Google has launched a new website, Google for Small businesses. This website is dedicated to help small businesses grow and help increase their reach.
Small businesses are the lifeblood of the African economy. In Nigeria and Kenya, SMEs contribute to 84% of all local jobs and In South, Africa SMEs contribute to 52% of the country’s GDP. SMBs in Africa has been hard hit by the pandemic with 56% of workers in urban jobs in Nigeria stopping work.
Launching Google for Small Business
Google has launched a new website, Google for Small Businesses, dedicated to help small African businesses take and grow their businesses online and continue to reach customers during the Covid-19 pandemic. The free website will guide businesses along every step of their journey from setting up a Business Profile on Google, to creating a free website, along with tips and advice on how to reach and grow their customer base. The platform will also allow business owners to tailor their approach, in their own time, to operating online based on their own specific needs.
Last year Google announced a set of programs to assist 500,000 African small businesses to recover from the financial effects of Covid-19. This Google for Small business website complements existing Google tools such as Market Finder for SMEs aiming to export to new markets and Marketing Kit for assistance with developing marketing materials.
Businesses can also reach out to Africa118 to get verified on Google my Business.
SMB digital skills webinars
Helping more people understand how to utilise the Web to improve themselves and grow their businesses is something Google has been particularly passionate about. Their digital skills programmes have reached over 5 million people across Africa, many of whom are business owners. As part of this programme, this month they will be hosting 3 one-hour-long retail SMB-focused webinars on YouTube, covering topics like Analytics, Digital Marketing, and Ads with Google.
Featuring African small business
Google’s efforts to promote small businesses in Africa include creating forums for information sharing and cross-policing of ideas. They will be sharing the stories of small businesses that use digital technologies from Google and others to expand their online presence, reach new consumers, and make a difference in their local communities. The series, known as #ShopSmallFridays will premiere on the Google Africa Twitter account and will feature inspiring stories of small businesses, with a focus on African triumphs.
