Tandem Interactive - Trendy Online Marketing

South Florida Sprinkler Service

2012-01-25T13:26:00.002-05:00

F & S Enterprises became a client over the Summer of 2011. I mentioned at the time that I would need them at some point. This morning they delivered! I called on Monday morning to make an appointment. I asked for an early one, so I got Wednesday 8am. They called back to confirm if I wanted an estimate or repair. Since I was already comfortable with them, I said repair.

The sprinkler service / repair guy showed up right on time in a very clean, professional truck. I showed him the areas I knew there were issues. We recently had a few trees removed and they destroyed some of the main sprinkler lines!

He got right to it. Now, normally in the case of sprinklers, I am a do it yourself kind of guy. But I can also admit, when a professional should be called. He repaired two major breaks that I was aware of, and found two more. He swapped out a few sprinkler heads and then cleaned up behind himself.

I really like working with my clients when I get the chance. F &S Sprinklers did not disappoint. If you need sprinkler service in South Florida, check them out.

Thanks,
Joe

PS The price was right and the work was done in under two hours. Since I mention above that I really like working with clients, if you are a Pool Remodeling Contractor in Broward County, FL, Please reach out to me for a barter deal. :)

Little Joey's First Offshore Adventure

2012-01-23T09:58:00.006-05:00

I got to take my Dad and Son out fishing yesterday for the first time together. Making some very long stories short - My Dad has not been out in over a year due to health issues, My Son was supposed to go out with me the past two Father's days, and I only fished twice last year due to working too much!

Everything aligned and J Pop even joined us (and did all the work!). We were targeting Wahoo first thing in the morning. We trolled over a nice school of tiny bonita and expected Mr Wahoo to come into the spread. Sure enough, the starboard outrigger popped and we were on. The initial strike and head shaking made us think we had a baracuda or skipjack tuna. Joey started reeling in his first fish.

After about 10 minutes, we saw a large hammerhead shark (figures, right? with all the Rosie nonsence lately) come cruising across the back of the boat headed towards our fish. Deciding that we didn't want to loose Joey's first fish to a shark, J Pop grabbed the rod and started cranking very quickly. The fish got bumped by the shark, but it was ok. We realized as the fish came up to the boat we had a nice sized Wahoo!!! A great gaff shot and tah dah:

We ended up catching a small keeper dolphin (Mahi Mahi) and called it a day. It was a perfect first offshore fishing trip for my Son and nice way to get my Dad back on the boat.

Joe Laratro and Tandem Interactive’s 2012 Search Engine Marketing Resolutions

2012-01-09T09:48:00.005-05:00

1. Follow the SEO Diet. I preach / teach the SEO Diet at conferences and I fulfill those SEO guidelines for my clients… but I do not take care of myself the same way. The plan is to practice what I preach and add regular content to Tandem-Interactive.com, our Blog, and work on monthly high quality link building.

2. Give and Get Google+ Love. I am very pro Google+. I love that they are now pushing TV commercials promoting it. I think when the world understands that is affects search, it will really be game on! In the mean time I plan to use it for checking in, integrate it more into our sites, update it with valuable content, and get +1s wherever possible.

3. Be more proactive with client communication. Monthly reports are great, but the majority of Tandem’s clients are happy enough with their cash registers ringing and do not rock the boat. That is not good enough in 2012! Tandem Interactive was named for working in “Tandem” with clients. The more feedback we get, the better we can do. Tandem’s family has grown with the addition of Lauren Demarco. She comes from a customer service background and will be reaching out to everyone to get them more involved.

4. Research, Experiment, Learn. This year can prove to be a major game changer in Search. Social is going to matter more for regular SEO. The algorithms are going to get better. Local search optimization is getting harder. We are going to continue to devote time every day for learning. This is not an industry where status quo breeds success.

5. Track, track, and more tracking. Last year Tandem Interactive embraced Basecamp for our project management. It has been an invaluable tool for organization and accountability. We are going to continue this trend with more in depth reporting for 2012. We are also going to sharpen our focus with Google Analytics through custom reports and its latest features.

