Tag: Google

Best Tips to Optimize your Website for Google’s Page Experience Update!

Recent studies indicate that Google processes 3.5 million searches per day and processes 40,000 searches approximately every second.

Research also indicates that 75% of the users never go beyond the 1st page of the SERPs (search engine result pages). 

These figures are enough to specify the impact of search engine ranking on digital business. Google constantly keeps on expanding its criteria for a better user experience. Introduction of Page Experience Signal is one of the new criteria announced by Google.

 

Decoding Google Page Experience Update:

Page experience is a set of rules that quantify the user experience during a web page visit. Last year (Nov 2020), Google announced page experience as a ranking signal implemented in April 2021 in the Google Search Criteria. 

The motto of page experience update is to provide an improved web experience for all users, be it for desktop or mobile. Of course, multiple factors will impact the same, so let’s check them out.

 

Factors to be Included in Page Experience Update:

Apart from an enjoyable and memorable user experience, page experience is also measured by factors like website performance, page/site load speed, mobile-friendliness, visual stability, secured browsing, HTTPS (Hyper-text Transfer Protocol Secure), and display of intrusions (Ads). Also if you are a wordpress user check out the best WordPress theme for core web vitals.

In a nutshell, a page experience update will check the user experience and rank the same in the search results accordingly. Undoubtedly the good experiences have an advantage over bad ones. Though a few of these factors already exist in SEO, there are some new additions for gaining better precision in user experience. 

Five signals cover the entire Google Page Experience Update, as shown in the below image.

 

 

1: Core Web Vitals:

Core Web Vitals measure the page performance with the help of 3 basic aspects. 

  • Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): 

LCP measures the complete page load time, including the content, images, if any, videos, etc. 

An LCP of 2.5 seconds or less is ideal. 

Removing any unused CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) or shifting them to another style sheet may also help reduce LCP time.

  • First Input Delay (FID):

FID tests the time between the user’s first interaction or the first click on a web page and the actual page response time. 

An ideal FID score is 100 milliseconds or less. 

  • Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS):

Visual stability of your content is important, which is measured by CLS. Unstable visuals or site layouts are responsible for a weak user experience. Ensure a CLS score of 0.1 or less to be in the ranking game.

2: Mobile-Friendly: 

This signal verifies your page responsiveness for mobile devices.

3: Safe Browsing:

This signal checks the page’s security in terms of viruses and malware and verifies whether the same is free from other malicious content, links, bad downloads, etc., or not.

4: HTTPS: 

This signal checks whether HTTPS security is present on your page or not by checking whether SSL certificate is installed on the website or not. 

5: No Intrusive Interstitials:

This signal checks the ease with which your content is displayed to the end-users. For example, intrusive interstitials like ads, while the page download process is on, will be checked and confirmed before the ranking for page experience update takes place.

 

Expectations from the Page Experience Update

Google gives an advance intimation of approximately six months regarding every update, and this portrays its sincerity and desire to web developers, business owners, SEO/IT team for making the necessary changes in their digital infrastructure before the update is finally rolled out in the market. 

Example: For page experience update, the announcement was made in November 2020 and went partly live from April 2021, though it would take a few more months (August 2021) to be completely intertwined with all systems. 

So slowly and steadily, page experience updates will start playing their complete role in SEO.

 

How to Prepare for the Page Experience Signal?

After this announcement, there has been a phenomenal rise in the usage of page performance tools like Google Page Speed Insights and KeyCDN Speed Test, etc.

You can also monitor the Core Web Vitals of your website with Core Web Vitals Report (on Google Search Console), which portrays your page performance and picks out the pages which need improvement. Fix these issues by using any page performance tools, and you’re back in business. 

Mobile-Friendly Test to check out the site and page performance on mobile devices and Security Issues Report for checking the page for security issues can help in better page optimization.

