Experience has taught us that a professionally designed and search engine optimised website is far better than a 'quick and dirty' free web presence if you are serious about generating leads online.
However, it is not necessary to have a budget of thousands to get a basic web presence for your business. We have uncovered nine great ways for you to get a web presence for your business without spending anything at all! In no particular order, here they are:
- Freewebs - More than 300 pre-designed templates to choose from, a WYSIWYG editor for content management and a file manager for adding images, documents and multimedia files. You get a [yourwebaddress.freewebs.com] email address. Take a tour.
- Office Live Basics - Microsoft's web starter package. Free full domain name and web hosting, 500MB of website storage space, 25 company email accounts, basic website reports. Watch the demo.
- Geocities - Yahoo's ad-supported web starter package offering a blogging tool, 3GB of bandwidth, 15MB of storage space, a page building wizard and online help. You get a Geocities web address, e.g. [www.geocities.com/your-Yahoo!-ID]. More info.
- Google Page Creator - 100MB of storage space, a .googlepages web address and WYSIWYG page editing from the masters. More info.
- Blogger - Google's blogging tool. Great for communicating with your customers but not as good if you are looking for a brochureware website due to chronological formatting.
- Terapad - A plethora of tools, free on an ad-supported basis. 2GB of storage, 20GB of bandwidth per month, 24/7 email support, integrated blog, shop, WYSIWYG content management, discussion forums, image gallery and much more. More info.
- Wetpaint - Quick wikis. If you are keen to build more of an online community than a brochureware site, Wetpaint could be right for you. Wikis explained here.
- BIO - We'd be muppets not to mention our own great marketing tools where you can create and promote your business profile on a dedicated web page, optimised for your business. Upload your logo, build recommendations and testimonials into your profile - great if you are 'pre website' or looking for a complementary web presence.
- BT Tradespace Basic - "an online community that brings small businesses and individual sellers together with potential customers to do business". Build a profile, describe your company & upload up to 5 photos. Advertise and sell up to 5 items. Take the tour.
Technorati Tags: free web presence, business promotion
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3 comments:
An interesting list, however a web "presence" will achieve little unless it can be found. There is quite a difference between a physical web presence and a web site.
Also the options listed will only provide you with a "sub-domain" web address. Although you may be able to use elementary "search engine optimisation" terms this web page presence cannot be marketed independently such as a true website.
Every serious businesses has "something to say" and needs to have a true website - not just a web presence.
Hi Steve,
Thanks for your thoughts. I agree with what you are saying - there is no substitute for a dedicated website with its own domain.
There are actually two services on the list that provide a dedicated domain with their service - Office Live from Microsoft and Terapad. I agree wholeheartedly that a dedicated domain is preferable.
There are news types of sites that are a mix between Freewebs and full blown social networks.
Sites like ClutterMe.
Must add those.
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