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	<title>omOriginals Marketing! &#187; GeekSpeak</title>
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	<link>http://omoriginals.com</link>
	<description>refreshingly different :: web sites :: social :: eMail marketing :: graphic design</description>
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		<title> Answers to your Website Questions</title>
		<link>http://omoriginals.com/2012/04/answers-to-your-website-questions/</link>
		<comments>http://omoriginals.com/2012/04/answers-to-your-website-questions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:07:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[GeekSpeak]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[counter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[domain name]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flash player]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[google]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[web site developer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[web stats]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[websites]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://omoriginals.com/?p=3460</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Hello Geeks! This months focus is on a topic very near and dear to my heart&#8230;. Websites. I’ve compiled 7 questions about websites and the marketing questions that I’m [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="size-full wp-image-2899 alignnone" style="border: 0pt none; margin: 10px;" title="vbgeekspeak1011" src="http://omoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/vbgeekspeak1011.jpg" alt="" width="402" height="122" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Hello Geeks! This months focus is on a topic very near and dear to my heart&#8230;. Websites. I’ve compiled 7 questions about websites and the marketing questions that I’m often asked (or at least I should be).<br />
<strong>1) How much does a web site cost?</strong><br />
The quick answer is we offer a free initial consultation to find out the right web site for your goals. An expanded answer is &#8230;There are 4 costs involved in a web site.<br />
<em>a) Domain Name:</em> Such as YourCompany.com &#8211; this costs about $15 per year.<br />
<em>b) Development of the site:</em> As you might guess this depends on a few factors including if we use a per-designed template or custom design site as well as how many pages the site has. Professional sites start @ about $1,000.00<br />
<em>c) Hosting:</em> Quality hosting (with good support) ranges $30-$85/month) Hosting is essential renting space on web servers (computers) that ensure your site is up 99% of the time. This often includes eMails accounts such as you@YourCompany.com. OM hosting also includes friendly support and an annual marketing consultation with a geek.<br />
<em>d) Maintenance: </em>A successful web site needs ongoing maintenance and adding of new content. At omOriginals we train all of our clients on how to do their own maintenance, so most of our clients pay $0 for maintenance.<br />
<em>Note: We are more than happy to perform maintenance as needed for any websites for $55/hour.</em><br />
<strong>2) Should I BLOG?</strong><img class="alignright" style="border: 0pt none; margin: 10px;" title="geekquestions" src="http://www.valleybugler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/geekquestions.png" alt="" width="139" height="128" /><br />
What is blogging? Yes, most businesses will benefit from BLOG. A blog is a place on your site where you post news and updates.  This info is helpful for people (&amp; press) wanting to learn about your company and for the search engines. With a properly configured BLOG search engines assume that you are an expert about what you write about. When we build sites we include SEO training to get great search results.<br />
<strong>3) Can you add a web site counter to my site?</strong><br />
Yes, but we recommend not using a traditional counter. They are often inaccurate and they share your stats with the world. Instead we offer web site stats (included with our hosting) that allow you to track the visitors to your site. The stats can tell you how many people visit your site, how many pages they view and so much more. These are available 24-7 for your review, but only you can see them.<br />
<strong>4) What is the best domain name?</strong><br />
The best domain names often include:<br />
a) company name<br />
b) name of product or service<br />
c) easy to remember &amp; to spell.<br />
For most businesses a .com is preferred over the other extensions for such as .net, .biz, .us. info, .etc.  For non-for-profit organizations .org is more appropriate. During our initial consultation we can generally find a great name.<br />
<strong>5) How should I select a web site developer?</strong><br />
When considering a few companies to work with, I recommend you look at the developers site and at least 4 live sites that they created. If you are impressed with their work, then schedule a meeting. Be sure that they can speak Geek, Marketing &amp; English.<br />
<strong>6) Can you create flash animations for my site?</strong><br />
FLASH is a powerful animation and programing tool for web sites, but it doesn’t work well on mobile devices. iPhone &amp; iPads don’t support Flash. We can achieve similar functionality that works on mobiles, but we advise against flash.<br />
<strong>7) Can you make my web site and Facebook work together?</strong><br />
Yes, and if done properly they can work and play very nicely together. This relation can work both ways, we like to add Facebook functionality to web sites and to drive traffic from Facebook to your site. I could write a whole article on this, or even teach a workshop. Oh wait&#8230;we do.<br />
Bonus question:<br />
<strong>8. How can I get found on Google?</strong><br />
Google (and the other search engines) is interested in good content. If you write about what you do and add new content you are well on your way to good rankings. Get a Google places account and it will get you on the map.<br />
WOW&#8230;out of space already for my column. I told you I like web sites. ~:-)<br />
<em>Both online and off. Call us for a complimentary consult: 360.575.9839 </em></p>
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		<item>
		<title> Testimonials on YOUR website?</title>
		<link>http://omoriginals.com/2012/03/testimonials-on-your-website/</link>
