Research amongst 2,000 businesses reveals 82%
of SMEs use no social media
Newcastle Upon Tyne - 18 February 2010: The overwhelming majority of UK small and medium sized businesses are failing to exploit new ways to increase productivity and more effectively engage with customers, new research from business software and service provider Sage UK today revealed.
The Sage UK Omnibus surveyed 2,000 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) from Sage’s 790,000 strong UK customer base in January 2010. It found that 8 out of 10 (82%) firms are missing sales and customer engagement opportunities by not using Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn for any aspect of their operations. Furthermore, seventy-seven percent of UK SMEs do not use any mobile tools other than email, despite the availability of hundreds of productivity enhancing 'apps'.
Social media provides a new way for small businesses to ‘listen in’ to online conversations and gauge people’s perceptions, engage and educate existing or prospective customers and build an official online brand presence. Mobile applications also offer competitive advantage by providing business owners and employees with critical customer information and productivity tools anytime, anywhere.
Brendan Flattery, MD of Sage’s Small Business Division said, “Social media and mobile apps may not be relevant for all businesses, but for most they can provide real value. These technologies can help raise a small business’s profile, allow them to interact with their customers on a more personal level, improve collaboration between employees and enhance productivity. By embracing these new tools, businesses will be able to gain competitive advantage.”
The research also highlighted that the small businesses that do engage on social networks chose Facebook (32%) as their desired platform over Linkedin (28%) and Twitter (19%). This suggests that small businesses see Facebook as the best way to connect with their customers.
To help small businesses tap into the benefits of social media, Sage has developed a White Paper called "Connecting with your customers; A guide to social media"1 which includes:
- Using social media to gain insight to improve customer relations
- Managing your reputation online
- Driving traffic and improving Google rankings
- Social Media and CRM software
About Sage (UK) Limited
Sage (UK) Limited is a subsidiary of The Sage Group plc, a leading global supplier of business management software solutions and related products and services, principally for small to medium-sized enterprises. In the UK, Sage provides software and services to more than 790,000 businesses ranging from start-ups to large companies. This software ranges from accounts and ERP, HR and payroll, forecasting and business intelligence to customer relationship management, e-business and help for start-ups. Services include Excel Support, HR Advice, Health and Safety Advice and training courses.
For further information, please contact:
Sam Grace
Marlin PR
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0207 869 8314
07747 800 722
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