Bangkok--16 Sep--PC & Associates
Assistance scheme by Ministry of Commerce, Google and Sriprathum University enables over 850,000 local SMEs to cost-effectively gain new customers and to reach out to international markets
The current economic downturn has created a tough business climate for many of Thailand's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), reducing business opportunities, declining sales and financial constraints. The Ministry of Commerce, Google and Sriprathum University are partnering to offer over 850,000 SMEs in Thailand a business stimulus package to attract new customers and grow sales locally and globally by harnessing the cost-effectiveness and reach of the Internet. Starting today until 31 October 2009, interested SMEs can sign up for the business stimulus package at www.google.co.th/sme2009.
In view of the constraints brought on by the business slowdown, there is a critical need for local companies to expand overseas and reach out to customers all over the world in order to turn their business around. The business stimulus package aims to help local SMEs:
Be available 24/7 by establishing an online presence on the Internet Grow the business cost-effectively with a user-friendly website and search marketingGo global and connect with over one billion Internet users in the world
Recipients of the business stimulus package will enjoy:
THB2,500 worth of free credits from Google for all SMEs to start an online marketing campaign with Google AdWords. A company website developed and translation of the first page in English at no cost by Sripratham University that SMEs can start the business right away (Applicable only to businesses without a website. The no-cost offer applies to the first 400 SMEs who aply and be ready to start the online business; subsequent applicants need only pay a one-time fee of THB2,500 to the university for the website development work.) A free one-on-one tutorial from Sripatum’s university to educate the knowledge of starting a website, promotion, online e-commerce and how to use other Google’s technologies to promote the business.
The Ministry of Commerce has pledged to support the business stimulus package by promoting it to hundreds of thousands of SMEs in Thailand. Mrs. Porntiva Nakasai, Minister of Commerce,, said, "This Business Stimulus Package is a timely initiative to encourage local SMEs to find new customers and market their products and services to an overseas audience. We support this initiative which is right in line with our mission to promote the business success and growth of Thai companies of all sizes. We look forward to more of such programmes to bring Thai companies onto a global platform."
"Costs have traditionally prohibited local SMEs from adopting useful technologies as many are unwilling to spend without knowing the exact returns of their investments. The Stimulus Package addresses this obstacle by letting businesses try for free how they would benefit from an online presence with a website and a search marketing campaign. Besides the trial experience, these SMEs also learn to develop the necessary skillsets in becoming self-sufficient in sustaining their online marketing efforts," said Dr. Rachaneeporn Phudyaporn Phukkaman, President, Sripatum University.
Pornthip Kongchun, Thailand Marketing Manager, Google Southeast Asia, said, "SMEs understand that the Internet is a great opportunity for them to expand locally and into new markets across the world, but they don't know how to get started. With the Stimulus Package, we are enabling local SMEs to turn their websites into an effective sales channel by using affordable, targeted and measurable search marketing campaigns."
Local SMEs use search marketing to grow their business
In the current economic climate, more people than ever before are heading online to search for products and services, with search engines central to product research, comparison shopping and purchase decisions. Research by Internet World Stats shows that the world's Internet population is currently at the 1.6 billion mark with more than 200 million new people coming online each year. There are over 60 billion searches conducted on the Internet worldwide per month and over a billion people around the world search on Google for information every day. Among Thailand's 14 million Internet users, more than 9 out of 10 of them search on Google every day.
Pornthip added, "With people spending more time online and searching every day, local SMEs should definitely look at online marketing in order to connect with prospective customers on the Internet. Our Google AdWords platform reaches out to over 73% of the world's Internet population and over a billion online users every day, so we are in a great position to help local SMEs reach a wider audience and grow their business."
