My friend, Laurel Papworth, has pointed out some interesting statistics from the ABS about the penetration of web presence for Australian business. While not terribly surprised by these numbers, I am disappointed. It indicates just how far behind the 8-ball most business in Australia is.
I accept that there are many businesses who probably don’t necessarily need a web presence. However, for a significant number of consumers, finding information about businesses they want to deal with is done on the web. So, would having even a simple presence hurt? I don’t think so. For a relatively small investment, a good, basic site might provide a measurable stream of inquiry and clients for many businesses.
Laurel associates this lack of penetration with the widespread lack of understanding of the power of the Web, and specifically Web 2.0 technologies, amongst Australian business. I’d have to say I agree.
Unfortunately a lot of small businesses (and larger ones for that matter) have been burnt by “website developers” who can build a technically proficient site but find that it doesn’t reach their customer base, disappears in a Google search and is next to worthless in terms of fielding/funnelling visitor inquiries.
There are some good social media folks now available here in Australia. Businesses would do well to speak with them before checking with their IT people.
Gavin, I agree completely that a crappy brochure site isn’t going to cut it, and the dev companies that are still selling this solution deserve a kicking.
I would hope that people like you, me and Laurel were asked by even the smallest businesses wanting an online presence to help them with an appropriate strategy. Fingers crossed.
A decent web presence shouldn’t run a small business any more than basic local phone line.
Just as a company would never think of operating without a phone, one shouldn’t think about operating without a web site. Even if you only get one or two customers a month from your website, you’ve already paid for it.
[…] Collins, who I’ve read for a while and chatted with recently, agrees. I am disappointed. It indicates just how far behind the 8-ball most business in Australia […]
“Disappointed”? The figures are great! They show that in one year alone 93,000 Australian businesses created a web presence for the very first time.
Sure, it might not have been a whiz-bang social media wonderland, but that’s still 350+ new businesses on teh interwebz every single working day. We should be proud.
More at Web 2.0? “Hey, wait for us!”