news.g5platform.com

With a few rules, dogs and offices can mix well

G5 Admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:54:07 +0000

By Melissa Kossler Dutton – Associated Press

No one at the Ohio chapter of The Nature Conservancy enjoys going to meetings more than Annie. Once, she was even disciplined for attending a meeting to which she was not invited.

Annie, a mixed-breed dog who belongs to a staff member, is a welcome addition to the office, said Josh Knights, the chapter’s executive director, in Dublin, Ohio. “It gives the office a kind of warmer feeling,” he said. “Just because we’re nonprofit doesn’t mean we’re non-stress. There’s something about having a dog there to pet.”

Dogs in the workplace are “a growing phenomenon,” said Rebecca Johnson, director of the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction at the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine, in Columbia.

“People are realizing we need to do things to reduce stress in the workplace,” she said.

Dogs can build connections among co-workers and create a healthy diversion from work, Johnson said. People interacting with dogs experience a hormonal reaction that causes them to “feel more relaxed and more positive,” she said.

The programs work best, however, when there are rules, human resources officials stressed.

For instance, the experts said, dogs should be prohibited from certain rooms, such as eating areas and restrooms. And companies should allow only dogs who get along with people and other animals.

“Manners matter,” said Keeli Hyde, human resource manager at G5, a marketing firm in Bend, Ore.

Not every dog can handle an office setting, she said. A few workers at her company have found that their dogs are too noisy or rambunctious for work.

Pet owners usually make good decisions about whether to bring their animals, added Jeanine Falcon, vice president of human resources at Replacements, Ltd., a china retailer that has allowed pets in the workplace for about 15 years.

“Trust your employees,” Falcon said from her office in Greensboro, N.C. “People know their animals.”

The 25 or 30 dogs that routinely visit the company create a positive atmosphere, she said. They provide an opportunity for employees to get to know each other better.

“When someone comes walking down the middle of the warehouse carrying a new puppy, how can you not connect or smile?” she said.

Dorothy Wetzel has noticed that when she or other staff members bring their dogs to work at Extrovertic, a New York-based marketing firm, the office is more jovial.

“There’s a smile on everyone’s face,” said Wetzel, the firm’s founding partner. “It causes us to interact more.”

The pet-friendly policy also underscores the company’s desire to “offer a different work experience” than more run-of-the-mill offices, she said.

“We want people bringing their whole self to work,” she said.

Allowing employees to bring their dogs in lets them know that the company cares about their life outside of work, Falcon added. “It says a lot about who we are as a company,” she said.

Replacements, Ltd., employee Steve Hyatt appreciates the benefit because it means he does not have to leave his dogs home alone during the day. He brings, Charlie, a beagle, and Mitzi, a mixed-breed, to work three to five times a week.

“I don’t have to worry about them,” said the Greensboro resident. “There’s peace of mind when they’re with me.”

Dogs also promote some healthy habits for workers, Hyde said.

Walking a dog “forces them to go out and get some fresh air and stretch their legs,” she said.

Johnson agreed, even if it’s just a short walk during a 15-minute break: “The dogs need it, and the humans need it even more,” she said.

In Dublin, Erin Neeb has found a park near The Nature Conservancy where she can take Annie on her lunch hour. And sometimes Neeb, who lives in a condominium and doesn’t have a yard, stays late and lets the dog run up and down the hall for exercise.

“I love to bring her in the winter because she doesn’t get out to walk and interact with people as much,” Neeb said. “It’s a good way for her to stay socialized.”

Here are some tips from Pet Sitters International for bringing dogs to work:

1. Keep dogs on a leash, unless they are in the employee’s office or cubicle. Not everyone loves puppy kisses, even from the best-behaved dogs, so respect your co-workers’ space. Co-workers who want to pet your dog will likely come to you.

2. Use a baby gate to prevent a dog from leaving your office unsupervised. You don’t want Fido dashing out of your office in the middle of an important sales call or during a visit from a business partner. Try to give the dog space to roam in your office.

3. Certain areas such as bathrooms or dining halls should be designated as dog-free. Work with management and co-workers to determine which areas those will be.

4. Have a backup plan for taking the dog home if it isn’t comfortable in the work environment. While many dogs love spending a day at the office, some might not be ready for it. See if a spouse, friend or professional pet sitter can take care of a pet who needs to leave the office.

