New Verizon Program Helps Small Businesses Launch Websites

Verizon has unveiled Verizon Websites powered by Intuit,” which allows small businesses to quickly and easily design and set up their own company website; and Intuit WebListings, which helps small businesses get found online and get customers by listing the website on more than 100 popular search sites, including Google, Yahoo! and Bing.

In addition, the company’s bundles of small-business phone and broadband services are now available on a month-to-month basis with no term contract or early termination fees. The new website services will be offered free for one year as a bonus to small businesses that sign up for the bundles, known as Verizon Solutions for Business.

“With more and more people using the Internet to search for and purchase products and services, a website is an absolute essential for small businesses, which typically have limited resources to increase their visibility, generate sales and build customer loyalty,” said Monte Beck vice president of business marketing for Verizon.

Customized websites can be created just by clicking the mouse and dragging and dropping images. The do-it-yourself website builder provides small businesses with what Verizon says are essential tools to get up and running quickly. Websites can be updated anytime, and users can increase their visibility on social networks such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn by embedding “follow me” buttons.

Once the website is live, the small-business owner, with a few clicks of the mouse, can access analytic tools to see the online traffic the site is generating. Intuit WebListings can also be used to increase this traffic by listing the website on more than 100 popular search sites across the Web.

Small businesses ordering Verizon Solutions for Business (or other qualifying bundles) packages that include broadband and one business phone line with unlimited nationwide calling will get Verizon Websites powered by Intuit (Gold Package) and Intuit WebListings at no cost for one year a value of nearly $420. Also included is basic e-commerce capability for businesses that have goods to sell online.

After the first year, the Gold Package including a domain name, 100 web pages, 5 GB (gigabytes) of storage and basic e-commerce capabilities will cost $19.99 per month. WebListings will cost $14.99 per month and is available with any Verizon Websites package.

A starter website building package is available for $4.99 per month. The Verizon Websites packages include analytic tools and access to more than 2,000 professional website templates and 250,000 images that will enable a small business to create an appealing website.

The Verizon Solution for Business bundles start at $59.99 per month (plus taxes and fees) with Verizon High Speed Internet for Business and unlimited nationwide calling. Verizon High Speed Internet for Business offers various speeds up to 1 Mbps, 3 Mbps or 7 Mbps. Verizon also announced on Monday a new speed for Verizon High Speed Internet for Business 10-15 Mbps that will be available in select markets.

A bundle consisting of FiOS Internet for Business, providing symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 25 Mbps, and unlimited nationwide calling, starts at $79.99 per month. All promotional bundle pricing is guaranteed for a minimum of 12 consecutive months, with no term contract required.

Small businesses can opt for a two-year term contract, with the price of the Verizon Business Solutions bundle guaranteed for 24 months.