Google has announced the launch of an updated tool for businesses in the United States to quickly and easily create offers for Google Offers, and get them live on Google Maps and other Google products.
The tool allows businesses to choose the kind of offer they want to launch, and assign a budget to it.
“Unlike traditional promotions or coupons, Google Offers will show your offer to customers based on their location, what they like, and what they’re looking for,” says Google Offers director of product management Gayathri Rajan. “You’ll only pay when a customer saves your offer, and you keep the full value of the sales you make.”
“With this launch, your offer can reach customers on Google Maps when they are searching for places nearby or looking for local businesses like yours,” Rajan adds. “Your business will be prominently displayed with a blue tag icon next to it, alerting customers to your offer.”
When your offer is saved, the user will get reminders when they’re near the business and when the offer is close to its expiration date. Google alerts users through email and mobile notifications.
The tool is rolling out over the next week.
This follows increased Google Offers integration in Google Maps, announced in July when it partnered with brands like Michaels Stores, RadioShack, Red Mango, Red Robin, Ulta Beauty, Toys”R”Us, Sports Authority, BJ’s Restaurant, Macy’s, Disney Store, and Payless Shoesource.
Google has launched an update to the Google Search app for Android with some new Google Now features, Voice actions and Offers integration.
There are new Google Now TV cards. Google explains in a Google+ post, “If you have an internet-connected TV, Google Now can help unlock more information about what you’re watching. Just connect your Android device to the same network that your TV is on and tap ‘Listen for a TV show’ in Google Now.”
“We will show you information, like where you’ve seen an actor in the cast before, or more information about the people mentioned in the show,” says Google. “So if you were watching Nik Wallenda cross the Grand Canyon this weekend, with Google Now, you could learn that the ‘King of the Wire’ in fact holds seven Guinness World Records, including highest bike ride on a high-wire.”
The TV feature is US-only, and requires the phone/tablet to be on the same network as the TV.
Th app also adds reminders for saved offers from Google Offers when you’re near the store.
Also listed in the “what’s new” section for the app on Google Play is a new voice action to play music from your phone or the Play Store and voice actions tips.
Google has just announced that it’s deals platform, Google Offers, is about to get some enhanced visibility inside Google+.
Starting today, with a initial test run of a handful of brands, Google+ users will be able to see, save and share Offers from their stream.
“Millions of people follow brands they love on Google+ to keep tabs on them, get the latest news on products, join in on the conversation or simply to be entertained. Many people also engage with businesses to get great deals and discounts. Starting today, we’re making it easier to discover, save and share offers right from Google+.” says Google’s Dennis Troper.
The small group of brands that are part of this include ZAGAT, Hello Kitty, Art.com, NOOK, and Adafruit Industries. They will now be able to share offers with those who have them in circles. With one click, you’ll be able to save these offers straight from the post in your stream. After that, simply redeem using the Google Offers app of via email confirmation.
Google has released a new Offers format for AdWords ads. Larry Kim, CTO of Wordstream, who was an early Google partner on Enhanced Campaigns shared this screen cap with us:
Kim calls it “Google’s plan to kill Groupon,” and says these ads matter because:
1) Way better deal than Groupon who requires 50-90% discounted pricing, then takes 50% of that for themselves.
2) Advertisers can track this. Local businesses can connect the dots between online marketing and in-store purchases. Not possible before!
3) I think they’ll be rolling this out on Google Maps. Local Deals + Google Maps = perfect match!
Google announced today that it’s rolling out the ability for retailers in Google Shopping to add promotion to their product listings. This, Google says, will make the listings stand out more.
As you may know, Google Shopping now consists of all paid inclusion results. In other words, you have to be an advertiser using Google’s Product Listing Ads to be listed. Wednesday was the official day that this transition was to be complete in the U.S.
Advertisers using these new promotions can distribute them on other Google properties, such as Google Maps for Android, or the Google Offers App.
“In a few simple steps retailers can create a promotions list, map it to the right products in Google Shopping and upload to Google Merchant Center,” Google says in a post on its Commerce Blog. “Our system supports user specific redemption codes and associated reporting, enabling retailers to measure the performance of each promotion.”
“This is one of the many steps we’re taking to provide traffic, technology and tools to help retailers grow their business,” the company adds.
