46 PER CENT OF BRITAIN’S SMALLEST FIRMS STILL WITHOUT A WEBSITE

46 PER CENT OF BRITAIN’S SMALLEST ENTERPRISES STILL WITHOUT A WEBSITE

12 May 2009, London: 46 per cent of Britain’s smallest enterprises are still without a website and many seek assistance in getting one, according to research released today by 1&1 Internet Ltd., the world’s largest web host by known servers. A study of 530 small enterprises found that from those without a website, 41 per cent recognise that a web presence could increase their sales, but believe they are prevented by factors including the time, cost and skill required to keep a website. The data suggests that such companies are misinformed over the true cost and time needed to build a website themselves. Significantly, a further 47 per cent of firms still off-line believe that a website could not benefit their business. This is in direct contrast with a further survey of 152 similar businesses with websites, where 80 per cent gain revenue from their sites, and 80 per cent would be willing to build their next website themselves using a DIY-style website package.

Whilst many British companies achieve increased visibility and sales online,
1&1’s ‘Smaller Business Online Survey’(1) finds that an alarming number of small sized enterprises have been left behind. The study of 530 enterprises employing 1 to 5 people (including tradesmen, entrepreneurs, small retailers, self-employed and home workers), finds that today some 46 per cent are still without a website on the Internet to promote their business. Whilst the business owners involved are likely to use the Web in their personal lives, their enterprise activities remain out of sight of millions of potential customers. Some 41 per cent of those off-line desire a web presence to increase their sales, but first need concerns over the costs, time and skill to be addressed. For 1 in 5 owners, the worry that a lack of a website may be losing them business has caused negative emotions such as “stress” and “anxiety”.

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