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Why small businesses need both a domain name and hosting to create their digital presence

GoDaddy shares the difference between a domain name and hosting, and how they work together to help get a business online.

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The opportunity to launch your own website and join the ranks as a small business owner is an exciting new venture.  Before you begin to take a business online, it is helpful to understand that getting started means choosing both a domain name and a hosting provider.

GoDaddy shares the difference between a domain name and hosting, and how they work together to help get a business online.

What is a domain name?

A domain name is considered your business home and piece of real estate on the internet. Choosing and registering a domain name is critical to getting your business or idea online with increased visibility.  Most business owners try to choose a domain name that matches their business name, or one that aligns closely. 

A domain name needs to be memorable and different from other domain names on the internet.  With many names already taken on the internet, you may need to be creative, however, choose a name that is easy to remember and easily spelled. Many domain providers, including GoDaddy, have an online search tool on their website to help find domain names that are available.

If your desired domain name is already taken, you can consider choosing your business name with a different name extension.  For example, many websites have a .com extension at the end of their business name, however there are many other domain name extensions available today.  These can include sector based name extensions like .shop, .accountant, .plumbing, and .tv, which can help consumers know the business of your company.  Or you can consider a geography-based name extension like .ph or .sg, which tells your customers where you are located, as more consumers look to shop locally.

What is web hosting?

Web hosting is a service that allows you to rent space on a server for your website and its contents. Think of your website as a collection of digital files that includes information; photos; videos; design elements and other types of content.  You need a space to store all these files, so people can visit your website, browse your pages, and make purchases day or night, by people from around the world.

This space is considered hosting and is offered by a variety of hosting providers. Hosting services are available in a variety of plans. It is important to choose a hosting plan that meets the needs of your business and can grow with you as your business grows.

It is important to keep your hosting plans up to date to help ensure that your domain name registration stays current.  You can consider automatic renewals for your domain name to help keep your business domain name registered to your business, and not picked up by the competition.

How do domain names and web hosting work together?

Knowing the difference between domain names and hosting is where many people get confused, but it isn’t complicated.  Think of your domain as a street address, guiding people to where your website lives online.  Hosting allows you to store the files that make up your site at that location (your domain name), so visitors have something to see.

If you’re new to domains and hosting, both are important and work together, so you may want to consider purchasing them together for the easiest user experience. Setting up with one provider can feel more streamlined, since everything is with one company, helping you reach audiences that can help your business grow.

To help make it easier, annual GoDaddy Hosting plans includes a custom domain name, and security protections.

What to look for in a hosting provider?

  • Storage: For most small- to medium-sized business websites, a few gigabytes of storage may be sufficient. 
  • Bandwidth: People with large websites who expect to attract many visitors require more bandwidth.
  • Scalability: The option of having an automatic increase in storage/bandwidth in case of a large traffic spike on your site.
  • Reliability: Look for a 99.9% uptime guarantee or better. A website that is frequently down can negatively impact your business growth.
  • Security: options available for website SSL Certificate protections and for security monitoring for malware/virus protections.
  • Backups: Some providers offer scheduled backups of your website content and store them as a part of the hosting plan chosen.
  • Support: 24/7 customer support availability, so you can call for help at a time that works for you.
  • Analytics tools for gathering information about your marketing efforts and your website use.
  • Tools that allow you to integrate your website with your social media pages.

Now that you have a deeper understanding of what domain names and web hosting are, and how they work, you are better equipped to lay the foundations of your digital strategy, launch, and grow your business on the internet.

Tech & Innovation

Store-specific planogram: AI-driven trend that changes retail space planning

Through advanced tech, retail space planning driven by artificial intelligence is now possible. This is in the form of store-specific planograms. RELEX Solutions, a leading supply chain and retail solutions provider, shares its insights on this emerging trend.

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In the retail industry, customer expectations are straightforward: they want to easily find the products they need and enjoy a hassle-free shopping experience. If a store falls short in these aspects, it risks losing its place as a preferred shopping destination for customers. That is precisely why the foundation of a great customer experience lies in effective space planning.

Commonly referred to as a planogram, space planning involves optimizing a store’s layout and product placement to enhance customer experiences and increase sales. Effective strategies include positioning high-demand and seasonal items near the entrance, ensuring accessibility and visibility in key areas, and adapting layouts based on sales data and customer feedback.

In the Philippines, planogram preparation is mainly a manual process, although retailers use digital tools for sales data analysis. However, for larger retailers dealing with extensive data and numerous products, manual adjustments can become overwhelming. 

Through advanced tech, retail space planning driven by artificial intelligence is now possible. This is in the form of store-specific planograms. RELEX Solutions, a leading supply chain and retail solutions provider, shares its insights on this emerging trend.

“A store-specific or local planogram is one designed for a particular store or location.  Unlike a standardized planogram that may be used for multiple stores, a local planogram takes into account the unique characteristics of a specific store, such as its layout, customer demographics, and sales data,” said Donald “DJ” Felbaum, Head of Sales for the Philippines at RELEX Solutions. “It is tailored to the individual needs and conditions of that particular location to optimize product placement and merchandising to drive sales and improve customer service.”

However, it is often seen as challenging and time-consuming due to the anticipation of lengthy, costly, and uncertain implementation projects. For instance, imagine a retailer with 1,000 stores, each needing weekly updates to five planograms. If one planner creates ten planograms daily, it would require an impractical workforce of 100 planners, along with ongoing training. But the integration of AI and machine learning automation can address these challenges. AI-powered automation can help users configure parameters and apply them across thousands of planograms, saving costs and avoiding additional expenses related to inventory adjustments for layout and local consumer preferences.

