We recently wrote an article about Google Ad Services, designed to help hoteliers grow their business. While all these amazing services are obviously a good thing, do you ever feel snowed under by the sheer amount of products out there? Do you feel like it’s hard to stay in touch with the more technical aspects of the business? If so, this blog is for you.
How Can Google Help?
What’s good to know about Google, is that they do more than just produce clever technical solutions and expect everyone to play catch up. They are actively running a number of global initiatives designed to help business owners discover the tools, products and training they need to move their business forward. The one that we’ll be concentrating on today, is aptly named ‘Grow Stronger With Google’. Launched over four years ago, the aim is to help people use technology in a way that brings them more opportunity and helps them expand their skill set. ’That’s all very noble’, I hear you say, ’but how exactly does that help me?’
Well, whether you’re a small business owner or a brand-new start-up, you need to develop an online strategy that will attract new customers, help you get your ideas off the ground and bring you much-needed exposure. That’s why we’ve put together a list of Google’s free e-courses, designed to get you tech-savvy and ahead of the game in no time.
Google’s Digital Marketing E-Courses
- Decide whether a website is the best fit for your business and the different ways you can be found online with this 40-minute course: Build Your Web Presence. You’ll learn how a website works, and how it can show off your business to its best advantage. If you choose to build an online presence with a website, you can use Sirvoy’s free webpage builder (included with Pro) to produce your very own website in just minutes!
- Gain valuable insight into your website’s performance by understanding how visitors are using it. The business strategy Analytics Academy will teach you about Google’s measurement tools so that you can make better marketing decisions.
- With a better understanding of how your guests are using your website, it’s time to think about your marketing content. Build a great strategy, learn how to write for an online audience and how to measure your success in this 35-minute Content Marketing course.
- Promote your business with newsletters and special offers using email. This 30-minute Connect Through Email course will take you through the basics, from building a contact list to designing eye-catching emails that stand out from the crowd.
Become a Marketing Guru
These are quick and easy, under-an-hour courses you can manage whenever you have spare time, but for a more comprehensive understanding of how digital marketing works, it’s worth checking out Google’s Fundamentals of Digital Marketing. Being 40 hours long, it’s not for the faint-hearted, but you’re guaranteed to come away with some great new skills under your belt. It’s IAB accredited, meaning it’s the gold standard of courses, comes with a recognized certification, and is completely free! You’ll explore subjects such as: Google Analytics & Statistics, business strategy, content marketing, email marketing, SEO, social media and much more. It’s designed for complete beginners, and being an e-course, you can do it at your own pace and in your own time.
Tailored Consultancy
If all this sounds slightly overwhelming and you would prefer a bit more hand-holding, Google’s partner Online Advisors might be just the thing for you. For a nominal sum, and over a number of online training sessions, an advisor will get to know your business, help you develop a strategy designed especially for your business and explain how you can better cater to the needs of your guests. Read about the challenges that the Aqua Mare Hotel faced and how they enjoyed a substantial revenue boost from incorporating these changes into their business strategy. Right now, this service is only available in the US, but plans are in the works to expand it to other countries soon.