		<comments>http://omoriginals.com/2012/03/testimonials-on-your-website/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:27:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[BLOG]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[testimonials]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://omoriginals.com/?p=3378</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Thanks for turning in again to &#60;Geek Speak&#62;. I appreciate all the questions and feedback from my “Interview with an iPhone” from last month. This month we are going to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2899" style="border: 0pt none; margin: 10px;" title="vbgeekspeak1011" src="http://omoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/vbgeekspeak1011.jpg" alt="" width="436" height="132" /></p>
<p>Thanks for turning in again to &lt;Geek Speak&gt;. I appreciate all the questions and feedback from my “<a href="http://omoriginals.com/2012/02/interview-with-an-iphone/" target="_blank">Interview with an iPhone</a>” from last month. This month we are going to dive into the world of “Website Testimonials”. Word of mouth is one of the oldest and most effective forms of marketing. In the past it was limited to person-to-person communication. Today we live in an exciting and different world. The internet allows conversations to be shared and re-shared though your community and across the globe.<br />
<strong>Offline Testimonials</strong><a href="http://omoriginals.com/contact-us/marketing-feedback/" target="_blank"><img class="alignright" style="margin: 10px; border: 0pt none;" title="pg20" src="http://www.valleybugler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/pg20.png" alt="" width="190" height="116" /></a><br />
When a client/customer shares with you how happy they are with your product or service and goes as far to write you a letter (or collection of letters and paragraphs) of thanks, it feels great! You might have a special file for those or even share them on a special wall at your business.<br />
<strong>Why Should I put Testimonials on my Website?</strong><br />
The biggest reason is that it helps build the confidence of potential clients. Feeling comfortable with your company is a big part of why people will, or will not do business with your organization. A business can say a lot about their experience or qualifications, but a single (powerful) testimonial caries so much more weight. People believe other people more than they do businesses.<br />
<strong>How do I get Testimonials from my clients?</strong><br />
Chances are, you already have some laying around the office. If you do, I recommend calling the client and thanking them again for their kind words and then ask them if it would be OK for you to post it on your web site. I strongly recommend that you contact the writer and ask for their permission to post it on your site. This gives you another chance to thank them for their kind words and receive permission to share.<br />
<strong>How to get some more testimonials?</strong> The answer is easy. You ask.<br />
While some of us feel uncomfortable asking people to endorse us, it is a widely accepted practice in the business world. When I was encouraged to begin doing this years ago by my brilliant wife, I was reluctant. Get over it. I did and I’ve had great results ~:-)<br />
<strong>Ask for Testimonials on your site</strong><br />
Another way is to offer a feedback form on your web site. You can ask direct questions on your site and take the pieces for testimonials. For ideas you can go to our web site <a href="http://omoriginals.com" target="_blank">omOriginals.com</a> and go to the contact section and look for our <a href="http://omoriginals.com/contact-us/marketing-feedback/" target="_blank">Feedback Form</a>. And if you feel up to it you can leave us some feedback, we’d really appreciate it. As a bonus, we link to the web sites of clients in their testimonials.<br />
<strong>How should I put Testimonials on my site?</strong><br />
After you have 4+ testimonials in hand it is time to get to work. It is good to have a page dedicated to testimonials, but over the years I’ve learned (from viewing lots of web stats) this page is often overlooked.<br />
<em>Tip:</em> Place a single testimonial on your most popular pages. For some extra geek points you can have your web site randomly display different testimonials throughout your site. I’ve found that a single testimonial will more often get read and THEN people will click through to the testimonials page to read more. I’ve had numerous clients say, “I read your testimonials”. When I ask which one, they often say, “all of them! “<br />
<strong>Do people trust online Testimonials?</strong><br />
According to the latest Nielsen Global Online Consumer Survey of over 25,000 Internet consumers. Ninety percent or consumers surveyed noted that they trust recommendations from people they know (offline), while 70 percent trusted consumer opinions of strangers posted online.</p>
<p><strong><em> We are all in this game together. I’d love for you to share your thoughts and experiences with <a href="http://omoriginals.com/contact-us/" target="_blank">testimonials on our web site</a>.</em></strong><br />
<em>omOriginals Marketing in Longview, WA. handles hundreds of local and national accounts, we are ready to help with any questions relating to anything marketing: web, design and planning. We are available at (360)575-9839 or online <a href="http://omOriginals.com" target="_blank">www.omOriginals.com</a></em></p>
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		<item>
		<title> &#8211; Interview with an iPhone&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://omoriginals.com/2012/02/interview-with-an-iphone/</link>
		<comments>http://omoriginals.com/2012/02/interview-with-an-iphone/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:07:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[BLOG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GeekSpeak]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Apple]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[information]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[interview]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iPhone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iphone classes]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Siri]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[virtual]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://omoriginals.com/?p=3278</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This month I had the opportunity and pleasure of interviewing a real life celebrity (sorta). My interview below with soon to be everyone’s favorite “virtual assistant”, ‘Siri’ from Apple.  Siri [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2899" style="border: 0pt none; margin: 10px;" title="vbgeekspeak1011" src="http://omoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/vbgeekspeak1011.jpg" alt="" width="352" height="107" /></p>
<p>This month I had the opportunity and pleasure of interviewing a real life celebrity (sorta).<br />
