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In the past when small businesses wanted to start a website, most went to WordPress or the newest Facebook. However, this week Microsoft also announced a free cloud service (Digital Marketing Center) for hosting websites. It will bring customers from Facebook.

Also read: 40% of the world’s websites are currently powered by WordPress

Microsoft cited a survey that found that more than 36% of small businesses don’t have a website. But now 80% of consumers will go to the site to do their research before they visit or shop. As a result, small businesses without a website face exposure difficulties and loss of customers. More importantly, under the influence of the COVID-19 epidemic, businesses are being forced to turn to the internet to ask consumers questions about whether to open a store or offer e-commerce and home delivery services.

Microsoft’s Digital Marketing Center is now introducing a new website builder service that enables small businesses to quickly set up a website with a simple and easy-to-use interface. Compared to Built By WordPress.com, the biggest advantage of this service is that it is free.

What do you need to start the website through the Digital Marketing Service?

Only small businesses with a Digital Marketing Center account need to register for this service. After registering, the store only needs to specify the desired URL. And they can build the website along with the steps provided. The store can decide whether to redesign a website from scratch or import it from the Facebook store page. For the latter, these tools can import basic information from Facebook pages or advertising networks, e.g. B. Business names, addresses, phone numbers and photo albums. Custom tools are also provided, including store titles, descriptions, company profiles, social posts, cover pages, customer reviews and action buttons (e.g., send emails, calls, offers), etc. When you are finished, press publish the website and it will be set up.

The business can decide whether to participate in the advertising campaign at the same time. For businesses ready to advertise, the digital marketing center service provides detailed statistics on advertising activity, including awareness, click-through rates, conversion data, consumer spend and fan growth. It also offers paid advertising marketing tools.

Before that, Facebook also started Facebook Shops. It is for small business to open online store. For Facebook or Microsoft, the free stand-off service can turn them into an advertising channel for businesses to collect advertising revenue.