Brand pages might be the next big thing for your business.

Google+ booted businesses and brand names off its service last summer. But in doing so, officials at Google promised that it would welcome businesses back shortly. It also promised that the wait would be worth it.

Did Google make good on its promises? That depends. Businesses and brands are now welcomed back on Google+. But there’s some debate as to whether the wait was, indeed, worth it.

One prominent tech writer, Robert Scoble, who runs the Scobleizer blog, doesn’t think it was. In a post titled “I wish I had never heard of Google+’s brand pages,” Scoble lists several problems with the new service.

Scoble is most upset that only one person can own or post to a Google+ brand account. As Scoble explains, this means that there is currently no way for a social media team or a customer-service team to split up posting duties on the site.

Scoble also points to how easy it is to post something on your company account that you really wanted to post to your personal Google+ page.

Search Engine Watch writer Miranda Miller also had few positive things to say about Google+ brand pages.

She points out that the owners of Google+ brand pages can’t run any promotions or contests on their pages. This means that the owner of a hardware store can’t advertise that his business is selling hammers at half price or that the car dealer can’t promote her lot’s 0% interest offer.

Google+ brand pages are also lacking a page analytic feature, Miller writes. This means that small business owners can’t determine who’s looking at their page and for how long.

In fact, according to this survey by Adweek writer Ki Mae Heussner, the majority of reviews for Google+ brands have been negative.

That isn’t to say that Google’s effort has all been in vain. As the SearchEngineLand website explains, Google+ for brands does have some nifty features.

Nifty Features

Business owners can create several Google+ pages promoting different facets of their enterprise. The owner of a financial services firm might have a Google+ page advertising her financial-planning services, a second promoting her tax-preparation work and a third promoting her estate-planning work.

Then there is the circles concept. With circles, business owners can create separate groups of Google+ customers, and then send custom messages to each group. Currently, entrepreneurs can split their audience members into three categories, VIPs, customers and team members.

Search Engine Power

There’s another benefit to Google+ brand pages that could mean all the difference to business owners. As the Business2Community website says, Google is the undisputed king of online searches. Google+’s main competitor, Facebook, is the king of social media.

For business owners, the power of search outweighs Facebook’s advantage in social media.

If Google+ brand pages are indexed by the search crawlers — which Business2Community columnist Alex Wall says will more than likely happen — then users seeking information through search will soon find a related Google+ brand page. This provides incredible power to the owners of these pages, and makes them a great marketing tool for their business ventures.

While it’s clear that Google still has plenty of kinks to work out before its Google+ brand pages meet all the needs of business owners, it’s equally true that the pages concept already boasts some features that savvy business owners will want to use.

And the best news? Google officials have said that its brand pages are a work in progress. Hopefully, Google technicians will be able to address the concerns that business owners across the web have voiced.

Dan Rafter is a freelance writer and editor with 15 years of journalism experience.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Additionally, online point of sale software is automatically updated with new features and doesn’t require an manual installation. You just connect your device to the online software and a merchant gateway and you’re ready to process a transaction! This makes it easy to use even complicated features, like inventory tracking, and makes customer service faster.

From a developer’s perspective, online pos software is beneficial because it allows you to make big improvements to your software without requiring a software update on every user’s computer. This makes it easier to tweak your programming and user experience without interrupting service.

Roderick Campbell is the owner of Brevity Works, a boutique marketing agency, and a frequent business development blogger at ChiroHosting.com

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

One of the most challenging dilemmas is figuring out what features are most important and which inexpensive point of sale software solution best suits your needs. You’ll need to determine what kind of inventory tracking system your business requires, how many users you’ll need, if mobile functionality is important, and whether or not you’re going to need significant customization.

It’s also important that you find a company who you’ll enjoy working with because, invariably, something will go wrong or break — and probably during the holiday rush. At that moment, a fantastic customer service team can make the difference between tearing your hair out or calmly (and quickly) correcting the situation. While you’re shopping for a point of sale system, don’t hesitate to ask questions about the company’s culture and values. Everyone will tell you they have the best customer service, but you’ll be able to tell over the phone whether or not the company’s culture actually reflects that assertion. Friendliness, knowledge, and a relaxed environment are all good indications that a company knows what they’re doing and employees actually care about their work.

