Google’s Search Plus your World: Why bother with SEO when all you need is Google+?

By Madeline Willman (@MadelineWillman)

A few months back, Google came out with its Google+ brand pages and SHIFTer, Kristi Eells, wrote a post about why healthcare companies should care. Kristi explained that at the time, “creating a Google+ page will not carry weight over companies without a profile…” However, on Jan. 10, this all changed when Google released its biggest change with “Search Plus your World,” a feature that integrates Google+ pages into users’ search results.

Danny Sullivan of Search Engine Land wrote an extensive article explaining how Google’s Search Plus your World works. Here’s what you need to know:

Search Plus your World allows users with Google accounts to search ‘globally’ or ‘personally.’ When you are logged into your Google+ account you will see posts and pictures from your Google+ profile and from those in your circle. For example, when I search for SHIFT Communications, five personal results within my Google+ page and circles show up that mention “SHIFT Communications.”

When logged into Google+, Search Plus your World will automatically be turned on, but you can opt-out by clicking a toggle:

However, even when opted out of Search Plus your World and not logged into Google+, Google still shows Google+ pages before Twitter and Facebook pages when searching a particular topic. For example when searching for “music” Google provides Britney Spears and Mariah Carey’s Google+ pages on the left hand side. One may question why some of the biggest pop stars in the world like Katy Perry and Justin Bieber don’t show up: They don’t have Google+ pages.

This proves that if you want to have a better chance of showing up in Google’s results, a Google+ page is in order.

The change has shocked the tech community with backlash from influencers like MG Siegler who noted, “Google is using Search to propel their social network. They might say it’s not a social network since it’s a part of Google, but no one is going to buy that. They were late to the game in social and this is the best ca
tch up strategy ever.”

There are also multiple anti-trust and privacy discussions, but even though there has been ongoing controversy over Search Plus your World; it doesn’t seem to be disappearing any time soon. Google is the king of search with 64 percent of the market share (according to comScore’s December findings) and if Google is making it a priority, brands probably should too.

Regardless if Google is doing the right thing or not, the fact is: Google+ pages show up in search results before Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin results – if you want your company to have a better chance at staying at the top of search results you should think about getting on board and building out a Google+ profile.

Read Search Engine Watch’s Jason Cormier’s take on the issue in his article, Why Your Business Needs to Be on Google+ Now and check out how to build a Google+ page below:

Is This the Beginning of the End for CES?

By Katie Tully (@K_Tully)

The first CES was held in New York City in 1967 as a spin-off from the Chicago Music Show, which until then had served as the main event for exhibiting consumer electronics. Today, CES is one of the world’s most famous trade shows, featuring the top names in tech and innovation, even drawing in A-list celebrities.

So the question is: How did CES go from 17,500 attendees and 100 exhibitors to more than 153,000 attendees and 3,100 exhibitors?

The first thing to note is that CES has always managed to draw in the newest, fastest and most innovative technology; starting with the VCR in 1970, the camcorder in 1981, the XBOX in 2001 and the hottest tablets in 2011. This has been the key for CES’s outstanding growth – launching the top products that consumers are dying to get their hands on. The reality is that consumer electronics have become an integral part of our daily lives, ultimately providing some of the most interesting, exciting and compelling news.

When all this excitement is boiled down to one show every winter in Las Vegas, it’s almost unbelievable that celebrities haven’t always been on the top of the attendee list. Let’s be honest - just being in Vegas in January is enough to make you drop everything for a week, right?

So somewhere between compact discs and satellite radio, the attention expanded from tech experts and columnist to everyday people and famous names.  And when you have Justin Timberlake endorsing MySpace and Snooki live tweeting from the conference hall about her bedazzled line of headphones, it’s pretty difficult to avoid getting sucked in.

As we look ahead to CES in the future, many of us can’t help but wonder if it will turn into another SXSW where no stone is left unturned and the real focus of the show disappears in all the noise. Is CES becoming too big for its own good?

Maybe Apple’s refusal to attend has been the right move all along.

Why the Patriots are going to win the Super Bowl

First up, Mike Fearon’s concrete logic for why the Pats are winning the Super Bowl this year…

In the Game of Bowls, you partake in Metaphorical Cannibalism or you die (apologies to George R.R. Martin).

While NY is happy paying for overpriced gastropub fare and SF is downing garlic fries on the bandwagon, the more cerebral, cunning, ruthless New England fan is devouring their opponents’ souls. Through black magic or the dark arts you ask? No, the Patriots will win through cooking a game day menu based on their opponent’s location and culture.

