Get free business web site and .co.uk name
Listen to this item
The government is backing a scheme by Google, Enterprise UK and a number of other partners including PRIME to get more British businesses online. The campaign will kick of later this month with the launch of a set of free tools to simplify the building of a straightforward business web site, hosted by Google.
The scheme is called Getting British Business Online (GBBO). It is a nationwide campaign that will offer small businesses located in the UK the tools and knowledge to do business online from their own free website.
You can pre-register your interest by leaving your email on the GBBO web site.
We’ve not yet seen the automated web site building tool, so we’ve not had a chance to check out how good it is or what the limitations are. But here’s what GBBO promise.
You get:
A free web address: Choose from any available ‘.co.uk’ domain name. If the name you want is already taken, the system will suggest another.
A free web site: You complete a short form online and and the system promises will create a customised, professional looking website, tailored to their business type
Free online marketing: All sites created will be listed for relevant queries in the Google search engine.
PRIME has worked with Enterprise UK and the relevant government department BIS before, which is why we are think it is worth keeping an eye on how this scheme develops. The web site is free, so if it’s any good it’s probably worth investigating to see if it’s suitable for your business. There are also likely to be a number of training providers offering courses to help people who need it. Some of these may not be free.
For businesses that already have a web site GBBO is promising another set of tools to help them perfect and market their web site. But is too early to say anything more about them.
Print this item
March 4th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
This seems a good idea ; uk govt backing a google initiative (or vice versa). I am struggling to build and publish an english language online site for myself and interested teachers to operate. The market is huge and I need to work with google I am 65.
Regards John
March 9th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
The service is now live
http://www.gbbo.co.uk/
March 25th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Hi The Internet Business Coach are partners on this project,. The Intiative was launched on the 24th Feb at Googles head office. The package does consist of a free .co.uk domain for two years with a renewal of around £6 after the two years from BT, You get free hosting from Google for the year and a web wizard to help put your site up. It is not too technical a process to go through although if you are not very web savvy can be a bit trying.
As a partner we will be providing a series of training events and webinars. At the events people can come along and have their basic site up before they leave, all participants will be provided with full help, handouts and any other helpful hints and tips they need to get up and running on the day. The actual events themselves will cost £50 of which £5 will be going to Cancer Research UK.
The Webinar [that's online] training for those whose have greater command of the web will cost £25 again with £5 going to Cancer Research UK. If anyone would like more information on how to book or general help if they prefer to do the whole process themselves then please do contact us on http://www.theinternetbusinesscoach.co.uk by clicking the Contact Us button on the site and filling in the your details with a brief message. We would also be happy to answer any further questions anyone may have on the initiative.
March 25th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Hi Dee,
Thanks for that.
PRIME is a partner too, and we’ll be doing training on setting up free web sites obtainable under the scheme ourselves - eventually.
Like all PRIME services these will be free to our clients, but done as an hour-long session as part of a more general business start-up event. And we’re not sure yet when they’ll start - or where!
Meanwhile if you need help check out the other partners such as Dee.
There’s a UK map with lots of partners on at
http://www.gbbo.co.uk/learnmore/inyourarea/
April 5th, 2010 at 6:13 pm
Great, please to hear the news Ian, Just a quick note for people who are interested. Our sessions are actual more workshop type 1/2 day, where you bring your laptop and we show you step by step how to get all the free offerings, how to use google tools to make your site more functional, tips and tricks which you will not find help for on the GBBO site to make your site more functional, Some SEO and more info on how to market your business online for free or low cost. Unfortunately the GBBO site for events in your area is not working properly at present so is not showing all our events, however we do have a Free event coming up on the 16th April 2010 at ELSBC (East London Small Business Centre), Barking please register on my site for it. Also there is a paid webinar on the 17th which is shorter and goes at a bit of a quicker pace as mentioned previously.Hope this info helps people