Follow your BBB on Twitter, Facebook and My Space:
And don't forget to check our weekly blog
You can now follow or tweet your BBB on Twitter; check out what's new at Facebook and My Space; and respond to Vickie's Two Cents blog. Watch for message posts about the latest scams and items of interest. Blog with us and send us your news about scams or problems you have experienced or heard about.
And for an interesting look at the business world in general, check out the weekly edition of TrustBrief.
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New Search Engine Optimization (SEO) program helps drive consumers to BBB Accredited Businesses
Here’s a shopping mall analogy that skips the technical talk.
First, think of your BBB website as a “store” full of data about businesses in your area.
Then think of Google, Yahoo! and MSN as a highway and sidewalk system that brings people to your store. Before Search Engine Optimization (SEO), all of the BBBs - from Oakland to Columbia - were small stores scattered around the highways.
With SEO, we’re taking each of those stores and putting them into a big outdoor shopping mall labeled BBB. With every new BBB, the shopping mall gets bigger and more visible from the highway. And with every expansion, Google, Yahoo! and MSN are more likely to send traffic to the BBB mall.
The New SEO takes this a step further, by organizing and labeling your data to make it easier for “shoppers” to find. Every business category gets an easy-to-read label. When all of the store maps and business listings are laid out clearly at the front of your “store”, Google and the other search engines take shoppers off the highway and down the sidewalk, right to your door.
Here are a few numbers that I hope will get everyone excited! From May 1st to May 31 2008 we had 9,201 visits to our local website(s) www.bbb.org. From May 1st to May 31 2009 we had 21,547 visits. That is a 134% increase in visits to our website. Over 10,000 visits for last month came directly from search engines like Google.
BBB’s live or die through our Accredited Businesses. Without you there is no BBB to serve your business or our community. In this economy, when every dollar counts, your BBB is working to show that accreditation helps drive profit.
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Take Advantage of Energy-Saving Tax Credits for Your Home
Home improvement season is here and Better Business Bureau is offering advice on how to take advantage of tax credits being offered by the Federal government while increasing home energy efficiency and helping the environment at the same time.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 included several new tax and expanded credits that homeowners can take advantage of while increasing the energy efficiency of their home, and according to Remodeling Magazine's 2008-2009 Cost vs. Value report, energy efficient replacement projects are some of the best bets for recouping money at resale. Some qualifying improvements include routine work that every homeowner must undertake now and then, such as installing a new roof. However, other qualifying improvements are more involved including installing a wind or solar energy system.
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BBB offers FREE workshop in Fresno County:
Help for people facing small claims or the eviction process
Your BBB will offer FREE assistance on July 10, 2009, from 1-4 p.m., to all Fresno County residents who are thinking about suing or are being sued. The workshop will be conducted at the BBB in Fresno, Calif.
A bilingual advisor will conduct the FREE presentation and lecture on what to do when faced with an eviction or the small claims process. Community members including landlords, tenants, plaintiffs and defendants alike are welcome to attend.
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Let's welcome new Accredited Businesses:
The following companies applied for accreditation in May 2009
It's always an honor to welcome new businesses to your Better Business Bureau serving Central California. Please take a look at the list of new Accredited Businesses in your town and make it a point to do business with them whenever possible.
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Beware BBB Imposters: BBB warns against Craigslist adds offering BBB Buyers Protection
Better Business Bureaus across the country are receiving reports of a new scam on Craigslist that deceives buyers by falsely claiming BBB accreditation and participation in a phony buyer’s protection program. BBB warns that there is no such thing as a BBB Purchase Protection Program and any online seller claiming participation in this program is scamming customers.
In its 2008 Internet Crime Report, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported receiving 275,284 complaints, more than a 33 percent increase from 2007, with a total dollar loss from all fraud cases of $264.6 million. And scams involving non-delivered merchandise and/or payment were by far the most reported offense, comprising nearly 33 percent of all complaints.
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Watch for Request-a-Quotes:
Your BBB wants to drive business your way!
With discretionary dollars at a premium, and consumers becoming better educated about what they want, driving business through your doors is more important than ever. Consumers want to do business with companies they trust and that means you, the Accredited Businesses of the BBB. With Request a Quote, you have the opportunity to reach out and communicate with consumers without spending a single advertising dime.
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Check out these companies with unanswered complaints
The Better Business Bureau does not promote any business or services. Instead, our goal is to protect consumers from dishonest, misleading, and potential scamming companies. The BBB promotes equal treatment, truth in advertising, honesty, integrity, courtesy and excellent service to customers. Below, you will find companies with unanswered complaints that have been filed with the BBB.
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Name Update
Lawnco Landscape Maintenance was incorrectly listed as Daniel's Yard Service in last month's e-news. The company is located in Clovis and their phone number is 559-341-1604.
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