Small Business Technology News
Google Helping Small Businesses Gain Visibility
Written by Jenna Weiner
Published: 10/20/2011
Small businesses should have an online presence so consumers can access product and service information. Once a website has been created, it should be filled with keywords so the company has a high ranking on search engine results.
A recent study by Google found 59 percent of small businesses in Michigan do not have a website, compared to 63 percent in the nation that have no online presence according to a similar study by Ipsos.
Craine's Detroit reported that small businesses without a website also miss out on valuable marketing, communications and measurement tools available through applications such as social media accounts, local online listings and profiles on sites such as Google Maps. All of these online benefits help improve visibility of the business to customers that research products and services online.
In response to this disparity, Google is teaming up with Intuit to hold an event in Detroit that will create free websites for participating small business owners, the news source reported. Google employees will offer tips and advice to small business owners looking for strategies to help them get set up online. The company will offer ready-made website templates that can be activated throughout the event.
In addition, Google recently spoke to small businesses in Houston about the importance of search engine optimization for their websites and online accounts. Biz Journals reported that Frederick Vallaeys, a spokesman for Google AdWords, discussed with small business owners the value in optimizing a website so the company will show up higher in search rankings and become more visible to customers. According to Vallaeys, 97 percent of consumers search locally online for products or services.
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