Americans say small business most positive societal institution.

The May 31, 2010, issue of Bloomberg Businessweek magazine provides the results of a Pew Research Center study conducted in March, 2010, which asked, “whether certain institutions contribute to society.” The underlying question is, “Who do you trust?” The results are inspiring for small businesses, the inferences crucial for marketers.

Bloomberg positions this study aside a blurb titled, The Race to Woo Main Street on the Web, which provides these data:

• According to Nielsen Online, fewer than half of all U.S. small businesses have Web sites or advertise on the net.
• Most consumers search online for local shops and services before making a phone call or getting in a car.
• Consultants BIA/Kelsey say U.S. small businesses will spend $17.5 billion on Internet advertising in 2010.
• By 2014, one fourth of all local advertising will be Internet based.

Fascinating juxtaposition, no?

What does it mean? Are you surprised? How will you leverage these facts in marketing your business?

P.S.

The aforementioned article offers something I thought many of you would find interesting:

Google [Places, formerly Local Business Center] has created [Web] pages with data on millions of small businesses, and some 2 million companies have added their own information to those pages. Owners can…request a free photo shoot of their shop and in 11 cities they can pay Google $25 a month to make their listing pop up with an icon and other information when consumers check neighborhood maps on smartphones and on the Web.

Hanbery Marketing's Swift Kick

• The Sales Funnel and Social Media, Part III
• The Sales Funnel and Social Media, Part I
• The Sales Funnel and Social Media, Part IV
• The Evolution of Social Media for Business
• The Sales Funnel and Social Media, Part II

Swift Recommendations

• Hot Small Business Start-Up Sectors For 2010  (Resource Nation Blog)
• Credit Card Processing Tips for Small Business Owners  (Resource Nation Blog)
• SGB Media Group's "Social Views": Online Social Networking Sites, Facebook, Twitter, Ning, Business Networking Sites, Blogging, Social Media, Web Marketing  (Stephen G. Barr, Group Publisher)
• Top 10 Most Influential Men in Business Today  (Resource Nation Blog)
• 5 Small Business Internet Marketing Myths  (Resource Nation Blog)

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