14 Fabulous Free Google Tools for your Business

I ADMIT IT - I LOVE GOOGLE. 

Several years ago when I started using Google, I thought it was a great search engine, but little did I know they offered so many other excellent free tools - tools that you can use for your business to save you lots of time and money! 

First you will need to sign up for a free Google account, if you don’t have one already. Simply go to:
 
https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount

Once you’ve signed up, log in.
Click on ‘My Account’ Tab.
Under the heading ‘Try Something New’, you will see a link ‘More’
Click on ‘More’ and you are ready to start adding new tools to your account

1. Gmail
 
Gmail is a new kind of webmail, built on the idea that email can be more intuitive, efficient, and useful. And maybe even fun. Gmail has less spam, mobile access and gives you lots of space, so you never have to delete any of your messages.  You can access it anywhere in the world, so it’s particularly great if you are travelling.
 
http://mail.google.com/

2. Google Notebook

With Google Notebook, you can browse, clip, and organize information from across the web in a single online location that's accessible from any computer. Planning a trip? Researching a product? Just add clippings to your notebook. You won't ever have to leave your browser window.  For more information go to:
 
www.google.com/notebook

3. Google Analytics
 
If you have a website, Google Analytics can track all of your traffic, referrals, ads, search engines, email promotions and even offline initiatives.  Once you paste the Google Analytics tracking code into each of your website pages, the tracking begins immediately.  Find out more at:
 
www.google.com/analytics/

4. Google Maps
 
Google Maps are dynamic, interactive maps that you can drag (no clicking and waiting each time you want to view the adjacent parts of a map). Type in the name of a region or neighborhood and see any part of it as easily as with a regular street map.

Depending on your location, you can use Google Maps to search for businesses within an area or neighborhood. You can also create personalized, annotated, customized maps, complete with placemarks, lines or shapes. Add additional content including rich text, photos, videos and then share your map with others or open it in Google Earth.
 
http://maps.google.com/maps

5.  Google Alerts

Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic.

Some handy uses of Google Alerts include:
- monitoring a developing news story
- keeping current on a competitor or industry
- getting the latest on a celebrity or event
- keeping tabs on your favorite sports teams
 
http://www.google.com/alerts

6. Google Book Search

Search the full text of books to find ones that interest you and learn where to buy or borrow them.
 
http://books.google.com/

7. Google Automatic Translation

Need your website translated to other languages or do you need a phrase translated to English, then check out this state-of-the-art technology.
 
http://translate.google.com/translate_t

8. Google Gadets

Gadgets powered by Google are miniature objects that offer cool and dynamic content that can be placed on any page on the web.   Gadgets might come in handy when you're at work (to-do list, currency converter, calendar), at school (calculator, Wikipedia, translation tool), or just passing time (news, blogs, games). You can add gadgets you like to iGoogle and, if you have Google Desktop installed, you can also add gadgets to your computer's desktop.
http://www.google.com/webmasters/gadgets/

8. Blogging Software

A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web.  Blogs are typically updated daily or weekly.  Blogs provide a way for you to communicate with your customers, give you an increased presence on major search engines and are free to use.  Google’s own blogging software is free and extremely easy to use:

www.blogger.com

9. Google Calendar

Organize your schedule and share events with colleagues, family and friends 
http://calendar.google.com

10. Google Docs & Spreadsheets

If you've ever struggled to keep track of different versions of spreadsheet or word processor files sent by email, Google Docs & Spreadsheets may be right for you. Google Docs & Spreadsheets is a free web-based word processing and spreadsheet program that keeps documents current and lets the people you choose update files from their own computers.
http://docs.google.com

11. Picasa Web Photo Album

Find, edit and share your photos – create your family’s photo albums and share them with family and friends overseas, but also utilise this tool for your business. You can showcase your recently completed projects,  photos from a trade show or a conference, new products and so much more!
http://picasa.google.com

12. Google Adwords

Google AdWords is a quick and simple way to advertise on Google, regardless of your budget. AdWords ads are displayed along with search results on Google, as well as on search and content sites in the growing Google Network, including AOL, EarthLink, HowStuffWorks, & Blogger. With searches on Google and page views on the Google Network each day, your Google AdWords ads reach a vast audience.  When you create an AdWords keyword-targeted ad, you choose keywords for which your ad will appear and specify the maximum amount you're willing to pay for each click. You only pay when someone clicks on your ad.
http://adwords.google.com

13. Google AdSense

Earn money from relevant ads on your website.  Google AdSense matches ads to your site's content, and you earn money whenever your visitors click on them. The program is free, and combines pay-per-click and pay-per-impression advertising - meaning you get paid for valid clicks on the ads on your site or search results pages as well as impressions on your content pages
http://www.google.com/adsense

14. Google Checkout

Google Checkout is a faster, more secure way to buy from stores across the web using a single username and password.
You can also process transactions for free when you advertise with Google. Google Checkout is a fast, convenient checkout process that brings you more customers and allows them to buy from you with a single login -- and you can process their orders and charge their credit or debit cards for free.
http://checkout.google.com/buyer/tour.html
http://checkout.google.com/seller/
There are many more fun and very useful products, which belong to the Google family … so sign up, login and explore!

Ivana Katz makes it easy for you to get your business online very quickly. If you're looking for a professional and affordable website designer, visit www.web4business.com.au and download a free website plan.

You may republish this article for free as long as the
author information and website links are included.