Google helps small Ala. businesses launch websites - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Google helps small Ala. businesses launch websites

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By Melanie Posey - bio | email
Google invited small business owners to learn how to launch their own websites at a free seminar in Birmingham. Source: WBRC video Google invited small business owners to learn how to launch their own websites at a free seminar in Birmingham. Source: WBRC video
Google says 54 percent of small businesses in Alabama do not have a website, but 97 percent of consumers go online to search for local products. Source: WBRC video Google says 54 percent of small businesses in Alabama do not have a website, but 97 percent of consumers go online to search for local products. Source: WBRC video
The seminar attendees learned tips on creating their own website. The program offers free website hosting for one year. Source: WBRC video The seminar attendees learned tips on creating their own website. The program offers free website hosting for one year. Source: WBRC video
BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) -

Nearly 200 small business owners took a major step today by launching their own website - for free. Google, the well-known search engine company, hosted the seminar at Workplay today.

Business owners learned how to create a website and launch it, all within an hour, through a program called "Alabama Get Your Business Online."

The website says 54 percent of small businesses in Alabama do not have a website, but 97 percent of consumers go online to search for local products and services.

Tania Adams owns a clothing designer business called "To Suit You." Her website's been down for two months, but not anymore after today.

"It makes me appear instantly more professional and complete and more real and that's what I need to get more customers," Adams said.

Google employee Davis White said small businesses with a website grow 40 percent faster than business that do not.

"We're trying to help the economy grow and businesses find customers," Davis said at today's seminar.

To find out more, you can get all the tips and tools to get your own website up and running for free. The Alabama Get Your Business Online program will be up and running for a year. Find out more at www.gybo.com/alabama.

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