Find the signup page at plus.google.com

same day payday loans

Understanding the Value of Google Plus:

Google + adds a social layer for your search experience with Google and is a hub for all of the main free services that Google offers.  While Facebook is just a social media platform built from the ground up, Google is the main information resource on the Web.  Google+ interfaces fully with your Google search experience to give you more personalized information when searching. Google+ is like the personal hub for all of Google’s core resources and they keep giving you more and more business resources as an incentive to join Google Plus.

Signing Up for Google Plus:

Where do you start? By getting or using your personal Gmail account and signing up for a Google Plus Personal Profile by going to http://local.google.com and click “Put your business on Google Maps”. Another way is to go to: http://Google.com/places  and click “Get started for free”. See my video: http://bit.ly/googleplussignupvideo and text version: http://bit.ly/googleplussignuptext

Connecting to people:

After you’ve signed up, the next thing you need to do is locate some people and add them to Circles. This is how you organize people that you connect to on Google Plus. You want to make sure to add a photo and public description so people can find you. When you find someone you then add them to a circle you created and they will be notified to decide if they want to add you back to a circle. They won’t know the name of the circle you added them to, just as you will not know what name they added you to.  You get notifications in the upper right corner of the screen found as a red box with a number in it. The number represents the number of unread messages.

When you group people into these circles you are creating groups that you can share relevant content with. For example, your spouse may not be interested in your conversations you have with people at work. So when you share something or start a conversation, only include your Co-worker’s circle. The rest of your circles will not know that that conversation exists. Video on how to find and add someone to a Circle: http://bit.ly/findingpeopleingoogleplus

Getting your Business on the Map with Google Plus Local (which used to be Google Places):

Google Plus Local and Google Plus Business Pages are useful tools that can help your business show up better in local search results.

Google Places is now Google + Local, an upgrade introduced by Google in 2012.  Google redesigned the Google Places page to look more like a Google Plus page, and renamed it Google Plus Local, ultimately to combine your Google Map listing (Google Places) with the social connection of your Google Plus page.

I recommend setting up or claiming your Google Plus Local page first so you may show up on Google directories, and use this same Gmail account to do it. See my video for setting up a Google+ Local page if you have no listing in Google Maps: http://bit.ly/googlepluslocalsetup and http://bit.ly/googlepluselocal2.

With  Google Plus, businesses can now create social pages on Google Plus, called Google Plus for Business — they are comparable to Facebook business Pages. You set this up from your Google Plus personal page. If you then verify the address, Google may link it to your Google Plus Local page. If linked it will let you have your review, pictures, YouTube channel, and posts all in the same place. Here is a link to an example of where that occurred. Notice the review, posts and big picture vs. just map at the top: http://bit.ly/bigmillgpluspage.  Video on how to set up a Google+ business page: http://bit.ly/googleplusbusinesspage.

Hangout is a way to have video chats with up to 10 people:

Try having a Hangout. Hangouts allow you to have group video conversations with people in your circles, or simply have a private video call with one person. There is even a screen sharing feature so that you can show people your screen while you are talking to them, or have them show you theirs. You can also have what are called “hangouts on-air” that broadcast over YouTube and are recorded on YouTube at the same time. This opens up the possibility for everyone with a Google Plus access, a microphone and web camera to broadcast live to the world. https://plus.google.com/u/0/hangouts

Google Communities:
This is like LinkedIn groups, Facebook groups and a bit like on-line forums that have been around for years. For some reason Google did not integrate Google’s own Groups into Google Plus but created something new. It is a place to discuss similar topics with other Google plus members. You can have a public or private community and set up “categories” for sub discussions in the communities. I have set up a number of communities, as anyone can, called Q&A for Small Businesses. Join this one and say Hi: http://bit.ly/qana4smallbusiness Also I have a community called Google+ for small businesses: https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/111888324672910373642

Google Authorship – if you want to be known as an expert in your field:

Google Authorship is what gets peoples’ faces to show up when you search about some information on-line. It is a way to let Google know you are contributing to one WordPress blog or many so your posts will be organized together. The basic concept is that you will add the web URL of your blog to your Google Plus profile and then a web link in your blog pointing back to your Google Plus personal profile. This can only be set up from your Google Plus personal profile, not your Google Plus business page.  A link to Google Help on how to set it up: https://plus.google.com/authorship

Be active: +1 things you find interesting. Make comments if you have a thought to share. Do this within the Google+ interface and on all other websites where you see a +1 button. Share that content with the relevant circles and contribute to communities.

