• Address: PO BOX 334, 32 LAFAYETTE AVE., LEWIS RUN, PA 16738
    • Call Anytime: 1-814-596-0020
June 28

How to Offer Deals on Foursquare

We've said it before and we'll say it again...you need to urge people to check in at your locations using location-based social media services. Yes, you will get some check-ins if you don't, but the volume and quality will be greater if you do. This is true everywhere but even more relevant for small businesses running brick-and-mortar establishments in rural areas. Check-in services are still relatively new and many rural areas are behind the game in these types of things. With a little awareness and activity amongst friends, the ability to take advantage of these services from a marketing perspective is much greater. Aside from putting a sign on your front door asking for check-ins, one of the easiest ways to get people to participate is to have a special offer.

Read more
June 27

Google Chrome Brings Voice Search to Your Computer

One of the coolest features of Google Android-powered mobile phones and tablets is the built-in voice search. Just tap a button, speak your search query aloud and your phone will automatically do a Google search for you. Recently Google built the voice search functionality into the desktop version of their Chrome web browser, so now you can speak your queries on your desktop or laptop computer too! How does it work?

Read more
June 22

Learn To Use Social Media For Small Business By Watching

Recently, Josh and I have had the opportunity to give our seminar on Inbound Marketing principles in various areas of Northwest Pennsylvania. As a web marketing firm, it is very motivating to see all of the small businesses in our area so interested in using the web and it's abundant marketing resources to grow their businesses. It is also very frustrating that the most common problem is that there is a clear lack of understanding on where to start.

Read more
June 21

Twitter in Rural Pennsylvania

It's no secret that Twitter has not caught up in rural areas...especially in Pennsylvania. If you have ever been around PA you'll know that much of it is rural, and depending on your interests that is either a pro or a con.

Read more
June 20

Social Media Solutions for Your Small Business Intranet

We talk a lot about how important developing a social media strategy is for small businesses as an invaluable inbound marketing platform, but have you considered using an internal social media solution to boost communication and information flow throughout your organization? It's a lot easier to do than you'd expect. More and more businesses are integrating a social element into their company's intranet, allowing employees to interact with each other like never before via blogs, RSS and even podcasting. Below you'll find some free and easy-to-use ideas for starting your own internal social network.

Read more
May 09

Publicizing Your Small Business With Free Video Services

Video is probably the most under-utilized media when it comes to small businesses attempting to reach new customers online, however it might be the most compelling route to take from a consumer's standpoint. There's no better way to highlight a product or service than with video, and although there is a little more work involved than with writing a blog post or recording an audio podcast, ultimately your potential return is huge. Of course everyone knows about the power of websites like YouTube, but there are some other great free video sharing services that add even more functionality that you might not have considered! In this blog post I'm going to run down a few of my favorites, including what makes each of them attractive from a small business standpoint.

Read more
May 04

Facebook's EdgeRank Decides If Your Fans See Your Updates

For years we have been working hard to get the best Google Page Rank possible so that our products and services appear when a prospect is looking for our offerings. It's time to add Facebook's EdgeRank to our efforts.

Read more

Mobile/Social Are Key Components To A Web Strategy, Ask Walmart

Last week Walmart, who needs no introduction, purchased a mobile-social commerce firm called Kosmix, further legitimizing the importance of both mobile and social media marketing.

Read more
May 03

Twitter to Announce Tweetdeck Acquisition?

Any serious Twitter user, whether for personal or business-oriented, knows all about the search for the perfect Twitter client. At protocol 80 we've tried our fair share, whether it be the official Twitter client, Seesmic, Hootsuite or Socialite. More often than not though we've come back to the mainstay of social dashboards applications - Tweetdeck.

Read more
May 02

Social Media Patience Is A Virtue

It can certainly be frustrating to get excited about bringing social media to your business and have it take off slow. You hear over and over how fast word travels on Facebook and Twitter, but word is still not travelling about your business. Your message is being sent into space and you are getting really good at one-sided conversations. I am sure you have asked these questions to yourself...how long does it take before I start seeing the fruits of my labor, when do I know it's working, and am I even doing this right??? Don't get frustrated just yet, it takes time and patience.

Read more