Happy New Years and welcome to a prosperous 2012.

Joe Laratro

Google + and SEO Rankings

2011-11-04T11:24:00.002-04:00

With the popularity of social sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google +, it's a common question: How much do these sites impact search results?

For Facebook and Twitter, the impact is slim to none, at least when it comes to Google. Not ironically, Google + does not only make an impact, it makes a huge one. It was only introduced to the Internet in the past few months, but it's already poised to have a significant impact on Google's search engine results.

Facebook does have the advantage of indexing in Bing, but for the most part, Google is a heavily used search engine that both web savvy and web newbies alike utilize. Indexed Twitter results are basically obsolete. But Google + shares? Anything public contributes to your Google results and when they receive a +1, they get even more of a boost.

If you haven't set up a Google + profile, now is the time!

Say Goodbye to Facebook Places

2011-08-25T13:44:00.003-04:00

Despite past speculation, Foursquare has remained a stalwart in the social "check-in" industry. Facebook, however, has decided to cut its losses and shut down Facebook Places. While geographical check-ins will not disappear from Facebook entirely, they will be combined with other features--such as tagging a photo with a location. On smartphones, stand alone check-ins from others will no longer show up in your news feed.

Foursquare will still be a dominant provider of social check-in and meetup services. With partnerships with American Express, Groupon, and Living Social, among others, Foursquare is solidifying itself as a force to be reckoned with.

Of course, let's not forget Google has a hand in the local check-ins as well. Google+ has a check in feature that should correlate directly to local search results and help Google Places in search.

Blackhat Scamming on Google Places

2011-08-25T13:34:00.002-04:00

Google Places has a huge effect on search results, which we've addressed before with the significance of optimized place pages and user reviews. Well, it was only a matter of time before the blackhat SEOs manipulated the system to their clients benefit. Fake negative reviews have been a problem for many companies, and now the new tactic is to go to competitor listing pages and mark the business location as "place is permanently closed."

So far, the only troubleshooting you can do for this is to periodically check your listing, and to report to us if any suspicious activity occurs. We will also be checking your listings, but an extra set of eyes won't hurt! Hopefully Google will enhance Places communication in the near future and notify business owners of any settings that are modified on their listings--especially to verify that their place of business is in fact closed permanently.

Remember, your team here at Tandem is here to help with any questions or problems you are having. Do not hesitate to reach out!

Foursquare Forges Partnerships with AMEX and Groupon

2011-08-05T12:06:00.005-04:00

Back in January, we asked you if you were on Foursquare yet. Now, several months later, the company has grown leaps and bounds--particularly in the partnerships division. Over the past two months, Foursquare has announced a deal with American Express and a separate deal with coupon conglomerate Groupon.

The AMEX deal is pretty straightforward: cardholders will receive discounts when they check in to specific bars and restaurants. Syncing your account with the app will make you eligible for cash back, discounts, and all kinds of AMEX-only perks. There are no coupons to print or show, the rewards simply show up on your statement.

The Groupon deal opens Foursquare savings to everyone, not just AMEX holders. While Groupon has been long-standing on the platform of buy-now, print tomorrow savings at various vendors, a new deal has formed where checking-in on Foursquare triggers nearby Groupon deals to pop up for instant purchase & redemption. The real time coupon app is aptly called Groupon Now.

If you haven't joined Foursquare...or if you've been slacking on the check-ins...now's the time to get back in the game!

Here at Tandem, we eat, sleep, and breathe all things Internet. We strive to be your one-stop search marketing and SEO shop! If you've got questions about Foursquare or any other site, shoot us an e-mail or leave us a comment here on the blog.

Happy weekend from Tandem!

Search Engines Top Provider of Local Business Info

2011-07-05T10:04:00.002-04:00

A recent study conducted by the Local Search Association, internet search has taken over as the most popular method for finding local businesses and their information.

The most used method is still via various Yellow Pages online outlets, but the percentage of users who utilize internet search wins over printed yellow pages users. The statistics show that yellow pages edged ahead for the cumulative year, but internet search won for the past month.