 

Tips to Optimize your Website for Google’s Page Experience Update:

 

  • Make sure Your Site is Secured With SSL Certificate:

In an online business, if you wish to provide a memorable user experience to your visitors, website security is a must. No one likes to ponder on unsecured sites or risk purchases by punching in card details when unsure about their data privacy. Security lapses in site security can harm your SEO ranks.

Apart from using web security check tools like WPScan or Sucuri SiteCheck, for checking security issues on the website for fixing them, installing an SSL certificate for site and data security is a must. 

SSL certificate encrypts all the website data (browser-server communications) by converting it into ciphertext, which looks like gibberish language. As a result, hackers cannot penetrate or misuse encrypted text, and hence customer and site data privacy is maintained.

This digital certificate transforms your website from HTTP to HTTPS, thus enhancing the page experience update signal. 

 

I would recommend purchasing an SSL certificate from ClickSSL, which provides web securities at nominal rates for a decade. Offering all global brands as a choice to customers, this platinum SSL certificate provider provides top-notch quality customer service, money-back options, and other VAS (value-added services).

  • Make sure Your Site is Responsive to Mobile and Other Devices:

Since mobile users cover almost half of the entire web traffic, your website and web pages need to be responsive to mobiles and tablets. 

Statistics indicate that in the first quarter of 2021, mobile devices accounted for 54.8% of the global web traffic and are increasing every year.

 

One section of page experience update needs your website to be mobile-friendly for a better ranking. As stated above, Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool helps test your website’s responsiveness and pinpoint other page load issues.

It’s simple. Just click “view details” near the page loading issues and fix them as suggested by the tool.

WordPress plugins like OBox Mobile help in making your site mobile-friendly.

  • Make sure Your Site Speed is Swift:

Since page load time is one of the major factors of Core Web Vitals, being a site owner, you need to ensure that the faster the page load time, the better the user experience. Therefore, Google, too, condemns slow load time and gives priority to fast-loading sites.

An ideal page load time is less than 2 seconds. But, unfortunately, 40% of the customers abandon sites that take more than 3 seconds to load. 

As stated above, Google’s Page Speed Insight Tool helps determine your site speed and scores your website from 1-100 where 0-49=poor, 50-89=improvement, and 90-100=good.

 

  • Make sure Your Site is Free from Intrusive Interstitials:

Ensure that your visitors are not displayed intrusive interstitials when they click your site from Google. These intrusions are pop-up ads that make site content inaccessible, specifically in mobiles, since they are visible on the entire screen. 

To be more specific, interstitials that are not blocking the content are still fine, but Google does not favour interstitials that block the primary content.

The below image clearly states that in the 1st image, the pop-up is at the top of the screen, making the page content visible, whereas, in the 2nd image, the pop-up covers the entire screen, which creates a negative website impression and provides a bad user experience, which Google disapproves of.

 

Avoid these intrusions for a better Google page experience update.

Wrapping Up:

Ample variables are responsible for gaining a successful SEO rank. After all, everything ends up giving a good user experience. The same rule applies to Page Experience Update too. Checkout on the metrics which Google uses for the same and ensure that your site is up to the expectations set by Google. 

Your SEO is bound to be successful if you secure your current rankings and follow all the Page Experience Update signals so that when the same gets rolling, you are ready to maintain your current SEO position.

The GAA rolls out an anti-Bullying and Internet Safety Programme to 100 GAA clubs in 2022 in partnership with Google

The GAA, in partnership with Google, has launched its anti-bullying and internet safety programme to over 100 participating clubs from the GAA, Ladies Football and Camogie Associations in Ireland and Britain, targeted at the 9 – 12 years age group.

As part of the Gaelic Games, Give Respect – Get Respect initiative, this programme incorporates Google’s Be Internet Legends initiative, an existing free, online safety education programme for primary-age children helping them to become safe and confident explorers of the online world. The programme helps children bring the respect and values they learn on the field into their online interactions encompassing learnings and activities in the areas of anti-bullying, developing positive behaviour and staying safe online.

