Small Business Confidence Improves, but 62% still don't Have Websites

According to Discover Financials Services, the number of small business owners who say the economy is improving doubled between March and April to 31 percent, the highest level in two years. However, the number of owners who thought the economy was getting worse was still in the majority at 51 percent, but this is down from 69 percent in February, so the trend is in the right direction.

Included in the survey were a number of questions about how business owners are using the internet. A few of the interesting statistics are:

• 38% are members of social networking sites such as Facebook, Linked-in, and Twitter, but only 45% of those use the sites to promote their business.
• 45% have used email to promote their business.
• 46% prefer traditional methods such as conferences, trade shows, and in-person business networking over online methods.
• 62% do not have a website.
  

So if you are interested in staying ahead of your competition and take full advantage of an improving economy, invest in your online marketing methods now.