Google Small Business: 2016

Updating Your Holiday Hours on Google?
Easy as Pumpkin Pie.

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

To help you make the most of the season, we put together a holiday workshop filled with tips for using the web to connect with shoppers. Preview the section on updating your holiday hours above, or watch the entire workshop at gybo.com/livestream.visit our help center

Help Holiday Shoppers Find Your Business

Friday, October 21, 2016

Since 1992, Werkheiser Jewelers has been helping customers find the perfect holiday gift–from picking out an engagement ring to restoring cherished family heirlooms. While they’ve kept their love for tradition alive, the way they do business has changed with the times.
Today, 78% of shoppers online use the Internet for holiday research.1 That includes jewelry shoppers searching for a gift for that special someone. Alyssa Rizzo-Berg, Media Marketing Manager at Werkheiser Jewelers, explains, “Maybe they’re looking to buy that first big piece of jewelry or an engagement ring. Because of Google, they’re able to find us.”
We all rely on small businesses to help make our holidays special, and we rely on the Internet to help us find the right local spots. Is your business ready to connect during this busy time of year? In the next few weeks, Google and our partners are bringing hundreds of local workshops to a city near you to help your business get ready for the holidays. On October 26th, we’re also hosting a live workshop online with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Join us to learn how to create a free business listing on Google, optimize your website for mobile, and advertise online.

Find a holiday prep workshop near you at gybo.com/holidays - OR - Tune in on Wednesday, October 26th at 10 AM PT/1 PM ET to watch the livestream.

We hope to see you there. And from our team to yours, happy holidays!
Posted by Emily Harris, Program Manager, Let's Put Our Cities on the Map
1. Ipsos MediaCT, Google Post Holiday Shopping Intentions Study, January 2015, n=1,500.

Academy for Ads: On-The-Go Training for Google's Ad Products

Monday, October 3, 2016

1Academy for AdsGrow your Google product know-how
Learning paths, Assessments, and AchievementsAdWords Certification exam in Google PartnersAdWords Academy

Digital concepts: Learn the essentials of online ads, including third-party ad-serving, programmatic buying, remarketing, and more.

Get started with AdWords: Learn the basics of AdWords and prepare for the AdWords Certification exam offered by Google Partners.

Get started with AdWords Display: Learn how you can show ads to your online audience via the Google Display Network.

Get startedg.co/learnwithpartnersg.co/AcademyforAdsPosted by Tracy Bizelli, Head of Academy for Ads1. 6 Fundamentals to Managing Digital Marketing in 2015, TFM Insights (January 2015)

3 Ways to Get More from AdWords Express Right Now

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Anderson Custom Window Coverings, Inc

Ad Scheduling – Choose to run your ad at specific times

Nearly one third of searches for local businesses in the US come from consumers who want to make a purchase immediately.¹ Ad scheduling is a simple way to make sure your ad only runs at times you choose, (during your hours of operation, for example), so you reach your customers at exactly the right time.

You can choose custom hours or link to your Google My Business account to automatically run your ad only during your business hours.

Map Actions – Understand how your ads drive people to your store
Map Actions shows you how many customers who’ve viewed your ad go on to view your business on Google Maps – which can be vital, since over 1/3 of visitors in the US use online maps to find local businesses.² If you care about whether your ads drive people to your storefront, Map Actions might just be your favorite new tool.

Map actions shows how many customers interacted with your
Google Maps listing after viewing your ad.

Verified Calls – Get better call tracking
Right now we’re piloting a new way for advertisers to track which phone calls they receive come from customers who clicked “Call now” on an ad on their mobile phones. Advertisers who opt into Verified Calls will also see detailed information about incoming calls, including the area codes and call duration. We’ve already rolled this out to many AdWords Express advertisers, and hope to expand it to all users soon.