Capitalising on this trend, many SMEs are shifting their budgets to search marketing and growing their business:
Comments from Google AdWords’ customers on the benefits to Thai SMEs
Sirichai Kaiyang
Mr Tawicha Thongjirachoti, the owner of Sirichai Kaiyang, said about benefits his business gets from using Google AdWords “Sirichai Kaiyang is a genuine SME ages over 70 years and is operated by the 2nd generation management. Two years ago we opened a website of the business but there were only 50-60 clicks per day at that time. The click rate started to improve when we engaged Google AdWords that we often got 200-300 clicks in a day. Advertise in Google AdWords yields great results from maximizing the business to wider target customers without paying of fortune. It also expands our customer bases to business-customers, government offices and home-base. In addition, Google AdWords is an effective tool to promote our new products and services and as a consequence our revenue grows almost 100% after engaging GoogleAdWords. It is truly a great investment”.
Sirichai Kaiyang (Sirichai’s BBQ Chicken) is operating a food and catering business which includes home delivery, meals on wheel, bento foods and foods for special ceremony. Two years ago Sirichai Kaiyang opened a website http://www.sirichaikaiyang.com as to be an online channel for customers, while it promoted the products and services by posting messages on websites or web boards. However later on they found that this strategy was not addressing the right target customers and the viewing figures of their website was relatively low. It has been a year that Sirichai Kaiyang has engaged online advertising tool like Google AdWords. The new online advertising tool shows impressive outcomes that not only it reaches to the right targets but also increasing in revenue. In the meantime it can be also measured and managed with very flexible features.
TUFF Co., Ltd.
Mr Wootinun Sungong, Managing Director, TUFF Co., Ltd. a leading sports apparel manufacturer and exporter said “As our business concentrates on international customers around the world, we need to promote and publicize the business through multi online advertising channels. Until we started with Google AdWords in 2004, our online advertising campaigns have improved to the point that we can analyse the traffic more precisely, easier and timely. This result leads us to an in-depth strategic planning on which specific customer who should drill on. We can not only talk to the right group of customers but also expand to wider markets in different parts of the world. Comparatively, it is 20-30% more of the traffic to our website which to us it is very impressive of Google innovation and system.
TUFF manufactures and exports premium quality sports apparel through its online marketing channel www.muaythaistuff.com The company’s high quality products reach customers worldwide through international delivery with true satisfaction guarantee services.
SupermanSuperMove
Khun Supatcharee Sithiyawanich, SupermanSuperMove explained how her business gets successful with Google AdWords “Conventional advertising strategy did not give a good result to us, therefore we moved to Google AdWords and found it is extremely easy and cost-effective. One reason the company’s AdWords campaign is so successful is the service’s ability to deliver very targeted ads. Today we get around 500 to 600 potential customers clicking on our company website’s link through AdWords daily, and 20 percent of them - around 100 users - follow through and call us. Google AdWords has been so effective in driving new customer leads for us that 97 percent of all new customers originate from AdWords clickthroughs. It is truly an interesting marketing tool and medium for SMEs business due to high performance while requires less cost and gives great ROI. We now increase monthly revenue by 1,400 percent over its income in the first few months of operation.
SupermanSuperMove is a transportation, storage and moving company that operates throughout Thailand. The company has four services: SuperMove, a moving service for corporate and private clients; SuperVan, a van rental service; SuperCar, a VIP car rental service; and SuperStorage, a compact storage service through www.supermansupermove.com
About Ministry of Commerce
Ministry of Commerce aims to be a lead agency in driving domestic and international trade and economy towards continuous and sustainable growth for better standards of living of the Thai people at all levels. The ministry missions include; generating income for the country; strengthening domestic economy and trade systems; and strengthening consumers' power and protecting consumers' interests.
About Sriprathum University
Sripatum University has been established for 39 years. Currently the university has 3 campuses; Bangkhen Campus, Cholburi Campus and Phayathai Campus. We have 10 faculties and one college. Sripatum University offers 65 bachelor degree programs, 21 master degree programs, 6 Ph.D./doctoral degree programs, and a Diploma of Law. There are over 20,000 students who recently enroll and pursue their respective studying at Sripatum University. For more information about Sripatum University please visit our website at www.spu.ac.th
About Google Inc.
Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.google.co.th.
Google and Google AdWords are registered trademarks of Google Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.
Media Contacts:
Google Southeast Asia, Dickson Seow, +65-6521-8114, [email protected]
PC & Associates Consulting, Suchai CHALERMTANASAK, 0 2971 3711, [email protected]