You are probably familiar with a few of Google’s business tools, like Analytics, AdWords, and Docs. If you write a blog, you probably turn to Google Images for great photos to add to your blog posts, and chances are you also use Google Reader to organize the various blogs and news sites you like to read.
Go beyond these tools to include the 6 super useful – and also free – tools that are listed below.
1. Increase traffic to your site with WebMaster Central
WebMaster Central gives you an in-depth look at your website via Google’s eyes and your audience’s clicks. You’ll be able to see how Google crawls, indexes and ranks your site, and you’ll get important information on how many people found your site in search results and clicked on it. If people link their site to yours, you’ll be able to see that, too.
2. Connect your business with local customers using Google Places
When you set up an account on Google Places for your business, you’ll be able to add photos, videos, and special promotions to engage with new and repeat customers and convince them to choose you. You can also respond to reviews your customers have written and learn more about the keywords they use when they conduct a search, as well as where on the Internet they’re coming from.
3. Increase product visibility with Google Merchant Center
To help your products get found more easily, you can upload product data to Google and make it available to Google Product Search. Product information can be used in AdWords campaigns, and you can use Google Commerce Search to drive traffic to, and improve the shopping experience on, your online store.
4. Increase online sales with Google Checkout
Google Checkout provides a fast, secure checkout process to help you increase sales and reduce cart abandonment rates. According to Google, Checkout users convert 40 percent more shoppers, and their Payment Guarantee protects 98 percent of Checkout orders.
5. Convert more visitors with Google Website Optimizer
Make sure your website is optimized for content and design using Google’s Website Optimizer, which will test your site for keywords, easy of navigation, load time, and more. Their analysis will allow you to tweak your content so you can improve your search ranking and conversion rates.
6. Collaborate with team members using Google Cloud Connect
Making collaborating on and editing Microsoft Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and Excel worksheets much easier using Google Cloud Connect for Microsoft. Cloud Connect allows simultaneous editing, revision history, and synchronization of offline editing.
Did I miss any Google tools you like to use for your business? If so, share them in the comments section below!
Image by Flickr user Creativity 103 (Creative Commons)
Google+Web.com is now offering forums designed to support small businesses in cities throughout the US. Learn more about these forums here: http://Businessforum.web.com/
Tags: Google, Google busines products, Google Checkout, Google Cloud Connect, Google Merchant Center, Google Places, Google WebMaster Central, Google Website Optimizer, small business resources
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