Led by strong demand for digital advertising from small and medium sized businesses (SMBs), Google India on Wednesday launched Premier SME Partner programme to maximise its reach to SMEs businesses spread across the country.

The company will provide specialised services to SMEs to grow their businesses 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 SMBs.

These partners will offer end-to-end marketing solutions like search engine marketing, localised marketing solutions across Google properties and mobile advertising platform.

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

“With the launch of this programme, we want to expand our reach by recruiting 30 new partners across India by end of next year, so that more and more SME can benefit from a direct engagement with a Google-trained professional,” Rajan Anandan Managing Director and Vice President-Sales, Google India said.

It has already short-listed six such premier partners and has been working with them to help them ramp up their sales force through training programs. The partners include Sokrati from Pune, Getit from Delhi, O3M Directional Marketing from Chennai, Effective Responses from Delhi, AdGlobal 360 from Delhi and ISPG technologies from Bengaluru.

“From a  startup 3 years ago to a 100+ employees at present, with offices in 3 locations and 1000+ clients portfolio, our own story is a classic example of how internet is rewriting the present and shaping the future of doing business in India.” Rakesh Yadav, CEO of AdGlobal360, a full service agency based in Gurgaon, said.

Google Premier SME Partner programme is a global initiative of Google and is operational in 37 countries worldwide.

ronendrasngh.s@thehindu.co.in