10 Likely Elements of Google’s Local Search Algorithm

When it comes to local search optimization and, in particular, the Google Maps algorithm, you’re likely to get 10 different answers if you ask 10 local SEOs, What are the most important local search ranking factors? The answer to that question, like just about every other SEO question, is, It depends. It depends on your location, the industry you’re in, the keywords you’re targeting, and many other things. Local SEO is harder than many SEOs think.

This is an updated version of a post that I first wrote on this blog in February, 2007. It represents a summary of my contributions to David Mihm’s 2010 Local Search Ranking Factors survey, which includes the thoughts of a couple dozen local search marketers. I highl

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Tags: Algorithm, Local Search

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010 Small Business No Comments

Dymo’s CardScan iPhone App Illustrates Several Key Trends

We rarely do product reviews at Smallbizlabs.  But sometimes a product comes along that illustrates one or more trends we are following and we comment on it.

The Dymo business card scanner app for the iPhone is such a product.  You download the app to your iPhone (they also support other smartphones) and when you take a picture of a business card it automatically adds the appropriate information to your contact list.

This product illustrates several interesting trends:

1.  the growing use of smartphones as our remote controls for life and business. 

2.  the growing use of smartphone cameras as data entry devices.  While reading 2D and 3D barcodes is probably the most common smartphone camera data entry use, the number of data entry uses are expanding rapidly. 

3.  the growing number of useful, low cost business applications for smartphones. 

For people like me who constantly lose business cards, it is a cool application that also increases my productivity.  It’s also kinda fun to use. 

And it is only $10.00. 

Tags: Key Trends, Trends

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010 Small Business No Comments

Venture Capital at Mid-Life

Mid-life Crisis? Venture Capital Acts its Age from Knowledge at Wharton is a good summary of the issues facing the venture capital industry.

A quick summary is: 

  • too many funds
  • funds are too big
  • too much capital chasing good deals
  • good deal valuations too high
  • holding periods too long
  • too few exits, especially IPOs
  • low exit valuations

The net of all this is, of course, low returns.

Nothing really new here – the travails of the VC industry are widely reported.  But this is one of the best short summaries I’ve seen.

BTW if you don’t follow Knowledge at Wharton, you should.  Consistenly good information.

Tags: Capital, Venture Capital

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010 Small Business No Comments

Credit Card Debt Help Online – Comparison of Debt Services Consolidation

Because the services of debt consolidation many casualties, people who want to help credit card debt can not know which agency to use. The key to finding the best consolidation debt service is to compare several companies.

Due to the services of debt consolidation many casualties, people who want to help credit card debt can not know which agency to use.

You have gained much debt?

Some debt consolidation services prefer to work with people who have accumulated a large amount of debt, while others prefer those with smaller quantities of debt.

Prior to the investigation of different services, gather all your statements and credit card debt recount. Then, the search for consolidation services that offer help to people with similar debt totals.

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Tags: Card Debt, Credit Card, Credit Card Debt, Services

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010 Financial News No Comments

Finding Ontario Homes for Sale That Fit Snugly Into Your Budget

If there were one factor above all others that continuously influences home purchasing decisions, it’s definitely price. After all, no one wants to spend more money than necessary to have a safe, peaceful, and quiet home to live in. However, you will need to consider how to balance the need to have every feature you want in your home with the budget that you have set.

In other words, you will need to make sure that you get a home that fits snugly into your budget. If that’s what you’re looking for right now, there’s one region that seems to stand above all others: Ontario.

Given that Ontario is the second largest province in Canada, it just makes sense that are plenty of Ontario homes for sale that are priced to fit well within virtually every budget. It’s a

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Monday, July 19th, 2010 Financial News No Comments

Your Support Network – Advisory Board

Every small business, whether established for a while or just starting up, should have a small business support network.

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Tags: Network, Support Network

Monday, July 19th, 2010 Small Business No Comments