Google Launches Program To Assist Small Businesses

For small businesses, it’s very important that customers can easily and quickly find their information online. However, a lack of resources or knowledge can make this a difficult undertaking for some. To assist with this process, Google has launched “Let’s Put Our Cities on the Map,” a new program designed to help local businesses get online or correct and complete their online presence.

The aim of the program is to get cities, local organizations and small businesses working together and with Google to make the most out of location-based marketing. The project provides each city with a custom website that local businesses can use to create, establish and manage their online presence. The city websites can also offer online marketing tools to help businesses to optimize their online presence, including diagnostic tools so that they can understand how customers see them on Google Search and Google Maps. Importantly, it ensures that local businesses appear at the top of the search results and helps to make their listings complete with the latest and most accurate information about their business.

Additionally, for those who are not yet online, the program provides a free website and a free custom domain for one year, which can be of great assistance to small businesses who are just starting out. These free services are offered in partnership with the Web hosting and domain registration company StartLogic.

Through this initiative, Google is also working with local chambers of commerce and other local organizations to help in the effort of getting business data into Google.

“We’re also forming partnerships with local organizations – like chambers and small business development centers – and equipping them with free trainings and customized city materials to run workshops,” wrote Google in its blog post. “These local partners know the challenges for local businesses more than anyone – and they recognize the value of getting businesses online.”

Google’s program also provides customers with the ability to contribute to the success of their favorite local business by visiting their city’s website, where they can show their support by helping them get their info online and on the map.

In 2011, Google began conducting small business workshops in a number of cities through its “Get Your Business Online” program. “Let’s Put Our Cities on the Map” grew out of that initiative as a way to reach more small companies.

“Small businesses have said that getting online is hard,” said Soo Young Kim, head of marketing for Google’s Get Your Business Online program. “We’re using sophisticated technology on the back end to make it simple for small businesses to get online and create their listing. Google has created over 30,000 websites to provide every business in every city a fast, free and easy opportunity to get them found.”

Google explains that this initiative is specifically aimed to help small businesses. “Big businesses and big retailers are centrally managing listings to make sure they’re appearing on Google,” explained Kim. “Small businesses need to be there – right next to them – when a consumer is searching. We don’t prioritize big retailers before small businesses. Both have the same abilities – to upload photos, listing, hours of operation, get reviews.”

There’s no question that it can be difficult for small businesses to effectively manage their online presence to provide accurate information that’s easy for customers to find, so Google’s new program will provide a great benefit to many.

To learn more about Google’s program, visit the website at www.gybo.com, enter your local ZIP code, and get involved!