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Google Marketing Tools Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: What is Google Desktop?
A:
 Find info easily in QuickBooks with Google Desktop™
  • Quickly find the customer, vendor or financial information that you're looking for in QuickBooks or on your computer.
  • Just type in a word or phrase that you're searching for and you'll quickly get a complete list of files that match your search.
  • Click on the link and go straight to the customer or invoice in QuickBooks that you want.
  • Easy, quick, and flexible - You have full control over the search. The Google Desktop tool can search QuickBooks data only when it is accessed within QuickBooks and you can decide whether you want to install the tool or not. Your QuickBooks information is never sent to other parties - ever.

* QuickBooks search powered by Google Desktop is an optional feature that may impact performance and systems requirements. Google Desktop is not available in QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions or QuickBooks Point of Sale.
Q: Why is Google Desktop launching as an optional feature in QuickBooks?
A:
 Google Desktop is being released as an optional feature because it may impact performance and system requirements.

During installation, you can choose whether or not Google Desktop is installed to search QuickBooks. (To learn more about the system requirements for Google Desktop, look at the FAQ titled "What do I need to run Google Desktop?")
Q: Will all products include the Google Desktop feature?
A:
 No, QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions and QuickBooks Point of Sale will not include the ability to search QuickBooks data with Google Desktop.

Simple Start, Pro, and Premier (All Flavors) will include the optional Google Desktop feature.
Q: Can I use Google Desktop to search QuickBooks in single-user mode?
A:
 Yes, Google Desktop will allow you to search for information stored both in QuickBooks and on your computer. (To use Google Desktop to search QuickBooks, you must access it from within QuickBooks by clicking Edit, and then clicking Search.)
Q: Can I use Google Desktop to search QuickBooks in multi-user mode?
A:
 While it is possible to search with Google Desktop with multiple users accessing QuickBooks, QuickBooks data will not index for searching. This means that the results from a Google Desktop search may not contain all information entered in QuickBooks.
Q: How can I get my QuickBooks data included in a QuickBooks search?
A:
 If you are using QuickBooks in multi-user mode, you will need to switch to single user mode. To do this, click on File, then click Switch to Single User Mode.
Q: Are there other methods for finding data in QuickBooks?
A:
 Yes, the "Find" feature is still available within QuickBooks. To use it, go to the Edit menu and click Find.
Q: Are there times when I should use "Find" instead of Google Desktop to search my QuickBooks File?
A:
 Search (Edit > Search) works best when looking for transactions that contain a single specific piece of information such as a name or phrase.

Find (Edit > Find) is the better choice when searching for transactions within a specific range, such as a range of dates or amounts. It is also better if you only want to search specific fields within QuickBooks, such as the memo or name fields.

What are you trying to find?
  • A specific transaction, such as an invoice where you know the number or date? Or maybe find a letter that you sent to a customer? Use Search
  • Information about a particular customer, vendor, or employee? Look for it in the appropriate center. Use the Customer Center
    Use the Vendor Center
    Use the Employee Center
  • A range of dates or dollar amounts? Use Find
Q: Can my QuickBooks information be searched from Google Desktop outside of QuickBooks?
A:
 No, your QuickBooks company data information can only be searched from within QuickBooks. No specific information, such as transactions can be searched by using Google Desktop outside of QuickBooks. Google Desktop will only see the name of the company file, just like it would any other file name.
Q: Can all QuickBooks users search for any data in my company file?
A:
 No, QuickBooks Search will only return results that the QuickBooks user has permission to see. For example, if a QuickBooks user does not have access to invoicing, then no invoices will be returned in a search.
Q: If I use Google Desktop, will my QuickBooks financial data remain private? Is it transmitted to Google?
A:
 Intuit takes customer privacy very seriously. The Intuit privacy team worked closely with the QuickBooks development team to address any potential privacy concerns about Google Desktop and how it works in QuickBooks. Specifically:
  • For new Google Desktop users activating the tool through QuickBooks 2007, the default setting for Google Desktop preferences is to prevent the transmission of any QuickBooks financial data from their computer. The Google Desktop "Search Across Computers" feature is turned off by default in QuickBooks.
  • For existing Google Desktop users who have already turned on the "Search Across Computers" feature, the QuickBooks installation respects the user's choice and does not override the "Search Across Computers" setting.

