Google Nigeria has commenced its inaugural “Succeed Online” educational series, which seeks to train (in phases) the 250,000 beneficiaries of its Get Nigerian Businesses Online (GNBO) program online skills to increase customer reach and business performance.

Google Nigeria launched the GNBO initiative in September 2011 to increase the online population of Nigerian small and medium businesses. The initiative offered Nigeria’s capital-challenged SMEs a free website solution and support package that would normally have cost at least $700.

Speaking on the reason for Succeed Online, Google Nigeria’s Marketing Manager for SME products Bunmi Banjo said: “It is not enough having a business website. The owners ought to understand some tips on how best to put such websites into use.”

The free educational training would help SMEs in Nigeria effectively use internet tools such as Google Analytics, Google Trader among others, to position better, increase customer base and effectiveness.

A few of the knowledge to be disseminated during the training include how to use tools such as Google Trader to list various products and services for immediate sale; how to use social media and YouTube videos to interact with customers and get valuable feedback for improving business operation; how to use Google’s ‘Insight for Search’ to improve website content.