Survey findings prompt launch of free e-marketing guide
7 June 2010
Although more than nine out of ten businesses consider Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) to be of importance to their business, many risk missing out on the benefits because of lack of knowledge and fear of spiraling costs and wasteful investments.
This is the conclusion of a Business Link report based on a survey* of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Feedback from respondents prompted Business Link to produce a free 28 page guide on e-marketing to encourage SMEs to make more of ICT developments and try out e-marketing with confidence.
According to the survey, nearly half of all respondents said that keeping up with technology is a major challenge for their business, although three-quarters of all SMEs report having a website. Significantly, uncertainty over business benefits and concerns about cost are seen as the major barriers to future investment in ICT. Those respondents who are not planning such investment within the next year, but are interested in using e-commerce more (66%) are especially hindered by not knowing how to direct such investment to best effect.
In the Report Investing in ICT*, 68% of SMEs view ICT as important for marketing their business and over a third (37%) of SMEs in the region plan to invest in ICT - either hardware, software or training - over the next year. The survey found that around half (47%) of SMEs have invested in ICT in the past two years, with 20% doing so to ‘keep up with latest developments’.
Business Link’s Operations Director, Peter Griffiths, believes it is essential that the region’s SMEs don’t limit their potential for growth simply because of a lack of knowledge and confidence in ICT.
‘Using ICT effectively is critically important for all types of business and there’s no doubt that e-commerce has transformed the selling process for many companies. But the technologies and their applications don’t stand still, so it’s important that businesses know when, how and where to make the right investment decisions to maintain competitiveness at all times.
‘Such investment can help to keep operational costs down, drive new sales and reinforce existing customer and supply chain relationships. The need for guidance is loud and clear so we’re expecting our new free and impartial guide to be very popular. We encourage firms to review their ICT systems regularly and make the most of their online presence. After all, the benefits are substantial:
Online sales can reduce your processing costs as orders can automatically update your database.
An effective and well promoted website can reach a wider audience and therefore increase sales opportunities and open new markets.
Your website can compete with larger businesses by being open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Business Link’s new e-marketing guide has useful sections on building a website, online marketing, social media and e-commerce and much more. For a free copy call Business Link.
The Business Link survey was carried out for the South East Business Monitor, a survey of 1,200 business owners and senior decision makers of South East SMEs. http://online.businesslink.gov.uk/SouthEast_files/Hottopic_flashlight_investing_in_ict_march_2010_1.pdf
For further information:
Tel: 0845 600 9 006
Web:www.businesslink.gov.uk/southeast