Social Media Specialist OrangeSoda Launches CitrusBlast for SMBs

CitrusBlast begins with an optimized listing in Google Places, Yahoo and Microsoft's Bing search service.

OrangeSoda, a provider of localized online marketing (search, mobile, social), announced the availability of CitrusBlast, an online advertising product that combines the power of search engines, social media and mobile search to increase exposure within Google Maps.

CitrusBlast is designed to be utilized by SMBs (small to medium-size businesses) within hyperlocal markets to improve the power of searches for clientele and push more leads back to small businesses.

CitrusBlast begins with an optimized listing in Google Places, Yahoo and Bing. These three search engines, which also feature map listings, directly connect to an OrangeSoda lead generation site that has been customized for each client. All phone calls and activity within the SMB's Website are tracked on the platform, and analytics are used to guide campaign optimization and push more leads to the SMB owner. CitrusBlast then creates a full profile for each SMB on Yelp and Foursquare, two online-based business review sites.

"Search engines, social media and mobile search are three cornerstones of enhanced exposure online and on mobile devices for small businesses," said Jay Bean, CEO and co-founder of OrangeSoda. "Once a client decides to seriously examine their social online presence and strategically combine all forces, they can experience a 200 percent increase in exposure after the first six months."

CitrusBlast will be sold directly to current and potential OrangeSoda customers and to their partner network. A partner of OrangeSoda, the San Diego Union Tribune has rolled out its version of CitrusBlast through its local sales teams throughout the San Diego market.

"The San Diego Union Tribune's version of CitrusBlast gives us a powerful new offering for advertisers: a fully-loaded online advertising solution that enables local businesses to harness the combined marketing strength of search, mobile and social media to get their message out, get customers in the door and watch their business grow," said Mike Hodges, vice president of interactive for the San Diego Union-Tribune. "This product is one of the most comprehensive advertising products that's come along in years, and we believe it will enable both the San Diego Union-Tribune and our advertisers to realize new revenue streams."

Recent studies have shown that 86 percent of consumers who use Internet search engines to find a local product or service follow up with a phone call or in-store visit, and 61 percent of those end up making their purchase offline. In fact, 31 percent of consumers turn to a search engine first when they're on the hunt for local products and services, and 43 percent of Internet searches today include a local identifier, indicating that people would rather type a few keywords into a search engine than go shuffling through the phone book.