SMEs 'need to invest more for website visibility'

9th November 2007

Money is being wasted on websites that nobody sees, according to new research.

Some 62 per cent of businesses with an online presence are failing to invest in search marketing campaigns so customers can find them, Microsoft has said.

The company's adCenter unit found that 2.79 million small businesses had a website.

Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) polled by Microsoft complained that search marketing was time-consuming, complex and expensive.

However, the research also revealed that 76 per cent of companies that put time and money into search marketing experienced an increase in sales.

Marketing manager Nigel Leggatt said: "In today's world, just having a website is not enough.

"You have to drive traffic to your site to ensure you are front-of-mind with your potential customers."

Research firm eMarketer has predicted that US spending on internet advertising will pass $21 billion (£10.5 billion) this year and will double in the next three years.