SmallBusinessNewz

Ad-ology has released some results from a Small Business Marketing Outlook survey it conducted, which found that in 2009, over a fourth of small business owners plan to spend more on advertising. Another 60% plan to spend about the same as they did this year.

Somewhat surprisingly, most businesses (83%) expect sales to either be up or about the same as 2008 in the new year. In fact, only 25% said they were fearful about the current economic situation.

As far as marketing strategies, small business advertisers intend to spend more or the same as this year on:

- online advertising (69%)
- Yello Pages (54%)
- Newspapers (51%)
- Direct Mail (51%)

"Small business owners rely on advertising sales reps for guidance and are clearly looking for consultative partners in the advertising process," said C. Lee Smith, president and CEO of Ad-ology Research. "They are more likely to purchase advertising from those that understand their business."

Other highlights from the survey include:

- "Knows my company/line of business" is the top attribute small business owners look for in a media advertising sales rep. "Delivers what they promise" is the second most desirable attribute.

- 52% of small business owners surveyed agree with the statement "you can gain market share by marketing while your competitors are cutting back."

- 74% believe their company "must be one of the first 2-3 that come to a customer's mind" when they need what the small business owner is selling.

- More than half of respondents plan to spend the same or more time and money on their Web sites and email marketing in 2009.

- The majority of small businesses are not using other emerging media: 77% do not use online video, 83% do not podcast, and 82% do not use mobile advertising.

While the results from the survey are pretty positive overall, I find it a little discouraging that so many businesses are neglecting things like online video and mobile advertising, when clearly these media are growing at incredible rates.