Streamline.net, a leading UK provider of web hosting, has revealed two sets of new research that shows a worrying number of firms could be taking their foot off the Internet pedal. The company’s latest ‘Small Business Bytes Survey’ of 2400 UK firms* finds that only 10 per cent of small firms are updating their websites on a daily basis with 1 in 3 firms admitting that updates are being done ‘infrequently’.
The survey carried out by Streamline.net, which specialises in providing value web hosting (http://www.streamline.net/web-hosting/ (http://www.streamline.net/web-hosting/)), also found that many small companies with a website struggle to maintain a compelling web presence. Despite two thirds of those surveyed having had a business website for 2 years or more, only 1 in 10 firms succeed in making updates on a daily basis. 1 in 4 companies admit to updating their websites on a monthly basis. Over half (54 per cent) admit to making technical tweaks only ‘infrequently’. In general, investment in the web is modest. For example, one third of companies surveyed use only a single domain name, and three quarters own less than 6 domains.
It appears that for many firms online marketing is an area that can be neglected. Alarmingly, nearly half of firms (48 per cent) are not currently advertising on search engines. 1 in 3 (34 per cent) are unable to quantify the popularity of their website as they do not look at their visitor numbers. For many companies, the web is still not performing as strongly as traditional methods of generating new business. At present, ‘word-of-mouth’ is viewed as the most important driver, with the company website ranking third after printed advertisements in second place.
Claire Lewis, Marketing Manager at Streamline.net (http://www.streamline.net/ (http://www.streamline.net/)), said: “Important elements like Search Engine submission and website measurement can transform the return from a website. There are now easy-to-use and affordable tools for achieving these to suit all budgets, so every company should check they have these bases covered.”
Lewis added: “Business owners have felt the pressure in recent years. It is perhaps understandable that work on the company website can often get relegated to evenings. However, every firm should ensure they invest quality time and energy into presenting the right image and engaging with their website visitors. Leveraging an up-to-date website package can help, as today there are features designed to make the process far quicker and more enjoyable.”
As a market leader for value web hosting, Streamline.net can offer small businesses a high quality professional, reliable service at low cost. Customer websites are hosted in a state-of-the-art UK data centre, and customers receive free technical support by phone or email. Streamline.net offers a comprehensive range of web solutions including email packages (http://www.streamline.net/web-hosting/features/personalised-email/ (http://www.streamline.net/web-hosting/features/personalised-email/)) and tools for online marketing.
