A recent survey by the email marketing software provide Campaigner has shown that small businesses are invreasing turning to online methods to drive business growth.
Key survey findings were:
- 48% of the small businesses surveyed expeteced to generate higher revenues this year than 2008.
- Those businesses that are growing are investing more marketing funding in internet advertising, search engine marketing and other online tools.
- Overall, small businesses ar switching more of their marketing online and away from traditional advertising nad direct mail.
- The top online tools being used were social media and networking, email marketing and search engine marketing.
These results are not really surprising given the fact that these methods tend to be lower cost, although they do need more marketing expertise to implement. Given the success that larger businesses have had online, it is not surprising that SMEs should want to move into this area.
On a wider note, this is also an indication that more and more customers are using internet channels to select and buy products. There are very few markets where is it feasible to stay in business and not to have a credible online strategy.
There has been much focus here recently on the contrast between UK GDP figures and the outlook surveys from purchasing managers. The equivalent survey in marketing and advertising is the IPA Bellweather survey. In line with other surveys it shows some promising data – but only in patches.
The jury is certainly still out at the moment. Markets that were quiet in the summer seem to have a bit more life in them, although money is still short and almost no one is investing large amounts of cash in anything.
I had eureka moment yesterday – suddenly everything had become clear. What if bankers have become so powerful in the future, that they can afford to travel back in time to make sure that no one can reform their industry and curb their powers or their pay.
I will admit to a few moments of self doubt, but then I saw todays papers. An ill-considered attack on the banks by Mervyn King (normally a thoughtful commentator) is followed immediately by a rebuff from Gordon and Alistair. There can be little further doubt – there are dark forces abroad!