BT Tradespace announces business social networking is an untapped
gold mine
Released
on: December 16, 2008, 5:12 am
Press
Release Author: BT
Tradespace
Industry:
Financial
Press
Release Summary: BT Tradespace launches new platform to help businesses
win customers
Press
Release Body: BT Tradespace survey reveals the
use of business social networking sites as a promotional tool
has doubled in the last six months, but it still remains a relatively
untapped business goldmine.
The
BT Tradespace
research, which examined how small businesses market themselves,
how they network and the technology they use to do so, found that
15% of companies are now promoted on social networking sites compared
to just 7% at the beginning of the year*.
The
survey revealed that start-up companies log on the most, with
one in five (22%) using social networking sites, compared to just
one in ten home-based (13%) and growing businesses (11%).
The
research also revealed that whilst the majority of companies are
aware of the benefits of online
marketing, just over half have a company website (52%) and
over a fifth of businesses (22%) do no marketing at all.
Mick
Hegarty, head of BT Tradespace said: "More and
more businesses are starting to use social networking platforms
to win and attract new customers. But many are still failing to
realise the full potential of the web to help them compete and
thrive in our changing world. Smaller companies do much of their
business through relationships and referrals and professional
networking enables them to play to their strengths whenever they
interact with customers, suppliers and business partners."
To
help small businesses harness technology and attract new customers,
BT has launched a new platform, called Marketplace,
on its social networking site, BT Tradespace. With new ecommerce
features, deeper navigation, enhanced search functionalities and
richer content, this free
online community offers a greater experience and more interactive
relationships for companies, individual sellers and customers
looking to do business.
Hegarty
continued: "Social media is constantly evolving and the
launch of Marketplace demonstrates our commitment to offer businesses
tools that allow them to communicate with consumers in the same
way that they communicate with each other. With over 270,000 customers
to date, BT Tradespace makes online marketing simple, interactive
and most importantly, cost-effective for businesses in the current
economic climate."
The
research also revealed a clear regional split across the country.
London topped the league table, with 24% of businesses using social
networking sites to market their company. This was following by
the South East and North West with 19% each, compared with just
8% of businesses in Scotland.
Notes to editors
* 416 businesses sampled by Vanson Bourne in April 2008 and October
2008
About
BT
BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions
and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities
include the provision of networked IT services globally; local,
national and international telecommunications services to our
customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband
and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile
products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of
business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.
In
the year ended March 31, 2008, BT Group's revenue was £20,704
million with profit before taxation and specific items of £2,506
million.
British
Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT
Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets
of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in
London and New York.
Web
Site: http://www.bttradespace.com
Contact
Details: BT Tradespace PR Contact:
Dan Thomas
Senior Press Officer
BT News Room
PP A5P
BT Centre
81 Newgate Street
London
EC1A 7AJ
020 7356 5383
www.bttradespace.com
2012
