In its latest move to expand its performance advertising program, Facebook is offering what it tells us is “thousands” of new cities in its self-serve advertising tool, meaning advertisers can more narrowly target users across the United States and around the world. From social game developers to the various large and small businesses already using the service, the information could help them boost their returns on investment.

Facebook isn’t giving a full list of which cities have been added, but you can check out the cities in your area here for yourself.

Some of the Sacramento area cities that have been added (plus the ones that were already there): Antelope, Auburn, Cameron Park, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Colfax, Davis. Dixon, El Dorado Hills, Elk Grove, Fair Oaks, Fairfield, Folsom, Galt, Granite Bay, Grass Valley, Lincoln, Lodi, Loomis, Marysville, North Highland, Orangevale, Pine Grove, Placerville, Plymouth, Pollock Pines, Rancho Cordova, Rocklin, Roseville, Sacramento, Sutter, Sutter Creek, West Sacramento, Woodland and Yuba City. If you’d like help in designing a strategy to help you reach these communities, please call Julie Gallaher at 916-265-2521.

And while you’re here, download a free copy of my Facebook Advertising Success Stories report.

Digital Media Buzz

Like many social media products, Foursquare started out as a way for friends to connect with friends and update their locations via text message from their mobile devices or device-specific applications for the iPhone and Android. Blackberry and Palm Pre apps are in the works. It combines friend-finder and social city guide elements with game mechanics. When users check in, Foursquare lets their friends know where they can find them and recommends places and things to do nearby. Those into bragging rights can become the mayors of locations by being the most frequent visitor. As with Twitter, it didn’t take long for businesses to see how Foursquare could make a great promotional tool by offering freebies like free coffee, free drinks, free food and free hotel stays to Foursquare mayors.

John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing

Users compete with check-ins to earn points for their city, badges for various types of activity and to become mayor of frequented spots. Just like Twitter back in early 2007 none of this makes much sense until you play with it a while and until you have some folks to follow and connect with. (In fact, it doesn’t really make that much sense then, but there’s something sort of addictive about it.)

Users also add and update information about businesses, write tips and make suggestions for anyone to consume. This rating and reviewing function treads on the turf of services such as Yelp! and acts as another data point for people trying to locate a good pizza on the Upper East Side for example.

Sal Baldovinos of Poplabs Refreshing Marketing

I’ve been actively using Foursquare for about three months, though I signed up for it many months prior. I thought it would end up being just another Brightkite with its own twist. I took a cynical approach thinking it was just another way for people to say where they are and what they’re doing, which it is. But, then I saw what local business like Coffee Groundz and Lone Star Chiropractic were doing with Foursquare.

If you’d like help devising a strategy for Foursquare, Twitter, Yelp or any of the other social check-in applications, call Julie Gallaher at 916-265-2521.

Really there’s only one answer and it’s one that strikes at the very heart of the established hierarchy of customer importance. Companies are going to have to start treating every single customer like a VIP. Actually, no, it’s worse than that consider the Hidden Eloise example; she wasn’t a customer, but just a humble designer. Companies are going to have to start treating every single person in the world like a VIP. In all areas of their business they’re going to have to make sure they’re purer than pure; they’re going to have to examine every one of their processes to ensure that no one is getting screwed over. Moreover, they’re going to have to treat every complaint like it’s the most important complaint they’ve ever received, lest the complainer take their fight to Twitter.

I’m offering a Reputation Management Class to help businesses and individuals develop a strategy to highlight the good things people should know about them online.

For more info on the class, click here.

I’m going to do an experiment. Today in January 17th. I’m going to use my unique search engine optimization techniques and see how long it takes to get me to the front page of Google for Julie Gallagher Sacramento. There are some very prominent Julie’s out there – Legislative Director of the California State Assembly, Assistant Professor of History at Penn State, Author, Family Physician in Ontario. In fact LinkedIn says there are 25 in just the LinkedIn directory.

I am a marketing consultant. If you’ve landed here and you think I might be the one you’re looking for, here’s my LinkedIn profile, some photos on Flickr, my youtube channel. I don’t mind if you spell my name wrong. ;^D – If you need help marketing your local business, give me a call at 916-265-2521.

Here are some resources to help you strategize.

5 Small Business Marketing Resources

US Small Business Administration
Business Exchange by Business Week
Duct Tape Marketing
Wall Street Journal
Entrepreneur Magazine

Julie Gallaher

or here

Sacramento Facebook Coaching

Do you have anyone in your company who’s a guru on twitter, facebook, youtube or blogging? Don’t ignore it- analyze whether you can harness their expertize to help you achieve your business goals.

On January 13, 2010 – I’ll be teaching for the Leaning Exchange Build Your Business with Facebook. We’ll go over building and customizing your Facebook Fan Page and discuss strategies for connecting with your fans. All class members will receive a copy of my report – Facebook Advertising Provides Precise Targeting for Less. I’m very happy to report that it’s been picked up by Facebook and Business Week for distribution.

On February 24, 2010, again for the Learning Exchange, my class is Get LinkedIn. We’ll build a fabulous and effective LinkedIn profile, utilize Linked Answers and groups to become recognized as an authority in your field and develop networking strategies.

My first class for the Learning Exchange sold out – so please sign up today.

I expect to be announcing several more classes in the next few days.

Old Media – Newpaper Decline

From B2B, like telecommunication services and software to B2C like Western Clothing and Physician Marketing, I think you’ll find something in this report that interests you.

Download FREE Facebook Advertising White Paper

Social Media Coaching and Consulting

If you’d like to know when we publish our follow up reports, or have questions you’d like to ask, please keep in contact!

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Get on the Map Local Search Marketing has over 50 years combined experience helping small business with their advertising and marketing needs. Please call us for assistance with your search engine optimization or social media strategy at 916-265-2521.

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Contributors – Indi Avila, Susan Barry, Bob Bentz, Michelle Cantrell, Sarah Doheny, Jen Dwyer, Sam Goldfarb, Erik Hagborg, Adrienne Janzen, Rhondalynn Korolak, Brian Laesch, Lisa Making, Ted McLaghlan, Tricia Meyer, Freddy J. Nager, Marc Newberger, Francesca Roth, Lisa ECStewart, Donna and John Taylor, Zaki Usman, Peter VanRysdam, Lori Jo Vest, Jochem Vroom, Guido Weber, and a special feature on Facebook Fan Pages by Mari Smith.