Client Communications Minus The Gas Guzzle, Thanks Google!

June 16, 2008

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he latest Google InnoVenture--Innovation Adventure--is a new offering that invites companies and customers to come together, simply, quickly and oh-so-FREEly.
Google's innovation continues to climb, and that's good for you and me.
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For starters, Google technologies and tools are free. While the company's open-source, share-with-all approach helps Google build market share and customer loyalty, it helps us business people do our jobs.Thanks to Google, I gain a variety of tools that help me serve clients.

Here's how you can use Google for your business.

iGoogle. Every morning, I push my PC's Start button and immediately open my browser. My home page is customized, centralized and summarized, just the way I like it. It has all the news, commentary, Skype, weather, Web mail, world clocks, The Daily Puppy and client-specific news all on one page. It's the Ultimate RGM Online Dashboard. Creating it was as simple as "point and click." I love it.

Google Reader. If a company is in the news or online, Google Reader's likely to show it in Google Reader. I track information, news and more about my clients and their competitors by having the reader as part of my iGoogle home page. Not only does it keep me informed but I can also immediately e-mail the link or article to my client. It's a feel-good for them (They feel like I'm looking out for them) and I keep track of who's doing what, in real time.
Sample 1 | Sample 2

Google Alerts. Google "walks the Web" for virtually any keyword you tell it search, then alerts you via e-mail. I use alerts to capture client, competitor and industry news, including confirmed "news hits" for my clients. I currently have almost 70 "alerts" delivered to my e-mail folders every day. By creating folder rules in Microsoft Outlook e-mail, I know when a client is in the news. Manage Alerts Page | List of Alerts | A Typical Alert

Google Sites. This is our latest experiment. I've used Google Sites to build online Client Dashboards. Every client receives an online invitiation, and then (as designated by us), select contacts can access the dashboard, plus documents and graphics. This gives clients oF RGM Communications 24x7x365 access to key portions of their PR programs:

• Memos and latest status notes
• The PR plan
• Meeting notes
• Final news releases
• Photos and graphics
• News clippings/media coverage

See a sample client dashboard (includes white-out of client information)

Google Analytics. This offers powerful analytics about Web site performance, traffic, visitors and more. It even allows you to do comparative analysis between two sites.

So, how can you use Google to "online-itize" your business?

Thanks Big G!