Google Wants to Control Three Check Points of eCommerce

Three main check points of online transactions:

1. Search a product
2. Pay for online transaction of the purchase 
3. Specify a delivery method 

Google is talking with retailers such as Macy's, The Gap and Office Max to create partnerships that would offer users speedier shipping, according to The Wall Street Journal. If an online shopper bought a product from Macy's, for example, Google would guarantee that the item be shipped later that day.

"Google Inc. is aiming to challenge the e-commerce supremacy of Amazon.com Inc. by diving deeper into the fast-growing world of Internet retailing.

The Web-search giant is in talks with major retailers and shippers about creating a service that would let consumers shop for goods online and receive their orders within a day for a low fee, said people familiar with the matter.

The effort is a risky one, and would escalate Google's budding rivalry with Amazon, which has been riding the success of its $79-a-year Amazon Prime program. That program, which offers shoppers fast shipping at no additional charge for ..."

Quick delivery is a way that Google could compete aggressively with Amazon, whose Prime membership already offers members fast, free shipping for an annual fee. 

Google, until now, has been relying on search. At this point, they can keep track of what's going on, they know what people are buying. So wouldn't it be great if people are using their service to search, using them as a payment service and then using the delivery service?

All of that from Google is really closing the whole loop in e-commerce and taking the whole process to the next level. While Google is mainly working with a few big brands for this service for moment. It could also expend this service to small online brand owners.

International Market Research and Assessment for SMEs

Going international is not just for big companies. SMEs represent over 95% of the exporting firms and account for %30 of the export sales. With the help of online tools, some of the most creative new products can find markets globally.

So, what does it take to be successful in global sales? We need

• Commitment
• Patience
• Dedication of resources
• Product selection
• Market research
• etc.

A big company would hire a market research firm or expensive consultants to do market research for them before it enters a foreign market.  However, our SMEs also can leverage internet to perform market research by ourselves.  

We are going to discuss how to do marketing research using online resources and tools.

Digital Life of A Road Raider - How to Work Effectively Wherever We Are

People like us who travel a lot internationally need to work from home, on the road, and other places away from the office of our home country, constantly. 

There are a number of tools that support this lifestyle and work style. Both Google Apps and Office 365 make working remotely from anywhere of the world possible.

We have been using Google Apps for a couple of years. It increases our responsiveness to our clients through emails,  because we can access to email service anywhere anytime using gmail .

We always work from a variety of locations including the office, hotels, airports, and coffee shops. We keep most of our speadsheets online so that co-workers can collaborate on them, which really improves our decision agility when we are traveling.


We want to share some of our experiences.

Google Offers has 5 more new cities in U.S.

Atlanta: 
$7 for one full access ticket to the esteemed High Museum of Art (up to an $18 value) 
With more than 12,000 permanent works on display, the High Museum of Art in Midtown is
the leading arts center in the southeastern United States. Wander through the museum’s vast and varied collection, including current and upcoming exhibitions such as “Picasso to Warhol: 14 Modern Masters” and “The Art of Golf.” With Friday Jazz, poetry slams and family-friendly events, the High Museum of Art is keeping Atlanta’s hunger for an art scene alive and vibrant.

Brooklyn, New York: 
$4 for one general admission ticket to the New York Aquarium (up to $14.95 value)
Explore the bizarre beauties of the deep in Alien Stingers, see penguins, seals, otters, and walruses at the Sea Cliffs exhibit, and get underwater views of the amazing wildlife that inhabits our oceans at the New York Aquarium, located just off the Coney Island boardwalk.

Chicago: 
$10 for $20 of craft beer and bar fare at Goose Island’s Wrigleyville brewpub
Beer buffs credit Goose Island with helming the craft beer renaissance in the Windy City. More than 20 years later, taste the ongoing innovation in the brewery’s award-winning creations. Try the Mild Winter, a malty match made in irony, while proud Chi-towners will enjoy a nod to their numbers in the mainstay brew: 312. Pair your ale with a delicious fare from the brewpub’s extensive menu.

Houston: 
$10 for $20 of Southern-style breakfast at the Zagat-rated the breakfast klub
Hungry Houstonians have been lining up for 10 years to savor the breakfast klub’s one-of-a-kind Southern specialties, including “wings and waffles,” “katfish & grits” and “buttery biskits.” With jazz and gospel melodies filling the air, colorful walls and a husband-and-wife team who love chatting with their customers, it’s no wonder the breakfast klub is Houston Press’ 2011 Readers’ Choice for “Best Breakfast Restaurant,” My Table’s Culinary Award winner for “Favorite Breakfast” and “Best of City Search Winner” for 2011. 

Los Angeles: 
$14 for two movie tickets & a large popcorn at the world famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre or Chinese 6 Theatres (up to $39 value)
Since its debut in 1927, the inimitable Grauman's Chinese Theatre has been a celebrated Hollywood landmark. Boasting a spot on the Walk of Fame, this iconic theater has housed Academy Awards shows and star-studded premieres. While you’re at Grauman’s, be sure to visit the costume exhibit on display, the Hollywood Legends Collection. Check out the duds from such films as Gone with the Wind and Terminator 2 and then discover the famous hands (and feet) imprinted in the theater’s courtyard.

Google Local Service is available in more cities

Google Offers is now up to 17 cities after launching in San Jose, San Diego, Baltimore and Minneapolis earlier this week.

It would be interesting to see how Google gives its merchants with Android NFC readers  so they could collect vouchers from customers' android phones electronically.


Google Map service can also provide street view for the local business. 

Google Trusted Store Finally Annouced

After a couple of months of speculation, Google finally announces its Google Trusted Store. 

Quoted from the announcement:

"Today we’re announcing the launch of Google Trusted Stores, a new pilot program that helps shoppers identify online merchants that offer a great shopping experience.

The Google Trusted Store badge is awarded to e-commerce sites that demonstrate a track record of on-time shipping and excellent customer service. When visiting a qualifying store, shoppers can hover over the Google Trusted Store badge and see metrics on the store’s shipping and customer service performance."

Trusted Online Store With Google Badge?

It looks like Google is plotting a new service, namely, Google trusted online stores.

Here is the official video in Youtube:




 However, clicking on the site www.google.com/trustedstores gets an Error 404.

It seems Google registered the site recently:

Will dig out more. Stay tuned.