Facebook IPO filing puts high value on social network

G5 Admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:24:09 +0000

By Jon Swartz, Scott Martin, and Matt Krantz

SAN FRANCISCO – Facebook on Wednesday filed to go public and raise $5 billion in what could be the largest-ever Internet IPO.

The mammoth initial public stock offering values the social-networking giant at $75 billion to $100 billion and has been eagerly anticipated as a defining moment for the latest Web-investing boom.

Facebook has redefined the way millions of people worldwide interact and share information on the Internet.

In the proposed stock offering filing, which details the 8-year-old company’s financials for the first time ever, Facebook said it rang up $3.7 billion in revenue and a $1 billion profit last year. That’s nearly double the $1.97 billion in revenue it registered in 2010. The company boasts 845 million members, nearly half of them mobile users.

The stock offering, ticketed for May, will make CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg a very rich man. With 28.4% of Facebook shares, his personal worth would be a staggering $24 billion. Zuckerberg, who had total 2011 compensation of $1.49 million, will opt for a $1 salary in 2013.

Facebook’s offering, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, also laid out some of the risks to its business in the highly fickle and competitive social-networking arena. The company views Google, Twitter and Microsoft, which has a financial stake in Facebook, as its chief rivals. It warns potential investors that Google, for example, could integrate its Chrome Internet browser, its Android operating system or its search engine into its Google+ social site — a move that could put Facebook at a disadvantage.

There are other warnings. Facebook says advertisers may view some of its social ads as unproved. It also said increases in mobile viewership could adversely affect ad revenue because it doesn’t currently generate “meaningful revenue” there.

Zuckerberg, as is the practice, also wrote a letter. The lengthy, somewhat-at-odds memo details Facebook’s mission, including its transformative role in society. It highlights the company’s spot in strengthening personal communication and the dual role that, for Facebook, means injecting businesses into the conversation.

“As people share more, they have access to more opinions from the people they trust about the products and services they use,” he wrote.

Advertising uncertainty

Once Facebook stock starts trading under the symbol FB, which could happen as soon as May, the onus is on the company to ramp up revenue to maintain its lofty valuation. Facebook’s fortunes hinge on advertising, which accounted for 85% of its revenue last year, or about $3.15 billion. Social-games-maker Zynga accounted for 12% of Facebook revenue. Google raked in $37.9 billion last year, 96% from ads.

The good news is Facebook commands a 28% chunk of the U.S. online-display ad market, up from 21% a year ago, says market researcher ComScore. Its closest competitor, Yahoo, had 11% of the display-ad market, up slightly from 10.9% in 2010.

The bad news is that Facebook ad sales worldwide are slackening. They grew 104% in 2011 but are expected to climb just 52% to $5.8 billion this year and only 21% to $7 billion next year, according to eMarketer.

“Facebook is not as effective as paid search (on Google, Yahoo and Microsoft),” says Dave Beltramini, director of online strategy for G5, a marketing services firm. “The intent of consumers on Google is more about shopping. On Facebook, people are more social, looking at photos of their friends’ kids.”

Facebook fares poorly in a key pricing metric used in the industry to measure the value of ad inventory in reaching an audience. Its CPM, or cost per thousand impressions, is 22 cents, less than half the industry average for the Web (50 cents) and minuscule compared with Google’s, which is north of several dollars, says Chris Moore, a partner at venture-capital firm Redpoint Ventures. “Users are looking for something on Google (search),” Moore says. “There is nothing that approximates that on Facebook.”

Typically, advertisers use Facebook to build brand engagement and make sales through Google, says Melissa Hodgdon, media director at marketing agency Engauge, which works with Facebook and Google.

Improving its CPM is a matter of Facebook “targeting” what users subscribe to and status updates from friends, says John Manoogian, chief technology officer of social-advertising company 140 Proof. “They’re not taking advantage of the feed. They’re still putting most of their weight into the right” side of a member’s profile.

Facebook intends to develop ads that are more integrated into user profiles, such as those that essentially “freeze” a brand’s news feed post and turn it into an ad that’s visible only to someone following that brand, or a friend of a follower, says Rebecca Lieb, an analyst at market researcher Altimeter Group.

