Compass Points Blog

Google+ for Business

2013-04-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

What Is Google+ and Why Should I Use It?Google+ is a mystery to many, and it is no wonder. Is it just another social network? Well, not really. It boasts a powerful set of tools for business, as well as working as a social network for individuals.

A huge advantage for local organizations/businesses of Google+ right now is that integrates with Google Search. Using the information on Google+ really helps Google search deliver more targeted, relevant traffic. If you put your business/organization on Google+, it helps Google to better understand your the organization, which in turn lets the search engine tailor more targeted results for key words. The best feature of Google+ is certainly the way the service seamlessly plugs into search, Gmail, Local and YouTube. Also important is the role Google+ plays in search - the more relevant content you have on your Google+ page, the more advantage you will have in natural search. Another possible application your business can utilize is Hangouts. Video conferencing, virtual focus groups, the possibilities are still being discovered.

The basics

How to set up your Google+ page. These folks say it better than I can, so click the link and read about how to set up your page.

How to set up a Google+ Local Page. This is very important for businesses with a physical presence. You will want to set up a Google+ Local page so that people can find information about your physical location quickly and easily. Customers will be able to locate maps to your location and will be able to quickly see relevant information, such as business hours and phone number, as well as any information you choose to share.

Beyond the basics
So how do you maximize your Google+ efforts? There are many ways, and while some follow the usual social media rules, others are unique to Google+. For example, we all know how important it is to use photos in social media. Google + takes this to the extreme because it puts a lot of importance on photos. Uploading a lot of relevant photos will increase the buzz around your business and start conversations. Always use the “recommended links” section on the “About” tab to link to popular blog posts and articles on your company website. Along the same lines, you need to always cross-promote your blog posts on Google+. Link those accounts and ensure your website is directly connected to Google+, whether it is a blog-style or a traditional website. When you have posted links to popular and interesting content, ask your followers to share your posts within their Circles. This is akin to retweeting or sharing on Facebook. Circles make it easy to segment messages to different audiences, tailoring your message exactly to the audience you select.

Tracking and Ranking
It’s very important to regularly review your performance. Google+ makes that easy with analytics. Google+ can improve rankings, which is something we all want for our businesses online. One of the first things you need to do is fill out your information on the about page. In the other profiles section, make sure your first 3 links are the most important ones, as they will most likely be used in search results. The same goes for the rest of the profile, make sure you are using appropriate keywords. Anywhere you can include a link, do so, always making the top 3 the most important. Google+ improves rankings, because you tell it to. Like Facebook and Twitter, Google+ has a “+1” button for business sites that lets web users "+1" a particular page on a website. This is a big help with search engine optimization (SEO), because as traffic grows and 1+’s proliferate, businesses can identify their most popular content. Google traffic from searches is considerably higher for pages with "+1" buttons. Here's information on adding the button.

Just Do It!
If you were wondering whether or not you should take the plunge into Google+ for your business, the answer is YES. Anywhere you can get this kind of free exposure and increase in ranking for your website is a good thing – and a good time investment for your organization.

We Can Help
Compass Media offers social media marketing plans that can help your business thrive on social media. If you would like to talk to someone regarding social media plans or any marketing services we can provide, please feel free to check out our websiteand contact us at 251-967-7551.

Morgan Robinson, Interactive

Bulls on the Beach Announces 2013 Dates, Launches New Website

2013-02-19T07:50:00.000-08:00

Gulf Shores, AL (February 12, 2013) – Great news for fans of the Bulls on the Beach event – the 2013 dates are set and the cowboys are ready to ride, March 16, 23, and 30 at The Wharf in Orange Beach. This year’s event, sponsored by Jim Beam, The Wharf, Coast360 and Compass Media, will feature appearances by stars from the CMT shows “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Southern Nights,” and will include professional bull riding, fireworks and children’s activities.

“I hope you will all come out and enjoy this year’s event,” said Jerry Byrd producer of the Bulls on the Beach event. “If you haven’t been to Bulls on the Beach, you’re in for a treat. We’ll sell you the whole seat, but you’ll only need the edge!”