This programme mirrors the Give Respect – Get Respect initiative which promotes respecting fellow players, coaches, referees, opponents and officials; playing fair; treating others equally; setting an example; and creating an environment where children feel confident and comfortable to talk to a coach or adult if they have a concern.

Speaking at the launch the GAA President Larry McCarthy welcomed the involvement of the Gaelic Games Give Respect – Get Respect initiative in this programme. He said:

“This is an ideal opportunity to raise awareness around the need for young players to show respect for referees, fellow players, coaches and opponents, both on and off the field of play.

“It is the Association’s intention to further develop the ‘Respect Initiative’ over the period of our recently launched Strategic Plan and this Anti-Bullying and Internet Safety Programme will be supported and closely monitored.”

Speaking in Croke Park at the launch, Shane Nolan, Director, New Business Sales, EMEA, Google Ireland, said:

“At Google Ireland, we recognise the responsibility that we have as a company to protect and support the users of our products. We need to play our part in ensuring that the internet is an accessible resource to all and that it’s used in a positive way.  We are delighted to build upon our already successful partnership with the GAA to deliver the Be Internet Legends programme to even more clubs and children across the country. Google Ireland is committed to helping empower young people to act wisely, responsibly and safely all the while remaining confident explorers of the online world.”

Minister of State Jack Chambers TD speaking at the launch said:

“I am delighted to support and help launch this important initiative. Abuse of our players, coaches, referees and volunteers is unacceptable and must be called out – whether it occurs on the pitch, in the training grounds, up in the stands or online. This initiative underlines the commitment of the Gaelic Games family to tackling the scourge of bullying and to protect and safeguard all those who participate. The initiative equips young people to identify and learn how to respond to online abuse and bullying, with the learnings then applied to a sports setting. I congratulate the GAA and partners Google on this welcome and important initiative and look forward to it being rolled out to children in clubs across the country.”

Special Recognition Award “recognises the contribution of Google to Ireland”

IDA Ireland’s second ‘Special Recognition Award’ recognising the contribution of our clients to Ireland was presented by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and IDA Ireland to Google and accepted by its CEO Sundar Pichai, at a special ‘Building The Future Together’ event in California this morning.

CEO of IDA Ireland Martin Shanahan said: “Google is a very deserving recipient of this year’s Special Recognition Award. The company’s expansion in Ireland over the last 20 years is a story that has travelled across the world.”

“These are important relationships to mark, and it is important that we celebrate the huge contribution our 1700+ FDI companies have made to Ireland. Foreign Direct Investment continues to be a substantive driver of the Irish economy. Our client companies in Ireland have demonstrated longevity, resilience and continued commitment, creating jobs – the numbers directly employed in the multinational sector in Ireland is at an all time high of 275,384 (11% of the Irish labour force) – and delivering enormous benefits to the national and regional economies. In making this award, we are also recognising the achievement that is Ireland’s proven ability to be an enduring partner for businesses with international ambitions. It is also an opportunity to showcase internationally the level and sophistication of FDI in Ireland.”

Google opened a small office in Ireland in 2003 and has invested significantly in Ireland over the past 20 years, including over €1.5 billion in the past five years. Google Ireland, as the company’s EMEA HQ, now has a workforce of over 9,000 and serves as a hub for dozens of functions and teams supporting Google’s global operations. This includes almost 1,000 engineers working across site reliability and software engineering functions.

This award is also an appreciation of the work that everyone at Google in Ireland does in helping bring the company continue to succeed and providing support for customers around the world. It also recognises Google’s commitment to Ireland.

Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar said: “I’m really happy to present Google with this Special Recognition Award and sincerely thank Sundar and the team for their continued commitment to Ireland. From a team of 100 in 2003, to over 9,000 today, Google has made an outstanding contribution to our country. I do not underestimate the role the company has played in enhancing our reputation and attracting further investment to our shores. This Award is a good opportunity to thank the Google team and recognise their contribution.”

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet said: “Over almost two decades, Google and Ireland have worked together to advance Irish innovation and develop helpful tools to support the growth of small businesses. It is an honor to accept this award. We look forward to working together to develop Irish talent and make technology part of a strong future for every Irish community.”