Google says it will expand the program to include more retailers in the coming months. So far, over 25 big name retailers are using the promotions.
At Google I/O, Google demonstrated the new Save to Wallet Google Wallet APIs. We posted about it here, but here’s the video of the session again, in case you haven’t seen it:
Google has put out a blog post about the APIs talking about them a bit more.
The company is testing the Save To Wallet API for Payment Cards and a few other bank partners.
“The Save to Wallet API for Payment Cards enables banks to integrate any credit or signature debit card into Google Wallet in a relatively simple manner,” says Google’s head of product management for consumer payments and Wallet. “We’re providing issuing banks with two options: 1) a ‘no integration’ option that allows banks to provide us card art, and co-market Google Wallet, or 2) a light integration option, which enables banks to push cards directly from their websites into Google Wallet, with user consent. At Google I/O we demonstrated how Discover is working with Google on a concept that would enable Discover cardmembers to save their cards to Google Wallet from the Account Center at discover.com.”
Then there’s the API for Offers.
“The Save to Wallet API for Offers enables merchants to publish offers that can be saved to Google Wallet from your desktop or mobile website,” explains Dua. “These offers can then be redeemed by consumers using a mobile device either via SingleTap NFC at the point of sale, or by showing and scanning the offer during checkout. Note that these offers are actually not created by Google, but are instead created by 3rd parties, e.g. merchants or developers.”
Banks can request access to the Payment Cards API here. Developers and merchants can learn more about the Offers API here.
Google announced that it has launched the Google Offers App for the iPhone.
“We have hundreds of offers you can purchase in advance and thousands of free offers that you can use instantly or save for later,” Google says. “Either way, when you are ready to use your offer, simply open your Google Offers app at the business and show your offer!”
Earlier this month, Google announced that it would integrate Google Offers into its Schemer app, which lets users keep track of activities they’d like to do. Google Offers would come in as offers become available to give you discounts on those activities. It’s unclear if there is any Schemer integration in this new Offers app itself.
Update: Google tells us there is not currently any Schemer integration in this new app: “Not at this time.”
Google currently has partnerships with “dozens of deal sites and thousands of local businesses” to power its Offers product.
The app is only available in the U.S. Cities that currently feature Google Offers deals include: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Fort Worth, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, NYC, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Oakland / East Bay, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Orlando, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, St. Paul, St. Louis, Tampa and Washington D.C.
Clearly, Google Offers still has a great deal of expansion to do. At least it will be available across platforms as more cities are added.
The app (much like the new Google+ Flipboard integration) should also help Google boost its presence on iOS devices, in light of Apple dropping Google for its Maps app. Given that Google+ and Google Offers are directly related to local search, this is worth noting.
The app can be downloaded from the App Store. The app is also available for Android devices.
For many, Father’s Day is a time to thank the man who helped teach you to drive, fixed your bike, and shot hoops with you on warm summer nights. Why sully all those good memories with a hastily-bought tie when you could get him something awesome he’ll actually use?
That’s where Google Offers steps in. They’re using their powers for good this week by serving up some sweet discounts on stuff dads love, all so you won’t have to resort to making a homemade card like you did in first grade. Here’s a brief sampling of their treats:
SharperImage.com: For the dad who likes new techy toys, take $15 for $30 toward “electronics, gadgets, and more innovative gifts”. How about a motorized tie rack to hold all the atrocious neckwear you’ve given him over the years?
These are just some of the awesome discounts you can score, but you have to act fast; these coupons have a time limit, as you’ll see by the timer ticking down the minutes on the Google Offers blog.
Google Schemer, Google’s most recent answer to Foursquare, is now being used to bring you Google Offers. Who would have thought?
“We have been pilot-testing this Google Offers integration for the past few weeks and have received wonderful feedback from our users (thanks!). We’re now excited to open it up to more users,” writes Schemer Front-end Engineer Huy Nguyen on the Google Commerce blog.
It should be noted that Schemer is more than just a Foursquare clone, and is more about “to do lists,” which is what makes the Offers integration interesting. As my colleague Shaylin Clark recently put it, “Basically if you take social networking, check-in services like Foursquare or GetGlue, and a giant to-do list for your life and shake them all up together, you’ve pretty much got Schemer.”
So Google can serve you offers based on things you want to do.
