Salesforce.com and Google alliance targets SMEs

Global- Salesforce.com and Google have formed a strategic global alliance to launch a new product called Salesforce Group Edition featuring Google AdWords and targeting small and medium sized businesses to enable them to leverage on the internet's power to attract and retain customers.

The product combines Salesforce on-demand CRM applications with the Google AdWords platform and provides the elements of the customer lifecycle of advertising, creating leads, closing business and retaining customers to allow businesses to create an online marketing and sales presence.

"The Internet has completely changed the landscape for small and medium businesses and the alliance between Google and salesforce.com enables companies of all sizes to acquire new customers and streamline their business to experience success," Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO of salesforce.com said.

"Now there is a single online destination for businesses of all sizes to attract and acquire new customers, while closely tracking the return on their valuable marketing dollars. This alliance is about introducing new audiences to the benefits of online advertising, marketing and sales through the integration of two world-class solutions to help small and medium businesses succeed in today's global marketplace," Sheryl Sandberg, vice president, global online sales and operations at Google said.

Under the partnership, salesforce.com will act as the official distribution channel for the Google AdWords product across 43 countries and encompasses distribution, technology and co-marketing efforts.