We get asked this question all the time!
We also get asked for photo sizing help on:
- Google+
- YouTube
Well here is
Brought to you by the LunaMetrics blog.
Google+ Pages – Are They For Your Business?
December 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Here’s the WHO – WHAT- WHERE – WHY – WHEN and HOW TO when it comes to Google+ Pages for your business.
What is a Google+ Page?
If you’re not already familiar with Google+, it’s a social media platform that allows you to group your “friends” into Circles. Unlike Facebook where all your “friends” are lumped together, Circles let you divide your contacts into Friends, Colleagues, Family, etc. People can be part of more than one of your Circles – it’s up to you. Share things with the appropriate Circle and no need to worry about your boss seeing last weekend’s party!
The basics of Google+ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC_M6PzXS9g
Google+ Pages are for businesses. Your page, profile image and recent posts are eligible to show up on the right-hand side of a relevant Google search. People can follow your Google+ Pages. Relevant posts can also show up within search results for your pages’ followers.
Why should you be on Google+ Pages?
One of the most basic reasons is Google+ integrates with all other Google services like Search, Google Places, Google Maps etc. By creating and maintaining a Google+ Page you will likely see an SEO boost. If your business is more a “brick and mortar” type with a Google Places page, having a Google+ Page will help add valuable information to your Places page.
Where will your Google+ Page show up?
Besides the already mentioned relevant Google searches, when you connect your website to your Google+ Page searches for your site can display links to any recent Google+ posts.
Who is on Google+?
According to Circle Count, a company that tracks Google+ activity worldwide, the United States, India and Brazil have the most users and those users are typically students, developers, engineers, designers and photographers. But more important is the fact that anyone who is logged into Google (eg. Gmail, YouTube) will have their search results personalized and if they or any of their Circle friends have shared your Google+ page your site would be at an advantage for outranking your competition!
When was Google+ Pages launched?
November 7, 2011. Time to join the Circle!
How to create your Google+ Page.
First you need to have a Google account. If you don’t follow this link:
https://accounts.google.com/NewAccount
Next create a Google+ Page (https://plus.google.com/pages/create). Add your company name and images to customize your page. Then, tell visitors more about your company by completing the “About” section. Be sure to including your website and a detailed description. This can help customers find you across Google.
Don’t forget:
- link your Google+ Page on your website
- encourage people to share your Google+ content
- let people see recommendations from friends and colleagues
Visit our Google + Page and add us to your circle!
What Can Social Media Do For Your Business?
November 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Have you thought of using social media marketing to:
- generate more exposure for your business?
- increase traffic to your website?
- provide valuable marketplace insights?
A recent survey conducted by Social Media Examiner looked at these and other aspects of social media marketing. [Read the full report]
Benefits
What do you consider the most important benefits of social media marketing?
This survey found that increased exposure and increased traffic ranked #1(85%) and #2(69%) respectively.
The next most significant benefits:
- provided marketplace insights (58%)
- generated leads (58%)
- improved search rankings (55%)
- grew business partnerships (51%)
- reduced marketing expenses (46%)
- improved sales (40%)
Time commitment
How much time should you devote to social media marketing?
This survey found that 59% of respondents are spending 6 hours or more weekly. The largest single group, representing 37.7%, spend 1 – 5 hours weekly.
Time commitment in relation to company size showed businesses with 2 – 10 employees typically spend 1 – 5 hours weekly. The same was true for the solo-owner businesses.
Social Media Tools
Is one social media tool more popular than another?
This survey found Facebook and Twitter continued to lead the pack as the favored social media tools (92% and 82% respectively). Even when years of experience with social media were factored in, these two still outweighed the others.
How the other social media tools ranked:
- LinkedIn (73%)
- Blogs (61%)
- YouTube or other video (57%)
- Google+ (40%)
- Photo sharing sites (21%)
- Forums (19%)
- Social bookmarking/news sites (16%)
- Daily deals (6%)
Social Media Strategy
Do you have one?