Additionally, look for a forward-thinking company that continually innovates. Chances are good that you’re going to work with the same company for several years and you want to make sure their technology will still be relevant in 5-10 years. This means they should be talking about their technological breakthroughs, sharing information about their development process, and soliciting feedback from customers. Companies that fail in this department may seem wonderful at the time you purchase the point of sale system, but they’ll drive you up the wall in a few years when they don’t offer any new features (like mobile integration).

I personally recommend Point of Sale Software by MerchantOS. Their POS software is fantastic and their company culture is very similar to MailChimp – one of the best email newsletter companies on the market. MerchantOS seems to be positioning themselves as a front-runner in mobile integration and their new interface refinements make it easy to use complex functions.

Roderick Campbell is the owner of Brevity Works, a boutique marketing agency, and a business development blogger at ChiroHosting.com

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Every small business owner who spends the bulk of their time outside of the actual store knows that a web-based point of sale can be a lifesaver. But just like every other piece of technology you deal with on a daily basis, your point of sale is set to change in the upcoming year. From new perks to easier applications we keep you posted on what you have to look forward to in the new year. 

In 2012 Shopkeep users with an iPad register can look forward to the possibility of being able to modify the quantity of items directly on the tab. This means no longer having to delete the entire quantity and then re-enter the new one, which could be a major time saver for some folks.

Customers of MerchantOS users will be able to toss out those rewards cards before the new year. The web based point of sale is launching an integration with virtual loyalty program Perkville, which uses your email address in place of an actual rewards card. This integration can increase a small business’s email list and Facebook presence and it also frees up space in your customers’ wallets.

Vend, the world’s first HTML5 web-based point of sale, has grown immensely since its launch a little over a year ago.  According to an August press release in the SFGate, the company received an injection of capital from a European investment consortium led by Point Nine Capital. This investment means Vend is set to rapidly increase its presence internationally, which can only be good news for its users.

Back in August effortlessE launched a webPOS Mobile iOS app for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, making it possible to do a complete sales transaction – including signature capture and email receipts – all on your handheld technology. Not only that, they offer a webPOS cradle that provides physical inventory capabilities letting you cut out the third party inventory counting firm. 

The use of this technology means that in the coming year we’ll see more small retail companies gaining the freedom to be hands on with customers, making it easier to compete with bigger retail stores.

As for new the web-based point of sales systems set to hit in the new year, Moneris Solutions Inc. is launching Morris. This system is already offered in Canada and will become available in the US sometime in 2012. Morris has three modules geared towards different tiers of small businesses. This division allows you to select the point of sale level that’s is right for your business.

Whichever web-based point of sale brand you use, these additions and upgrades mean good things for independent retailers trying to make a go of it in a bad economy. 

Megan Mostyn-Brown is a freelance writer who has worked for Elle.com, Girlshop.com, TypeF and Shopwiki.com.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

It’s become all the buzz in the mobile payments world: ISIS. But what is it? And how did it get where it is today?

Rumors first started flying about a joint venture between AT&T Mobility, T Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless to create a nationwide mobile payment infrastructure back in August, 2010.

No specifics were yet available, and no one knew what this venture would be called or how it would work, but that didn’t stop bloggers and reporters from speculating about what it would mean for the industry. And universally, they thought it would shake everything up.

The official announcement of the venture – and its name, Isis – came on Nov. 16, 2010. At that time, the company also revealed that Michael Abbott, who had previously worked for GE Capital, would be named CEO.

Over the next few months, Isis executives traveled the country to speak at conferences, conventions, and summits about the company’s mobile payment system plans.

On April 6, 2011, Isis announced that Salt Lake City would be one of its first trial markets, and that it would be working with the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) to allow payments for public transportation using mobile devices. By June, Austin, Texas had been added to the list of early launch markets.

On July 19, 2011, a partnership was announced between Isis, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. “Since the formation of Isis in November, we have been committed to building a mobile commerce platform that aligns and advances the interests of consumers, merchants and banks,” Abbott was quoted as saying in the press release. “By working with the nation’s payment networks – Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express – we significantly advance the vision of an open and secure platform that provides banks and merchants with a new and highly relevant way to connect with consumers.”

Selling the Public

In August, 2011, Isis ramped up its public relations, releasing a brochure explaining how the Isis Mobile Wallet would allow consumers to make payments, use loyalty cards, and redeem coupons.

