With the help of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center in UALR’s College of Business, a local bed-and-breakfast business has won a Google Uptick Award for using cutting edge Google technology.

The Empress of Little Rock was named one of five Google Uptick Award winners Sept. 9 at the Association of Small Business Development Centers’ 31st Annual Conference in San Diego.

The contest for small businesses invited business owners to submit 350-word essays about how they have used Google products to tackle business challenges, tap into new opportunities or increase productivity.

Sharon Welch-Blair, co-owner and marketing director, said The Empress has used Google Analytics, Places and AdWords Keyword Tool to improve its online presence and increase website traffic and online bookings.

The Empress learned about the contest from the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s College of Business. Having worked with The Empress for more than two years on its online marketing strategy, the center’s consultants encouraged Welch-Blair to apply.

“We’ve worked very hard during this recession to come back even stronger than we began. Thanks to programs like the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, their incredible employees and tools like Google Analytics, we’ve emerged on the other side ready for the new 21st century economy,” Welch-Blair said.

With guidance from ASBTDC, Welch-Blair and her staff began concentrating on their online presence in 2009 to attract a wider range of customers. ASBTDC continues to help The Empress interpret the in-depth data and statistics Google Analytics provides about visitors to the business’s website.

“Analytics was already installed on The Empress website, but I hadn’t appreciated how much valuable information was available. Working with ASBTDC, I learned what the statistics and charts meant,” stated Welch-Blair’s winning essay. “Redesigning our website was a large investment of time and money.  With Analytics I don’t have to wonder how the site is performing; the detailed information shows me our investment is paying off.”