Low-performing retail sites 'can easily fix problems'

08/08/2008

Under-performing retail sites can usually easily rectify the problem through search engine optimisation (SEO) and other methods.

This is according to Lawrence Shaw of site testing firm Sitemorse, who told Retail Bulletin that the bottom 15 websites in its study of the best performing retail sites could quickly improve their position by addressing issues such as including page titles for SEO, fixing broken links and replacing missing images.

The research, commissioned by Retail Bulletin, placed Matalan at the top of the 100-strong table, followed by Vision Express and DFS - businesses that are not significantly focused on the internet for sales growth, Mr Shaw noted.

Companies near the bottom included the likes of Dixons, Amazon, Endless, HMV, Maplin Electronics and Play.com - all of which rely heavily on the web for business.

"If the table was reversed then it would make more sense," Mr Shaw remarked.

Last month, an Internet Retailer study suggested that some of the biggest online retailers do not do enough to boost their search engine rankings with organic optimisation techniques.