More have websites

About half of Australia’s small businesses now have a website, up from 35% a year ago, according to a Google survey of 500 enterprises.

Website ownership rose from 35% to about 50% of small businesses over the past year — roughly a 15 percentage-point increase, based on the Google survey.

The data comes from a survey conducted by Google, which sampled 500 enterprises to gauge small business website adoption.

Google and MYOB ran a year-long campaign to get more businesses online by offering free websites, which preceded the rise in small business website uptake.

Yes — the survey found that businesses in capital cities were more likely to have a website than those in regional areas.

Only New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland had more than 10% of small businesses with a website, according to the survey results.

The campaign ran for a year, during which Google and MYOB offered free websites to help more small businesses get online.

The findings are based on a Google survey of 500 enterprises. Everyday investors should note the result reflects that sampled group and represents a reported trend in small business website adoption.