I wasn’t sure if Google Plus would be that significant or not but the following has gotten my attention. FYI – Some of this info is a little dated by about 2 months, but it remains noteworthy.

Google+ Pundits Weigh-In

“According to data collected by GlobalWebIndex, Google+ has skyrocketed in the past few months and can now boast over 150 million actives users.” – Source: WebProNews

Per Search Engine Land, “Google+ uses a diaspora-like way of sharing content with users by utilizing circles. I think this format is very appealing to many users who are working to balance their professional and personal life.”

Tom’s Guide says, “This time Google is serious – After many years of tinkering, and more than a few false starts (Remember Orkut, and Wave? Anyone still Buzzing?), Google has released Plus, its answer to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and all the social networking sites in between.”

And, Mashable.com weighs in with, “The Gloves are Off!” in response to Facebook.

Google+ – My 2 Cents

For search benefit and social media benefit, I’m recommending that my clients use Google Plus, but the jury is still out for the next several months on how successful Google & users will ultimately be.

What are your thoughts? PLEASE COMMENT!

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Article Source: Google+ Hits 150 Million

Author: Bob Walton is a Raleigh SEO & Local Search search engine marketing service provider for local businesses. If you want to DOMINATE LOCALLY, need a new website, or have questions on improving your existing website, please contact Bob @ 919-523-4185.

Bob Walton’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

Just as good SEO includes, not only excellently crafted “on-page elements”, “off-page factors” can play a bigger role (see: Inbound Link Text Rules), and some of the best SEO starts “off-line”, before you even begin to build a website.

“What are you talking about?”, some of you are wondering. Let me peal back the darkness a little so that you too can see the “light”.

Abundant SEO Starts Off-Line

My journey began a year and a half ago when a colleague recommended that I meet Bill Davis and take his 100 Days To Abundance class. Wow! It was life transforming, and the best investment I could ever make for my business.

There’s an adage that says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” Bill teaches time tried and tested methods & strategies to create:

• An unlimited supply of prospects
• Powerful referral partners & systems
• Strategic partners to grow your business
• More clients
• Increased business from existing clients
• More results than you thought possible

As with most metamorphic experiences, one must begin with humility. At least enough to acknowledge that there are some folks out there that are just plain smarter and wiser than you, at what you do. We all learn by mistakes, they don’t have to always be our own?

Besides, even when Bill is being “hard” on you, his motive is purely out of a heart to help you overcome obstacles hindering your business. He won’t tell you what to do, he’ll teach the principles then ask you the right questions to help you discover for yourself what’s in your best interest.

Abundant SEO – My BFO (Blinding Flash of the Obvious)

Abundance for me began when Bill challenged me to not think of my competitors as my enemies. Back in the day, and many may find this funny, I didn’t know the creator of the Come on Inside Networks. I asked Bill, “Who is this Pat Howlett guy?” I was actually a little afraid of him, seeing all that he created and was doing.

However, that started me on a road of seeking & making contact with Pat, to get to know and understand who and what he was about, to discover not only his entrepreneurial prowess, but his generous and altruistic motivations. That lead to my becoming a Network Parter on inside919, a Howlett SEO disciple, and now a business collaborator on some new ventures that I never would have thought of on my own.

Abundant SEO – You Can Profit From It Too!

If you’ve never heard of Bill’s program, now known as, 100 Days to Abundance (2+98 = 100% Growth) , or if you’re on the fence trying to decide if you’ll benefit from it or not, just “pull the trigger” and do it. You’ll thank yourself later.

May you, “Live long and prosper!” It’s a choice, you know.

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Article Source: Abundant SEO – My 100 Day Personal Journey?

Author: Bob Walton is a Raleigh SEO & SEM search engine marketing service provider for local businesses. If you want to DOMINATE LOCALLY, need a new website, or have questions on improving your existing website, please contact Bob @ 919-523-4185.

Bob Walton’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

I’m very upset and really bothered! Why? I’m frequently asked, “Hey Bob, I have a website but I don’t get any traffic. Can you help me?” “Of course I can”, I say. Then comes the next statement, “I don’t have much money, what is the cheapest way for me to show up on Google?” Nine times out of ten, the answer to the following question is the same, I ask “Have you claimed your Google Places page and optimized there?” To my dismay, most say, “No.”

A quick look at my profile picture will reveal how regularly I’ve pulled my hair out over that response. Ouch!!! ;-D Google now says 20% of all searches are geographical (in other words, contain keywords for a particular city, state, town, or area). What’s an even more staggering fact is not even 40% of businesses have claimed their Google Places page.

For the soloprenuer, and businesses that run out of a home office, I can understand there may be genuine concern of not giving out personal information. There’s good news however; you can show up on Google Maps without displaying your personal address. See for yourself, in the below case study.

Stacey Shannahan has a home office in Wake County. One of her services/products is Web Videos. We met only only a few days ago, claimed and optimized her Google Places page, and now she’s on the top of Google Maps for the keyphrase “web video Raleigh”. Further, she’s on page 2 for her new website, boasting of only one blog post, for the same keyphrase, for a standard search. That’s simply “Awesome”!

Try it yourself in your browser’s search bar, or visit CDS Productions website featuring Web Video Raleigh services. The cool thing about how she’s displayed on Google Maps, it that she shows as a sphere, rather than a push pin, placed as a centroid, to the areas her business serves.

What about the brick and mortar businesses that already show in Google Maps? Well, you may show, but if you haven’t claimed and optimized your Places page correctly, it’s doing you little, to no good. And, you’re wasting valuable FREE web Real Estate. Further, optimized correctly, your Google Places page will organically push up your business website in Google searches. This is huge, yet so few take full advantage of this approach.

Given the above, why aren’t businesses aren’t taking full advantage of Google Places?

• Is it a lack of knowledge?
• Is it the fear of angering the Google gods for doing something wrong by accident?
• Is it technophobia?

IWhat’s your take?

Have questions, call me at 919-523-4185, or visit at my inside919 page, Bob Walton. My web address is: www.SEOSEMRaleigh.com

Bob Walton’s Posts – 919 Business Networking – Local Business Owners & Professionals