I have always been a huge fan of Google Local Business Center- a free way to drive foot traffic to your business. When you list your business with Google Local Business Center, you business is likely to show up alongside a Google map for certain search terms. Let say you need to find a dentist in Jackson, NJ- all the listings along the map are result of dentist offices taking advantage of Google Local Business center. I have written in the past how a friend of mind noticed increase of visitors to her shop after we listed her business in Google Local Business Center.
I also wanted to see more statistics and reporting inside the Business Center account. My wishes have finally came ture. It appears that Google is now providing some insightful statistics for your business’ local ads and coupons associated with your listing. Just go to your account and you should see a link to your report as shown in the image to your right.

The port shows the graph of impressions and actions associated with your business:

If you are a business owner and are looking to drive “foot traffic” to you store or business location you should definitely look into taking advantage of Google Local Business Ads- it is absolutely free!

This is a guest post by Janet Meiners Thaeler – Newspapergrl (online PR)

Have you ever thought of improving your online business with a press release? Press releases are great tools to help your web site rank higher in search engines. I’ve written press releases for national brand name real estate pros. Here are some tips to help you write and distribute your first press release:

1. Find something newsworthy to write a press release about.
   Right now the economy and saving money are hot topics. You may be doing some creative marketing in your area that would be a great story. If you need inspiration, search a site like PRWeb for “real estate” and see what others are writing about.
   Remember that news is something that exists in time – something has happened, is happening now, or is happening in the future. Sometimes people get confused and mistake a press release for an advertisement (not objective) or an article (not timely information).
2. Add quotes to your press release.
   Quotes are important because they say key points of the news “in your own words.”  This is the only time you can use “you” and “yours.” I like to use at least 2 quotes in a press release and make sure that they capture the news or an aspect of it. Be specific in your writing (rather than vague or generic) so that anyone reading the quote could know who you are, what the news is, and why it matters just from reading the quote.
3. Use Links in your press release.
   Many people make the mistake of not using links in their press release. Online it’s vital to use links because links are the currency of the Internet. A link is a “vote” for your web site in search engines. Use about one link for every 100 words.
4. Link to other pages besides your home page.
   It may be tempting to just add a link at the end of your press release that says something like: For more information, see  “www.yourwebsite.com.” So you only have one link and it’s just to the home page. Ideally you should link to related pages, articles, or blog posts. You should aim to use words as links, not just URLs. I usually add a link in the intro, throughout and then as the last sentence of the press release. S
5. Distribute your press release online.
   Press release distribution sites like 24-7pressrelease.com will let you add text links for about $50. It’s worth the cost to use a service like this. For larger distribution I highly recommend PRWeb‘s $200 SEO visibility package. The submission process is a bit more involved but you’ll get traditional media and get the best online distribution on the Internet.

Hope these tips are helpful. I’m writing a book about online PR. Send me an email – janet [at] affiliateflash [dot] com and I’ll let you know when it’s finished and I’ll also notify you when I’m ready to give away a few copies on this blog.

It is quiet surprising how very few business owners who operate both a website as well as provide services from a physical location do not take advantage of Google Local Business Center. This service can give your business (and your website) extra exposure for free.

Background story… I have been helping a dear friend of mine, who owns a candy supply store in Brick, NJ, with her website. Most of her revenue comes from clients who visit her store to purchase candy making supplies, order cakes for special occasions or attend her decorating classes. Keeping that in mind, after setting her up with a WordPress powered website (which I barely touched since! Excellent Job Ann!), I have immediately registered her business with Google Local Business Center. I hope that after reading this post, you will do the same for your business because…

You Can Get More “Spotlight” In Search Results.

Often, as it is with Ann’s business, Internet users will search by adding a “geo-qualifier” (yes I made that word up) to their search term. For example, often times Google users will search for “candy supply store Brick NJ“. And here is the snapshot of the search results they get from Google:

Not only Inter user is presented with a relevant result, as well as with a quick access to driving directions to your business, operating hours and reviews.

If you list your business in correct categories you have a very good chance to drive “laser targeted” traffic (both foot and Internet) to your business.

You can also enhance your local ad with pictures and/or YouTube videos and offer discount coupons for the services you provide.

When you think about array of meta search engines, none of them are capable to produce such results. At least none that I am aware off.

If you have used Google Local Business ads in the past for your business I would love to hear your experience and/or success story.

Seams like the subject of paid reviews will be around for some time. While I have a unique prospective on paid blogging, I think the proper place to discus the subject will be on Sage Blogger, the blog where I write about affiliate marketing and related subjects of making money online.

I do however need to thank Greg Swann and Chris Johnson for stirring up emotions associated with the subject.

While some may think that such an article may fit better on this blog, the truth is that vast majority of real estate bloggers are not looking to to monetize their blogs. However most of the visitors to my Sage Blogger come to it looking for things that will make you money on the Internet- many are them are bloggers who will consider signing up with one of the paid/sponsored reviews websites.

I will leave the readers of Go Beyond MLS with a following thought. Paid review was the worst mistake I ever made as far as blogging is concerned. If blogging is your long term goal, paid and sponsored reviews maybe prove to be very shortsighted strategy and can sometimes cost you way more in legal fees should things go awry as a result of your review.

UPDATE May13, 2010: Things pertaining to LeapFish.com, their founders and management, along with related startups are no longer of interest to me, therefore no further comments are allowed on this post. There are also more reliable sources out there (such as Better Business Bureau) to help you make an informed decision about LeapFish.

***You may also want to know that the Law Firm of Daniel Bakondi, in San Francisco, CA, is investigating a possible Class Action Law Suit Against LeapFish.

If you are trying to get your money back after receiving no leads from advertising on ePerks, chances are you are out of luck. As one real estate agent learned, ePerks is to file for bankruptcy and is offering a 20% refund. If you are not happy with a 20% refund tough luck- you may get nothing after the bankruptcy goes through:

Yesterday, Michael with ePerks called me on my cell phone & said that eperks will be filing for bankruptcy & will not be refunding my money. I was floored. This is really upsetting to me. I cannot believe that a company that is STILL selling memberships would tell me that they will not keep their word. He said that I have 2 options- that I can walk away now with 20% of what they owe me “so that I get something” or I can agree to be pd out over the next yr, but if they file for bankruptcy then they owe me NOTHING. - read the entire article here.

The agent goes on blaming, of all things, government for not covering ePerks under the blanket of recent bailouts:

(Michael) told me that times are really tough for the company with the economy being like it is and unfortunately eperks didn’t get to be part of the government bail-out & doesn’t have the money to pay back all of the people that want their money back.

Well since we are using the recent events in the economy, why don’t we bring up Bernard Madoff as well. Why? Thea answer is LeapLish.com- a new search engine launched by the same group of people. if Unlike for Michael (the sales rep cited above)- things for LeapFish sales representatives look peachy. According to a recruitment ad on Craigslist, a sales rep can make $150,000 a year while working at LeapFish. I am not surprised at all that ePerks decided to fold down their shop, just about after about one month of unsuccessfully trying to get traction with the search engine and even having been humiliated on the world’s leading technology blog TechChrunch.

It has to be said that LeapFish.com and DotNexInc did their best to distance themselves from Brabus Ventures and ePerks. It appears that founders and sales people at LeapFish are infatuated with real estate agents- just take a look how much astroturfing has been done on ActiveRain.

I don’t know how the bankruptcy works. Never filed for one. Never plan to. If it works the way I think it works, it’s a great way to screw your clients. The hell with the clients, just file for bankruptcy start another business. Why shouldn’t life be peachy?