Great Google Tools to build your business

Most people know and use Google search to find things around the web – it is the most popular search engine currently on the planet. But what you may not know is Google has a stack of great tools and add-ons that will help your business grow (and the best bit – these ones are free).

Google Alerts

Every person and business needs to set up at least one Google alert. A Google alert are email updates sent direct to your in box when mention is made anywhere on the web of your search terms. I have Google alerts set up for my name, my company name, by products as well as keywords I am interested in following. 

http://www.google.com.au/alerts?hl=en

Google Desktop

Ever lost a file somewhere on your computer. With Google desktop you can search your computer with the same ease as if you were looking for something on the net. Download a simple file and you will never lose a file again. You can also add a sidebar with news and all sorts of other goodies.

http://desktop.google.com

Google Maps

Want to find a business or a street anywhere in the world? Looking for driving directions? Then go to Google Maps.

The thing that is great about Google Maps is you can add in details of your business to make it easier for people to find you (and of course create an additional link back to your website). When people put in a search term with a suburb or location, then Google Maps now appear at the top of the search listings so it pays to make sure you have a full and complete listing in Google maps.

http://maps.google.com.au/

Google Docs

This is one of my favourite Google tools. If you want a few people to be able to discuss a document at the same time, or to be able to edit a document, then Google Docs are the way to have that happen. You can use it for people to update their work status, share information, write what shifts they can complete or just have input into a draft. You control who gets access to the information and whether or not they can edit the document.

http://docs.google.com

Google Notebook

If you are mobile and work across a few computers you know the frustration of doing some research on a topic, only to leave your notes behind on the wrong computer. Google notebook is where you can keep all of your notes and access them no matter where you are in the world. Beats USBs!

http://www.google.com.au/notebook

Google Calendar

If you have a few people and want to share diaries but don’t have an exchange server in your workplace then use Google Calendar (and yes you can import your Outlook diary into Google Calendar). You determine who can view your information.

 www.google.com/calendar

Blogger

Want a blog but don’t know how. Blogger is now owned by Google and provides free blogging. You can host on their website or publish it to your own website via ftp (which is what I do).

https://www.blogger.com

Gmail

A powerful free email program (and you can even get Gmail on your mobile)

http://mail.google.com/

Google trends

If you want to know what terms people are looking for around the world – this is one of the places to look. It will tell you which countries and cities in the world are looking for that term and language used. You will also see the search popularity over time.

 http://www.google.com/trends

Google suggest

Another keyword tool – it gives you suggestions on good keywords in real time

http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=1&hl=en

Google analytics

An essential web tool if you have a website. Put in a snip of code on each of your webpages and track exactly who is visiting your website, how long they stay, what search terms they entered into a search bar to find you, most popular pages and all sorts of other useful business reports.

http://www.google.com/analytics/

Website Optimiser

If you want to test if one page or another is more effective in converting sales, then Website Optimizer will help you make a decision using hard data.

http://services.google.com/websiteoptimizer/

Google constantly updates and adds in new ideas, so it pays to check back regularly and work out what other free tools they have created to work with your business.

Ingrid Cliff is a Brisbane Freelance Copywriter with her company Heart Harmony www.heartharmony.com.au.