
The availability and popularity of home computing and accessing the internet has grown substantially in the past decade. According to Nielsen Online, there were 48,755,000 Internet users in the UK as of June 2009: that’s a staggering 79.8% of the population.
For many people looking for a service or product, the internet is the first place they turn. The internet also provides a way for people to investigate companies and their products or services without the awkwardness of face-to-face contact which allows a greater degree of anonymity while they consider their options.
In response to this, most businesses now have a presence on the internet and use this as an opportunity to promote their products and services in addition to more traditional forms of advertising, such as Yellow Pages (which, by comparison, will cost around £300/year and offers little opportunity to really sell your business).