Google Chrome has more apps that work with Google Plus:
Switch to Google Chrome, there are a number of great apps you can add on to enhance your Google+ experience as well as a number of other cool feature.

Get the Google App for Android or iPhone and use it:
Download the Google+ app to your Android or iPhone. If you have an android phone and take pictures, feel free to turn on auto upload but disable auto publishing your photos. You can go back later to share them with relevant circles. Unfortunately, the iPhone app does not allow auto-upload. In the app, check out the Messenger feature. This will allow you to chat with those in your circles while you are away from your desk.

See my latest blog post on ProNetworkingOnLine.com for more tips on using Google Plus and the mind-map:
http://www.mindmeister.com/285549565/effective-us-of-google-and-understanding-its-impact-on-our-businesses-today-by-martin-brossman-pronetworkingonline-com

Learn more! Join Martin Brossman, Greg Hyer by looking us up on Google + by name.  Martin Brossman at: Brossmanongp.com

Get my latest books by searching Martin Brossman on Amazon: Social Media for Business written by me and Anora McGaha, and Linking Into Sales, produced by me and Greg Hyer.

Martin Brossman 919 847-4757, Martin@CoachingSupport.com    ProNetworkingOnLine.com  (919) 847-4757
Linkedin: BrossmanOnLI.com and to connect on Linkedin use my above email. On Facebook: BrossmanOnFB.com, Twitter: BrossmanOnTW.com, on YouTube: BrossmanOnYT.com and on Google + BrossmanOnGP.com
Greg Hyer can be reached at HyerMedia.com and LinkingTheTriangle.com
On Linkedin at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/greghyer

Google Authorship for WordPress.com blogs

How to set up Google Authorship for WordPress.com Blogs
by Martin Brossman and Andrew Hill

1) Set up a Google Plus personal profile page.

2) Edit the page and go to the area “Contributor to” and add the URL of your WordPress.com blog with a real description above it. Make sure to save it. For example: “Martin Brossman in the Media” is the description and the URL is http://martinbrossmanmedia.wordpress.com/

3. Open another window or tab your WordPress.com blog so you can switch back and forth between your Google Plus account and it. You will need the unique number of your Google Plus page in this process. Mine is 103386024139526427298 that I got from this link: https://plus.google.com/103386024139526427298/about

4. You are going to have to put some code in your to your main page using at Text widget. The code is this below but you will substitute your own Google Profile number for mine. Make sure to do this right for I don’t want to get credit for your work.
This is the code:

Connect with me on: <a href=”https://plus.google.com/103386024139526427298?rel=author”>Google+</a>

(again you will use that unique number in the URL of your Google Plus page to set this up and replace my number “103386024139526427298″ with your number. Double check this. or use this one to just copy and insert the number between / and ?:

Connect with me on: <a href=”https://plus.google.com/?rel=author”>Google+</a>

Make sure to scroll down and select Update Profile .

5) Go into the Widget area under the Appearance in the dashboard and click on the “Text” widget and drag it over to the one of the areas like”Main Sidebar”. You want it in a Widget that will show up on all pages. Copy the code in that area too. Make sure to select Save as well.

And I have opened the Text Widget up to see how I pasted the code in there:

6) Last go to the Google rich snippet tool and check to see if it works by pasting in the URL and a blog post:
http://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/richsnippets
If it works you will see your little picture next to the text and if it does not an error on what to do.

