A Groupon sponsored survey of 300 UK SME owners has detailed their marketing priorities for the coming financial year.
This confirmed the growth of online and mobile channels but also affirmed a that businesses are adopting back to basics approach with 67 per cent focussing on direct customer engagement and face to face time to improve local services.
The figures show that 58 per cent of respondents intend to increase their social media presence whilst a further 28 per cent also plan on bolstering their e-commerce capabilities and targeted promotions for other channels.
The outlook for other areas of traditional marketing spend; such as local directories, billboards & posters and sponsorship, was less rosy however – with plans to reduce spend by 26, 24 and 20 per cent respectively.
Roy Blanga, managing director, Groupon UK commented: “In the current economic environment, many consumers are not only hungry to get value for money; they want instant access to new experiences on the move and digital can provide this. However, there is still a very valid and important place for more traditional face time with customers; it’s a great opportunity to encourage them to directly engage with your brand.”