Almost two thirds of all small firms surveyed by Direct magazine use direct marketing to generate almost a third of their revenue. However, they spend only 33% of their total marketing budget on DM, compared with 48% for larger companies. Small firms are as those with less than $10 million in revenue. Small companies were six times as likely as large companies to have no opt-in or opt-our mechanism on their e-mail lists. 67% of all small business owners say that blogs, interactive maps, e-newsletters and Web-based business forms are important to their business, according to the Spring 2004 Business Barometer of Online Activities. In addition, 62% rate search engine optimization, keyword advertising and e-mail marketing as vital.Small business owners are increasingly getting news and information online. Forty-five percent spent more time reading e-mails and newsletters last year, and 36% increased their business Web site sage, according to the Spring 2004 Business Barometer of Online Activities In contrast, only 8% said they are reading trade publications more, and 40% said they don�t use daily national newspapers for business news.