The Best Google Tools for Small Businesses
BloggingHave you ever tried using tools that promised to help you manage your business but only left you confused and frustrated? Have you been advised by so-called experts to follow a certain marketing strategy that didn’t yield any good results?
The truth is, the business tools and practices that made you want to pull your hair out in frustration may not necessarily be futile – they were just not right for your small business. Take heart – you can now cross these mishaps off your list.
Google gives small-business owners a chance to make a name for themselves by providing a wide array of business and marketing tools. The search engine isn’t just dedicated to bringing internet users to the best sites that match their queries. It also gives small-time companies a leg up so that the right people can find them.
Now, you have the chance to use tools especially designed for your company. Check out this list of the best Google tools for small businesses:
1. Google My Business
Many years ago, Google My Business is short of a dream for small or local company owners. Imagine getting almost uninhibited exposure for your business. Forget about paying hundreds (or thousands) of bucks to TV networks and radio stations to advertise your brand. Google My Business can take you farther – and not for a limited period at that.
Through this tool, you can list your business hours, contact information, location and photos. It also gives customers the chance to rate your business and leave feedback. Whether looking through Search or Maps, customers can easily find your company through Google My Business.
2. Google Analytics
There are many online marketing strategies for small businessowners that you can put into practice. But what good are these strategies if you don’t know how effective they are? You need to find out if what you’re doing actually brings in traffic to your website.
This is the part of online business management that gets technical and complicated. If you’re just starting out, it can easily derail you. Luckily, Google Analytics is designed to simplify this task. Analytics helps owners analyze site traffic through 3 simple steps:
1. Sign up and fill out basic information about the website you want to monitor.
2. Receive a tracking code that will help you monitor when people visit your site.
3. Learn about your site traffic in just a few hours.
3. Google Keyword Planner
Are you looking to hire a content writer VA to give your audience a good read? Are you searching for inspiration to help you spin ideas for your next blog post? The Keyword Planner from Google can help you pull up keywords with matching historical statistics and estimated performance. Now, you don’t have to feel stuck because it can also generate a list of fresh key phrases out of old keywords.
4. Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test Tool
Did you know that 77% of mobile searches are done at work or at home? You’d think that with desktops around, people would opt to search on their computers.
Google understands that mobile is steadily taking over Search. No wonder it designed the Mobile-Friendly Test to help owners see how their websites fare on smartphones and tablets. This user-friendly tool generates a report to point out errors and help owners make their business page fit for mobile search.
5. Google Trends
Are you looking for ideas on relevant issues to post on your blog? Do you want to know what people are talking about in social media and looking for in search engines? Google Trends provides you with concrete data on what’s making noise online. This way, you’re always in the loop even amidst your busy schedule.
How are you going to use this list of Google’s best tools for small businesses to advance your company?
Author Information -
Catherine vanVonno, the author, is the President and Executive Director of 20Four7VA, a global Virtual Assistant (VA) Service Provider. She holds a doctorate degree in Applied Statistics, Research Design and Program Evaluation from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and has over 10 years experience in facilitating evidence-based strategic planning, product development, brand management, legislative communications, and medical policy. She is married and has four children.
