Go digital with zero budget

From novice to sorted in less time than you'd think

Take your business online without spending a penny. This series walks you through building a fully functional digital company from scratch, no eye-watering costs and no vendor lock-in.

Step 1: Get a domain and hosting sorted

Why you need your own domain

A domain like 'yourbusiness.com' or 'yourbusiness.co.uk' is more than just a web address. It signals professionalism and makes it dead easy for customers to find you.

Domain extensions: which one?

.com - The most common choice. Go with this if you're thinking international or want a broad appeal.

.co.uk - Perfect if you're serving UK customers. It builds local trust and makes you look rooted in the market.

.es - Signals Spain. Use this if your customers are mainly Spanish-based.

Hosting providers worth considering

IONOS - Simple interface, straightforward setup. Free SSL, .com/.es domains, basic email and 24/7 support in English. Pros: user-friendly, decent support. Cons: gets tight if you scale. Good for getting started.

SiteGround - Fast, with solid support. Free SSL, WordPress integration, daily backups, 24/7 English support. Built-in caching speeds things up (SEO bonus). Pricier plans. Worth it if you expect traffic growth.

Hostinger - Cheap plans, lots of flexibility. Free SSL, free domain on some packages, simple site builder. No 24/7 support in English, performance can dip under load. Good value for small businesses on a tight budget.

Raiola Networks - Spanish host, so support is direct and knows WordPress inside out. Free SSL, Spanish support, automated backups, WordPress-specific plans. Servers based in Spain. More expensive. Pick this if you want fast, responsive support.

General recommendation: For launch, IONOS is safe, accessible and easy to manage. For anything bigger, SiteGround or Raiola Networks make more sense.

Install your SSL certificate

SSL is the padlock icon next to your URL. It protects the information moving between your site and visitors' browsers.

• Most hosting providers have a button to enable SSL in the control panel.
• Sometimes you'll need to verify the domain first.

Tip: Switch on SSL from day one. It protects users and builds confidence straight away.

Why we're not building the website yet

Why not jump straight into the website?

1. Let the domain sit for a bit. Google favours domains that have been around.
2. Get your workflow in order. Before a website, you need email, a CRM and clear communication channels.
3. Plan your content and design properly. Your site needs to show what you offer clearly and logically.

Step 2: Set up Google Workspace for a proper email address

Now you have a domain and hosting, let's get Google Workspace running so you can manage email professionally without faffing about.

Why Google Workspace?

Google Workspace works well if you want something simple and no headaches with configuration. It's not just a branded email (like hello@yourbusiness.com); it's an integrated platform with calendar, docs, storage and video calls built in.

What about Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365 is thorough but also clunky. Usually pricier too. Google Workspace stands out for its simplicity. It's built for cloud-first work and real-time collaboration without any local installation nonsense.

What about email through your hosting?

You can, but it gets messy. Storage limits, awkward setup, no automatic integration, risk of losing emails if you switch hosts.

How to set it up

1. Create a Google Workspace account at workspace.google.com using your domain.
2. Verify your domain by dropping Google's code into your hosting control panel.
3. Create email addresses: support@, info@, and personal ones for your team.
4. Organise Gmail with labels and filters.
5. Customise Google Admin with your logo, colours and a standard signature.

Step 3: Get Google My Business running

Why Google My Business matters

Free tool from Google that puts you on Google Maps and in local search results. Useful if you run a physical location or work in a specific area. Boosts your online reputation through hours, address, phone number and customer reviews.

How to create your account

1. Go to business.google.com and log in with your Workspace account.
2. Add your business name, address (or service area), category, phone and website.
3. Verify your business (Google posts a code to your address).

Make your profile shine

• Photos: your logo, products, services, team or premises.
• Hours: open/close times for each day, plus bank holidays.
• Clear description without jargon.
• List your services and products.

Handle reviews and messages

• Reply to everything, good and bad, with a professional tone.
• Turn on direct messages and check them regularly.

That's the foundation sorted

You've now got the building blocks for taking your business online. Your move: get the domain set up, organise your email and make sure customers can find you on Google My Business. That's your homework for this week.

Keep an eye out for the next piece, where we'll tackle CRM setup, contact management and moving your processes fully digital.

CTAs in this post

• Contact form (Name + Email + policy checkbox)
• "Book my appointment" → #awb-open-oc__13401