Does your company have a logo that stands out above the competition? Can your logo be recognized quickly? Check out some of these national brands... How many can you recognize in 8 minutes? http://www.sporcle.com/games/corplogos2.php

Always looking for new ways to deliver its search results, Google has rolled out a new app that combines instant messaging and search.

Launched today as the lastest experiment in the Google Labs playground, Google Talk Guru offers you a chat session through which you can ask certain questions and receive responses from an automated bot set up on the back end.

For now, the app can handle only certain types of questions from among a limited number of categories, such as weather, sports scores, math equations, definitions, and translations. But like other Google Labs apps, it's something to try out and could eventually develop into something bigger and better.

Curious about Twitter and what it can do for you? If you are wondering exactly what a 'tweet' is... watch this 90 second video to learn more. Ask us how we can get you connected today!

We are always looking for ways to help our clients save time and money. Today, I had 2 people tell me that they wish they had more time to have dinner with their family. One client even complained that they only had time to serve a can of ravioli. Between work and school, homework and sports, practice and music lessons... who has time for it all? My time saver secret is the crock pot... (aka slow-cooker, aka life-saver ;)

This is a simple ham recipe, (quick and easy) and provides a healthy alternative to frying. I usually set it up before I go to work and it's ready-to-eat when we get home.
  

Ham, Potato, Broccoli, and Carrots | Crockpot Recipe:
3 lbs of ham
6 small potatoes
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup broccoli
3 Carrots, chopped

Season the ham with salt and pepper and add to the crockpot. Add the small potatoes with the peels, broccoli, carrots, and 3/4 cup water into the crockpot and cook on low for 7-8 hours. Ready to serve.

Remember... "The man who stops advertising to save money, is like the man who stops the clock to save time."

Please comment with any 'time saver ideas' that you can share...

According to Yodel's Top 5 local marketing mistakes... one issue is 'Trying to Build a Website On Your Own'. Your website is an important piece of your business' local marketing efforts – today's customers expect that you'll have one. It can't just have a nice design, some photos and list your services.
Your website needs to do one thing well – convince visitors that you are the best business for their needs. Many small business owners create a website that they think is well designed or tell a friend how they want it to look. It may feel like an easy and fun project that requires a little time and effort, but it is as critical as choosing a location or name for the business. Just because it seems easy, doesn’t make it so.

It’s a science.
Enticing a website visitor to call your business is quite literally a science – something easily done incorrectly. Every word and image plays an important role and requires a specific skill set not commonly found by your average web designer or creative individual. Here are few common website design pitfalls to avoid:

• Not making it clear what you want the visitor to do (i.e. make an appointment).
  
• Not using web friendly copy – too much, brochure style.
  
• Not satisfying various types of visitors (i.e. age, need, etc.).
  
• Not optimizing your website based on customer feedback, new services and usage data.
  

What can you do to avoid the #5 local marketing mistake?
We know it's hard to resist using the free web design software that comes with your computer, ready-made site templates or your tech-savvy niece or nephew to build your company's website. Resist the urge!
  
On the internet, people are easily distracted and are always one click away from visiting your competition. Every choice made with regard to headlines, buttons, photography and colors can drastically alter its effectiveness. Help is available in the way of online marketing service providers that can ensure you’re guiding as many people as possible toward calling or emailing your business. Unfortunately, most site-building tools and family members don't know how to create a site that does this, robbing you of customers that could have been yours.

Contact Us Today, to help you make the most of your website!