Online presence 'effective' for 80% of firms

Date: 15th May 2009

Four-fifths of companies with online operations find their website to be an effective way of boosting business.

That is according to a new investigation by 1&1 Internet, which also found that over 45 per cent of smaller companies, such as sole traders, are still lacking any kind of web-based retail platform.

In addition, more than two-fifths of organisations without a website believe it could be of benefit, but believe time and cost are too much of a constraint.

Oliver Mauss, chief executive of 1&1, commented: "Whilst many companies today leverage the web with increasing proficiency, too many enterprises remain excluded.

"Every business owner should at least be aware that today a website is simple and affordable to source."

Sceptics of the internet, he added, should take the time to experiment with a web presence and see "the impact for themselves".

Figures published by the Office of Fair Trading earlier this month showed that consumer confidence in online retailing was growing.