Powerful, budget-friendly marketing tools for every small business.
The world is increasingly ‌digital, and small businesses must adapt if they hope to attract more customers. Yet, over 70% of small businesses lack an online presence. Many still don’t have websites or online stores. Many more rely on free email services, and they conduct little to no online marketing.
Why? These options can seem expensive, and for businesses that must make every cent count, those avenues can seem too distant to consider.
But that’s no longer the case. Affordable and non-technical online advertising, websites, email, storefronts, and more are now available.
Digital advertising
Ads have been around for millennia. The oldest-discovered written ad dates back to Ancient Egypt, over 5000 years ago. Today, online advertising is very effective, modern, and affordable. Small businesses can use targeted online advertising to reach more people, even on tight budgets. But it can also feel overwhelming. Where should they advertise? How do they target the right people? What is the best way forward?
A digital service like eziADS removes the confusion. They provide a single and uniform space that connects to many advertising services. Add a small budget, select audience preferences such as locations, ages, and interests, and start advertising on prominent social sites, search engines, and other ad networks. Monitor everything from a central dashboard to fine-tune the ad plan and get actual results.
Domain names
A business that resonates professionalism will attract more customers, and a domain name is one of the first signs that the company takes itself seriously. Domain names are more than just online addresses. They are brands, and one of the first things potential customers see. Not having a domain has a negative effect. For example, using a free email service will leave a poor impression with 75% of people.
This doesn’t have to happen. A local co.za domain costs as little as R115 annually, and the domain professionals at Vodacom Business help businesses register, park, forward, and transfer their domains with no need for any technical knowledge. If you want to reach a global audience, international domains are also very affordable. Owning a domain is much cheaper than the brand damage a business risks if it doesn’t have one.
Website and email hosting
If a domain is the brand, email is the communication channel, and a website is the company’s online home. Many small businesses lose momentum here. Designing a website can be expensive, and running email requires technical skills. But that’s no longer the case. Versatile, all-in-one hosting services offer everything required in one place: website and email hosting, ecommerce tools, digital security, and straightforward management supported by experts.
There’s no need to start big. An entry-level hosting package at Vodacom Business includes website hosting, email hosting, as well as anti-spam and cybersecurity protection. For less than R100 per month, businesses can get all that plus access to a DIY website builder and quickly construct an online presence using templates, intuitive design tools, and support staff who are on hand to help.
Online sales and e-commerce
An online store offers the ease and convenience of digital sales to customers. Yet, many small companies avoid this because they are concerned about costs, technical abilities, and transaction security. Creating and running an online store seems too complex, and they leave it as a future ambition.
The key to making online stores easy is finding the right service partner. where you can use a digital template and simply upload your product or service images, details and pricing. Another important puzzle piece in connecting your online store to a a secure payment gateway. Fortunately Vodacom Business has the right solutions at the right prices. Setup your online store from as little as R125 per month. Give your customers and your business peace of mind with secure online payments with VodaPay Digital Payment Gateway.
More online options for small businesses
The digital age has eliminated barriers for small businesses, giving them access to tools and services that only large companies could afford. Even if a business only has one employee, they can get domains, websites, email hosting, and online stores to grow their operations.
Small businesses can also offer online booking systems, use reliable business-grade internet, and enjoy the safety of robust cybersecurity services. Create your company’s online presence and brand today: Vodacom Business provides a range of digital services for small businesses, backed by technical experts, world-class software, and professional support teams.
