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16 Stats That Prove the Importance of Local SEO [Infographic]

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When you’re looking for a local business that’ll fix your favorite pair of shoes, sell you the book your friend recommended, or bake a spaceship-themed cake for your kid’s birthday — how do you find it?

You pull up your favorite search engine for a little online research, of course.

Your customers are no different. When they’re looking for a product or service similar to what your local business sells, they’re going online to find it. Download our free guide here to learn more about 301 redirects and common SEO  mistakes to avoid.

Did you know that 50% of consumers who do a local search on their smartphone visit a store within a day? Same with 34% of consumers who searched on a computer or tablet.

A strong local SEO strategy is key to driving more people to your store, whether you have one storefront or five hundred. Check out the infographic below from GO-Globe to learn more helpful local SEO statistics and trends. (And to learn which parts of your site to optimize for local searches, check out this post.) 

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10 Metrics to Track for Social Media Success

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Do you want to measure the impact of your social media marketing efforts? Wondering which social media metrics you should focus on? Analyzing the raw data on campaign performance helps you determine which tactics are working. In this article, you’ll discover the top 10 social media metrics you should be monitoring on Facebook and Twitter. […]

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– Your Guide to the Social Media Jungle

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New MacBook Pros appear to be selling well as supply chain report says Apple is raising components orders

Apple’s latest line of MacBook Pros appear to have been received well by the market, although the most interesting models with Touch Bar are yet to ship to customers. Digitimes reports that Apple is upping component orders for the new MacBook Pros, expected to continue at least until the end of 2016. Apple is apparently “optimistic” about fourth quarter sales.

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro and 15-inch MacBook Pro feature high-speed Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, faster SSDs, Skylake processors, better GPU options, larger trackpad and an OLED display ‘Touch Bar’ touchscreen panel to replace the physical row of function keys.

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Filed under: Apple

The Scary State of Agency Morale, in 5 Charts

The advertising industry has a major morale problem, and it’s not going to go away on its own.

Campaign US recently conducted the Second Annual Morale Survey for 2016, and their findings reveal a staggering decline in overall morale among agency employees. Along with slipping morale, the study also uncovered a troubling host of symptomatic issues, such as talent retention and a decline in employee performance.

So what are the root causes of this morale problem? What impact will it have on talent retention? What areas of employee experience do agencies need to make an effort to improve? Subscribe to HubSpot's Agency newsletter today.

To help agencies tackle these questions and visualize the challenges in front of them, we created the following five charts based on the Campaign US survey results. Check them out below to see the far-reaching effects morale has on the industry.

1) Overall morale among agency employees has steeply declined.

When Campaign US conducted their first Annual Morale Survey back in 2015, only 34% of employees said their morale was either low or dangerously low. Those numbers were alarming at the time, but they haven’t improved — in fact, morale among agency employees has experienced a distressing decline in 2016.

This year’s survey results found that 47% of agency employees report either “low” morale (31%) or “dangerously low” morale (16%). That’s a 36% drop in overall agency employee morale between 2015 and 2016.

Data Source: Campaign US Morale Survey

2) Agency employees with low morale also reported dissatisfaction with leadership and advancement.

So what factors are responsible for this drop in morale? Survey participants who reported having “low” or “dangerously low” morale were asked to explain the reasons behind their responses.

The top factor contributing to low morale was a dissatisfaction with company leadership, followed closely by a lack in advancement opportunities, and a general dissatisfaction with work. Less impactful were overall company performance and diversity.

Data Source: Campaign US Morale Survey

3) Work/life balance is the biggest factor for agency employees with good morale.

Of the 53% of employees who reported “satisfactory,” “good,” or “excellent” morale, “work/life balance” was the biggest influencing factor. The other two big contributors to positive morale were “satisfaction with work” and “creative freedom.”

Data Source: Campaign US Morale Survey

4) Agency employees affected by low morale are ready to walk away.

If any agencies still needed a wakeup call, this is it: 63% of employees who reported low morale were also actively seeking a new job. That means a whopping 29% of agency employees are looking to leave their current positions — which puts agencies in a precarious position. 

Data Source: Campaign US Morale Survey

5) Low morale has a massive impact on agency employee performance.

Unsurprisingly, morale has a major impact on overall employee performance. Regardless of whether they reported high or low morale, 98% of respondents said that morale had an effect on their performance.

If employees don’t feel their needs are fully supported, their performance takes a hit. With nearly half of all agency employees reporting low morale, this could spell disaster for the ad industry’s bottom line.

Data Source: Campaign US Morale Survey

How is your agency planning to boost morale this year? Share your advice in the comments.

