The difference between pyramid schemes and Ponzi schemes is in the methodology. Pyramid schemes rely on multiple levels of investors, each promising exorbitant returns to the succeeding level, whereas Ponzi schemes feature a central figure who promises exorbitant returns to all investors.
Knowing risk as they do, those at BusinessInsurance.org want to help you recognize and steer clear of these dangerous investments:
Pyramid Schemes
Pyramid schemes are organized into investor levels. At each level, investors are responsible for recruiting new investors and obtaining money from them. It begins when one person asks a small group of people for a sum of money in exchange for a promise of large returns. Each of those investors must then approach another small group of investors and make the same promises. After recruiting new investors, existing investors pay a portion...
By Al Lifchultz · March 06 2012
pyramid scheme, ponzi, business insurance, small business
In a video interview earlier this week on TechCrunch TV, CEO of Yext, Howard Lerman, showcased their new PowerListings Turbo product and demonstrated live functionality with EZlocal’s robust business listings platform. EZlocal is proud to be among a small handful of platform partners Yext chose to work with including Foursquare, Yahoo! Local and Citysearch.
By Dave Cosper · December 17 2011
yext, techcrunch, ezlocal, local search
Business owners, we’ve just introduced a cool new tool for you.
As we’ve discussed in the past, for most business types, generating customer reviews is a critical metric influencing how listings rank in Maps. There is also a rising importance of Google's own Places reviews as a ranking factor.
More reviews = better rankings. Better rating reviews = More customers clicking on your listing. --Mike Ramsey
But motivating customers to go online, find your Google listing, and leave a positive review is tough! So we gave this some thought, and developed a simple and quick way to help generate customer reviews right at the point-of-sale using a customized QR Code flier.
By Dave Cosper · November 04 2011
qr code, qr codes
Posting as your business on your own business page can feel really impersonal to a fan. Sometimes you just want to comment and like updates using your personal Facebook account. It took some digging, but I finally found it.
Go to edit your page:
Then choose the option "Your Settings." There you will find an option to 'Always comment and post on your page as your business, even when logged in as yourself.'
Easy enough?
By Jorge Cordova · September 13 2011
facebook pages, facebook
A new AdWords feature has appeared in the results today. A coupon offer and a typical HTML button that reads "View Offer"
We have not seen anything inside of AdWords under extenstions or anywhere to include this yet. It may be a small private test market. It is possible that the information is being pulled from Google Places, but seems unlikely. This search did not have any local intent, but with Google, you never know what information they are working off of.
Take a look:
Offers are still the new hotness, with everyone riding the Groupon wave. Google is no exception.
By Tim Scheer · June 09 2011
google, adwords, view offer button
The Local Search space is filled with a slew of unique terminology most business owners and marketers have little understanding of - catchphrases from “hyperlocal” to “OneBox” to “centroid”. And any ambitious expectations of understanding Local Search itself, as well as the underlying factors affecting how businesses rank in local search results, hinges on becoming versed in the local search lingo itself.
So we suggest you read and bookmark our Glossary of Local Search Terms.
By Dave Cosper · April 20 2011
local search glossary
Earlier this month, we found a great video posted on the Google Small Business Blog illustrating the power online search ads can have in driving offline sales. Google uses several controlled studies in this video to show what a dollar in ad spend can typically deliver in return. We like this video in particular because it’s simple and easy for business owners to understand.
By Dave Cosper · April 12 2011
Monday of this week, we announced the availability of Google Boost as a new online ad solution to help our small business clients better connect with potential customers in their local area. Boost is a new advertising push from Google -- launched in a limited number of cities just six months ago. The Boost ad is essentially a hybrid product; functioning as a simplified Sponsored Ad with some of the same features we see in a Places listing. Boost ads appear in both the Sponsored Links section as well as on the actual map of the local search results. We think this is a pretty unique advertising opportunity for businesses looking to get a one-up on their competitors.
Boost ads are also unique in several ways. For one thing, they feature an exclusive blue map marker, instead of the common red marker, and are only offered to local businesses that have a local physical office. So the blue map marker itself is successful in two things, 1) making the listing stand out, and 2) indicate to the person sea...
By Dave Cosper · March 30 2011
google boost