The benefits of AI-generated local planogram optimization also include precise store shelf configuration and a one-touch replenishment model. This approach, which enables immediate stacking of incoming stock onto display units, facilitates one-way inventory that results in cost reduction by eliminating the need for staff to transport excess stock to back rooms, enhancing the efficient use of available storage space, and reducing restock frequency of fast-selling products. 

Furthermore, AI and machine learning automation usher in interactive, standardized merchandising reports. These insights unveil concealed issues and provide both macro and micro data perspectives, empowering retailers to proactively optimize product placement, fine-tune pricing, and enhance inventory management. 

Store-specific planograms epitomize the future of space retail planning, optimizing product placement, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Harnessing advanced technology in retail, this tailored approach allows retailers to adapt swiftly to market changes, leading to elevated customer experience, improved profitability, and fostering brand loyalty.

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Tech & Innovation

Concrete tips for effective SEO strategy

SEO is now more important than ever. More consumers are using the internet to research and purchase the products and services they require.

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The digital marketing industry is often clouded by myths and misconceptions, particularly when it comes to Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Geek Certified CEO Scott Wilson, SEO presenter with two decades of experience, is here to set the record straight with valuable insights and actionable tips for businesses looking to improve their online presence.

SEO is now more important than ever. More consumers are using the internet to research and purchase the products and services they require. At this very moment in time, someone is searching online, for the products you sell and the services you offer. Will they find you in the jungle we call the internet or connect with one of your many rivals?

Debunking Common SEO Misconceptions

In an industry rife with “snake oil salespeople” and misleading promises, Wilson emphasizes that despite the daily barrage of emails promising to elevate websites to the coveted number one spot for a fee, SEO is not an arcane art shrouded in mystery. Contrary to popular belief, search algorithms from Google and other search engines are not re-written on a daily or even monthly basis. Instead, updates are methodical improvements to refine the process of organizing global information.

Wilson states, “Search rankings among websites are quite stable. We track our customers’ results and their competitors’ monthly, and while there are fluctuations, the overall landscape remains consistent.” Scott’s team’s monitoring of search results over the past 20 years affirms the stability of search rankings when businesses provide an exceptional customer experience.

Truths About SEO: Stability and Quality Over Gimmicks

The core of Wilson’s message is that the quality of the user experience is paramount. Google and other search engines aim to guide users to the most relevant and valuable web pages for their queries. “If you prove to Google by providing an outstanding customer experience, your ranking results will be stable without the need for constant page reinvention,” Wilson advises.

He outlines three pillars essential for maintaining a robust SEO strategy:

1. Substantial Content

Wilson recommends having at least 1500 words of quality content to ensure depth and engagement on your web page.

2. Receiving Links

Just as social media teams request “likes”, Wilson suggests businesses should ask for links from related web pages within their business networks. Search engines treat each link as a vote of confidence.

3. User Interaction

By examining Google Analytics, businesses can ensure that their web pages facilitate interaction. Providing valuable downloadable content, creating smooth e-commerce experiences, and engaging visitors with videos are all strategies to keep users on your page longer.

Real Tips for Real Results

By following these tactics, Wilson promises businesses can achieve higher search engine rankings and attract more qualified leads. “It’s about building a digital space where users can find value and have their needs met effectively,” he explains.

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BizWiz

Micro-entrepreneur ‘hybrid-sells’ with the help of fiber broadband connection

Rogelia Dasco, a Cebu-based homemaker who buys and sells imported goods from the US, does her trade mostly online.

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The post-pandemic environment demands flexibility and adaptability from everyone but most especially entrepreneurs who are slowly recovering from the pandemic slump. One online Facebook seller is employing her business acumen not just in the virtual marketplace but in real life, as she does “hybrid selling” of her consumer goods.

Rogelia Dasco, a Cebu-based homemaker who buys and sells imported goods from the US, does her trade mostly online.

“The items, like lotions and perfumes, are from the US. My sister sends them, I take a picture of them, and I post them on Facebook Marketplace,” she shares.

However, unlike most online sellers, she doesn’t stop in the virtual world; When she gets to her buyer’s address, she then goes house to house in the community. The strategy pays off – she is able to sell out her goods in one afternoon instead of waiting for online sellers to finish off her inventory.

“When someone buys from me, for example, I go to their house but I bring my other items too. After I deliver to the buyer, I go to the neighbors and offer my other goods. Right now, I’m all sold out. The next shipment will come at the end of the month,” Dasco proudly says.

Supporting this diligent hybrid approach is BIDA fiber, the new mass market offering of Converge targeting the lower C and D income classes.

BIDA fiber is the most affordable postpaid broadband plan in the market today, and the cost savings makes a difference for smaller entrepreneurs.

“It’s so affordable and I’m able to save too. My old plan was priced at P 1,299 with an additional P 200 every month so that’s P 1,499. With BIDA, I’m able to save more than P 500,” said Rogelia Dasco.

The reliable connection – that can go up to 35 Mbps – also makes sure Rogelia keeps her ties with her supplier sister strong as every night they call each other through video. Even with a 3-hour video call, her husband watching YouTube videos, and her son playing Mobile Legends with friends at home, Rogelia’s connection never falters.

“I’ve really maximized my connection. It’s really good, even if we all use the internet at the same time,” she added. BIDA fiber is now available in more than 300 cities and municipalities in the Philippines and has more than 40 partner distributors selling the postpaid plan.

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