Google offers online advertising to SMEs
11/04/2009 | 09:14 AM
A home-based chiropractor in Singapore used to advertise his services through flyers which he dropped in mail boxes of prospective customers. Today, he uses Google Adwords, where he mentions his name, his profession and contact number. He gets inquiries from customers, which are followed up and eventually become good leads.
According to Derek Callow, Google Inc.’s regional marketing manager for Southeast Asia, this is one of the Singapore home-based businesses that tried online advertising for the first time, and in just two months, felt its positive impact. “We want to get more Filipino businesses online, especially micro, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to promote their products and services," Callow said. “They (businesses) may be afraid of the cost and the technology at first. But Google and its partners will help them create their websites and drive their customers to their websites."
Launched yesterday, Google’s Business Stimulus Package enables Filipino MSMEs to harness the power of the Internet in finding new customers for their products and services, especially during tough times. It was introduced earlier in Singapore and Thailand. “Recent studies in Southeast Asian countries reveal that most people today research online, but buy offline," Callow said. “This also shows that there are opportunities for businesses that go online."
In the Philippines, there are about 800,000 MSMEs. Also, 25 million Filipinos and over 1 billion people around the world use the Internet and search engines like Google to look for information on products and services.
Google’s Business Stimulus Package is being introduced in the Philippines in partnership with the Commission on Information and Communications Technology, Go Negosyo and STI Colleges. The Philippine Marketing Association and the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions also support the package by promoting it to their members.
“Through a cost-effective online advertising, Filipino MSMEs can reach a wider market and increase sales," said Callow. “The package is particularly useful to businesses engaged in retail, restaurants, boutiques, and service-based businesses like health care, home cleaning, plumbing and transport." He added that a business with an online presence will reach potential customers 24 hours, 7 days a week and grow the business cost-effectively through a user-friendly website and an online marketing campaign. Also, businesses only pay when a potential sales lead clicks on their online ad.
Google Adwords is an affordable and measurable online advertising platform that targets ads against users’ search queries on Google search. Ad copy on Adwords are brief, four-line ads that show up as “Sponsored Links" at the top or right side of the page during a Google search. On partner sites, the ads are marked as “Ads by Google."
Though online advertising is increasingly becoming popular, still some Filipinos have misconceptions about it. “But with Google’s Business Stimulus Package, we will tell them that adopting new technologies can help promote their businesses," said Monico Jacob, STI president and CEO. “We will build websites for them and teach them how to maintain it. We will also train them on conducting an effective online advertising campaign."
Joey Concepcion, founding trustee of Go Negosyo and Presidential Consultant on Entrepreneurship, said through the package, Filipino entrepreneurs will have a new targeted channel to promote and grow their businesses without having to invest millions in marketing. “This will enable Pinoy businesses to sell their Philippine-made goods and services to the whole country and beyond." - GMANews.TV
According to Derek Callow, Google Inc.’s regional marketing manager for Southeast Asia, this is one of the Singapore home-based businesses that tried online advertising for the first time, and in just two months, felt its positive impact. “We want to get more Filipino businesses online, especially micro, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to promote their products and services," Callow said. “They (businesses) may be afraid of the cost and the technology at first. But Google and its partners will help them create their websites and drive their customers to their websites."
Launched yesterday, Google’s Business Stimulus Package enables Filipino MSMEs to harness the power of the Internet in finding new customers for their products and services, especially during tough times. It was introduced earlier in Singapore and Thailand. “Recent studies in Southeast Asian countries reveal that most people today research online, but buy offline," Callow said. “This also shows that there are opportunities for businesses that go online."
In the Philippines, there are about 800,000 MSMEs. Also, 25 million Filipinos and over 1 billion people around the world use the Internet and search engines like Google to look for information on products and services.
Google’s Business Stimulus Package is being introduced in the Philippines in partnership with the Commission on Information and Communications Technology, Go Negosyo and STI Colleges. The Philippine Marketing Association and the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions also support the package by promoting it to their members.
“Through a cost-effective online advertising, Filipino MSMEs can reach a wider market and increase sales," said Callow. “The package is particularly useful to businesses engaged in retail, restaurants, boutiques, and service-based businesses like health care, home cleaning, plumbing and transport." He added that a business with an online presence will reach potential customers 24 hours, 7 days a week and grow the business cost-effectively through a user-friendly website and an online marketing campaign. Also, businesses only pay when a potential sales lead clicks on their online ad.
Google Adwords is an affordable and measurable online advertising platform that targets ads against users’ search queries on Google search. Ad copy on Adwords are brief, four-line ads that show up as “Sponsored Links" at the top or right side of the page during a Google search. On partner sites, the ads are marked as “Ads by Google."
Though online advertising is increasingly becoming popular, still some Filipinos have misconceptions about it. “But with Google’s Business Stimulus Package, we will tell them that adopting new technologies can help promote their businesses," said Monico Jacob, STI president and CEO. “We will build websites for them and teach them how to maintain it. We will also train them on conducting an effective online advertising campaign."
Joey Concepcion, founding trustee of Go Negosyo and Presidential Consultant on Entrepreneurship, said through the package, Filipino entrepreneurs will have a new targeted channel to promote and grow their businesses without having to invest millions in marketing. “This will enable Pinoy businesses to sell their Philippine-made goods and services to the whole country and beyond." - GMANews.TV
