• Nearly All Consumers (97%) Now Use Online Media to Shop Locally ⁽¹⁾
• “The Internet has indeed become an integral part of consumers’ local commercial activity,” said Steve Marshall, director of research, BIA/Kelsey. “The data suggest we’re at an inflection point where the balance of power in local shopping is shifting to online.” ⁽¹⁾
• 58 percent of respondents report using an online coupon when shopping for products or services in their local area in the past year. ⁽¹⁾
• 19 percent of respondents report making an appointment online in the past six months for a service other than a restaurant reservation (e.g., business appointment, health-care appointment, auto service or personal service such as a beauty shop). ⁽¹⁾
• “We have been tracking the trend of digital/online media replacing traditional media over four waves of the Local Commerce Monitor study,” said Steve Marshall, director of research, The Kelsey Group. “The milestone of digital/online surpassing traditional media among SMBs is an indicator of the broad shift to online platforms.” ⁽²⁾
• In spite of the overall decrease in spending on advertising and promotion over the past 12 months, on average, SMBs increased spending on Web sites and profile pages by 26.8 percent, from $608 in 2008 to $769 in 2009. ⁽²⁾
• While only 5 percent of small and medium-sized businesses say they currently advertise in online vertical directories, nearly two-thirds (64 percent) express a willingness to buy online vertical directory ads ⁽³⁾

Sources: Kelseygroup 1 2 3