Google Offers grows partnerships; brings expanded collection of deals to five additional markets

Starting today, those of you in Boston, Chicago, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., can now enjoy more daily deals from your favorite daily deal sites in one single place, just as those in New York and San Francisco.

Google Offers, which is now live in 38 cities across the U.S., is continuing to build momentum by partnering with three new deal provider partners, including CrowdSavings, SpaRahRah!™, and LocalWineEvents.com. These partners join Google’s growing roster of specialized deal providers that promote their deals through the Google Offers platform. Our new partners help us bring a greater variety of unique deals to Google Offers customers, giving you more reasons to treat yourself and your friends to a great deal.

And if you take the Google Offers personalization quiz, we’ll only send you the offers that best match your interests each day, so you only get the deals you want, and not the ones you don’t. All your offers will be personalized to you in one email and they are accessible through the web or on your mobile phone.

Subscribe and learn more about Google Offers by visiting: www.google.com/offers. And if you are a deal provider and are interested in partnering with Google, please get in touch with us via our partner program form.

Posted by Peet Sasaki, Software Engineer, Google Offers

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Google Offers Keeps Momentum in 2012: Five New Cities Launch Today

2011 was quite a year for Google Offers. In only six months (since we first launched in Portland) we introduced amazing deals from beloved local business in 33 cities in the U.S., launched national deals and released our first mobile app.

Well, good news deal lovers! We’re keeping up the momentum and 2012 is going to be just as exciting. As of today, Google Offers is available in five new cities including: Charlotte, Kansas City, Milwaukee, San Antonio and Tampa.

Here are the details about our debut deals in these terrific locations:

Charlotte: $11 for a beer tasting, growler bottle, souvenir glass & soft pretzel at The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery ($22 value)
If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself—this is the force behind
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. Born of the belief that every town should have fresh local beer,
the talented brewers churn out premium all-natural lagers and ales weekly. After tasting such fresh beer, your happy hours are sure to be even happier—$11 gets you a beer tasting, growler bottle, souvenir glass and a soft pretzel at The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery ($22 value).

Kansas City: $5 for $10 of food and drink at Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque Restaurant
Some say Washington and Jefferson, others claim Adams and Franklin, but Kansas City’s vote for favorite founding fathers goes to Charlie and Arthur Bryant, veterans of the KC barbecue revolution. Cast your ballot at Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque, where $5 gets you $10 toward their iconic menu.

Milwaukee: $5 for $12 toward burgers, brews & more at Sobelman’s Pub & Grill
In a city where the state domesticated animal is the dairy cow, residents have an innate ability to seek out great cheeseburgers. Follow your instinct to Sobelman’s Pub & Grill, where our first Milwaukee Google Offer is: $5 for $12 toward award-winning burgers and more. Lines often stretch out the door at the original West Saint Paul joint, so luckily you can also use this Google Offer to get mouth-watering burgers at the new Sobelman's Eastside Grill and Sobelman’s @Marquette.

San Antonio: $10 for $20 of fine sandwiches, pasta, steaks & more at Liberty Bar
Though “beauty and charm” was not likely the mantra of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica, they’ve given their stamp of approval to Liberty Bar’s current residence in their old convent. Salmon-colored paint or not, you’re headed for a “quintessentially San Antonio spot” where $10 gets you $20 of “excellent, eclectic eats,” according to Zagat.

Tampa: $5 for $10 of Greek cuisine at Louis Pappas Market Cafe
With a menu full of secret family recipes and cafes with friendly and quick service, it’s no surprise that the Louis Pappas Market Cafe family restaurants have seen over eighty years of success in Florida. For $5, today’s Google Offers gets you $10 towards delicious Greek cuisine at any of the cafe’s four locations: Palma Ceia, Citrus Park, Lakeland and Clearwater. Be sure to try the popular “Greek-a-dilla”—a crispy flat bread full of meat, melted feta and cheddar jack cheeses, served with tzatziki.

Check out www.google.com/offers to learn more and subscribe to Google Offers in your city to be among the first to know about the latest and greatest national and local deals, relevant to you.

Posted by Eric Rosenblum, Director of Product Management, Google Offers

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Google Offers to feature a week of Zagat’s top-rated eateries in Washington, D.C.

Since the launch of Google Offers in Washington, D.C. this past September, we’ve partnered with a diverse list of restaurants all over the city, putting their unique fare in the hands (and mouths) of local foodies. We’re kicking off 2012 by showcasing several of the top Zagat rated restaurants in the D.C. community. Our goal is to continue to connect D.C. residents with local staples and foster the discovery of hidden gems.

