An overwhelming majority of small business owners plan to spend money on their business in 2011, according to a new survey by Manta, an online community that promotes and connects small business. Seventy-seven percent of those asked say they plan to spend more in 2011, even though 85 percent reported they implemented across-the-board cuts in 2010.
Nearly half of those surveyed have prioritized marketing and sales as their top spending target, with 24 percent noting business development as top priority and 23 percent opting for marketing and advertising.
According to Manta’s Pulse of Small Business Survey of 766 small business owners, the majority of whom have less than 10 employees, more than half of those surveyed are likely to be considering social media in their marketing and advertising plans for 2011. Forty-two percent of the respondents said they find social media useful in connecting with their customers, and 14 percent plan to implement it in the near future.