Thanks to Chris Reilly of Unleashed Online Marketing for this heads up. Google has posted job openings for Sales Manager and Sales Reps for the Seattle area apparently to focus on “Google’s new Commerce related businesses, such as Google Offers, through large-scale SMB acquisition programs“.
From the Sales Manager listing:
The area: Business Operations and Strategy, Commerce Sales
The Commerce Sales team plays a critical role in growing Google’s new Commerce related businesses, such as Google Offers, through large-scale SMB acquisition programs. Our culture mirrors that of a start-up, as we’re working to create and scale Google’s next billion dollar businesses. We are a group of high-performing, like-minded team players that thrive on individual autonomy, product mastery and operational excellence.
The role: Field Sales Manager, Commerce Sales
As a Field Sales Manager, Commerce Sales, you will not only be responsible for managing Field Sales Reps in a few different markets, but also may be called upon to drive sales while the team is scaling. Your team will be selling Google’s Commerce solutions into the small and medium size business segment. You will develop knowledge of account representatives’ performance, effectiveness, and proficiency through ongoing direct and indirect coaching methods.
Responsibilities:
- Be responsible for the entire sales process from first contact to close
- Effectively manage sales pipeline and develop a strategy for long-term client relationships.
- Understand the marketing needs of SMBs.
- Present and articulate advanced product features.
- Close sales and achieve monthly targets.
Requirements:
- Bachelors degree preferred and/or equivalent work experience.
- At least 2 years field/outside sales experience, daily deals space preferred.
- Proven success in cold calling and field sales.
- Strong communication skills and ability to secure new clients by presenting customized solutions.
- Strong knowledge of SMBs advertising needs.
- Extremely proactive and organized with a track record of success in a team environment.
- Proficiency with Salesforce.com preferred.
Google Offer’s Beta in Portland started on June 1 and there have been 5 deals in total to this point. Here is a summary of the deals to date:
Other than the first deal at Floyd’s the volume has been very low to moderate. On the ground anecdotal evidence indicated that Floyd’s was not that busy so it is not unlikely that being the first deal, that many of the offers purchased were by those in the industry assessing Google’s product. I guess Floyd’s won’t mind. Rocky Agrawal also noted that “the early ones get benefit of local press. All 4 tv stations and newspapers covered the story.”
In a conversation with one of the participants they shared with some interesting factoids:
- They were paying Google 50% of the proceeds. “Same as Groupon”. It doesn’t appear that the value of deals will improve anytime soon.
- The rep servicing the account did visit but is stationed in Los Angeles NOT in Portland
- Google Offers Business Sales and Support has a forward facing number – 866-954-5152
Replicating Groupon’s success will not be quick and it will not be easy for Google. Not only do you need a sales force but you need a great list of subscribers and popular businesses willing to give incredible discounts. Clearly Google is not anywhere near there yet if you take the sales number as an indicator. How long it will take will be interesting to see.
As a general rule, Google Places has been providing major updates to the quality guidelines in late fall with the most recent last November. Minor updates occur as needed but most frequently occur in the spring.
This update (highlighted below in yellow) occurred on June 2 and has import for a range of businesses:
Ineligible Business Models
- Only businesses that make in-person contact with customers qualify for a Google Places listing.
- Businesses that are under construction or that have not yet opened to the public are not eligible for a listing on Google Places.
- Rental or for sale properties, such as vacation homes or vacant apartments, are not eligible for a listing on Google Places. Create a listing for the central office that processes the sales or leasing offices, rather than the individual rental or sale properties.
- You cannot create Places listings for stores which you do not own, but which stock your products. Instead, consider asking the store owner to update their own Places listing with a custom attribute specifying brands or products they stock, including yours.
Clearly it makes sense that a local tire company that sells Bridgestone tires should not be included in Bridgestone’s local marketing efforts or bulk uploads. But the world of small business is messy. At the extremes are a single location local business and a company owned store. In between there every type of relationship from independent reps to franchises. Within franchises there are varying degrees of control and corporate identity.
As the Places Quality Guidelines have evolved they have attempted to clarify and codify what is and what isn’t a Place of business. Sometimes that has gone better than others. While this rule makes sense and if taken literally is mostly clear, it is always the edge cases that create havoc. And in this situation the edge cases are plentiful.
The example I gave above is obvious. Valley Tire should not be claimed by Bridgestone just because Valley Tire sells their brand. But what about Avon Representatives? They are independent reps that usually are dedicated to selling only the Avon line of products although since they are independent they could also sell Tupperware or Cutco. But it appears that they have been claimed.