Starting January 23, if you’re a Google Offers subscriber in Washington, D.C., we’ll send you an email featuring a special deal for a Zagat rated restaurant. If you’re not a subscriber to Google Offers in Washington, D.C. make sure you sign up so you won’t miss out on these fantastic offers. Here’s a sneak peak:

• Kaz Sushi Bistro: Zagat calls Chef Kazuhiro Okochi’s hotspot “one of DC’s most inventive and approachable sushi restaurants.” Using only the freshest ingredients (and most cutting edge techniques), Chef Okochi prepares unique cuisine that keeps foodies coming back for more. See for yourself: $15 gets you $30 of refined Japanese fare.
• Kushi: Named Washington Post Editors’ Pick, this Japanese gastropub features authentic cuisine in a casual, modern atmosphere. Step outside of your comfort zone for Japanese delicacies like wood grilled eringi mushrooms and miso marinated black cod: $30 gets you $60 toward Japanese fare.
• Marvin: Featured by Zagat as a “place to see and be seen,” Marvin combines Southern-fried cooking with a continental twist. Sample soul food inspired by Marvin Gaye, the Prince of Soul himself: $80 gets you a five-course prix fixe meal—including beer and wine flight. Plus, expect a surprise if you attend the exclusive Google Offers event on February 23!
• Nage: Dive into a gourmet meal at Nage, where surf-inspired food is prepared using classic French technique. And see what Zagat, Food Network Magazine and The Washington Post are raving about for yourself: $20 gets you $40 of upscale bistro fare at this centrally-located hidden gem.
• Zaytinya: Called DC’s “Most Popular Restaurant” by Zagat, Zaytinya has earned accolades everywhere from The Washington Post to the Washingtonian to the James Beard Foundation. Taste Mediterranean like a true gourmet with superstar chef José Andrés’ modern mezze: it’s $45 for the Chef’s Winter Tasting menu at this Gallery Place hotspot. Plus, for every Google Offer purchased, Zaytinya and José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup will donate $20 to World Central Kitchen to help end hunger.

The Google Offers D.C. team has worked hand in hand with these restaurants to bring you these great deals. We hope you enjoy this week of offers for top Zagat rated restaurants and take full advantage of the incredible food scene that our nation’s capital has to offer.

To subscribe to Google Offers in Washington, D.C. and other locations across the U.S., please visit: www.google.com/offers. And check out our free Google Offers app for Android to find and buy great deals on the go.

Posted by Guli Zhu, Business Analyst, Google Offers

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Google is going 'Big' at NRF 2012

In just a few days, we’ll be in New York to take part in the National Retail Federation’s 101st Annual Convention & EXPO-- A.k.a: Retail’s BIG Show. We’re excited to be at the show again this year and look forward to showcasing Google’s Commerce products including Google Wallet, Google Offers, Google Shopper, Google Catalogs, Google Product Search, Google Trusted Stores, Google Commerce Search, Offer Extensions, Product Listing Ads and more.

Come visit us on the EXPO floor at booth number 2375, between January 16-17, to meet with the Google team and learn how our tools can help you attract new customers, connect with shoppers in new ways and drive growth for your business.

We hope to see you next week at the show.

Posted by Keren Michelson, Google Wallet Marketing

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Together Google Offers and NYC Bakery, Fat Witch, deliver a sweet deal

Located in New York's Chelsea Market, Fat Witch Bakery has been wowing customers and critics for more than 20 years with its all-natural brownies. Owner Patricia Helding worked as a Wall Street trader before launching her celebrated line of "witches.” Since then, Helding's bakery has grown to become a local, and national, favorite having been profiled on Oprah's "Favorite Things," the Food Network, and Good Morning America in recent years.

Patricia Helding, Owner, Fat Witch Bakery

Since opening the bakery in 1991, Patricia has never implemented a traditional paid advertising campaign because the “brownies speak for themselves.” However, with hopes to expand her brick and mortar business this year, Patricia has been looking for new ways to drive increased awareness for her brand as well as attract new customers. So, when the Google Offers sales team approached Patricia about running an deal, she jumped at the chance.

“I’m a big Google fan to begin with, so it was a natural move to run a Google Offer. And Google has a huge reach. Everyone in the world uses Google. I like that people from all over can walk into the store and use a Google Offer to experience our brownies,” said Helding.

