Small firms urged to ‘advertise’ online

Experts say small businesses can improve sales during the economic downturn by improving their website and swapping links with business partners.

The facts:

A survey published today by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) shows that 43 per cent of its members improved turnover by at least a 20 per cent after a concerted effort to improve their web presence.

The group said its findings showed the ever-increasing importance of the web to business growth. In a separate finding, around 70 per cent of its 8,700 members have there own website, up a quarter on the previous survey in 2006.

They said:

Dr Gary Packham at the University of Glamorgan, where the report was compiled, said: “These figures show the very clear link between new technologies and business growth.

“If the country''s 4.7m small businesses are to take advantage of the internet to grow their businesses and the economy, they will need good quality services to be in place, as well as good information and education about how to use them.”
 
FSB national policy chairman John Walker added: “The number of small businesses who have their own website has grown over the past two years, which indicates that small firms are becoming increasingly internet-savvy.

“Despite the onset of an economic downturn, all small firms should look to the internet to maximise their sales and increase efficiency.”
 
We say:

We’re biased of course, but the internet is a fast and efficient way to inform people about your products, services and brand.

If you are building a website for the first time, make sure it follows the principles of search engine optimisation and that the design casts your brand in a favourable light.

A tatty website with poor navigation to damage your reputation as much as a good website can improve it.

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By News Desk  on   Nov 14,2008

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Keywords

internet business    FSB    sales    turnover    small businesses   

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