• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • CEO’s blog
  • Sites of the week
  • Website Advice
  • Latest Updates
  • News
  • December 8, 2019

Small Business Secrets

News, website tips and insights from bOnline

Small Business Secrets

A blog by bOnline for News, Website Tips and Insights

August 8, 2013 By Kasey Cassells

: Customers snub small businesses without websites

keyboard in focus with screenA new report from O2 Business has confirmed that a small business’ web presence plays a large part in the buying process for customers.

According to the study, 78% of respondents always go online to research a small business before using them. If the business doesn’t have a website, a quarter of customers will go elsewhere.

In addition, 71% expect to communicate with a business quickly and easily, while one in five expect to do this at any time of the day or night.

Once a customer chooses who to do business with, it’s down to good service to ensure they return and help businesses maintain a positive reputation — 7 out of 10 (72%) of customers will never forgive a small business if they receive bad customer service.

More than two thirds (67%) said they would share their bad experience with an average of eight other people.

Paul Lawton, General Manager of SMB at O2, said “We believe customers should be at the heart of any business…A company’s website or email address is often the first thing a customer sees and first impressions online are as important as they are face-to-face.”

About Kasey Cassells

Kasey writes about the latest small business and website news for bOnline. Find Kasey on Google+, or follow bOnline on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+

Related posts:

  1. Customers are becoming less loyal, more promiscuous
  2. Businesses’ websites & social strategies not fit for purpose
  3. Businesses lose billions by forgetting to invoice customers
  4. Customers expect online support from small businesses
« Why every small business should consider an eCommerce website
Website builder update August 8th 2013 »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

LIKE WHAT YOU SEE?

Please fill in the required fields.

SEARCH NEWS STORIES

Archives

See More Beautiful Websites

Footer

© 2019 bOnline Limited, all rights reserved. Registered in England No.7710947. bOnline® is a registered trademark of bOnline.
bOnline Ltd. Unit 01 Rudolf Place London SW8 1RP