SmallBusinessNewz

BIA/Kelsey: Only 30% of Marketing Budgets Will Go to Traditional Advertising by 2015

BIA/Kelsey has put out a new U.S. spending forecast, saying that small and medium-sized businesses will continue the recent trend of shifting their marketing budgets to digital advertising, performance-based platforms and customer retention business solutions over the next five years. 

Small Businesses Ready to Have Holiday Parties This Year

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants conducted a nationwide survey finding that the majority of small business owners, managers and decision makers are planning holiday parties for employees this year. Budgets may be reduced from previous years, but a third of those polled indicated they are planning to spend $30 or more per employee. Other findings from the survey include:

Marketing Dollars Are Going Online For a Reason

Marketers are going to be a doing a lot of budget rearranging heading into the new year. It looks as though this has already begun though. Many are shifting a good amount of their offline marketing dollars to online methods.

Marketers May Have to Mix it Up in 2009

The economy has without a doubt left a bad taste in the mouth (and wallet) of many business owners, and a fair number have indicated that they will reduce their marketing budgets just to save some money and continue surviving. I personally feel that this should be done as a last resort only, because marketing is what drives customers to your business, and customers are what drive growth, and ultimately survival.

Cutting Cost Tips Every Small Business Owner Should Know

Develop a Clear Mission StatementOne of the most important steps is one most business owners consider obvious - but few truly do thoroughly.  Make sure that your business plan is simple, clear, and workable before you invest your capital. Have you planned out the next five years intensively?  In how much detail?  The more narrowly, specifically, and intelligently you articulate your business mission, the easier it will be for you to construct a cost effective budget and to keep your company in the black.

SEM: Don't Pull the Trigger Too Early

Getting excited about setting up your first Google or Yahoo! advertising campaign? Who wouldn't be with promises of top exposure, qualified website visitors and instant traffic? Now before you get over zealous about launching your advertising campaigns, don't make the mistake of pressing the trigger before you set your sights on the target.