Where Do I Even Start? A Simple Guide to Getting Your Business Found Online

On the twentieth of August, I attended the Co-operative Bank Water Sector Business Forum at GMC Kitengela. It brought together entrepreneurs from across the water industry, borehole drilling, water transport, plumbing supplies, irrigation, exhauster services, people who build real businesses serving real needs.

I went as a guest, there to learn about financing and to network like everyone else. But as the conversations unfolded, I felt something I couldn't sit quietly on. So many of these businesses were strong, established, and trusted in their communities, yet almost invisible online. And I asked for a moment to share why that matters.

Here is what I told the room.

Your customers are already online. Your business should be too.

Think about where people spend their time now. Scrolling. Searching. Comparing. Before anyone calls you, they Google you. Before they trust you with a tender or a large order, they look you up. If they find nothing, or worse, find your competitor, the decision is often already made before you ever get the chance to speak. Being online is no longer a luxury for big companies. It is simply where business happens.

Why a catalogue brings clarity

For product businesses especially, tanks, pumps, pipes, fittings, a clear catalogue changes everything. Instead of explaining the same items over and over on calls, you send one clean, professional catalogue that shows what you offer, presented in a way that looks credible and organized. It saves you time, and it makes the customer's decision easier. Clarity sells.

Why a website widens your reach

A website works while you sleep. It lets someone in another town, another county, or another country find you, understand what you do, and reach out, without you lifting a finger. It turns Google searches into phone calls. And for those chasing tenders, a proper website and company profile make you look as credible as you actually are.

The question that stayed with me

After I spoke, someone asked the question I think many were quietly wondering:

“Where do I even start, and what do I post?”

It's such an honest question, and it's the real barrier for most people. Not money, not ability, just not knowing the first step.

My answer was this: start simple. You don't need everything at once. Begin with one clear page that says who you are, what you offer, and how to reach you. Add a simple catalogue of your products. Then, when you're ready, show up on social media with the everyday things you already know, a finished job, a delivery, a happy customer, a tip. You don't need to be a marketer. You just need to be present, and consistent. Starting is the hardest part. Everything after that is just steady growth.

Why this matters to me

I don't say any of this as an outsider. I run businesses of my own, hardware supplies, farming, and several others, so I understand your customers, your seasons, and your margins, not just your website. That's exactly why I care that hardworking businesses stop being invisible and start being found.

If that forum reminded me of anything, it's that the businesses in that room don't lack skill or hustle. They just need someone to help them take the first step online. And that first step is closer than you think.