Broadband News

Small businesses not taking full advantage of the net

Wednesday, 03 February 2010

By Garnet Roach garnet@consumerchoices.co.uk

More than 45% of small and medium businesses do not have a website, and are not taking full advantage of the web, according to a new study.

Two-thirds of those companies also did believe that they needed a website, according to research by Business Link in London.

Of the 55% that did have a company website, many did not use it to try to promote goods or increase sales, missing out on a host of business opportunities - nearly half plan to keep their website static in the future.

Tony Cattermole, from Business Link, said: “The results prove there's a digital divide among SMEs - those that embrace the internet as an important component of their business and those that think they can do without.

“Websites are a cost-effective way of generating sales, reaching customers and launching new products and services.”

Michael Phillips, Broadbandchoices.co.uk product director, added: “Getting your business online doesn’t have to be expensive. Opal Business Broadband (www.Opal.co.uk) offers 24Mb broadband for businesses from just £10 a month, plus £13 line rental, with domain names and business email addresses, and even e-commerce solutions, from just £6 a month extra.”

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