Newsletter Archive - News U Can Use
News U Can Us - April 2010
04/29/2010 - These news items are brought to you by Kuk, Baldwin & Associates:
MATTRESS BUYING. It used to be fairly simple. You go in, look at a few display models, maybe lie down on one or two for a few seconds, and then arrange for a (free) delivery of the one you pick. Total time: 15 to 20 minutes. But now, you can easily spend over an hour, because the “science of sleep” has led to more models with more features, more complex “fitting” such as using computers to analyze your state of repose, plus lots of information on guarantees and delivery offers. In other words, there are many details competitive mattress dealers need to include in their advertising. Prices are higher, too – we’re talking bed sets that typically run $600 to over $2000 (Wall St. Journal, 3/18/10). THE GREAT OUTDOORS. When home prices soared between 2001 and 2006, the US market for tree services increased from $3.1 billion a year to $7.2 billion – a jump of 130% in that time, with services that included pruning, tree removal, fertilization, pest control, cabling, and lightning protection. Now, revenues have dropped below $5 billion, as some services are put off or revert to DIY status. Meantime, a new trend – artificial lawns – is taking hold in some upscale neighborhoods. Fake lawns can cost 3 times as much as natural turf ($6000-$8000 for a typical fake lawn) but need no upkeep except the occasional hose-down. Neighborhood “disagreements” have already begun (Smart Money, 4/10). HOTELS AND MOTELS. Overall, the hotel business took a big hit in 2009, showing an occupancy rate of only 54.8%, down from about 63% in 2008. Moreover, this January the average daily room rate in US hotels was $92, down from $107 the previous January. But upscale properties (chains like Hilton and Hyatt) have been hit the hardest, losing a significant amount of business travel to electronic conferencing and also to smaller (read: cheaper) hotels and motels – many of which advertise in the YP. So it would pay for some of the better motels and small hotels to emphasize business-friendly amenities in their YP advertising – things like Internet connectivity, room desks, etc. (USA Today, 3/19/10). |
Ad spending on the rebound
Several recent news items point towards an improving advertising spending picture in 2010. First Advertising Age reported that U.S. advertising spending began to recover in the fourth quarter of 2009, after falling a total of 12.3% for the year. The worst losses were in magazines, radio, and newspapers. The upward trend has continued in early 2010, but will depend on consumer confidence. "As we get deeper into 2010, the pace of consumer activity will be a key determinant of the strength and durability of the advertising recovery," Kantar's Jon Swallen said.Valley Continues Tree Planting Program
Then Adweek also noted that the trends for ad spending in the U.S. and around the world are looking up, according to a revised forecast from Aegis Group's Carat. U.S. spending this year is projected to grow by 0.2%, compared with a previous prediction of a 2.6% decrease, and should increase to 1.4% in 2011. Worldwide, ad outlays in 2010 are estimated to increase by almost 3%, compared with an earlier 1% growth forecast, and next year should post a 4% rise.
Valley Yellow Pages continues to expand its tree planting program. The company recently plant 50 new, much needed shade trees at a Templeton elementary school, with the help of hundreds of students participating in the event.Social media yielding only mixed results for small businesses
This is a continuing effort by Valley to demonstrate first hand that they are an environmentally conscious company. Templeton has been selected as one of several communities around California where Valley Yellow Pages is planting trees.
Of note in the company press release was"Virgin timber is virtually never used to make directory paper. The books are typically comprised of recycled materials with the remainder of the needed fiber provided by the residue of making squared boards out of round trees in the lumber-making process. 100% of the fiber is certified to come from sustainably managed forests. Directories are also produced with nontoxic glue and printed with inks containing soy and/or vegetable oils.Kudos to Valley for this effort
While some small businesses swear by social-media marketing, others have found their effort to be disappointed. The Wall Street Journal in a recent article noted that "The hype right now exceeds the reality," according to professor Larry Chiagouris of Pace University's Lubin School of Business. But others say that a consistent investment of time in social-media outreach pays dividends at the cash register. Another survey indicated that 50% of small-business owners say social media is more work than anticipated. It’s not easy to be in all of these new online technologies. Another new opportunity for the Yellow Pages industry??U.S. online ad spending breaks record with $6.3B Q4
The U.S. online ad market started a turnaround in the second half of last year, says research from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the IAB. U.S. online ad spending for the fourth quarter totaled a record $6.3 billion -- a rise of 2.6%. "The worst of the economic impact on Internet advertising is over and the seeds of growth have been planted," said David Silverman, partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. The Wall Street Journal (4/8)Maybe those that don’t believe in print Yellow Pages should take a look at these comments
Despite the negative news you may read about the lack of value that print Yellow Pages brings in this wired, mobile, digital world, perhaps those naysayers should check out this small sampling of people that have nothing but praise for the value of the print media:
Yellow Pages A Great Place To Advertise
Yellow pages of a phone book company have a lot more to offer than the traditional white pages. We must understand this difference in order to place our ad ...How can I locate a paper recycling facility in my area?
By admin
Of course there is. I admire the fact that you're taking the initiative to recycle. Most people would not even care. I'm a big green activist. As for where, I'm sure your local Yellow Pages will lead you in the right direction. ...Make Money by Recycling
SavingAdvice.com
Recycling is becoming a big bucks industry and there are more and more businesses willing ... you just have to look them up in the Yellow Pages or online. ......Before you trash it, see if you can recycle it
The Coloradoan
To find a list of recyclers, visit www.fcgov.com/recycling. ... stores (check the yellow pages for a list) or put on Internet sites such as Craigslist (for ...What is the cheapest, most effective way to market a computer ...
By admin2
Look in the Yellow Pages for local businesses that have a web site and might need your services. Go to their web site and get their email address. Email them a helpful message and how they can contact you, or what your own web site is. ...Dentist Video – Best Mode of Promotion | Redneck Internet Marketing
By ama
Today the majority of potential patients for the dentist are browsing the internet to find a new family dentist instead of thumbing thru the yellow pages to find a new dentist. Unfortunately the majority of dentist doesn't notice how ...
Redneck Internet Marketing - http://www.redneck-internet-marketing.com/Sanders Says: Unique approach: Customers 2 Friends
By Tim Sanders
I focused more on serving, wowing and helping the few customers I found through cold calling the yellow pages. They, in turn, gave me more referral business than I needed and my real friends got a break from a constant sales pitch. ...
Sanders Says - http://sanderssays.typepad.com/sanders_says/Telephone Books: They're Still Good For Something
By Amanda
Well, keep googling but before you throw out your phone book (or recycle it), look for coupons. That's right…most telephone books have a section of coupons from various advertisers. Some aren't anything to write home about but there are ...What, where to recycle
MassLive.com
Aluminum foil Clean it the best you can, and recycle it with your bottles and ... Check the Yellow Pages under "Asbestos Abatement and Removal Services" or ...