Meanwhile, display ads touting less belly fat, whiter teeth and acai berry cure-alls will eventually be phased out, Lieb says.

Sales beyond advertising seem overblown for now. Despite the hype about virtual goods — the cow you might buy on Zynga’s FarmVille, for instance — the category produced only $470 million for Facebook last year, a relative pittance. But Facebook could benefit greatly from mobile ads as more smartphone users work and shop from iPhones and Android devices, says Raymond Rouf, CEO of social-marketing service GraphScience.

Facebook’s IPO timing

Facebook was forced to file to go public because it ran up against the limits of the 500-shareholder rule. Private companies with more than $10 million in assets are required to file detailed financials with the Securities and Exchange Commission once they exceed 500 stockholders.

The social giant passed those marks last year, making the timing of its IPO a widely anticipated move to meet an April 30, 2012, deadline.

Heated competition in social networking also required Facebook to load up on cash to fend off rivals, industry experts say. “There’s always the threat of competition, and they (Facebook) always need to stay one step ahead,” says Reena Aggarwal, professor of finance at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.

Google’s foray into social networking last year with Google+ represents the biggest competitive threat to Facebook. Google CEO Larry Page said in the search juggernaut’s fourth-quarter earnings report that the nascent social network has hit more than 90 million users. That’s “well over double what I announced just a quarter ago,” he said.

Yet, some may still question whether Google+ is a passing fad with a limited audience. It’s no secret in Silicon Valley that Google has struggled to prove its social-media mettle. Its Orkut social network finds its largest audiences in Brazil and India but has otherwise failed to gain significant traction.

And nobody forgets Google’s ill-fated Buzz social network. That one remains one of its worst privacy blunders to date, landing it under 20-year privacy review with the Federal Trade Commission last year, and serves as a reminder of Google’s awkward social advances.

Still, Google’s Page has made it clear that successful social products will be rewarded within the company. And the speed at which Google+ engineers have begun unleashing new features puts Facebook in the unusual position of reacting to match Google+ in areas such as video chats and games.

Taking in some cash will certainly help Facebook finance a huge ramp-up in its war with Google, says IDC analyst Karsten Weide. “I think they’re (Facebook) trying to get to market as quickly as they can to cash in as quickly as they can,” he says. “The concern is that Google will actually get it (Google+) right.”

The cash infusion could be used on major acquisitions or expansions into new technologies for battle as well, says Aggarwal. “The market is going to expect these very high growth rates,” she says. “If expectations are not met, the stock will get beaten.”

IPO wave or doldrums

Still, a blowout offering alone can’t buoy the IPO market after a lagging 2011. While investors’ interest in IPOs and Internet companies is likely to be reignited with the Facebook deal, don’t expect that enthusiasm to open doors for many more companies, says Lee Simmons, industry specialist at Dun & Bradstreet. He sees Facebook as a unique company but contends that while investors will clamor for a piece of it, that won’t spark any sort of Internet IPO land grab.

“Facebook certainly is in a class of its own. There will be some firms that can ride its coattails, but for a short period of time,” he says. The strongest factor in the number of IPOs won’t be Facebook, but rather the health of the economy and the direction of the stock market.

Investors looking for a glimpse of the future need only look back to May, when professional-networking site LinkedIn had its IPO. Initially, it paved the way for other Internet IPOs. But, ultimately, largely because of the stock market’s weakness in the summer, 2011 was a relatively weak year for IPOs. Last year, there were 125 U.S.-based IPOs, down 19% from 2010, says Renaissance Capital.

Though LinkedIn and Groupon both had successful offerings last year, their shares are now well below the first day’s trading prices. LinkedIn is more than 24% below its May debut, and Groupon is almost 18% below its first trades in November.

IPOs are “very vulnerable to economic activity,” Simmons says. And the economy and the stock market “dictate how the IPO market reacts.”

Investors are watching to see how shares of other social-networking companies react to the Facebook IPO. Shares of Zynga, maker of games primarily played on Facebook, have enjoyed a lift since Friday, when speculation about the Facebook IPO intensified. Shares of Zynga closed at $10.60 Wednesday, up 11.3% from their $9.52 close last Thursday.