Tánaiste addressed the audience of invited guests drawn from IDA client companies, key stakeholders, business people as well as some Google and IDA Ireland employees and presented the award to Sundar Pichai alongside Martin Shanahan.

IDA said that the event would showcase internationally Ireland as a location for FDI and focus on the excellent Irish Tech talent that is available.

Google launches Startup School for businesses throughout Ireland

Google For Startups has today announced the launch of its Startup School programme in Ireland. The series of virtual training courses will launch this April and will be available to startup founders and their teams throughout the country.

The initiative aims to provide support to startup founders and their teams by offering a series of free, hands-on virtual courses aimed at helping them to grow and advance their businesses. The interactive sessions will cover a wide range of areas and will feature Google tools and products such as Google Analytics, Google Ads and Google Cloud as well as training around topics such as funding, expanding internationally and becoming an effective founder.

The courses will be offered for free on Wednesdays and Thursdays for six weeks starting on Wednesday 13th April. A number of the training sessions will be led by successful founders  including Pat Phelan, Co-Founder at SISU Aesthetic Clinic, Alison Sheehy, Digital Marketing Lead at GYM+COFFEE and Ryan Scott, CEO of Dropchef. The Google for Startups Startup School is being run in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland and Dogpatch Labs, who will assist Google in reaching startup teams throughout the country.

Paddy Flynn, VP of Geo Operations at Google, said, “We are hugely excited to launch Startup School in Ireland. It’s no secret that Ireland is well known for its entrepreneurial startup culture and building successful startups. We want to continue our contribution to nurturing the startup community and providing free access to this training is one way of doing that. 

“We are very proud of the great work Google has been able to achieve through partnerships with Irish startups and the startup ecosystem, and with the launch of Startup School we hope to reinforce our commitment to helping Irish businesses to grow and succeed.”

Jake Phillips, Ecosystem Development Director at Dogpatch Labs added, “We’ve always been focused on providing a valuable community for startups to support growth, share knowledge and form connections. Google’s Startup School will be another great avenue for startups to access expert knowledge to grow their businesses.”

Google has been successfully running programmes aimed at upskilling startups for several years now and has recently opened its virtual doors at an EMEA level. The Startup School courses in Ireland will be specifically available to and tailored for Irish businesses with the size of each session capped so that all participants have an opportunity to ask questions and interact with instructors.

Startup businesses can find out more and register for the virtual training sessions online at: https://campus.co/global/startup-school/

New report from Google and Amárach finds that a national investment in digital skills could contribute an extra €9.5 billion to Ireland’s GDP over the next 3 years

A report launched today by Google confirms a substantial economic opportunity for Ireland exists if a meaningful investment in digital skills is made. The comprehensive study developed in partnership with Amárach provides detailed insights into the digital capability needs, ambitions, and plans of 1,000 SME leaders throughout Ireland. The research proposes that a significant investment into digital skills could contribute an extra €9.5 billion to Ireland’s GDP by 2025.

To help Irish businesses succeed online, it is important to first understand how they’re doing today and what their goals are. That is why Google commissioned Amárach to engage SME leaders on their lived experiences and expectations of their digital journey. Titled Bridging the Gap – A Report on Digital Capabilities in Irish SMEs, the study, one of the largest surveys of Irish SMEs in recent years, identified four key gaps in digital capabilities:

  1. Performance – how far businesses are from realising their full potential

  2. Competence – how businesses are struggling to use digital skills

  3. Investment – the role of funding, time, and talent in expanding competence

  4. Advisory – the absence of qualified advisors and suppliers to meet digital needs

The current situation

Most Irish SMEs are in the process of adopting, developing, and evolving their use of digital technologies. But some are further ahead in the process than others.  When asked to rate their own progress, the majority (62%) of Irish SMEs are ‘less than halfway’ on their digital journey. Recruiting people with the necessary digital skillset is also a challenge for Irish SMEs with 41% of respondents agreeing that they do not have a person within the organisation who is tasked with developing digital skills. Only 26% of SMEs say their employees have all the skills needed in terms of basic digital capabilities.

