Intuit Update Improves SMB Website Creation

Business solutions provider Intuit has unveiled the next generation of its website offering that includes new ways to help SMBs get online and attract more customers.

The upgraded service makes it possible for small businesses to create a website from scratch or enhance its online presence with features such as Intuit Websites Traffic Booster and Intuit Web Payment.

Monthly subscriptions for website hosting and creation start at $4.99 (£3.10) a month, and businesses also have access to a free 30-day trial.

Website Design

First-time users have access to an upgraded website design gallery featuring hundreds of professional website templates that represent a range of industries.

Customers can personalise their chosen design with drag-and-drop content, including 250,000 royalty-free images, as well as customised text to help create a unique presence. The platform is already used by more than 300,000 small businesses.

A new site add-on, Intuit Websites Traffic Booster, is designed to meet the need for small businesses by helping to improve search engine rankings by automatically identifying and placing relevant keywords in the footer of the website. This feature can help increase traffic directed to a website from search engines, driving more potential customers to a site. The service is available for less than $9 (£5.59) a month.

“I wanted to build a website for my business but did not consider myself very tech-savvy. … Intuit websites was an extremely user-friendly service with great professional-looking templates,” said Monique Glover, owner of Jem Confections in Baltimore. “Adding images and links to my page is a breeze.”

Online Commerce

Another addition is Intuit Web Payment, which allows small businesses to sell online through an online store and streamline the payment process. Small businesses are now able to accept credit or debit card payments directly through the site, all through Intuit, with no extra log-ins required for the customer. Users also get online access to their statements and searchable transaction history.

The offering starts at $10 (£6.20) a month.

“Small businesses of all types and sizes are recognizing the value of getting online to reach new customers and connect with existing ones,” said Barry Saik, vice president and general manager of Intuit’s Grow Your Business division. “We are continuing to add new features and services that meet the distinct needs of our customers to our already robust offering to ensure they can grow their own businesses and be successful.”