As a recent study highlights, medium, small and micro-enterprises - especially those led by women, young people, ethnic minorities, and migrants - were significantly impacted by COVID-19 with 70-80% facing major financial difficulties.ĭuring this week, Google volunteers and product experts will share their skills and best practices through workshops, design sprints and 1:1 mentorship, to help educate select nonprofits that provide mentorship to underserved SMB owners. Today, we are delighted to kick off our first-ever ‘ Skills Week’ to help support select nonprofits mentoring thousands of underserved small business owners in Europe through scaled tech solutions. Research has found that 22% of small business owners feel they lack the skills and knowledge to increase their use of digital tools. To make the most of the digital opportunities available to them, business owners need the right skills. We know that providing the right tools is only helpful if businesses are able to use them.
To keep things simple, “Google My Business” is being renamed “Google Business Profile.” Ensuring that SMBs have the skills to get ahead Moving forward, we recommend small businesses manage their profiles directly on Search or Maps. Having more complete information online can have a huge impact for businesses: in Germany, for example, complete Business Profiles receive an average of over five times more calls compared to an incomplete profile. Businesses in Europe can now easily claim and verify their Business Profile directly on Google Search or the Google Maps app, and respond to messages directly from Search. We're also making it even easier for small businesses to manage their presence and connect with customers online. The example of das schöne leben and countless others show that online ads help businesses of all sizes find audiences they otherwise may lack access to, help them enter new markets and help build brand awareness.Īt Google, we continue to innovate and invest in making all our products and tools more helpful - launching more than 200 features since March 2020 to help businesses connect with their customers in this shifting landscape. Das schöne leben now has customers of all ages throughout Germany and has tripled their direct online orders with their first in-house search campaign. When the pandemic hit, the founders of the store started advertising online alongside their in-store sales, and set up a Business Profile on Google Search and Maps to help existing and potential customers find them. Opened in 2016, the store specializes in exceptional food and designer products for everyday living. One example of this is the German company, das schöne leben. Research has found that small businesses in Europe with a sophisticated use of digital tools were able to build a ‘digital safety net’ during the pandemic, resulting in 80% better sales and 60% better revenue. The past year and a half has underlined the importance of technology in all parts of life - and small businesses are no exception. Providing helpful tools to connect with customers Supporting small businesses is a group effort, though - and the right skills and tools need to be underpinned by the right policies. That’s why we rapidly adapted products to improve support and provided training to help them make the most of digital technology. Small businesses are the key to recovery from the pandemic, and our digital tools have helped them sustain their business through lockdowns and enable new jobs, growth and exports. Shoppers really care about supporting their local communities, with 56% of holiday shoppers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa saying they will intentionally shop more at local small businesses this festive season. This time of year is especially critical for small businesses.
Today marks the beginning of the European SME week, a time to recognize the contribution that millions of small and medium-sized businesses make to Europe’s economy, as well as an opportunity to explore how they can be supported to continue to grow and thrive.
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