Faced with multiple demands on their time and energy, the report indicates that business leaders believe that the digital skills gap can be closed, but the challenge is prioritising it over other short and medium-term tasks.

Digital tools

The report finds that only 11% of Ireland’s SMEs feel their employees have the skills needed to successfully adopt and use new technology, a statistic borne out in the data where only 53% of SMEs have (or use) social media and video platforms and just 18% make use of customer insights tools. When measuring the number of SMEs that have their own business website, Ireland at 55% ranks comparably lower than the EU average of 77%[1].

The research shows that Irish SMEs are ambitious when it comes to investing in digital capabilities but 50% say they lack basic knowledge about which skills to prioritise. The report indicates that policy makers, advisors, and suppliers to the SME sector need to help address the priority gaps that will deliver quick wins, spurring decision makers to go further.

 Commenting, Alice Mansergh, Director for Small Business at Google said:

“The timing of this report could not be more important, the decisions that business leaders and policy stakeholders make about digital capabilities in the coming months and years will have profound implications for the long-term productivity and profitability of the SME sector, and for sustainable economic growth over the rest of the decade.  For its part, Google will use these findings to help shape the courses we provide via the Grow with Google initiative helping to train people in key digital skills that will empower them to embrace new business and commercial opportunities.”

The opportunity

Irish SMEs are very confident (56%) that meeting their digital skills objectives could make a big difference to business performance, and not just on one or two metrics. SME leaders believe that improving digital capabilities would allow them to increase wages and salaries (28%) and over half of those surveyed (57%) say that meeting their objectives [in digital capabilities] would help them to grow faster and become more profitable.

Bridging the gap infographic

Fiscally, the study proposes that an increased investment in digital skills could grow Ireland’s GDP significantly, calculating an increase of €9.5 billion (to €544.2 billion) by 2025.

Spotlight on Gender

The report identifies several gender differences highlighted in the areas of digital content and social media. Female decision makers in SMEs are more likely to use social media platforms (55% vs 51% of men). Women are more likely than men to see the creation of digital content as a top priority for digital skills development (35% vs 28% of men), as well as using digital tools and channels for marketing (21% vs 17%).

Even though more female leaders than male are likely to adopt and leverage digital tools, female leaders and decision makers in Irish SMEs are less likely to say their organisation is over halfway in its digital journey (58%) than men (65%).

In order for Ireland to achieve its digital ambitions, it is vitally important that female entrepreneurs and SME business leaders are enabled to play their part.

Regional breakdown

Comparing SMEs across the regions we find several differences. 45% of firms in Dublin are likely to think they are more than halfway along their ‘digital journey’ significantly higher than regional firms based in the midlands (32%).  When it comes to the adoption of digital tools, Dublin again maintains a distinct advantage with 62% of firms using a business website compared to only 47% in the border region. Firms in Dublin demonstrate a stronger appetite to upskill with nearly 70% of business leaders in the capital likely to undertake a course in the next 12 months vs 59% of Border firms.

 

These and other differences in the research point to the need for a strong regional focus in Ireland’s digital skills agenda to ensure an equitable and impactful benefit for all our communities.

A post-Covid world for SMEs

The Covid-19 crisis has amplified the power of digital in building business resilience. During the first few weeks of lockdown, Google saw a 300%[2] increase in the number of people taking digital training courses. Research has shown that 80% of European SMEs increased their use of digital tools during the pandemic and those SMEs that embraced digital tools had 60% better revenue results and hired 3 times more employees[3] during the pandemic. The report launched today finds that 64% of SMEs in Ireland say their experience of the Covid-19 pandemic has incentivised them to invest more in digital skills with 76% saying digital tools are more helpful to their business now than before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The report has shown how Irish SMEs are ready to invest in the digital capabilities that will propel their success in the post-Covid era.

