Google taps Chinese firms to sell ads

NEW YORK — Google Inc. stepped up the pace of its expansion in China — and competition with new stock-market star Baidu.com Inc. — by tapping three Chinese companies to sell advertisements for its China site.

Google named China Enterprise, China Source and Hotsales authorized resellers for Google AdWords on Tuesday, adding China to the roster of locales, including the United States, Britain and Latin America, where it has reseller programs.

The Mountain View, Calif., search firm said the three companies offer national reach to small and medium-sized businesses and high levels of support to advertising clients. All three will receive training from Google.

The step suggests Google feels it needs knowledgeable, established local players to help it effectively penetrate the Chinese market.

“There are many Chinese businesses that aren’t utilizing the full potential and power that Google Adwords offers its advertisers,” said Ben Kirshner, head of search-marketing firm Elite SEM Inc.