March 25, 2015—Google will announce on Wednesday a new program designed to help small businesses get found online, according to a report from USA Today.
Called “Let’s Put Our Cities on the Map,” the report said Google has generated customized free websites for nearly every town and city in the U.S. specifically to help local small businesses improve the information that shows up on Google search and Google maps.
"Small businesses have said that getting online is hard," said Soo Young Kim, head of marketing for Google's Get Your Business Online Program, to USA Today. “We’re using sophisticated technology on the back end to make it simple for small businesses to get online and create their listing.”
USA Today reported that Google began conducting small business workshops in 2011 in a number of cities, and the program grew out of those workshops.
Google is also working with local partners, such as Small Business Development Centers and Chambers of Commerce, to hold training programs to assist small businesses in person.
According to USA today, the customized websites allow small business to:
- Learn how to put more information about their business into Google
- Get their company verified for Google searches
- Add information such as location, hours of operation, etc.
- Add photos to enhance the listing
- Get a diagnostic tool to see how they can improve their listing and visibility
- Get a one-year free website and domain name
- Learn about local training workshops and other resources
