Small businesses prefer email marketing over social media

6/3/2011

The internet has opened up how many small businesses interact with consumers. They no longer have to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on Yellow Page ads and local radio spots - they can reach an even broader audience for less money over the web.

However, the internet is a complex marketing platform with a number of different advertising channels. According to a recent survey from Pitney Bowes, most small businesses prefer email marketing. As many as 68 percent of respondents said they used email to promote their products and services, while only 20 percent said they leverage social media.

Sill, the best approach is to use a variety of channels, says Pitney Bowes vice president of marketing Debra Thompson-Van. "Companies are discovering that a combination of marketing channels is most effective in reaching prospects and customers," Thompson-Van explained.

With consumers slowly returning to their pre-recession buying habits, small business owners should consider leveraging commercial loans to ramp up their marketing efforts. This will help them capture more sales.