UK SMEs Thrive with Brand-Building Advertising Strategies

The impact of advertising extends beyond mere customer acquisition, playing a crucial role in business growth. Three-quarters of surveyed enterprises reported that their advertising efforts have been instrumental in expanding their operations within the UK. Furthermore, over half of the respondents noted that advertising has contributed to their international business expansion and brand recognition.

These positive outcomes have influenced advertising budgets. Of UK SMEs asked, just over a third preserved their budget from the previous year, while over half had adjusted their advertising expenditure to support their brand-building efforts.

The study found that almost three-quarters of the 600 SMEs questioned are actively investing in advertising to boost their brand and business. Still, a significant minority, almost thirty percent, spend no money on advertising campaigns. When asked why they did not advertise, the most frequently reported responses were high costs and disappointing returns on earlier efforts.

Commenting on the findings, Ludovic de Valon, Director of Global SMB Marketing at Amazon Ads, reiterated their commitment to simplify marketing for SMEs. He underscored their efforts to overcome challenges by means of low-cost access points, closed-loop measuring systems, and efficient product presentation to a wide customer base, all aimed at supporting business growth and brand-building.

This research underlines the increasing importance of advertising in the SME sector for business development and brand establishment, while also highlighting the challenges some businesses face in leveraging this tool for growth.