Key takeaways for B2B marketers
First, more good news from the macro-economic front. Initial claims for jobless benefits fell to its lowest level since April 2008 according to the Labor Department and the stock markets, particularly the Dow are near their four-year highs. More importantly to us, nearly three-fourths of S&P 500 stocks are trading above their 26-week moving average, according to Thomson Reuters data. Housing starts increased more than expected according to new data that came out today and investors seem cautiously optimistic that the Greek debt crisis in the Euro zone will slowly, but surely resolve itself without taking the rest of the world down with it.
Oh, one more thing that encouraged us. Voters aren’t likely to give our elected officials too much of the credit for improving economic conditions. A new Gallup survey released yesterday found that 86 percent of Americans DO NOT approve of the job that Congress is doing. We call that “rational” exuberance.
Online video ads perform better when socially recommended
New research from Unruly Media shows that viewers’ engage more successfully with ads if they come via recommendation rather than serendipity. Enjoyment of video advertising content increases 14 percent if the video is recommended by a trusted friend or colleague and boosts brand recall by 7 percent if recommended, rather than simply found by browsing.
Does video enjoyment really impact sales? Well, researchers say video enjoyment increases purchase intent by a whopping 97 percent and brand association by nearly 140 percent.
Viewers tolerate more video ads as content quality improves
According to video ad serving provider FreeWheel, digital video is increasingly being monetized like traditional broadcast TV as viewers accept an increased number of ads in exchange for better content. Ad loads are increasing most in long-form content -- i.e., 20 minutes or more. There are now nearly seven video ads per long-form video, more than double the ad load from early 2011.
OUR TAKE: B2B marketers take note. This trend toward high quality video engagement bodes very well for those of you contemplating video versions of your white papers.
From the Q1 through Q4 of 2011, video viewing grew 47 percent, while ad viewing grew 49 percent, said JoAnna Foyle Abel, FreeWheel's vice president of marketing in a statement. However, the ratio between the two narrowed dramatically between the third quarter and the fourth. By the fourth quarter, 75 percent of all digital video content had a video ad associated with it, while in the first quarter, just over half of the content had video ads placed in it.
“This trend shows that producers of professional digital video content are now using advertising to monetize the majority of the content they place into the market,” according to Foyle Abel.
Also, the mid-roll video ad placement showed the most dramatic growth in 2011. FreeWheel attributes this to a rise in mid-form content (5-20 minutes in length) and long-form content being made available online, more mid-roll ad pods being created within that content; and more video ads per pod being added. The Apple iPad continues to be an influential device for video viewing.
Mobile ad spending to grow 30 percent in 2012
Mobile advertising and marketing is expected to grow at 3.5 times the rate of the overall communications industry over the next five years, according to research firm PQ Media, including a 30 percent surge in 2012. Mobile marketing and advertising itself has grown eight-fold, while mobile content and access has tripled said PQ media.
Among the challenges PQ Media’s Patrick Quinn points to are device/network fragmentation, the difficulty to buy mobile inventory at scale, and still relatively low penetration on new devices like tablets. Smartphone penetration has also been slowed by high access fees.
Our Take: If that’s where the eyeballs are then that’s where the money is. And, if that’s where the money is, that’s what will finance any tech fixes need to harvest those opportunities.
VCRGD6XDXT3T
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
State of the Union, GOP debates, economy and B2B
Things suck less than before. Housing over-supply and jobless claims dropping. Travel industry improving. Holidays sparked double-digit surge in tablets, e-readers.
Last night’s GOP debate from Tampa was supposed to be about the private sector’s ability to create jobs that Big Government hasn’t been able to generate the past three years. Instead it came down to two rich guys competing to see who paid more taxes on money they may or may not have earned fair and square through actual “work.”
Gingrich compared himself to Reagan, calling himself "exactly the kind of bold, tough leader" that Americans want, "someone who is prepared to be controversial when necessary." Romney cited his record in running the Salt Lake City Olympics and said Gingrich "had to resign in disgrace" as House speaker after an ethics controversy, a characterization Gingrich disputed. Ron Paul and Rick Santorum, when given a chance to get a word in edgewise, showed they’re smart, thoughtful and experienced. They’re probably too intelligent for the average American voter to get and not well enough funded (or well-connected enough) to stay with the leaders till the finish line. Too bad. But’s it’s nice to see common sense and modesty has made it to the Final Four.
