Category: “Just Nancy”

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Google Strives to Become Amazon

McCord Web Services is a Google Partner and a Certified Google Ads Professional
McCord Web Services is a Google Partner and a Certified Google Ads Professional

I listened with interest at the Google Marketing Live 2019 presentation this past week to how Google will try to compete head to head with Amazon. Clearly they are afraid they are losing too much market share.

Here’s what I learned:

Google will be making all products shown on its 8 properties shoppable. You will be able to buy items directly from ads on YouTube videos from within the search results and you will be able to choose to buy it through the Google Platform or from the business owner’s website.

Google will be providing customer service when you buy it from them and will allow for simple returns as well as a Google guarantee.

You will be able to use your Google payment profile to pay for merchandise. Additionally, shopping and buying features will soon be appearing in the Google Assistant which appears to have Alexa firmly in its sight.

Google will even be making images found in the image search into shoppable ads.  Clearly from this announcement, and very tight integration of selling products into all Google properties, Google does not want to lose out to Amazon on being the premier shopping and buying platform.

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more interesting information that surfaces on the web from Google and Amazon.

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Viking River Cruises Internet Access

The Trouble with Travel is Staying Connected.
The Trouble with Travel is Staying Connected.

Going on a Viking River cruise in Europe? I’ve just been on one and wanted to share with you my Internet access experience so you can plan better than I did.

First, I have Verizon and I do have the Verizon Travel Pass. I expected to be able to use my own data plan with Verizon for Internet access to my business while on travel. What I found out is the following.

Wi-fi access on the boat is literally non-existent. If you sit in one of the common areas, you may be able to upload a Facebook photo and maybe, just maybe, do a Facebook messenger phone call, but do not plan on connecting your laptop or doing real work.

Even if the boat is in port, you will still have issues with connectivity. You simply set yourself up for frustration to use the boat internet.

Now, here’s the big kicker, I thought I would be able to use Verizon for my access when the boat connection was poor, but Verizon must have very little coverage in the area of Germany, France, and Switzerland along the Rhine. I found that even out of the port on a bus to a tour that I was roaming with little or no connectivity using Verizon. The ability to read email with no attachments was about the extent of what I found doable.

My recommendation is that if you are traveling on a Viking River cruise, plan on not getting online. If you do, it will be a bonus!

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Domain Name Management Tips

Here's What to Know About Domain Names
Here’s What to Know About Domain Names

Whether you have a new online business or an existing one you’ll want to review my tips on domain name management.

Review
Periodically review the domain names you own. If you don’t need one or are not pursuing that aspect of your business, save money and don’t renew a domain name you won’t need in the future.

Secure
When you start your business, secure domain name variations of your company name to protect your brand. Consider buying the .us variation in addition to the .com if you are a U.S. based business and other country extensions if you have a presence there.

Save Money
You don’t need to buy hosting for every domain name you own. You can use domain forwarding to point domains you own to your main desired domain where your website resides.

Select
New or old, periodically it makes sense to review the domain names you do own. For those you are using for your website and online presence, set your renewal in five year increments. For those you may let go in the future consider one year or two year renewals.

Need help with our domain name management? Contact www.McCordWeb.com today.

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What to Consider When Thinking About Using Facebook Advertising

Put Facebook to Work Using Their Pay Per Click Advertising
Put Facebook to Work Using Their Pay Per Click Advertising

Here are my tips as to when you may want to consider advertising your business and services on Facebook.

One, if you have a relatively low ad budget and want to test if pay per click might be a good option to grow your business, Facebook pay per click advertising is a good match.

Two, if you have customer demographics that fit with the older Facebook user, Facebook advertising may be a good fit for your needs. If your audience is in their 20’s and 30’s consider Instagram instead of Facebook.

I have had clients have success advertising products and services on Facebook. Here are some additional considerations if you decide that you would like to try it out.

One, make sure you are monitoring comments. Readers will post comments to your ads and if you are not watching competitors may even post their own links in the comments.  You can delete any comments you find offensive or not business enhancing. It is not uncommon for trolls to post negative things on your ads, so it is crucial that you be monitoring ad comments.

Two, I do not typically encourage driving Facebook pay per click traffic to your Facebook page but rather to your website so your message is shaped to put you in the best light.

If you need help on strategies or evaluation of Google Ads as an option, make sure to visit our website for more information and pricing.