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Majority of small businesses not online

Jul 27 2009

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More than half of small businesses in the UK do not have an online presence, according to a survey by website company Mr Site and payment service provider PayPal.

Cameron McLean, general manager for PayPal’s UK merchant services, says: ‘Online sales are bucking the high street trend and businesses should establish their online presence before they are left behind. Not having a website is like leaving your shop front boarded up or refusing to tell customers anything about the services you provide.’

Of the 401 small businesses surveyed, 56 per cent of those with a website said that their overall turnover had increased since going online. Of those, the average reported uplift in revenue was 37 per cent.

The latest online spending figures from the IMRG/Capgemini Sales Index show a 12.3 per cent year-on-year rise in June.

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