Meetings Yield Healthy Return on Investment for Small-Business Owners, Particularly in Tech Sector
In-person meetings considerably enhance the success of small businesses, according to a new survey released today by the Meetings Mean Business Coalition. The study, conducted by research firm APCO Insight, surveyed 300 leaders of small businesses (defined as having fewer than 250 employees) representing 24 industries, plus another 100 respondents specifically in the technology sector.
More than three quarters of respondents (77 percent) said in-person meetings yield a healthy return on investment. Among those in the tech sector, that number is considerably higher, at 95 percent.
Among other key findings:
• The vast majority (91 percent) plan to spend as much or more on travel for meetings in 2017 as they did this year. While 64 percent will spend about the same amount year-over-year, 27 percent plan to invest more on meetings-related travel in 2017.
• Nearly nine in 10 (87 percent) said the ability to meet in-person has a meaningful impact on building relationships.
• More than three-quarters (78 percent) believe connecting face-to-face with current and prospective customers improves their ability to run their businesses, as does attending in-person educational events (68 percent) and engaging face-to-face with the community (63 percent).
"The small-business-owner community is a critical contributor to our economy, and in-person meetings help this community make the most out of their investments," said Richard Harper, executive vice president at HelmsBriscoe and co-chair of Meetings Mean Business. "MMB's survey illustrates that small-business owners who connect with current and potential customers face-to-face build stronger partnerships that ultimately grow their bottom line."
Reported by: Meetings-conventions.com
More than three quarters of respondents (77 percent) said in-person meetings yield a healthy return on investment. Among those in the tech sector, that number is considerably higher, at 95 percent.
Among other key findings:
• The vast majority (91 percent) plan to spend as much or more on travel for meetings in 2017 as they did this year. While 64 percent will spend about the same amount year-over-year, 27 percent plan to invest more on meetings-related travel in 2017.
• Nearly nine in 10 (87 percent) said the ability to meet in-person has a meaningful impact on building relationships.
• More than three-quarters (78 percent) believe connecting face-to-face with current and prospective customers improves their ability to run their businesses, as does attending in-person educational events (68 percent) and engaging face-to-face with the community (63 percent).
"The small-business-owner community is a critical contributor to our economy, and in-person meetings help this community make the most out of their investments," said Richard Harper, executive vice president at HelmsBriscoe and co-chair of Meetings Mean Business. "MMB's survey illustrates that small-business owners who connect with current and potential customers face-to-face build stronger partnerships that ultimately grow their bottom line."
Reported by: Meetings-conventions.com
