The small and midsize business (SMB) market opportunity for web-based professional services is growing because SMBs usually lack the time, expertise and internet marketing skills to go it alone, according to a new Yankee Group report, reports CRM Today. As of 2005, some 39 percent of U.S. SMBs conducted e-commerce on their websites - only a 5 percent increase from 2004.

"The area of online and search marketing has become too complicated for SMBs to tackle on their own," said Sanjeev Aggarwal, Yankee Group Small & Medium Business Strategies senior analyst. "SMBs and mid-market enterprises will rely on professional web services companies that can help them test, learn, optimize, maintain and enhance their online web presence, e-commerce and online marketing."

According to the Yankee Group, online marketing and advertising spending will grow from $1.3 billion in 2005 to $9.3 billion in 2010; the web-based services market will grow from $2.9 billion in 2005 to $4.1 billion in 2010; and web-hosting market revenue will rise from $4.4 billion in 2005 to $5.4 billion by 2010.