59% of small businesses with websites don’t currently use paid search marketing. 90% of those have never attempted it, according to a survey by Microsoft Advertising. However, small businesses are investing heavily in their websites to build online presence. (This doesn't make sense to have a website and not promote it.)

81% percent question whether paid search marketing is the best use of their marketing budgets.

Nearly 89%  fear keywords might become too expensive.

21% percent think it would be too time-consuming.

One quarter of respondents believe paid search marketing is too complex.

35% feel they would need an agency to help set up a search marketing campaign.?

73% of small business owners say that they would rather do their taxes than create a search marketing plan because they are so intimidated by search marketing (SEM).

86% of small-business owners surveyed felt that they could be missing opportunities to grow their business.

75% believed prospective customers might be searching online for the type of service their business offers and that they might be missing out on potential clients.