Google has a huge library of free tools which can be used by owners of small-to-medium sized enterprises for a wide range of different things, from marketing to online productivity. As private individuals we use Google’s products each day and it’s hard to imagine what the internet would be like without this giant company.
From Gmail to Google Drive and everything in between, it touches on many parts of our lives. Have you ever considered using Google for business, however? If not, don’t sweat. Many people are surprisingly unaware just how many Google-made solutions exist for businesses, and the best thing is that most of them are free.
Here are our top ten free Google tools for your small-to-medium sized business.
1. Google My Business
Each day there are billions of Google searches performed all around the world. To put it simply, if people cannot discover your business via Google then you are going to lose out on a lot of customers.
Google makes it simple for businesses to list themselves on the search engine, maps and other products with Google My Business – a free tool which enables you to list your local business.
2. Google Drive
Google’s cloud-based storage solution offers a decent amount of free storage (up to 10 GB) and a lot of flexibility. You can create files and collaborate on spreadsheets amongst other things all from within Google Drive, and there are a ton of third-party apps which can expand its functionality.
3. Google Cloud Print
Connect your printers to the web using Google Cloud Print. When you do this, you can print documents from anywhere in the world where you have an internet connection. It can be accessed through your phone, tablet or computer at any time.
4. Google Analytics
This clever tool allows webmasters to measure their customers’ behaviour by tracking sales and conversions across videos, smartphones, ads and tables. Using Google Analytics, you can get an insight into which parts of your website are doing well and which parts require a bit of tweaking, among many other things.
5. Google Webmaster Tools
Google Webmaster Tools provides in-depth reports about individual pages on your website, their visibility on Google and any problems which have bene identified in relation to SEO concerns. Webmaster Tools can also be used to find out which search terms are driving site traffic and who is linking to you. It is a powerful tool which no business should be without.
6. Google Alerts
You should always be up-to-date with the latest trends and developments within your industry, and this is where Google alerts comes in. This tool fires over an email to you each time there is any new developments in relation to a pre-defined topic. Using this, you can track your competitors and stay on top of the latest industry trends. It’s as simple as adding a search phrase and waiting for an alert.
7. Keyword Planner
If you are working on your marketing strategy, trying to improve your SEO or are planning a PPC campaign, you should use Google’s Keyword Planner. Using this tool, you can get an estimate in relation to search traffic for given search terms, the budget you will need to run a successful marketing campaign and which keywords or phrases are currently trending.
8. Google Merchant
If you sell a physical product, Google Merchant lets you manage your inventory with Google so that your items can appear within Google’s real estate. Using Google Merchant alongside Google AdWords lets your products appear on Google as advertisements which can increase exposure and sales.
9. Custom Search Engine
AdSense for Search is a free tool which lets you place your very own search engine on your website. With this tool you can dictate the content which users search for, customise its look and even monetize the search results pages by utilising ad targeting.
10. Places for Business
Places for Business is made up of a series of tools which helps your business get established online and ensures that you are found on Google Maps, Google+ and through Google searches. Using Places for Business, you can ensure that when a customer searches for you, they are presented with all the right information.