Resources for the article:

http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=2539557

This Google Plus community may be useful as well on Google Authorship:
https://plus.google.com/communities/104474428845467390263

Connect to me on Google Plus at http://BrossmanOnGP.com

Martin Brossman – Learn more about my training at:
ProNetworkingOnLine.com or call me at 919 847-4757

Mark Hill – All In Surf Shop

Many people are still hoping that the major media will “find them”, when the power to be the media is right in their hands and, in the long haul, both less work and more sustainable.  Social media marketing gives us the tools to be the New Media–if we are willing to learn some new skills.  I jokingly say that adult learners would rather have a root-canal then develop one new behavior. It is not easy for most of us to learn a new skill, yet doing so can be valuable in promoting your small business.

A surfer doesn’t try to control the ocean, he learns how to catch the right wave. This is more like the new world of marketing and key to being the media. So many times I have seen people get short national coverage by the major media and gain a quick spike in business that didn’t last like they thought it would. Today’s approach is about generating quality keyword-driven content and being responsive to topics in the major media that you can contribute real value to.

Here is the sequence to enhance your skills in Being the Media:

-        Listen carefully to what is news in the traditional media, both small and large, for something that you could add real value to or a perspective that the media did not represent.

-        Generate quality content worth your customer’s and prospective customer’s attention. Your goal is offering content that is worth your customer walking across the street to see.

-        Make sure to use the words the media used in the content, and if you can, in the title of the content. For example, if you called it “John Doe’s resignation talk” and the media calls it “Mr. Doe’s Resignation,” then that is what you should call it too. For example, the media says that Mr. Doe’s Resignation was voluntary and you have a relevant comment that it is not, you want to have it heard. You have a clearly different message so it is key that your content includes “Mr. Doe’s Resignation” and maybe in the title if possible. Follow with something clear and to the point on the topic worth people viewing or reading. Like a video referencing it, accompanied by a link to what you want them to see next.

-        It is about catching a wave like a surfer. You can also make comments to the media referring to your perspective on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook as well, but be polite just as though your best customer or Mother was watching.

-        Make sure to use the terms they use, even if it is not the way you would describe yourself. Using terms other people used to describe you is not new. The Quakers for example are actually called The Friends, and the term Quaker was originally used to mock them, making fun of the way they would jump up and “quake” in church. So they “rode the wave” by calling themselves “Quakers”.

Remember:  Learning to surf is better than trying to control the ocean. Many smart businesses have learned this and are looking for new ways to use it. I also offer training and classes on this topic. Also see my realated article about creating Keyword driven content: http://pronetworkingonline.com/keyword-driven-content-attracting-the-right-customer/

Let me hear how you are becoming the media with your business or causes!
Martin Brossman
On Facebook at: BrossmanOnFB.com , Twitter at: BrossmanOnTw.com , Google + at: BrossmanOnGP.com and LinkedIn at: BrossmanOnLi.com

Google Free Keyword Tool

Posting non-keyword-driven content is like talking to a wall alone, but people do it all the time since they haven’t discovered what they should do instead.  If you make a blog post that starts with the title “What’s new and exciting” then people only looking for the actual term “What’s new and exciting” will find it. But if you post “The Best SCUBA Gear for Beginners” someone may find it who will want to connect to your SCUBA instruction business.  SCUBA Gear has 49,000 Local Monthly Searches and “SCUBA Gear for Beginners” has 73 Local Monthly Searches. I bet those 73 really care about the content if it is worth seeing.

How do you research stats that apply to your business?  Here’s one method:

-        Go to the free Google keyword tool (gkwords.com) and look up two or more words you think people may use looking for the content. View the “Local Monthly Searches” — any number is good from 80 to 80,000. I am big on keeping this simple so you can move fast and get the content out. Over time this truly adds up.

-         For example, a SCUBA instructor wrote a blog post explaining Nitrox and its use with SCUBA diving because a number of students had asked about it in his hands-on SCUBA classes. Then he looked up “Into to Nitrox” and “Introduction to Nitrox” had a “-“ in the “Local Monthly Searches” column, meaning not enough people are searching for that to be significant.  So he tried “Nitrox Tanks” and found 80 searches under “Local Monthly Searches”. That is good enough and he produced the blog title: “Nitrox and Nitrox Tanks for Beginners”. This now can be found.

-        Here is a link to see how this post was indexed by Google:
http://bit.ly/SCUBNitroxTanksSearch

How are you using Keywords and the Google Keyword took in your business?  Let me know in the comment area.

