Clear Your Browser Cache First or You will Get False Positives When You Check Your Own Google Ranking

In order to check your Google ranking, you must Clear Your Browser’s Cache to get an accurate reading of your rank – or use a different browser that you are not logged into – still clear your cache.

Google and other browsers save your search history and preferences in a “cache”. Their goal is to display websites that they think you will like. Of course if you have visited your own website often on the browser you are logged into, it’s going to show your website high in the rankings – probably #1.

We use Google Chrome for our personal web browsing.

When we want to check our ranking, we hop over to Internet Explorer to search. Even then, you’l want to clear your cache between searches to clear out any history.

On the Internet Explorer browser, click the three dot icon on the top right click:
Settings –> Clear Browsing Data –>Internet –> Choose What to Clear and check them all.

Partial screen shots below – showing only the top right corner of the Internet Explorer web page

Then Click “Clear Browsing Data”

Adding a Google+ Badge to Your Website

A Google+ Badge permits visitors to interact with your Google+ Company Page directly from the badge itself. There are a couple of ways to accomplish this and you can read more from Google here.

The Screenshot for our website below shows all 4 of our Social Media Badges on the right column.

However, the minimum code required to render a Google+ badge on your website is one JavaScript include and a badge tag.

Create a YouTube Channel From Google Plus

Once you have your Google My Business Page set up, it’s easy to create a YouTube channel from the Page Interface.

Just go to www.YouTube.com and click on your profile picture on the top right hand side. This will make a drop down menu appear. Once the list of your Google+ Business Pages appear in that drop down menu (you will probably only have one) , then click “Create Channel”

Click OK at the Next Screen 

Tips for Editing Images for Google Image Search

Sometimes we get lucky and can use the picture right out of the camera.  Often times though an image will need a little editing to make it pop.

We use Photoshop, and with their new monthly cloud based fee program, it’s not that expensive. There are many lower cost and free alternatives. With photo editing software you can:

• Crop the image
• Adjust the physical dimensions of the image
• Adjust the file size of the image (smaller = faster load time)
• Adjust the resolution of the image
• Adjust the brightness, contrast, exposure, and color balance
• Add effects

A few simple tips on taking great pictures, editing them, and the latest recommendations for photo editing software.

We’re a big fan of Photoshop and it’s the market leader. However, you must now subscribe to Adobe’s Creative Cloud based service to access the Photoshop program for a monthly fee. You can get the whole suite of Adobe products for a “packaged price” or just subscribe to each platform (like Photoshop) piecemeal.

Bokeh – Blur Image Backgrounds

Blurring the background (Bokeh) is a great way to bring focus to the subject, especially when the background is ugly or distracting. Pronounced BOH-Kə or BOH-kay

A blurred background can make it appear that the subject is isolated from the background. It is also visually appealing for us to see a photograph with a soft, smooth and silky background.

Notice how the image below of the author’s iPhone stand helps the viewer concentrate on the iPhone stand and creates a sense of depth and dimension. The diffused blur helps to “highlight” the subject, not detract from it.

Using this Bokeh effect with lights or other highly reflective objects softens bright objects into soft, diffused orbs of glowing light. Bokeh can also add softness to an otherwise harshly lit photograph.

Google: Make Sure Your Customers Can Find You!

Thanks for the great class folks!  You can download a PDF version of the presentation slides here:

www.playgooglesgame.com/images/google-class-city-of-austin-051817.pdf 

Going on his 8th year teaching his Google class. Greg Bright is an adjunct instructor for the University of Texas. Our client is the City of Austin Small Business Development Program.

Greg introducing his second internet marketing book “Play Google’s Game”

Our students are small business owners wanting to learn how to grow their business online using SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Of course the best place to be found is where your customers are looking – Google!

Google Wants to Help You Optimize Your Images

Click on Google Images Best Practices and learn how to optimize your images from Google itself.

As outlined in chapter 3 following Google’s guidelines will increase the odds that your images will get top ranking on Google Image Search.

Click here for Google Image Search Guidelines

Below is a great video from Google on properly optimizing images.

The video from Google below explains the importance of ALT tags