Google and MYOB claim early success in small business web presence promotion

David Heath
Tuesday, 22 March 2011 12:00

Business IT - Technology

Just three weeks after launching a program to get 50,000 Australian small businesses online with their own websites, 4,100 have taken advantage of the free service.

Launched just three weeks ago, the promotion being supported by Google and MYOB has already attracted 4,100 businesses to construct a web-site and obtain a .com.au domain name.

Participants in the program will receive a year's free web hosting for their wizard-built site (using the MYOB Atlas tool) and two years free use of a .com.au domain name.  Following the free period, hosting will cost $5/month and a domain name renewal is estimated at $30/year.

Tim Reed, CEO of MYOB said, "We're thrilled that more than 4,100 small business owners have already set up their free website. It's a clear sign that once you remove the barriers of cost, lack of knowledge and time for Aussie business owners, they are keen to get online and be part of the digital economy."

Nadia, of Cakes by Nadia, is one of those business owners. With four kids and as an owner/operator of her cake-making and design business in Illawong, NSW, Nadia has a lot on her plate.

"It's imperative for a small business to have this sort of online presence," Nadia said today. "Customers simply don't think you're legitimate without one and Getting Aussie Business Online has filled that need for me very easily and fast."

"It's very easy and I love that I can change, add and delete things daily to suit my needs."

Claire Hatton, Head of Local Business for Google Australia said, "There were nearly 15,000 searches for "cakes sydney" last month. To be among the results, Nadia needs to be online."

All a business needs is an ABN, a telephone number and an email address; with those in hand, they should visit the getting business online site.

And obviously, if their site takes off, any business owner would be well advised to seek professional assistance in building a more 'serious' web site, but this is a very easy (and cheap) way to dip a toe in the water.