MARKETING and website specialist Net Commerce Solution (NCS), is offering businesses free advice on creating or improving their websites.

According to NCS's recent research, which surveyed more than 1,000 local companies, 80 per cent of businesses had their own website, which was an increase of 20 per cent during the past year.

Mr Dave Abernathy, NCS managing director, said 90 per cent of these businesses could gain significant benefits through improving their websites and its marketing.

He said: "There is still a lack of understanding out there among businesses. Many business people felt they needed to have a website but did not know what they wanted to do with it. "

He warned that many websites failed to produce the goods. Mr Abernathy added: "The Internet is primarily just another marketing and communication channel. Businesses which have successfully attracted and serviced customers using traditional means need to apply the same basic thinking to their use of the Internet.

"There are more similarities than differences. The site content needs to be made meaningful and attractive to visitors and businesses need to work smarter at promoting."

Businesses can find free advice on creating an effective website, or improving an existing one, in articles on Net Commerce Solutions' site at www.net-commerce-solutions.co.uk.

December 13, 2001 10:00