Enhancing India’s Small Business Landscape with the Ads Partner Excellence Program
India, a country known for its diverse and dynamic economic landscape, is home to over 60 million small businesses. These small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) play a crucial role in the nation’s economy, contributing approximately 30% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). To maintain their status as a key driver of economic growth and employment, these businesses must embrace digital transformation. Recognizing this, a groundbreaking initiative called the Ads Partner Excellence Program has been introduced. This initiative aims to create a robust support system to help these businesses grow by leveraging digital advertising solutions, specifically Click to Message Ads.
Building a Digital Future for Small Businesses
The primary objective of the Ads Partner Excellence Program is to onboard and train 4,000 digital agencies across India. By doing so, the program seeks to empower SMBs with the necessary tools, training, and support to establish a strong online presence. This initiative is expected to facilitate a digital-first growth trajectory for these businesses, allowing them to reach a broader audience and harness the power of online engagement.
Ravi Garg, Director of Business Messaging at Meta in India, emphasized the importance of this initiative. He stated, "India’s small businesses are the engine of its economy, and digital adoption is key to unlocking their next phase of growth. Over the years, we have made consistent efforts to help small businesses digitize their presence. Through the first phase of the Ads Partner Excellence Program, we aim to enable and train 4,000 digital marketing agencies on leveraging click-to-message ads. This will equip a new generation of marketing partners with the skills and support to drive meaningful growth for SMBs through messaging."
A Vision for Growth in India’s Digital Economy
According to a report by Redseer, India’s advertising expenditure is expected to increase from $17 billion in 2023 to $30 billion by 2028. A significant portion of this growth is anticipated to be driven by small businesses. Despite the substantial number of SMBs in the country, only a small percentage currently utilize digital advertising to enhance their business operations and achieve growth.
By providing training to agencies that closely collaborate with these businesses, the Ads Partner Excellence Program aims to enable millions of SMBs to adopt click-to-message ad formats. This approach facilitates personalized, one-to-one engagement on popular platforms such as WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram.
Program Launch and Structure
The Ads Partner Excellence Program was officially launched on February 26, 2025, and is supported by a one-year sponsorship. However, the program’s long-term vision is to evolve into a continuous, community-driven initiative that spans across India. Participating agencies will benefit from structured learning opportunities and access to top-notch Meta tools and guidance. The program’s offerings include:
- Monthly Webinars: These sessions cover best practices for click-to-message ads, including case studies and performance strategies.
- Newsletters: Regular updates provide actionable insights, templates, and product updates to keep agencies informed.
- Blueprint Courses: These self-paced training modules focus on Meta advertising solutions, allowing agencies to learn at their convenience.
- Leave-behind Materials: Publicly shareable guides and templates are available on the Ads Partner Excellence Program Page, providing valuable resources for agencies.
- Office Hours & Community Building: The program fosters collaboration, mentorship, and peer learning by creating spaces for interaction.
- In-person Masterclasses: Conducted in more than 20 tier 2 cities, these sessions offer hands-on learning opportunities.
This ongoing engagement ensures that the training provided is not a one-time intervention but a sustained effort to enhance the skills of agencies and expand their impact.
Economic Empowerment and Beyond
The Ads Partner Excellence Program aligns with the broader goal of economic empowerment by enabling partners to better serve small businesses. By building digital capacity and ensuring more equitable access to India’s digital economy, the program aims to create a level playing field, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. This initiative is a significant step toward establishing a self-sustaining ecosystem where agencies grow by helping small businesses thrive.
Conclusion
The launch of the Ads Partner Excellence Program marks a pivotal moment in India’s journey toward digital transformation. By empowering digital agencies to become growth partners for SMBs, the program is set to unlock new opportunities for these businesses, driving economic growth and innovation. As India continues to invest in its digital future, initiatives like this will play a crucial role in shaping a more inclusive and prosperous economy.
For more information on the Ads Partner Excellence Program, you can visit the official Ads Partner Excellence Program Page.
For more Information, Refer to this article.