For example, the Denver Broncos didn’t stand a chance after I prepared and consumed Rocky Mountain Oysters and [The] Lamb [of God]. This combination represented the Colorado area’s hunger for prairie oysters while honing into their much ballyhooed QB’s belief system. The result: 45-10. Indeed the only miracle last Saturday was making Denver’s favorite fried snack edible.

To some, that might be a bit extreme. But how can I ask the Pats to try hard if I fail to put forth the same effort? This level of dedication is usually reserved for the Night’s Watch. Unfortunately, the sweet summer children in SF and NY are blissfully unaware of the long night, when the sunny victories hide for years, and children are born and live and die all in runner-up darkness. February 5 is time for fear, my little lords, when Wes Welkers move through the woods…

Oh you wanted real football reasons – here’s a simple formula:

Belichick + Brady + Gronkowski = BOOM!

Send a raven to the Inner Harbor. The pats are coming.

If that wasn’t scientific enough for you, I’ll turn it over to Annie Perkins who gives you Vegas’ take on the Patriots…

If the Las Vegas oddsmakers are correct, the New England Patriots will win Super Bowl XLVI. As of today, the Pats are 11/10 favorites to win it all! They are so sure of a Pats victory, that a bet of $100 on the Pats would only return $110. Contrast that with their opponent for this weekend: if the Ravens win the Super Bowl, a $100 bet pays $600!

Las Vegas and their bettors know that the Patriots are the number one seed in the AFC for a reason. They are a 9 point favorite to win at home this Sunday in the AFC Championship Game. As good a defensive team as the Ravens are, the Patriots have one of the best offensive alignments in the history of the game and the most playoff experience. If they make the Super Bowl this time, it will be the Patriots 5th in 11 years.

Patriots 35-14 in the AFC Championship and 30-21 in the Super Bowl.

(Personal side bar:  My husband has been a season ticket holder for almost 20 years.  I have been to 4 games in our 15 years of marriage…. My choice. He may have contributed to the content in this post.)

Why the 49ers are going to win the Super Bowl

Vernon Davis

Harbaugh, Davis, Akers, Smith … just a few names prove the Niners will win the 2012 Super Bowl. We’ve seen all season a team of players – not to mention coach Harbaugh – that have the heart and drive to win. If you saw the Saints game there’s no questioning the team’s ability to take this Championship win home.

SHIFT S.F.’s VP, Cathy Summers, explains, “The glory days of Montana and Young were all about offense. The interesting difference with this 49ers team is that the defense is so strong. They will shut down the powerhouse offense of Manning et al, and then meet the Ravens for the first ever Har-bowl. And don’t count out the Alex Smith/Vernon Davis combo – look for the game changing (winning?) play when those two hook up.”

So watch out, New York (that includes you, John Casillo) as Aaron Heinrich – the fearless leader of SHIFT’s S.F. office – states, “the Niners are Giant killers” and we will take you down again on Sunday.

Check out this epic video highlighting the Niners win over the Saints!

Why the Giants are going to win the Super Bowl

Giants Will Win Fourth Super Bowl in Franchise History

Eli Manning

After four straight convincing wins, the New York Giants are in the NFC Championship Game. And of the four teams still alive in the NFL playoffs, they have the best chance to win Super Bowl XLVI.

It’s easy to forget that on December 18, they were 7-7 and had just gotten embarrassed at home by the last place Washington Redskins. Statistically, the Giants were near the bottom of the league in total defense and were last in the NFL in rushing. With two games left on the schedule, their postseason hopes were on life support.

Yet in only a month’s time, the Giants have not only turned into the sport’s hottest team, but they have become the most balanced team in the league. Led by Pro Bowl quarterback Eli Manning and receivers Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, the aerial attack is still as dangerous as it’s been all year, but the late-season emergence of a disciplined defense with the NFL’s best pass rush and an effective running game has been the difference between missing the playoffs and contending for a championship.

On offense, the Giants are simply difficult to defend. When they come out in three-receiver sets with Cruz, Nicks, and Mario Manningham, they can throw the ball down the field or keep it on the ground with Ahmad Bradshaw or Brandon Jacobs, which opens up play action. In theory, the Giants can execute a full gameplan using one formation, making it tough for defenders to know what’s coming.

Flip to the other side of the ball, and the Giants can do what most teams in the NFL can’t – they get to the quarterback with only a four-man rush. At times, they can get pressure with Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Mathias Kiwanuka and don’t have to send linebackers and defensive backs on blitzes. That means opposing quarterbacks have only a few seconds to throw the ball – into full coverage – before the pass rush gets there. Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, the probable MVP, can tell you that’s hard to do.