The “Search Across Computers” feature will only upload copies of Office documents, web history, and pdf and text files that are located in My Documents.

“Search Across Computers” does not upload QuickBooks data to Google servers.

We recommend that users complete the steps below to reset Google Desktop preferences to prevent transmission of data from their computer to Google. It should be noted that the Google Desktop implementation in QuickBooks 2007 was specially developed to ensure that any data that could be transmitted to Google is encrypted and therefore is not exposed to Google. This is true regardless of the settings a user may choose in Google Desktop and regardless whether the user has a prior installation of Google Desktop.

To Reset Google Desktop Preferences:
  1. Click the Google Desktop icon on your taskbar, then click Preferences.
  2. Click Google Account Features and make sure the Search Across Computers checkbox is cleared.
  3. Click Other and make sure the Advanced Features Enable checkbox is cleared.
Q: Should QuickBooks customers be concerned about security or privacy when searching with Google Desktop?
A:
 No. Users can choose to install or not to install the Google Desktop tool during QuickBooks installation.

Also, the search happens only on the user’s computer – no QuickBooks data is ever sent to the web or to Google.

QuickBooks data can only be searched by the Google Desktop tool when it accessed from within the QuickBooks program, meaning that users who are not authorized to access QuickBooks cannot see your important financial data.Finally, Google Desktop can easily be uninstalled at any time.
Q: What is Google AdWords?
A:
 Google AdWords allows businesses to select search terms relating to the services or products they offer to sponsor targeted ads that show up when a user searches on Google for those services or products.
Q: If I don’t have a website, can I still use Google AdWords?
A:
 If you don't have a web page, we can help you create one so that prospects who click on your ads can find your location and hours of operation and can learn more about your business. We offer this service to you free of charge, the process takes just a few minutes, and you don't need to know programming.
Q: What does AdWords cost?
A:
 AdWords puts you in control of your spending. Depending on how your ads are doing, you can increase or decrease your budget at any time, as often as you like – no questions asked and at no extra cost. You can even pause and restart your campaign, as needed.

Set your budget
There's no minimum spending requirement – the amount you pay for AdWords is completely up to you. You can set your monthly budget at the amount you're comfortable with. AdWords shows your ad as often as possible within the budget you set. For example, if you set your monthly budget at $30.00, you're charged a small portion of the budget each time a user clicks your ad, so the higher your budget, the more ad impressions and clicks you may receive.

Pay only for results
You're charged only if someone clicks your ad, not when your ad is displayed. In other words, you'll only pay for advertising that works.
Q: What Benefit do QuickBooks Customers get for Signing Up?
A:
 Try AdWords and get $50 worth of advertising as a risk-free offer.

When you sign up and activate your AdWords Starter account through QuickBooks, we'll apply a credit of $55 to your AdWords account. Your credit of $55 includes $50 towards AdWords advertising and a $5 offset against the $5 one-time activation fee that you'll be charged.

Once you've created your AdWords account, activate it by entering your billing information. In order for your account to be eligible for the credit, your credit card must have a United States billing address.

Once the $55 credit has been applied to your account, it will appear as an adjustment on the Billing Summary page. To reach this "Billing Summary" page, sign in to your AdWords account and click the "My Account" tab.
Q: What is Google Maps?
A:
 Google Maps allows QuickBooks customers to easily add their business listing to Google Maps. This provides a free and simple online marketing opportunity for QuickBooks customers even if they don’t have a website or online presence.

QuickBooks customers can easily post and edit their business name, address, phone number, and hours of operation. Customers also have peace of mind knowing that they have full control over their listing and can change it at any time.

Best of all, this service is provided free of charge.*

Adding a local business listing to Google Maps is free. The link to add a listing to Google Maps can be accessed from QuickBooks 2007 products via the Google Marketing Tools icon on the Home page (Simple Start, Pro, Premier line, ES line, POS, Credit Card Processing Kit, and Invoice Manager).

