Ranking web as indicator of knowledge diffusion : an application for SMEs

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to analyze the influence of the diversity of information and the use of Web 2.0 applications on the web positioning of online business information providers. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 203 online business information provider websites were selected using three search engines (Google, Yahoo and Bing). This information was encoded to develop two logistic regression models. Findings: The results suggest that the knowledge offered and the resources used to transfer this knowledge play important roles in the web positioning of online business information providers. This study found that entrepreneurs mainly seek technological knowledge, and to acquire it, they use various Web 2.0 applications that do not necessarily include social networks. Practical implications: This article presents a novel proposal to analyze how knowledge diversity and Web 2.0 applications influence the web rankings of websites that offer information and knowledge for established or new, small and medium enterprises. Originality/value: This article is novel in that it links the theory of knowledge dissemination with the technologies of the Internet (websites, Web 2.0 applications) and provides evidence of diverse sources of online information that are potentially useful for the entrepreneur of the twentieth century.