The web is abuzz over Google’s entry into the world of Social Media: Google+. With their social media entry, Google is betting the company, but making the name of this new network their corporate name +, insinuating that the web is now better as a result of Google+. Google+ brings social networking to each of it’s services: Search, Gmail, Apps like Google Calendar, YouTube, Google Reader, and more. The added benefit is that users can share what their doing not just from the “Google+” site, but from every Google branded service; the web has gone social.

The question we hear often is this: Is Google+ going make Facebook the next MySpace? (MySpace was a popular and dominant force in Social Media until Facebook came to the scene…today MySpace is nearly dead) My gut reaction is to say no. Why? Because Google+ and Facebook are completely different … yet the same.

Yes you can chat with people, post images or videos and share content on both, but at the core they each begin with differing philosophies. Facebook uses permission-based friend management: you must accept people as your friends and choose who is able to view your information. (As a business, you can also choose to make your page open for everyone to see.) Google+ begins with the premise that your page is wide open; you simply categorize your fiends into circles. Using the metaphor of ‘circles‘ you might have an “inner-circle” of your closest friends, and “co-workers” that you discuss work with, and as many other circles as you need. Facebook has been greatly criticized in the past for their privacy changes; Google+ starts with wide-open privacy settings. (Meaning your information is never really private with Google+)

Google’s brand gives it a huge advantage over rival Facebook; with Google.com search remaining the most trusted search engine on the web. If they play their cards right, Google+ will become an invisible part of the most popular sites on the internet today: Search, YouTube, Calendaring, etc.
So here is the plus Google is talking about …

Let’s take one of the web’s most universal tasks: Searching. Today, when you search for a keyword, Google pulls up pages most related tƒo your search. But now Google is +1‘ing your search results. If your page has been “Plussed” (which is the Google way of “liking” a page or item) each of your friends who +1’ed the page will now show up right in search results, giving you a crowd-sourced opinion of what your friends like, and ultimately making those plusses incredibly valuable.

Content is going to be relevant only if it is popular with-in the Google+ Social Media network, and it makes sense. The more a page is +1’ed or discussed by comments within the Google+ network the more popular and relevant it will be. Google+ is poised to completely change the way we find information and most importantly how we share it.

Time will tell what will become of Google’s foray into the world of Social Media, but with the tight integration with Search and many of the web’s hottest sites, it could be a +1 future.

Postcards are a great way to promote your business or product. Everyone knows that Postcards are great for mailing, but they also work well as handouts or for in-store promotion of specials or other services.   They are an excellent complement to your business card, as they give you a much larger canvas to describe products, services and specials.   Postcards give you the space to really sell your business.

During the Month of August we’ve got a fantastic special on 4×6” Postcards:  We will custom design and print 1,000 postcards for your business for only $199!

This offer is good only through the end of August 2011, so contact us before it’s too late.

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Email marketing is one of the most powerful marketing tools available in business today. Any business can achieve outstanding results, and the return on investment makes it an incredible way to maximize your profits.

Here are five reasons you should consider using Email Marketing in 2011 for your business:

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