SMBs Finally Grasp Social and Mobile Platforms to Boost Business

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It is often believed that many small to midsize businesses (SMBs) haven’t quite jumped onto the trend of using mobile and social media platforms to promote business. However, according to a study on advertising behaviors of SMBs, social media and mobile platforms are finally gaining ground within this market.

Local Commerce Monitor and BIA/Kelsey sponsored the study, which showed 40 percent of SMBs now take mobile credit card payments via readers attached to tablets or smartphones, and another 16 percent plan to add this feature to their business within the next year.

Of SMBS questioned, 72 percent use social media platforms to promote their business. In a similar vein, 32 percent of respondents use mobile ads to promote their companies. Although 52 percent say they use Facebook for promotions, only 25 percent use Google+.

Overall, 66 percent of SMBs are “extremely engaged” or “very engaged” with customers via their social media platforms.

These numbers show that SMBs are likely not so lacking in resources that they can’t make use of new technologies. It seems that these businesses see that such technologies can make a difference in sales and customer satisfaction, so SMBs seem willing to make the effort to include them in their day-to-day business.