Owners of small businesses should see the internet as an opportunity not a threat

Recent research has shown that loss of profits from online shopping is something that is only concerning the big retailers whilst the effects of the internet for 68 percent of small to medium businesses (SMBs) don’t concern them at all.

As many as 81 percent of SMBs are now using a website according to the latest research for the Council of Small Business of Australia and the Telstra Business, which compared to other research is quite a big increase. By 2012 it is expected that many more will be setting up online sites.

This research has proven that small businesses now consider the internet to be both a positive and a powerful tool according to Will Irving, the group managing director for Telstra business.

He advised “Adding new customers is the top priority for two-thirds of SMBs in 2012 and building a stronger Web presence can do just that. Social media has emerged as a prime growth area with just over one-in-five SMBs (21 per cent) now using it in their operations.”

Interacting with customers was one of the main reasons for small businesses going online with 74 percent saying this was why they set up a site, followed by 64 percent saying it was for promotional purposes and 38 percent for generating sales leads. The research also found that that the use of the web for direct sales using social media was something that an amazing 26 percent of business said was the reason they went online.

Mr Iving said “Six-in-ten business operators or owners are telling us they believe staff should not be able to access social media in the workplace.”

Even though around 25 percent of businesses still use print ads the use of online ads was now being employed by 19 percent of businesses, which is rapidly beating other marketing methods.