SMEs 'failing to make good use of the web'

20th February 2009

More than half of small and medium-sized enterprises are losing out on £20 billion in revenue because they are failing to take advantage of online selling, a study has shown.

Research by BT Tradespace entitled The Voice of Small Business has highlighted that 67 per cent of small firms feel that they are unlikely to find online buyers for their services, despite the majority of customers shopping via the internet at least once a month.

Of those questioned, 87 per cent of companies said that they thought websites were essential for their marketing strategy, with only three per cent utilising their portal to communicate with consumers.

Head of BT Tradespace Mick Hegarty urged small companies to reap the marketing and sales benefits afforded by the internet.

"During these challenging times, more people than ever are using the web to shop because of the choice, convenience and cost savings it provides," he said.

"A professional and credible online presence can open up a world of opportunities and provides a great platform to engage with customers."

Meanwhile, figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index showed that consumers spent 19 per cent more online in January this year compared with the same month in 2008.

 

Category: Ecommerce Web Design

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