Google is a world-famous web search engine. But as many already are aware, Google is not just a search engine. In fact, it is an excellent one-stop source for the small business. Google also provides email service, a calendar, an RSS Reader, a blogging platform, webmaster tools, alerts, adwords keyword tool, documents for word processing and spreadsheet, group communications, a business center for small businesses to list their contact information, maps, and picassa, a photo server.                            

Using a gmail account with Google is convenient when you wish to be cautious about giving your email address to a relatively unknown party or potential scammers.

Checking your appointments is made easier with Google’s Calendar function, one can easily, with a click, enter appointments and sync them with a PDA or other device.

The Google RSS Reader contains blog capability and more. You can view and comment on various blogs on the Reader page. You can save your favorite blogs on the Reader.

Having a blog on the web is a good idea for businesses today. Blogs for the small business owner are ideal in that it allows one to publish information about you and to obtain information from others. This is a good way to keep up with what is happening with your competitors. Having a chat or information connection on your blog is good. Simply blogging allows potential customers to get to know you. If you can offer some free information along with advertising your business (for free), this is an added bonus.

Blogging is free if you decide to promote your business and it is very user friendly.

Google’s webmaster tools allows you to analyze your website. This is located under the “sites” tab on the main Google page.

Alerts can be set up to notify you if anyone has mentioned you or your business, or if key words relating to your line of business were searched for.

Advertise your small business effortlessly with Google Business. Google’s Business Adwords Keyword Tool is useful for typing in key words or phrases you believe people would use to search for your business. Google will let you know the number of searches a key word or phrase gets per month and gives you other related key words and phrasing.

Google Docs are good word processing and spreadsheet applications. They come in handy when having to share documents online with several persons giving input or making edits/changes. Google Groups is another application for group communication from differing locales.

The Google Local Business center allows you to list your small business to be found online.

Though the use of global positioning systems is more common and many new cars come equipped with GPS systems, many still do not have one or still prefer to gather and print out travel itineraries prior to travel. Many hail Google Maps as being one of the most accurate on the web today. Easily find directions and other travel information.

Picassa is an excellent tool for posting photos in one convenient place. A link can be sent to share the photos, and multiple photo albums can be uploaded. Additional photos can be added to the photo albums or deleted once uploaded. Picassa is extremely user friendly and quick. It makes life easier for listing items or submitting photos to people versus attaching photo files that can be large and difficult or impossible to email.