News U Can Use
News U Can Us - January 2010
01/06/2010 - These news items are brought to you by Kuk, Baldwin & Associates:
REMODELING COSTS vs. VALUE. For the last three years, falling home prices have pushed the resale value of remodeling investments down, especially for major and high-end projects. For example, in 2005 the $49,000 cost of a mid-range attic bedroom remodel would have been over 90% recoverable. Now, the recovery rate is 83%. And major mid-range kitchen remodels ($50,000-$57,000), 88% recoverable in 2005, are now only 72% recoverable. No doubt this hurts the remodeling market – but industry experts say smaller-scale projects and replacements will lead the way to recovery (Remodeling, 11/09). LONGEVITY APPEAL. Ad media people observe that as the recession drives many companies out of business, most of the survivors that have been around for at least a few years make a point of emphasizing their longevity in their advertising. But they wonder whether that emphasis makes an advertiser seem old-fashioned or out of date. So some media commissioned a Harris poll, asking consumers how ad copy that mentions the advertiser’s longevity makes them feel. The result was that 71% of respondents said the mention of longevity made them see the company as solid and reliable. Most of the rest chose “not sure” – and only 2% said it made the company seem old-fashioned. Thus, for YP advertisers, stressing longevity is a key consumer confidence builder (Next, 11/9/09). AUTO REPAIR DATA. A new survey of US auto repair shops reports these data for 2009: (1) the average shop has 3.5 technicians per location and will gross $692,000 in sales, or $198,000 per tech; (2) 31% of locations have 1 to 3 work bays, 40% have 4 to 6, and 29% have 7 or more; (3) 98 % of all shops have from 1 to 3 locations; (4) two out of three shops order less than 25% of their parts and products online; and (5) on average, shops report that 54% of their technicians are ASE certified – with the most frequent certification being master technician (60%), followed by brakes, 51%; AC and heating, 49%; steering/front end, 45%; engine repair, 45%; and electrical, 44% (Aftermarket Business, 11/09). |
Modest, Uneven Growth Returns to Global Ad Spending in 2010
At a recent UBS Media Week, forecasts From ZenithOptimedia, and Group M provided a very mixed picture for U.S. ad spending in 2010. Overall projects are that spending will grow next year, albeit by less than a single percentage point.The Economist Now Tweeting for Traffic
Some of the industry's leading advertising forecasts are set to be presented this morning at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference. Interpublic Group media shop Magna sees U.S. ad revenues ticking up slightly in 2010 to $162.7 billion. Publicis Groupe's Zenith Optimedia predicts a 2.6% reduction in U.S. ad spending, with a total of $144 billion next year. Both forecasts predict that spending in Asia and Latin America will drive industry growth.
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_display/news/media-agencies-research/e3i14d27b685ee81fac180444e45c8c64b5
Another sign of the times??? The Economist newspaper is pouring money into a social-media strategy, in hopes of acquiring 500,000 Facebook fans and 750,000 Twitter followers within six months. The campaign will see the integration of Facebook profiles and comments into the site, along with activity on the magazine's Twitter feed increasing to what Ben Edwards, the site's publisher, calls a "full-time job." "That shows the importance we place on it as a source of traffic," he says. "We have a mission online of being the foremost destination for global discussion and debate, which is a social proposition."Advertisers Flocking to Facebook
The key question is even if achieved, how will they monetize these new connections.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/55728ec6-ed8d-11de-ba12-00144feab49a.html?SID=google
2009 saw a major shift in spending on social-network advertising, according to a new report, with Facebook set to overtake MySpace as the Web's premier social-advertising destination in 2010. MySpace's worldwide ad revenue is expected to slump 21% to $385 million next year, while Facebook's projected revenue will increase 39% to $605 million.‘Wall Street Journal’ bucks industry circulation trend
http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1007432
At a time when most newspapers are in serious readership decline, The Wall Street Journal is growing. Of the 25 largest-circulation newspapers in the U.S., only one-Dow Jones & Co.’s The Wall Street Journal-posted a gain in circulation in the 12-month period ended Sept. 30, according to data released by the Audit Bureau of Circulations.Why newspapers are struggling online
http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091027/MEDIABUSINESS/910279990/1078/newsletter011
In a related story, newspapers, which suffered a 15.5% drop in online-ad sales through September compared with 2008, have not been able to successfully tap their fast-growing Web readership.Finally Some Good Business News?
The main obstacle has been newspapers' being overly dependent on virtual classifieds as "up-sells" of their print version without building their search- or display-ad business, according to this article from MediaPost/Daily News
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=119834
The U.S. manufacturing sector finished 2009 on a high note, helped by improving production and ordering activity, according to data released by the Institute for Supply Management.Maybe those that don’t believe in print Yellow Pages should take a look at these comments
Separately, U.S. construction spending tumbled in November more than expected, pulled lower by the housing and commercial sectors as the recovering economy deals with high unemployment.
The ISM's manufacturing purchasing managers' index rose to 55.9 last month, from 53.6 in November. December's reading was above the 54.0 forecasted by economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires. Readings above 50 indicate expanding activity.
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:
Use Yellow Pages to advertise effectively | Libervis.com
Advertising in the yellow pages is effective. The average business gets $6 in profit for every $1 invested, as reported by the Yellow Pages Association. ....
How to Pick a Hosting Provider
By siamvervip
It's like going through the yellow pages trying to find burger restaurants. There are lots of them. Hopefully these tips will steer you in the right direction.Important factors in selecting a web hosting company include the percentage ...
Tenacity and Plans B, C, D … | The Write Solution
By Dawn
Grabbing the yellow pages I started dialing. I left a message at the first shop (has YET to call me back) and then called a shop advertising 24/7 service. I dialed 910.367.2365. After the second ring, a cheery “Paradox Computer ...
Tips for Managing Your Credit Cards
The Epoch Times
Check the Yellow Pages, under Credit to find the numbers in your area. Colin McDougall is the editor of personal finance Web sites offering credit cards, ...