Small Businesses See 10 Percent Increase on Cyber Monday

Consumers Buying from Smaller Online Retailers Too

Network Solutions, a leading provider of small business web services, announced today that its more than 7,000 e-commerce customers saw a collective 10 percent year-over-year increase in sales on Cyber Monday, the highly anticipated start of online holiday shopping. While retailers across the country reported slow same-store sales, smaller online entrepreneurs enjoyed a jump in holiday sales this year, with more consumers shopping online in greater numbers.

As many brick-and-mortar shop owners struggle with increased costs and shrinking in-store sales, small businesses with e-commerce sites are augmenting their revenues with online sales. As more consumers search Google first to find bargains and products, local small businesses with properly marketed Web sites are benefiting from national exposure. According to a report from iProspect and Jupiter Research, 62 percent of searchers click on a link within the first page of results. Having an e-Commerce Web site and using search engine optimization tools from Network Solutions, small businesses have secured new audiences to increase holiday sales.

“With small businesses across the country struggling, Network Solutions’ is excited to see that our e-commerce customers are benefiting from greater exposure,” said Scott Ableman, Chief Marketing Officer at Network Solutions. “Whether you own a small shop or work out of your home, having a professional web site is an economical way to build sales during tough times.”

Cyber Monday kicks off spending

This holiday season is set to see a horde of online shoppers purchase their Christmas gifts over the internet and it is all to start in a week, on so-called Cyber Monday.

The Monday after Thanksgiving is the traditional start of the holiday spending scramble and many online retailers have waited until now to offer their best deals. Scott Silverman, Executive Director of Shop.org, said: "As more people rely on the internet for holiday shopping, retailers have stepped up their game to compete.

"This year, promotions on Cyber Monday are extremely competitive as online retailers use an assortment of one-day specials to send shoppers online."
Currently over half of US homes have access to broadband internet and the popularity of online shopping has increased yearly of late. A poll, commissioned by Shop.org and carried out by BIGresearch, found that 54.5 percent of office workers with internet access intended on shopping from work in the coming weeks.