Enterprise -- In Box

BLOWING YOUR HORN ON A BUDGET

The smallest businesses seldom have money to advertise, so it's no surprise they depend on a freebie. A survey from New England Business Service Inc. shows word of mouth is the No.1 advertising method for companies with fewer than 20 employees. Other types of promotion include business cards, the Web, and trade shows, each cited by 5% of respondents. A small minority (14%) spend nothing at all, while median ad expenditure among the rest is $1,400 annually. For retailers, it's $2,500.EDITED BY EDITH UPDIKEReturn to top

TABLE

Shout It Out

How small businesses advertise

WORD OF MOUTH 38%

YELLOW PAGES 21

LOCAL NEWSPAPER 18

FLYERS, NEWSLETTERS, BROCHURES 14

PERSONAL CONTACTS, TELEPHONE 12

BROADCAST (TV, RADIO) 7

MAGAZINES 6

DATA: NEW ENGLAND BUSINESS SERVICE INC.

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