The Zynga bump was caused when less-sophisticated investors bought the shares, thinking they’d found a way to catch the Facebook frenzy early and in a less obvious way, says Francis Gaskins of IPOdesktop.com. “They think Zynga is a cheap way to play Facebook. It’s the Facebook effect,” he says. “Zynga (stock) might benefit (in the short term) because it’s the tail behind the Facebook dog,” he says.

But Gaskins thinks the short-term frenzy will be very fleeting as the reality of the business takes control of Zynga’s shares. The company relies on a few customers who actually pay for the games, he says. Additionally, the company is reliant on having big hits, which is difficult to do consistently with fickle online gamers, he says.

Internet stocks have already been strong performers leading up to the Facebook IPO. The e-Consumer 25 index of USA TODAY’s Internet 50 index notched a record high Tuesday, thanks in part to a 6.4% rally this year. The e-Consumer 25 index, which contains Internet companies that get most of their revenue from consumers, fell slightly Wednesday. Meanwhile, the USA TODAY Internet 50 index, containing the largest Internet stocks, hit a record high Wednesday with an 8.6% rise this year.

Contributing: Swartz and Martin reported from San Francisco, Krantz from Los Angeles.

G5 Earns Second Consecutive Technology Fast 500™ Ranking

G5 Admin — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:48:30 +0000

Software Firm Ranks No. 60 for Five-Year Growth of Over 2100%

BEND, OR – October 19, 2011

News

• G5, the leading provider of vertical-specific Local Marketing Solutions, today announced its second consecutive year of ranking among North America’s 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and clean technology companies.
• G5 posted revenue growth of 2111% from 2006 to 2010 to earn the No. 60 position on Deloitte’s annual listing.
• The six-year old company ranked No. 51 as a Technology Fast 500™ award winner for 2010.
• G5’s vertical-specific solutions include Multifamily Housing, Self Storage, Senior Living and Student Housing. Over 3,000 property websites – desktop and mobile – are hosted on the G5 Local Marketing Software Platform, a single source for maximizing marketing spend and performance.

Award Methodology

• Technology Fast 500™ award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2006 to 2010.
• In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500™ recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company’s operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD or CD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD or CD. Additionally companies must be in business for a minimum of five years, and be headquartered within North America.

Commentary

• “We are pleased to honor G5 as a 2011 Technology Fast 500 company,” said Mark Jensen, managing partner, technology and venture capital services, Deloitte & Touche LLP. “As one of the fastest growing tech companies in North America, G5 has demonstrated excellence in technological innovation, entrepreneurship and rapid growth.”
• “Appearing on Deloitte’s Fast 500 for the second year in a row exemplifies G5’s dedication to our growing list of clients and our commitment to quality and innovation,” said G5 CEO Dan Hobin. “Our team is extremely proud to have achieved continuous recognition on this prestigious list.”

About G5

G5 is the leading provider of vertical-specific Local Marketing Solutions that help mid-market companies get found online, generate more qualified leads, convert more leads into new customers, track marketing performance – including offline, and optimize to the marketing sources with the best return on investment. G5’s Local Marketing Software Platform & Services provide clients with more customers and better business performance. Backed by investor Volition Capital, G5 was founded in 2005 and is based in Bend, Oregon. For more information, please visit www.G5platform.com.

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Media Contact:
Amy Foster Trenz
541.306.6321
amy.trenz@g5platform.com

G5’s Mobile Premium Goes Live for Self Storage Early Adopters

G5 Admin — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:25:31 +0000

BEND, OR and LAS VEGAS, NV – September 7, 2011

News

G5, the leading provider of vertical-specific Local Marketing Solutions, today announced the official launch of Mobile Premium websites for members of its Early Adopter Program.
Mobile Premium Early Adopters include Urban Self Storage, Central Self Storage, Storquest Self Storage, Metro Self Storage, and A-1 Self Storage.
The announcement coincides with the opening day of the SSA Fall Conference & Trade Show, September 7 to 9 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

G5 Mobile Premium Product Highlights

Geo-location Detection – Detects device geography and connects users with the most relevant and local facilities
Mobile-specific Campaigns and Promotions – Maximizes facilities’ marketing mix to communicate the most effective messages specifically to mobile users
Mobile Analytics and Reporting – Robust reporting platform ensures tracking, measurement and analysis of mobile-generated Web traffic
Real-Time Reservations – Integration of reservation and inquiry forms capture prospects when and where they are ready to convert