In late September, 2011, Isis made another big announcement: HTC, LG, Motorola Mobility, RIM, Samsung Mobile and Sony Ericsson would introduce NFC-enabled mobile devices implementing Isis’ NFC and technology standards.

“Isis’ technology standards provide the direction and certainty needed for the development and deployment of NFC devices and the mobile commerce ecosystem,” the company’s chief technology officer, Scott Mulloy, said in a press release. “Working together with the device makers and our founding mobile carriers, Isis can provide the consumer choice and scale necessary for widespread adoption of mobile commerce.”

There you have it: a brief history of the company that promises to change the payments world forever. Thanks to Isis, 2012 promises to be the year when a wallet filled with credit cards will become, finally, a thing of the past.

Vivian Wagner is a freelance writer in New Concord, Ohio. Vivian blogs via Contently.com.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

There was a time when cutting-edge point-of-sale technology meant a cash register. Who could argue that the humble cash register wasn’t an advancement over scrawling out sales or calculating sales tax on a piece of paper?

Today, though, point-of-sale technology is advancing more quickly than ever. It’s allowing store owners to reduce their operating costs — by installing self-service checkout lanes — and send personalized email marketing messages to their steadiest customers. It’s even helping them reduce employee theft.

What does the future hold for point-of-sale technology? And how can it help boost the bottom line of your business? Here’s a look at point-of-sale technologies that can help your business boom.

Self-Service Checkouts

Jeff Haefner, on the Point of Sale Software Guide site, points to the growing number of self checkouts in grocery stores, department stores and other retail venues as evidence that point-of-sale technology can bring big savings to business owners.

In a self-service checkout, customers do the work of expensive cashiers. They scan their own items using the latest in point-of-sale technology. These systems have built-in safeguards.

Consumers, for instance, must weigh certain produce items, such as apples or broccoli. If they try to trick the system into thinking that they are buying something less expensive, like a tube of lip balm, the checkout system’s scale will immediately sense that something is wrong and won’t allow the transaction to continue.

These systems are also set up to make life as easy as possible for consumers. Shoppers can usually pay for their items with cash, credit cards or debit cards. The benefits to store owners are immense: They can greatly reduce their labor costs by replacing salaried cashiers with un-manned self-checkout lanes.

Reducing Theft

RetailSystems.com does a good job summarizing the benefits of biometric fingerprint IDs, which the site labels as the future of retail point-of-sale security.

Before accessing important store data, employees must first swipe their finger across a biometric scanner attached to the point-of-sale device. Employees have to repeat this scan every time they try to access a password-protected area of the point-of-sale software.

This offers an important level of protection for business owners. It prevents the wrong employees from accessing sensitive data. It also leaves an evidence trail showing which employees have accessed which areas of their employers’ point-of-sale software.

Advanced Customer Marketing

Haefner points out that retailers can use point-of-sale technology to further cement their relationships with existing customers. This is important; it’s far easier to keep existing customers than it is to find new ones.

Retailers can program their point-of-sale software to automatically send customers email messages after they purchase a product. For instance, if a customer purchases a lawnmower from a hardware store, the store can send an automated message to the customer later that day thanking him for making that purchase. Three days later, the point-of-sale software can send another email message asking the customer if the lawnmower is working properly. The auto responder can even be set up to send the customer regular maintenance reminders.

This does require that cashiers first ask customers for their email addresses. The system should also include an option that allows consumers to opt out of receiving email messages in the future.

These are just three ways in which point-of-sale technology can help business owners boost their profits and reduce their losses.

The best news? Point-of-sale technology continues to improve. And as that happens, it provides even more benefits for savvy business owners.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

One company suggests possibly making a video of your store and displays on all of the great things that you have for “mom” and posting it on your website so that when customers come in they know exactly what they are searching for.

As retailers we need to understand that mom’s, or Women, of the household do most of the shopping, and as it turns out they do a lot of online research.

The best way, it seems to get into mom’s pocketbook is to utilize your online advantages through websites, or networking this is a great way to let women know what you have in your store, your sales, and your great prices.

With this in mind we have some great ideas that will help shoppers pay for their sought out merchandise. eBay has now purchased a program called Fig, which really reminds me of food, but it is a paypal based program that people can load onto their cell phones.

This application doesn’t show any of their private information but what it does do is allow the purchaser to use their phone to pay with their paypal account.

