FLEDGLING businesses in Greater Manchester want more help to market themselves on the internet as the recession bites, according to a Sound Communication survey.

They want better technical support, more training and stronger creative input to help market their businesses more effectively on the web.

Although most are ‘reasonably’ or ‘very well equipped’ to use the internet, the biggest barrier they face is their lack of knowledge and the ‘techy’ jargon used by experts.

More than 100 start-up enterprises took part in the survey which was carried out by Sound Communication during a series of ‘Marketing on the Web’ workshops we provided for new small businesses.

The survey found that start-ups were well aware of how important the web is to the success of their business.

But they want more practical support – especially with technical issues – and more training. Too often, jargon and gobbledegook gets in the way.

Sound Communication Director, Matt Finnegan said: “There was a real sense of frustration amongst new businesses who want to market themselves more effectively on the internet, but do not have either the time, expertise or the knowledge.

“As the recession tightens its grip and business is done increasingly on-line, these problems are only going to get worse.”

The Sound survey found real demand amongst budding entrepreneurs for practical training sessions and workshops about Search Engine Optimisation, blogs and on-line networks, like Facebook and LinkedIn.

But very few new enterprises were aware that, rather than spending a small fortune on web sites, they can create a blog or use existing social or business networks for free – and market themselves on the internet just as effectively.

Mr Finnegan added: “By far the most popular part of our workshops was how to build a very simple blog in less than ten minutes and gain an instant presence on the internet. It really opened the eyes of business.”

The small businesses who took part were, in the main, limited companies and sole traders, half of whom already had a web presence and used the internet either constantly or a few hours every day.

Seven out of 10 cited lack of knowledge as the biggest barrier to using the internet for their business. Half complained of lack of time and too much jargon.

Two thirds said the single thing that would most help them to use the internet more effectively to market their business, was technical expertise, more training and a stronger creative input.

The workshops were carried out by Sound Communication throughout Greater Manchester on behalf of the advice agency, Business Support Solutions.