Real Talk on Accelerators: One Woman’s Small Business Journey with Google

Real Talk on Accelerators: One Woman’s Small Business Journey with Google


In this special series, Anie Akpe, publisher of Innov8tiv.com, a dynamic Web source for technology news, resources and innovations of Africans in the diaspora, details her journey participating in Google’s accelerator program. Akpe was chosen after applying for the program, a 12-week course where Google showsbusinesses how to create Website landing pages, manage Google AdWords to advertise their business, and manage marketing campaigns. Follow her journey below:

After some time of seriously contemplating the launching of my tech news site Innov8tiv.com, I finally decided to take the plunge. Filling it up with content was easy enough and signing up my social media account was a breeze.

Next came the hard questions: How do I drive traffic to my site? How can I tell what content works and what doesn’t? My social media efforts were working, but the questions on visibility were still lingering. Needless to say, I was at a standstill with what appeared to be a dead end.

Well, just when I thought I ran out of ideas, along came BlackEnterprise.com with an article Google’s Accelerator Program Gets Black Businesses Online.” The article mentioned that Google and Hubspot partnered together to assist minority business owners in increasing their visibility on the web. This 12-week class focuses on Inbound Marketing using Google’s AdWords product combined with the ability to measure your results using HubSpot’s platform.

In the event that you did not know, Google has a plethora of products for small business owners. Currently on my site, we utilize Google Analytics to track visits to the site. We can also see which article our readers enjoyed the most. While this is great, it still doesn’t answer the question of bringing and retaining customers.

HubSpot is an inbound marketing software platform that helps companies attract visitors, convert leads and close customers. They also believe that the customer is more in control than ever —tuning out traditional sales and marketing messages more than ever. HubSpot has more than 10,000 companies running their marketing programs on their platform, and it has offered three months free usage of its site to class participants.

The Web-based class kicked off with more than 75 students and in week one we discussed the class agenda for the next 12 weeks. Below are some of topics:

  • How HubSpot works
  • What inbound marketing entails
  • Why traditional marketing doesn’t work
  • How to create a three-month marketing plan
  • How to launch an AdWord Campaign
  • How to create strategy to focus on your target Market

Expected homework from the class is 2 to 3 hours a week and can consist of watching instructional videos and creating your tracking your results. The class is hands-on, and participants are in instructed to fully engage and ask as many questions as possible. Needless to say, I am excited and eager to learn how to grow my business. I’ve just begun and the story is not over yet, so stay tuned as I provide an update on my progression during week six of the program.

Anie Akpe, is publisher of Innov8tiv.com and founder of IBOM L.L.C., a global business consultancy. She is also a business professional with more than 15 years experience in the banking industry, managing a more than $575 million portfolio. A native of Nigeria, she meshes her global experience and culture with skills from corporate America leadership to provide unique and results-driven services to her clients.


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