New research commissioned by digital marketing platform Adzooma, suggests that almost half of all UK small business owners lack the skills required to market their business effectively online.

According to the survey of 500 leaders of small to medium-sized firms, more than four in 10 had no idea how to create an online profile, while six in 10 had not considered using social media to advertise their business. Furthermore, almost four out of 10 entrepreneurs said their firm did not even have a company website.

The sharp rise in online sales witnessed during the pandemic has resulted in digital marketing becoming an increasingly crucial area for most firms. It is therefore perhaps unsurprising that nearly half of all those business owners surveyed felt they could have increased sales if they had marketed themselves properly online.

Commenting on the findings, co-founder of Adzooma, Rob Wass, said, “Marketing your business online to be seen and gain greater client exposure is so invaluable in today’s market. Having no online presence at all can pose a huge risk to sales and long-term relationships. In order to succeed, businesses must be online and there are platforms and solutions available out there to achieve this.”