Most people don't understand web marketing, consultant claims

7th September 2007

Businesses - and especially small businesses - need to gain an active understanding of web marketing, it has been claimed.

The advice comes from consultancy firm Web 4 Marketing, who said today that many businesses set up a website and assume that orders will begin pouring in.

A spokesman said that the huge expansion of the internet in recent years means that many product purchases now begin with an online search.

However, he added that the majority of people "don't understand web marketing … they think that you rush out and create a website and everything happens automatically".

According to the Office for National Statistics, businesses with more than 1,000 employees accounted for £48 of every £100 worth of business done online last year.

In 2003 the figure was £59 and in 2004 it was £55, reflecting a year-on-year rise in the amount of market share that is accounted for by small to medium enterprises.