How 4 small businesses are using Google tools to succeed

May 02, 2024

[[read-time]] min read

Amanda Brophy

Director, Grow pinch Google

In 2023, businesses utilizing Google products and services drove $739 cardinal successful economical activity successful nan U.S. Creators grew and monetized their followings connected YouTube; developers worked much efficiently acknowledgment to our AI-powered coding tools; and mom-and-pop shops crafted menus and trading materials pinch Gemini.

Our precocious released Economic Impact Report spotlights entrepreneurs utilizing Google to win successful each 50 U.S. states (as good arsenic Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.). To observe National Small Business Week, we’re sharing 4 of their stories below.

Elk City Auto Spa – Charleston, West Virginia

C. Anthony Parker knows cars. He started his first dealership astatine property 19 and sold vehicles for astir 2 decades earlier expanding into assemblage and mechanical work, yet focusing connected detailing. In 2019, he founded Elk City Auto Spa to support nan cars successful his hometown of Charleston looking crisp — today, he and his 7 labor service 1,500 customers a year.

“We walk astir 9 hours transforming a filthy conveyance into a showroom-quality conveyance wrong and out,” he says.

More than 80% of customers find Elk City Auto Spa done their Google Business Profile, wherever nan squad showcases their skills, photos of their activity and their clients’ experiences — and gross is up 300% since they launched connected nan platform. When imaginable customers spot complete 300 five-star reviews, they “know that they’ve recovered nan best,” C. Anthony says.

Elk City Auto Spa besides uses Google Workspace devices for illustration Slides and Sheets for business presentations and customer invoices. Now, arsenic they hole to adhd a walking detailing work and prosecute much technicians, they’re looking into Google's AI devices to process customer inquiries moreover faster. “Charleston is simply a mini metropolis pinch a large heart,” C. Anthony says. “Being a cornerstone business that group present tin count connected intends everything.”

Traditionally Modern Food – Bothell, Washington

Vidya Srinivasan near a firm IT occupation successful 2014 to move her passion for Indian cooking into nan blog Traditionally Modern Food. “Some of nan recipes I stock connected nan blog person been successful nan family for generations,” Vidya says.

To support her contented free, Vidya uses Google AdSense and Ad Manager to gain income from nan blog and her YouTube channel, which has 42,000 subscribers. Interest search pinch Google Analytics has helped her turn her blog postulation by up to 15% each year. “I tin spot which posts get nan astir engagement, which helps maine understand nan recipes group are looking for," she says.

Vidya deepens those caller relationships pinch an email newsletter and individual emails, written pinch thief from Gmail features for illustration Smart Compose and Smart Reply. She’s now considering utilizing Gemini to fine-tune her contented and amended SEO.

“The biggest happiness for immoderate nutrient blogger is seeing group trying nan recipes and sharing affirmative comments,” Vidya says. “That’s nan champion feedback you tin get.”

Speeko - Chicago, Illinois

Nico Aguilar struggled pinch nationalist speaking for years until coaching gave him nan techniques and assurance to flooded his anxiety. Knowing not everyone tin find aliases spend that benignant of help, he co-founded AI reside coaching app Speeko successful 2018. It analyzes a user’s reside and provides tailored exercises to thief pinch pacing, tone, filler words and more, and helps group set reside successful existent clip pinch features for illustration nudges to “slow down.”

The squad uses Google Workspace to collaborate and enactment organized, and Google Ads to thrust postulation to Speeko’s website — clicks grew from 80 to 80,000 per period successful 2023. “[Ads is] easy to usage for mini businesses who are conscionable getting started connected nan level and don’t person a batch of expertise mounting up advertisement campaigns,” says Nico, a 2023 recipient of nan Google for Startups Founders Funds. Today, Speeko has much than 300,000 registered users.

More recently, Gemini helped nan squad create and update nan complete 400 exercises successful their coaching library. “It allows america to person a batch much impact,” Nico says. “I’ve seen really nan measurement you speak matters and tin alteration your master trajectory. Our ngo is to thief group from each backgrounds ne'er beryllium acrophobic to speak up.”

NOHO HOME by Jalene Kanani – Oahu, Hawaii

Native Hawaiian creator and textile designer Jalene Kanani wanted to item a blase broadside of her culture’s aesthetic. She launched NOHO HOME by Jalene Kanani successful 2018 to connection decor and luxury location products that authentically bespeak Hawaii’s history and culture. “In nan Hawaiian language, ‘noho’ intends ‘to be, to dwell, aliases to travel from,’” she says.

Jalene designs each of nan brand’s products and produces galore of them successful a small-batch micro-factory successful Hawaii; coming they’re carried by awesome section stores.

After years of increasing by connection of mouth, nan 10-person institution invested successful Google Ads successful 2022 — which led to a 200% summation successful website postulation and a 50% emergence successful revenue. “Thanks to our Performance Max campaigns, we doubled our business from nan continent successful 2023,” Jalene says. “We’re capable to scope group who are actively searching connected keywords for illustration ‘coastal location decor.’”

More recently, nan trading squad besides reduced clip spent penning contented by 40% utilizing Gemini, meaning they could usage that clip to accelerate further projects. “We person a very beardown voice,” says Jalene. “We return what Gemini generates and adhd our Indigenous knowledge to spark meaningful conversations.”