Companies have more chance of being seen in today's market through business networking, according to an internet specialist.

The chief executive officer and co-founder of Talkbiznow.com Martin Warner said firms ought to be selective when they choose to use internet systems instead of face-to-face discussions.

Mr Warner stated that businesses are increasingly using their online presence to promote themselves through popular systems such as social networking, effectively using it as a marketing tool.

He said: "People believe that there is a lot of room for using the internet platform in order to help facilitate those relationships and provide people with tools that enable them to engage."

BT Tradespace, an online business community, found through a survey last November that the use of business social networking sites as an advertising tool had doubled in just six months.

Additionally, it was understood that 15 per cent of companies now have some form of promotional presence on social networking sites, up from seven per cent this time last year.

A recent Connect survey found that the two major concerns about outsourcing services like IT support were 'loss of control' (56 per cent) and 'budget over-runs' (43 per cent).