Market Research Tools

For the Google Online Marketing Challenge, it is crucial to be able to conduct research. Some useful tools that Google itself provides are Global Market Finder, Think with Google and Google Trends. I had never heard of these tools before this assignment, so trying to find out what they are, and what I could use them for, was a bit of a challenge. However, I did manage to discover a few things that hopefully will be useful for the GOMC.

The Global Market Finder proved to be the most difficult to grasp at first, maybe because it is the most advanced form of research, at least for me. The Finder lets the user type in keywords for an AdWord campaign and see where in the world they would create the best opportunities. It uses a combination of Google's other services to create an Opportunity Score for each market, which helps the user to identify which market & country would be ideal for their business.

While the Global Market Finder is better for more advanced businesses, Think with Google and Google Trends are more helpful for aspiring entrepreneurs and new businesses. Think with Google helps you to get advertisement, consumer surveys and other platforms to expand your business, and Google Trends is a great way to find out what the world is talking about right now. It can show you potential competitors and issues that interest consumers, like (for example) the picture below illustrates the most popular searches of 2014 in the United States.

Retrieved from Google Trends

What I learned from these research tools is that there is so much more to Google than just google.com. It is truly fascinating how much information one can find if they just look at different sources and think creatively. Overall, I believe that these tools will become handy in the GOMC, when we become more involved in actually making the AdWord ads for clients.

Google Online Marketing Challenge: Preview

Chatham University's Digital Marketing class, BUS213, is constructed around Google's Online Marketing Challenge, or simply, GOMC. GOMC is a competition among college students, who find businesses, big or small, that are willing to let the student teams to consult them on bettering the businesses' online presence.

A couple important facts to consider for this challenge are the selection of a business and the campaign the students will be responsible for. Competitive industries should be avoided, and businesses perhaps more unfamiliar with the possibilities internet provides, should be targeted. As for the campaign, it should run anywhere from 7 to 21 days. What the campaign essentially is, is a couple AdWords ads that will be shown when searching for related issues on Google. The teams can also do a campaign on Google +, which is more of a social media type of approach. Also important is to adhere to all rules, regulations and laws that are present in all countries the students wish to target.

Why is GOMC a great opportunity for students to practice their marketing skills? The internet is the easiest way to reach potential customers and consumers of virtually any business, and information spreads there quickly. It is in the best interest of any young marketer to be able to effectively utilize the possibilities internet marketing provides, and to be able to consult others on these issues as well.

Personally, I am intrigued by the GOMC as I have little knowledge of internet marketing, or how advertising online works overall. In addition, I find it interesting that by participating in this challenge, I can meet and work with actual business owners. What are they hoping to get out of this experience; that is what I am eager to find out.

More about the Google Online Marketing Challenge & Online Marketing Overall