Early Adopter Program (EAP)

Invitation-only G5 Mobile Early Adopter Program enabled strategic clients to gain hands-on access to next generation mobile software before general availability
The EAP provided clients exclusive, direct access to experts within G5’s software development organization
The EAP supports G5’s commitment to enlisting client feedback to ensure new products and services meet client needs and deliver better business results

Commentary

“With our Early Adopter Program well underway, G5 remains on schedule for this fall’s general launch of Mobile Premium websites,” said G5 CEO Dan Hobin. “We are committed to keeping our clients on the leading edge by offering effective local marketing solutions through online and mobile technology.”
“In order to maintain and improve our competitive advantage, it’s critical that we incorporate new mobile technology to meet the needs of our customers and prospective tenants,” said Pat Reilly, Urban Self Storage President. “G5 Mobile Premium is meeting those needs, as well as our need to capture and convert mobile traffic into rentals.”

About G5

# # #

Media Contact:
Amy Foster Trenz
541.306.6321
amy.trenz@g5platform.com

G5 Ranked on Inc. 500 List for Third Consecutive Year

G5 Admin — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:10:34 +0000

BEND, OR – August 30, 2011

News

G5, the leading provider of vertical-specific Local Marketing Solutions, today announced its third consecutive year of ranking among America’s 500 fastest growing private companies.
G5 posted revenue growth of 728% over the last three years to earn the No. 474 position on Inc. magazine’s 30th annual listing.
The six-year old company’s previous rankings were No. 146 (2009) and No. 248 (2010). Three-year revenue growth was 1,208.5% and 1,236.1% respectively.
G5’s vertical-specific solutions include Multifamily Housing, Self Storage, Senior Living and Student Housing. Over 3,000 property websites – desktop and mobile – are hosted on the G5 Local Marketing Software Platform, a single source for maximizing marketing spend and performance.

Award Methodology

The 2011 Inc. 500 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2007 to 2010. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2007. Additionally, they had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2010.
The minimum revenue required for 2007 is $100,000; the minimum for 2010 is $2 million.

Commentary

“Now, more than ever, we depend on Inc. 500/5000 companies to spur innovation, provide jobs, and drive the economy forward. Growth companies, not large corporations, are where the action is,” said Inc. magazine Editor Jane Berentson.
“We’re honored to be recognized for the third consecutive year,” said G5 CEO Dan Hobin. “Our growth is fueled by the results our clients achieve using the G5 Platform. Average client results include occupancy increases of nearly 5%, website traffic increases of 146% and cost per lead decreases of 24%.”

About G5

About Inc. Magazine

Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures LLC, Inc. is the only major business magazine dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies that delivers real solutions for today’s innovative company builders. With a total paid circulation of 710,106, Inc. provides hands-on tools and market-tested strategies for managing people, finances, sales, marketing, and technology.

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Media Contact:
Amy Foster Trenz
541.306.6321
amy.trenz@g5platform.com

G5 Announces Trial Offer

G5 Admin — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:25:12 +0000

Program Allows Users to Test the Effectiveness of the G5 Local Marketing Platform

BEND, OR – August 11, 2011

News

G5, the leading provider of vertical-specific Local Marketing Solutions, today announced a trial offer that includes a 90-day evaluation of the G5 Local Marketing Platform.
The trial program waives the set-up fee for a highly optimized website (desktop and mobile) that launches in 30 days and starts performing right away. The program also includes reporting and analytics as well as a dedicated Client Performance Manager.
G5’s vertical-specific solutions include Multifamily Housing, Self Storage, Senior Living and Student Housing.

About the G5 Local Marketing Platform

The G5 Local Marketing Platform is a software-based system developed using cutting-edge technology with scalable features including:

Flexible Application Program Interfaces (APIs) enabling product integration with a customer’s vertical-specific applications
Multi-location application functionality
Real-time reports, lead management, and metrics
Customizable reporting tools

The G5 Platform architecture also demonstrates its superior efficacy over competing offline and online platforms by allowing continuous improvement, immediate upgrades and on-demand refinement.
The G5 Platform provides a holistic approach to marketing management and keeps users informed with all the critical, relevant data needed to:

Understand the effectiveness of marketing spend
Identify and analyze performance and opportunities
Eliminate ineffective spending
Reduce operational costs

Commentary

“We’re passionate about the results we deliver for our clients,” said G5 CEO Dan Hobin. “This offer enables properties to evaluate how G5 redefines marketing performance in the industries we serve.”

