Google seems to have been particularly focused on small businesses this week. The company is trying to inspire more enthusiasm over its Local Business Center, and has announced that users in the US who have opted into receiving newsletters will now recieve a monthly email report on how their business listings performed on Google in the previous month. This includes how many times the listing was seen, how many people clicked to the website, etc.
Users will also get tips for optimizing business listings, like advice on adding photos, uploading videos, and creating coupons, for example. Successful businesses of the month will be highlighted, and other Google products that can help the small business owner will be discussed.
"It's no secret that Google started out as a small business operating out of a Silicon Valley garage," says Google Senior Policy Manager Seth Webb. "We've consistently supported small business growth because we understand that our success depends on the success of our small business partners."
Google launched the Small Business Network earlier this year, with the goal of helping small businesses track legislation that could affect their growth. They've now redesigned this site as a "product toolkit" in addition to being a policy monitor.
The site now provides solutions to problems like:
- Need help finding more customers?
- Tired of your computer system crashing?
- Curious about how to plot more efficient delivery routes?
- Want to make sure your advertising dollars hit the right audience?
- Can't aford a webmastger or IT specialist?
- Worried that federal and state policies might hurt your bottom line?
There is also a section for group discussion.
In addition to all of this, over the next several months, Google will be traveling across the US conducting "Small Businsses 101" workshops for local businesses.
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Google Focuses on Small Businesses
Google is more confusing to small business than any other medium. The hours spent researching how to benefit from Google are better spent either either talking to your existing customers or arranging local advertising. Google seems directed at the more established small business - the ones that are classed as medium :)
Oh really?
If Google really wants to be responsive to small business, why do they make it so hard to get a legitimate question answered? Have you ever tried using one of their Help sections... it's a joke! They provide you with options trying to whittle down your question but if your question doesn't match the options they have listed, you're screwed as they only provide answers to questions they have on their list. God forbid they should have an e-mail address you could actually contact them. the best they can provide is to post a question in their forum section which I tried once but I didn't get any answers because all I found were other people who had the exact same question!
What about Canada?
Any plans for this to happen for Canadian small businesses? It always amazes me that even though we are right next door, we continue to be down on the totem poll whenever Google launches something cool.
Google - Too little, too late
So Google is looking to help the small guy! What about the Vince update that lifted all the big brand owners above all the little guys? Its too little, too late.
Vince Then They Downgraded All Blogs
Our blog was ranked with a 6 rating until Google downgraded all of the blogs one night using an algorithm to spur small biz to buy more AdWords space. It stinks as I have over 350 blog posts and now am being outranked on PR3 by spam sites. Thanks for nothing Google. Bing is going to beat them eventually. They have cut way too many throats of small businesses. If you do not believe me, there are hundreds of posts on Google pulling this stunt.
How does a spam site have more credibility than an extensive blog that was ironically built by Blogger? The brand site blogs suffered no downgrades.
The playing field is no longer level.
Etu Google, Etu.
You got to be kidding
this post hit a sore spot for many of us, small business owners
Google for its short time in business has been anything but for the small business person
It only thinks of itself, look at all the grieve they caused with updates and programs
here today sweep the rug out from under you to adjust all the time,
they make billions while the little guy is struggling what kind of a partnership can that be
Sounds good but...
It all sounds good, Chris, but small business owners don't seem to be buying it. I depend on Google to drive traffic to my safety and security web site and that's been tricky at best. Outside of that, I haven't found Google to be very helpful. Like the others here who have posted comments, they're unavalilble when needed for any technical help.
google great!
I disagree with you guys!
I run a small business and have worked very hard to get my wholesale leather belts website high in search results. Google is the only medium where success is not just dependent on how much capital you have!
With the new algorithm to be released soon it will become even easier for small businesses to compete with the big guys in search results!
I'm in coupon heaven
Maybe I'll even think about shelving AdWords ....
I'm in coupon heaven
Maybe I'll even think about shelving AdWords ....
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