Chart 1. Business use of Information Technology – 2014-15 to 2016-17.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, while 2.5% of businesses with web presence increased slightly from 2014 to 2017, 6.4% of businesses with social media presence increased significantly. Australian businesses have become aware of the fact that social media is now one of the most important tools to utilise for their online business presence.
More specifically, Above the graph illustrates the use of a website and social media presence by industry between 2016 to 2017.
Over half of the businesses in the retail trade industry (59%) had a web presence, while 56% had a social media presence in 2017. The nearly similar percentages, outlines that both social media and web presence are important to the retail trade industry.
In contrast, there was a marked difference in the use of social media and websites in the Accommodation and Food Services industry, with 10% more businesses having a social media account than a website in 2017. This shows that the industry is becoming aware of how important a social media presence is. I have met a few clients, who own restaurants, who started building their social media presence before developing a website. In addition, it’s very important for this industry to have professional photos to engage their customers.