New Talent for a New Year
Written by Smartt Team on December 22, 2009
In response to the growing demand for integrated Web solutions, SmarttNet is expanding its stable of talent just in time for the New Year.
We would like to extend a warm welcome to Howard Chang, who is joining SmarttNet as a Web Developer. Howard brings several years of experience as a developer for various companies within the tourism industry. Prior to joining SmarttNet, he worked as a Software Engineer for notable tourism site Adventures Abroad and as an ERP Systems Developer for Indus Travels. Howard is a graduate of the University of Victoria, where he studied Computer Science with an emphasis on software engineering.
Welcome to the team, Howard!
Photograph by Flickr user Rangga Chandra
Getting Listed in Google Local Search for Vancouver
Written by Martin Wong on December 11, 2009
If your business website is targeting people who are searching in the city of Vancouver and other Lower Mainland municipalities then you need to be found on Google Local. If you are not currently listed on Google Local, then you are missing out on a valuable marketing opportunity.
Google Local listings are now displayed at the top of the regular search results for location-specific searches. They appear as a combination of a local Google Map with business locations identified on the map with business listings posted to the right (see graphic below). For most local business searches in Vancouver, the Google Local map and listings will appear before the regular search results, which is why you need your business to be listed in the Google Local listings.
The Google Local listings as they appear for "vancouver pizza"
To get your business properly listed in Google Local you need to add your business’s information to the Google Local Business Center. You have the option to provide your address, hours of operation, photos of your business, information on your products, and contact information. The more information you provide the better. Read more…
Study Says Social Media Heavily Influences Holiday Shoppers
Written by Smartt Team on December 9, 2009
The Holiday Season is a busy time for online retailers and for many companies it can make or break a sales year. Thankfully, there are more ways than ever to reach potential customers online.
A new report from market research firm comScore points to a significant uptick in online shoppers who are coming across deals on social networks and following through all the way to the checkout. Here are the details, as reported by Tech Crunch:
In an interesting twist to the usual online spending reports, comScore dug a little deeper with respondents on the influence of social media on their holiday shopping behavior. According a survey taken last week, 28 percent of shoppers surveyed said that social media has influenced their purchases. Consumer-generated product reviews, like those seen on both retail sites and standalone review sites was the most common form of social media that had influenced holiday purchases (13 percent of respondents), followed by an expert product review (11 percent). Read more…