About G5

# # #

Media Contact:

Amy Foster Trenz
541.306.6321
amy.trenz@g5platform.com

The Search Goes On – Making the Most of Search Engines

G5 Admin — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:46:50 +0000

By John Dunlap – Editor, SSA Globe

As self storage continues to grow and evolve in the 21st century, it has become evident that making the most of modern technology has become a must. Whether that means having a snappy website to show off your facility/facilities, or getting into social media like Facebook and Twitter, finding new ways to bring prospective customers to your store is directly proportional to the growth of your business. And the search goes on.

“Factors that highly influence search engine results ranking today are most often tied to high-value content and usability (of your website).”

~ Dan Hobin,G5

One of the newest methods for reaching the public is to make sure that your facility can be found on Internet search engines. You may have already used a search engine when looking for something on the Internet. If you use Google, for instance, and you wanted to find out who was the oldest pitcher to win a major league baseball game, you need only to type in that question in the Google search box and you’ll see that Jack Quinn, at the age of 49 years and two months, won on August 14, 1932. So Tim Wakefield of the Boston Red Sox, at 44, still has a way to go.

Aside from the fact that it is amazing just to be able to have such knowledge at your fingertips, it also suggests the immense power and importance of search engines. Google’s search engine is the most popular, but there are many others and self storage owner/operators should make good use of them. But how does one do so? And are there red flags for the overzealous?

SSA Globe spoke with three experts in the field of search engines: Patrick Reilly of Urban Self Storage, Inc., Nick Bilava of USstoragesearch.com and Dan Hobin of G5. Their knowledge will now become your knowledge, so make good use of it!

The Value of the Search Engine
OK, so search engines exist. What’s the big deal? According to our experts, an entire younger generation of potential self storage customers is making good use of them.

“Since more than 30% of online searchers are 44 years of age or younger, developing other sources of leads is critical,” says Reilly. “Internet search engines are already used heavily by consumers looking for products and services and it is a very economical method of advertising (relative to other advertising). It makes sense to tap it for customer leads—your competitors probably are already doing so.”

“Even if someone drives by your facility every day, they will most likely use a search engine to find your website,” adds Bilava. “Having a good presence on the search engines ensures new and current customers can find you. Outside of customers or potential customers who are already familiar with your facility, building an online marketing campaign is an excellent way to attract new customers. Whether you use the search engines to promote your own website or use an aggregation website to gain search engine visibility, it is a must for every marketing plan.”

“Start with Google and Bing first and you can reach about 84% of all consumers.”
~ Patrick Reilly
Urban Self Storage Inc.

As far as Hobin is concerned, search engines aren’t just a nice possibility, they are a must.

“Search engine optimization (SEO) is an absolute necessity for your business, and essential SEO factors ought to be considered an integral part of producing a ‘good’ website,” Hobin says. “Factors that highly influence search engine results ranking today are most often tied to high-value content and usability—the same factors that website visitors will value.”

So, in short, it all starts with a good website and goes from there.

“Always focus on improving your website through developing/adding better user content and usability, but do not neglect important SEO factors,” adds Hobin. “Start with those identified by authorities like Google (search SEO Starter Guide on Google Webmaster Central) and SEOmoz (search for their Website Developer Cheat Sheet). To maintain position and/or to improve over time, businesses will have to invest in researching, testing and updating based on search engine updates. It is often more effective to work with a hired expert or outsource for professional website services.”

Where to Start?
So we understand their value, now how does one go about getting his or her self storage business listed on search engines?

“There are many ways, but the simplest way to explain it is to get the word out online about your website,” says Bilava. “Tell people about it in blogs, press releases, public forums, article submissions, directory submissions. But most importantly, whether you have a website or not, an operator should grab every directory or search engine local listing for their facility immediately. This will tell the search engines about your business and how to find it on the web and are also used to provide results for people looking for self storage in your area.