Of course age demographics play a factor as well, and for the most part ages 18-34 preferred search, but above age 55 the preference leans toward traditional phone books. Rural vs. city users showed fluctuations in preference as well.

Regardless, it's clear that search online is continuing to gain momentum. Have you maximized your online presence, including Yellow Pages online directories? Contact Tandem Interactive, your friendly internet marketing agency, where we can help you optimize your online profile.

Social Media Terms to Know & Rules to Follow

2011-06-01T14:13:00.003-04:00

SMA: Social Media Advertising- paid media (i.e. Facebook ads, promoted Tweets)
SMO: Social Media Optimization- content that goes viral (popular on Facebook or retweeted on Twitter)

These terms are important to know and understand, because they are changing the face of the Internet, and actually have been for a while. As the web continually integrates search and social results, the two become harder to seperate. According to this article from Mediapost, search engine queries are down 20%, and social searches are up 50%. Essentially, people are relying more on reviews, recommendations, posts, and commentary by their network to learn about a place or product.

2010 was a gigantic year for social media. Facebook page views in 2010 grew month over month by 150%. Year over year, time spent on Facebook in 2010 was up 80%.

So, the question now becomes, "How do you have a great campaign for Social Media?"

1. Audience targeting. Geographical location, age, gender, interests, and language are just a few of the many criteria you can focus your efforts towards.

2. Customized Ads. Building ad groups and targeting specific ads to keywords relevant on a profile make your ads even more relevant to the user.

3. Managing Bids. Facebook ads can be auctioned, and your ad's frequency demands simply on demand.

4. The Brand Within a Community. Your ultimate goal doesn't have to be driving to your website, you can cultivate relationships and easily communicate with fans and followers right on a social platform, such as a Facebook page or Twitter profile.

5. A Cycle of Continuous Efforts. Test new ads, change wording, see what results work and rule out ones that don't.

Setting Goals For Your PPC Campaign

2011-03-30T09:39:00.003-04:00

Most people work on achieving their goals by concentrating on the daily tasks that have to be accomplished in order to reach their main objective. The problem with that strategy is that they focus so much on the daily tasks that they forget not only what the objective is, but also the purpose behind it. Moreover, the long list of things that have to be accomplished on a daily basis may become overwhelming for many; which consequently makes them lose their motivation and interest.

The purpose is the driving force and motivation to reach any goal; therefore, it is imperative to plan goals in three steps. When setting out your goals answer the following three questions:

1. What is my massive action plan?
2. What is the result/outcome that I want to achieve?
3. What is my purpose/Why am I doing this?

This concept could be implemented into pay-per-click as there are many steps that have to be taken in order to achieve a well performing campaign. It may be frustrating to perform the daily/weekly tasks on your account and not see the immediate results, but this is where the focus should be shifted towards the purpose of the work that is being done. When looking at the big picture, the purpose is to achieve either sales with a cost-per-click campaign or spread the word about your brand with a cost-per-impression campaign. The goal is achievable, but since there are many steps that have to be taken in order to achieve a high-quality campaign you shouldn’t get discouraged by seeing the long list of tasks. Many factors play an important role such as the keywords, the ad copy, quality of the landing page/website, quality score, targeting, and much more.

Focus on the results you will achieve and the reason for your goal and you will have a mental shift that will keep you motivated and on track.

Why Blogging is Good For Business

2011-03-03T15:21:00.005-05:00

"I have a website, what do I need a blog for?"

The answer is that blogs are a source of easily updated, current news that is pertinent to the company. Updating a blog doesn't require maneuvering a content management system, often it's as simple as logging into a blogging platform, typing away, and hitting publish. Essentially, a blog is a low-key method of dispersing information. It takes on a familiar, friendly tone.

Blogs are also a great way to link back to your website, to tie into social sites, to announce news and events, to enhance search results, and to increase internet popularity in general. One central site can have your photo galleries, videos, presentations, testimonials, PDFs, twitter feed, Facebook updates, and include links to your mentions on other sites. RSS feeds and share buttons add to the convenience of your Internet marketing campaign.

