{"id":22112,"date":"2011-11-02T23:46:38","date_gmt":"2011-11-02T18:16:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=22112"},"modified":"2026-10-15T13:06:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T07:36:37","slug":"google-hostgator-india-free-domain-name-hosting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/google-hostgator-india-free-domain-name-hosting\/","title":{"rendered":"India Get Your Business Online: Google&#8217;s Free Website Offer and Options Today"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>India Get Your Business Online<\/strong> was a 2011 program from Google India and HostGator India that gave small businesses a free website, a free .in domain name and free hosting for one year. This article explains what the offer included, what happened to it, and the free ways an Indian business can get online today.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-66960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/india-get-your-business-online-2026-1-1024x538.webp\" alt=\"India Get Your Business Online free website guide card\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/india-get-your-business-online-2026-1-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/india-get-your-business-online-2026-1-300x158.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/india-get-your-business-online-2026-1-150x79.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/india-get-your-business-online-2026-1-768x403.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/india-get-your-business-online-2026-1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> The India Get Your Business Online program, launched in November 2011, offered Indian SMBs a free website builder, a free .in domain and hosting for one year, and a free Google Apps email account. It was a time-limited offer and is no longer running. Today a business can get a free Google Business Profile listing and build a simple free site with tools like Google Sites, then add its own domain for a small yearly fee.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6af1ddcd7df6a\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6af1ddcd7df6a\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/google-hostgator-india-free-domain-name-hosting\/#What_was_India_Get_Your_Business_Online\" >What was India Get Your Business Online?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/google-hostgator-india-free-domain-name-hosting\/#Program_videos\" >Program videos<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/google-hostgator-india-free-domain-name-hosting\/#Is_India_Get_Your_Business_Online_still_available\" >Is India Get Your Business Online still available?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/google-hostgator-india-free-domain-name-hosting\/#Free_ways_to_get_your_business_online_in_2026\" >Free ways to get your business online in 2026<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/google-hostgator-india-free-domain-name-hosting\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/google-hostgator-india-free-domain-name-hosting\/#Who_ran_India_Get_Your_Business_Online\" >Who ran India Get Your Business Online?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/google-hostgator-india-free-domain-name-hosting\/#Was_the_website_really_free\" >Was the website really free?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/google-hostgator-india-free-domain-name-hosting\/#Can_I_still_sign_up_for_the_free_in_domain_offer\" >Can I still sign up for the free .in domain offer?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/google-hostgator-india-free-domain-name-hosting\/#What_is_the_best_free_way_to_get_a_business_on_Google_today\" >What is the best free way to get a business on Google today?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_was_India_Get_Your_Business_Online\"><\/span>What was India Get Your Business Online?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>On 2 November 2011, Google India <a href=\"https:\/\/india.googleblog.com\/2011\/11\/google-offers-free-websites-to-indian.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">announced a partnership<\/a> with HostGator India to help small and medium businesses (SMBs) build their first website. The goal was to bring 500,000 Indian SMBs online within three years.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-22116\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/getting-business-online.png\" alt=\"India Get Your Business Online program logo\" width=\"227\" height=\"170\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/getting-business-online.png 227w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/getting-business-online-50x37.png 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 227px) 100vw, 227px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The offer for each business included:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A free, easy-to-build professional website, which could be set up in about 15 minutes<\/li>\n<li>A free .in domain name and free hosting for one year<\/li>\n<li>Free email addresses through a Google Apps account<\/li>\n<li>Free support from HostGator for creating and managing the site for a year<\/li>\n<li>A free AdWords advertising coupon to promote the new site<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>What was surprising at the time was that India had about 8 million SMBs, but only about 5% of them had a website. After the free year, a business could cancel or pay to keep its site running.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Program_videos\"><\/span>Program videos<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Google posted an introduction video and success stories from businesses that used the service, including Vijashivi International and Khosla Printers:<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"entry-content-asset videofit\"><iframe title=\"About India Get your Business Online\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LQuutGqI3MA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"entry-content-asset videofit\"><iframe title=\"Success Story 1:Vijashivi International\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7HCxdqr0FQ4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"entry-content-asset videofit\"><iframe title=\"Success Story 2: Khosla Printers\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qL7_APwRDRQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p>Google later ran local drives with the same idea; see how <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2012\/12\/google-india-got-small-businesses-chandni-chowk-online\/\">Google got 2,500 businesses in Chandni Chowk online<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_India_Get_Your_Business_Online_still_available\"><\/span>Is India Get Your Business Online still available?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>No. It was a promotional program from 2011 and the free one-year offer has ended. Google also tried a simpler idea later: free websites made from Google Business Profiles. Those sites were turned off in March 2024, with visitors redirected to the business&#8217;s profile until 10 June 2024, as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/pro\/google-is-shutting-down-websites-made-with-business-profiles\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TechRadar reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Free_ways_to_get_your_business_online_in_2026\"><\/span>Free ways to get your business online in 2026<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Create a Google Business Profile:<\/strong> a free <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Business Profile<\/a> puts your shop on Google Search and Maps with your address, hours, phone number, photos and reviews.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Build a simple free website:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Sites<\/a> is free with a Google account and is enough for a basic business page.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Register your own domain:<\/strong> a .in or .com domain makes your business look professional. Domains cost a yearly fee from any registrar.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use a free business email or messaging:<\/strong> list a dedicated email and your WhatsApp Business number so customers can reach you.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Grow step by step:<\/strong> follow our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/07\/start-small-business-online\/\">how to start a small business online<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_ran_India_Get_Your_Business_Online\"><\/span>Who ran India Get Your Business Online?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Google India ran it with HostGator India as the hosting partner, starting in November 2011.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Was_the_website_really_free\"><\/span>Was the website really free?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, for the first year. The domain, hosting and support were free for one year, after which the business could pay to continue or cancel.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_still_sign_up_for_the_free_in_domain_offer\"><\/span>Can I still sign up for the free .in domain offer?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No. The program has ended.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_best_free_way_to_get_a_business_on_Google_today\"><\/span>What is the best free way to get a business on Google today?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Create a free Google Business Profile so your business shows on Google Search and Maps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India Get Your Business Online was a 2011 program from Google India and HostGator India that gave small businesses a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":66960,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[24],"class_list":["post-22112","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hosting","tag-india"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22112","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22112"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22112\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66964,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22112\/revisions\/66964"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/66960"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22112"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22112"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}