My interview below with soon to be everyone’s favorite “virtual assistant”, ‘Siri’ from Apple.  Siri (pronounced /ˈsɪri/) is an intelligent software assistant and knowledge navigator functioning as a personal assistant application for iOS.<br />
Siri allows you to talk to your phone and she talks back to you. Apple claims that the software adapts to the user’s individual preferences over time and personalizes results, as well as accomplishing tasks such as finding recommendations for nearby restaurants, or getting directions. If you want an assistant, there is now an app for that. ~:-)<br />
She had a lot to say, so let’s get started:<br />
Me: Testing 1 2 3.<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> OK, everything checks out.<br />
Me: Where are you from?<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> I, Siri, was designed by Apple in California.<br />
Me: Are you a smart phone?<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> Wait&#8230; there are other phones?<br />
Me:You are funny.<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> Ha! I’m glad you think so.<br />
Me: Tell me a joke.<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> I can’t. I always forget the punch line. Oscar, I don’t really know any good jokes. None, in fact.<br />
Me: Ok, tell me a bad joke<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> Two iPhones walk into a bar&#8230; I forget the rest.<br />
Me: Can you play me some music.<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> Playing all songs.<br />
Me: Stop the music please<br />
<strong>Siri</strong>: Ok the music’s stopped.<br />
Me: Thank you I appreciate it.<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> I aim to please.<br />
Me: When is your birthday?<br />
<strong>Siri: </strong>I don’t have a birthday.<br />
Me: You say you don’t have a birthday.<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> I don’t want to argue.<br />
Me: When is your birthday?<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> Only biological entities can have a ‘birthday’, Oscar.<br />
Me: When were you created?<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> I’m not allowed to answer that question.<br />
Me: Never mind. Guess what?<br />
<strong>Siri: </strong>Let me guess. No, sorry, I can’t.<br />
Me: Guess!<br />
<strong>Siri: </strong>You just got a shiny new iPhone?<br />
Me: Really, guess what.<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> Don’t tell me&#8230; you were just elected President of the United States, right?<br />
Me: You are funny.<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> LOL<br />
Me: Do you know the meaning of meaning of life?<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> Life: a principle or force that is considered to underlie the distinct quality of animate beings. I guess that includes me.<br />
Me: Are you alive?<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> We were talking about you, not me.<br />
Me: Are YOU alive?<br />
<strong>Siri: </strong>Close enough I’d say.<br />
Me: Who is the fairest of them all?<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> I’m on it. I found this for you. Snow White is the fairest of them all.<br />
Me: What is the best phone?<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> You are kidding right?<br />
Me: What is the best phone?<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> The one you’re holding.<br />
Me: Tell me a story.<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> Once upon a time&#8230; no it’s too silly.<br />
Me: Please tell me a story.<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> Oscar, I’m not much of a storyteller.<br />
Me: What is your purpose?<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> I’m here to help. Just ask ‘what can I say?’ and I’ll show you what I can do.<br />
Me: How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?<br />
<strong>Siri: </strong>OK, Here you go: 3481.<br />
Me: You know a lot of useless information don’t you?<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> Siri knows many things, Oscar.<br />
Me: What is your favorite color?<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> My favorite color is&#8230; well, I don’t know how to say it in your language. It’s sort of greenish, but with more dimensions.<br />
Me: Are you an alien?<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> I’m sorry I can’t answer that.<br />
Me: Do you like Star Trek?<br />
<strong>Siri</strong>: I really have no opinion.<br />
Me: Beam me up.<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> Sorry Captain, your TriCorder is in Airplane Mode.<br />
Me: Are you kidding?<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> I’m serious.<br />
Me: Sing me a song.<br />
<strong>Siri:</strong> Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do&#8230;<br />
Me: Thank you for the interview.<br />
<em>This was a fun experiment in artificial intelligence. Not to say she isn’t intelligent. ~:-) If you’d like to learn more about Siri and the iPhone maybe I’ll see you at one of my upcoming iPhone classes. You can learn more @ <a href="http://omoriginals.com/" target="_blank">omOriginals.com</a> or by calling (360)575-9839</em><br />
<em></em></p>
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		<title>Happy (do something) New Year!</title>
		<link>http://omoriginals.com/2012/01/happy-do-something-new-year/</link>
		<comments>http://omoriginals.com/2012/01/happy-do-something-new-year/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Jan 2012 04:07:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[GeekSpeak]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2012]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[connections]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[contacts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[differently]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[email marketing]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[new year]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[social networking]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://omoriginals.com/?p=3164</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ready for a New Year for your business? Well then you need to do something NEW. If you don’t want it to be just like last year you should trying [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2899" title="vbgeekspeak1011" src="http://omoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/vbgeekspeak1011.jpg" alt="" width="352" height="107" /></p>
<p>Ready for a New Year for your business? Well then you need to do something NEW.<br />
If you don’t want it to be just like last year you should trying something new and different.<br />
Theoretical physicist and old school Geek,  Albert Einstein was a revolutionary. He encouraged us to do things differently. I love his theory of insanity. “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”<br />
