IT contractors will find firms are investing more money on paid search and search engine optimisation (SEO) as they emerge from the recession, according to new research.

The percentage of companies who plan to increase SEO spending in the next 12 months has increased from 55 to 60 since this time last year, according to research from Econsultancy and digital agency Guava.

Reacting to the findings, Econsultancy research director Stefan Tornquist said that search represents nearly half of all online marketing spending.

While the growth figures for search spending look the same as for other digital channels, other forms of marketing took a much larger hit during the recession, Mr Tornquist explains.

He went on to say that the UK can expect to see further growth in SEO marketing in future, with spending rates likely to match those of North America and other developed European nations, such as France and Germany.