Want to help your business by learning website creation, online marketing, social media, e-commerce and more? Then Google wants you to stop by its Digital Garage.
As explained over at the official Google Australia Blog, the Digital Garage is ‘a free training platform from Google to help anyone increase their knowledge of all things digital, from website creation and online marketing, to social media, e-commerce and beyond.’
Whether you're looking to grow your business or career, Google says its ‘Digital Garage has everything you need to know, delivered in bite-sized videos you can access anywhere.’
At the blog post announcing the new initiative, John Ball, the ‘Head of Google Marketing Solutions Australia’ asks if we know that ‘digitally engaged small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) are 1.5 times more likely to be growing revenue, 7 times more likely to be exporting, 8 times more likely to be creating jobs and 14 times more likely to be innovating, than those businesses with low levels of digital engagement?’
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With those kinds of figures, Ball unsurprisingly states that ‘this is a huge opportunity for SMBs across Australia.’
Ball points to new research from Deloitte which ‘suggests Australian SMBs have much to gain from boosting their digital skills but with the daily demands of managing a business and technology changing so rapidly, more than 90% of SMBs are not taking full advantage of today’s digital tools.’
In addition, we’re told that the research ‘identified inadequate digital skills as a barrier to making the most of the web.’
Given that Google says it believes ‘everyone should have access to the digital skills they need for their business to thrive,’ Ball explains this is ‘why we’re launching The Digital Garage: a free, online training platform to help SMBs learn the digital skills they need to make the most of the web.’
Whether it’s a business that sells trampolines, greeting cards, guitars, or diving tours, Ball rounds things out by stating that ‘the Digital Garage can help SMBs to build the digital skills they need to achieve their business goals.’
So, what is in The Digital Garage?
We’re told there are ’90 training modules covering everything from search engine optimisation to social media to video and mobile marketing, to help SMBs find and engage with new customers from their suburb, around Australia or even overseas.’
With small businesses making ‘a major contribution to Australia, both through economic activity and employment,’ Ball says ‘thriving SMBs mean stronger economic growth and a boost for local communities.’
Every day Australian businesses are embracing the digital opportunity, says Ball, who hopes ‘The Digital Garage will help them to harness these digital tools to grow and thrive online.’
Here’s Google’s promotional video. You can see Google’s infographic below the video.
