Google and Facebook COVID-19 Resources
Google and Facebook have mobilized a few initiatives to help businesses cope with the economic impacts of COVID-19. Read up on the summary below on what they are doing to help businesses out and to see if you are eligible to benefit from the programs:
Google is Making Google Shopping free:
For E-commerce companies, and those who have setup a Google Merchant Center (pro-tip, it isn’t just for retailers) Google is making listings on Google Shopping free.
Things to know:
If you currently run ads on Google Shopping, you probably don’t need to do anything to have your products show up in the free section but we recommend checking your Google Merchant Center settings.
For new users of Merchant Center, Google will continue working to streamline the onboarding process over the coming weeks and months.
Google announced an initiative offering $340 million in ad credits to help small and medium-sized businesses. While it’s unclear exactly what types of businesses will receive these ad credits, I think it’s likely that it will go to SMBs that are directly impacted by the lockdowns like restaurants and non-essential retailers. But they could go to other types of businesses as well.
Things to know:
Advertisers will be eligible if they have spent with a Google Ads account in ten out of twelve months of 2019, and in January and/or February of this year.
This is an ad credit for future Google Ads spend.
The ad credits will cover all channels available within a Google Ads account including search, display and YouTube.
Credits will roll out in phases starting in late May and must be used by the end of 2020.
Accounts will likely be notified by an ‘in account alert’ only.
Facebook Small Business Grants Program:
Facebook has created a Grant program, offering cash and ad credits to eligible businesses. For this one you’ll actually have to apply for it.
Things to know:
The fund is $100M in cash grants and ad credits.
Businesses must have experienced challenges from COVID-19 to apply.
The size of the business must be between 2 and 50 employees, so the money will be going to those who really need it.