The Manifest Study Says Only 6 Per Cent of Small Businesses in US Focused on Retaining Customers
Small businesses recognise the value of digital marketing, but lack the necessary budget and resources to maximise their efforts, according to a new survey. Almost one-third of small businesses (31 per cent) concentrate their digital marketing efforts on increasing sales, but most aren’t prioritising engaging current customers. This data comes from a new survey by […]
Small businesses recognise the value of digital marketing, but lack the necessary budget and resources to maximise their efforts, according to a new survey.
Almost one-third of small businesses (31 per cent) concentrate their digital marketing efforts on increasing sales, but most aren’t prioritising engaging current customers. This data comes from a new survey by The Manifest, a business news and how-to website, which finds that small businesses are not maximising their digital marketing investments.
Only 6 per cent of small businesses’ say their primary digital marketing goal this year is customer retention.
Furthermore, only 6 per cent of small businesses are focused on SEO, which is an effective method of growing long-term, organic traffic to their site.
Companies may be losing sales as they focus on more challenging wins instead of targeting already interested customers.
Lauren Douglas, chief marketing officer of FountainheadME, a marketing agency in California, said you must create a relationship with current customers to retain them.
“Make them feel that you are talking to them personally, and you will improve brand loyalty,” Douglas said.
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Businesses should grow their customer base with personalised communication to solidify their client relationships.
Small Businesses Spend Less Than USD 50,000 on Marketing Efforts
Graph – Small Business Digital Marketing Goals Image Courtesy: The Manifest
Small businesses do not often invest significant funds into their digital marketing campaigns.
More than half of small businesses (55 per cent) spend less than USD 50,000 on all marketing efforts, including employee salary.
More than one-third of companies (36 per cent) only invest USD 10,000 into their annual marketing budget.
Small businesses measure digital marketing effectiveness using different standards based on their goals and size, though.
Robert Weiss, president of MultiVision Digital, a video production agency in New York, said that he considers it a win if the money invested in digital marketing is matched, not exceeded, in returns.
“We just want a 1 to 1 ratio because for us, once we acquire a client, there’s a strong long-term value proposition because we keep clients,” Weiss said.
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Small businesses emphasise digital marketing success using individual company goals.
The amount of money put into a digital marketing budget can determine results.
Small Businesses Prefer In-House Teams to Third-Party Agencies
Small businesses often choose in-house teams to complete digital marketing projects because it’s cheaper and more efficient.
Almost two-thirds of small businesses (60 per cent) use in-house teams while only 40 per cent hire an outside agency for digital marketing campaigns.
Small businesses rely on their employees to understand their brand’s mission and communicate effectively with their managers. While an outside agency may have more expertise, an in-house team can be more cost-efficient and knowledgeable about the small business itself.
Companies should investigate different marketing software and tools to optimise this in-house team, though fully.
The Manifest’s 2019 Small Business Digital Marketing Survey included 529 US small business managers or owners.
Read the complete report here.