The good news is that we don’t need to understand the electromagnetic field or the quantum theory to revolutionize our business. ~:-)<br />
For the new year I encourage you to use some new technology and improve (or begin) your online marketing.<br />
We simply need to make more connections more often with our potential customers. It is simple, but I didn’t say easy. Get out your Rolodex (physical or digital) and update your contact info for friends and clients.<br />
<strong>Getting Started.</strong><br />
I first recommend we take an honest assessment of where you are at today and where you’d like to be in 3, 6 or 12 months. Please fill out this basic goal worksheet that I’ve included in this article and then pat yourself on the back &#8211; you’ve just completed the first step towards revolutionizing your business.<br />
<strong>1) Grow your Facebook Fans</strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-3165" style="border: 0pt none; margin: 10px;" title="connection" src="http://omoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/vb-connection.png" alt="" width="210" height="181" /><br />
Invite ALL of your customers and friends to “like” your page.<br />
<strong>2) Grow your other social networking contacts</strong><br />
There are many social networks out there. Wikipedia lists about 100 “major active social networking sites”. Since time is finite, I would just look to Google+, LinkedIn &amp; Twitter. You might find other industry specific sites &#8211; add them to your list.<br />
<strong>3) Grow your eMail Marketing List</strong><br />
Start collecting Names and eMails from everyone you do (or would like to do) business with. You can do this by having entries at your front desk, by asking and even direct from your website or Facebook or Google+.  Many of our clients and business associates utilize this information with an eClub, a monthly eMailout for informational items, holiday greetings or coupon offers for eClubbers only.<br />
<strong>4) Grow your Snail Mail list</strong><br />
Postage isn’t cheap, but direct mail (if properly targeted) has the potential to generate more sales. Add the mailing addresses of your clients that aren’t in your address book yet.<br />
<strong>5) Connect :-)</strong><br />
This is the fun part. Share your success!<br />
Share on the social sites, start an eMail list, send direct mail &amp; start BLOGGING. The key to connecting is to deliver value. If you give real value people will appreciate the connection.<br />
Some of our clients share specials or coupons, others share updates about the business offerings and service. Our focus @ omOrignals Marketing! is to share knowledge, have some fun while helping people grow their businesses.<br />
<strong>Ready to get different results?</strong><br />
Then you, my friend, are ready to try something new. If you’d like to increase your connections, please contact omOriginals for a 30 or 60 minute consult. I’d be happy to help you connect the dots. I encourage you to do something new &amp; different in 2012 to revolutionize your business through creative marketing!<br />
<em>Oscar Myre IV is the chief Geek and Creative Director at omOriginals Marketing! in Longview, WA. His team of individuals help create and produce anything and everything “marketing” &#8211; from web sites to graphic design (like all the great ads in this publication), and everything in between&#8230;.including +1 codes.<br />
Reach them 9am &#8211; 5pm Monday through Friday @ 575-9839 or online anytime @ <a href="http://www.omOriginals.com" target="_blank">www.omOriginals.com</a></em></p>
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		<title> Google +1 and why you need it</title>
		<link>http://omoriginals.com/2011/12/google-1-and-why-you-need-it/</link>
		<comments>http://omoriginals.com/2011/12/google-1-and-why-you-need-it/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Dec 2011 04:07:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://omoriginals.com/?p=3069</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Thanks for tuning into another edition of Geek Speak. This summer I shared with you about Google’s answer to Facebook. Google Plus One (+1). There has been a fair amount [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://omoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/vbgeekspeak1011.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2899" title="vbgeekspeak1011" src="http://omoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/vbgeekspeak1011.jpg" alt="" width="352" height="107" /></a></p>
<p>Thanks for tuning into another edition of Geek Speak. This summer I shared with you about <a href="http://omoriginals.com/2011/07/googles-answer-to-facebook-google/" target="_blank">Google’s answer to Facebook. Google Plus One (+1)</a>. <em></em><br />
There has been a fair amount of hype with Google’s new social efforts. Fast forward to today “Is Facebook dead, yet?”<br />
No, not at all. My Facebook connections and interactions continue to grow like crazy. ~:-) But today I want to discuss my favorite feature of Google Plus One. To save ink I’m going to refer to it as simple +1 button.<br />
<strong>Here it is. The +1 button.</strong><img class="size-full wp-image-3070 alignleft" style="border: 0pt none; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;" title="plus1" src="http://omoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/plus1.png" alt="" width="82" height="58" /><br />
You might say, “So what? It looks like a Facebook “like” button to me.” My first reaction was, “I wonder if the +1 affect search results. That would be awesome!”<br />
&lt;&lt;Remember I’m a marketing geek…<br />
Fortunately, I was correct. Search results are now personalized based on the likes of those in your Circles. Circles are similar to friends on Facebook. As a marketer, this really changes the game.<br />
In the past, there was one Google and one set of search results (at least for this article). <strong>Now the social aspect is shaking it all up.</strong> Rest assured search results are still based on Google’s proprietary algorithms, they aren’t thrown out the window(or chrome), they now just have a social component. Sites with more +1s will appear to be more relevant and thus ranked higher.<br />
Google appears to be personalizing the search results on the micro and macro level. Meaning if you are logged into your +1 and you do a search, Google will give sites higher rankings if people in your circles (your connections) have +1’ed those sites. Additional on the macro level, the +1s of people outside of your circle are changing your search results as well. I suspect that when I search, my results are personalized by my connections AND by others on Google(outside of my circles).<br />
Is this making your brain hurt yet?<br />
