WalesCymru.com

According to the latest Nielsen survey on the Digital Divide “only 44% of small businesses have a website“; which if my maths are correct (and they usually are), means 56% of small businesses DO NOT have a website.

How surprising is that?

Personally I’m staggered. Websites are practically a free commodity these days. Well a web presence is at least; so WHY have so many small businesses not taken the first step on the digital business ladder?

Have all the Government schemes that “help businesses get online” simply failed to deliver, or is there some other reason that is preventing take-up? If anyone knows the answer, please let me know.

Possible reasons NOT to have a website include:

• It’s too costly - WRONG! There are now dozens of services that give you a free website with your mobile phone, Internet connection, or your packet of cornflakes. You can create a page on Facebook for free. You can add you business to dozens of free directories (including WalesCymru.com), and you can list yourself with any one of the thousands of community websites, industry sites, government sites and/or council sponsored sites that are out there. These days you can even have a social network or your own eCommerce site, with a CRM system, eNewsletters and Analytics for less than £30 a month; so please don’t tell me it’s too expensive!
• My customers aren’t online - PROVE IT! If someone tells me NONE of their customers are online, or that NONE of the people they sell to use the Internet they are either deluded or living in a community where technology is band.  According to the same Nielsen survey “63% of consumers and small business owners turn to the internet first for information about local companies”. So that’s 63% of YOUR customers who look for information about you and can’t find it. Maybe if we’re more accurate, that’s 63% of your ex-Customers, as they’ve probably gone somewhere else instead.
• It’s to complex. PLEASE. If you’re reading this you can set-up a website. If you can’t use a (mobile) phone, I’m sure someone else in your company will be able to dial the numbers for you.
• I can’t get broadband. NO, NO, NO. Amazon was founded in 1994 and went online 1995; if they’d waited for you to get broadband they wouldn’t have a $20b turnover company, that employs over 20,000 people and makes over $700m in profits. You don’t host the site yourself, so broadband is NOT REQUIRED to be online.
• It’s …. WELL. There are probably a dozen other reasons why you’re not online, but I really can’t be bothered listing them.

If you’re one of those 56% of small business who STILL doesn’t have a web presence, and you want to change this, please get in touch. We’re happy to help and it won’t cost you your children’s inheritance - in fact it will probably double it’s value!