New insights into verified calls allow you to see time, duration, and location of each call along with overall trends in call volumes.

google.com/adwords/expresshelp centerPosted by Kavi Goel, Senior Product Manager, AdWords Express1. Google Consumer Barometer2. Google Consumer Barometer

Traits that Spell Success

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

passionperseveranceingenuityPassion

Perseverance

Ingenuity

g.co/AdWordsGoForGoldPosted by Claire Mudd, Head of Americas SMB Marketing

Get Better Insights With Google My Business

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

12Where are people seeing your listing?

How are people finding you?3

Keep your listing up-to-dateAdWords Expresshelp centerPosted by Tom Pritchard, Product Manager Google My Business1. 82% of consumers use Search Engines to find information about local businesses (Google Consumer Barometer)2. Google Internal Data3. Google Consumer Barometer

Go the Extra Mile with #SmallBizGames Challenges

Friday, August 5, 2016

#SmallBizGames Google Small Business Community Twitter#SmallBizGames

Three Things You Should Know Before Choosing AdWords Express

Friday, July 29, 2016

King Florist For business owners like Benoit, we recommend AdWords Express, a smart advertising tool from Google that’s designed to manage your ads for you, helping you get the most out of your budget and allowing you to stay focused on your business. A lot has been written about choosing the best product for you, and it can be overwhelming to sift through everyone’s recommendations. So if you’re considering AdWords Express for your online ads, here are the top three things we think you should know:

It uses expert techniques to manage campaigns for you.
AdWords Express is constantly fine-tuning your campaigns. It monitors how often and where your ad appears on Google (and across the web), adjusts spend, and makes sure your ad is placed in front of the right people, to help you maximize the number of clicks or calls for the budget you selected.
It’s designed to make setup easy and results clear.
Setting up your first AdWords Express ad takes just 15 minutes – it’s as simple as answering a few questions about your business. Once your campaign has had some time to run, AdWords Express shows you focused results – including views, clicks, and calls – in an easy-to-read dashboard, available on desktop and in the mobile app. You’ll also get an email of your results every month, so you can keep track of things right from your inbox.
It’s improving along with the rest of Google.
One of the best features of AdWords Express is the work it does on your behalf, and we’re making it even smarter with cutting edge technology from Google Brain. We also recently announced the addition of Google Analytics to help advertisers get even deeper insights into their performance. We’re constantly improving AdWords Express, so keep an eye out for even more features in the coming months.

For Benoit at King Florist, the difference AdWords Express makes clear. “With AdWords Express, we can actually see an increase in business. If tomorrow I turn off the AdWords Express campaign, two or three days later I can feel it. The phone isn’t ringing as much. Our presence online isn't as much. Every day, on one of our campaigns there is an impact.”

AdWords Express is designed to be effective for all types of business and all sizes of budget, so sign up today and get it working for you. To see a full list of features, and more information on choosing between AdWords Express and AdWords (including a detailed comparison), visit our help center.Posted by Kavi Goel, Senior Product Manager, AdWords Express

Use Online Reviews to Connect with Back-to-School Customers

Monday, July 25, 2016

1Sureflow RooterGoogle My BusinessTip #1: Just ask
Tip #2: Be proactive about responding to reviews2

Tip #3: Actively monitor your reviewsGoogle My BusinessThe Children’s Museum of South DakotaFor more helpful tips on managing your online reviews, check out: gybo.com/reviewPosted by Emily Harris, Program Manager, Let's Put Our Cities on the Map1. Impact Report: How are Customers Discovering Small Businesses?, May 20162. Google/ Ipsos, Impact of Search Listings for Local Businesses. Base: Saw Listing (Control=494, Test= 496), August 2014.

