Almost half of businesses missing out on potential of the internet
By Deborah Bates
12/05/2011
Almost half of Britain's small businesses are missing out on the benefits having an online presence can bring.
That's the opinion of online advisor, Phil Kingsland, who spoke out after figures released from Know the Net confirmed that 46 per cent of small companies have made no money through the internet.
Although 51 per cent of small businesses said they had made some profit through online sales or marketing, this is still a relatively low figure - as it was revealed that the £36 billion made by them through online revenue last year accounted for only 2.4 per cent of their turnover.
Kingsland used these figures to encourage more companies to get online. He told Internet Retailing: "Our research shows that whilst small businesses are beginning to make considerable amounts of money online, many don't yet see its full potential."
"There remains a job to be done to help every small business understand the opportunities at hand and make the most of the net."
He went on to say that either by using it purely for marketing, or buying selling actually products and goods, companies could actually increase their sales.
Any companies who take Kingsland's advice must ensure their IT management systems are up to date; as by opening a business' network up to the internet, it is put at risk of infection via malware or viruses. Having strong IT systems and competent firewalls should mitigate the risk of anything bad happening, however.
The expert concluded by telling how the internet could benefit any type of small business; claiming: "Whether you're a start-up or have fifty staff, the internet has the potential to help you listen to customers, increase sales, or simply run your business more efficiently."
