Contact: Pamela Ardizzone Ardizzone Communications 401.359.1944 pamardizzone@cox.net ONLINE SURVEY USAGE INCREASES 118% AMONG SMALL BUSINESSES Entrepreneurs Enjoy Improved Insights and Faster, Higher-Quality Results Which Demand Action MILL VALLEY, Calif. – November 16, 2004 – According to a recent survey conducted by Zoomerang, the leader in online survey software, usage of online surveys among small businesses has surged 118% between 2001 and September 2004. Other highlights of the survey include: Faster and easier - 69% of small businesses that have adopted online surveys are able to obtain results more quickly and easily. In addition, 65% have benefited from improved insights about their business; and 48% obtain higher-quality results than traditional research methods. “The feedback is instantaneous…it is honest and demands action,” wrote a small business executive in his survey response. High “Stickiness” Factor - 94% of those small businesses that began using online surveys over the past five years continue to use them, indicating a very high “stickiness” factor, or a strong ability to retain users. More Meaningful Decisions - 69% of those small businesses which employ online surveys use them to make decisions about product or service improvements; 49% use them for decisions about new product or service ideas; and 46% use them for decisions about customer contact strategies. As one respondent offers, “Our surveys helped define who our customers are and, once we studied the data, we were able to target our advertising message in a more effective manner.” Cost and Time Savings - 56% of small businesses using online surveys have saved time with the tool and 34% have lowered costs. According to one respondent, “We reduced mailing and printing costs by 50%. Results were tabulated more quickly and automatically, reducing staff time by approximately 70%.” Broad usage across industry – Users in approximately 20 industries, from telecommunications to health care, employ online surveys. The most recent entrants are those users in entertainment and real estate who adopted online surveys in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Zoomerang is the market leader – Zoomerang was reported as the market product used most frequently. “Simply put, online surveys are gaining popularity among small businesses because surveys help them better fulfill their potential,” explained Dana Meade, Vice President and General Manager, Zoomerang. “Now, entrepreneurs can more confidently invest in and add new services to their businesses based on proven demand and expand sales based on customers’ feedback. She continues, “Zoomerang is the market leader because it offers small businesses an affordable, high-quality, professional-grade tool so they can do research like big companies with big budgets.” Zoomerang deployed this survey in September via e-mail to small business managers nationwide and received 1202 responses. Of the respondents who reported that they conduct surveys or solicit feedback, 31% have adopted online surveys. About Zoomerang One of the first online survey software tools on the market, Zoomerang was launched in the fall of 1999. Through a powerful viral marketing engine propelled by a rabid “fan base,” Zoomerang quickly gained acceptance among users as a cost effective, easy-to-use alternative to clunky, expensive installable software survey packages. Today, the product has been adopted by users in over 200 countries. Over 950,000 surveys have been deployed since its launch and over 26.5 million responses have been recorded. Zoomerang is owned by MarketTools, Inc., a privately held company founded in 1997 and headquartered in Mill Valley, California. For more information on Zoomerang see www.zoomerang.com To go directly to Zoomerang’s online Press Room click on http://info.zoomerang.com/press/index.htm For more information on MarketTools go to www.markettools.com MarketTools, Inc. One Belvedere Place Mill Valley, CA 94941