Summer is for Road Trips: Get Discovered by Customers On the Go

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

1Get ready for tourists2Snake River Angler

Get visual3Rogue Creamery

Get noticed in the momentThe Children’s Museum of South Dakota

Google My BusinessPosted by Soo Young Kim, Head of Marketing, Get Your Business Online1. Trip Advisor, Equation Research, Harris Interactive, Money Crashers, March 2015, http://www.statisticbrain.com/summer-vacation-travel-statistics/2. Google/Ipsos Media CT, 2015 Traveler’s Road to Decision. Base: US leisure travelers, n= 3,500, Aug 20153. Google/Oxera, The Benefits of Complete Business Listings, December 2014

It's Now Easier than Ever to Find the Right Google Partner

Monday, June 27, 2016

Google PartnersGoogle Partner specializations

Mobile

Video

Display

Shopping

certified “The changes to the Google Partner program are exciting for potential advertisers and our company,” says Neal Gann, CEO of Showroom Logic. “These new specializations show Google’s commitment to better serve their Partners and help us highlight what makes our technology and team so unique. It should also help prospective clients make a clear choice because it's now easier for them to find top Partners that are aligned with their immediate goals.”Premier Google Partner badge

"Google identifying and recognizing highly experienced agencies is a great step and a distinctive honor. We are thrilled to be a part of the new designation and look forward to displaying this badge," shares Joe Chura, CEO of Launch Digital Marketing.Google Partners homepagePosted by Allan Thygesen, VP Global Sales & Operations

Start Your Summer Mobile-Ready

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Anticipate customer questions, and provide them with the most relevant answers.

Make sure the answers are easy for users to find.

Help them beyond their initial information search; continue offering information throughout the decision-making process.

Deliver a message using search terms that your customers are actually using.

Measure all of your customers’ actions, including online, in apps, and in stores.

Use location-based keywords in your advertising strategy.

Use messages that include your location and on-site availability of products or services.

Include information that customers might find important when making a decision about where to go, including store hours, directions, and pricing.

Use online video: With “how-to” searches on YouTube growing 70% every year,⁵ consider making how-to videos to better help your customers.

Make sure your online videos can be viewed from any device, including mobile.

Test My SitePosted by Soo Young Kim, Head of Marketing, Get Your Business Online1. How Advertisers can Extend Their Relevance with Search, Google/Ipsos, May 2014, n=115-233 for smartphone2. Consumers in the Micro-Moment, Google/Ipsos, US, March 2015, n=5,398, based on internet users3. Google Trends, May 2011 - May 20164. Google Data, Q4 20145. Google data, Q1 2014- Q1 2015, U.S.

Getting Online with Google Domains Is Now Easier Than Ever with the New Partner Integrations

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Big CartelDudaSelzSquareWebflow

“Offering a domain from Google within our site builder helps us enable any seller to set-up an e-commerce site in minutes, while giving sellers more control over their online branding.”https://domains.withgoogle.com/partners

Test Your Site with Google and See How It Works Across Devices

Thursday, June 2, 2016

1 measure your site’s performanceWhy you should test your site234 seeing how your site is performingvisit PageSpeed InsightsWhat your scores say about your site

Mobile-friendliness: This is the quality of the experience customers have when they’re browsing your site on their phones. To be mobile-friendly, your site should have tappable buttons, be easy to navigate from a small screen, and have the most important information up front and center.

Mobile speed: This is how long it takes your site to load on mobile devices. If customers are kept waiting for too long, they’ll move on to the next site.

Desktop speed: This is how long it takes your site to load on desktop computers. It’s not just the strength of your customers’ web connection that determines speed, but also the elements of your website.

Test your site

Posted by Yong Su Kim, VP SMB Sales Americas1. Consumers in the Micro-Moment, Wave 3, Google/Ipsos, U.S., August 2015, n=1291 online smartphone users 18+2. Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, “Internet Trends D11 Conference.” May 20133. Google internal data, for 10 countries including the U.S. and Japan, April 20154. Google, Sterling Research and SmithGeiger, “What Users Want Most From Mobile Sites Today.” July 2012

