The internet is often thought of as the great equalizer as it can often level the playing field for some small businesses, but in order for it to work entrepreneurs need to get involved by using tools like search engine optimization (SEO).
In an interview with bMighty.com, Andy Leff, CEO of 7 Mainstreet, says a lack of search engine optimization (SEO) is one of the biggest mistakes small businesses make when they launch a website.
"Just because you have a site doesn’t mean that the web crawlers are going to find you and you’ll show up in Google, Yahoo, or MSN," he told the news provider. "You need to take into account the search engines and build your site accordingly."
Leff also says that it’s important for these businesses to get involved with social media as ways to grow their visibility, distribute news and establish relationships with customers.
"The important thing is to get your feet wet and start somewhere," he said.
A report last month from AMI-Partners found that 70 percent of small businesses have their own website, yet only one-quarter of those sites implement some form of ecommerce.
A separate study from Discover found that small businesses are increasingly using social media tools like Twitter. According to that study 38 percent of SMBs use social media – up from 22 percent in 2007.
