Small- and medium-sized business owners will rely on budget-friendly and digital marketing options, according to a recent survey. In the 2013 AT&T Small Business Technology Poll, respondents stated that "inexpensive" platforms like social media and word of mouth would be important for future campaigns. However, participation varies for different social networks. 

AT&T found that LinkedIn's popularity among SMB owners is growing while Facebook's is declining. The survey reveals that 36 percent of respondents use the former for making connections and increasing brand exposure, which is a 16 percent increase over last year. Meanwhile, Facebook participation dropped from 44 percent to 41 percent. 

Perhaps most surprising is the resurgence of email marketing. Approximately 41 percent of SMB owners stated that they'll use the advertising medium this year, almost 25 percent higher than the findings from 2012's poll. 

"With a variety of digital tools such as email, websites and social media, coupled with the ability to both deliver and access them from mobile devices, small businesses are building new connections without borders," Cathy Martine, executive vice president of small business solutions, said in a statement. 

SMB owners are continuing to rely more and more on digital marketing options. The advertising channels allow independent companies to reach loyal customers and generate new leads. 

Small-business marketing news brought to you by 123Print.com, provider of affordable business cards, custom business identity products, printed marketing products and office organization items.

Last year, Twitter introduced Twitter Ads, a do-it-yourself advertising service that was invitation-only, but that restriction was lifted in late April when the social network announced that its marketing platform is now available to everyone with an account. The new tool can be valuable to small- and medium-sized business owners who want to ramp up their social media marketing efforts. 

Twitter Ads should help SMB owners reach into new markets. Clark Fredricksen, vice president of EMarketer, believes that the advertising platform will be particularly beneficial for mobile marketing campaigns. 

"Potentially there's a lot of opportunity for small businesses to target people on the go using Twitter, because Twitter's audience is very mobile-based," Fredricksen told Bloomberg Businessweek. 

Fredricksen's assessment is in line with a recent study regarding mobile Twitter use. In a 2012 survey, the Pew Internet & American Life Project found that 9 percent of American men and women access the social network on their cell phones. Additionally, 22 percent of respondents ages 18 to 24 use mobile versions of Twitter - the highest percentage of any age group. 

SMB owners can use the marketing service to target any demographic. Enhanced features allow entrepreneurs to generate strong leads who can quickly become new customers. 

Small-business marketing news brought to you by 123Print.com, provider of affordable business cards, custom business identity products, printed marketing products and office organization items.

A new study indicates that small- and medium-sized businesses are seeing marginal growth thanks to social media marketing. According to a recent survey from Manta, 40 percent of respondents stated that they earned returns on their investments. Additionally, 30 percent said that their returns were more than $2,000. 

Many SMB owners are creating their own social media advertisements - only 18 percent sought assistance from a third-party, compared to 36 percent who searched for help online. Entrepreneurs realize that they can keep overhead expenses relatively low by maintaining social media profiles without hiring another company. 

There are a few best practices that every SMB owner should follow online. Perhaps most important is taking steps to engage followers and create an active page. Entrepreneurs should regularly post messages with calls to action so customers will respond. Simply asking a question can encourage fans to reply to a business' message. 

Also, the Social Media Examiner notes that SMB owners should be consistent with their posts to keep followers engaged. Setting aside time every day to add new content to a profile and respond to clients' comments can help an independent company flourish on a social network. 

Small-business marketing news brought to you by 123Print.com, provider of affordable business cards, custom business identity products, printed marketing products and office organization items.

Instagram has become one of the most popular social networks and is a valuable tool for many small- and medium-sized business owners. According to Business 2 Community, the site has gained such a massive following that Nike, Audi, Burberry and MTV all use it for advertising. While Instagram's booming popularity can be a boon for entrepreneurs, it is becoming a bit difficult for SMBs to stand out from the competition. YSF Magazine reports that approximately 40 million pictures are uploaded to the social network every day. Below are two tips SMB owners can use to capitalize on Instagram. 

1. Multiple channels

A blog is one of the most valuable resources small- and medium-sized business owners can have for their content marketing efforts. Search Engine Watch points out that blogs have changed since the popularity of social networking increased over the last decade. Instead of focusing on small updates and promotions, articles now provide in-depth information that affects its readers. 

SMB owners can use their blogs to establish credibility for their ecommerce sites. This means that companies can focus on topics beyond promotions and specials and write articles about market forces and industry changes. 

Readability is the most important trait of every blog. Consumers will ignore posts that are poorly written or uninteresting, so SMB owners must edit every article and ensure it has an interesting subject. According to Small Business Trends, blogs should also be fun to capture readers' attention. Additionally, lively blogs can attract new leads who are unfamiliar with an SMB. 

A blog must be carefully curated and updated. There should be multiple posts per week so that readers will return to a website. Employees should respond to consumers' comments to show that the feedback is appreciated and create a discussion. 

Small-business marketing news brought to you by 123Print.com, provider of affordable custom business cards, postcards, letterhead and outdoor promotional items.

Small- and medium-sized business owners are turning to targeted marketing to bolster their brands. The strategy allows entrepreneurs to advertise directly to consumers who are most likely to become loyal customers based on demographic similarities with current clients. Fred Hathaway, the managing director of Hippotential, told the News & Observer that owners must start by identifying their target audience. 

"You have to figure out a subset that you can afford to go after, and go after in a powerful way," Hathaway said. 

According to All Business, SMB owners can target consumers based on different traits, including age, location and income. Targeting specific audiences can have long-term disadvantages, so entrepreneurs must consider these potential issues. For instance, targeting leads based on their location limits an SMB to a specific market, which can make it difficult to expand into new areas. 

Additionally, entrepreneurs must choose the most appropriate medium for their advertisements. Some social networks feature targeting options so owners can market directly toward their intended audience. However, direct mail might be a stronger option than digital alternatives. 

"Direct mail creates a one-on-one connection that's hard for other media channels to match," Tom Foti, manager of Direct Mail and Periodicals at the United States Postal Service, said in a statement. 

To find the best channel, SMB owners must consider their audience's preferences because some advertisements might not be effective for certain demographics. 

Small-business marketing news brought to you by 123Print.com, provider of affordable custom business cards, postcards, letterhead and outdoor promotional items.