In tonight’s State of the Union address, the Prez will undoubtedly point to great strides his administration has made since he took over the train wreck that was the U.S. economy in 2009. There’s certainly been progress, but how much can be attributed to policies put in place vs. how much has come from the natural corrections a free market economy allows. Housing and excessive private debt, the two biggest scourges of the recession, he'll likely say are finally showing signs of improving. Even cantankerous NY Times columnist, Paul Krugman, was upbeat in his NY Times column yesterday “Is Our Economy Healing?”
But you could also argue that the historical rate of home ownership in the U.S. has been about 60 percent of American households. We got near 70 percent just before the housing bubble burst and are still painfully regressing to the historical mean. Should we be fighting the law of averages or setting better home-ownership policies down the road?
In tonight’s address, we’ll surely hear talk about fixing income inequality, but we’re more concerned here about technology inequality. The Holidays sparked a huge gain in U.S. in ownership of tablets, e-readers. And, the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Report released yesterday said the share of adults who owned table computers nearly doubled overnight to 19 percent from 10 percent in November. The boost in tablet ownership was especially high among college educated folks earning over $75K per year. We suspect the rate of cutting edge technology ownership and systems is also tilted in favor of large business vs. small businesses.
Our take: Whether you’re a B2B marketer, business owner or media outlet, you absolutely must take this mobile data into consideration before you get too far down the road with your 2012 strategy. If you don’t have the budget for mobile and related-platforms, find a way to make it fit.
Jobless claims down
The number of people seeking unemployment benefits for the first time plummeted last week to 352,000, the fewest since April 2008, the Labor Department said. But is that real progress or are companies finally realizing they can’t continue to operate indefinitely with staffs stretched too thin, disgruntled and fatigued?
Separately, the government said consumer prices were unchanged last month, the latest sign that inflation remains tame. Lower gasoline prices offset rising costs for food, medical care and housing. The Federal Reserve projects consumer price inflation will fall from about 2.8 percent in 2011 to roughly 1.7 percent this year. That’s progress, but is it enough to spike a surge in demand?
Travel industry bouncing back
The travel and tourism industry has added about 224,000 jobs since reaching its low point in December 2009 according to the US Travel Association. Meanwhile, hotel occupancy reached 59.8 percent in 2011 (projected to hit 61 percent in 2012), up from 54.6 percent in 2009, according to Smith Travel Research. And the Bureau of Transportation Statistics said full-time jobs in the airline industry finally began to improve last year after 28 consecutive months of decline. No one enjoys flying anymore. It’s a cattle call for most budget conscious consumers and a horrific time drain for most business travelers, but people still need to meet and press the flesh to close business and preserve relationships (whether of the business and familial kind).
Conclusion
Whether you’re a glass half-full or glass half-empty type of person, indicators keep showing that more of your favorite beverage is in the glass than when the current Administration took over. We don’t take sides for any political debate, so you’ll have to decide for yourself whether the private sector can keep the small engine of momentum running by itself, or will it need a continuous helping hand from the government? As we’ve said many times before, things are never as bad as they seem when times are lousy—just as they’re never as idyllic as they seem when we’re flush with cash, customers and back orders (or waiting lists) for our services.
If nothing else, now is the time to hit the gas on your marketing, hiring and expansion plans, before the tsunami of pent up demand leaves you in its wake.
VCRGD6XDXT3T
Last night’s GOP debate from Tampa was supposed to be about the private sector’s ability to create jobs that Big Government hasn’t been able to generate the past three years. Instead it came down to two rich guys competing to see who paid more taxes on money they may or may not have earned fair and square through actual “work.”
Gingrich compared himself to Reagan, calling himself "exactly the kind of bold, tough leader" that Americans want, "someone who is prepared to be controversial when necessary." Romney cited his record in running the Salt Lake City Olympics and said Gingrich "had to resign in disgrace" as House speaker after an ethics controversy, a characterization Gingrich disputed. Ron Paul and Rick Santorum, when given a chance to get a word in edgewise, showed they’re smart, thoughtful and experienced. They’re probably too intelligent for the average American voter to get and not well enough funded (or well-connected enough) to stay with the leaders till the finish line. Too bad. But’s it’s nice to see common sense and modesty has made it to the Final Four.
In tonight’s State of the Union address, the Prez will undoubtedly point to great strides his administration has made since he took over the train wreck that was the U.S. economy in 2009. There’s certainly been progress, but how much can be attributed to policies put in place vs. how much has come from the natural corrections a free market economy allows. Housing and excessive private debt, the two biggest scourges of the recession, he'll likely say are finally showing signs of improving. Even cantankerous NY Times columnist, Paul Krugman, was upbeat in his NY Times column yesterday “Is Our Economy Healing?”
