The hottest social networking sites

Here is a short and up to date list of a few of the best performing, most current and trendiest social networks to be using in 2012.
http://webtrends.about.com/od/socialnetworkingreviews/tp/Social-Networking-Sites.htm

Disappointment with ecommerce on Facebook

Last April, Gamestop Corp. (GME) opened a store on Facebook to generate sales among the 3.5 million-plus customers who’d declared themselves “fans” of the video game retailer. Six months later, the store was quietly shuttered...
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New brochure website for Bournemouth carpentry company

JH Carpentry launch their new brochure website today.
Visit www.jhcarpentrybournemouth.co.uk to see the design.

Logo Design for The Past in Pictures

Despite having had a website for several years and clear branding for their business, The Past in Pictures needed a business logo which could be used for advertising and business cards. After presenting a few options to them, they chose this one.

Clean simple design, keeping the existing business colours. If you would like to rethink the logo for your business, contact me to discuss your ideas.

Do you 'get' Twitter?

[Via: Geeky Stuffs]

Local Search Engine Optimisation

In my opinion, it is easier to optimise a site for a specific local area than it is to compete against companies on a national scale. I work with many businesses local to Bournemouth but have recently been updating www.groveservices.co.uk a Health and Safety Services company based in London.
Simply including paragraphs within the website which indicate to visitors and to the search engines that the company is based in London and operates throughout the South (Essex, Surrey, Sussex and Herts) will help to boost the rankings within Google, Bing and Yahoo.
Making the telephone number searchable too is another trick as is making sure the company address and postcode are included.

Meta tags, particularly page title and description, can also be used as they are often the first indicator to customers as to where the company is based.

If you would like me to review your website, please call O7767600039.

Social Media Trend Predictions

It has become increasingly more important for businesses to invest in social media for promoting their products or services and for communicating with customers. In time, businesses won't be able to afford NOT to use social media for marketing.

In 2012, more businesses should be paying closer attention to blog posting, content marketing and interacting with customers through networks like Facebook and Twitter.

Of course, while social media has always traditionally been embraced by the B2C (business-to-consumer) sector, it's also expected that B2B (business-to-business) branding through social media will experience significant growth 2012.

Read this and more Social Media Trend predictions on About.com