Dare to compare. Will listing your products on comparison-shopping sites boost business?

Entrepreneur, Jan, 2005 by Melissa Campanelli

Experts, entrepreneurs and service providers alike insist businesses can benefit from using comparison-shopping sites. "These sites are an especially good marketing vehicle for small e-railers," says Evans. "Since it is generally a pay-for-performance type of environment, it's not a heavy investment to be in the same place where some of the bigger players are."

Says Behr, "You can have the three biggest retailers in America and four or five small retailers all on the same page. These sites level the playing field."

PUMPED UP: Joe (l.) and William Alter's exercise equipment sales have jumped since being listed on comparison sites.

46% of businesses expect to dedicate more dollars to IT in 2005.

MELISSA CAMPANELLI is a marketing and technology writer in New York City