But you could also argue that the historical rate of home ownership in the U.S. has been about 60 percent of American households. We got near 70 percent just before the housing bubble burst and are still painfully regressing to the historical mean. Should we be fighting the law of averages or setting better home-ownership policies down the road?
In tonight’s address, we’ll surely hear talk about fixing income inequality, but we’re more concerned here about technology inequality. The Holidays sparked a huge gain in U.S. in ownership of tablets, e-readers. And, the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Report released yesterday said the share of adults who owned table computers nearly doubled overnight to 19 percent from 10 percent in November. The boost in tablet ownership was especially high among college educated folks earning over $75K per year. We suspect the rate of cutting edge technology ownership and systems is also tilted in favor of large business vs. small businesses.
Our take: Whether you’re a B2B marketer, business owner or media outlet, you absolutely must take this mobile data into consideration before you get too far down the road with your 2012 strategy. If you don’t have the budget for mobile and related-platforms, find a way to make it fit.
Jobless claims down
The number of people seeking unemployment benefits for the first time plummeted last week to 352,000, the fewest since April 2008, the Labor Department said. But is that real progress or are companies finally realizing they can’t continue to operate indefinitely with staffs stretched too thin, disgruntled and fatigued?
Separately, the government said consumer prices were unchanged last month, the latest sign that inflation remains tame. Lower gasoline prices offset rising costs for food, medical care and housing. The Federal Reserve projects consumer price inflation will fall from about 2.8 percent in 2011 to roughly 1.7 percent this year. That’s progress, but is it enough to spike a surge in demand?
Travel industry bouncing back
The travel and tourism industry has added about 224,000 jobs since reaching its low point in December 2009 according to the US Travel Association. Meanwhile, hotel occupancy reached 59.8 percent in 2011 (projected to hit 61 percent in 2012), up from 54.6 percent in 2009, according to Smith Travel Research. And the Bureau of Transportation Statistics said full-time jobs in the airline industry finally began to improve last year after 28 consecutive months of decline. No one enjoys flying anymore. It’s a cattle call for most budget conscious consumers and a horrific time drain for most business travelers, but people still need to meet and press the flesh to close business and preserve relationships (whether of the business and familial kind).
Conclusion
Whether you’re a glass half-full or glass half-empty type of person, indicators keep showing that more of your favorite beverage is in the glass than when the current Administration took over. We don’t take sides for any political debate, so you’ll have to decide for yourself whether the private sector can keep the small engine of momentum running by itself, or will it need a continuous helping hand from the government? As we’ve said many times before, things are never as bad as they seem when times are lousy—just as they’re never as idyllic as they seem when we’re flush with cash, customers and back orders (or waiting lists) for our services.
If nothing else, now is the time to hit the gas on your marketing, hiring and expansion plans, before the tsunami of pent up demand leaves you in its wake.
VCRGD6XDXT3T
Friday, January 06, 2012
Too Many Gadgets, Too Little Time
Will 2012 be more volatile than 2011? (take insta-poll). Encouraging economic signs
Do we have gadget fatigue?
According to a new study from Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the nonprofit product testing and certification organization, 48 percent of consumers of 1,200 surveyed consumers—ALMOST HALF—believe high-tech companies bring new products to market faster than people need them. Is the pace of innovation too fast for consumers? Are companies rushing new product out the door just to keep up with their competitors (versus consumer desires). The report found the at U.S. manufacturers value “speed to market” more than any other criteria. In a New York Times interview, UL’s chief strategy officer Sara Greenstein quipped that “innovation is too fast only if corners are cut.”
Apple sold about 40 million iPads in 2011—no surprise there despite being the most expensive offering on the market, by far. But, non-tech manufacturers such as Amazon (Kindle) and Barnes & Noble (Nook) managed to sell 30 million e-book readers in 2011. That’s a 108 percent increase over 2010, according to I.H.S. iSuppli. E-book readers have far fewer features than pure tablets, but analysts say the line is blurring between e-books and tablets. Forrester Research says Amazon (Kindle Fire) and Nook Tablet managed 7 million sales combined in Q4 of 2011.
Our Take: Sales of the hybrids represents a low-cost interim step that could be chalked up to budget-conscious Holiday shoppers as much as to true consumer demand. If you’re designing creative for the on-the-go consumer, focus on pure tablets and mobile devices. Also make sure you don’t confuse “adoption rates” from regular usage rates. For instance, British consulting firm Arieso found that the heaviest one-percent of mobile users account for 50 percent of the world’s traffic and the heaviest 10-percent of users account for 90 percent. Arieso also found that two thirds (64%) of “extreme” users were using a laptop, whereas only one-third were using a smartphone and 3 percent had an iPad.
