WebProNews

No problem telling Congress that, either

As a small business or site publisher, the route to Moneyville displays signs pointing to Google's advertising products. In Google's estimation, of course, but they may be correct.

It's easy to miss the broader truth about Google, from a third-party point of view. Yes, they operate a search engine that cracked open the World Wide Web to hundreds of millions of people and the words they tap into a query box.

Search enables the Google machine to churn forward, the advertising sales of AdWords customers footing a substantial portion of the multi-billion dollar revenue stream. David Fischer, Google's VP for Global Online Sales and Operations, wants Google followers to know they provide business opportunities for advertising that traditional media cannot match.

Fleischer told the US House Small Business Committee how Google plays a role in helping a small business get off the ground. He touted the acumen of Google's AdWords product in bringing in customers, and thus sales, to small businesses:

Here’s one example of a successful small business that advertises through Google:

Bulb America, a Brooklyn, New York-based company, got started in 1998 with two employees selling both lighting fixtures for use in theaters, nightclubs, and production studios, and energy saving bulbs for the home. Bulb America has grown to over 25 employees with $6.5 million in total sales in 2007. This growth has been driven largely by the company’s website. Bulb America created its online store in 2003 and began using Google’s advertising tools in May of 2004 to reach customers in and outside of New York, and increase traffic to the Bulb America Web site. Today, the company attributes about 65 percent of its sales to Google advertising.

Though in a small business-oriented hearing, "The Role of Small Businesses in Stimulating the Economy," for this meeting, Fischer also brought out a mention of net neutrality and Google's support of the concept. "Preserving this openness online is critical to ensuring the success of a new generation of small businesses," he said in testimony.

Google believes first and foremost in itself, starting with the shareholders and moving down the list. The positive impact of its ad products for businesses definitely exists, something that a prospective online advertiser must consider, especially with Google's de facto presence on the minds of millions as the choice for search.

However, as a commenter pointed out on Google's blog regarding Fleischer's trip to the Nation's Capitol, small businesses face something of an uphill battle against larger companies with well-known brands and squads of people working on search marketing and other advertising initiatives. The big guys work hard at beating competitors.

This is true of any aspect of small business. If you navigate into the waters of the SS Wal-Mart, you're going to end up picking bits of your mast out of your teeth. Yet entrepreneurs continue to find niches unserved by the retail giant, set up shop near them, and earn a living.

No one is entitled to success, but everyone is entitled to try and achieve it. AdWords economics presents one avenue to work at achieving a rewarding goal. It presents one strategy in a quiver of options for the businessperson operating today.