As you move into the service area one wonders whether this guideline applies at all as it specifically refers to products. But what of the insurance agent that primarily sells a single brand of insurance? Is he eligible to be listed by national company? And what if he gave permission to the national company to do so on his behalf?
This rule on its face makes lots of sense. Businesses and SEOs alike would be best served if Google addressed some of the possible scenarios that this guideline covers and take a few minutes to clarify their thinking.
The help files for Google Offers have also been expanded to now include actual details about the program. I have abstracted some of the highlights:
Participation Requirements
- To participate in Google Offers, you … should be financially stable, and must have positive customer reviews.
Concerns about meeting demand
Google will pay you 80% of your share 4 days after your offer purchase period ends.
Changing scheduled dates and canceling live offers
Once an offer is scheduled, there is very little flexibility to make changes to your start date
Once an offer is live, you won’t be able to cancel or make changes to the details, copy or terms
Offers selection and scheduling
How you’re notified if your offer is selected
In most cases, you’ll be notified at least 5 days before your offer is scheduled to run. In rare circumstances, we may choose to run your offer a few days earlier. The offer will have been approved by you beforehand, so the only difference would be that the offer is advertised 2 days earlier than scheduled. We’ll notify you if this is to happen.
We have an Editorial team that will help create the copy and any creative materials associated with your offer, with information that you provide. You will be able to review the offer and must give your final approval before it goes live for sale.
Creating and customizing Google Offers
Offer customization
You can customize many aspects of a Google Offer for your business. Here are just a few of the elements you can specify for your offer:
Number of offers a customer can purchase
Offer redemption period
Amount of discount on the offer
Store locations where the offer may be redeemed
Payments and refunds for Google Offers
Receiving payments for your offer sales
We will help you set up a special account with us, where you will enter your bank account information. Google will automatically initiate proper payouts per terms you’ve agreed to. Once a payment has been initiated, your bank may take up to three additional business days to register the payout in your bank account.
Payout schedules
Generally speaking, you’ll receive a payout for 80% of your sales approximately 4 days after your offer runs, minus any refund requests that have been processed. Google will hold the remaining 20% for a specified number of days to cover any refunds that may be processed during that period.
Refunds for Google Offers
Customers may request a refund from Google for an unused offer within 60 days of purchase for any reason. After 60 days, Google issues refunds in accordance with applicable local law and/or at our discretion. Refunds may be deducted from your account per agreed upon terms.
Offer redemption options
A customer will need to print a paper voucher or show a mobile version of the purchased offer that includes the barcode or redemption code to the business. The redemption code is directly below the barcode on the voucher.
Redemption options
There are three main types of redemption you can utilize in order for your customers to cash in on their purchase.
- Redemption via the Google Offers Business Dashboard
You are able to enter in the redemption codes within your Offers account. To get the codes, you may accept a printed version of the offer or allow your customer to bring up the code on their mobile device. If you don’t enter the codes in individually at the time of purchase, we recommend entering all codes by the end of the day.
- Google Offers Toll Free Phone System (not yet available)
Using a special toll-free number, your customers will be able to enter their redemption code through the phone.
- Google Offers Mobile Business Ap
The merchant redemption app for Android is a simple application that allows you to scan barcodes from a printed offer or from another mobile device’s screen.
- Sign in to the mobile app with your Google Offers account
- Select ‘Barcode Scanner’ to scan a barcode or choose ‘Manual Entry’ to manually type in the redemption code
- The app will confirm whether or not the Offer code is valid
- Click the button to redeem the Offer*
*If you ever scan the barcode again or type in the same code, the Offer will no longer be valid
Google Offers Program Policies
The policies note a range of items that can not be promoted via Offers and includes range of products and services such as tobacco, firearms and hacking
The first Google Offer from Portland just hit my inbox.
Here are the rules for the offer of the day:
Rules that apply to all Google Offers of the Day
In addition to the specific terms listed for each offer, these are the rules that apply to all Google Offers, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
- Cannot be used in conjunction with other coupons, special offers or special discounts.
- Cannot be applied toward shipping fees, tips or gratuities, taxes, or outstanding balances owed.
- Promotional value must be redeemed in one (1) visit. No cash back for partial redemption of promotional value.
- After redemption period, all vouchers may be refundable or redeemable for paid amount.
- All Google Offers are only available in accordance with applicable law.
- You must be of legal drinking age to redeem a Google Offer for alcohol.
How to be a great Google Offers customer
- Calculate your gratuity/tip from of the full value of the product/service, not the discounted amount.
- Note the redemption period. Businesses will expect you to show up between those dates and will staff up accordingly so you have the best experience.
- Tell us what you thought. Go to www.google.com/hotpot to rate the business.
Google now has help files for both businesses and consumers online.
