Most SMB owners say customer acquisition was the biggest marketing challenge they faced in their first year of operating their business, according to recent research from Constant Contact and Ascend2.
The report was based on data from a survey conducted in November and December 2024 among 1,645 owners of SMBs (firms with fewer than 100 employees) in Australia, Canada , New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Respondents say the top marketing challenges they faced in their first year were customer acquisition (55% cite it as a top challenge), a lack of resources (32%), finding ways to differentiate their business (29%), and determining what was working (28%).
SMB owners say they initially decided which marketing channels to focus on based on where they thought their customers spent the most time.
SMB owners say their top motivations for starting their own business were trying to find a better work-life balance and a desire for independence.
About the research: The report was based on data from a survey conducted in November and December 2024 among 1,645 owners of SMBs (firms with fewer than 100 employees) in Australia, Canada , New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