At Tandem Interactive, we know the value of blogging and the search optimization impact it has on your business. If you have any specific blog requests or material you'd like us to add, don't hesitate to reach out.

The Co-existence of Email & Social Sites

2011-03-03T14:37:00.002-05:00

These days, it seems social networking is everywhere. People are constantly talking about connecting on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and countless other social networks, and it seems people are less frequently exchanging e-mails. However, according to a recent study, the general population isn't quite ready to say goodbye to e-mail and rely solely on social networks. In fact, the two worlds seem to be quite peacefully co-existing on the Internet. Here's a look into why social networks won't stomp out e-mail anytime soon:

*Professionally, e-mail is still the standard form of communication
*To set up a social profile, you need an e-mail address
*E-mail is the preferred method for sharing links, photos, articles, and other information with family and friends

Breaking it down unto percentages, a study found that when people find something online they wish to share--photos, websites, videos, etc, 78% of users send it through e-mail, 22% through social media; with the remaining percentage split between other less popular methods (in person, on a blog).

Notice From Microsoft Regarding adCenter

2011-02-18T12:07:00.004-05:00

On March 3, 2011, Microsoft is changing their trademark policy to align closer to Google's, where you will now be able to bid on trademarked terms, but you won't be able to include them in your ad copy. Microsoft Advertising writes:

We are writing to alert you to some pending changes to the trademark policy within the Microsoft Advertising adCenter Intellectual Property Guidelines. Starting March 3, 2011, adCenter will no longer review trademark keyword complaints. However, adCenter will continue to investigate brand owner complaints related to trademark use in ad text.

We want to make it easier for you to manage your search advertising campaigns. By aligning the adCenter trademark policy with the current industry standard, we hope to help simplify your marketing efforts across the various online advertising programs.

Remember, if you would like changes made to your Microsoft adCenter ads, then don't hesitate to contact us here at Tandem to inform us of any changes you'd like to be made to your accounts.

Is Your Business on Foursquare Yet?

2011-01-28T14:16:00.006-05:00

Foursquare certainly made their mark in 2010 as the leader in location-based social networking. In fact, the website saw a growth rate at over 3000% and rang in 382 million check-ins.

Once dismissed as an application holding little value for businesses, but its massive growth and popularity has resulted in check-ins from everywhere, even...from space. Yes, on October 22, 2010, a Foursquare user checked-in from the International Space Station.

60% of the 382 million check-ins took place within the United States. However, with the remaining 40% spread across multiple countries, Foursquare is becoming a global network. So what does this mean for businesses? There is potential here! Having a presence on Foursquare allows users to check-in, thereby letting their friends see where they are checked-in, and also for businesses to promote incentives through the program. For example, checking into a store in the mall can pull up a "Special Nearby," such as "Get 20% off by checking in and showing the cashier." Even checking in at restaurants can garner free appetizers or a glass of wine.

So, while some feel telling people what they are doing through Facebook or Twitter is enough, (multi) millions of users want to also show people where they are.

Here at Tandem, we are all check-in enthusiasts. If you have questions about getting your business on Foursquare, don't hesitate to ask us!

Attention Tandem Fans: Come See Joe in Dallas!

2011-01-11T14:02:00.002-05:00

Tandem Interactive's own Joe Laratro will be heading out to Texas next week, this time to speak at the Dallas Fort Worth Search Engine Marketing Association's January 19th meeting. Joe will be speaking alongside Brett Tabke of Webmaster World.

They will be speaking to the meeting attendees on their specialty--Search Engine Marketing. Aside from Joe's work here at Tandem, he is an active speaker at industry conferences for the likes of Pubcon, Webmaster World, SMX and SES. Additionally, he teaches SEM curriculum for the DMA, SEO Class, Netowrk Solutions, Pubcon Master, and University of San Francisco.

The meeting will begin at 7pm, and will take place at the Richardson Rennaissance. You can register for the event here: http://dfwsem.memberlodge.org

Blekko Stays Strong at Tracking Spam

2011-01-11T12:05:00.008-05:00

Blekko, a search engine that I previously posted on, has been holding strongly to their word about the excess of content farms and spam, and have been tracking the growth rate of spam with CEO Rick Skrenta's "Spam Clock" creation.

