Following is a summary of recent research which supports initial findings from a study on the effectiveness of Internet sales and marketing conducted by the Michigan Small Business Development Center at Wayne State University. The study, conducted for the Small Business Association of Michigan and the Michigan Small Business Development Center, showed that about 60 percent of small business owners say they are connected to Internet. That's up from only 15 percent in 1995. The study also showed 81 percent of small businesses that have an Internet connection, and 46 percent of those that don't, believe the Internet will be at least somewhat useful in the next two years.
Entrepreneurs respond to the bottom line.
Show them how a web site will sell their product or service, or at least increase customer awareness, and they'll put tme and resources into getting a site up and running. Two hundred small business owners are interviewed every three months for the Small Business Barometer, sponsored by the Michigan Small Business Development Center and the Small Business Association of Michigan. Research is conducted by Public Policy Associates of Lansing. To ensure a statitically valid study, mini-samples were selected for each of Michigan's 83 counties. Regarding Internet usage, the use of technology and information appears to be fomenting more of a skirmish than a revolution among small buinesses.