For those of you who didn’t see on Twitter (follow us here to keep up-to-date), we attended Google’s Digital Garage event last week. The event was hosted by the Maidenhead Chamber of Commerce and we were invited as a partner of both Google and the Chamber. It was a thoroughly useful session lead by Gori , Head of Training for the Digital Garage, so we wanted to share some of the knowledge and tools covered.

As well as useful tools and tips (we’ll get onto those later), Gori shared some interesting figures that were really eye opening for the small business owners in the room. For example, when it comes to buying online, the UK is the global #1, with 77% of people buying online at least once a month. Also, small businesses with a strong web presence are 50% more likely to sell outside their immediate region.

So, it’s clear that having a web presence is a necessity for local businesses wanting to achieve strong growth, but how do you create an excellent web presence?

Gori made it clear that having a mobile friendly site is a key factor. Not only is it necessary for functional usability for consumers, but it’s now included in Google’s algorithm so it will help to boost your SEO. Try Google’s free tool to see if your site is mobile friendly, and if not, what can be done to improve it: g.co/mobilefriendly

In addition to being mobile friendly, websites must be simple to use. The Google Analytics in Real Life video below highlights the frustrating problems that arise on some e-commerce websites and how ridiculous these would be in a real life situation.

Another great tool to help your site be as visible as possible is Google My Business. This has taken over from Google places and provides a great way of correlating key information about your business; such as address, opening times, and contact details; right on the search engine results page. Visit google.com/business to claim your free business listing and complete your profile.

Google’s paid advertising system, AdWords, is another excellent way to boost your visibility. Unlike some, AdWords is pay-per-click so you only pay for people who click through onto your website or bespoke landing page, rather than those who simply scroll past. Get in touch with our SEO experts to find out how AdWords could boost your success. Whether that’s sales, downloads, or registrations, AdWords can be tailored to your businesses aim.Other great tools to check out:

• Google Analytics

• Google Search Console

• Google Trends

Interested in joining Google’s Digital Garage? You can sign-up here: g.co/thedigitalgarage If you have any questions about what this means for you and your business, need a hand creating a mobile friendly website , or want some SEO advice, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team on 01189 100 012 or email info@digity.co.uk .