It seems as though it is easy enough, the consumer will download the application to their phone and the retailer will need a simple USB device that will attach to their point of sale machine.

It also seems to have added security because the user’s picture will show up on the register interface so that the retailer can verify that this is the person standing in front of them. We know that everyone is going with the telephone applications so this might be an added bonus for companies to make better, more efficient sales and as internet marketing and buying continues to grow, so will paypal accounts.

On the same note Visa Inc has made a great investment on the point of sale company Square. With this, square offers retailers the ability to process their cards through their ipod or cell phone applications also.

This would make it much easier for retailers to get the “quick” check out and turnover for customers. These devices may all add to a greater end result for most retailers, and the convenience that customers are looking for.

To help with the set up of some of your newer software and devices CETW lists some of the mistakes that you can easily avoid when offering self serve and implementing this into your business.

For anyone thinking about this there are some mistakes you don’t want to make, like hiring the wrong person to set this system up for you.

Mothers Day Promotion Ideas
Giving some great ideas on how to bring mothers to your store, and how to sell sell sell for mother’s day

Are your stores connecting with today’s connected Moms?
Realizing that moms make up the bulk of the shopping decisions could help you to appeal to the necessary shopper to get your items noticed.

Where Fig Fits in eBay’s Quest for the Digital Wallet
The new program Fig and how it could work for all retailers with a simple USB connection.

Visa makes strategic investment in Square
Visa invests in the company Square who will also bring new and innovative ideas to retailers with apps to pay by “phone” or pay with phone.

CETW: Avoid these mistakes when implementing self-service
Great tips in helping retailers implement self service, you don’t want to miss out on these tips to help make it the way you want it.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

terest on purchases that their customers make.  Ok I know that can’t be too bad, but what if they are paying .10 on a simple 2.00 purchase.  It may not sound like much but we have all done it, gone into the store and not carrying cash and charge that pack of gum.  Honestly who in the world carries cash now a day’s anyway?  Well we may find that companies are going to start making it a minimum $10.00 purchase to use your debit card because that’s the only way they are going to keep up with the fees.

This is going to make the emergence into the future on “easy” shopping much harder for many people.  In the era where we are announcing new products to help people “leave their wallets at home” and pay using their phone and other easy systems.  How is this going to work for the customers?  They do not have to pick up the bill for the credit card processing fees that the banks are pushing on the small business owners.  In all this technology and the things that are heading to a “cashless” society this may not be good for small retailers and there may need to be other ways to make some money to make up for the loss in credit card or debit sales.  Maybe fighting the banks for this new found ability to take these cards will be the way to go.

One way to combat some of these problems would be by “facebooking” your company.  Some companies and especially smaller retailers can post on facebook and get some sales there, but they will still need to watch for those “fees” from the debit and credit card companies and banks.  The facebook era has sparked a great way to get noticed and “liked” for your business.  This may be a great way to advertise without all the advertising expense.  If anyone has used facebook they know that word spreads like water on there, so it may be a great way for a smaller company to do a little extra.  Many companies have already jumped on the bandwagon listing ways to buy their merchandise from their facebook site and get their name out there by networking and “liking” each others facebook pages.

Either way, something has to be done or this idea of a cashless world and easy shopping might end up going back to checkbooks or cash and all those new inventions for POS phones and easy checkout will be a thing of the past. Customers want easy, and convenient while company and retailers want cheap.  Can we put the two together?

ValidSoft Presents Its Solution at “Payment Card Fraud” Event in New York

This company is working to make the fraud a distant memory  for credit and debit card users, trying to help the customers feel safer when using their cards and helping them to battle the ever growing fraud that is associated with this type of payment.

Zenius aims to be ‘Microsoft of the NFC world’

Zenius is working with Microsoft to enable virtually all users to leave their wallets at home.  Don’t worry about bringing your purse into the store or even having your wallet with you.  With their help you may be able to do it all from your mobile phone with an app that will allow you to make all of your purchases right through your cell phone using the “electronic wallet”.

Will Big Banks Stick It to Small Business — Again?

Big banks hurting the small retailers with their fees for credit and debit card users.  This may be the end to the growing easy to shop ways that Americans have come to have comfort in conveniently not using their checkbooks and leaving their cash in the bank instead of their wallets.

$10 Credit Card Minimums Coming Soon?