“Google, Bing, Yahoo, AOL and a handful of others are the most important. The easiest way to get started is to go to the search engine and type in the search engine’s name plus ‘local listing’ and you will undoubtedly see multiple links, ads and more for your local listing. Remember the search engines crave this information because user inputted information (when not manipulated) is much better for the results they want to provide than the snippets of information their ‘bots’ read while crawling the web. If you want to do this (and you should!) the set-up process is less than 10 minutes for each search engine for
most people.”

For Reilly, it definitely starts with knowing who the main search engines are.

“There are five core search engines and hundreds of local search engines,” Reilly says. “Get started at www.google.com/adwords since 64% of searches take place on Google. And 32% of searches happen on Bing and Yahoo. Every third search is powered by Microsoft. Sign up at adcenter.microsoft.com. So start with Google and Bing first and you can reach about 84% of all consumers. Once you establish you business on Google and Bing, then you can expand your efforts to more specialized search engines to maintain growth.”

For a step-by-step look at how to get started with search engines, check out Reilly’s list below.

Red Flags – Don’t Do This!
The folks at Google and Bing are no dummies and they are well aware that some folks will try any and everything to get listed highly with their search engines. It is of the utmost importance that you don’t make them mad.

“Never try to improve search results rankings by using techniques that are specifically discouraged by search engines, or those that are commonly identified as ‘Black Hat’ practices,” says Hobin. “Avoid any techniques that require substantially duplicating your website and content on virtual sites, gateway/doorway or other dubious capture and redirect schemes, and avoid trying to inflate link relevance through paid or spam backlinks. Offers that include buying links or increased rankings are not only ineffective, they can actually harm your standing with the search engines.”

“Don’t pay for links, don’t create or participate in ‘link farms,’ etc.,” adds Bilava. “Basically, when it comes to SEO, if it seems too good to be true it probably is. If you see a website climbing to the top of the rankings very quickly you can almost be certain they are engaging in linking strategies that are not consistent with best practices guidelines. If you do things by the book it could take you months or years to get near the top of the rankings for general terms (i.e. any city self storage ) but you should move up and have good position for more specific terms (i.e. self storage on 123 street, any city, any state)”

So let the search begin for the best search engine listings. Do it right and your business could profit in a big way.

A Step-by-Step to Getting on Search Engines

Patrick Reilly of Urban Self Storage, Inc. and a member of the SSA board of directors, is well-acquainted with the dos and don’ts of dealing with search engines. He shares with you his list of the best ways to get on a search engine. Search engine optimization (SEO) is focused on improving your ranking in the ‘free’ or ‘organic’ listings on the search results page. The search results page (SRP) is what the consumer sees once they enter a search term to a search engine like Google or Bing. Search engine marketing (SEM) is ‘paid’ or ‘sponsored’ section of the search results page. These page sections are highly visible at the top and side of the search results page. In order to be featured in these sections you must set up an advertising program and pay each time you are displayed.

Use frequently-used search terms or keywords. Make sure you research which keywords are most used in your respective markets.
Incorporate frequently-used keywords into your website design navigation and coding (use topics, categories, and pages built around top keywords).
Make sure that your website contains relevant content (useful information about moving, storage, etc.) for consumers—not just full of keywords, listings, and links.
Do not change your website domain name as it can take many months for the search engines to index your new website domain.
Label all clickable links and text links in your website with descriptive and keyword optimized names so that they will be recognized easily by users and the search engines.
Develop compelling content for the main pages of your website based on the keywords that are most popular in your market and with your target market. Simply sticking keywords into your website will not produce higher rankings and look cheap to consumers that visit your website only to find no content—only keywords.
Start a paid advertising campaign. There are companies, like G5 Search Marketing, that specialize in managing your search engine presence and ad campaigns.

G5 Named to Oregon’s Private 150

G5 Admin — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:25:57 +0000

Bend-Based Software Company one of Youngest on List of Oregon’s Top Privately Held Companies

BEND, OR–July 1, 2011

News

G5, the leading provider of vertical-specific Local Marketing Solutions, today announced that it ranked No. 150 in the Oregon Business 2011 list of the state’s top privately held companies.

Founded in 2005, G5 was the second-youngest company on the list.

Over 2,900 client properties are hosted on the G5 Local Marketing Platform, a proven single source for delivering the data and measurable results required for better business decisions and better business performance. The uniquely powerful and effective software-based system was developed using cutting-edge technology with scalable features.

