Majority of people will search a business online. They want to read reviews (honest reviews – not paid ones like Belkin) to see how the companies products/services really are.

So, last week I set up a basic coupon for a brick and mortar company to test it out. Here are the screen shots I came up as I went thru the procedure.

Where Is It Going

Google Coupon

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Before you get there you need to know how to get there and know what you might expect. Looking at the image you believe that when people search for your business they will be smacked in the face with a coupon. I mean honestly who doesn’t like coupons in today’s tough times? Right?

Would you rather do business with a company you could save 25% from or where you have to pay retail cost for the product/service?

DUH!

Okay, so we now know we want to set up a coupon for your business and the example I am using Dayton Chess Club, an actual brick and mortar business. Of course this type of business will be easier to do but nonetheless I have seen some creative coupons for internet business as well.

Moving forward after speaking with the owners of the Dayton Chess Club we came up with a simple coupon for the following month.

Setting Up The Coupon

Google Coupon Setup

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The steps are pretty easy and pretty self explanatory. The part that I kind of got tricked up in was that I have a few businesses that I manager in my local business center so please make sure you click on the correct location.

The last thing you want is to set up a coupon for 10% off window installation on a location that sells hot dogs…whaaat?!

Hey, it can happen.

Nonetheless fill out the information and try to emphasize exactly what you’re ‘giving’ away (from free coffee to a discount on a product/service).

When you have filled out all the necessary boxes then click update ans save it.

Wait…Wait…SEARCH!

Google Coupon Finished

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Ask my wife and when it comes to online business I want instant gratification. I want a response instantly. If I don’t get it I can become a bear to be around. I’ve gotten better but nonetheless after you’ve input all the information and you think the coupon will show up instantaneously – stop the expectations. While it might show as being approved and you’re all set Google still needs to go through and updates its servers.

So give it some time – if you need to do a coupon quickly then forget it. I’ve read thru the Google forums that it can take up to a week for a coupon to appear. I decided after searching all night for it to give it a rest and checked for thing this morning.

The Coupon Is There, Right?

Searching For The Coupon

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Don’t be like me and expect to see the coupon on the first result when your business comes up. That’s not the way it was set up.

In reality a future (possible) customer will be click on “More Information” to find out…well, more information on your business to see everything from what people are saying about you to what kind of products and or services you offer.

So, don’t automatically assume, as I did, first thing this morning when I searched for the business and didn’t see the coupon.

From when you click on “More Information” it is here that you will hopefully see the fruits of your labor.

My Coupon Is Alive

My Coupon!!!

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After you geek out and try to high five your computer screen (Hey! I know I’m not the only one…right?) examine how people are viewing the information.

Does it look right – does the headline capture your attention? The last thing you want to do is go back and delete the coupon and start all over.

That’s one of the good things about the set up of the coupon it gives you an actual read out of what the coupon will look like. Yet, if you are anything like me you might not believe that until it’s actually live and people are calling you up asking about the coupon (it does happen so be ready)

So, how does the coupon look when it’s all said and done?

Ah I’m so glad you asked because now all someone has to do is actually click on the coupon link and….

The Final Result

The Result of Hard Work

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Done – Done – Done!

Test it out for your own business and check out the results. I will be looking over the Dayton Chess Club to see how many people use the coupon before it expires.

Don’t forget to push the coupon out on your site as well – I’ll cover this in a future post later this week.

Let me know how it works for you and your business. I’m always eager to hear how well (or at all) works out in these tough times.

Check out more @ Driven Media Group Blog

How To Use Google Coupons On Local Business Center

I forgot last week’s round due to be off work and hanging out with my son all day. Nonetheless I have some great finds this week that I wasn’t able to really write about. If you find the following as interesting as I do feel free to add me to your rss reader:

http://www.google.com/reader/shared/03343443835726413472

Let’s get to it this morning people:

Social Media Marketing: What is Your Goal?

Creative Advertising Can Convey Your Business Idea

Another Method of Social Networking for Your Business

Why Newspapers Should Stop Using TinyURL

SEO & Social Media Roadmap

How to Promote Your Events With Social Media

All of these site I HIGHLY suggest subscribing to their RSS feeds – they have some GREAT information. That’s all I have for now. I’ll have more later more than likely and please if you have a feed feel free to promote it!

Check out more @ Driven Media Group Blog

Week In Review: Social Media and SEO

Throughout the week I “star” items in my Google reader that really stand out. Those that really grab my attention I’ll write about that day or the next. Those that don’t I want to share with everyone and you might have missed them.

This week was pretty good just because of it being April Fool’s and there were great pranks all around and as always ShoeMoney had a great one. As a fellow LOST fanatic I was truly impressed to the degree he took the prank. If you haven’t seen it check it out here.

Here are the rest of the headlines that grabbed my attention that I think you might enjoy:

Social Media Paves Obama’s Way to White House

I love how politicians are finally grasping social media now if they can quite trying to capitalize on it we’d be all better off.

Optimize Your WordPress Database with Optimize DB WordPress Plugin

If this is NOT being done now STOP what you are doing and do it – backing up DB is extremly important!

Cause Marketing or Opportunity Marketing for Kentucky Fried Chicken?

Great article and really suggest subscribing to the Corporate Eye

Optimizing the Impact of Please and Thanks

Being a manager of an upcoming music artist I find a lot of rude people – no clue how/why we can’t be civil in all matters.

3 Simple Sign-up Strategies Revealed to Grow Your Email List!

One word that stands out throughout this article: SIMPLE.

4 Must Have Tools for Affiliate Marketing Success

Why are people so afraid of affiliate marketing? They don’t have the neccessary tools that’s why…well, here you go!

10 Workplace Motivation Commandments That All Leaders MUST Follow

Living in the midwest where one day is snows the next its sunny and 75 can wreck havoc on your motivation. These top 10 ‘commandments’ are a great example what we all ‘need’ to follow.

Wii Jog Turns Every Game Into Wii Fit [Gaming]

Are we really getting THAT lazy where we don’t go outside? I keep thinking of Wall-E when I see things like this. Go outside – go to a gym – BE ACTIVE…but still funny from a marketing POV.

5 Tips For Selling Yourself To Clients

If you can’t sell yourself then you can’t sell your product. Period of story!

How Google Is Changing Advertising Agencies

Just imagine being apart of this team and having to deal with a company that is pretty much taking over the world…pretty intense, huh?

How to: Prevent post images from being displayed on homepage

Simple but effective – I love these little hacks that I’m not sure how to do. If you run wordpress AT ALL – sign up to read the daily post they are 99% beneficial to you.

Well, that’s it so hope you enjoyed my first Week In Review and see you next week!

Check out more @ Driven Media Group Blog

Week In Review: Tech to Marketing