Brownbook Provides a Cost-effective Way to Carry On Advertising Despite Everything

Businesses that advertise during a recession outsell their competitors by 256%, claims study

London, United Kingdom: Brownbook.net, the free online directory that anyone can edit, offers an extremely cost-effective way of increasing a company’s online presence – essential in today’s financial climate.

McGraw-Hill Research analysed the advertising expenditures of 600 companies across 16 different industry categories during the recessionary periods of the early 80’s. The results of the research showed that companies who maintained or increased their advertising spend during times of recession achieved significantly higher growth in revenue and brand awareness, both during the recession, and for the following three years. In fact, the sales of those companies who advertised aggressively during a recession rose 256% over their competitors who eliminated or decreased their marketing and advertising expenditure.

The overall consensus across business commentators is that companies should continue to invest in marketing if they are to survive the current credit crunch.

David Ingram, CEO Brownbook.net

“Continuing to invest in this way is perhaps easier said than done,” notes David Ingram, CEO Brownbook.net. “Money for advertising and promotion is often the first part of the budget to be sacrificed when times are tight. Today, businesses are faced with new challenges as many of the traditional advertising mediums are not as effective as they used to be. New ways have become mainstream such as: having a website; blogging; using twitter; selling online; using video online; managing testimonials online; customer forums; and the use of social networks. Brownbook.net offers companies a completely free new way of obtaining and constantly enhancing their valuable online presence with many new tools to help businesses.”

Business commentators also agree that, when money is tight, companies have to look for new, smarter ways to operate and promote themselves. Brownbook.net is the new way to promote any businesses of any size and type, anywhere in the world.

“Unlike traditional directories, Brownbook.net is ‘by the people, for the people’ – anyone can add or update a business listing. It is based on ‘wiki’ principles, like Wikipedia,” added Ingram.

About Brownbook.net
Founded in 2008, Brownbook.net is the world’s largest user-contributed local business directory with over 27 million businesses already listed in 230 countries. Any business is entitled to a free listing that includes their business name, address, contact telephone numbers, email, website, VoIP, Instant Messenger and tags. Businesses can choose to pay a small annual fee (less than a round of coffees) to enhance their listing by adding photos, videos, a business description, and priority in search results. Built upon the foundations of wiki-principles and collaborative production, transparency and openness between users, low- or no-cost services for businesses, totally self-service processes, and rewarding users, Brownbook.net aims to be THE global business directory.
http://www.brownbook.net
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For more information, please contact:

Sarah Warren
Brownbook.net
Brownbook Limited
London Road
Sayers Common
West Sussex
BH6 9HS

+44 (0)208 1235 466
sarah@brownbook.net
http://www.brownbook.net