At the beginning of 2011, Blekko began tracking (via the Spam Clock) how many pages had been created that were essentially deemed spam. Today, the clock has ranked up over 250 million spam pages that have been created since January 1, 2011. The website also states that about 1 million spam pages are created every hour.

The problem with spam websites, for those who are unaware, are that they dilute search engine results and make it difficult for searchers to locate legitimate websites containing the information/products that they are looking for. In Blekko's words, they steal clicks and also increase click fraud. In essence, they are counterproductive to the whole scheme of search.

For more on the Spam Clock and the impact of spam on search engines, you can check out Search Engine Land's take on it all.

Security Alert from Google Website Optimizer

2010-12-07T09:32:00.003-05:00

A potential security risk has been addressed by Google, and they caution that there is an ability for a hacker to execute malicious code on your site using XSS (cross site scripting) within the Website Optimizer Script. The attack's are a low probability, but Google does advise that you take necessary precautions to protect your website.

The bug itself has been fixed, therefore they will not affect any new experiments. However, experiments that are currently running need to be updated. If you have any Website Optimizer scripts paused or stopped that were created before December 3, 2010, you need to update that code or remove it.

Updating the Code:

(Choose One of two ways)

1. Stop current experiments, remove old scripts, and create a new experiment.
2. Update the code on your site directly.

Creating a new experiment is essentially the easier option. More information can be found at this blog as far as specific html coding to update.

via Google Website Optimizer Team

Consumers Geared to Spend More This Season

2010-12-03T14:27:00.002-05:00

According to a Gallup Poll from November, consumers anticipate spending around $714 this holiday season. That's up $75 from last year's $638. While this is not at the higher end of the usual spending habits of Americans, it is a step in the right direction following the economy struggles we've seen in recent years.
To put it in perspective, 2000, 2006 and 2007 were all at averages above $800, with 2007 at the peak with $866. Immediately after, in 2008, it dropped off to $616. Regardless, this is good news not only for the consumers who feel confident spending more, but also for businesses who have struggled lately.
Also, methods of shopping were polled--and a whopping 53% plans to utilize the internet to compare deals, and 37% intend to shop on Free Shipping Day (Dec. 17). This statistic adds to the finding that 63% of online shoppers would be most encouraged to buy with Free Shipping offers.

Recap: PubCon Las Vegas 2010

2010-11-18T11:42:00.004-05:00

Last week, Tandem's own Joe Laratro flew out to Vegas for PubCon, a three-day event considered by many to be the top conference for Search Engine Marketing. Basically, it covers every aspect of Online Marketing. PubCon is hosted by Webmaster World and its founder, Brett Tabke. Joe goes out to Vegas to act as a moderator for the conference and also as a speaker, offering up information from his SEO Diet.

Several attendees have already blogged about this year's event, and there is a comprehensive recap of the conference available on Search Engine Land. As you'll see in this breakdown of links from the event, PubCon covers everything from e-commerce to Wordpress, social media to mobile marketing, and much more.

The next PubCon will be held in Austin, March 8-9, 2011. More information is available on the official PubCon blog.

Google Places Gets a Makeover

2010-11-11T10:20:00.002-05:00

Recently, Google launched "Place Search," which is designed to be a type of local search that combines Google's standard search with Google Local. The change has local search results looking something like the regular Google engine search results, but with a map on the right side that scrolls down the page as you do too. This is in part because Google has increased the amount of information that is displayed with each listing.
Now, rather than just listing the business name and phone number, Place Search listings will have the business description, customer reviews, and a picture of the building--as well as links to other review sites.
The plus side of the Google Places makeover is that ideally, you should get more traffic since these results rank in search. People can find you without ever visiting your website. Businesses with acutal physical addresses will fare better, just as they would in Google Places (which requires an address for mapping purposes). The best practice would be to monitor your data and how this change is affecting your search results, and see if anything needs to be changed in your current search/PPC campaign.

