Google India launches premier SME partner programme

Google India Wednesday launched a small and medium enterprise (SME) partner programme to maximize its reach to small businesses across the country and provide them specialised services to grow through digital advertising.

"Google's premier SME partners will be trained to offer the highest level of expertise and proficiency in developing, launching and managing digital campaigns for small and medium sized businesses," the company said in a statement.

The firm will invest in helping partners with dedicated marketing and sales support that includes direct access to Google, co-branded market collateral, market research, training, technical and operational support, assigned account manager and joint sales pitches.

"India is a hotbed of small medium sized businesses and digital advertising lends itself well to help these businesses grow and compete at equal footing with large established playersonline," said Rajan Anandan, managing director and vice-president, sales, Google India.

According to him, the firm wants to expand its reach by recruiting 30 new partners across India by end of next year, so that more and more SMEs can benefit from a direct engagement with a Google-trained professional.

Anandan also said India is a strategic market for Google, and the firm will continue to invest in other capacity building initiatives through its existing Google Engage platform, focused on training and supporting businesses that specialize in helping other SMEs succeed online.

Google India has already shortlisted six such premier partners and has been working with them to help them ramp up their sales force through training programme.