“Maybe you’ve always wanted to ‘Go Skydiving’? You might receive an email with a killer deal on a tandem jump from a skydiving company in your area, in which case the time is ripe to jump out of that perfectly good airplane!” says Nguyen. “Maybe you’ve been meaning to check out what the deal is with that mysterious mansion down the street. Schemer will help you quell that curiosity at the most opportune (and money saving!) time with a brief email.”
The Schemer Google+ page posted:
Schemer26 minutes agoNew Cool Feature Announcement: Schemer Integration with Google Offers
Ever get that moment in Schemer right after you click “I want to do it” where you go, “When will I really do this?” “Well, now Schemer can help you go accomplish some of those adventurous schemes (and save you some money too!)
We are excited to announce Schemer’s integration with +Google Offers to help you do schemes you’ve been meaning to do. Schemer has been piloting this integration with a limited number of schemes and today we are officially introducing our users to it.
Now all you need is to muster up some courage for that skydiving stint you’ve always wanted to check off!
User can purchase Google Offers deals directly from Schemer’s detail page. Users can opt out of the emails (though Google promises to only send them when hey’re related to things you’ve already specifically said you want to do).
Google has big plans for local businesses, and making billions for itself in the process.
Google announced a major Google+ push into local search last week, when it revealed Google+ Local, which effectively turns Google+ business pages into the new local business hub across Google Search, Google Maps and Google+.
“Much of the information from a business owners’ Google Place page – such as the business address, phone number, description, and Google reviews, and photos submitted by business owners and users – will automatically be ported over to the upgraded local Google+ page,” a Google spokesperson told WebProNews.
“People used to be able to find information about a business on the Google Places page, but now, they’ll find much of that same information on the local Google+ page and enjoy the added ability to share that information with the people in their Google+ Circles,” they said. “This means that a business listing that could previously be found across Google Search, Google Maps, and Google Maps for mobile is still available in all those places, but is now also more easily discoverable to the millions of users on Google+ as well.”
The Wall Street Journal reports that Google is readying a new “local ad assault,” led by executives Jeff Huber and Marissa Mayer, which should surface next month, and combines a variety of local-geared services “under a single banner,” once called Business Builder internally. According to the publication, it will include services powered by recent acquisitions Punchd and TalkBin, as well as AdWords Express, and of course a heavy Google+ push.
AdWords Express (formerly known as Boost) launched last July in the U.S. It targeted businesses who weren’t already using AdWords. The company considered it a “fast/simple way for local businesses to start advertising online in less than 5 minutes”.
“AdWords Express helps potential customers find your website or Place page, and gives you a quick and straightforward way to connect with them and grow your business,” AdWords Express Product Mangager Kiley McEvoy said at the time. “You simply provide some basic business information, create your ad, and your campaign is ready to go.”
Punchd was a mobile loyalty card startup Google acquired (also last July). It was described as “the replacement for your buy-10-get-1-free cards at your favorite shops.”
Google acquired TalkBin the April before that. It was described as a way for your business to deliver better customer experience by letting customers use their mobile phones to communicate to your business in real time. Customers could send businesses feedback, suggestions, and questions through short messages, which allowed the businesses to quickly respond (“immediately,” according to TalkBin’s site).
“Central to the effort is Google+, the company’s social network, which it hopes consumers will use to interact with local businesses that now have special Web pages on the network,” reports the WSJ’s Amir Efrati. “Those Google+ pages will draw traffic from the company’s Web-search engine. When shoppers visit these businesses, Google wants them to use their Internet-connected phones like a digital wallet, earning loyalty points and making payments at stores that sign up for Google’s new services. In turn, Google is hoping stores and other businesses will use their new Google+ pages to communicate with customers, such as by showing them special offers. And it hopes to persuade them to sign up for other Google products.”
According to Efrati’s report, Google hopes its new offering, which combines all of this, will bring in “billions of dollars a year in new revenue,” and gets “more merchants to spend money on digital advertising, including on Google’s search engine”.
It’s no secret that Google’s average cost-per-click has suffered in recent quarters, largely due to increased mobile queries, where CPCs just haven’t matched their desktop counterparts. During the company’s Q1 earnings call in April, CEO Larry Page said advertisers always spend most of their money on the major source of traffic, which is desktop, but that over time, that will reverse. Over time, CPCs may actually get better,” he said. “We’re very bullish.” He added that Google is making lots of investments in that area, such as Google Offers and Google Wallet. Those combined with the suite described in the WSJ report could have a significant impact.
