Online Channel is set to Weather Economic Slump!

You might recall back in January when we told you Forrester Research was projecting that US online sales will increase 11% this year to reach $156.1 billion, making the Internet a source of optimism for struggling businesses. Forrester and Shop.org are back with more research revealing that the online channel is set to weather this economic slump!

"It's safe to say that it continues to be a bright spot in the economy," Shop.org's Scott Silverman said of the Web.

The firms' latest collaborative study found that businesses are increasingly turning to the Web rather than traditional forms of advertising. According to the study, "merchants believe online business is better suited to withstand an economic downturn than physical stores or catalogs." Four out of five retailers in the survey believe that the Web is "better suited than offline retail to withstand the recession."

Silverman said businesses that are active online remain optimistic. Their sense of security may especially be attributed to the steadily increasing number of budget-conscious consumers turning to the Web to research products and services.

According to the survey, e-mail marketing is a pivotal way to reach these consumers. In fact, 89% said that e-mail was their most successful online promotional strategy, adding that e-mail marketing is a "top priority." Of those who leverage e-mail as a strategy, 55% said they plan to use e-mails to highlight new product availability and request customer feedback, and 53% of those surveyed will send e-mails to notify customers of online-only promotions.

The Web offers endless business potential for businesses, especially if you leverage effective strategies like e-mail marketing. Have questions? Call WebDrafter.com today at 866-421-3723 or visit us online at http://www.webdrafter.com.