If you’re like most folks, Google is the first place you go to when you browse the Internet. I’ve seen people type a website name directly into Google Search even though they already knew the website’s name.  For them, Google is the Internet.

However, for many small businesses, Google is so much more than that. Below is a list of all the things I use Google for in my business:

• Google Local Business Center. Google will keep a business listing for you just like a phone book entry. Then they link it to Google maps, so local customers can find you quickly and easily.
• Gmail. I don’t actually use my Gmail account to send and receive e-mail. I use it as the world’s best spam filter. I have all my mail accounts forwarded to my Gmail account, then my Gmail account forwared to MS Outlook on my laptop. It’s been over a year since I’ve seen an e-mail offering to enhance my “male parts” or learned that someone in Nigeria just left me a million dollars.
• Google Apps. Did you know Google has a free, online word processor, spreadsheet, image editing program and many others? My favorite is the Calendar. Keep your schedule online, and anyone in your office can instantly see your schedule from any PC.
• Google Analytics. Plug a little piece of code into each of your web pages, and Google will keep track of how many visitors you had, which pages they looked at, and how long they stuck around. What’s more important to me is to keep track of which search terms (keywords) folks use to find me online. I’ve seen businesses charge $100 a month for the same tools you get here for free.
• Google Adwords. If someone in your zip code types “professional photographer” in Google and they live in your zip code, wouldn’t you like to be on the front page? With Adwords, it is easy to do. Although the service is free, Google does charge you every time someone “clicks through” from your ad to your website. You decide how much you’re willing to pay for each click-through, normally about 75 cents each (less than the price of a letter).
• Google Base. Have you ever seen a list of products for sale by Google at the top of a search page? Use Google Base to upload product descriptions and prices.

I have no idea how Google can offer so many services and still be free to use. But as long as they are offering them, I encourage you to take advantage of them.

Any Google products you use in your business? Reply below and share your knowledge.

Matt McGee over at Small Business Search Marketing has a great post on how to implement a new Google gadget on your website. Unlike a simple map, the customer types in their address, and the gadget gives them written directions to your studio.

However, Matt makes a great point about “maps” on your website. A jpeg photo of your street with a little red star does nothing to help promote your business. Instead, make a link to Google maps and/or the Google gadget, then type in directions like this:

JD Photo Imaging is centrally located in Flint, Michigan north of Detroit, Pontiac and Ann Arbor, and south of Saginaw, Bay City and Midland. It is within 3 minutes of the  I-75, US-23 and I-69 interchange. We’re located 3 blocks east of Ballenger Hwy. and half a mile east of the I-75 and Corunna Road interchange on the north side of the road. Our street address is 3018 Corrunna Road, Flint, MI 48503.

The advantage of this is that search engines will more likely find your studio when folks search for your name combined with any local landmarks. For example, after using the text above, I could expect a photographer to find our lab by typing in Google “professional photo lab flint mi.”

It works. Try it.