Research shows that only 24% of SMEs in Ireland, currently have an online presence, and fewer still (just 11%) are actually exporting. No matter what business you are involved in you can increase your revenue by having a professionally built website or online store.

By the end of 2019, it is estimated that over 30% of retail sales in G20 countries will be made online. Currently 80% of Europeans who use the internet plan to shop online this year.

The opportunity to tap into this marketplace and get your company a website is now easier than ever before, so you cannot let this opportunity pass you by. Even though there is currently an increasing trend in online spending it is estimated that only 23% of small Irish businesses use ecommerce in any meaningful way. It is further estimated that of all online purchases made in Ireland, almost 70% are done in overseas markets.

There are dynamic new subsidies and schemes out there to help Irish businesses set up Irish online stores and Irish websites, so here’s how it can work for you.

Find yourself a good web designer, preferably from Ireland, someone who understands your business and can help you step by step to understand the full benefits for your business to get online. Remember that your website is how you are going to present your business to the world of ecommerce, so make sure you do not compromise with DIY or cheap websites.

Subsidies are available to eligible companies, so take full advantage of this incentive, and employ an Irish web designer to carry out this work. An Irish web designer will be fully aware of these subsidies. If you live in Dublin, then go for a Dublin web designer, who will be able to assist you in getting a website grant.

In order to support the goal of developing Irish websites, and Irish online stores, the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources (DCENR) has launched a Trading Online Voucher Scheme and has teamed up with the Local Enterprise Offices to roll out the scheme under the National Digital Strategy.

The Trading Online Voucher Scheme offers small businesses the opportunity to develop their website or online store by availing of vouchers of up to €2,500 or 50% of eligible expenditure. Eligible Projects, for an Irish website development, are available to companies with less than 10 employees, with a turnover of less than €2m, and applicant business must be registered and trading for at least 12 months.

These vouchers can be used for, IT consultation, and the development or upgrade of an ecommerce website. For additional information please call our team on 00353 (0)1 465 1798 or email info@bestwebdesign.ie.