This is the latest in BIA/Kelsey’s Vantage Points series. On a semi-weekly basis, it will tap the perspectives of various lookout points from around the local media and tech sectors. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect that of BIA/Kelsey. Please contact mbolandATbiakelsey if…
In BIA/Kelsey’s Local Commerce Monitor survey of small and medium businesses, we asked our 1,000+ respondents if they use customer relationship management (CRM) systems. 1 in 4 SMBs reported that they currently use a CRM system and another 20.7% responded that…
Earlier this week Microsoft acquired social media networking site LinkedIn for $26.2 billion. With the acquisition, Microsoft CEO Mr. Satya Nadella says the company plans to combine the programs (such as Microsoft's Office and Office 365) and professional networks that connect…
Nearly one in four small and medium-sized businesses offer a loyalty program according to our Local Commerce Monitor™ (LCM). Top industries that use loyalty are retail, construction/contracting, and accounting/bookkeeping. While there are a large number of loyalty-based apps and programs available…
In our Local Commerce Monitor™ (LCM) survey of small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) the use of social media by SMBs overall is strongly driven by Facebook. Seven out of ten SMBs in our full sample* report using at least one…
In our Local Commerce Monitor™ (LCM) survey of SMBs we asked SMBs what model they prefer for online advertising - Do It Myself (DIY) or Do It With/For Me (DIWM/DIFM). The vast majority (58.2%) prefer a DIY model. When we…
Larger SMBs, those spending more than $25,000 annually on advertising and promotion, are known as Plus Spenders in BIA/Kelsey’s Local Commerce Monitor™ (LCM) survey of small and medium businesses. These Plus Spenders spend an average $75,169 annually for advertising and promotion. As you can…
Smaller SMBs, otherwise known as Core SMBs in BIA/Kelsey’s Local Commerce Monitor™ (LCM) survey of small and medium businesses, spend an average $2,471 annually for advertising and promotion. As you can see in the table below, Core SMBs that use social media(1)…
New businesses* are heavy users of free or (relatively) low cost advertising, according to BIA/Kelsey’s Local Commerce Monitor™ (LCM) survey of SMBs. While most of the small- and medium-sized businesses in the survey report using a Facebook page and website for advertising and…
Facebook today announced the relaunch of Atlas, an ad network that connects online campaigns to offline purchases across multiple devices. Atlas isn't a new company but instead has been rebuilt since been being acquired from Microsoft last year. This announcement…
This week in Boston's seaport district the inaugural "Martech" event (aka "the marketing technology conference") is taking place bringing together a range of brands, ad tech, martech, analysts, authors and developers into sort of an avant garde cultural exchange. Technology,…
Are you making marketing decisions based solely on clicks and web conversions? Marketers who aren't including phone call conversions may be missing key data points that can help optimize search campaigns, more accurately measure ROI and justify budgets. For example,…
One of the hottest trends in local marketing is "National Local," which accounted for 32.1 percent or $42.5 billion of the $132.5 billion spent on local media advertising in 2012. BIA/Kelsey projects that national's share of local ad spending is…
ReachLocal announced today that it is moving away from its new ClubLocal business, which connects consumers with service providers. The publicly-owned company said that it is now considering a deal that would allow ClubLocal to be taken over by a…
