Blog
Facebook – Friend or Foe?
Are you puzzled or frustrated by all the privacy changes from Facebook this month? I sure am. When I discovered I had a porn star in my fan (like) box, which was randomly showing up on my home page, I decided to take a closer look at my connections & block a few. I was already using the limited list function and had my privacy settings changed from their default mode (which I highly recommend & posted on my FB page), however, the new “like” is a big game changer. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Facebook changes the rules again and again.
Now, “More than Half of Facebook Users May Quit Site” according to a new poll in CIO. You can read the article here, but first, tell me what you think in the comments below. 
http://www.cio.com/article/594628/More_Than_Half_of_Facebook_Users_May_Quit_Site_Poll_Finds
Internet Marketing Trend for Retail Business Owners
9 Killer Tips for Location-Based Marketing-
Another trend in Internet Marketing is the So-called “lo-so” networks like Foursquare, Loopt, and Gowalla. I downloaded the Foursquare iPhone app a few weeks ago and soon realized that the real value was for business owners to promote their local business & reward customers for their word-of-mouth marketing. These “lo-so” networks enable any business with a physical location to communicate with customers online and make it easy to create promotions and loyalty programs to increase store traffic and sales.
Read this article on social media marketing tips if you’re a small business owner, retailer or work in tourism. The author Shane Snow says, “The question any brick-and-mortar business owner should be asking him or herself is no longer “Should I use lo-so networks?” It’s “How do I do it?” The following tips are essential to getting started.” 
Click to read the full article to learn about the social networks and the promotional strategies that work.
Are You Addicted to Social Media?
Social Media is one of the biggest Internet Marketing Trends of all time. The other day I was pondering if there’s a rise in depression from the social media craze and the anxiety it causes. My attorney baby boomer friend recently said, “This social networking is brutal.” I wonder how many other people feel that way. Do you?
I ran across this quiz that helps you rank your social media addiction. I’d love to hear your comments below. How does social media affect your day-to-day emotions and relationships? Take the Social Media Addiction Quiz. These were my results;-) Leave a comment below and tell us your thoughts.
50%
This quiz was provided by – Search & Social – Media Experts
Mobile Marketing & Local Search
Mobile marketing looks like it will finally get attention and marketing dollars. Why? Smartphones & Apps have changed the way consumers behave, which affects their buying decisions and how they choose to get their information. The iPhone 3GS, became the top-selling handset in the US in 2009. In its Q3 earnings call Google’s CEO Eric Schmidt said that the company had seen “30% quarter-over-quarter growth in mobile searches in the third quarter.” Next year the US mobile Internet will cross 100 million users without too much trouble, according to a report in Search Engine Land this month.
TIP: Why not offer a mobile coupon on your Google map listing? Great for retailers, small business owners and anyone thinking creatively to literally drive sales and traffic.
Think about your own behavior. How often do you use your iPhone or smartphone to search and find information and deals? Have you tried RedLaser App? For $1.99, this handy barcode scanner app let’s you scan any barcode and you’ll immediately find the cheapest price & a store that’s closest to you. Compare low online and local prices from hundreds of thousands of retailers. Recently I used this app while shopping for a coffeemaker, and found a savings of 10-60% less than the store I was standing in. Instant gratification versus savings, hmm?
Tip: You’ll want to get in front of this audience too via text or perhaps get an app made for your business. Ask me for detail.
Read more on Marketing Strategies & Trends for 2010 here:
