Empower by GoDaddy Program Drives Inclusive Entrepreneurship – Case
Challenge
Create and activate a social impact program to address critical societal needs within the entrepreneurship arena, reinforce GoDaddy’s mission, increase brand love, and drive employee engagement.
Select Activities
- Signature Program development
- Strategic planning
- Naming + messaging
- Impact storytelling
- Skills-based volunteerism
- Community events
- Public-private partnerships
- Measurement + evaluation
Select Activities
- Program development
- Strategic planning
- Naming + messaging
- Impact storytelling
- Skills-based volunteerism
- Community events
- Public-private partnerships
- Measurement + evaluation
Overview
GoDaddy’s mission is to empower entrepreneurs everywhere and make opportunity more inclusive for all. Yet, many entrepreneurs in underserved communities often face unique barriers that impede their success. For example, less than half of small business education programs dedicate sales and marketing support to underserved entrepreneurs (FIELD at Aspen Institute). Many small business owners, often working from under-resourced communities, are hungry to gain new skills but often lack the support they need to achieve their goals.
To address these challenges, GoDaddy created Empower by GoDaddy, a signature social impact program with the mission to equip entrepreneurs in underserved communities with the training, tools, and resources that they need to be successful. It’s all about bolstering their digital presence and accelerating their small business.
About the Program
Empower by GoDaddy is designed to meet entrepreneurs where they are in their journey by understanding the unique roadblocks they face as a business. GoDaddy applies what it does best—being digital teachers and coaches. GoDaddy experts designed a customized learning experience around digital, branding and marketing areas that its nonprofit partners identified entrepreneurs were struggling with daily. Topics range from branding and building a website, to search engine optimization and social media. GoDaddy volunteer experts create videos, presentations, and worksheets to ensure topics are accessible, unintimidating, and action oriented. The result is a unique curriculum that is taught in-person in small groups or delivered via an online platform.
Together with its local nonprofit partners in more than 40 U.S. markets and select international cities, GoDaddy volunteers teach customized workshops, share digital expertise, and offer one-on-one coaching. Empower events open doors for small businesses and help expand entrepreneurs’ peer networks. And, through participation in Empower by GoDaddy, employees feel more aware of and connected to the hurdles faced by the small businesses they interact with every day.
Entrepreneurship is not just about a business, it’s about the lives of the business owners. GoDaddy is committed to raising awareness around life as an entrepreneur, aiming to inspire others to follow their passion and showcase how inclusive entrepreneurship can be an effective economic development strategy.
Empower by GoDaddy inspired the development of “Made In America,” a docu-series sharing the journeys of Empower entrepreneurs. Now in its 4th season, Made In America shines a light on the challenges and triumphs of real people working toward their dreams.
Through the Made Here podcast, Stacy Cline, Senior Director, CSR and Sustainability, GoDaddy, brings to life personal stories and best practices through interviews with entrepreneurs and business experts.
Check Out More
Visit the Empower by GoDaddy website
Watch 4 seasons of the award-winning docu-series “Made in America”
Listen to the Made Here podcast
How GoDaddy and AEO Empowered Small Businesses to Succeed Through Digital Presence
Through its partnership with Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO), the Empower by GoDaddy program served 1,756 small business owners in 26 states in its first year. Almost 90% of program participants saw increased revenue after completing the program, with 61% saying theirs grew up to 10%, and nearly 25% reporting more than a 10% increase. Importantly, most participants felt they had increased knowledge and greater confidence in building a digital presence. Read the report to learn best practices and ideas for how all sectors can take part in inclusive entrepreneurship to drive local economic growth.
“Being able to work with local businesses has helped me be better at my job. I am able to see the real life struggles and triumphs of local businesses and help them be successful.”