Get started online with a free website builder on Websites + Marketing amid COVID-19
Small business owners in South Africa are navigating unprecedented challenges and uncertainty because of COVID-19 and the resulting national lockdown. To keep customers, employees and their communities safe, many businesses have been asked to temporarily close doors to their physical shops and offices with only a few businesses permitted to operate.
While your physical presence is restricted, your website offers opportunities to continue engaging with customers in new, creative ways. GoDaddy is helping entrepreneurs around the world get online and they are ready to help you if you do not yet have a website of your own.
GoDaddy’s response to COVID-19 includes tools to help minimise the economic impact to small businesses everywhere. As part of that response, we launched a free website builder with GoDaddy Websites + Marketing.
We’re providing a free website, plus marketing tools, with no expiration.*
*Subject to the GoDaddy Universal Terms of Service, Websites + Marketing Services Agreement and Privacy Policy.
Reach customers with an online presence
Just like a physical store, customers won’t know how to find you without a sign. Help customers reach your online business with a website that showcases your brand.
Choose from professionally designed templates, customised for your industry.
Add as many pages as you’d like plus content to keep customers engaged — whether that’s a company profile, photo gallery, or something unique to you.
If you want people to visit your website and keep people up to date with your news, a blog is a great way to do it. Blogging is available with Website Builder right out of the box.
Don’t worry about security. Your Websites + Marketing websites include an SSL certificate to protect both you and your customers.
All websites created with the Free Website plan will have a url like “www.yoursitenamehere.godaddysites.com.” If you want to connect a custom domain to your site, you can easily upgrade your plan.
Stay present with marketing tools
Creating a website is only part of the equation. Being where your customers are also means being active on social media.
With your free website, you can manage your social profiles across Facebook, Google, and Instagram. Post to social and monitor online reviews from your Websites + Marketing dashboard, which saves you time instead of checking multiple platforms.
Keep your business active
Closing your doors doesn’t have to mean cutting off your income. You can, for example, promote gift card sales on your website, giving your customers an option to support you during the lockdown.
If you’re a service provider — yoga instructor, personal trainer, life coach, tax consultant— your customers can book their own appointments with you. You can set up Zoom or Teams video conferences until you can meet in person again.
Expert support from GoDaddy Guides
Whether you have a free website, another GoDaddy product, or even if you’re not a customer yet — you’ll always get 24/7, award-winning support from the GoDaddy Guides.
Empowering the everyday entrepreneur
COVID-19 has changed the way we all live and do business. People are now working from home, shopping from home, and looking for new forms of entertainment while at home.
As customers increasingly go online to look for products and services, it’s more important than ever to be accessible with a website and social media presence.
That’s why we’re offering a free, professional, and secure website.
You’ll have the necessary tools to manage your social media, email marketing and online reviews all from the same platform. Plus get the support you need from our GoDaddy Guides, day or night.
At GoDaddy, we’re here to empower the everyday entrepreneur with the tools needed to be successful. We recognise that these are difficult times for small business owners, and we want to help. Learn more about our pledge to do more for small businesses at #OpenWeStand.
Upgrade later
If you want to upgrade to a paid plan to benefit from some of our extra features, you can switch at any time through the My Products option in your account or with the help of a GoDaddy Guide. Once you upgrade your site will have all the same customisations and work that you’ve already put in place, just with the added features.
You can do this!
If you need a helping hand, we’re here for you.
- Check out our How-To videos for content aimed at helping you navigate through COVID-19.
- Looking for stories and inspiration? Visit the GoDaddy YouTube channel.
- Dig into resources on the GoDaddy blog.
- Connect with like-minded people in our #OpenWeStand community forum .
- Find answers to product questions in our Help Center.
- Call or chat with one of our GoDaddy Guides.