Google digital workshops to help retailers during the Olympic Games

As the Olympic Games approach, Parisian merchants are working hard to boost their online presence to get noticed by the 15 million expected visitors. A significant number that accelerates the digitization of small businesses. To help the managers, trade associations, in partnership with Google, have launched digital training workshops. Launched in mid-June, this series of special free Olympic sessions was designed to be "extremely concrete and practical", explains Hélène Marlaud, director of the digital workshops program at the American giant. Merchants have the opportunity to learn the basics of SEO, the importance of Google reviews, how to boost their online presence, etc. However, the workshops are presented as "neutral" in the sense that practices can be transposed to other search engines that are not Google. For example, many countries use Yahoo. The workshops also offer advice on using artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT to create targeted content in multiple languages on social media or to respond to customer comments.

In addition to Google training, the Chamber of Trades and Crafts (CMA) of Ile-de-France has organized language and cybersecurity awareness sessions for a selection of 300 to 400 artisans. These artisans were chosen to act as ambassadors of French know-how during the Olympics. In case transport restrictions could affect the influx of businesses, the Paris City Hall has decided to allow artisans to open on Sundays as well. Initially, this authorization only concerned competition venues and neighboring municipalities of these sites. Now, it extends to the entire capital and all its districts. Given that the number of tourists expected for the sporting events is below expectations, merchants must further promote their business to compensate for this shortfall. Indeed, in a statement released on July 1, Air France and its low-cost subsidiary Transavia France announced that they expect a drop in revenue for this summer season, attributable to the Olympic Games. It remains to be seen how profitable the summer will be for the various sectors as promised by the government.