Chichester Design

Google has made a major change to how consumers see local businesses online and how local businesses interact with these consumers: it has replaced Google Places with Google+ Local. Expanding the use of Google+ is the target but all the same, it’s a smart move by the company.

Perhaps the largest change for small businesses that have been using Google Places is that Google+ Local means that they have to embrace the social element that surrounds this marketing technology, by which we mean social media. Google+ Local is a step into the world of Twitter and Facebook, at a …

I’ve discussed the benefits of Google Semantic Search and Google AdWords Remarketing for businesses over the last month or two, but a Hangout on Google+ (I’ll explain in a bit) with two colleagues got me thinking that I should look at Google’s social network again and, in particular, how it works for businesses.

First of all, it’s clear that Google+ hasn’t been the competitor for Facebook that Google originally intended. However, that isn’t to say that it won’t be – I think it has the features to become a popular business tool, especially for SMEs.

Let’s start with the Hangout …

Last week it was top-level domain names (.chichester, .brighton, etc.) and the benefits they offer companies; this time it’s a new online advertising service from Facebook, called Facebook Exchange. This service is about retargeting consumers and more relevant direct advertising.

The creation of Facebook Exchange, it is due to be launched shortly, is a logical move by the recently floated Facebook as it is one focused on revenue generation and one that offers companies, big and small, the opportunity to target consumers who have shown a distinct interest in their products and services. Hence, the likelihood of making a sale …

I’ve mentioned infographics on the Chichester Design blog before and I posted recently on why quality content is integral to good SEO. This time, I’ve got news of one that we created about the World’s Best 50 Restaurants Awards for Brighton-based food trends company thefoodpeople.

The World’s Best 50 Restaurants Awards were announced recently and thefoodpeople asked us to create a fittingly grand infographic – we’re talking about the likes of Noma, Heston Blumenthal and Michelin stars no less – giving an in-depth insight into the results. This is what we created. So, not just details of …

The link between quality content and valuable SEO has come up before on the Chichester Design blog and the news that Google is moving to semantic search technology looks set to further cement this relationship. It will certainly change how online business websites approach SEO.

Semantic search technology is all about the intent and meaning of a query rather than just a literal, dictionary-like approach to providing search results. In short, Google will better try and understand your search term, and the results will change accordingly.

One of the major consequences for business websites is that content will have …