 Gerard O’Neill, Chair of Amárach Research added,

“This research is unique in that it provides information and insight directly from SME leaders themselves. The study is comprehensive, representing a cross-section of Irish SMEs and is nationally representative of regions, genders, industries and business models. While we see some subtle differences in the findings, two things are constant to almost all SMEs; first that they believe investing in digital capabilities will enhance their business and second that they are ready to do that now – but they need the right supports. This research allows decision makers, policy makers and industry personnel to have meaningful and informed dialogue that can affect real and positive change to Ireland’s digital landscape.”

  Enterprise Ireland CEO Leo Clancy said,

“Small and medium enterprises remain the backbone of the Irish economy; accounting for  99% of active enterprises and 70% of employment. Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices are committed to supporting these businesses with their digitalisation journeys, investing in the capabilities that will help lead them to international success.

For successful businesses, digitalisation isn’t an option, it is a crucial advantage that allows them to compete and win. The report launched today provides invaluable insight and guidance that will inform debate and enhance decision making as we further invest in digital capabilities across Ireland.”

The full report is available to download [here]

Google hosts guided walking tour of Dublin through a Google

Dublin is home to many undiscovered gems and this March Google Ireland is collaborating with Alternative Dublin on the very first Google Search Hidden Gems Walking Tour, to reawaken curiosity in Dublin with Google Search. Attendees on this free guided tour will discover the city’s unique culture and visit hidden locations across the city through a Google Lens. Google wants to help people explore with the help of Google tools they have at their fingertips.

The Google Search Hidden Gems Walking Tour will show guests how Google can make everyday life easier using Google Lens while exploring the city. Google Lens helps people search and explore what’s around us in an entirely new way. Using a photo, your camera or almost any image, Lens helps you discover visually similar images and related content, with Lens you can search what you see.

The tour will be led by Alternative Dublin, an artist collective that aims to inspire curiosity and introduce a lesser-traveled side of Dublin, away from the tourist trail. These experts in Dublin’s best kept secret’ will show guests a different side of Dublin using Google Search. Guests will be guided to eight different locations over three hours, discovering Dublin’s unique culture through Google Search. The tour will visit a host of locations including street art, historical buildings, thrift shops, street buskers, the perfect photo spots and end with a delicious meal and drink in one of Dublin’s hidden gems.

The Google Search Hidden Gems Walking tour will take place on Friday, 8th April 2022. All attendees will need is a smart phone and the Google App which is available to download on the Play Store or Apple Store. For more information and to reserve a place on this free tour, please visit Alternative Dublin via the link https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/google-hidden-gems-tour-tickets-305423458787. Please note that while tickets are free there are a limited number of spaces only.

Google.org Provides €250k Grant to Support spunout to Establish “Empathy Academy” for Irish Young People

Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, has announced it will support spunout to establish a peer led empathy education programme over the next two years with a €250k grant. In developing the platform, spunout is building on its work in the areas of digital citizenship, mental health and social-emotional learning to help build a safer digital experience for young people.

The grant will be used to develop and roll out an innovative and scalable empathy education program.  Offering a range of peer-led resources designed to help make the internet a kinder space, the empathy-based learning platform will support:

  • Young people at risk of engaging in harmful or illegal behavior online

  • Young people at risk of being victims of harmful or illegal behavior online, especially young people targeted with hatespeech and discrimination such as young women, members of LGBTI+ communities, people with disabilities, and BIPOC

  • Young people who have or might witness harassing, bullying or dangerous behavior online.

The programme will provide a toolkit for building skills in the areas of self compassion, healthy communication, emotional regulation, and conflict resolution and resilience. With grant support from Google.org, spunout’s empathy focused learning programme will deliver a curriculum of interactive, accessible and jargon-free content designed to empower young people with the tools to self-regulate, engender empathy and to engage in bystander intervention online.

