"80% of small businesses still aren’t making the most of digital tools that can help them reach more customers and work more efficiently," Google's Global Product Director of Small Business Ads told ClickZ. The company has announced a new site to provide personalized, step-by-step plans for small business owners to gain more digital savvy.
Google has launched Google for Small Business, a new site that helps companies find the right tools from the tech giant.
The tool selections are personalized for each user, after they answer a few questions on the site, such as business name and goal. The portfolio of considered tools includes Google My Business, YouTube, Google Ads, Google Local Services Ads, G Suite, Google Analytics and Google Pay.
After submitting answers to the questions, the user sees a step-by-step plan of recommended products for helping businesses stand out online, find more customers and work more efficiently.
Additionally, the site helps businesses find nearby Grow with Google workshops that can provide hands-on help, and there are news updates about Google’s small-business tools and services.
The steps in a plan might include claiming a Business Profile on Google Search and Maps, which can lead to a free website. Or, it might involve a pitch for Google’s low-cost G Suite productivity tools, which can help create a custom business email address, or it could be a recommendation for a free YouTube channel for sharing videos with customers.
Google Global Product Director of Small Business Ads Kim Spalding told ClickZ via email that small business owners “know digital tools exist to help them grow, but they don’t always know what those tools are or how they can get started.”
She added that “eighty percent of small businesses still aren’t making the most of digital tools that can help them reach more customers and work more efficiently.”
In terms of specific goals, Spalding said that 70% of small businesses say they need help saving time at work, over 65% are looking for each-to-use tools for promotion and 47% of U.S. businesses don’t have a website.
This new endeavor hopes to turn some of those numbers around for small business owners in the U.S.
