Ladies and gentlemen, Google Hotpot has gone live. For those who aren’t familiar, Hotpot is the recommendation side of Google Places, allowing users to rate and review businesses and various locations. With the introduction of Google Places back in October, we saw a major shift in the way search results were presented, going from the traditional organic results and merging with Google Local to become Google Places. This resulted in a blend of traditional organic results and local Places. And as anticipated, Hotpot links will now also appear in Google search results. More >>

With Facebook accounts playing a more integral role in social media marketing strategies, you have to consider all security aspects of those accounts. After all, not only could someone break in and compromise your account, they could potentially change information or even delete your Fan page(s) altogether. Imagine the loss potential, especially after you just invested in that custom FBML page for an upcoming product or service promotion. More>>

Twitter has just pushed a new feature called Connections, displaying users that you have in common with other users. The main focus of Connections is the display of users that follow both accounts and what users you both follow. The new feature is displayed in the sidebar of any user profile, and Connections features are also available in the Followers and Following tabs within a profile. More>>

You create first class content for your website or your clients. Your writing is smart, your analysis is good, you even have a compellingly readable style. Your words look great on the page and make your clients feel warm and fuzzy!

But does it matter?

According to emarketer, the percentage of US companies that will adopt blogs for marketing purposes will rise to 43% in 2012, up from 34% in 2010. The use of blogs has been steadily increasing throughout many industries, with a forecast for adoption throughout media companies, retailers, marketers, and broader businesses such as B2B firms, academic institutions and government agencies. While this data is US specific, we have seen blog adoption throughout most industries in various countries. More>>

QR – or ‘quick response’ – codes have been buzzing through mobile marketing circles for years, but it’s only recently that they’re starting to pop up in Canada and the United States, primarily due to the impact of smart phones.

QR codes aren’t exactly mainstream yet, however you can find them through major print publications, advertisements, and throughout a variety of different storefronts and buildings. Many of us have seen the codes on display, but it won’t be long before the majority of people will be able to immediately recognize a QR code and begin to take action. So, here comes the big question: how can small businesses leverage this emerging technology? More>>

eMarketer has come out with a new estimate that U.S. based marketers will be spend $3.08 billion in advertising on social networking sites this year.

Not only is this a substantial amount of money, but it’s also an increase of 55% compared to 2010, which was a solid $1.99 billion U.S. The estimated 2011 spend accounts for nearly 11% of total online advertising spending in the U.S., eMarketer has said.

Taking a glimpse into the larger picture, worldwide social network spending is expected to rise 71.6% to reach $5.97 billion. This is 8.7% of the total that online advertisers are predicted to spend in 2011. More>>

As with any shift that an organization or brand chooses to initiate, the transition from exploratory thought to ‘social media enlightenment’ is an adoptive process.

Let’s face it, not everyone jumps on board with new ideas, especially in a place of business. There is a lot of buzz around social media, most in the workplace may not ‘get it’, but there’s typically one person who is thrilled about the opportunity. Usually, it’s that person that gets the company involved in their own social media silo, sharing information with others whenever they can. And that’s the true beginning of The Journey. More>>

If you ever wanted a great Social Media Customer Engagement Case Study, you’ve found one – Royal Dutch Airlines KLM has launched a pilot program called KLM Surprise to show appreciation to their customers. The program recently took place at Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport, and the idea was to surprise customers who have used Foursquare to check into one of KLM venues or Twitter to tweet their location, rewarding them with a personalized gift.

Information that customers have shared on profiles across various social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and Foursquare is used to come up with the gift idea – so remember, if you’re flying KLM soon be sure to update your Facebook interests! More>>

Let’s face it, SEO is tough! Even those who work in the industry can find it hard to keep up to date with all the new elements and changes – what if you’re a small company with a limited marketing budget?  Budgeting for SEO and PPC can certainly get confusing. Luckily we live in an age where information is available to those who seek it, it just takes time. When it comes to Internet Marketing, ‘trade secrets’ are generally close guarded, however there are marketers who are willing to share some of their best ideas. Even though this knowledge may be accessible, how do you ultimately decide which tactics are best for you and your company? More>>

Facebook has launched a new registration tool that enables websites to offer quick and easy social options for users to sign-up.

This is a terrific alternative to using Facebook Login, (formerly known as Facebook Connect) especially when 1) You would like to provide an option for those users who don’t have Facebook account, 2) Your site requires additional information not available on Facebook, or 3) You want the flexibility of HTML, molding the login to your site in any way you see fit. More>>