Kiki Martire, Director of spunout, commented:

“The core values of spunout are empathy, equity and innovation, and this opportunity to develop the Empathy Academy with  grant support from Google.org, is truly at the perfect intersection of all three. Empathy is an undercurrent in all of our work; empathy for self, empathy for and between young people, empathy in action, empathy in information, and empathy online. We want to be a platform that facilitates the true understanding of empathy, the practice and spread of empathy amongst young people and their communities, and providing quality information as a tool for building empathy. The Academy will enable spunout to empower and support young people to navigate their digital worlds in ever safer and healthier ways, and to connect with each other empathetically in every step of that process.”

Speaking at today’s announcement, Ryan Meade, Public Policy & Government Relations Manager, Google, said:

“At Google, we are committed to playing our part in ensuring that the wellbeing and safety of young people is central to all digital learning experiences. Keeping people safe online is at the heart of everything we do, and we continue to innovate as new challenges emerge. We’re also committed to supporting spunout to foster digital wellbeing and teaching empathy online. Peer led support plays a huge role in equipping children and young people with the right knowledge and tools to navigate the online world. I am delighted to be here today to announce our grant from Google.org and I look forward to the roll out of this innovative empathy focused learning platform.”

On 21st March, to mark the inception of spunout’s empathy learning platform, spunout’s Mental Health content editor, Joseph Morning, will lead a virtual panel discussion of spunout Action Panel members and volunteers to explore their experiences of empathy (or lack thereof) online. Kiki Martire, Director of spunout, and Almudena Lara, Senior Manager, Child Safety at Google, will reflect on the need for empathy based interventions and why Google.Org is supporting spunout in this work.

As part of the announcement, spunout asked a number of Ireland’s young people [aged 16 -25] what empathy means to them, see what they said here.

Google to support Black-led tech startups with $4 million fund to tackle inequality in VC funding

Google for Startups is inviting Ireland-based, Black-led tech startups to apply for this year’s European Black Founders Fund worth a total of $4 million in an effort to help tackle the stark inequality in VC funding.

Black founders have long been playing a key role in Europe’s economy by solving challenges with agility, resilience and innovative technology. But we’ve known for a long time that Black founders do not have the same opportunities and support as many others. Less than 0.5 percent of venture capital (VC) funding goes to Black-led startups, despite the fact that 77% of Black-led tech startups generate revenue and create an average of 5.4 jobs each.

When we opened applications for the first $2 million Google for Startups Black Founders Fund in Europe last year, we were blown away by demand. Almost 800 people applied from across Europe, and 30 startups were selected across fintech, healthcare, beauty, gaming, healthcare and commerce. These startups have gone on to raise over $63 million collectively in funding, and hired more than 100 people, since the program began. When given the right opportunities, Black founders thrive.

Since receiving capital from Google in 2021, founders have gone on to raise funding, hire new employees and grow.

That’s why today, we’re launching a second round of investments in the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund in Europe, a $4 million fund for Black-led tech startups in the region. With double the funding from our inaugural fund, we hope to help even more startups succeed this year.

Established in 2020, the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund provides cash awards — without giving up equity in return — and hands-on support to help Black entrepreneurs build and grow their businesses. The Black Founders Fund has awarded more than $16 million in Europe, Brazil, Africa and the U.S. toward making a resounding impact to help Black-led startups secure funding, strengthen communities and create generational change.

In addition to up to $100,000 (approximately 89,000 Euros) in non-dilutive cash awards, Black Founders Fund recipients receive ongoing Google mentorship and product support to help them navigate every stage of their startup process—including up to $200,000 (approximately 179,000 Euros) in Google Cloud credits.

Founders will also be introduced to each other and the global Google for Startups community of experts for leadership, growth and technical support. This includes partnerships with leading firms to provide specialist support ranging from marketing support from WPP; advice on raising capital from Tier 1 venture capitalists; to donated media campaigns and creative support from national broadcasters like ITV.