Due to the wide spread of charges accumulated by small retailers to allow their customers to use their debit and credit cards, we may see a growing trend of small businesses making it mandatory to have a minimum purchase required for using our cards.  What will this do for the growing “cashless” society that we have started to grow into?

Selling Via Facebook Benefits Few, Study Finds

Although it may not be as widely spread as it could be, many small businesses are trying to find a way to use Facebook as a free advertiser for their businesses.  This could help cut cost of advertising and web  page building of their own, but will they get the wide fan base they hope for?

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Emerging with the POS systems are the new VeriFones that will be able to us POS systems in place of credit cards, checks and other means of payments.  The problem is that it would need to be widely accepted by retailers for it to work.  The VeriFone would work in place of the physical credit card for easier and faster check out. This may be the new wave of the future for payments.

This may only work if there are already retailers on board with the capabilities of using the verifone.  It also may help if there were a “rewards” card or some type of incentive to get our patrons to use this new way of paying.  All of the glitches need to be worked out because with peoples credit information they are not so willing to just use it for anyone.  They need the confidence that their information is secure and safe.  This can all happen with the new POS systems.

1.  Keeping tabs: Restaurant corporation integrates video with POS system – Information regarding the ease and capabilities of the POS systems used in restaurants, according to David Starmer this is a great way to help with loss prevention, integrating the POS system has helped with time, loss prevention, surveillance, as well as  ordering and a lot of help with extra “eyes” to watch the cash flow in the business.

2. VeriFone puts money near mouth, says it’ll include NFC in all new POS terminals – Continue to upgrade your business to keep up with the changing times.  This VeriFone idea could very well be the lead of the next best thing.  Keep your business in the running by changing your system to accept this type of sale, allow patrons to pay with ease and stay ahead of the changing technology to better succeed in your business.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

This week is all about mobile, whether it’s implementing the newest POS mobile hardware, the latest app or wooing your customers mobile is the new way to go. Old Navy has started using iPod based POS systems just in time for the busy Holiday rush. Discover has also joined the ranks of mobile technology and started offering their first contactless point of sale payment devices.

The third article featured in our roundup this week is the integration of mobile and digital signage for the new age future customer, giving them all the information they need to make an informed decision about a product. We then go into a new directory that allows mobile users to find brick and mortar retailers in their local area including their current inventory. We end the round up this week with 10 retailers that show you how mobile and retail integration should be done.

1. Gap testing Apple’s point-of-sale system at Old Navy stores – Apple has now partnered with Old Navy to run a pilot program testing the use of mobile point of sale equipment before bringing it to the mainstream market. The POS hardware has a special backing on the iPod Touch to allow for the swiping of credit cards and signature can be obtained with a stylus pen or a finger!

2. Discover Begins Rollout of Contactless Devices to Consumers – The major credit card company will begin to roll out it’s Discover ZIP, a contactless credit card and stickers to allow for lighting fast speed at the point of sale checkout. Customers will begin seeing their new payment options arriving in the mail any day now and it’s sure to be a hit during the busy shopping season.

3. A two-way integration of digital signage and mobile – This might sound foreign to you but EnQii and Kombi have joined to bring a great integration between digital signage and mobile technology. The digital signage will include a QR code, which are “quick response” matrix 2-D codes that contain data, like text, images or website URLs.

“Forever, brick-and-mortar loyalty has meant consumer loyal to brick-and-mortar; it has never had to mean brick-and-mortar loyal to consumer,” he said. “If brick-and-mortar is going to have a future, they need to solve that problem, and we’re giving them a mechanism by which they can do that.”

4. Goodzer Includes Small Retailers in Local Real-Time Product Search– Another mobile way to engage with your customers. Goodzer has launched their shopping search engine in a limited market to test the results. Currently it picks up the inventory availability of 15,000 New York City brick-and-mortar retailers, both large and small. It’s available on the web and iPhone with plans to expand to Droid and the iPad. Customers have your entire inventory at their fingertips before they enter your retail store.

5. 10 retailers show what can be done with mobile – Mobile commerce is a rapidly approaching technology that’s here to stay. This great article gives you examples of how 10 retailers are using mobile to reach their customers and expand sales. Companies such as Walgreens, ShopNBC, and the Catholic Company. Read on to see what you should be doing in the mobile market.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.