Technology & IT | Tuesday 9 June, 2015 2:30 pm |

Google announced the launch of the Google Partners Program, designed to support web professionals and agencies that help businesses succeed online. The program is part of the company’s global effort to build an ecosystem to help small-to-medium businesses maximize their potential from the internet. Many small businesses in Saudi Arabia rely on web professionals and agencies to manage their online presence and their online marketing. Google is invested in helping agencies and web professionals receive the training and access to resources necessary to help their clients succeed on the web.

Shant Oknayan, Head of Marketing for small and medium-sized businesses at Google in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), said, "With the launch of the Google Partners Program, we are rolling out a more comprehensive plan which will help our agencies scale their efforts and offer SMBs the most advanced and latest technologies. We are making it easier for agencies to access Google resources, training, and support all in one place."

Research globally shows that small businesses with high digital engagement are two times more likely to be growing revenue and earn two times more revenue per employee. These SMBs will not only have better business outcomes but can be economic powerhouses that will create new jobs for the country. However, past research shows that only 15% of Saudi SMBs have online presence and that more than two-thirds of small businesses in Saudi Arabia have not considered having a have website, which means that they are missing out on substantial economic benefits.

Shant added: “The reason why we are active now is because internet usage is booming in Saudi Arabia, especially on mobile (Saudi has one of the highest smartphone penetration in the world; more than 90% of smartphone users are online daily with their device) but businesses are not taking advantage of that growth in the region. Most Saudi businesses are missing a great economic opportunity by not embracing the web and reaching out to customers online. Online marketing can provide small businesses with the same advantages that large companies have long had. However, businesses find themselves not having the time, experience or expertise to set up and manage their online marketing activities themselves.

He further explains: The Google Partners Program enables businesses that are looking to start a Google Adwords marketing campaign to find local trustworthy agencies certified by Google. The program provides training for these agencies that includes digital marketing modules such as sales, search engine marketing, mobile and video advertising, and analytics. Partners can have an easy path to certification via free Google exams, more access to Google experts and agency peers through the Partners community, and sales and marketing toolkits.

“Most importantly, by helping marketing agencies and professionals provide more advanced online services to SMBs, Google aims to support the empowerment of SMBs in Saudi Arabia in line with the Kingdom’s vision for a more sustainable and diversified economy”.