Google Apps For Business

Are you looking for a cost effective way to digitally manage your business? With Google Apps for Business, you’ll have anytime, anywhere access to web-based tools such as email, calendar, documents and more. A friend of mine recently purchased the system and hit the ground running.

Google Apps for Business has is less than $5 per user a month (or, $50 per user a year):
Mobile access
No hardware or software required
25GB inbox
Customer support

http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/business/smb/

Google URL Shortener

Did you know that Google has a URL shortener? If you have a log post to a social networking website, map link or something of that nature, why not try Google? It works well just like Bit.ly and the other services. Here are some other URL shorteners Leading Hands has blogged about in the past.

http://goo.gl/

Zeitgeist 2011: Year In Review

Welcome 2012, but see how the world searched Google in 2011.

What Are People Searching For?

Get the top 20 most searched terms being searching for on Google. Drill down on a specific search term to discover blog entries, articles and search volume index. At this time, trends go back as far as the week of May 15, 2007.

What are the hottest terms on Google today?
http://www.google.com/trends/hottrends

Google’s Doodles

Do you know what a Google Doodle is? Every time you visit Google’s homepage you are seeing a Doodle. Each day the Google’s logo aka Doodle morphs to celebrate something culturally significant. Clicking on the Google Doodle links to a string of related search results on that topic.

In the past, the 30th anniversary of Pac-man was featured as a fully functional video game which created a buzz. Recently, Lucille Ball’s 100th birthday was celebrated with an old-fashioned TV that displayed a video tribute of I Love Lucy. What excitement will Google bring us next? Stay tuned for more Doodles by making Google your homepage.

http://www.google.com/logos/

Google Family Safety Center

Google recently launched the “Family Safety Center”. This site features tips on how to surf the Internet safely as a family. Google has developed their own set of safety tools like Google Safe Search, Safe Search Lock, Safe Search on Your Phone and YouTube Safety Mode. All these safety features function exactly as they sound, they give you as a parent the ability to limit what can be seen.

Google Family Safety Center:

• Provides parents and teachers with tools to help them choose what content their children see online
• Offers tips and advice to families about how to stay safe online
• Works closely with organizations such as charities, others in our industry and government bodies dedicated to protecting young people

Have you tried Google's hub of online family-centered safety tools? If so, which one do you like the most?

http://www.google.com/familysafety/

Google Instant

You may have noticed Google Instant and not even known it. Google Instant is a game-changer because it helps show the right links more quickly. When you start to type in “keywords” into the Google search box, the terms you are searching for, results instantly begin appear. You can also click on the magnifying glass to get a quick snapshot of the site. Google fills in the blanks. You now don't have to click through a series of links to get a result.

For marketers this has created a dilemma because the search process has been accelerated. This means users will now be typing in less search words to narrow down their search. This also means less paid search real estate which amplifies the significance of being in the top few spots in search results.

http://www.google.com/instant

Google Search Insights Tool

Google has done it again when it comes to free search analytics tools with Insights. You can perform keyword research tool by region, download reports by excel and best yet, it”s free and open. Your business can only grow if people can find you and Google is still the number one search engine, so make yourself found! After you've tried this service, please give us your review of Insights.

http://www.google.com/insights/search/

GoogleBase Boosts SEO?

Looking to boost your Search Engine Optimization (SEO)? Have you tried Googlebase.com? Google setup a system that allows users to upload products into their database. This way when consumers search products through Google your information can be easily found.

http://googlebase.com

Google Blog Search

If you are looking for an easy way to browse the latest news from the Blogosphere, then you should check out Google Blog Search. The sites homepage summarizes the hottest headlines and topics, while giving you the ability to search for specific topics. As always you can just do a simple search from the box at the top of the page, but I think this site gives a good breakdown of information at a single glance.

http://blogsearch.google.com/