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Tips and tricks for managing your business with Google’s solutions
Google Apps highlights – 12/16/2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
(
Cross posted from the
Official Google Blog
.)
This is part of a regular series of Google Apps updates that we post every couple of weeks. Look for the label “
Google Apps highlights
" and subscribe to the series. - Ed.
The elves got an early jump on the holidays this year by leaving us some surprises in Google Apps over the last few weeks. Sharing from Gmail got a whole lot easier, and Google Calendar can make better use of precious screen space. We also have 10 new Google Apps customer stories to share from the tens of thousands that have gone Google in recent weeks.
Gmail gets more social
Last week we sprinkled a touch of
Google+ into Gmail
, making it easier to connect and share with people from your inbox. You can add people to circles right from an email thread through Gmail’s people widget, share photo attachments with friends and family on Google+ without leaving Gmail, and view a filtered version of your inbox only showing messages from people in your circles. We also improved Gmail’s address book by incorporating contact information shared by your friends, family and colleagues in their Google+ profiles.
New features in the Gmail iOS app
Just yesterday we added several new improvements to the
Gmail app for iOS 4+
. Now you can set up a custom email signature for mobile messages, manage your vacation responder, and view nested labels from your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. We also added scribbles, a fun way to spice up messages by adding a quick hand-drawn sketch. You can create scribbles using a range of colors, brush sizes, lines, erasers and spray paints from your touchscreen device.
More free calls right from Gmail
Last year we introduced free domestic calling in Gmail within the U.S. and Canada, and we’re extending this free service for
the whole year of 2012
. We’re happy to help you keep in touch with those special people in your life, for free.
Hide morning and night hours in Calendar
If you don’t often have appointments early in the morning or late at night, a new trick in Google Calendar might be useful. Now you can
hide morning and night hours
, leaving more screen real estate for the times of day when most of your events take place. Give it a try in Calendar Labs.
Who’s gone Google?
Businesses and schools are switching to Google Apps in droves these days. From tiny startups to large enterprises and nonprofits to college campuses, we love hearing the inspiring stories that our customers share. Here’s a new batch of stories for your reading pleasure:
TripIt
,
IPSEN
,
Ebby Halliday
,
Ticket River
,
VigLink
,
HeyZap
,
The Great Books Foundation
,
Utah K-12 schools
, the
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
and
UC Santa Cruz
. Welcome one and all!
For more details and the latest news, check out the Google Apps Blog, and keep an eye out for this series here after the holidays. We launched more than 150 improvements go Google Apps in 2011, and we have a ton more in store for 2012!
New TalkBin improvements make it easier to connect with customers
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Businesses interact with customers all the time, but it can be challenging to get honest and useful feedback that can help improve your business.
TalkBin
makes this easy by giving your customers a direct and convenient way to reach you via text message. No more clumsy comment cards and surveys; instead, customers can simply use their mobile phones to text you comments and feedback the same way they’d text a friend.
Today, we’re excited to announce three improvements that make it
even easier
to manage customer feedback.
1) Getting started tutorial
When you log in to TalkBin, you’ll be welcomed with a handy educational tutorial that explains all the most important features. This makes learning how to use TalkBin a cinch for you and your employees.
2) Updated dashboard
Based on your feedback, we updated the user interface with a fresh new design that helps you to manage all of your settings in one convenient place. For example, now your Account Settings are just one click away from Location and Billing Settings.
3) Custom sign builder
In-store signs are key to getting quality feedback from your customers. The new sign building feature help you make and print custom signs in just a few minutes.
To learn more about how TalkBin can help your business, check out these firsthand perspectives from
Fraiche Yogurt
and
P. Terry’s Burger Stand
.
Also, for the rest of the month, Google Small Business Blog readers can get TalkBin for just $5/month per location (discounted from the regular $25/month per location). Just enter promotion code
BLOGSMB
when you sign up at
talkbin.com/signup/user/
. This offer expires December 31, 2011.
Posted by Qasar Younis, Product Manager, TalkBin
Pedal to find your dream home with Google Maps
Monday, December 5, 2011
(
Cross-posted on the
Lat Long Blog
.
)
The features available in
Google Maps
are equally functional and fun. You can tour distant cities with
Street View
or map out a trip with multiple destinations using
Custom Maps
. Not only is Google Maps a great tool for everyday personal use, but it’s can also be used as a practical business tool. Such is the case for Matt Kolb, owner of
Pedal to Properties
.
Matt is an avid cyclist and a realtor based in Boulder, Colorado. In 2006, Matt decided to blend his hobby and career by founding his own real estate agency called
Pedal to Properties
. His company is built on the idea that by touring homes via bicycle, one can get a better sense of the local community and determine if a particular property is the right fit.
When Matt meets with clients, he locates various properties on Google Maps and creates a biking route of the houses they’ll visit that day, using
Bicycling Directions
as a guide. Home buyers are encouraged to interact with the map, using Street View to check out a property and its surrounding neighborhood, and using nearby search to take a look at local schools and businesses. Through this process Matt is able to narrow down viable homes for a specific buyer, making the experience enjoyable and time-efficient.
If you have interesting stories about how you use biking directions, Street View, or other Google Maps features to enhance your business, comment on our
Google+ Page
with #mygmapstory
Posted by Dave Kim, Product Marketing Manager
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