The respondents to this survey most wanted to know:
- How to measure the effectiveness of social media marketing
- How to find their target audience with social media
- How to best engage their audience with social media
- How to best maximize their social media results
- How to create a social media strategy
- What are the most effective social media tactics
- What are the best social media management tools
- How to use the different social media platforms
- How to select the right social media platform for their business
What does your social media game plan look like?
How to Transfer or Share Large Files
October 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Most email providers such as Gmail, Yahoo, MSN do not allow users to send large files by email. The maximum limit in all of these email services is 20 MB – which isn’t a lot if you want to send movies, videos, or large files. The following is a list of free ways to send large files online.
YouSendIt is a file sharing service that lets uploading and sharing files of 100 MB each. The site uses an email form to send your file. Your uploaded file is available for download for only 7 days.
Mediafire provides free file hosting/sharing for files up to 100 MB.
Google.com also provides sharing capability through the Google Docs link.
Dropbox provides 2GB of storage with its free account. You can share files with anyone, even non-Dropbox users, by creating links to the files from your Public folder. Once you copy the link, you can paste it in an email, instant message, social networks, wherever you want.
What is a Content Management System?
October 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Content Management System (CMS) is a way for the pages of a website to be organized which allows easy access to make changes without knowing computer programming languages.
The importance of regular updates is vital to the success of your website!
Content Management Systems provide:
- The ability to access and work on your website from any computer
- Editing and updates to your website by more than one person
- Easy uploading of photos and videos
- Decrease website management costs
Examples of Content Management Systems:
- WordPress*
- Joomla
- Drupal
*This website uses WordPress
Let us show you what a CMS can do for your website!
Do We Provide Audio and Video Streaming?
October 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment
We do not have a dedicated audio or video streaming server.
- Audio files may be recorded in .wmv format for automatic streaming
- .mp3 files may be invoked through a .m3u and they too will stream
Where Can I Get Antivirus and Antispyware Software?
October 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment
For personal and small businesses – Microsoft Security Essentials (it’s free)
For larger companies or more robust protection – Trend Micro.
How Can I Use Windows Explorer to ftp Files?
October 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment
- Open Windows Explorer
- Enter the address (e.g. ftp://willowtec.com) in the address bar
- Press Enter
Explorer will reply with an error message indicating it cannot log in with an anonymous id.
- Click File, Login As
- Enter the appropriate login id and password
How Can I Speed Up My Computer?
October 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment
There are many possible causes of computer slowdown including
- large temp file directories
- viruses
- multiple antivirus/antispyware utilities running at the same time
- too little memory (ram)
Note: Most functions are loaded through All Programs/Startup and the system registry (regedit)
Unfortunately there is no fixed solution or method to address all the permutations without experience but there are a couple of things everyone can try.
1. Check memory/ram on your computer
- Click Start
- Right click on Computer
- Then click Properties
Note: We recommend at least 768mb for xp, 1.5gb for Vista and 3gb for windows 7. Starter versions of win7 may run well with 1-2vb of ram.
2. Clean your temp files
- Click Start, Run, enter %TEMP%
- Click OK
All the temp files for your login will appear on the right.
- Right click on the right, press ctrl-A to select all files
- Press Del to delete them
- Next navigate to the \Windows folder on the left
- Find the temp folder
- Right click on the temp folder, press ctrl-A to select all
- Press Del to delete them
IMPORTANT! Be SURE you are in the windows\temp folder. If you delete the files in the \windows folder your computer will shut down and not restart.
Is the Willowtec Email Server Down?
October 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Check two things before calling:
1. Can you connect to the internet at all?
- Access any website to confirm
- If you can’t access the internet you won’t be able to send or receive email
2. Can you log into webmail on mail.willowtec.com?
- If you can access this site the server is up
- Verify you can log in with your email address and password
