Google base updated In response to my post about Googlebase, Pat left a comment and asked "What are the features a small business wants on a database?"

Well, in my opinon a simple way to create a catalogue of products or services would be the number #1 small business need. I don't know if you could use Googlebase to do more complex stuff like fulfillment or transactions (but surely Google and other providers have that in their sites).

But I do know that on tradingpost.com.au there are traders who take out three pages of ads, effectively creating their own electronic catalogue.

In addition to making a simple, hosted electronic catalogue, it's completely indexed by Google - so as long as you use the correct words to describe each product, and include pricing for each (for comparison purposes), you should be confident that your catalogue will be found by people with intent to buy.

(Quick thought - you would probably want to create a parallel catalogue with mispelled product names so you catch those people who mis-spell their search terms.)  ¶ 8:58 AM