- Officials said Google for Small Business will serve as a portal for the tech giant's SMB-facing tools and services.
- SMBs will be able to establish a list of customized actions to boost their online presence.
- Along with online services, Google for Small Business will help entrepreneurs find local, in-person workshops.
One of the largest corporations has released another tool to help small businesses grow, with Google officially launching its Google for Small Business initiative yesterday. Touted by officials as a way for the tech giant to help entrepreneurs and small business owners reach their goals, the effort is the latest in Google's recent series of SMB-related efforts.
Unveiled at the Grow with Google Learning Center in New York City, officials called Google for Small Business a way to help fledgling businesses "grow and thrive" on the web.
"I've had the opportunity to get to know many small business owners ... [and] most of them tell me that they need help saving time at work, or that they need easy tools to help them promote their business," said Kim Spalding, Google's global product director of small business ads. "The internet has created new opportunities for small businesses, but it can be hard to know where to start."
Launching the initiative on International Small Business Day, Spalding said Google for Small Business is her team's contribution to help SMBs "find the right Google tools and services to reach your business goals."
How Google for Small Business works
When starting a new business, most entrepreneurs focus on practical necessities like finding a space to rent or procuring products to sell; there's a long list of things to do. But one of the things they often neglect, according to Google, is their online presence. Since learning the ins and outs of digital marketing takes time – and often money – officials said Google's latest offering should help bridge the gap.
Once on the site, business owners are asked for basic information about their business, including its name and web address, though neither are required to start. After that, the service asks what the business's primary goal is and where it serves its customers. Based on these responses, the website generates a personalized to-do list to bolster a small business's online presence. You can have the list emailed to you for future use.
Business owners looking for in-person assistance with their online efforts can use Google for Small Business to find free, local Grow with Google workshops.
Google's continued support of small businesses
This launch is the latest in a line of SMB-related moves by the tech giant. Last month, Google released CallJoy, its cloud-based, AI-driven phone system that handles incoming customer calls with a virtual customer service agent. At that time, it was available on an invite-only basis. The service has since begun accepting a broader base of users, even offering a 14-day free trial to anyone who wants to try it out.
Earlier this year, the Mountain View, California-based company rolled out its free Google My Business service. With that tool, small business owners can create an online profile, allowing them to actively contribute to the information shown about their business across Google's products.
Last year, Google launched Smart Campaigns as part of its effort to rebrand its AdWords property. Smart Campaigns uses machine learning to help small businesses optimize their online ad efforts to increase customer interaction.