1-grid assists small businesses to get online quickly and affordably

The rise of remote work, widespread retrenchments and the cost of living, has led to an increase in small businesses.

From selling bespoke goods to offering pet grooming services, building a business online is the quickest and most cost-effective way to reach new customers and have a market presence – be it a side hustle or as a necessity.

Launched in the late 1990s, 1-grid has been at the forefront of integrating business practices with the digital space.

Whether you’ve been retrenched and need to get your business idea off the ground as soon as possible, or you need to earn an additional income; existing online is key to your success.

The internet is where customers search for products and services, read reviews, and spend their hard-earned cash.

With the rise of money-saving DIY website builders and business-focused social media accounts, aspirant entrepreneurs can take their business idea online in a matter of hours – and without breaking the bank.

Beyond a website, there are several other low-cost ways for small businesses to expand their online presence, including social media, WhatsApp business, blogs, email marketing, and Google My Business.

“A website is really just the first – and most important – step of the process of getting online. From here, online tools give you the power to define and reach your niche audience through targeted campaigns and tailored content,” says Thomas Vollrath, head of local webhosting company 1-grid.com.

The first step in setting up a website is registering a domain name that represents your business.

Using a domain search tool, business owners can quickly and easily confirm that their business name is available.

With more than 1.3-million registrations countrywide, the .co.za domain extension is the most popular choice for local businesses, since search engines recognise that these websites are specific to a South African audience.

“For any new business owner, a digital presence is non-negotiable. With its range of free, user-friendly tools, the internet is your best friend when it comes to everything from advertising to managing payments – especially if you have a limited budget,” Vollrath says.

A DIY site builder is often the simplest, most affordable way to create a functional website.

Many platforms offer templates and pre-made themes that can be customised.

When choosing a web builder to set up a site, make sure it offers a mobilecentric design and build elements, as well as other applications.

“Those offering yoga lessons or dog grooming services may need to set up a scheduling function, like our newlylaunched, Go Connect function, which allows customers to book appointments directly via a business’s website, to streamline the customer experience,” says Vollrath.

Servicing 35,000 customers across the country, including loot.co.za and Kauai, 1-grid.com provides company and domain registrations, web and email hosting, web security packages, to drag-and-drop DIY website builders. For more information visit www.1-grid.com.