A recent survey conducted for The Internet Show Melbourne indicates Australian businesses are struggling to efficiently and profitably market their business online. Of the 4000 companies surveyed nearly 50% have over $50,000 to spend on internet solutions. 23% of those have budgets over $250,000 to spend on finding solutions to these problems but are unsure how or where to find them.

But despite having the ready funds to invest in technology (many already using online marketing systems) businesses identified 'Getting the most ROI from their digital marketing strategy' as the top challenge impacting their success. In particular, Australian SMEs found 'search marketing strategy', 'building web traffic for brand awareness', 'email marketing, including spam regulations' and 'measuring traffic, response and ROI' as the four major areas of concern.

View the survey results to find out more

Although businesses are grappling with ROI, they are keen to add web 2.0 technologies such as social networking, blogs, wikis and rich media into future marketing plans. Terrapinn Marketing Manager Nicola McLintock warns "As customers consume messages in increasingly sophisticated ways we need to understand how to best use digital media to communicate with customers through their preferred channel and to have a case for future investment, or risk being left behind"

Not getting it right is a potentially costly move, running the risk of poor returns and losing touch with customers.

Google, Paypal, Netregistry, Sitecore, Yellow Pages, bwired, Episerver, Australia Post, Squiz, National Australia Bank, Elcom, Powerfront, Alterian, Rackspace, Coremedia, Viocorp and exhibitors will meet with 2000 Melbourne SME decision makers to showcase solutions to these problems at an exhibition and free seminar showcase - The Internet Show Melbourne 13-14 April.

To register for a press pass find out more about the Show and the solutions on offer visit www.internetshow.com.au