Over 95% of Boston adults have access to the internet, according to Nielsen. Almost 70% of these consumers spend more than five hours a week connected.

Nielsen reports that Boston consumers go online to stay connected to friends and family; research products and services; learn the latest news, and obtain directions to where they are going and know what the weather will be when they get there.  

Here are some of the many reasons why Boston internet users go online each month

• Social Media: 77%
• Weather: 60%
• Online Banking: 59%
• Maps/Directions: 50%
• Product Reviews: 48%
• Sports Scores/News: 43%
• Current Events: 42%
• Restaurant Reviews: 37%
• Real Estate: 19%
• Job Search: 17%

And, of course, there is shopping.  Over the past three months, according to Nielsen, 77.5% of Boston consumers shopped online for every imaginable product and service including, cars, golf clubs, office supplies, wedding rings, mattresses, tires, medicine, shoes, socks, and eyeglasses.

To reach local consumers while they are online, Boston businesses will spend $1.7 billion for digital advertising in 2020, according to Borrell Associates.  Here is how the money is being spent:

New data from the US Census Bureau has optimistic news for Boston companies that sell business-to-business.

There are approximately 122,000 businesses in the Boston area, according to the Census Bureau. Indeed, many of these businesses have suffered since the onset of the Coronavirus, especially in April.

Current census now indicates the fortunes of area companies are improving. This includes those companies with 500 or fewer employees. These small businesses account for 94% of all Boston area firms.

During the week of April 26, 45.6% of Boston area small businesses reported temporary closures.  By July 1, the number dropped to 20.8%

Also, during that same week, 77% of Boston small business owners were reporting decreases in revenue versus the prior week.  By the end of June, that number fell by half.

In both June and July of this year, national data shows all retail and food services spending significantly outperformed the prior year by between two and three percent.

As the business climate improves in the Boston area, the fortunes of B2B companies will accelerate as well. These include those businesses that sell office supplies, restaurant supplies, cleaning services, legal services, accounting services, transportation services, banking services, technology, and commercial real estate.

"Advertising on Boston radio has helped to build our company's name and reputation," says Paul Kunze. "Without radio advertising, no one would know who we are."

Mr. Kunze is the Vice President/Director of Sales and Marketing for IntraSystems, a Braintree, MA. The company provides computing-infrastructure and cybersecurity solutions to mid-market and enterprise-sized companies.

The company was founded by Mr. Kunze in 1996 along with his childhood friend, Jim Hanrahan, who serves as President of IntraSystems.

"The majority of our customers are in the healthcare and financial industries," says Mr. Kunze. State and local governments are also a big part of our business."

"We work with our clients on assessment, design, product deployment, support, maintenance, and education. Few other companies can provide this depth of service."

"Our first customers came from cold-calls I was making from Jim's living room. It paid off, though, the first year we brought in $600,000 in sales."

In an attempt to accelerate growth, IntraSystems began advertising on Boston radio in 2002.