Google AdWords Call Metrics

2010-11-05T09:23:00.003-04:00

In May of last year, Google canceled their call tracking feature intended for Google Audio Ads. But now, Google's bringing it back under the name of AdWords Call Metrics, a combination of Google Voice and AdWords.
Google's goal in this is to show advertisers that AdWords is more valuable than they realize, including driving offline traffic. The feature is available on PCs and high-functioning smartphones with full internet browsers.
For now, the Google AdWords Call Metrics will be a free service, but perhaps down the road a fee will be associated in a "pay-per-call" way. AdWords Call Metrics routes calls from the VoIP tracking number to a designated business number that Google is able to monitor. The metrics will capture the time and length of the call.
While access is currently limited, more and more people will be invited to see what its all about in the near future.

Blekko Seeks to Improve Search Results

2010-11-01T10:15:00.004-04:00

The new search engine Blekko has launched, so now seems like a good of a time as any to delve into the site and see what it's all about. Blekko was designed around the goal of eliminating spam results in internet search, via "slashtag technology" that narrows down the web into a select group of results. Specifically, the seven slashtag groups are: health, colleges, auto, personal finance, lyrics, recipes, and hotels. These are of course only the initial categories, with plans of expansion in the near future.
Blekko seeks to stand out against search big shots like Google and Bing, and here's an example of how: when a searcher types "health" into one of those engines, the results are a lot of low-quality content farms and spam. On the contrary, Blekko's results are only from high quality sites.

Tandem Interactive's Joe Larato on Women's Radio

2010-10-28T11:31:00.003-04:00

Tandem's owner, Joe Laratro, was interviewed last week for the national Women's Radio station and shared his thoughts about search, the future of SEO, and getting the most out of internet marketing. The interview will be available from November 2-November 8th, and you can listen to it here:
http://www.womensradio.com/episodes/PubCon-Takes-a-Hands-On-Approach-to-Search-and-Social-Marketing/6885.html
Past November 8th, the link will take you to the archives, where the interview will still be available for your listening pleasure.

Google Boosts Local Advertising

2010-10-28T11:15:00.004-04:00

Google has launched Google Boost, a platform for Google Places that acts as sponsored search in local results. Currently, it has been released in San Francisco, Houston, and Chicago; with more cities slated to join soon.
The Boost ads will provide the phone number and address of the location, which is located by a combination of the vertical keyword and the location keyword (such as movie theater, vertical, and Houston, location). Additionally, customer reviews will be accessible via the ad as well as a maps marker and star rating.
Google's ad placement in correlation with local search is predicted to be successful, especially because the results will be highly relevant to the searchers need and area. This is poised to be a much higher success rate than, say, Facebook Places, where users aren't necessarily searching for things to purchase or local businesses to visit. One caveat to Boost search, though, is that the traffic can't be successfully tracked, since it arrives as a result of other search queries as opposed to a direct URL. Time will tell if this will be tweaked in the future or if Boost and AdWords ads will continue to share the same Internet real estate.
Currently, Tandem Interactive has initiated the Boost in our Houston area businesses, and will provide the same updates for our other client cities as the capabilities roll out.

Only 1/3 of Small Businesses Utilize Social Media

2010-10-21T14:24:00.002-04:00

According to a new study from RatePoint, only 36% of small business owners utilize social media to reach out to their customers--a significantly low percentage considering 72% of big businesses already use social media, and the remaining 28% have a plan ready to be initiated before the year's end.
The logic behind the low small business figure? Because apparently, 20% of small business owners don't think that their customers spend time on sites like Facebook or Twitter, and 27% said they weren't sure. Sadly, they are mistaken. 62% of the United States adult population is on Facebook, and according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, social network use among Internet users ages 50+ increased from 22% in April 2009 to 42% in May 2010, while the proportion of Americans ages 70-75 who were online in general increased from 26% in 2005 to 45% in 2009. So literally, social media touches almost every age demographic.
Of the small business owners that do utilize social media, a big selling point is that it is inexpensive and has great capabilities.