Businesses are Growing Online with Google

Thursday, May 26, 2016

$165 billion of economic activityProtect Your Pumps

Heritage BicyclesGoogle AdWords

Economic Impact ReportPosted by Claire Mudd, Head of SMB Marketing

4 Things Small Businesses Should Know in A Mobile-First World

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

announced1. Every year, there are trillions of searches on Google and over half of those searches happen on mobile.
2. Mobile is local. Nearly one third of all mobile searches are related to location, and that number is growing.
13. New local search ads help businesses bring customers right to their door.
prominently display their business location

4. AdWords is designed to help you succeed in a mobile-first world.

We also introduced innovations in both text and display ads to help AdWords work harder for you on smartphone screens. Look for these upgrades coming soon:

New expanded text ads in AdWords provide extra ad space so you can showcase more information about your products and services before the click. The key changes include more prominent headlines and a longer description line in your text ad.
Responsive ads for display will adapt to the diverse content, shapes and sizes of the more than two million publisher sites and apps on the Google Display Network. Just provide headlines, a description, an image, and a URL, and AdWords will create beautiful ads for you that looks good on every device and site.

To learn more about other exciting ads and analytics innovations announced at the Google Performance Summit, watch the livestream keynote here.

Posted by Soo Young Kim, Head of Marketing, Get Your Business Online

1. Google/Ipsos MediaCT/Purchased, Research: Understanding Consumers’ Local Search Behavior, May 2014

From Workshops to the Web: Small Business Week Lessons For Your Business

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Magnolia Abbey Last week, Google Agency Partners educated businesses about user trends and “The 10 Ways to Grow Your Business Online.” This interactive workshop was just one example of the hundreds held across the country for National Small Business Week. online workshopsgybo.com/workshops

Track what matters to you easily in AdWords Express

Monday, May 9, 2016

Analytics will show you how your ad is contributing to the website goals that matter to you

Google Analytics has been an invaluable resource for small business owners looking to understand these key interactions. For Carrie Sullivan, co-owner of Telaya Wine Co. in Idaho, understanding how visitors interact with her website has been key to her company’s success online. “Being a small business, we wear many different hats and we have a small staff, so we don’t have someone to just focus on our website. Google Analytics does that for us.”

google.com/adwords/expresshelp centerPosted by Zhouzhou He, AdWords Express Product Manager

Mother Knows Best: Small Business Lessons from Mom

Friday, May 6, 2016

Google Small Business CommunityTwitter

We’re #AllForSmallBiz This National Small Business Week

Thursday, April 21, 2016

1google.com/smallbusinessweek

2google.com/smallbusinessweekClaire Mudd, Head of Americas SMB Marketing
1. Google/Nielsen, "Mobile Path to Purchase" study, November 20132. Google/Ipsos, "Survey of businesses with under 250 employees", October 2013

An Expansion Update on Home Service Ads

Friday, April 15, 2016

The unexpected pipe leak, the key locked inside, the mess after a big housewarming, we've all been there. It's in these moments that people need quick and reliable help from someone they trust. If you’re a home services business owner, then people are turning to Google everyday to find professionals like you: plumbers, locksmiths, home cleaners and more.
Last year we introduced a new way for small businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area to offer home service solutions on Google. So far, thousands of people in the region have connected with qualified business owners through the format.
In San Jose, Ishmael Chandler's local plumbing service is growing quickly after using Home Service Ads for less than one year. "Home Service Ads have really helped us grow our business - since starting, we've seen a 20-30% increase in our overall business. As the program has grown throughout the year, we've seen better and better returns," he said.
We want to offer business owners like Ishmael the chance to connect with potential customers on Google, and that’s why we’re actively preparing to expand the availability of the experience to residents and business owners in Sacramento, California. In addition to the four types of services we’ve added in the past year -- plumbers, locksmiths, home cleaners and plumbers -- we’re also introducing two more highly requested categories of providers: HVAC services and electricians.
If you serve residents of Sacramento, visit google.com/homeserviceads to learn more about how we can help you reach more customers. We'll see you there!

Small Business