Google Launches Resource To Help Local Businesses Manage The COVID-19 Pandemic

Google Australia has launched Google for Small Business, an online hub that aims to provide support to SMEs facing challenges during the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).

The announcement:

Google Launches New Resource To Help Local Businesses Manage Uncertainties Caused By COVID-19

Google Australia launched the Google Small Business Online Hub (g.co/smallbiz-covid19) to provide useful advice and resources for small and medium-sized businesses as they overcome the challenges caused by the spread of COVID- 19.

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The resources are designed to help businesses communicate effectively with their customers and employees, and to maintain business operations and continuity planning in response to changing external conditions.

It includes advice and step-by-step links so that business owners can adjust their existing arrangements as needed, for example, in response to temporary storefront operations closings or employees moving to work arrangements remotely.

Federal Minister of Employment, Skills, Small and Families, Senator Hon Michaelia Cash, welcomed the launch of the site, encouraging businesses to use online tools to stay connected and operational throughout this period .

As many businesses seek to adapt in these unprecedented and difficult times, staying connected and online is an essential means for many businesses to continue operating, she said. We welcome all efforts to keep small and medium-sized businesses active and Australians in employment.

Google Australias National Director Mel Silva said: Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and local communities. But COVID-19 has created unprecedented challenges for Australian companies and we want to make sure that the best Google business resources are available to help them get through this period.

It builds on actions already taken by Google, including the provision of free video conferencing and productivity tools for customers working remotely and for educational purposes, and the provision of online advice to small businesses and all Australians through its Grow with Google digital skills training program.

A summary of tips and resources is below:

Communicate with your customers

If you’ve moved online, take-out, or deliver business, change your business profile on Google so customers know how to buy from you.

If your business or one of your locations has temporarily closed, mark the location as temporarily closed on Google Maps and search.

Use publications to inform customers of your company profile of what is going on and if there are any changes in your operation, for example, if you are now offering online sales or deliveries or special offers.

If you have a closed storefront but are still taking calls, update your business phone number on your cell phone so that you can answer business calls remotely.

Set up an automatic email response to share your latest updates with customers, for example, if you’re temporarily closed or take orders by phone, online, or delivery.

Communicate with your employees

Put the contact information of your employees, suppliers and customers online in a system like Google Contacts so that they can be accessed from anywhere.

Make a business continuity plan and share it with employees via an email address they can access outside of the office.

If you have several commercial sites, give local officials the power to take the appropriate measures in your business continuity plan based on the epidemic conditions on their site.

Work abroad

Help yourself and your team work effectively at home with these tools and resources from Grow with Google.

Collaborate with colleagues using online tools and platforms, such as using a shared document, a quick conference call, or creating a mailing list or chat room.

Make sure you are able to access important documents from anywhere by uploading them to the Cloud via tools such as Google Drive or by uploading them to your mobile phone or computer for offline access.

If you use Chromebooks, make sure they have the right policies in place for accessing business resources from home and for securing devices and data.

Modify your advertisement (if necessary)

Modify your ads as needed to let customers know if you are open for business and offer useful services, such as expedited shipping.

Suspend campaigns if your product availability is affected by supply chain issues or increased demand.

If your business depends on customers in the countries most affected by the virus, consider prioritizing your advertising budget on other sites.

Source: Google press release