ALBANY (WALB) - Small businesses in Georgia can now get help from one of the biggest names in the Internet world.
Google is partnering with the Peach State to provide free webpage service to help entrepreneurs expand their businesses.
At least one south Georgia businesses owner hopes to be one of the first in the state to sign up.
"We've sold clothes to 11-year-olds on up to 60 & 70 year old women," says Blush owner Kate Henry.
Hip and trendy apparel and accessories make up the sales line at Blush. The women's clothing boutique on Ledo Road opened four years and even expanded to a location in Kennesaw. Henry says the store's online sales are mostly done over Facebook.
"We do a ton of business on Facebook. And it's helped with our other location in Kennesaw.
But Like 61% of small businesses in the U.S., Blush doesn't have an official website.
That's likely to change soon.
"This sounds like a good start for us," said Henry when she learned of GeorgiaGetOnline.com.
To boost local economies and give small businesses an edge in the marketplace, Governor Nathan Deal announced Monday a partnership with mega search engine Google to provide free websites.
"I think it's awesome," Henry said. "I'm glad they're helping out us small businesses."
Georgia small businesses owners can log on to the website to get a tutorial that explains how to set up a domain name and a template page. What's offered is a 3 page website with free hosting for a year.
It's a few steps that can make a business accessible 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world.
"It could just make our business grow and grow and grow. Internet sales is where it is right now," Henry said.
She says her next step is following the steps to putting Blush on the World Wide Web.
After the year of free service is up it's $4.99 a year to keep your website online and $2.00 dollars a month for your domain name.
For more information log on GeorgiaGetOnline.com.
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