Google offers free websites to Indian SMEs

By | 2 November, 2011

If you have a business and need to reach out to customers, then having a website  goes a long way, especially with location-based apps like Foursqare. Google is now removing one more barrier for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) – it is offering free website registration with .in domains.

A website domain typically costs $10 for an year and there is a charge for hosting. The costs can run up to $100 per year for a small business owner. Google is absorbing both the cost of a domain registration and hosting for one year.

Google

Pic: AP.

In addition, Google will be providing a technical assistance with setting up the website by making it very easy to understand. HostGator is Google’s hosting partner.

Removing two barriers for setting up a website for your small business, Google has literally left you with no excuse.

What do Indian businesses get:

  • Free: It’s free to set up your website. The domain is free for one year, and it’s free to maintain your website for 12 months.
  • Quick: The website tool takes 15 minutes from sitting down to being found online
  • Easy: You don’t need to be a tech whiz to get started. All you need to start is your address, phone number, TAN/CIN or PAN to verify you as a business.
  • The website is simple because customers are looking for simple information online.
  • Gives you your own .in domain.
  • Other features include photos/logos, integration with social media platforms.
  • You get a Google Apps account – free personalised email ids.
  • If you want to make your website work harder, you’ll have access to steady stream of free tips and tools from the Getting Indian Business Online team and a free coupon of worth Rs. 2500 INR advertising trial from Google AdWords to help promote your site.
  • After the first year, SMBs can choose to pay a monthly pay-as-you-go to maintain their website using hostgator.
  • At the end of the first year, they’ll have to pay a nominal charge if they wish to renew their domain name. They can cancel their website at any time.

As a part of IndiaGetOnline campaign, Google aims to help 500,000 small medium business in the next three years. India has 8 million SME’s and only 5% of them have a website.

Google had a similar campaign when it launched its Internet bus in India’s hinterlands. The Google Bus has traversed India to educate people about the benefits of the Internet. The IndiaGetOnline campaign is a logical extension of Google Bus.

So India, what are you waiting for? Get Online.

Via Trak.in | Source : Google Blog



READ MORE