Sola Coffee – Raleigh NC

Buy Local and truly make a difference in your community.  By Martin Brossman and Christine Alexander

There is something new in the air…have you noticed it?

Collectively people are beginning to wake up and realize that their own personal success can be impacted by others’ success, good or bad.  What happens to those around us eventually impacts us.

When a company closes down in a community, far more people are affected than just those employees and families. Many other businesses in that community will also be hurt because the buying power and habits of those laid-off individuals change, and less is sold.

The good news is that this awareness has caused people to start seeing the value in helping others succeed. We have come to a paradigm shift from focusing on just our own lives—to realizing that our life success is directly connected to how others are succeeding around us, and in our community.

We are seeing more and more business owners working together with companies they once would have considered competition and community citizens going out of their way to promote local businesses they like and trust.

This is so encouraging. But let it not stop here.  Each and every person has a part in bringing collective success back to our communities and now is the perfect time.

Sola Coffee – Raleigh NC

SHOP LOCAL

1.  Before you head out for Black Friday Shopping, think about the gifts you can buy from small local stores. Not only will they be unique, but you’ll get the satisfaction of knowing you’ve helped build your community- one gift at a time.
2. Get your kids involved and teach them the great things they are doing by shopping local – make it an opportunity to help them become focused on others around them, teaching them the power they have in how and wherethey spend their money.
3. We can’t think of a better way to have a family day than to have the whole family be part of enjoying the many shops around town.

Here are a few shopping local ideas:
Hair Salon Gift Certificate
Nail Salon Gift Certificate
Spa, Massage, Pamper Gift Certificate
Restaurant/ Coffee Shop Gift Certificate
Art Classes, Sports Camps, Dance Classes
Certificate for Oil Changes/Tune-up
Local Gym Membership
Yoga Classes/Zumba Classes
Local Artist Gifts
And there are many more. Think outside-the-box!

Sola Coffee – Raleigh NC

                                                              SPREAD THE WORD

Social Media has become a powerhouse for spreading the word about a good cause, and it is so easy to do.

When you’re out shopping, make it your priority to shout-out about any local companies you’re around.  You can do this by posting a “check-in” when you are at the business. If you are using Facebook, FourSquare, Yelp or Google+ to name a few, you can simply add a comment that you are buying or shopping at a local-owned business.

If  you are using Twitter, make sure to add the hashtag #buylocal as a way to make your check-in stand out.

For example: “Stopping in to buy a gift certificate at Sola Café #BuyLocal“

Beyond checking-in, make sure to take a picture of the local business or your friends in the local business and share on-line by posting on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

If you are a business owner, you may want to let the store know what you are doing. For example: “Just want to let you know I am sharing on social media that I am buying this gift certificate and up to a few hundred people may see it.”

                                          START YOUR OWN MOVEMENT

Holly Springs Shop Local

The availability of Facebook has made it as easy as 1-2-3 to start your own “Shop Local” community! You do not need permission to do it, just do it. Start your group and connect with other business owners and invite them to participate in the movement. You’ll be shocked at how excited they get and how you will suddenly build close relationships with other business owners.

If you want to see an example of a Facebook page encouraging local business, see:

https://www.facebook.com/HollySpringsShopLocal

Isn’t it exciting to know that you can truly make a difference in your own community? You have the power to Transform Your Community One Purchase at a Time!

Share with us how you are supporting your local businesses. Post below in the comment area–we would love to hear!

Happy Holidays,
Martin Brossman and Christine Alexander

How to use LinkedIn Endorsements 

Now you can give and receive Endorsements in the Skills and Expertise section of LinkedIn, and it’s important for you to take some time to understand this. Endorsements are different from Recommendations. Recommendations require more commitment and to me still carry more weight.
You must be connected to the person to give them an Endorsement or a Recommendation.

Here are several steps I suggest:
1) Go to your own Skills and Expertise section and make sure you entered your skills that you want to be endorsed on. Some people did not know what this section was and just put interests or something like “Using the Internet”. That would be fine if you are just starting out, but if you are a CEO and still designate learning the Internet as a skill you are proud of, I am not sure that looks very good. When you type in a skill, you will then see LinkedIn will start auto filling it. I would first pick one of the auto fills unless none match your skill, and then enter the new skill.

