Newspapers a trusted source of info on restaurants and local businesses

Direct mail and other marketing materials are poised to be increasingly relevant sources for information on businesses and restaurants in the new year.

According to a recent report from the Pew Research Center, titled "Where People Get Information About Restaurants and Other Local Businesses," newspapers, whether on a resident's front doorstep or on a newsstand, are trusted sources of information for consumers.

Approximately one-third of survey respondents said they turn to newspapers for information on restaurants and community businesses, while a quarter said they depend on word-of-mouth reviews.

"Looking ahead, business owners should be studying these figures to determine where their fiscal year 2012 advertising dollars are going to be spent," Entrepreneur magazine writes. "Aligning your marketing budget with an eye on where the consumer is turning for recommendations and information on products and services just makes sense."

The study also found internet resources, including social networks, review sites and other websites, to be highly leveraged sources of information.