Customers, new markets aims for firms

CUSTOMER relationships and increasing business activity in new markets are the top priorities for small and medium firms in Australia this year, a survey says.

"Our innovation finding more than one third of businesses are set to increase activity around attracting clients' attention and building their loyalty," MYOB chief executive Tim Reed said in a statement.

"It makes sense for today's business owners, many of whom face increasingly financially conservative consumers, to foster a 'stickier' customer by providing more products or services to whet their appetite," he said.

The 1000-plus Australian small

At least one third of the 1000-plus Australian small and medium enterprises surveyed said attracting and retaining clients, and diversifying their business into new areas were their key strategies in 2012.

Mr Reed said SMEs gained by entering new markets, which allowed their businesses to access larger, more diverse audiences.