At Anweshanam.com, we have always celebrated the richness and power of local languages to deeply resonate with our readers. Our enthusiasm was boundless when we joined the 2023 Google News Initiative (GNI) Indian Languages Program. This transformative program has played a pivotal role in expanding our outreach and bolstering our commitment to delivering high-caliber journalism to a broader Indian audience.
Navigating Challenges with GNI
Like many regional publishers across India, we encountered formidable obstacles in fully harnessing the potential of the digital age. The pervasive presence of English-language content online often eclipsed the vast readership that prefers consuming news in their mother tongue. The GNI Indian Languages Program emerged as a beacon of hope by offering invaluable resources and unwavering support to bridge this gap.
Empowering Digital Innovation with GNI
The GNI Indian Languages Program has been a game-changer for us, offering a comprehensive array of benefits that have significantly transformed our operations.
The program’s workshops equipped our team with the latest digital publishing skills tailored for Indian-language websites. From video optimization to mastering Google Analytics 4, and improving website performance and speed through personalized consultations, these trainings have enabled us to implement effective news audience engagement strategies and adopt best practices for building a sustainable digital presence. As a result, we’ve seen substantial growth in our page views and AdSense revenue.
In 2023, the program provided us with native Android and iOS apps, custom-built to enhance our interaction with our dedicated audience. These apps have not only improved user experience but also strengthened our connection with our loyal readership.
How it helped us in numbers
Thanks to the GNI Indian Languages Program, we’ve witnessed a significant positive impact on our publication:
We’ve seen a surge in website traffic, with a considerable portion coming from users consuming content in their preferred Indian languages.
User engagement has risen dramatically, with readers spending more time on our website and actively interacting with our content.
270% Increase in Total Clicks & 148% Increase in Impressions.
We encourage other regional publishers to consider participating in future iterations of the GNI Indian Languages Program. It’s a fantastic opportunity to expand your reach, empower your voice, and contribute to a more vibrant and inclusive Indian digital media landscape.
Announcement
Google has launched GNI Indian Languages Program 2024. The application window is now open. The last date to apply for the 2024 program is 17th June 2024.
The program is structured around addressing the common challenges news publishers face, including building a loyal audience, gaining real-time insights, optimizing ad revenue, and overcoming content creation limitations.
You can take advantage of various tools, such as Real-time Content Insights, News Consumer Insights, Cloud tools for GenAI, Pinpoint, and more, to supercharge your audience-building and content-creation strategy.
The GNI Indian Languages Program follows a structured format with various components supporting and empowering publishers. The program will be delivered in nine Indian languages: English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Malayalam, Gujarati, and Marathi.
Indian language publishers who are interested in the program can apply here.
https://newsonair.withgoogle.com/events/ilp2024