[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As much of Canada’s workforce is adjusting to the new normal, now may be a good time to leverage technology and adopt some new online strategies. So, what can you do to help keep your business open at a time like this? Either creating a new website for your existing business or updating your current site with e-commerce offerings is a way for Canadians to discover your business, as they spend more time online. 

For existing small business owners that do not have a website or have an outdated one, having a website along with e-commerce capabilities could help your business during these challenging times. According to research conducted by GoDaddy last year, 68 percent of small business owners said that by having a website, they expect revenue to grow within five years. Despite this, over half of small businesses surveyed in Canada do not have a website and could be missing out on the helpful benefits of having an online presence today.

If you think now might be the right time to start creating an online presence for your business, there are a variety of tools available to help you get started. If you have tried a website in the past but haven’t kept it up to date or integrated with other tools to stay connected with customers, now may be the time to look at today’s website builder tools and update your website.  

Here are a few ways to get started:

Find your domain

You already have a business name, you now want to select and register a domain name to help get your business recognized online. Choosing a .ca domain can help Canadians easily find your business online; in fact, according to a survey conducted by the Strategic Counsel in 2019, 83% of Canadian internet users prefer shopping on a site with a .ca domain name. Using a .ca domain name will also let your customers know they are supporting local businesses. 

Create a Website 

You don’t need to be a tech expert to create a website. With GoDaddy Websites + Marketing, you can easily create a website by choosing professional-looking templates across a variety of business verticals to uniquely customize the site for your business. When creating a website, you also want to consider including e-commerce. By creating an online store, your customers can support you at all times. 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Part of being a good business owner is knowing when to ask for help. If you’re not tech savvy, no worries! When it comes to your tech questions, GoDaddy’s Guides are available 24/7 by phone to help you along the way. To help our customers get through the current challenging times, GoDaddy has also launched #OpenWeStand. GoDaddy is responding by minimizing the economic impact to our customers with free tools and ensuring our services and help are always available.

Visit GoDaddy to learn how you can get started on your website today. For those that already have a site, GoDaddy is currently offering free marketing tools and social media design to help you take your online presence to the next level. 

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About the author: Anne De Aragon is Vice President and Country Manager, GoDaddy Canada

Feature image via https://writix.co.uk/