Local Businesses Say Yes To URLs

One big difference between business brackets? A website.

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By Kirsten Swann

Story Created: Jun 5, 2012 at 12:39 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Jun 5, 2012 at 12:43 PM AKDT

ANCHORAGE – In the age of technology, a recent Web.com survey made a startling claim: Roughly 40 percent of small business owners don’t yet use a website.

The survey measured mobile marketing strategies among 500 business owners: More than 82 million consumers nationwide used a smartphone last year, and nearly three quarters of small businesses surveyed said that demographic played a huge role in their plans for growth. Despite the plans, though, only 60 percent said their company actually had a website.

The number represents a slight increase from 2008, when a Barlow Research survey of 680 small businesses showed less than half maintained a website. It was one of the major differences between small firms and their larger counterparts – nearly 85 percent of businesses earning between $10-$500 million annually kept a website.

In an informal poll of Alaska small business owners, the majority said they operated a website of some kind, from a Facebook page to a full-fledged site with mobile capabilities. Only one entrepreneur, a daycare owner from Kenai, said they operated their business sans web presence.

“Although I would like to have a website, I do not,” Tammy Christin posted to Facebook Monday from her mobile phone.
 

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Mary Rydesky said on Friday, Jun 15 at 11:03 AM

For the travel and tourism trade, we find having a web presence is indispensable! The bed and breakfasts formed an association to jointly promote the B&Bs, making it affordable for small business owners and easy for travelers (one stop shopping with many choices) and the website gets visitors from all over the world, anchorage-bnb.com also lists Travl Partners-local companies our guests visit because they know we have strong relationships with these restaurants, tour groups, cultural centers, and related services. When friends recommend friends, everyone smiles!

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