Google Maps also offers coupons. This means that your Maps listing can also have an attached coupon that will attract customers to your store. As with Maps, this service is provided free of charge.*

* Google Terms and Conditions apply, subject to change.
Q: Does Google require address verification prior to posting listings on Google Maps?
A:
 Normally, Google requires customers to verify their address prior to being listed on Google Maps. However, as a special benefit for QuickBooks customers, Google is waiving the address verification process. This helps QuickBooks customers get their listing on Google Maps even faster!
Q: What are some benefits of using Google Maps?
A:
 List your business on Google Maps to reach new local customers looking for your business - Free*
  • It won't cost you a thing.
    You can create and display a business listing for free. Period.
  • You'll reach qualified prospects.
    There's a very good chance that lots of people are currently searching on Google Maps for the products and services you offer. Whether you have a website or not, why not make it easy for them to find your business?
  • You have full control over your listing.
    With Google Maps, you don't have to worry about publishing deadlines or outdated content. After we initially verify your address, you can edit your listing whenever you like. You'll see your changes reflected in the search results within six weeks.
  • You can manage listings for businesses of any size.
    Whether you have one business location or several, you can manage your listings from a single account.

* Google Terms and Conditions apply, subject to change.
Q: Which web browsers does Google Maps support?
A:
  • IE 6.0+
  • Firefox 0.8+
  • Safari 1.2.4+
  • Netscape 7.1+
  • Mozilla 1.4+
  • Opera 8.02+
Q: Can I add maps from Google Maps to my site?
A:
 Yes, you can. The Google Maps API is available for implementation on any site that is free for consumer use. You can learn more about the Google Maps API at http://www.google.com/apis/maps/ and http://www.google.com/apis/maps/terms.html

While we're unable to provide technical support to developers using the Google Maps API, we suggest you review the documentation found at http://www.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/ and the FAQ at http://www.google.com/apis/maps/faq.html

You may also find useful information in the Google Groups discussion forum dedicated to the Google Maps API at http://groups-beta.google.com/group/Google-Maps-API. For all other Maps usage permission requests, please visit http://www.google.com/permissions/guidelines.html.

Finally, if you operate an enterprise or premium website, you may be interested in Google Maps Enterprise at http://www.google.com/enterprise/maps/
Q: What is the QuickBooks Product Listing Service?
A:
 The Product Listing Service is a feature that enables QuickBooks users to easily upload their product information from QuickBooks and have it be searchable on Google Maps and Google.

QuickBooks Product Listing Service Users can upload their existing QuickBooks inventory information to the web using the Product Listing Service client. The client also allows users to add photos and edit the descriptions of items before they are uploaded to the web.

The Product Listing Service will automatically create and host the product detail pages. The service publishes the listing to Google Base to later be displayed on Google Maps and Google.
Q: What will the QuickBooks Product Listing Service Cost?
A:
 The Product Listing Service will be released as a beta with the fall launch of the QuickBooks 2007 line of products. During the beta period, the QuickBooks Product Listing Service will be offered for free.
Q: What are the benefits of using the QuickBooks Product Listing Service?
A:
  • Get local buyers to come to your shop or your existing web store.
  • Manage your online product information in QuickBooks. Quickbooks Product Listing Service uploads the products you want to list to Google’s database- Google Base. It also keeps pricing and availability information up-to-date automatically.
  • The QuickBooks Product Listing Service does not provide E-Commerce or online shopping functionality.
Q: How long do I have before an item I have listed expires?
A:
  • Whenever any item is updated on Google, all published items are active for another 30 days.
  • Whenever any data for a company is updated on the Intuit server, that company should be deemed "active".
  • If the company is “active” but the Intuit server hasn’t communicated with the Google server for 29 days, we will “touch” the Google server and reset the clock.
  • If a company has no updates to the Intuit server for 30 days, the items will be removed from the web.
  • We will provide an expiration warning email message to users after 25 days of no activity.



©2007 Intuit Inc. All rights reserved. | Terms and conditions, features, support, pricing and service options subject to change without notice.