Small Business Owners Optimistic About 2004
February 10, 2004
The third annual survey of small
business owners indicates a majority are optimistic about 2004 (79.8
percent) and their business future. However, analysis of the results
reveals that most small business owners are still working without a
defined plan of action and have not defined goals, yet they spend time
and energy investing in advertising and marketing activities.
Tampa, FL (PRWEB) February 9, 2004 -- The third annual survey of small
business owners indicates a majority are optimistic about 2004 (79.8
percent) and their business future. However, analysis of the results
reveals that most small business owners are still working without a
defined plan of action and have not defined goals, yet they spend time
and energy investing in advertising and marketing activities.
"Through this annual survey of small business owners, I've discovered
that most of them continue to make the same mistakes as their
predecessors," says Denise O�Berry, President, The Small Business Edge
Corp., a small business consulting firm located in Tampa, Florida.
"Over 50 percent have no action plan, no goals, and no idea how to
market their business, yet they expect an increase in revenue."
The good news is that most small business owners realize the value of
having an "in-house" customer list (64.2 percent) and many have
embraced email as an effective tool for their business. A whopping
92.5 percent use email to communicate with their customers compared to
53.4 percent who use regular mail.
"Unfortunately, because of the proliferation of unsolicited email on
the internet, small business email messages may get lost in the crowd
if they don�t find a way to leverage their 'in-house' list and use it
to their advantage," says O�Berry.
Most revealing was that only 29.8 percent of these owners use the
least time consuming and cost efficient method to market their
business -- a public relations strategy. Instead, they are relying on
traditional methods like direct mail and advertising to get the word
out about their business. These methods are two of the most expensive
if done incorrectly.
"Clearly, these small business owners need help," says O�Berry. "They
deal with tough issues each and every day to maintain the independence
they've worked so hard to achieve. And they don't have a lot of time
to waste moving in the wrong direction."
The source of this news release is
PRWeb.
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