SMBs can reach global audience by going online, says GoDaddy

Bq: With over 400 million current internet users in the country and another 200 million Indians set to join by 2017, the internet is opening up huge opportunities for Indian businesses and entrepreneurs across the board

Domain registrar and web hosting company, GoDaddy is the world’s largest technology provider dedicated to small businesses. Nearly 30% of all internet currently runs through GoDaddy. Rajiv Sodhi, vice-president and managing director at GoDaddy India and Australia, says GoDaddy with its multi-pronged market strategy and easy-to-use solutions is working to make the internet relevant to the millions of small business owners and entrepreneurs in India.

Q: What is the company’s growth strategy for the Indian market?

A: India is a priority and strategic market for GoDaddy and has been a cornerstone of our international expansion. India was the first country we chose to enter after the US because of the exponential growth in India’s internet usage and economic development. The fact that the country is home to the world’s second largest small and medium businesses (SMB) population also makes it an attractive market from business standpoint.

We entered the market in mid-2012 and owing to a focused go-to-market strategy, we today enjoy a strong leadership position in India.

GoDaddy is the number one registrar for .IN domain names with over 33% of the total market share, according to National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI).

Q: How are small businesses using the internet to expand their business?

A: While the internet in India took more than a decade to move from 10 million to 100 million internet users, and three years from 100 million to 200 million, it took only a year to move from 300 to 400 million users. With over 400 million current internet users in the country and another 200 million Indians set to join by 2017, the internet is opening up huge opportunities for Indian businesses and entrepreneurs across the board.

Small businesses, though relatively slower to catch up on this trend, are increasingly looking to create and expand their presence on the internet. We have invested significantly in educating small businesses — to learn more about the web and the tools available to help their business be discovered and succeed online. Today, we are helping small and medium businesses grow — expanding their customer bases across the country and also across the region and going global. And the outcomes are heartening, from creating simple websites to increase discoverability to running fully functional e-commerce platforms, small businesses are embracing the internet more than ever.

Q: How many small businesses are using websites in India?

A: According to industry estimates, there are about 51 million SMBs in India, of which about 10 million are technology ready and presented in the top 15 cities of India. As mentioned earlier, it is these SMBs that can immediately benefit from having a digital presence for their small business on the internet. However, of these a mere 600,000 have websites and among them only 100,000 are ready for active online activation. GoDaddy with its multi-pronged market strategy and easy-to-use solutions is working to make the internet relevant to the millions of small business owners and entrepreneurs in India.

Q: What is the growth in entrepreneurship leveraging the internet model?

A: The new breed of emerging entrepreneurs understands the importance of being online and take it seriously. These entrepreneurs are aware of the power and reach of the internet and how it can bring in more customers. As a result, they first choose and register their domain name even if they don’t build a website immediately, along with having a constant social media presence to stay connected with the customers directly.

Q: How does a website compare with e-commerce platforms and social media?

A: In our hyper connected world, the internet is an integral part of a consumer’s buying behaviour with today almost every potential customer searching for products or services online. GoDaddy believes that by establishing an online presence, small businesses can control their brand, expand their reach to a global audience, increase brand awareness, operate around the clock, and potentially increase sales.

Having a website is crucial for small business owners for a number of reasons. Primarily, it’s an opportunity to directly connect with their present and potential customers. Building a separate web presence with a website is an opportunity to differentiate yourself and stand out from your competition while developing and controlling your unique brand identity.

Being present on social media is important to engage with customers, and driving them to your website provides a platform to inform about your company and products, and offer an e-commerce marketplace to sell your products.