy a branded product or service.

In determining the worth of your brand, you should determine whether national sales are going up and at what rate.  The size of the business, how much growth there is for it, and composition of your market also affects your overall worth.

According to a report by Search Engine Journal:

“Google’s growth could perhaps be attributed to greater interest in the company’s products and services. Over the past year Google has doubled down on its self-driving car project, introduced a virtual assistant, and released critically acclaimed consumer products with Google Home and the Pixel phone.”

If you are interested in growing your overall brand, you should consider using a digital marketing agency to assist you with your goals.  At Falcon Consulting & Marketing we have helped many companies assess their overall brand and increase exposure and brand equity.

Falcon Consulting & Marketing is a digital marketing agency headquartered in New York City.  We assist small and medium sized businesses one client at a time.

https://falconconsultingandmarketing.com/google-ranked-as-best-global-brand/

Which Social Media Platform Fits Your Business?

For most marketing execs, it is important to stay in touch with your customers and engage new ones.   It is important to do so for many reasons but the two most important that seem to come to mind is for branding and customer service purposes.  The best way to do is through using your options via social media.  Social media networks are tremendous resources for all size businesses looking to enhance their image.

All of the social media platforms are free to use however, they also have a paid advertising function.  This becomes important for businesses that want to spread more awareness of their brand or are running a new marketing campaign that may or may not have some sort of discount or promotion attached to it. One important aspect that every marketing specialist should look into is what social media platform they should invest their time with.  It is not always the best idea to sacrifice your time and money in some social media platforms that will not get you the results that you are anticipating.  Therefore, in order to be successful you should become familiar with the social media platforms that are available to your company.  By understanding the medium, you can decide on whether the audience fits your company’s culture and whether you would like to proceed in spending time nurturing an online presence with the specific network.

You have to decide what type of exposure and how many clicks you will receive on the particular platforms.  At the end of the day, you are trying to reach the most amount of prospective customers with the least amount of advertising dollars.  The exposure you will potentially achieve will result in customer knowledge and retention.  This “branding” exposure will also lead to longevity of your company in the long run.

Once you have decided on the particular platforms that you will engage in, it is important to post at optimal times.  Let’s face it.  There is alot of content out there.  In order to get the most exposure it is important to post at the right time.  With a platform such as Facebook and its 1.8 billion followers, it can be easy to not stand out in the pack.  We have seen that posting between 1-3 p.m. is generally a good starting point.  It has also been researched that the most optimal time to post is Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m.

Another consideration that should be taken into account is who you are targeting with your posts.  It is important that you are engaging with a targeted audience instead of a non-specific general audience. This is important because advertising to a targeted audience will allow your business to grow with customers who are more likely to purchase your product or service.  It is important that your marketing team has done research into the demographics of your clientele and then attempt to reach them.  Choosing the right platform is certainly part of the research that your team should do as different social networks cater towards certain demographics more than others.

If you are not sure where to start go to the ones that you are most familiar with.  In the event that you are in need of assistance, you should look for assistance by choosing a digital marketing agency that can fulfill your goals.  Falcon Consulting & Marketing is a digital marketing agency headquartered in New York City that can assist any business reach their full potential.  We work with one client at a time reach their revenue goals.

https://falconconsultingandmarketing.com/social-media-platform-fits-business/