Tulsa wins another innovation award — this one for how small businesses use the Internet.
Google named Tulsa as Oklahoma’s 2014 eCity. The award recognizes the strongest online business community in each state. Mike Neal with the Tulsa Regional Chamber said it’s another example of Tulsa leading the way in innovation.
"Last year Tulsa was named the No. 1 city for young entrepreneurs by Forbes magazine. Tulsa's been called the top city for young entrepreneurs by NerdWallet," Neal said. "FDI magazine has called the city one of the top 10 cities of the future."
Dave Barr with Google’s Oklahoma data center made the announcement at downtown’s Dust Bowl Lanes. Barr said the bowling alley epitomizes how small businesses should use the Web.
"Dust Bowl is using social media, they're using email marketing, they're using blog platforms, not only to get the word out about the bowling alley, but also to learn more about their customers," Barr said.
Google and research firm IPSOS say more than half of American small businesses don’t even have a website, while 97 percent of Internet users look for products and services online.
Google’s research says businesses using the Internet should grow 40 percent faster than those that don’t and are twice as likely to create jobs.
