By Maverick 
Table of Contents
The Google Small Business Event in Delhi on October 4th,2019 relieved some pressure — it was a much-needed congregation for small business owners and entrepreneurs who are looking to leverage digital tools to grow their businesses. As part of the India SMB Summit 2024, the event saw several key announcements to boost productivity and engagement with customers. From new features for Google My Business to soon-to-launch apps that cater to small and medium businesses — this event offered plenty of tips on how not only live your best life online (better) but also a treasure trove worth its weight in gold.
📅 Google Event Overview
Taking place on September 4th and set from 10 AM to 5 PM, a plethora of announcements focused on enhancing the tools afforded to business owners. All new topics were on some useful tips and tweaks that will definitely help business persons to interact with the listings ordinarily, improving their marketing game more. Leading industry experts participated in the discussions also, providing insights into how small businesses can efficiently maneuver their way around the more complex digital landscape.
📱 QR Code Feature for Google My Business
Yesterday, one of the most sought-after changes was announced and it is a feature that enables businesses to create a QR that users can use to link them directly back to their Google My Business (GMB) listing. This feature directly takes the customers to a dedicated page where they can see reviews, contact details,, and directions immediately after scanning the QR. The callee (hidden information) would only be available in good detail on profile pages. Some would argue this is long overdue, but it provides an easy way for consumers to interact with businesses. A local restaurant can use this QR code on its menu or near its storefront so diners quickly read what customers are saying and book a table, taking customer engagement to the next level resulting in improved trust as well.
📣 Announcement for Product Sellers
Another big news from the event was updates related to features they would provide soon enough for sellers of the product, more specifically food service. As just a few examples, the team rolled out services to help businesses (e.g., restaurants) prepare for an upcoming system designed to streamline product listings and improve platform-wide visibility on Google. This could potentially make the interview a competitive advantage and help sellers present their products more effectively to buyers. There was widespread agreement among industry professionals to act now and prepare for those tools if their business sees them as useful.
🔗 Social Media Profiles Integration
The plan unveiled a feature that would allow businesses to plug their social media profiles into their GMB listings, and the extended roll-out of it became clear as well. Businesses can connect their other platforms (like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn) to improve the visibility of their online identity for potential customers. The update opens up a channel for users to communicate with brands outside their own GMB profile, encouraging more robust customer relationships. A great example is showcasing new Instagram posts for a fashion retail store, such as “Follow us to see our latest styles and promotions!
📲 New Google App for SMBs
In a move to support small and medium businesses in India, Google announced the launch of an app built specifically for Performance Max ad campaigns. Although that sounds like a good promise, experts have warned campaigns can be complex and see inexperienced users lose out financially. Comprehensive training on these tools is a huge part of why so many businesses fail to get the return they deserve on their advertising investment. This is an area where practical workshops and online tutorials could produce a sizeable impact.
💬 GMB Review Incentives
New payment incentives for customer reviews on GMB were then brought to lift up great engagement rates. Businesses that participate could also earn rewards for getting more positive reviews. This initiative has started to help these businesses showcase their offerings and improve their brand reputation among the market competition. For example, as consumer reliance on online reviews to drive purchasing decisions increases, establishing a positive review culture via these incentives might be beneficial. This is a particularly powerful program for local businesses like clinics and salons who use this to build trust amongst potential clients by showcasing how satisfied their current customers are.
🗣️ Viewer Engagement and Feedback Request
Finally, participants were asked to provide feedback on the new updates and features during the questions portion. Google wanted to hear from the audience about what announcements they got the most out of. This collaborative relationship is useful for understanding user needs but also helps in strengthening the community, making way for to businesses share their experiences with each other. Feedback from this form will be used to guide the future development of GMB and other Google services, so how they evolve continues to meet your needs.