Last year’s Black Founders Fund recipients have seen tangible growth and success in the nine months since first receiving the awards. That includes AudioMob, a UK-based startup transforming how game developers are monetizing their games, who recently raised another $14 million; Berlin-based Kwara, which digitizes financial cooperatives to give their members an easier way to manage money and build a credit history, which raised $4 million in follow-on funding; and Playbrush, a startup based in Vienna, Austria, making oral health care fun by connecting toothbrushes to phones and tablets, which was acquired by Sunstar in September. We can’t wait to see what this year’s cohort will achieve.

 

La La Land, a Startup which received funding from the first European Black Founders Fund

Applications for the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund in Europe are open from today. Black-led startups with a live product in market and early traction are encouraged to apply. Applications will close on April 17th.

To find out more about the program, and to apply, visit this link: https://www.campus.co/europe/black-founders-fund/

How to Change Google Chrome Language.

Google Chrome is the most popular web browser worldwide. Thanks to its user-friendliness, high speed, functionality, and stylish interface, it’s a clear favorite for many. Chrome supports a broad range of languages and automatically chooses a language based on your profile preferences. You can, however, change the language manually to any other that you prefer. 

Changing Language in Google Chrome

In this post, we will guide you on how to change language settings in Google Chrome. We will highlight the steps to follow on Windows, Android and iPhone, and iPad. 

Changing Google Chrome Language on Windows

When changing language settings on Windows, you can either translate a webpage or adjust the language of your Google Chrome browser. 

How to Translate Webpage Content in Chrome

Translating a webpage comes in handy when you encounter a website written in a language you don’t understand. Here’s how you do it:

  • Open your Chrome Browser on Windows.
  • Head to a website or webpage written in a foreign language.
  • A Google Translate box will pop up at the top right side of your browser. If it doesn’t, refresh the webpage, then check again. 
  • Change the language to the one you prefer on the Google Translate section.
  • Google Chrome will change the webpage content to your preferred language. 

How to Change Default Language Settings 

Adjusting the language of your Chrome browser changes the language of all Chrome menus and settings. This option is handy when you want the settings and menu to show in your preferred language. Here’s how you do it:

  • Open your Chrome browser on Windows.
  • Click More (the three-dot icon) at the top right of your browser.
  • Select Settings.
  • Click Advanced, then select Languages.
  • Click the drop-down icon next to Language. If there isn’t any language listed, you can add one by tapping Add languages.
  • Once you add the language, click More (the three-dot icon) next to the language you want, then tap Display Google Chrome in this language.
  • Apply the changes by restarting your Chrome browser.

Changing Google Chrome Language on Android

The quickest way to change your Chrome language on Android is from the system settings. Once you adjust the settings, Chrome automatically displays its user interface in your chosen language. 

How to Translate Webpage Content in Chrome

Alternatively, you can also translate web pages in your Chrome app. Here is a guide on how to do it. 

  • Go to your Chrome app on your Android phone.
  • Open a webpage displayed in a foreign language.
  • A Google Translate box will pop up at the bottom. If it doesn’t, refresh the webpage. 
  • Change the language to the one you prefer on the Google Translate pop-up. 
  • Chrome will change the language according to your selection. 

If the language you want is not available on the Google translate section, click More, then select the Choose another language option.

Changing Google Chrome Language on iPhone and iPad

Like Android OS, you first need to adjust the default language in your iPhone or iPad to change the one in your Chrome app. You can adjust it in your iOS system settings. 

How to Translate Webpage Content in Chrome

Here are the steps to translate language of Chrome webpages on your iPhone or iPad. 

  • Go to your Chrome app on your iPhone or iPad.
  • Open a webpage displayed in a foreign language.
  • Select the language you prefer on the Google Translate pop-up. 
  • Chrome will translate the language to the one you choose. 

Closing Remarks

Now that you know how to change Google Chrome language, you can browse any foreign webpage or website you want. It’s always a good idea to use a JavaScript-enabled browser so that you can enjoy a faster and better browsing experience. Here is a guide on how to enable JavaScript in Chrome Windows 7, or any Windows version for that matter.