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How to Use YouTube Ads on Your YouTube Channel

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Interested in getting more from your YouTube channel? Have you considered YouTube ads? YouTube lets you pay to run ads on others’ videos, as well as get paid to let others run their ads on your videos. In this article, you’ll discover how to use YouTube to boost brand awareness and generate revenue for your […]

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– Your Guide to the Social Media Jungle

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Apple sells out of refurbished 15” last-gen MacBook Pros, but you can still get one

Apple has sold out of refurbished last-generation 15-inch MacBook Pros from its online store as the company introduces new models expected to ship to customers in the coming weeks.

As noted by customers on Reddit, Apple previously had several models of refurbished last-generation MacBook Pro models available at discounted prices, but that supply is now dwindling as customers pickup remaining stock.

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Filed under: Apple

Google Calendar for iPhone adds Spotlight Search, month view, week view in landscape & more

Earlier today we noted that Gmail was getting a big update today for iPhone and iPad that introduces an overhauled UI and new features. Not to be left out, Google’s Calendar app for iPhone— still not available for iPad— also gets a few new features today.

The app’s user interface gets a big improvement in the form of a new Month view while your iPhone’s in Portrait mode, and Week view now available while the device is in landscape mode. Take a look:

Also new for Google Calendar for iPhone is support for Spotlight search, which Google notes will allow you to find events, Reminders and Goals stored within the app using iOS’s built-in Spotlight Search function.

For G Suite users, the app will now let you add guests to events and automatically suggest meeting times and rooms. And finally, the updated Calendar app gets support for alternative calendars with today’s update:

Alternate calendars. If you often look up dates in a non-Gregorian calendar — like Lunar, Islamic, or Hindu — you can now add that calendar to easily see those dates alongside your current calendar.

The updated Google Calendar app for iPhone, version 1.6.3, is available on the App Store now.

Earlier today Google released a completely redesigned Gmail for iOS app w/ enhanced search, Undo Send and more.

Filed under: Apple

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Amazon Echo Smart Speaker $140, Sony Bluetooth Headphones $60, Dell 23″ 1080p Monitor $90, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

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Amazon cuts $40 off its Echo smart speaker, buy it today for $140 shipped & you’ll be ready for exclusive Black Friday deals

Amazon Echo Dot Bundles: Logitech Harmony Elite Remote $288 ($350 value), WeMo Switch $73 ($85 value)

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Your choice of Bluetooth headphones at Amazon all-time lows: Sony Over-Ear $60 (Reg. $80), Jabra Move $60 (Reg. $100)

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Best Buy will sell you a Dell 23-inch 1080p IPS Monitor for $90 shipped (Reg. $150), more

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Black Friday 2016:

Amazon launches its Black Friday Store with new deals every five minutes + gift guides to make shopping easier

Staples just posted its Black Friday 2016 Ad: Amazon Echo Dot $40, Chromecast $25, much more

Costco’s leaked Black Friday 2016 Ad: VIZIO 50-inch 4K Ultra HDTV $390, PS4 w/ 2 controllers $50 off, gift cards, more

BJ’s Leaked Black Friday Ad: GoPro Silver bundle $200, Xbox One S/PS4 Slim $250, new console games $34, home goods, more

Sam’s Club details its Black Friday plans plus a look at an upcoming one-day sale that nets $175 off iPad Pro

Here’s a look at Dell’s Black Friday 2016 Ad: Nest 3rd Gen. Thermostat $199, Xbox One S w/ 2 games + controller $250, more

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Final Fantasy III for iOS now matching its all-time low: iPhone $7, iPad $8 (Reg. up to $17)

App Store Free App of the Week: Lost in Harmony goes free for the first time (Reg. $4)

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Review: TiVo Bolt+ would be a TV-enthusiast’s dream DVR if the cable companies would just get out of the way

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

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Daily Deals: Panasonic Eneloop Rechargeable Power Pack $32, mophie powerstation 2500mAh battery $10, more

MORE DEALS STILL LIVE:

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Make the move to USB-C w/ exclusive discounts on Anker accessories: Aluminum Hub w/ Pass-Through Power $32 (Reg. $40), more

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Filed under: Apple

All the dongles I bought for my new USB-C MacBook Pro — how annoying will it really be?

 

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The new MacBook Pros have certainly caused an uprising of controversy, with perhaps the lack of any traditional USB ports causing the most public outcry. Following in the footsteps of the one-port Retina MacBook, the new 2016 MacBook Pro lacks traditional USB-A ports, instead featuring up to four USB-C ports. Although the ports are highly more capable, offering Thunderbolt 3 speeds on a reversible small connector, it effectively means that all current Mac accessories and peripherals are incompatible without some kind of adaptor.

In preparation for my new MacBook Pro arriving, I’ve ordered what I think I will need in terms of dongles for my uses. After seeing it all laid out on the table, I generally feel like the negative criticism is overblown …

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Filed under: Apple