The Giants have peaked at the right time, are versatile enough to win any type of football game, and have an elite quarterback in Manning, who set an NFL record this season with 15 fourth-quarter touchdown passes. Sorry San Francisco and Boston (and SHIFT-less Baltimore), but it’s the Giants’ Super Bowl title to lose. 

Super Bowl 46

Inside the SHIFT Studio: Kristi Eells

1. Name

Kristi Eells

2. Hometown

Rutland, VT

3. Where did you go to college?

Assumption College in Worcester, MA – Go Hounds!

4. How long have you worked at SHIFT?

I recently celebrated my two-year SHIFT-iversary back in November!

5. Use four words to describe yourself

Enthusiastic, Passionate, Satirical and Indecisive

6. What made you enter the PR industry?

My internships.  I worked as an intern in the Marketing and PR department of a hospital when I was in college.  They treated me like a member of their team and not an intern and I fell in love.

7. When you Google yourself, what’s the first thing that pops up?

My social channels – LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Quora.  If you’re on Twitter, follow me!

8. What blogs or Web sites do you ready everyday?

This is a long list… but the highlights include: Twitter (my news hub), Facebook, CNN, Mashable, Pandora and (of course) People.

9. If there was a cocktail created just for you, what would you name it?

The Vermonster – simple, clean ingredients with a kick!

10. Tell us something unexpected/surprising about you

I was a junior counselor at a Conservation Camp every summer for five years, teaching outdoor safety skills and natural resource conservation.  If you need to learn what to do when you flip a canoe, I’m your girl!

Inside the SHIFT Studio: Justine Routhier

 

   

    1. Name: 

    Justine Routhier

    2. Hometown: 

    Andover, MA

    3. Where did you go to college: 

    Assumption College, Worcester, MA and no I didn’t make that college name up! 

 

4. How long have you worked at SHIFT:

Since October 2008 as an intern and was hired full time July 2009.

5. Use four words to describe yourself:

Vertically challenged, outgoing, loud and animated.

6. What made you enter the PR industry: 

I wanted to be a writer initially but also wanted to be involved in business so this was the perfect balance.

7. When you Google yourself, what’s the first thing that pops up: 

My Linked-In account

8. What blogs or Web sites do you read every day: 

Mashable, and NYT are my go to’s every morning, and obviously my Facebook newsfeed.

9. If there was a cocktail created just for you, what would you name it:

Just-Tini, served in a short glass.

10. Tell us something unexpected/surprising about you: 

I was named after Justine Bateman from the 80’s TV show, Family Ties.

11. What do you feel is your greatest personal success in PR thus far? 

Seeing my first lifestyle glossy piece of coverage in print. I loved seeing the product included in the gift guide, and eventually learning that it was a popular seller on the website for the client.

Inside the SHIFT Studio: John Cassillo

1. Name: John Cassillo (@JohnCassillo)
2. Hometown: Deer Park, NY (on LawnGuyland)
3. Where did you go to college: Syracuse University
4. How long have you worked at SHIFT: 15 months (since Sept. ’10)
5. Use four words to describe yourself: Sarcastic, determined, competitive, loyal
6. What made you enter the PR industry: I really enjoy writing in my spare time – PR challenges me to think differently and more strategically about it, however, which is why I pursued PR in college.
7. When you Google yourself, what’s the first thing that pops up: LinkedIn results that pull up my name, along with my dad’s (who is also named John Cassillo). Confused why it’s not my Twitter feed though, since it’s updated more regularly.
8. What blogs or Web sites do you read every day: Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician, Deadspin, NY Times, GigaOM, TechCrunch, Everyday Should Be Saturday, Dime Magazine, Atlantic Coast Convos (my own college football blog)
9. If there was a cocktail created just for you, what would you name it: The Pro Series
10. Tell us something unexpected/surprising about you: I’d never been to San Francisco before moving here.

Facebook Timeline Launches: Four tips to keep personal information private

By Marlesse Marino (@marlesse)

It is official folks, Facebook Timeline is here! Instead of a seeing a disjointed list of wall comments, status updates, mobile uploads and Farmville requests, the new Timeline displays an organized and visually interactive story of your Facebook life dating back to when you first signed up with the social networking site.

