Online-only retailers 'top for SEO'

Retailers that trade exclusively online tend to fare better in search engine rankings than traditional retail organisations with e-commerce websites.

This is the conclusion of a new study by online marketing firm Internet-Engine, which found that web-based retailers represented more than 30 per cent of all listings when typical searches were conducted.

Traditional retailers made up 12 per cent of listings by comparison. Internet-Engine's study also revealed that these retailers lagged behind comparison sites, media and hobby websites and manufacturers in the search engine optimisation (SEO) stakes.

Thom Disch, chief executive of Internet-Engine, said that it was "surprising" that bricks-and-mortar stores appear to have invested little in SEO compared with their online-only rivals.

"Not appearing in the free listings means that the bricks-and-mortar retailers must spend more of their money on paid search listings, which ultimately will have a negative impact on their overall profitability," he remarked.

Last year, a study by SLI Systems found that site search, SEO and email marketing were seen as the top technology tools of choice by online retailers in the US.