Interesting Survey

Here's an interesting survey done by the National Federation of Independent Businesses on small business marketing...part of a great resource site which you can find at http://www.411sbfacts.com/

Results of 2006 Survey on Marketing:

1. The primary customer base for 45 percent of small businesses is the general public; However, for 30 percent, the primary customer base is too varied for small employers to identify one.
2. Twelve (12) percent of small businesses sell to a small number of business customers creating the potential of becoming a captive supplier.
3. Fifty-five (55) percent of small employers think that their businesses do not need much marketing since their products/services pretty much sell themselves. Forty-two (42) percent disagree.
4. A large share of the small-business population depends on repeat customers. Twelve (12) percent of small-business owners indicate virtually all customers are repeat customers while another 35 percent say most are repeat.
5. The distinction between marketing and selling is sharp for virtually as many as the distinction is non-existent.
6. Forty-eight (48) percent of small businesses have a separate annual marketing budget within the firm’s overall budget.
7. Experience and customer observation are substantially more likely to influence small-business owner marketing decisions than formal, systematic approaches. Seventy-four (74) percent think it is important to rely on gut feel when making marketing decisions.
8. Small-business owners advocate a long-term business outlook.
9. Seventy-eight (78) percent of small employers think that adding innovative products/services is important to business success.
10. 87 percent agree that customers require businesses to be very flexible and adapt to special customer requirements.
11. More small employers intend their marketing efforts to lead customers (61%) than to respond to them (28%).

Where do you fit into all this?