Are You Still on the Fence About Online Marketing…Some Stats You Need to Know
Small business owner in Arkansas? Not sure what this Internet Marketing is all about or if it is even worth wasting your time on? Well here are a few statistics that might make you want to learn more, especially if you are a local business with local customers.
by Herb Lawrence Center Director Arkansas State University Small Business 
and Technology Development Center…Connecting with Entrepreneurs Online from the Delta to the Ozarks
Running a small business is always a challenge and finding ways to connect with potential customers takes work. You don’t have time to learn about Internet Marketing? After looking at these statistics you may realize you don’t have time NOT to learn about Online Marketing!
10 Statistics Arkansas Small Businesses Need to Know
Are Consumers REALLY using the Internet for Business?
During 2012 Internet users in the United States will grow by 3.1% that is over 239 million Americans and represents 75.6% of our total population! Your customer and potential customers are Online…should you be? With more than 3 out of every 4 Americans online the answer is probably YES- 88.1% of all Americans online will research information about products or services online in 2012. Will they find you? And nearly 84% will make at least one purchase online this year.
- Your customers will be looking for you on their mobile devices in 2012…mobile internet users will hit 113.9 million in 2012 that is a 17% increase from 2011 and over 78 million will be MOBILE SHOPPERS. Will they find your business on their smart phones or tablets?
- The fastest growing area of mobile will be tablets. Tablet users will hit 54.8 million in 2012 a 62% increase from 2011 and they will be using their tablets to find you.
- Social Media will still be important to small businesses. 2/3rds of all internet users use social networks and 90% of social network users will be on Facebook. What is your social media marketing plan? In the U.S. alone, Facebook will hit 143.4 million users in 2012, up 8.2% from 2011.
The statistics above came from a blog article dated January 5th from Hubspot.com blog “25 Eye-Popping Internet Marketing Statistics for 2012″. Click the link to read all 25 stats and what they will mean for your business.
So those are interesting but I am a small local business why should I care?
97% of internet users in the U.S. get shopping information online and 51% of them say that they “Search/Shop Online…Purchase Offline!” That means they are looking for the information before they get in their cars and come to your business. But only if they see you when they SEARCH!- 73% of all Online activity is “Related to Local Information”
- 70% of all online searchers will use Local Search to find OFFLINE businesses like yours
- For EVERY DOLLAR consumers spend Online…they spend $5-6 Offline that was INFLUENCED BY ONLINE SEARCHES!
- In one month Google logged nearly 3 BILLION Google Searches containing LOCAL terms (i.e. Nike Shoes in Batesville, AR, or Dentists 72501).
The Local Search statistics above were taken from a blog by ezlocal.com “Some Useful Local Search Statistics” click on the link to read more information about local search.
The marketing take away for local small businesses in Arkansas is…You can’t avoid the Internet…well you can but your competition isn’t. Your customers are using the internet, especially their mobile devices to find information about you, your business, your products or services and if you haven’t put Online Search Marketing as part of your overall marketing plan in 2012 they will find your competition.
Would you like to know more about how your small rural business can leverage Online Marketing, especially Local Search Marketing?
Then join the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, Mainstreet Batesville, the ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center and our sponsors on Thursday, January 19th for “Get Listed Locally..How Small Rural Businesses Can Claim their Business Online” and make 2012 a profitable year for online search. We will hold the 3 hour seminar twice on January 19th. 1-4 pm and again 6-9 pm at the Batesville Chamber. Seating is limited to 15 attendees per session so reserve your seat today. For more information about the seminar or to register see our web page Get Listed Locally and sign up now.
The ASU SBTDC also offers FREE, confidential consulting assistance to small businesses on a variety of topics, including Online Marketing and Local Search. Contact our consultants, Laura Miller or Robert Bahn at (870) 972-3517 or email us at asusbtdc@astate.edu to see how we can work with your small business. For more about our consulting assistance see our Business Consulting Services web page.
2012 is the year Arkansas small businesses need to claim their place Online to market to today’s consumers. We can help you learn how!
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I’m not sure where you are getting your information, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for fantastic info I was looking for this Why Internet Marketing Matters for Small Rural Arkansas Businesses for my mission.
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