When you set up your small business Web site, chances are you won't be creating and maintaining your pages on your own web server. Instead, you probably will be using a web hosting service -- a third party that sells you space on its web servers where your site will reside. It's important to choose a host wisely. The service that your web host provides will have a direct impact on how customers view your site. Select an unreliable host, and potential customers might get turned off by slow access times, pages that don't load, or orders that don't go through. These tips will help you select the best host for your site.

It’s a fact: tourists love South Africa. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, tourism directly and indirectly contributes to an estimated 4.3% of the country’s GDP and employment, supporting one in every 23 jobs. Despite the encouraging statistics, it can be challenging for new small businesses aimed at the tourist industry to enter this potentially lucrative industry. This article provides three insights into small business success in the tourism industry.

Your website can be an important marketing tool for your business. It could be the first contact a potential client has with your company, so it's absolutely crucial that it's well designed and user-friendly. If your knowledge of the online environment is limited, here are some of the key questions you need to ask about your site.

The security of your website is crucial to keeping an online business booming. The fact that your site is open for literally the entire world to access, means you can not completely guarantee your website's security. That is simply the nature of the Internet. However, there some basic measures you can put in place to help prevent Internet thieves from getting their hands on sensitive information.

What we all want is more customers, but finding and retaining them is not always as easy as it seems regardless of the product or service you supply. This article helps you attract more customers by leveraging technology, making business personal, and utilising skilled support sourced from under-appreciated places.

The old saying “First impressions last” may be a cliché, but as with most clichés it really does ring true. In the digital age, first impressions are more important than ever as you literally have one chance - a few seconds - to impress and garner interest from whoever has just clicked on your homepage. In this article, Jeremy Wilkinson, Marketing Manager at Webafrica, highlights 10 elements on your homepage that collectively can make a positive first impression and encourage someone to stay on your website – with a view to converting a visitor into a customer.

Choosing a hosting provider for your website and company data can seem like an impossible decision. There are so many factors to consider. Experience, speed, security, access, and pricing are just some of the important characteristics you should be looking for in your hosting provider. This article takes a brief look at these factors.

For small to medium-sized business (SMB) owners, SEO – or search engine optimisation – is essential for building a successful online brand. For some useful tips to help SMBs get started with SEO, read this article.

With the ever-growing world of online communication, at some point or another you may decide to establish a presence on the Internet. It is however, important to first make the distinction between the Internet and the World Wide Web and whether or not having a presence in cyberspace will benefit your business. Not many people realise that there is a difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web. This article explores this difference.

Once you have established your business online with a registered domain and you are getting traffic to your website, the next step for many businesses is a facility for online purchases. But where do you start and how do you ensure that the transactions on your site take place securely? Natalie Thayer, former GM of MWEB, South Africa's leading Internet Service Provider, says there are several ways in which small businesses can ensure their sites are attractive for potential customers.

Small business owners are taught to not spend their money unless absolutely necessary. In fact, bootstrapping your business is often considered the best way to ensure success. This concept is often challenged when businesses are faced with whether or not to set up a website. In today’s marketplace technology is king. You have to be online, the pace is too fast and you can be certain your competitors are mostly online too. Find out how to acquire better customers by utilizing hosting services.

What makes a successful website? It's not a matter of spinning logos and funky animation. A strong website is one that clearly communicates your purpose to your customers and works in conjunction with your company's strategic plan. This article looks at 10 tips for how to build an effective small business website.

Small business owners are taught to not spend their money unless absolutely necessary. In fact, bootstrapping your business is often considered the best way to ensure success. This concept is often challenged when businesses are faced with whether or not to set up a website. In today’s marketplace technology is king. You have to be online, the pace is too fast and you can be certain your competitors are mostly online too. Find out how to acquire better customers by utilizing hosting services.

Why does my business need a website? Perhaps you think it is what your clients expect from you – but think about this again. A website is, in all probability, one of the most valuable marketing aids you have at your disposal. It makes your business accessible to any person who has access to an Internet connection – 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. This article will be discussing a few basic principles against which you may evaluate your website.

Having a website is one thing, but having an effective website is another matter altogether. In an era where being online is not a luxury but a necessity for large and small businesses, Myron Salant, Director of Sales at Webafrica, outlines the five top features that visitors expect from your website - namely page speed/loading time, website design/call-to-actions, self-shot images, images over content, and control.

Once you have established your business online with a registered domain and you are getting traffic to your website, the next step for many businesses is a facility for online purchases. But where do you start and how do you ensure that the transactions on your site take place securely? Natalie Thayer, former GM of MWEB, South Africa's leading Internet Service Provider, says there are several ways in which small businesses can ensure their sites are attractive for potential customers.

It has been found that many SMEs feel that they don’t have the necessary resources, equipment, infrastructure or capital to incorporate technology into their business. Previously, technology was only within the reach of larger corporates. Today, there are many service providers, such as MWEB that can assist you in taking your business into the online domain for minimal costs and even less fuss. This article outlines four tips to help you establish a professional online presence.