Local businesses are being warned to avoid paying phony invoices that look official but are considered a scam.

Local businesses are being warned to avoid paying phony invoices that look official but are considered a scam.

The proliferation of social media platforms is a by-product of ever-changing technology. There’s Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, LinkedIn, and Tumblr, to name a few. However, Bill DeRosa, co-founder of Talking Finger, a social media marketing company, cautioned local business owners about utilizing social media unless they’re willing to invest time and effort.

AUGUSTA — U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, who has a Facebook page with nearly 4,700 "likes," invited representatives of the social networking giant to the city Tuesday to help teach Maine business owners how to turn virtual likes and fans into customers.

A self-styled social media scientist and his Facebook marketing wife taught local businesses a little about the ins and outs of Web campaigns on Friday.

Local customers go everywhere with their smart phones. They may be away from the office or away from home, but they are guaranteed to have their cell phone with them.

Mobile phones are virtually impossible to buy without Internet access. So it goes without saying that local customers are searching for local services and products using their mobile phone.

Read more about customers who actually use smart phones to find local businesses.

As a local business owner, you may have heard about an Internet marketing strategy for local businesses involving Google called, Google Places.

Google Places integrates Google Maps and Google Local into an online business directory that has been described as the yellow pages of the Internet.

Based in San Ramon, Covertise offers a free white paper that you will guide you on how to quickly get your local business listed on Google Places.

This freebie is definitely worth a quick read.

In 10 minutes, you could have your local business listed which is one of the first steps in getting your local business found online…

Visit Covertise to download the free white paper today.

Covertise is based in San Ramon, a California city in the San Francisco bay area. Covertise provides advertising solutions to both San Ramon and nationwide businesses looking to market services and products to consumers who are using the local Internet for directions, telephone numbers and shopping.

Mobile Friendly Websites

Many local business owners have not yet found the easy way to get mobile friendly websites for their local business.

The time is now for local business owners to get started as more and more customers and prospects use smart phones to connect with a local business.

Some forward thinking local business owners are launching wildly successful mobile marketing campaigns.

What is surprising is that many of these campaigns are uncontested by local competitors who are only marketing through:

• direct mail
• yellow pages advertisements
• pay-per-click ads

Mobile marketing is so easy with the right local partner!

There really is no excuse for not having a mobile friendly website.

It is just good business…

Why Use Mobile Friendly Websites to Connect with Local Customers?

• Better User Experience
• Top Search Engine Rankings
• Target Marketing/Demographics

If local business customers and prospects browse a standard local business website from a mobile device, it is likely to be a very slow loading experience. And standard local business websites are not eye catching or appealing through small screens on mobile devices.

On the contrary, a mobile friendly website contains less graphics and is designed to load much faster than a standard website.

Mobile websites are ranked higher in mobile search engine listings.

Affluent and tech savvy users are very likely to be heavy mobile phone users and they typically spend the most for products and services offered by local businesses.

Mobile friendly websites provide this desirable demographic the ability to shop online through the website of a local company.

This shopping experience happens at any time and in any location.

Connecting with local customers through their smart phones can dramatically boost the bottom line for most local businesses.

Mobile Friendly Websites Designed for Your Local Business

If you do not need to read more about mobile friendly websites connecting more customers to your local business and you actually “get it”, then do not delay…

Complete the free business marketing analysis TODAY.

Be sure to note your interest in “Mobile Marketing”…

This is a big deal for Facebook marketing, as it is now much more attractive for local businesses. Local business owners can now target the exact zip codes where they draw from, and can stop wasting clicks on areas in the city that are far away from their physical presence. (15 hours ago)

Join your local Chamber of Commerce as they celebrate Small Business Month by showcasing local businesses and their products and services. (3 hours ago)