The internet has revolutionised the world of communications, spans all countries and reaches a global audience of more than 544 million people.

It enables us to send, receive or search text, pictures, graphics, sounds and moving images.

The potential advantages for multinational corporations are obvious and many large companies are exploiting the medium to generate new business opportunities.

But can the internet deliver business benefits for smaller companies?

Recent reports from Yell.com show 59 per cent of small businesses in the UK still do not have a web site.

The question these businesses are undoubtedly asking themselves is: Do we need to be on the internet?

Many companies cannot see how it could possibly help to grow their business.

Yet, with the Office for National Statistics revealing 74 per cent of people use the web to look for information about goods and services, it is important a small business can be found on the net.

Through its ability to reach existing and potential customers at a cost-effective rate, it enables small businesses to:

Generate a large number of
quality business leads and increase sales by raising brand awareness Communicate and share
information about the company and do business with customers online Market and sell products,
accept orders and enquiries automatically 24 hours a day Explore, test and enter new
markets at a lower cost Build up customer contacts
and create a client database Compete on a more even
footing with bigger businesses Yell.coms research showed nearly 50 per cent of small businesses with an online presence felt their web site had directly contributed to increased sales.

Companies looking to test the water on the internet without going to the expense of creating their own web site straight away should look to create a "presence" to see how being online can directly lead to a growth in sales.

A listing on a directory site is a cost-effective way for a company to have such a presence. It gives small businesses a 24-hour-a-day shop window on the web and is a good starting point to test the strength of the internet as a marketing tool.

If a simple listing is successful, small businesses can extend their net presence by creating their own web site.

Once the decision to create a web site has been made, it is vital a business assesses the needs of both the company and its potential customers before it begins the design.

Getting online really is not as daunting or expensive as it may seem.

The potential for growth from an online presence can be realised by businesses of all sizes. It is not just the preserve of large companies.

A well-designed, easy-to-navigate and information packed web site can impress your existing customers as well as bringing in new ones.

The idea of helping small businesses to get online is being supported wholeheartedly by the Government, through its programme, UK Online for Business, which offers expert, impartial, jargon-free help, information and support on the best ways for smaller firms to get the most out of the internet.

The Government is taking this very seriously and firmly believes the internet has a great deal to offer small businesses.

So dont let your competition have a business edge. Get listed now and start to see what it can do for your business.