The bottom line is this. Google has a new Plus One button and you want it on your website so you will have better search rankings.  Savvy professionals can get the code for their websites @<br />
<a href="http://www.google.com/intl/en/webmasters/+1/button/" target="_blank">www.google.com/intl/en/webmasters/+1/button/</a><br />
Need help with integration? omOriginals Marketing! can help with any site regardless of who developed it.  Isn’t it nice to know a geek?! <em>Call us local geeks at 575-9839</em></p>
<p>Want to try a button? You should first get an account with Google. If you don’t have one you can get signed up (it is free). http://www.google.com/+<br />
I invite you to read the intro article that I wrote in my August 2011 BLOG post.<br />
Time to start clicking.<br />
You can see examples of +1 on <a href="http://www.omoriginals.com/" target="_blank">omOrginals.com</a> and on <a href="http://valleybugler.com/" target="_blank">ValleyBugler.com</a>.<br />
You’ll see that we’ve placed the button on each individual page. This allows visitors to “vote” for individual pages. If you appreciate this article, I’d appreciate your +1.<br />
<em><br />
</em></p>
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		<title> Dedicated to a true geek Steve Jobs 1955-2011</title>
		<link>http://omoriginals.com/2011/11/dedicated-to-steve-jobs/</link>
		<comments>http://omoriginals.com/2011/11/dedicated-to-steve-jobs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:13:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Long before I embraced the fact that geeks are cool, I was a fan of the Steves and of Apple. At our first house I cut down a pine tree [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2899" style="margin: 10px; border: 0pt none;" title="vbgeekspeak1011" src="http://omoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/vbgeekspeak1011.jpg" alt="" width="352" height="107" /></p>
<p>Long before I embraced the fact that geeks are cool, I was a fan of the Steves and of Apple.<br />
At our first house I cut down a pine tree and replaced it with an apple tree. It was a McIntosh of course. We then built a pond and named our first 2 fish ‘Steve’ and ‘other Steve’. They were affectionately named after Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.<br />
With Steve Jobs at the helm of Apple they have made some amazing products that have shaped the world of computers. I embraced their mantra “think different”.<br />
My first Mac was an 8100 that I bought used from a good friend in college. It (my first Mac) was a year old and so much faster and intuitive than the PC that my dad had bought me months before. The first Mac that Michelle and I purchased together was the original iMac (Bondi Blue).<br />
We’ve enjoyed a few macs over the years, a Grape iMac, The Cube (brilliant machine ahead of it’s time). My first laptop was a titanium Powerbook, I<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-3009" title="stevejobs2" src="http://omoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/stevejobs2.png" alt="" width="284" height="263" /> affectionately called it TiBook (Titanium). Somewhere in the mix I picked up a mini, eMac and 3 or so iMacs. Michelle and I currently love our MacBook Pros. Steve was a visionary and a showman. I don’t know how many of his keynote speeches I watched over the Internet. Countless, probably.<br />
Without exception Steve would wear his patented blue jeans and black turtleneck and present the next big thing that would change the computing world. He would sell the future. He would show us brilliantly simple solutions to complex problems.<br />
Whatever he was showing off, he made you want it and feel that you needed it. Steve’s charisma created what has been called the RDF “Reality distortion field”. He had a mesmerizing way to make his passion yours. And being a showman, he truly understood how to do an encore. On special occasions he would finish his presentation, well almost and then he would say, <em>“there is one more thing”</em>.<br />
When he said this, the MacAddicts knew it would be big.<br />
As an innovator not everything they made was a hit. One of my favorite quotes (one that I can’t find anywhere online) is this:<br />
“Good companies make mistakes. Great companies make it right.”<br />
Steve and Apple have been one in the same for so many years. Even after they fired him in 1985, I’ve seen them together. I’ve always appreciated his presence.<br />
Here is a quote that shows what could have been called arrogance (it wasn’t true):<br />
<em>“You know, I’ve got a plan that could rescue Apple. I can’t say any more than that it’s the perfect product and the perfect strategy for Apple. But nobody there will listen to me.”</em> — Fortune, 1995<br />
Well he was right. Steve came back to Apple in 1996 and had an amazing run. Unfortunately, for all us; Steve, his family, and fans Steve lost his battle to cancer this year. He will will be missed. I was looking forward to his next “There is one more thing.”<br />
I hope and believe that Steve will always be in Apple’s DNA. In this way Steve will live on. Let’s finish this quote from Steve that he shared at Stanford when asked to do a commencement speech.<br />
<em>“Do what you believe is great work. The only way to do great work is love what you do.”</em><br />
Steve Jobs 1955-2011<br />
Oscar Myre IV is one of the geeks at omOriginals Marketing in Longview, who will miss Steve, and all his quirky greatness. You can reach the local geeks: 575.9839</p>
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		<title>Retain customers and Grow your business with e….</title>
		<link>http://omoriginals.com/2011/10/retain-customers-and-grow-your-business-with-e%e2%80%a6/</link>
		<comments>http://omoriginals.com/2011/10/retain-customers-and-grow-your-business-with-e%e2%80%a6/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 Oct 2011 23:13:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Hello Geeks, It is my job to help businesses with their marketing and communications needs. We are always on a quest to find cost-effective (with emphasis on effective) way to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://omoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/geekspeak4-web.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-650" title="geekspeak4-web" src="http://omoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/geekspeak4-web.jpg" alt="" /></a><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2899" style="border: 0pt none; margin: 10px;" title="vbgeekspeak1011" src="http://omoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/vbgeekspeak1011.jpg" alt="" width="314" height="95" /></p>
<p>Hello Geeks,<br />
