More Evidence that Web-based Sales Helping Smaller Businesses

I wrote about the strong web-based sales reported for the opening of this year’s Holiday shopping season in a recent post. Inc.com cites a new study of small businesses that found that four of five small businesses report web-based sales are now an important source of sales.
“Of small business owners who said they have a business website, 77% claimed their business is healthier–defined as having a better competitive advantage or stronger economic footing–as the result of the website, while 81% reported that their websites generate business leads.
The Holiday season is becoming particularly important for these trends.
“Forty-five percent of respondents said that they anticipated online holiday sales to improve this year, while 42% said they expected similar sales to last year. When asked how they planned to prepare for the holiday shopping season, 58% said that they would update their website, while about a third said they would offer special promotions, engage in direct-marketing efforts or increase the number of items or services they sell.”
The long awaited emergence of on-line channels of distribution is finally occurring for small businesses.