Groupon today announced that its Rewards program, which it began testing in September 2011, has now launched nationwide to the U.S. Groupon Rewards is a loyalty program that uses credit cards to track spending at retailers who use Groupon. The merchants can then reward customers who spend a certain amount. It’s the Groupon version of a coffeehouse punch card or a gas station rewards card.
“We believe this is the easiest Rewards program in the world for both merchants and consumers,” said Jay Hoffmann, General Manager for Groupon Rewards. “Merchants can leverage the power of Groupon’s active customer base to launch a loyalty program with real impact, using the systems they already have in place. And thanks to the scale of Groupon’s network of high quality local businesses, consumers can enjoy increased savings from a wide variety of merchants in their backyard and all over the U.S.”
Hoffmann posted an announcement of the product launch on the Groupon blog, where he pointed out some of the details of how Groupon Rewards works. Users who want to participate in Groupon Rewards must use a credit card they have saved with their Groupon account when making purchases for them to count toward rewards. Also, the amount of spending needed to obtain a reward is set by the retailer, not Groupon.
Groupon will be facing fierce competition in the near future, as Google expands its Google Offers into Google Maps and Facebook releases its own “Offers” program. Also, Facebook recently acquired TagTile, a company that was implementing a similar program to Groupon Rewards. It’s probable that Facebook will have a Rewards-type program soon, possibly involving smartphone NFC technology instead of credit card tracking.
What do you think? Will programs such as this one help Groupon compete as internet giants encroach into their business territory? Leave a comment below and let us know.
It was announced today that the updated version of Google Maps now contains Google Offers that can be redeemed by customers at the retail locations they search for. What was not made totally clear at the time is that Google is now allowing business owners to create Google Offers for Free, during a limited-time trial period.
Though the original Google Offers resembled a Groupon-like deal service, its integration with Google Maps works in a very similar way to Facebook Offers, which hands out what amount to online coupons to users. Facebook Offers have recently begun to appear in ads, sponsored stories, and users’ news feeds. The Google Offers process for creating an Offer is also similar to Facebook’s procedure. Google has created a website where business owners can learn how to create their deals and track how many of their Offers have been both saved and redeemed. Here is a short video Google has prepared to demonstrate the new process:
Instead of the pre-paid package deals that sites such as Groupon use, these new Google Offers will be more akin to coupons that can be redeemed with a smartphone. Users need only “use” the offer with a button press and show their screen at checkout to receive discounts or deals. This is a slight twist on how Facebook Offers, which use email as a middle-man, are redeemed. Also, Google Offers users can save individual offers for later redemption. A preview of how an Offer will look can be seen in the picture below.
What do you think? Is Google Offers’ integration enough to compete with Facebook’s new Offers, or will they need to begin allowing businesses to place Offers on Google+? Leave a comment below and let us know.
It’s only been a couple of weeks since Google released Google Maps for Android 6.6, which followed up the big redesign of 6.5. However, ever the archetype of constant progress, Google Maps have announced the release of Google Maps 6.7 today, which incorporates directions on indoor maps for the United States and Japan as well as Google Offers. More, 6.7 also includes the Business Photos inventory of 360-degree panoramic imagery of business interiors.
Indoor maps for big public venues like malls, airports, and the like have been available since late last year but that only presented the map. Now, users will be able to actually get walking directions for the venues so you don’t unexpectedly encounter the lurking cerberus or a pit filled with laughing cobras.
Instead of simply rehashing the inclusion of Google Offers into the mobile version of Google Maps, here’s a video Google provided that explains it.
More information, although it was mostly already explained in the above video, can be found on the Google Commerce blog.
Finally, with this update to Google Maps for Android, you’ll be able to access Google’s collection of in-store imagery from Business Photos, which is essentially Street View for stores. It’s a little puzzling as to why you would need to see the inside of a store if you’re actually, say, walking around in the store. Who knows, maybe you love spoilers so you want to see what the inside of the store is like moments before you enter the store for the first time.
While you’re out and about, walking around and cashing in your Google Offers, the latest release of Google Maps for Androids virtually ensures that you never, ever have to look up your phone once during your public adventure.
