City visitor Group PLC

Bringing Business to You

Media

Here you will find all our latest press releases.

SMEs want top rankings but neglect websites

20th April 2010

A survey among SMEs has revealed that although nearly 80% of respondents think it’s very important to have their website on the first page of Google, over a third of them rarely or never update them.

“It appears that a large number of SMEs believe that once they have created a website, the job is done,” said Steve Barnes, CEO of Infoserve, the online local business search specialist which conducted the survey.

“Nothing can be further from the truth,” Steve continued, “as having fresh, tailored and relevant content plays a key role in determining search engine results.”

Whereas a few years ago, having a website used to be a sign of being a progressive organisation, Infoserve now believes businesses need to be more aware that consumers are going one step further and looking for websites that are engaging, dynamic and up-to-date.

Steve continued, “A stale and uninspiring website is like having a shop window that doesn’t ever make any effort to catch anyone’s eye. Most people would just walk past.”

More than 75% of SMEs are planning to either maintain or increase their online marketing budgets this year, yet the survey also revealed that more than a quarter did not know what their competitors’ website looked like and 15% of businesses believe their competitors’ websites are better than theirs.

Steve added, “The internet has given everyone more of an equal footing in securing business, so it’s important to evaluate your online presence as it may well be that your competitors’ website is snatching customers right from under your nose.

“Having an effective online marketing campaign has become a necessity. The first step is to make sure you present the right image, but then ranking highly on search engines is crucial, whether that’s via online directories, advertising or high performing optimisation.”

Infoserve specialises in online local search, website creation and currently lists approximately 3.5 million SMEs in its family of online business directories.

For further information, please contact:

Peter Downey
Source Marketing Communications
Tel: 0113 380 1644
Email: peter@sourcemc.co.uk

Online business expert creates jobs boost

1st April 2010

An online business search company in the Tees Valley is creating up to 120 new jobs as it looks to drive forward its ambitious growth plans.

Morton Palms-based Infoserve Ltd is creating the new jobs with the help of a £249,000 Grant for Business Investment (GBI) from Regional Development Agency One North East.

The company, which already employs over 100 people, offers online marketing guidance to a growing portfolio of small and medium businesses across the country. It specialises in local search, which combines specific business sectors with particular locations – offering a wide range of online business directories, enhanced business listings, website design services and the local search facilities on Yahoo!Local.

To support the expansion, Infoserve is expanding into floor space above its current premises at Pioneer Court which will be home to a new specialist sales team working to help SMEs efficiently manage their online marketing campaigns.

Mark Riley, Sales Director of Infoserve, said: “Looking for businesses in paper directories and phonebooks has become a thing of the past as more and more people are turning to searching the internet. It has become second nature to us and not something we ever really stop to think about, but SMEs are only just starting to understand how important it is to have an effective online presence.

“Search engines are becoming much more sophisticated in interpreting what we are looking for, but crucially, they are beginning to present local search results if you are looking for general goods or services. This means if you’re a local business, ensuring that you appear in these search results should be a number one priority and we’re here to help with that.”

Infoserve was established in 1999 and its own leading local search site, www.city-visitor.co.uk, along with its other online business directories – collectively receiving over 32 million visits a month.

Ken Samson, Business Finance Manger at One North East, said: “I am pleased to see that our grant support will help Infoserve expand its premises and seek additional clients with its new sales team.

“As the online world constantly evolves, it’s important that specialists such as Infoserve have access to finance to help them develop and gain a firm standing in what is a fiercely competitive market.”

The Grant for Business Investment product, which is part of Solutions for Business - the Government’s package of publicly funded support products offers help to companies to start, grow and succeed. Solutions for Business makes it easier for companies to get the advice and assistance that they need.

For further information on the full package of support, visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/northeast or Tel: 0845 600 9006.

The Grant for Business Investment (GBI) initiative delivered by One North East is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund 2007-13.

For further information, please contact:

Andy Aston
One North East Press Office
Tel: 0191 2296894
Email: andy.aston@onenortheast.co.uk

Infoserve Ltd. Registered in England & Wales, Number 5750143. Registered Office: South Side Aviation, Leeds Bradford Int'l Airport, Leeds, LS19 7UG
City-visitor is an online product of Infoserve Group plc