Together, Patricia and the Google team crafted an offer that accurately matched the Fat Witch brand and business model. In July 2011, the bakery ran its Google Offer: $20 worth of brownies, gifts and more for only $10.

In addition to the increased brand exposure Fat Witch garnered on the Google Offers site, the deal was also promoted on Google’s social media channels and sent to subscribers in New York City via email. "All I had to do was cover the cost of baking,” recalled Helding.

Popular “witches” include the classic chocolate Fat Witch and the Blonde Baby -- think chocolate chip cookie in a brownie form -- (pictured)

And the results were so sweet! In just 24 hours more than 400 Fat Witch offers were sold and traffic into the bakery increased by 10%. “Our number one reason for running a Google Offer was to attract new customers, as well as reward our loyal customers with a great deal,” said Helding. “I would say the majority of people who came into the store to redeem the offer were new to Fat Witch and had never tried our brownies before. We also saw a lot of people come in for our “witching hour” from 5-8pm where brownies are half off.”

Helding is eager to keep growing her business. “Absolutely I'd do another offer with Google. I think it's a great concept. We don't lose money and the offer drove store traffic and really got our brand out there.”

If you’re a merchant and are interested in running a Google Offer, please visit google.com/offers/business.

Posted by Yoshiko Ono, Account Manager, Google Offers

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Let’s play some games!

I’m a huge gamer at heart. And because of this, I love working with Google In-App Payments and helping developers make money from their awesome games. Many of us will be spending the holidays at home enjoying family time and some rest and relaxation. What better way to rest and unwind than with some awesome games that you can play in the browser instantly? Below are some of my favorite games that showcase how developers are utilizing the web platform and creating immersive, monetizable games.




Bastion
Bastion is a story-driven action RPG with beautiful 2D visuals. You control ‘the kid’ (protagonist) with your keyboard and mouse, navigating him around the world to collect pieces and rebuild the bastion. The action is intense and rewarding, and the RPG elements addictive. If you haven’t already purchased the full game, check out the first area for free before buying the full game.

Cordy
Cordy is an adorable puzzle platformer. The goal is to complete a level as quickly as possible while collecting all of the items and enough energy to charge/unlock the exit. It’s gorgeous, fast-paced, and fun to play. Try it for free and you can upgrade to the full version in-game.









Fieldrunners
I’ve been addicted to Fieldrunners (and tower defense games in general) for years, and now it’s available in the browser. Personally, playing in the browser totally fixes my fat finger issues with tower placement. For those of you that have never tried tower defense games, the goal is to prevent enemies from reaching their goal by building a maze of towers that damage them.










GT Academy
Motorsports has always been one of my hobbies, and GT Academy is great because it’s a browser-based racing sim. You can progress through your career achieving better licenses and unlocking faster cars. Once you’ve honed your keyboard driving skills, challenge other players in online multiplayer.









Dragons of Atlantis
I honestly can’t define why this game is so addictive, but I keep going back over and over. Dragons of Atlantis is an empire game where you build your cities, develop your armies, establish alliances, and raid other empires. If you haven’t tried this game, run through the tutorial and you’ll be thoroughly hooked.









Angry Birds
It’s the classic Angry Birds that everyone loves, but with new holiday-themed levels to challenge you. Check out the latest HTML5 Angry Birds.








In addition to the games highlighted here, there are more great games to be found in Chrome Web Store and on Google+. After your holiday feast, have some fun and take a look at what you can now do within your browser.

Posted by Peng Ying, Developer Advocate

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Commerce API World Tour

Over the past few months, the Google Commerce Developer team has been very busy spreading the word about Google’s In-App Payments and Shopping APIs for Search and Content. In addition to meeting developers at events in the United States, we had the opportunity to engage with developer communities around the world.

We started our world tour in Japan at Google Developer Day, Tokyo. We continued globetrotting to Australia for GDD Sydney, then to Spain for Google DevFest, Barcelona and finished in Germany with events at the Berlin GTUG and GDD Berlin.

Peng Ying and Mihai Ionescu presented distribution and monetization strategies for web applications to developers in Tokyo, Sydney and Berlin while Danny Hermes spoke about using the Google Shopping APIs in Barcelona.

We love meeting and talking to developers, and we’re looking forward to continuing to connect with developer communities worldwide. With the recent international expansion of In-App Payments, we’ll be hosting a hangout on Google+ tomorrow December 20th at 11AM PST to answer monetization questions.

For future events, keep an eye on this blog, our social media channels and the Google Developers events page, or join a Google Technology User Group.

Posted by Mihai Ionescu, Commerce Developer Advocate

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