SMBs to Shift Marketing Strategy in 2019

BY Kathy Crosett
SMB

With the holiday season now in the rear view mirror, your clients are looking ahead to what the new year holds. SMB owners told Bank of America analysts what they’ll be focusing on in 2019. The bottom line is always the biggest concern for these business owners, and you can help them achieve their goals in several ways.

The Fall 2018 Bank of America Business Advantage Small Business Owner Report serves as a snapshot of the attitudes of over 1,000 CEOs. These individuals bring in anywhere from $100K to $4.9M in annual revenue. They’ve experienced some good times over the past few years and they’d like to keep the party going.

Recruitment Advertising

In order to do that, they’ll need to ramp up hiring. At least 24% of these employers have been impacted by turnover. While they’ve noted the need to improve their culture and give employees more flexibility, they still need to bring more people through the door. You can help them increase headcount by running unique recruiting ads.

Social Responsibility Promotion

SMB owners are also realizing that traditional ad messaging is no longer enough to sway consumer purchases. Younger consumers, in particular, want to do business with companies that are striving to make a difference in the local community. Because of that, 12% of SMBs will emphasize their charitable work in ad campaigns this year. (This strategy will also help them with recruitment.)

Over half of SMBs believe both the local and national economy are strong and improving. These numbers are significantly higher than in the previous year. SMB owners will be busy developing their business and services for their customers. To reach them, nearly 23% will increase their use of social media.

We all know that running a solid social media campaign is time consuming. You can sell your services to local SMBs this year and help them achieve their goals. To show your clients how well they're doing on the digital front, run a Digital Audit on AdMall from SalesFuel and then share the data when you make your pitch.

Kathy Crosett Avatar

Kathy Crosett 

Senior Vice President of Research

Kathy Crosett, Senior Vice President of Research, has led quantitative research, analysis and editorial content for SalesFuel since 2001. She is also Publisher of the SalesFuel Today blog. Previously, Kathy was an analyst in health care marketing research. She holds an MBA from University of Vermont.

Fact Checked & Editorial Guidelines 

Our Fact Checking Process

We prioritize accuracy and integrity in our content. Here's how we maintain high standards:

  1. Expert Review: All articles are reviewed by subject matter experts.
  2. Source Validation: Information is backed by credible, up-​to-​date sources.
  3. Transparency: We clearly cite references and disclose potential conflicts.
Reviewed by: Subject Matter Experts 

Our Review Board

Our content is carefully reviewed by experienced professionals to ensure accuracy and relevance.

  • Qualified Experts: Each article is assessed by specialists with field-​specific knowledge.
  • Up-​to-​date Insights: We incorporate the latest research, trends, and standards.
  • Commitment to Quality: Reviewers ensure clarity, correctness, and completeness.

Look for the expert-​reviewed label to read content you can trust.

Share: