A demo on Intuit's website shows its website builder tool in action
(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Google has expanded its free website offering to small businesses in New York through a partnership with website builder Intuit Websites, according to a report by Tech Valley Talk on Thursday.
This news comes on the heels of Google’s partnership with web hosting provider HostGator to offer small and medium-sized businesses in India free websites for one year.
The program, called “New York Get Your Business Online”, will provide New York businesses with free web hosting for one year, website building tools and a custom domain name. According to the report, businesses will also receive a local business listing on Google Places as well as other free tools, training and resources.
As many web hosts target demographic includes the small and mid-size business sector, this initiative by Google cuts into some of that market. Web hosts offering value-add services like storage, data backup and security have an advantage as businesses serious about getting online will recognize those added services as beneficial to bolstering their online presence. However, Google still has an advantage in terms of the free aspect of its offering, as well as its brand being well-known to those even without much internet knowledge.
Website building tools are also desirable for small business consumers as web host 1&1 proved recently with its 1&1 MyWebsite offering, a website building tool that 1&1 has rolled out a TV campaign to reach small business owners.
Google is working closely with New York officials, business organizations and civic groups to design the program including the City of Buffalo, Empire State Development and the NYC Small Business Development Center.
For businesses with an existing website, the program offers education about online marketing as well as one-on-one advice and tips with Google professionals, according to the program’s website.
To get businesses involved, Google is offering free events in Troy, NY and Buffalo, NY. While the Buffalo event is already full, the Troy event on Monday, November 14 still has spots open. To register, visit its website.
The free events enable business owners to create and publish a website, learn how to customize their Google Places online listing, learn how to utilize online tools to run and promote their business as well as provide an introduction to Google AdWords.
“I am thrilled that Google selected the Capital Region for a ‘Get Your Business Online’ event, so that small businesses in the area can get the boost they need to get their businesses online, through free tools and resources like a customized professional website and more,” New York Senator Chuck Schumer in a statement. “Google’s mission to create partnerships on the federal, state and community level is an important one, and will help small businesses in Albany-Troy get online quickly, easily and for free.”
“The more we can promote small businesses in New York, the more we can help the local economy grow,” Scott Levitan, director of small business engagement for Google said in a statement. “Many small businesses have worried that creating a website is too expensive, too difficult or too time consuming. New York Get Your Business Online is designed to help small businesses easily and quickly create their own web presence and start growing their businesses online.”
About Nicole Henderson
Nicole Henderson writes full-time for the Web Host Industry Review where she covers daily news and features online, as well as in print. She has a bachelor of journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto, and has been writing for the WHIR since September 2010. You can find her on Twitter @NicoleHenderson.
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