hal9000.ie

Google Schools Competition

Google yesterday announced the winner of their schools competition to design a new ‘doodle 4 Google’.

The winner was Ruth Deeney from Donegal and you can see her winning logo design on Google’s home page (Google.ie) all day today. Her theme is the future viewed through a crystal ball, as she says herself:

We won’t have to lift a finger with our advanced technology, like nanny robots and elevators to other planets. Future here we come!

Indeed!

The competition is a cool initiative from Google and promotes art and web design amongst school children. It’s the Texaco Art Competition for the Web 2.0 era!

Promote your business online using Google Maps.

If you have ever searched for a business or service in your area using Google, then you have probably received a page of search results, accompanied by a map with pins marking the location of each one. This is hugely valuable advertising for any business, not least because it’s free!

You can get your own business listed by signing up for Google’s Local Business Center (LBC).  All you need is to have a Google account set up (you will have one of these if you have a Gmail account) and follow the steps below. Although this is a free service, although there is a Premium service that you pay for.

Step by step guide to listing your business on Google’s LBC

1. Go to Google’s home page and log in (if not already logged in)
2. Select ‘Business Solutions’
3. Select ‘Business Information on Google Maps’
4. Add a new listing and enter your business details – you will be asked to fill in your business name, location & contact details, web address, a description of your business and you will be asked to select a category for your business. You will also have the option to fill in opening times and payment options.
5. Upload a photograph, perhaps of your storefront or your website. You can upload up to 10 images, so you have the opportunity to showcase your products here.
6. You also have the option of adding a video via YouTube by entering the URL of your video on YouTube. Again, this has great marketing potential.
7. Take a look at yourself by searching services/business sector in your area!

The information that you have entered needs to be verified to ensure that these details are yours, and Google do this by text message that you reply to, or phone call, or postcard. The text message is generally the simplest. (Note, there may be up to 24 hours before the listings are available.)

See hal 9000 on Google Maps in a search for ‘digital marketing’:

Voucher Coupons

When you have set up your profile, you then have the option to create Voucher Coupons to attract new customers. The Coupons option is the tab to the right of the Dashboard tab.

You’re welcome to use one of our vouchers!