As of last year, consumers are spending more time on mobile apps than on the web, according to a study by Flurry Analytics. In fact, smartphone and tablet shipments have exceeded that of laptops and desktops for the first time, according to another study by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. In line with the shift to mobile devices, Google is introducing Analytics for mobile apps, both Android and iOS. The free Mobile App Analytics tool is now available in beta and offers the following features: Continue reading “Introducing Google Analytics for Mobile Apps” »
Tag Archives: Google
Google+ One Year Later
Today marks the one year anniversary of the launch of Google+. On June 28, 2011 Google rolled out its social media platform Google+ to rival Facebook’s dominance in the social media category. However, one year later Google’s “next big thing” is being called a ghost town. 170 million people have signed up for Google+, compared to over 900 million people on Facebook. comScore released a report earlier this year showing users spent an average of 3.3 minutes on Google+ in the month of January, compared to 7.5 hours on Facebook in the same month. Another report by RJ Metrics showed that even among active users on Google+, their average time between posts was 12 days and 30% of people who post once never return to the social media platform again. In contrast, 53% of Facebook users and 33% of Twitter users engage with the platforms daily according to a report by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
While there is a small loyal following that swears by Google+, it’s safe to say that the social media platform’s popularity has yet to trump that of Facebook. Continue reading “Google+ One Year Later” »
Google Maps’ New Ads Improve Click-Through Rates
Google has redesigned advertisements used in its Maps application to include more user-friendly features. The company has already reported a 100% increase in click-through rates due to the newly designed ads. Search results now feature larger, easily clickable buttons that show up in more places on the phone’s screen. The buttons allow users to place calls or to find directions with ease. Websites now load within the Maps app instead of launching in a separate browser page. Replacing the old red flags are new blue Google markers to tell users exactly how far they are from a location.
T-Mobile tested the markers feature last summer and saw 162,000 click-throughs in one month. “Adding local store information to mobile apps definitely increases relevancy for the user, which is why we regularly see click through rates of 13%. We’re very pleased with the results,” said a T-Mobile spokesperson. Continue reading “Google Maps’ New Ads Improve Click-Through Rates” »
Apple Cuts Google Maps out of iPhone
It’s been long suspected that Apple will replace Google Maps with its own mapping technology, and today the company confirmed that iOS 6 will feature a proprietary mapping application. Up until now, iPhone users have relied on the Google Maps application to find locations worldwide. However, over the course of the last few years, Apple purchased a series of mapping technologies to build its own application.
In 2009, Apple acquired PlaceBase, specializing in creating an API for combining data and location information. Then, in 2010, the company purchased mapping visualization firm Poly9. Last year, Apple bought C3 Technologies for its automated 3D mapping algorithms. With the acquisition of these three companies, Apple has built its own completely in-house mapping solution. Apple will preview the next version of its mobile operating system, iOS 6, during its annual World Developers Conference beginning June 11 in San Francisco. Continue reading “Apple Cuts Google Maps out of iPhone” »
Facebook Shifts Focus to Mobile Apps
Back in April Facebook officially announced its plans to purchase Instagram for an astonishing $1 billion. This week the social media platform rolled out its own photo sharing app, Facebook Camera, now available in the App Store for free. The app was programmed independently from the Instagram team, as it had already been in development prior to the purchase of the company.
Like Instagram, Facebook Camera allows users to crop, rotate and filter photos and upload multiple images to Facebook. Overall, Facebook Camera is an improvement on Facebook’s primary app for iPhone and iPod touch devices. However, is not meant to replace Instagram by any means. Just as Google purchased YouTube when it already had Google Video, Facebook purchased Instagram to own the brand name. Instagram is truly a mobile-only offering, aligning with Facebook’s goal of improving its mobile experience. Continue reading “Facebook Shifts Focus to Mobile Apps” »
Google Rolls Out its Knowledge Graph
Google has introduced a new technology that changes the way users search on the web. Launched last week, the Google Knowledge Graph works with users to determine their search intent. For example, search for a generic term like “orange” and a new window will appear with options asking what you intend to search for (the county, the city or the fruit). Simply click on your meaning and the Google Search results will filter accordingly.
The world’s largest search engine company has introduced a new feature to Google Search; the right hand column summary. A search for a well-known figure, for example, will lend a summary of that person’s bio, date of birth/death, achievements and other related figures to appear on the right hand side. This function of the Knowledge Graph is meant to guide people to potential serendipitous discoveries if a search for one topic leads to a related one.
The simplicity of this change carries great ramifications. Google is switching from simple keyword recognition to understanding the meaning of relationships and entities. Search terms are no longer a string of words but rather an identification of a person, place or thing. Google has built a database of over 500 million of these “things” and 3.5 million facts about them from Wikipedia, Google Local, Google Maps, Google Shopping and Freebase. Users will begin to see the new Knowledge Graph prominently in Google Search results in coming weeks.
It is still unclear how the Knowledge Graph will impact search engine optimization. Because Google is now focusing on grasping the user’s intent, it narrows down the field of search engine results. And by offering a more complete user experience without having to leave the page, it could mean more revenue coming in through Google Adwords.
For now, Google is collecting information from users so that eventually it will no longer have to ask for the user’s intent. What do you think about Google’s new Knowledge Graph? Do you find it to be helpful? Let Blue Interactive Agency know in your comments below!
How Lawyers Can Benefit from SEO
Search engine optimization is the process of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a website organically when searchers type in targeted keywords on search engines like Google, Yahoo or Bing. The ultimate goal is to get a website to rank on the first page of search engine results – where customers are most likely to look and find your business.
With more and more people going online to find businesses, it’s important for lawyers to market their law practice through a quality, search engine optimized website. SEO will help people to find your website in order to generate qualified leads and potential clients. The great advantage of SEO is that it can target specific keywords for each type of law practice, such as DUI or divorce attorney, to attract the right type of clients. Even better, long tail keywords such as “Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer” can narrow down your law practice to a more unique niche.
SEO results are easy to measure through tools like Google Analytics or metrics software like Omniture. These tools provide valuable data such as how many visits a website receives, how long people are staying on the site, where they are coming from and what keywords they are searching for. These analytics give insight on how to effectively market your website.
Compared to other forms of advertising, SEO is relatively inexpensive but has an enormous potential to increase exposure for a company. Search engine optimization is part of a long term interactive marketing strategy to help business increase their online visibility. In addition to law blogging strategies and social media marketing (see previous posts), Blue Interactive Agency helps law firms to maximize ROI by offering search engine optimization services at competitive rates. Contact us to see how we can help.