2) Make sure to go and “Endorse” anyone that has already given you an Endorsement.Pick the areas you have experienced that they are good at and it is OK not to pick the ones you just don’t have enough information on to rate.

3) Next reach out to important people in your network and give them an Endorsement, unless you already did so from step 2.

4) Check in from week to week on how this changes, and remember you can move your Endorsements up or down on your page by clicking the tab.

Recommendations are also still very important and keep giving them to people that have done outstanding work or provided you with outstanding value. Just remember they moved where to go to  give someone a recommendation. It is now under “send a message” on their profile. Below is my friend Tom Golden’s profile with the drop down box showing what to select to give him a recommendation.

Here is a video made by Greg Hyer and I walking you through LinkedIn Endorsements:

And our Podcast on it as well can be found on iTunes at:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/linking-into-sales/id426618378 

If you find this useful let us know in the comments area or share a story of success. Also Greg Hyer and I are available for on-site training in LinkedIn for your team. Learn more and hear our podcast at: LinkingIntoSales.com. We are also on iTunes (make sure to leave a comment if you like a show). Greg Hyer and I offer on-site and web based training on how to get the most out of LinkedIn.

I also want to deeply thank the over 200 people that have given me Endorsements. You were my top priority to give endorsements to first!

Martin Brossman
On Linkedin: http://Linkedin.com/in/martinbrossman
On Facebook: http://Facebook.com/martinwbrossman
On Google +: http://BrossmanOnGP.com

My Business Website: ProNetworkingOnLine.com

Am I supposed to drive with my knees so I can scan this QR Code at 65 mph?

Just putting a QR code on printed material may look cool but sometimes is not very useful.

Several key things I recommend with QR codes are:
-First, make sure the place you are sending them is well worth them taking their smartphone out, finding their barcode scanner or QR codes app, then lining up their phone to scan the code and trusting you will take them to a useful place.

- Next, make sure you are telling them where they will be taken on their phone or tablet when they scan the code.

- Last, make sure the place you are sending them is mobile friendly. That means you don’t have to expand the page to see it. What’s nice with YouTube, if it’s set up right, is that it’s mobile-ready for all platforms.

Below is an example of a nice flyer but the QR code does not tell me where I am going or why I should scan the code. Next you will see how the QR code took me to a not mobile-friendly site. It is a very nice website but not easy to use on my smart phone.

I don’t know where the QR code is taking me? It goes to a website that is hard to read on my smart phone, see next picture.

Nice website but hard to see on my smart phone. This is where the QR code took me.

Learn more about Martin Brossman the author at: http://ProNetworkingOnLine.com and sign up for once a month business tips at http://bit.ly/martinsemaillist.
Also connect to Martin on Facebook at: http://facebook.com/martinwbrossman – (919) 847-4757 

I just read an inspiring post about a medical imaging equipment company, Block Imaging, that came out of a slump by engaging their entire staff of about 70 people in the process of generating daily social media content for their industry blog.  http://info.blockimaging.com/

 More than half of the employees have participated to date by writing blog posts. And, for those who were more comfortable with the spoken word, like the sales force, YouTube videos were created, inspired by the keyword research that their marketing team provided. To jump start social media awareness, Block held a 2-day company retreat during which they worked with a content marketing specialist and brainstormed blog topic ideas.  The president of the company had no previous blog or video experience and he admitted that a mental change was required to accomplish this new marketing—especially a willingness to be authentic and transparent . 

Their efforts have been rewarded by greatly increased search traffic, some real attention to the blog that resulted in at least one major sale so far, and the need to hire several new employees.  Pretty powerful evidence of the value of joining forces within a company (of any size) to generate rich and meaningful content that is worthy of ongoing customer attention.