Today Google announced their extension for Chrome and Google Offers. Offers is just what it sounds like, it’s daily deals from you favorite internet giant and their partners like Gilt City, kgbdeals and zozi. Chrome users can now easily access the service by downloading the new extension here.
Once you’ve downloaded it you will start receiving exclusive deals on places to eat, things to see, and fun ways to spend your time. The extension will also let you share the deals with friends and family on Twitter, G+, and Facebook. Google offers has been around for more than a year and now getting the deals is easier than ever.
As you might recall, Groupon and Living Social are Offers largest competitors. This new Chrome extension does give the service a well needed presence on the Chrome browser, but the Offer crew has also recently given the application a nice makeover. Upgrades include faster speeds, larger pictures, and of course, a streamlined check-out process.
There’s always room for more deals. I guess we’ll see what comes of the competition between Living Social, Groupon, and Google Offers. In the meantime you can download the new Chrome extension and view the updated Offers site.
Starbucks is now using Google Offers and will run its first deal on Wednesday. The deal will be $5 for a $10 eGift card.
“In less than a year, Google Offers has grown from one to 40 cities across the country, giving people super-savings with daily deals for locally loved businesses and well-known national brands like Starbucks,” a Google spokesperson tells WebProNews.
If the half price deal isn’t good enough, there are other benefits to the Starbucks deal.
“For every deal purchased, Google Offers will donate $3 to the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) for the Create Jobs for USA Fund (up to $3 million),” explains Michael Haswell, Head of Business Development with Google Commerce. “Founded by Starbucks and OFN, the Create Jobs for USA Fund helps provide loans to community businesses in order to create and sustain jobs in America. So, when you buy this Google Offer, you’re also taking action to help Americans get back to work.”
The offer will be sent to Google Offers users by email.
Last month, Google Offers added 11 new partners, enabling it to receive offers from 8Moms, APDailyDeals, AT&T Interactive, Boston.com, DailyDeals.com, DoubleTakeDeals, Half Off Depot, Morgan’s Deals, Savored, Signpost, and Urban Dealight.
From the sound of it, Google is getting ready to make a huge impact in the deals space. The company famously tried to purchase Groupon a couple years ago, and when Groupon turned the offer down, Google decided to simply create its own competitor. Eventually Google launched Google Offers.
Now, Greg Sterling at Marketing Land reports that Google is testing a new loyalty program called Google Offers With Rewards, that users can sign up for with their credit cards and get…rewards. He names 12 businesses in the Bay area, who are participating in Google’s trial, and shows some screen caps. One example, from Sonoma Chicken Coop, allows the user to make two purchases at the venue and get an $8 cash reward.
Sterling reports that to take advantage of the program, users would need to register a credit cards (Master Card is specifically being used in the trial, but it would be expanded to other cards, he says), and that there is an analytical element that would give merchants (and Google) more data about users, which could potentially be used in other kinds of Google ads down the line.
Groupon launched its Groupon Rewards loyalty in September, which lets consumers get special deals when they go to local businesses multiple times. The same basic concept. The main difference is that Groupon doesn’t have all of the different means to get deals and offers in front of people the way Google does.
Bing, Google’s main competitor in the search market, launched a punchcard loyalty program for its advertisers in September as well, along with its Deals hub.
The full list of cities where Google currently offers Google Offers includes: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Fort Worth, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, NYC, Oakland/East Bay, Oaklahoma City, Omaha, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, St. Louis, St. Paul, Tampa and Washington D.C.
Google Offers has been expanding a lot. I’m sure even Cleveland Steamer will be able to take advantage one day.
Google has added eleven new retail partners to their Google Offers service, according to an announcement today. They also expanded the availability of deals in four of their current cities.
According to today’s announcement, Google Offers users will now start receiving offers from 8Moms, APDailyDeals, AT&T Interactive, Boston.com, DailyDeals.com, DoubleTakeDeals, Half Off Depot, Morgan’s Deals, Savored, Signpost, and Urban Dealight.
Google also announced that the availability of partner deals was expanding in four cities. Google Offers users in Austin, Houston, Philadelphia, and Miami will now have access to deals from all of Google’s retail partners.