Facebook users will also have access to a new tool called Activity Log. According to a blog post by the Timeline team, “your activity log is a place where you can review all your posts and activity, from today back to when you first started using Facebook. Only you can see your activity log.”

Along with the awesome new interface (it’s seriously beautiful, check it out here if your profile hasn’t updated yet), comes a potentially not-so-awesome new way to expose parts of your life that you never intended to share with your employers, clients and my personal nightmare – FAMILY MEMBERS. In a September post, former Mashable editor-at-large, Ben Parr went so far as to state that Facebook Timeline was assisting in euthanizing the concept of privacy.

According to the Facebook blog, “Timeline gives you an easy way to rediscover the things you shared, and collect your most important moments.” While this sounds poignant, there are certain “important moments” on Facebook that I would appreciate that no one “rediscovers.”

With Timeline making it easier than ever to find out what your best friend ate for lunch two years ago, or for others to find out what you wore on Halloween as a college freshman (Cave Girl – don’t judge), I thought it would be pretty useful to provide a refresher on Facebook privacy and the perils of over-sharing on the Internet.

1. Update your privacy settings: Since Timeline shows everything you’ve posted in a single view, it provides easy, scrollable access to your past Facebook blunders. Although Facebook Timeline is rolling out today, you have a seven-day review period to go through your profile and hide or delete unwanted posts, so take advantage. Facebook offers security and privacy tools for a reason – use them!

(Photo courtesy of SpaceDust.AtSpace.com)

2. Be mindful of who you talk to online: The old saying, “stranger danger” is definitely applicable to people you talk to on Facebook or any social networking tool, not just the weirdos in vans with tinted windows advertising free candy. Take for example, this story by New York Times Bits blogger, Nick Bilton. After receiving a comment from a user on Instagram, Nick goes on a 10-minute stalking session on Google which culminates with him finding the full name, phone number, home address and place of employment of a person who commented on a few of his Instagram photos. You would think that writer for The New York Times won’t hunt down your personal address for fun, right? If you did, read Nick’s article proving you very wrong.

3. Discriminate when deciding to share information:  There are tons of Facebook applications out there, so be cautious when allowing anything to access yours and your friends’ personal information on Facebook. For an extreme example of the amount of information you share when you permit application access to your account, check out Take This Lollipop. Take This Lollipop is an interactive short video, which shows a deranged man in a windowless room looking at YOUR Facebook page. The site asks you to sign in with your Facebook login, takes information from your account and weaves it into the video. You get to watch a creepy man stroke pictures of you with his grimy hands, and then continue to stare in horror while he use Google Maps to find out where you live. This video terrified me to the point that I deleted every app that was on my account.

4. If you have to ask, don’t post: If you have to question whether something is inappropriate, don’t post it. It probably is, so just tell your friends in person. The Internet will not be at a loss if your potentially inappropriate comment doesn’t make it onto the World Wide Web. Even if your privacy settings are extremely limited, an error in the system can make that once-private comment available to everyone. Just last week, Facebook had a snag that exposed personal, private photos of many of its users, including Mark Zuckerberg. The glitch was fixed almost immediately, but the system was down for enough time for me to get the personal photo below of Zuckerberg hanging out with his girlfriend and his adorable dog below!

 

These tips boil down to one thing: Once you post something to the Internet, it’s there forever. Think twice before you hit enter, especially now that Timeline allows for even easier access to your private life.

What are your thoughts on Facebook Timeline? Do you think it puts an end to privacy? What steps are you taking to keep your personal information hidden?

Inside the SHIFT Studio: Danielle Mancano

1. Name – Danielle Mancano
2. Hometown – Aston, PA (Outside of Philadelphia)
3. Where did you go to college? Undergrad: Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, VA Grad: Boston University, Boston, MA
4. How long have you worked at SHIFT? 7 years
5. Use four words to describe yourself: Needs a drink, badly!
6. What made you enter the PR industry? I wanted a career where I could write, be creative, learn something new everyday, and interact with different people. At first, I was working for a local newspaper in southwest Virginia and then decided to move to PR.
7. When you Google yourself, what’s the first thing that pops up? My Google+ or LinkedIn profile
8. What blogs or Web sites do you ready everyday? Too many to count…PR Week, Twitter, Facebook, Venturebeat, TechCrunch and Mashable
9. If there were a cocktail created just for you, what would you name it? “More fun after drinking” because well, it would create a lot of fun for you after drinking it.
10. Tell us something unexpected/surprising about you: I won a dance scholarship when I was 14 to dance in LA for a summer with Paula Abdul—“Straight up now tell me!”