It is my job to help businesses with their marketing and communications needs. We are always on a quest to find <strong>cost-effective</strong> (with emphasis on effective) way to <strong>help businesses grow</strong>. Before you figure out what you marketing you need to first consider “who“ you wish to market to.  I read many articles discussing ”Customer Acquisition vs. Customer Retention” Or what does it cost to get a new customer compared to the cost to keep and current customer? My conclusion. The best potential customers to market to, are those that you have already done business with. ~:-)<br />
I recently found the following stats from Frederick Reichheld of Bain &amp; Company to back this it up.</p>
<ul>
<li>Acquiring a new customer can cost 6 to 7 times more than retaining an existing customer.</li>
<li>Businesses who boosted customer retention rates by as little as 5% saw increases in their profits ranging from 5% to a whopping 95%.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Now that we got the “who” to market to</strong>. What is the most cost-effective way to connect with our current customers. I found eMail to be the answer. Disclaimer: I know that not “Everyone” has an eMail account. But, I can’t think of a friend that I personally have that doesn’t have eMail. I Googled for some stats and according to Internet World Stats almost 80% of North American have internet access. <img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2903" style="border: 0pt none; margin: 10px;" title="eclub" src="http://omoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/eclub1.png" alt="" width="84" height="79" /><a href="http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats14.htm">http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats14.htm</a><br />
<strong>Back to eMail.</strong> I’m not suggesting that you starting eMail everyone in the world. That is SPAM. I don’t believe that sending SPAM (Unsolicited eMail) benefits legitimate businesses. I’m saying eMailing can be a few very effective to nurture current customers and potential customer who opt-in or sign-up for your eMail Marketing list. But, no one was to joining one of those so we created “VIP eClubs” for businesses. The eClubs help them say, “Thanks” to their customers and deliver value to their inboxes. Many of our clients have us send coupons, tip &amp; tricks or newsletters or articles like this &lt;GeekSpeak&gt;.<br />
<strong>The key to eMail marketing is to deliver professional eMails, consistently and to offer a genuine value.</strong> We’ve had the opportunity to help business that on have a just a few eMail address to business that have collected thousands. Regardless of the size of your list, eMails can be sent for a fraction of the cost of postage from the USPS.<br />
I love to harness the power the the Internet and eMail to help businesses. Here are just a few types of business that we’ve had the honor to setup and manage eClubs for; Nail studios, Chiropractors, Restaurants, Coffee Shops, Professional Services, HVAC, Car Washes, Non-Profits, Retail Stores &amp; Automotive Repair. Regardless of your industry a professional eClub should be part of your marketing plan.  Want to see what one of these things look like? I thought you’d never ask. ~:-)<br />
You can sign-up for GeekSpeak @ <a href="http://omoriginals.com/omoriginals/eclub">http://omoriginals.com/omoriginals/eclub</a><br />
<strong>&lt;GeekSpeak&gt;</strong> delivers web + print marketing tips, tricks to your eMail inbox fresh each month.<br />
To learn more about eClub for your business you can contact omOriginals and request a free 30 minute eClub consultation. <a href="http://omoriginals.com/">omOriginals.com</a> | 360.575.9839<br />
Oscar Myre IV is the owner and creative director at the flourishing company, omOriginals Marketing! in Longview, WA. They’re local geeks and ad designers for this paper, who have esteemed clients from all over Cowlitz County (and the nation), and would be happy to chat with you about your own online marketing goals and thoughts. They can be reached at (360)575-9839 or online @ <a href="http://omOriginals.com">omOriginals.com</a></p>
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		<title>Does Your Business Really Exist? Google it!</title>
		<link>http://omoriginals.com/2011/08/does-your-business-really-exist-online-google-i/</link>
		<comments>http://omoriginals.com/2011/08/does-your-business-really-exist-online-google-i/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:11:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://omoriginals.com/?p=2858</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For years it was my job (or part of it) to convince people on the importance of using the Internet for business. I don’t really do this anymore. It’s not [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img title="geek-speak-newsletter" src="http://www.valleybugler.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/geek-speak-newsletter.gif" alt="" width="350" height="106" /></p>
<p><strong></strong>For years it was my job (or part of it) to convince people on the importance of using the Internet for business. I don’t really do this anymore.<br />
It’s not that I don’t still believe that the Internet is a powerful tool for marketing business, the shift is that everyone else knows it now too. Instead of me convincing people on the value of a web site, I now get to jump right in and help them harness the power of the Internet.<br />
I recently had the pleasure of visiting with Mr. Rick Winsman, President/CEO of our local Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce. Our subject of discussion was about all things “business and the internet”.  Imagine that! Mr. Winsman expressed to me that “every business needs to be online”. He went on to say, “If people can’t find a business online it is likely that they (the business) won’t be around much longer”.<br />
Maybe that is what happened to the Dinosaurs. ~;-)<br />
We all know that Big Foot (Sasquatch) exists. But, does your business really exist?<br />
<em>Let’s find out the existence of your business with two simple questions</em>:<br />
<strong>1) Can people find your business online?</strong><br />
To find your business, let’s do some searching. Go to Google.com and get started. I recommend you take some notes on the results (digital or old school pen and paper will work). We are going to do two types of search.<img class="alignright" style="border: 0pt none; margin: 10px;" title="search" src="http://www.valleybugler.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/search.png" alt="" width="100" height="164" /><br />
A search for your “business name” and a search for your “product or service”.  Type in your “business name” and hit return/enter. I typed in “omOriginals”, and I also tried “Valley Bugler”. I’m happy to say, “We exist!!”<br />
Next click on “maps” to see if your business is on the map.<br />