Last year Google offered to buy Groupon. When Groupon refused, Google launched their own daily deals service. Though it started small – with only a few cities and retail partners – it has grown significantly in the months since. Google Offers is currently available in 40 cities, including Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Portland, Washington D.C., Houston, and more. The addition of new deals partners today adds to the already impressive variety of Google Offers deals – deals currently up on Google Offers range from driving a tank in Minnesota, a Jamaican getaway, and deals on shoes, food, and more.
Are you excited to see these new Google Offers retailers? Are there others you’d like to see Google partner with? Or are you still waiting for Google Offers to come to your city or area? Let us know in the comments.
Google announced today that they have reached a deal with the New York-based company Signpost, which provides online stores for local businesses around the country. The company will now run deals on Google Offers and in emails to subscribers. The company, whose website states that 95% of their clients generate more clicks and purchases each month compared to the average local partnership with AdSense, has also recently signed a similar deal with NimbleCommerce.
Signpost CEO Stuart Wall says the company has shifted its business model in the past couple of years, becoming more of a marketing platform for small businesses, or “AdSense for local commerce”.
For $99 a month, subscribers get a Signpost-created e-commerce business and a marketing strategy, including ads and offers to draw in customers. While Signpost is established in 50 markets around the nation, not all of them have Google Offers available. However, Google Offers has recently added their daily deals to new cities around the country, and everywhere Google Offers is, Signpost is there as well.
Google Offers, which was compared to Groupon in its early days of development, includes a mobile app and personalized offers for subscribers.
Google Offers continues to expand into more cities. This time, as expected, it’s Oklahoma City and Omaha that now have Google’s deals product, and that brings the grand total of markets to 40.
Google Offers has been around less than a year, having launched in beta last April – the company’s response to Groupon turning down an acquisition deal. The expansion has been fairly rapid. To be exact, it’s from one to forty cities in 251 days. It stated in Portland.
Last week, the product launched in Boston, Chicago, Long Beach, L.A .and Washington D.C. A week before that, it was Charlotte, Kansas City, Milwaukee, San Antonio, Tampa and Columbus.
Research has shown that advertisers are interested in getting in on the action. The deals craze itself has been a big enough trend without the Internet giant’s contributions. Groupon is even helping box office performance for movies. Once Google Offers is available everywhere, and further integrated into other Google products, it’s hard to imagine it not being a powerhouse.
Today’s offer for Oklahoma City users, is $10 for $20 of American fare at Louie’s Grill and Bar. For Omaha, it’s $8 for one ticket to an upcoming Nebraska Huskers Men’s Basketball game.
Google announced today that Google Offers users will gain access to an expanded amount of daily deals in five markets.
The expanded offerings are already available in New York and San Francisco. Now, Boston, Chicago, Long Beach, LA and Washington DC will also get more deals.
Google has partnered with deal providers CrowdSavings, SpaRahRah and LocalWineEvents.com to grow the offer counts.
“These partners join Google’s growing roster of specialized deal providers that promote their deals through the Google Offers platform,” says Google Offers software engineer Peet Sasaki. “Our new partners help us bring a greater variety of unique deals to Google Offers customers, giving you more reasons to treat yourself and your friends to a great deal.”
“And if you take the Google Offers personalization quiz, we’ll only send you the offers that best match your interests each day, so you only get the deals you want, and not the ones you don’t,” adds Sasaki. “All your offers will be personalized to you in one email and they are accessible through the web or on your mobile phone.”
Google Offers is currently offered in 38 cities in the U.S. with more to come soon. Last week, the product launched in Charlotte, Kansas City, Milwaukee, San Antonio, Tampa and Columbus, promising that Oklahoma City and Omaha would be on the way.
On the Google Commerce blog, Google announced today the launch of Google Offers in 5 new markets: Charlotte, Kansas City, Milwaukee, San Antonio and Tampa.
Additionally, on Twitter, they announced launch in Columbus.
“2011 was quite a year for Google Offers. In only six months (since we first launched in Portland) we introduced amazing deals from beloved local business in 33 cities in the U.S., launched national deals and released our first mobile app.”
Expect Google Offers to continue to gain momentum as it expands into new markets. MerchantCircle put out survey results last month indicating that more businesses intend to use Google Offers than even Groupon in the future. Considering Google’s strategy of integrating its products with one another, this is hardly surprising.
Google says it plans to launch Offers in Oklahoma City and Omaha soon.
24 
4 