In addition, marketing partner and sponsor Compass Media created and launched a new event website on February 12. Go to www.bullriding247.com for up-to-date information about the event, the bulls, the riders and more! Tickets can be purchased from the website and the box office at The Wharf.

Compass Media

For more than two decades, Compass Media has established its tradition of achieving results for those companies and organizations whose business it is to promote their businesses, services, and destinations. Our clients, including destination marketing organizations, retailers, vacation management companies, attractions, accommodations and more, benefit from richly and skillfully crafted custom publications, magazine and newspaper inserts, custom guides, and innovative integrated marketing services. Compass Media has one of the industry's most experienced teams in the industry heading the interactive and social media departments. Compass offers clients easy and affordable options for initiating and/or incorporating Web technologies into programs in order to maximize results, reach new markets, and engage and maintain communications with target audiences. More than 800 clients from across 12 states rely, every year, on Compass Media's particular expertise in connecting Southern travelers with destinations.

Louisiana Lt. Governor's Tourism Summit 2013

2013-01-29T14:11:00.003-08:00

The Lt Governor’s Tourism Summit is little more than a blur, though I do recall that it was a delightful week-long event. This year’s Louisiana tourism summit was held in Lake Charles and it certainly lived up to its tradition of being an exciting event. Hosted by L’Auberge du Lac, the property was an experience unto itself. Nestled on the banks of the Calcasieu River, the facility was simply fabulous.

The attendees were absolutely fantastic – Lt Governor Jay Dardenne spoke eloquently and extemporaneously regarding the challenges tourism faces, the opportunities he sees and his plans for the future. Assistant Secretary of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism Kyle Edmiston and his staff gave informative and edifying information covering the various aspects of his department. Breakout sessions were refreshing and informative, especially Stuart Ellis-Meyers, who brought down the house.

Irvin Mayfield played at the luncheon (which was delicious of course). His musical genius is peerless.

Naturally, the highpoint of the trip was reconnecting with all the tourism worker bees across the state. Louisiana’s tag line, “Pick your Passion” pretty much nails the tourism community in Louisiana. What a passionate group of folks!

- Joe Palvado, Regional Advertising Manager

Southern Foodways Alliance Goes Whole Hog

2012-10-22T14:16:00.003-07:00

Last week we had the distinct pleasure of attending the Southern Foodways Alliance Symposium in Oxford, Mississippi. This group of passionate Southern foodies documents and celebrates the foodways and people that make the South such a unique dining destination. And, they know how to pass a good time! This year's Symposium focused on BBQ and included everything from The History of the Pig to renowned writers espousing on their favorite BBQ joints. Of course, there was also plenty of great food and drink: whole hog cookouts, grilled smoked oysters, greens, beans and more! Kudos to the Southern Foodways Alliance for assembling such a terrific agenda of speakers, chefs and presenters - and for serving up some serious Southern hospitality. Such a delicious event!

Learn more about the Southern Foodways Alliance here.

An Adventurous "Fake Crawl"

2012-06-28T07:34:00.001-07:00

On Wednesday, June 27, we set out for another day of turtle nest hunting with volunteers Jan and Ken Taylor. When we arrived, Jan informed us that the team members from the U.S. Geological Survey had departed after completing their turtle tracking duties over the past month here in Gulf Shores. Since the beginning of the turtle nesting season on May 1, USGS team members have been scouting the beaches during the early morning hours, flagging off any turtle nests that are located. With their departure, it is now completely up to volunteers to locate the nests during their walking shifts each morning. "This is when the fun really starts for us," said Jan. "Since the tracking team is gone, we now get to walk the beaches and be the first to discover the nests."

During the course of our walk, Jan received a text message stating that two crawls had been located along Laguna Key. After completing our designated section, we rode with the Taylors to the first crawl location.

Once we passed over the dunes, it became quite apparent that this was one adventurous turtle based upon the tracks left behind. The turtle left a large U shaped crawl beginning at the water and not changing directions until the dunes. "During the entire time we have been involved, we have never seen a crawl that reached this far back," said Jan. After some thorough observations of both crawl sites, they concluded that no nestings had occurred; what volunteers like to call a "fake crawl".

The current nests are still under observation, and we will keep you updated on the status of newly discovered nests as we receive information!