G5 was ranked No. 51 on Deloitte’s 2010 Technology Fast 500™ list of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and clean technology companies in North America. Most recently, G5 was ranked the sixth fastest-growing private company in Oregon by Portland Business Journal.

Award Methodology

Companies are ranked by 2010 annual revenue and featured in categories ranging from more than $1 billion in annual revenue to less than $50 million.

The results of the Private 150 are featured in the July 2011 edition of Oregon Business.

Commentary

“Our guiding purpose is to help businesses thrive in a changing marketplace,” said G5 CEO Dan Hobin. “Our products and services – from optimized websites to our Mobile Web solution – were all created with this purpose in mind. It is an honor to be recognized for our efforts.”

About G5

# # #

Media Contact:

Amanda Patterson
541.306.3389
amanda.patterson@G5platform.com

G5 Ranks No. 6 Among Oregon’s Fastest-Growing Companies

G5 Admin — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:46:32 +0000

Surge in Revenue and Employees Boosts Software Company to the Top

BEND, OR–June 28, 2011

News

G5, the leading provider of vertical-specific Local Marketing Solutions, today announced that it ranked No. 6 in the Portland Business Journal 2011 list of fastest-growing private companies in Oregon and southwestern Washington. This marks the third consecutive year that G5 has been ranked in the publication’s listing of the fastest-growing 100 companies.

G5 posted revenue growth of 228% and an employee count increase of 223% over a three-year period (2008 to 2010). G5’s employee growth rate ranks No. 7 among the field of fastest-growing private companies.

Over 2,900 client properties are hosted on the G5 Local Marketing Platform, a proven single source for delivering the data and measurable results required for better business decisions and better business performance. The uniquely powerful and effective software-based system was developed using cutting-edge technology with scalable features.

G5 was ranked No. 51 on Deloitte’s 2010 Technology Fast 500™ list of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and clean technology companies in North America.

Award Methodology

Companies are ranked by percentage of revenue growth over three years (2008-2010). In order to qualify, private companies must be headquartered in Oregon or Clark County, Wash., exhibit revenue growth over the past three years and have compiled revenues of at least $250,000 in 2008.

The results of the 2011 Private 100 are featured in the June 24 edition of the Portland Business Journal.

Commentary

“Our passion for delivering great business results for our clients is a key element to our growth,” said G5 CEO Dan Hobin. “We are honored to be recognized for our performance.”

About G5

# # #

Media Contact:

Amanda Patterson
541.306.3389
amanda.patterson@G5platform.com

Bend’s economy is coming back to life

G5 Admin — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:04:40 +0000

By Ben Jacklet

The young Bend company that’s had the most success raising investor cash is G5 Search Marketing, which has grown to more than 110 jobs since its launch in 2005. The average age among G5 employees is 31, which makes sense when you consider that the industry of search engine optimization has not existed for long.

While I’m waiting for CEO Dan Hobin in the conference room I chat with one of G5’s recent young hires, marketing manager Amanda Patterson. She moved to Bend from Orange County in 2006 with her husband, who is a carpenter. The home prices didn’t seem high to them by California standards, and her husband found so much work in Bend that he started his own business. Then the recession hit and her husband’s business went under. With an underwater mortgage and a new baby at home, Patterson is more than slightly thrilled to have landed a job at G5 among hundreds of applicants.

Hobin takes a seat in the conference room and starts talking with the same matter-of-fact optimism I recall from previous phone interviews: “In a macro sense people are struggling all over, but it’s different for small startups,” he says. “Internet technology is on fire all over the country. It reminds me of 1998.”Hobin moved to Bend in 2002 after pursuing a variety of ventures in the Bay Area dot-com boom years. “Some of them did pretty well, others crashed and burned,” he says with a shrug. He launched G5 in 2005 by going after the not-particularly-sexy business of self-storage units, leading the shift from the yellow pages to the Internet and providing companies with sales leads and instant analytic reports. From there he expanded into senior housing and apartment buildings. He bootstrapped the company for five years before landing $15 million from Volition Capital out of Boston last year. Sales grew 60% last year. Last October, the business expanded into a new floor, and they’re already running out of space there.

Hobin says he has no regrets about building G5 in Bend, and he expects plenty of similar growth businesses to follow likewise, especially now that the town has become affordable again. “The real estate crash was the best thing that ever happened to Bend,” he says.