SBTV.com Poll Shows Small Businesses Favor Internet Advertising Over Other Media Options

SBTV.com Poll Shows Small Businesses Favor Internet Advertising Over Other Media Options

ST. LOUIS, March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The Internet was the top choice for small business owners when it comes to how they plan to allocate their advertising budgets in 2005, a recent SBTV.com instant poll revealed. Of the poll's nearly 21,000 respondents, 41 percent indicated that they would spend the majority of their advertising dollars in 2005 on the Internet, more than print (31%), TV/Radio (16%) or direct mail (12%).

Susan Wilson Solovic, CEO of SBTV.com, the Internet's first television network focused entirely on providing news and information for small business, noted that this survey underscores the importance of the Internet to small business owners when compared to more traditional media options.

"We launched SBTV.com with the issues and priorities of the nation's more than 25 million small businesses in mind and the belief that the Internet was the single most important way to reach them in a consistent and effective way," says Solovic.

SBTV.com has seen its audience grow more than 300% over the past year, with monthly hits on the SBTV.com website increasing from 472,415 in January 2004 to 1,746,613 in February 2005. SBTV.com's page impressions (905,946) and unique visitors (600,000) have also increased to record levels.

Solovic notes that SBTV.com's streaming-video format takes advantage of the Internet's interactive qualities to bring life and energy to profiles of successful small businesses from throughout the United States, providing its audience with an insider's view of their stories that can be accessed 24/7, whenever people find time in their busy schedules.

SBTV.com's staff of business experts and seasoned journalists produce content on all aspects of business operations including legal, tax, management, technology and marketing to help small businesses and entrepreneurs grow, expand and manage their enterprises better.

"Our vision was to become a leading Internet source of information for the small business community," adds Solovic, "and I believe SBTV.com's steady growth demonstrates that we are delivering a product that addresses their needs."

In December of 2004, SBTV launched a national television program called "Small Business Beat." It airs weekly on The Healthy Living Channel and The Men's Channel and can be seen in 30 million households throughout the country. SBTV.com is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.

About SBTV.com

SBTV.com is the first television network on the web devoted 100 percent to the small business market -- from business start-ups to established enterprises. We believe that being an entrepreneur is a way of living -- not just a way to make a living. SBTV is becoming the number one choice for small business information on the net. Business owners rely on SBTV because it provides practical and compelling content produced by experienced journalists and industry experts and delivers that information conveniently and effectively via the Internet.

Source: SBTV.com

CONTACT: Vince Baglivo of MKM Group, +1-973-301-2200, ext. 205, vbaglivo@mkmgroup.com, for SBTV.com; Susan Wilson Solovic of SBTV.com, +1-314-533-7288 ext. 23, 314-560-1468 (cell)

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