Building a website in Madagascar: the guide for businesses

Building a website in Madagascar is not approached the way it is in Europe: most visitors arrive on a phone, sometimes with a limited connection, and pay by means other than a bank card. Here are the choices to make, in order, so that a Malagasy business has a site that is fast, found on Google and useful to its customers.

Think phone first

In Madagascar, internet access is largely mobile. A site designed for a large screen and then "adapted" to the phone starts from the wrong end. It is better to design the mobile version first:

• text readable without zooming and buttons big enough for a thumb;
• a clickable phone number and WhatsApp link at the top of the page;
• short forms that can be filled in within seconds.

A light site, for every connection

Every oversized image costs loading time, and mobile data for the visitor. An effective site in Madagascar is a lean one:

• compressed images, in modern formats;
• few animations and no autoplay video;
• pages that show the essentials before the rest.

This restraint also helps your SEO: Google takes display speed into account.

Choosing a domain name: .mg or .com?

.mg is Madagascar's national extension, managed by NIC-MG. It makes clear that you are a local business. .com remains a good choice if you also target customers abroad, for example in tourism or export.

In every case, the domain name must be registered in your name, not your provider's: that is what guarantees you remain its owner.

In which language?

French suits most business websites. Depending on your customers, two additions are worth considering:

• Malagasy, if you address the general public;
• English, for tourism and international customers.

Each language needs its own pages, not a mix on the same address: this is essential to rank properly in each one.

Being found on Google

A site is no use if nobody finds it. Three actions come first for a local business:

1. create and keep up to date your Google Business Profile, with address, opening hours, photos and reviews;
2. give each service its own page, naming the town: "car hire in Antananarivo", "hotel in Nosy Be";
3. answer your customers' questions in dedicated pages or articles.

Our guide to websites that do not generate leads details what to check next.

Plan payment from the start

If you sell online, think about mobile payment before choosing the technology: a store that only accepts bank cards turns away most buyers. We cover this in a full article: selling online in Madagascar.

What about after launch?

A site needs a minimum of upkeep: updates, backups, domain renewal. Decide at the quote stage who handles it, and check that you hold all the logins.

In practice

Before approaching a provider, note three things: what the site should bring you (calls, bookings, sales), who your customers are, and which device they use to look for you.

KPS Agency has an agency based in Madagascar, Akoraweb, to stay close to its clients on the island and across Africa. That team built karoo.mg, a Malagasy car marketplace. Book a call or ask for a free quote: you receive it within 48 hours. Discover our web agency in Madagascar page and our website design service.