A study commissioned by Citibank Small Business indicates that U.S. small businesses are largely avoiding the use of social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Just one in 10 small businesses consulted industry-specific blogs for advice or information, according to the study. Seventy-five percent of those surveyed reported not finding social networking web sites helpful for building their business or exchanging information with other entrepreneurs. However, the study found that email and online marketing were on the rise.

Maria Veltre, executive vice president at Citi's small business segment, told Reuters that "[w]e were very surprised we did not see more use of some of the social media outlets, even if just for advice." Veltre also inferred that small businesses are almost totally focused on day-to-day operations and unable to spare the time to expand their business model into the realm of social media.

Other studies, however, have reached different conclusions. A recently released survey from Trendstream, the Public Relations Society of America, iPressroom, and Korn/Ferry International asserts that small businesses adopted Twitter at a higher rate than large corporations.