Most would agree that Google is a pretty great thing. Most view it as the most powerful search engine alive. And most have no idea at some of the amazing things Google can do.

It turns out Google is much more than meets the eye. Much of it is right there in front of us beneath the virtual surface in a secret treasure trove of amazing Google tricks, features, and secrets. Here are 10 of the coolest things Google can do that you probably didn’t know about.

Google Sky – If you think Google Maps is a big deal, then try searching through outer space images of stars, planets and galaxies taken from telescopes and satellites.

Google Translations – Really, where else would you go for a quick translation? Just go to the search bar and type in “translate (word) to (language).” Done.

Fly through Google Earth – Of course someone thought of this. Visit Google Earth, press CTRL + ALT + A, and fly around Earth in your choice of simulated aircraft.

Track Packages – Just enter the tracking number of any package, with any company, and see exactly where it is. It’s that easy.

Get to Mordor – If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, you can use Google Maps for walking directions on how to get to the infamous Mordor. Seriously.

Thumb through Classic Books – Google Book Search lets you pull up any classic book and thumb right through the pages.

Goglogo – Proving someone had way too much time on their hands, Goglogo lets you personalize the Google logo to whatever text you want.

Google Guitar – To commemorate Les Paul in 2009, Google created a homepage guitar logo. You can play it, and record it.

Bacon Number – Because it’s all about six degrees of separation. Go to the search bar and type in any name and “Bacon number” to see the degrees of separation from the famous actor.

Currency Calculator – Want to figure out how much you really just spend in a foreign pub? Just type it into the search bar for an instant currency calculator.

Many business owners and managers believe they know just what employees want and need. And no doubt there’s no shortage of advice online listing how to boost employee morale. But know this: There are many ways to boost internal morale that cost little, or nothing.

Many of the easiest fixes for internal morale are simply underrated and get right to the source of employee unhappiness. In fact, a [recent Accenture study] reported that 43 percent of the workforce cited “lack of recognition” as the reason for problems. Not wages. Not benefits.

Here are five inexpensive ways to make employees feel valued and recognized and boost morale.

Listen, and react, to employees. Employees will feel valued when they feel like they are being listened to. Be cognizant of the workplace environment, helping reduce stress and burnout and increasing productivity and absenteeism. Boost employee satisfaction by being aware of life-work balance.

Local loyalty program. Develop a loyalty program with other businesses around you who thrive on business from your employees. Partner on discounts, weekly specials and loyalty programs with retailers and restaurants your employees already use.

Bring in food providers. Something as small as lunch can really build morale when employees are too busy to go out and have to eat at their desk. Arrange for food trucks to come to your location, or invite local eateries to provide midday food at your office to bring convenience to your employees.

Connect with local service providers. Simply put, employees will feel valued when you help save them time and effort outside of work. Who wouldn’t want quick and easy access for dry cleaning, a car wash or even a haircut at work? Your workforce gains value by saving their time.

Have compassion for life issues. Life happens to your workforce, even during the day, and your compassion can go a long way. Employees will have far less stress knowing you have their backs. Be forgiving of hours, have schedule flexibility, and try letting employees out early on Fridays or before Holidays to help provide some balance.

Why do consumers buy what they buy? It’s an age-old question that every business wishes it had the exact answers to solve.

In the simplest terms, customers buy for their own reasons. And the way people buy has changed rapidly due to online shopping, giving consumers more choices – and thus more leverage – than ever before. The advances in ecommerce have also provided invaluable amounts of data, which when analyzed provide a far better understanding of what buyers value when buying than ever before.

It’s long been understood that the buying decision is based on emotional responses based on perceived value or filling a need. Buyers have many options and there are a variety of factors that differentiate products and services, many subjective to each individual.

Some of the lessons learned through ecommerce data likely apply to all buying decisions. According to research by BigCommerce, product quality (56 percent) and free shipping (49 percent) are the top two factors driving purchasing decisions. The most important store feature driving purchasing decisions is competitive pricing (80 percent), while 62 percent of shoppers actually research big-ticket items in stores before buying online. These numbers are just a glimpse into what influences a sale.

Given what business understand about what influences buying decisions, what tactics and strategies can sales people use to increase sales? These are three proven tactics every sales person should know.

Perseverance and tenacity. Historical research shows that only 2 percent of sales occur at the first meeting, and 80 percent of non-routine sales occur only after five follow-ups. The point would be to not give up.

The ‘front of mind’ mentality. As a sales person, when a customer is ready to buy, you want them to think of you and your brand. It’s a fact that many (20 percent) will take more than a year to buy. Maintain effective marketing and communication.

Sell the relationship, not the sale. Successful sales people know that the only thing that matters in sales is relationships. Solving problems, satisfying needs, establishing trust and building loyalty drive the long-term sales process. Successful sales are not about one transaction.

The concept of after-sales service isn’t just abstract theory. Effective after-sales service is a practical business process to improve customer satisfaction, engagement, and retention.

After all, by servicing your customers and clients after the customary sales process, you can tangibly impact the likelihood and opportunities for repeat business as well as referrals. Check out these five helpful tips for effective after-sales management and service.

Make it personal. There are plenty of opportunities to make the after-sales process personal, from personalized shipments to hand-written notes to a phone call or email. Let them know they matter to your business.

Repeat incentives. Nothing shows you want a clients’ business like the offer of an incentive or discount to come back. It shows you appreciate their business and want a long-term relationship.

The customer always deserves your best. Regardless of what is going on personally with you, it’s not the problem of your customers and clients. They deserve impeccable service from you all of the time. Treat them like they are your very first customer and don’t give them a reason to switch.

Ask for feedback. Telling customers you want their feedback lets them know they’re valued and an individual, rather than just another customer. If you genuinely care about the feedback, there is a lot of value in the opinions, thoughts and feelings of people who have already done business with you.

Follow through on everything. Open communication with your customers leads to a standing of honesty and integrity. Simply put, say what you will do and then do what you have said. Being genuine and following through on your commitments and promises will show you care about their repeat business.