New Google Features and How They Can Affect Your Business
July 27, 2013
Sorted Gmail Interface
Google recently launched a new interface for Gmail. It is slowly being rolled out to all users. The new interface automatically sorts a user’s email into three categories: Primary, Social, and Promotion.
If you are an android user, you will see a fourth tab for Google app updates. The primary tab houses your important messages. The Social tab receives emails from your social network accounts. The promotional tab collects all of the advertising and deal emails that you receive.
My Gmail account was updated a week ago and I LOVE the new interface! I can quickly see the important emails that I need to give attention immediately and easily come back later to my promotional emails when I have more time to read them.
There is some concern that this will hurt companies who send promotional emails. They fear that users will never click over the promotions tab and their emails will get lost.
However, I think Google is doing a good job of properly sorting the emails so unless you are sending purely promotional/deal/sale emails they will not get sent to the promotions folder. I tested several of a2z’s emails today and they landed in my Primary folder.
I personally give more time to my promotional emails now because I am not quickly deleting them just so that I can uncover my important emails in my inbox. I can sit down at night and peacefully catch up on my social and promotional emails.
However, if you are worried that your emails will be sent to the Promotions folder then you can gently remind your readers to mark your emails as “Not Promotion” so that they get sent to their primary folder.
Ads pushed to Promotion tab
In addition, to the new interface Google has started pushing their paid ads to users’ Promotion tabs. The ads appear as promotion emails and so they can be starred and forwarded just as regular emails, but they are ads.
The ads are not actual emails and so the advertiser is NOT secretly getting a user’s email address and sending spam mail. Google has simply changed the placement of the paid ads within the Gmail interface. The emails are marked as an “ad” under the From label and appear in a different background color. The ads used to appear at the top of the interface.
This new placement is actually good news for Google Ads advertisers. Your ads are reaching readers when they are in the shopping and deal hunting mind frame. And now they can easily share your deals with friends and mark them if they want to remember to come back to the deal at a later time.
New Google Dashboard
Finally, recently Google introduced a new dashboard for businesses that allows companies to manage their information and updates across Google sites including Google+, AdWords, Google Maps, and YouTube.
This change will save you time and make for a more cohesive and complete presentation of your company on Google’s sites. For example, when your company is displayed on Google Maps the user can now see a full company profile, reviews, videos, etc. And even more exciting is that Google now offers statistics showing the top searches for their company, where the most driving directions are requested from for their business and other basic profile stats.
These statistics will allow you to target your Google Adwords even more and shape the marketing that you post on Google sites.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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