But I have to say the fact that I liked the most from this story is that Block actually dubbed one of their employees Social Media Contact Officer since he is serving as the central agent/editor to insure that posts go out in top form.   It makes me think that even a micro business of one can apply this strategy: think of yourself as a Content Officer or Manager as you go through the work week and interact with customers.  Have a note-taking system or use your smart phone recorder to capture ideas and facts that are appropriate to share on your social media platforms; it would also be helpful to attend a class on keyword derivation and analysis.  If you’re feeling overwhelmed at the thought, consider hiring a Virtual Assistant to handle your social media posts for you, with your input and overview.

For small businesses with a group of employees, you can modify the Block model  to suit your needs.  Maybe a 3-hour seminar to get started, bringing in a social media trainer (yes, I’m available) so that you can brainstorm blog topics in your field and learn how to track keyword usage and response.  In addition to a robust blog and entertaining YouTube videos, you may want to add a Facebook and/or Google+ business page and a professional presence for your staff members on LinkedIn.

 Spending some time to create a new marketing vision for your business will give your people a chance to contribute and shine in their preferred medium, bringing energy to your daily quest for web content that helps move your business forward.

For those who want to know a definition for Social Media Content Officer here is one :
“Social Media Content Officer (SNCO0): a person who oversees the content being distributed through Social Media and makes sure it is aligned with current marketing content.”

Learn more about Martin Brossman the author at: http://ProNetworkingOnLine.com

How to Broadcast Video at No Cost So the World Can See
by Martin Brossman and Greg Hyer

Broadcasting live from Google+

 Did you know you can record a live video chat with someone or several people on Google Plus and broadcast it live over YouTube, for no cost. Yes, again WE are the new-media if we produce content that people want to see.  Think about how profound this is. Every person can now be an influencer more than ever with Google+ Hangouts On Air.  You now have the power to broadcast your Google Hangouts live as well as record them as YouTube videos.  Google+ Hangouts is the web based live video chat that is a core part of Google+ and one of the many reasons to weave your network on Google+.

Here are the basic steps of broadcasting live from your computer and recording it on YouTube using Google+ Hangouts on Air:

1.  You need a Google+ account as well as all the people participating in the live “Hangout.”  Before your first broadcast you will need to connect your Google+ account to your YouTube account. If you don’t have a YouTube account, Google will assist you with this process. Once it is connected you will not have to worry about setting this up again.

2. Invite Circles or individuals to your live show by starting your Hangout. For Hangouts you are planning in the future, use the new Events feature. When you are ready to begin the live feed, click the “Start a Hangout” on the right side.

3.  When you start your Hangout you will see an option to “Enable Hangouts On Air.” Select this option before you start the public broadcast and recording of your Hangout.

4.   Then when ready, click in the upper right hand corner “Start your broadcast” and make sure to give 10 seconds before starting. (See our first example and notice how Martin into is cut off because we did know about the 10 second wait.)

5.   When you are finished click on “End Hangout” stop.

Head over to YouTube to see your recording and embed it in a new blog post on your blog.

Here is a link to learn more from Google about Hangout Live: http://bit.ly/abouthangoutlive

We will be using Google+ Hangout On Air more to help deliver our free podcast on YouTube and embed it on LinkingIntoSales.com. In addition , we will be using a service that will extract the audio track and allow us to continue to release our podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. If you like, we can explain how we do this in a future post. Just comment below and we’ll help you out.

Keep in mind that Google does have certain requirements when broadcasting using Hangouts on Air. The standard YouTube rules apply. You cannot use content that you do not own the copyright to. As well, you cannot charge people to watch your Hangouts. You pay nothing to use Google+ there since you are not allowed to charge to have others access it.

Google+ Hangouts on Air can change the way you do business with your customers. If you have ever considered offering webinars, providing product demonstrations or having general conversations, Google+ Hangouts is a great solution. Expect Google to continue to develop Google+ into a feature-rich experience built upon their search engine and strengthen their platform to help you collaborate and communicate more easily.

Here is an example of posting from a live recording using Google+ Hangout On Air:  http://bit.ly/LOlnOS

We invite you to enjoy more of Linking Into Sales  and learn more about training for Sales Professionals with Martin Brossman and Greg Hyer. 
Also hear our Podcast on iTunes: