With 400 million Indians users on the internet and 300 million using smartphones, Indians have wholeheartedly embraced digital to find information and make decisions. This also opens up a large opportunity for small and medium businesses to engage these users to accelerate their growth. However, only 32% of Indian SMBs are leveraging the power of digital today.1
Recognising the need to skill these businesses and support their journey to digital, earlier this year, we announced a large scale training program - Digital Unlocked. Through this program, we aim to make quality digital training available to every single small business in India that wants it. We also launched Primer, a free mobile app designed to teach digital marketing skills in a quick, easy and interactive way.
Continuing with our commitment to partner with India’s small and medium businesses, today I am excited to announce SMB Heroes. SMB Heroes is a nationwide program designed to recognize and celebrate SMBs that have embraced digital successfully. The program comprises three categories - Business Innovation through Digital, Impacting Change through Digital and Woman Business Leader. Starting today and until April 24, businesses from across the country can submit their nominations on the SMB Heroes website - g.co/smbheroes. Following this, one winner from each category will be shortlisted for five major zones, culminating in a national finale in Delhi later this year.
We are enthused about the opportunity to celebrate the amazing work that many Indian businesses are already doing, as well as the ability to provide a roadmap for other businesses to learn and chart their own path to success.
Posted by Shalini Girish, Director - Google Marketing Solutions, Google India