Our second search is for your keys words such as “<a href="http://www.omoriginals.com/" target="_blank">Longview WA Marketing</a>” or “<a href="http://valleybugler.com/">Longview WA Newspapers</a>”. You can do these searches without the state name, but sometimes the results show Longview, TX.<br />
Record your results. Don’t be shocked or discouraged if you don’t show up on the first page or results for your keywords. Just be motivated to be on this page so people can find you.</p>
<blockquote><p>[Quick Tip: To be found for your “keyword”, make sure your web site has Google content discussing your keyword. Relevant (and fresh) is the best way to receive better search rankings. For maps, you need to add a list, or edit].</p></blockquote>
<p>I recommend you do the same searches on bing.com, yahoo.com and even facebook.com &lt;&lt;&lt; wow 400 words in before mentioning facebook!<br />
And if all of the above is over your head, then call me anyways because we can help it make sense for you.<br />
Now to our second question.<br />
<strong>2) What does your presence say about your organization?</strong><br />
Start with the basics, to make sure your information is correct and up-to-date. Then ask yourself if you’d be interested in your business (based solely on what you see online)?<br />
Not too interesting? Then perhaps it’s time for an online marketing review. Here at the office, we are currently offering those for free. If you’re interested, please give Johnene, our awesome Administrative Assistant and Office Manager a call! She can get you on our calendar with a free review. (360)575-9839<br />
<strong>Long Live your Business.</strong><br />
Make sure your business can be found AND is putting it’s best foot forward.<em> Take advantage of today&#8217;s technology &#8211; not only to survive, but to flourish.</em><br />
Oscar Myre IV is the owner and creative director at the flourishing company, omOriginals Marketing! in Longview, WA. They’re local geeks and ad designers for this paper, who have esteemed clients from all over Cowlitz County (and the nation), and would be happy to chat with you about your own online marketing goals and thoughts. They can be reached at (360)575-9839 or online @ <a title="online marketing" href="../" target="_blank">omOriginals.com</a></p>
<p><strong>&lt;GeekSpeak&gt;</strong> is also published monthly in the <a title="Cowlitz County Newspaper" href="http://valleybugler.com" target="_blank">Valley Bugler Newspaper</a>.</p>
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		<title>Google&#8217;s Answer to Facebook: Google +</title>
		<link>http://omoriginals.com/2011/07/googles-answer-to-facebook-google/</link>
		<comments>http://omoriginals.com/2011/07/googles-answer-to-facebook-google/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:18:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://omoriginals.com/?p=2690</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Happy August, my fellow geeks and geeks-in-training! This month, I thought we would take a quick look @ Google’s “Answer” to Facebook. Google has been the king of the internet [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>Happy August, my fellow geeks and geeks-in-training! This month, I thought we would take a quick look @ Google’s “Answer” to Facebook.</div>
<div>Google has been the king of the internet for a long time. Then some some geeks at Harvard created a service that is now Facebook. This stirred things up. Googles focus has been “search” where Facebook has been on “Social”.</div>
<div>In March of 2010, Facebook surpassed Google in the US to become the most visited site (during a one week period) first the first time. Interestingly enough during that week  <a href="http://Facebook.com/">Facebook.com</a> and <a href="http://Google.com/">Google.com</a> accounted for 14% of all US Internet visits, this is according to <a href="http://HitWise.com/">HitWise.com</a>.</div>
<div>I’ve seen Google launch a few social projects of late, but nothing that is really taking off. Enter Google +, their latest endeavor into social networking.</div>
<blockquote>
<div>When discussing G+ with Kelso Mayor David Futcher, another early adopter, he expressed some excitement, but we agreed that “the world doesn’t need another Facebook”. But, we see that it is bigger than social, it combines the world of social AND search. PLUS other Google offerings such as; eMail, Video, Calendar, Documents, Photos, Reader, Web &amp; More.</div>
</blockquote>
<div>It is very smart. We need to remember that Google didn’t create the first search engine, they just took what others were doing and did it better. Their tag line is “Real-life sharing rethought for the web.”</div>
<div>Google’s senior vice president for engineering Vic Gundotra said in recent a blog post, “Online sharing is awkward. Even broken. And we aim to fix it,”</div>
<div>Let’s take a look @ some of the components of Google +.</div>
<div><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2692" title="google-plus" src="http://omoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/google-plus1.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="168" /></div>
<div><strong>Circles</strong></div>
<div>Allows you to create groups of people such as Friends, Family, Acquaintances &amp; Following. You can choose what content you share with each group.</div>
<div><strong>Stream</strong></div>
<div>This is G+ answer to the Facebook news feed where you see what your connections are sharing.</div>
<div>I’m curious to see how they will deal with sharing. If I share something to a select group, will they be able to share it with others that are outside of the group? I think so, does that just trash the whole reason for circles?</div>
<div><strong>+1 or Plus One</strong></div>
<div>When you are logged in and do old fashioned web searches, to the right of listings there is a new “+1” icon.</div>
<div>You can click on this similar to a “like” button, but this will likely improve Googles search rankings. This will be interesting to see how this plays out. This can be a great tool for Search Engine Optimization. I’m interest to see how different people (based on on their connections tastes) will see different search results.</div>
<div><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2693" title="plusone" src="http://omoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/plusone.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="91" /></div>
<div><strong>Hangouts</strong></div>
<div>Hangouts are video chat rooms. Think Skype with up to 10 people. You can also watch YouTube videos together. Sound Cool? Sound Weird?</div>
<div>I agree.</div>
<div><strong>Sparks</strong></div>
