Table of Contents
Domains: .com vs .ng
The .com Standard:
It is global, recognized everywhere, and costs about $10-$15/year (approx ₦15k-₦25k).
Pros: Trust. Everyone assumes a website ends in .com.
Cons: You usually need a Dollar card to buy it from major registrars like Namecheap or GoDaddy.
The .ng Advantage (NiRA):
The Nigerian identity. You can buy .ng or .com.ng.
- .com.ng: Very cheap (approx ₦1,500/year). Perfect for small businesses and personal blogs.
- .ng: Premium (approx ₦15k-₦20k). Shows you are a serious Nigerian corporate entity.
Where to buy: Use accredited registrars like WhoGoHost, QServers, or DomainKing. They accept Naira cards.
It is global, recognized everywhere, and costs about $10-$15/year (approx ₦15k-₦25k).
Pros: Trust. Everyone assumes a website ends in .com.
Cons: You usually need a Dollar card to buy it from major registrars like Namecheap or GoDaddy.
The .ng Advantage (NiRA):
The Nigerian identity. You can buy .ng or .com.ng.
- .com.ng: Very cheap (approx ₦1,500/year). Perfect for small businesses and personal blogs.
- .ng: Premium (approx ₦15k-₦20k). Shows you are a serious Nigerian corporate entity.
Where to buy: Use accredited registrars like WhoGoHost, QServers, or DomainKing. They accept Naira cards.
Hosting: Paying in Naira vs. Dollars
The "Dollar Card" Barrier:
International hosts (Bluehost, SiteGround, HostGator) are excellent, but they charge in Dollars. With the CBN limits on Naira cards, paying $15/month is a headache. You might need a virtual dollar card (Chipper, Payday).
Local Hosting (Naira Payment):
Companies like WhoGoHost and QServers allow you to pay via bank transfer or USSD.
The Latency Factor: If your customers are in Lagos, a local server (or one in Europe) is faster than one in California.
The Support Reality: Local support is in your timezone. However, response times can vary. Test their live chat *before* you buy.
International hosts (Bluehost, SiteGround, HostGator) are excellent, but they charge in Dollars. With the CBN limits on Naira cards, paying $15/month is a headache. You might need a virtual dollar card (Chipper, Payday).
Local Hosting (Naira Payment):
Companies like WhoGoHost and QServers allow you to pay via bank transfer or USSD.
The Latency Factor: If your customers are in Lagos, a local server (or one in Europe) is faster than one in California.
The Support Reality: Local support is in your timezone. However, response times can vary. Test their live chat *before* you buy.
The Engine: WordPress vs. Wix
WordPress (The King):
Powers 40% of the internet.
Pros: Free software (you only pay for hosting). Thousands of free plugins. Total control.
Cons: You need to update it regularly to avoid being hacked.
Wix / Squarespace (The luxury options):
Drag-and-drop builders. Beautiful templates.
The Catch: Very expensive in Naira (can be ₦30k+ per month). You don't own the site; if you stop paying, your site disappears.
Powers 40% of the internet.
Pros: Free software (you only pay for hosting). Thousands of free plugins. Total control.
Cons: You need to update it regularly to avoid being hacked.
Wix / Squarespace (The luxury options):
Drag-and-drop builders. Beautiful templates.
The Catch: Very expensive in Naira (can be ₦30k+ per month). You don't own the site; if you stop paying, your site disappears.
Getting Paid: Paystack & Flutterwave
No More "DM for Price":
If you sell online, you need a payment gateway.
Paystack vs. Flutterwave:
Both are fantastic Nigerian unicorns.
- Setup: Free. No monthly fees.
- Cost: They take 1.5% of local transactions (capped at ₦2,000).
- Integration: Both have free WordPress/WooCommerce plugins. You just copy-paste your API keys.
- Storefronts: Don't have a website yet? Use "Paystack Storefront" or "Flutterwave Store" to sell products for free.
If you sell online, you need a payment gateway.
Paystack vs. Flutterwave:
Both are fantastic Nigerian unicorns.
- Setup: Free. No monthly fees.
- Cost: They take 1.5% of local transactions (capped at ₦2,000).
- Integration: Both have free WordPress/WooCommerce plugins. You just copy-paste your API keys.
- Storefronts: Don't have a website yet? Use "Paystack Storefront" or "Flutterwave Store" to sell products for free.
Design: The "Opera Mini" Reality
The 90% Rule:
90% of your Nigerian visitors are on mobile phones. Many are using slow 3G/4G or data-saving browsers like Opera Mini.
Optimization Tips:
1. Compress Images: Never upload a 5MB photo. Use TinyPNG to shrink it to 100KB.
2. Avoid Heavy Animations: They kill battery and eat data. Keep it clean.
3. Test on Real Devices: Don't just resize your browser window. Open the site on a Tecno or Infinix phone to see the real experience.
90% of your Nigerian visitors are on mobile phones. Many are using slow 3G/4G or data-saving browsers like Opera Mini.
Optimization Tips:
1. Compress Images: Never upload a 5MB photo. Use TinyPNG to shrink it to 100KB.
2. Avoid Heavy Animations: They kill battery and eat data. Keep it clean.
3. Test on Real Devices: Don't just resize your browser window. Open the site on a Tecno or Infinix phone to see the real experience.
Tola "The Web" Adegoke
Senior Web Developer
3
Tola helps Nigerian SMEs get online. She knows which hosting companies have 24/7 support that actually answers, and how to set up an e-commerce store with zero coding knowledge.
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