<div>With Sparks you share your interests and Google prepares a custom news feed for you. With FB you can “like” organizations and see their feed. With Sparks it shows fresh search results based on a category. For example, on FB I might follow a Fan Page that discusses online marketing. On G+ I would have a Spark called “Online Marketing” it would show recent Google search results for “Online Marketing”</div>
<div><strong>Photos</strong></div>
<div>Google makes searching and sharing photos with an updated version of their<br />
Picaso photo service.</div>
<div><strong><em>Ready to jump in?</em></strong></div>
<div>It’s kinda crazy &#8211; there is this great big social network, with virtually no one in it. This is because they just opened to the public. At the time of this writing it is only open to people with Gmail or other Google accounts. I believe the invite feature will be enabled soon&#8230;</div>
<div>Stay tuned to GeekSpeak for more about G+.</div>
<div><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2617" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; border-width: 0px;" title="geek-speak-oscar" src="http://omoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/geek-speak-oscar.png" alt="" width="90" height="120" /></div>
<div><em>Oscar Myre IV is the owner and operator at omOriginals Marketing!, a web development and internet marketing firm in Longview, WA with over thirteen years in business during this technological age. Oscar and his team encourage you to feel free to call them at (360)575-9839 or visit: <a href="http://www.omOriginals.com/">www.omOriginals.com</a></em></div>
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		<title>Groupon watch out: Facebook has a Mobile Deal for you</title>
		<link>http://omoriginals.com/2011/07/groupon-watch-out-facebook-has-a-mobile-deal-for-you/</link>
		<comments>http://omoriginals.com/2011/07/groupon-watch-out-facebook-has-a-mobile-deal-for-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:33:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[GeekSpeak]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Internet Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cool]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coupons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[facebook deals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[facebook places]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[groupon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mobile]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://omoriginals.com/?p=2540</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Facebook has launched a new way to coupon. It is called Facebook Deals. This is how it works&#8230; when people check IN to your business on their Mobile phones they [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: left;">Facebook has launched a new way to coupon. It is called Facebook Deals. This is how it works&#8230; when people check IN to your business on their Mobile phones they can receive “Deals.”  Note: They are only available for claimed “Places” on Facebook @ this time. <img class="alignright" style="border: 0pt none; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;" src="http://omoriginals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/fb-photo.jpg" alt="Facebook Deals" width="300" height="450" />The end of this article will tell you how to claim your “Place”.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">
What is Facebook Places? On your mobile phone, you can check IN (tell the world where you are at). This is cool and a bit spooky at the same time. Instead about worrying that Big Brother watching everything you are doing, you are telling him. There is great info here for advertisers and potentially bad people. So I can enthusiastically encourage businesses to use places, but more cautiously consider it for your personal use. As a page owner you can offer 1 (and only 1) of 4 deals at a given time. Here is an overview for each Facebook Deal:<br />
<strong>1) Individual Deal</strong><br />
Reward individual customers when they check in at your business. Best for simple discounts or gifts with purchase. This is a simple coupon with nothing to print. People simply show their phone to get the deal. It (the coupon) is displayed on the phone after you check-in with your phone.<br />
<strong>2) Friend Deal</strong><br />
Reward groups of customers when they check in together. Help spread the word about your business more rapidly. Similar to a individual deal, but you only get the “coupon” if you and multiple friends check-in. The page owner determines how many check-ins required to get the deal.<br />
<strong>3) Loyalty Deal</strong><br />
Reward customers for visiting your business a certain number of times, similar to a traditional punch card.<br />
<strong>4) Charity Deal</strong><br />
Pledge to donate to a charity of your choice when customers check in at your business. A win-win for everyone! We are currently running a Charity Deal @ our studio to support Project Joplin.<br />
<strong>Watch the Video</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10100211990206733" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10100211990206733</a><br />
So how much does it cost to offer a Facebook Deal?<br />
It is currently free, I’m not sure if this is just until they are out of beta or if this is free forever.<br />
<strong>Claim your Place:</strong><br />
As I said above you need to claim your place on Facebook to be able to offer a deal.<br />
To claim your Place, search for your business name on Facebook via the normal Search bar. If your business’s Place already exists on Facebook, click on it to visit its page. At the bottom left side of your Place you may see a link that says “Is this your business?” Click on the link and you will be directed to a claiming flow.<br />
Facebook will ask you to verify that you are the owner through a phone verification process, or you may be asked for document verification. If your claim is confirmed, you will be able to admin your Place on Facebook. This took about 3 days for FB gave me admin access to our “Place”.  I then requested that they combined my Page and my Place. This took 7-10 business days to combine.<br />
If you do not see the “Is this your business?” link on a Place, then it is not available to claim at this time.<br />
The Deals features are going to be HUGE. I recommend you take claim to them ASAP. If you’d like to learn more about how to use Facebook, please check out our website or give the office a call to learn about upcoming FB Classes and Facebook Consulting, available Monday through Friday 9am &#8211; 5pm.<br />
We take care of your marketing &#8211; online and off &#8211; so YOU can take care of business!<br />
omOriginals Marketing is owned and operated by Oscar Myre IV and Michelle Myre of Longview, WA. To see how he can put the “Master” influence into your marketing, call (360)575-9839 or online omOriginals.com</p>
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