Why taking a break from our electronic devices is healthy and productive
New York Times columnist Nick Bilton offers good food for thought in his latest rant about technology addiction.
“Our brains often need to become inattentive to figure out complex issues,” according to Jonah Lehrer, a neuroscientist and author of new book “Imagine How Creativity Works. University of California psychology prof, Jonathan Schooler, said daydreaming and boredom seem to be a source for incubation and creative discovery in the brain and are part of the creative incubation process.”
Will 2012 be more volatile than 2011?
Take our InstaPoll and see how your peers feel.
Encouraging signs on the economic front
• Companies added 325,000 workers last month, the highest monthly tally in more than 10 years according to ADP
• The Labor Department said the economy has added 2.4 million jobs since hitting its low point in February 2010
• Weekly applications for unemployment benefits dropped to 372,000—11 percent lower than
this time a year ago the Labor Department said
• Manufacturing companies have added—not cut—jobs for two consecutive years. Before last year, manufacturing haven’t added jobs since 1997 the Department said.
• The number of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes in November rose 7 percent, to
the highest level in 18 months according to the National Association of Realtors.
• Also 12/21 a Thomson Reuters University of Michigan survey of overall consumer sentiments
showed a substantial jump to 69.9 in December from 64.1 (a 9% gain) and The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index rose to 118 points—it’s seventh consecutive monthly gain.
As Isaac M posted last week on our blog: “I'm a small business owner, running a technology consultancy for schools. Over the past year, my numbers have become significantly better, private and public schools are doing a lot of buying, and America's getting back up on its feet from where I see it!”
Let’s be smart—not blindly optimistic--in 2012 and hope Issac is right.
VCRGD6XDXT3T
Do we have gadget fatigue?
According to a new study from Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the nonprofit product testing and certification organization, 48 percent of consumers of 1,200 surveyed consumers—ALMOST HALF—believe high-tech companies bring new products to market faster than people need them. Is the pace of innovation too fast for consumers? Are companies rushing new product out the door just to keep up with their competitors (versus consumer desires). The report found the at U.S. manufacturers value “speed to market” more than any other criteria. In a New York Times interview, UL’s chief strategy officer Sara Greenstein quipped that “innovation is too fast only if corners are cut.”
Apple sold about 40 million iPads in 2011—no surprise there despite being the most expensive offering on the market, by far. But, non-tech manufacturers such as Amazon (Kindle) and Barnes & Noble (Nook) managed to sell 30 million e-book readers in 2011. That’s a 108 percent increase over 2010, according to I.H.S. iSuppli. E-book readers have far fewer features than pure tablets, but analysts say the line is blurring between e-books and tablets. Forrester Research says Amazon (Kindle Fire) and Nook Tablet managed 7 million sales combined in Q4 of 2011.
Our Take: Sales of the hybrids represents a low-cost interim step that could be chalked up to budget-conscious Holiday shoppers as much as to true consumer demand. If you’re designing creative for the on-the-go consumer, focus on pure tablets and mobile devices. Also make sure you don’t confuse “adoption rates” from regular usage rates. For instance, British consulting firm Arieso found that the heaviest one-percent of mobile users account for 50 percent of the world’s traffic and the heaviest 10-percent of users account for 90 percent. Arieso also found that two thirds (64%) of “extreme” users were using a laptop, whereas only one-third were using a smartphone and 3 percent had an iPad.
Why taking a break from our electronic devices is healthy and productive
New York Times columnist Nick Bilton offers good food for thought in his latest rant about technology addiction.
“Our brains often need to become inattentive to figure out complex issues,” according to Jonah Lehrer, a neuroscientist and author of new book “Imagine How Creativity Works. University of California psychology prof, Jonathan Schooler, said daydreaming and boredom seem to be a source for incubation and creative discovery in the brain and are part of the creative incubation process.”
Will 2012 be more volatile than 2011?
Take our InstaPoll and see how your peers feel.
Encouraging signs on the economic front
• Companies added 325,000 workers last month, the highest monthly tally in more than 10 years according to ADP
• The Labor Department said the economy has added 2.4 million jobs since hitting its low point in February 2010
• Weekly applications for unemployment benefits dropped to 372,000—11 percent lower than
this time a year ago the Labor Department said
• Manufacturing companies have added—not cut—jobs for two consecutive years. Before last year, manufacturing haven’t added jobs since 1997 the Department said.
• The number of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes in November rose 7 percent, to
the highest level in 18 months according to the National Association of Realtors.
• Also 12/21 a Thomson Reuters University of Michigan survey of overall consumer sentiments
showed a substantial jump to 69.9 in December from 64.1 (a 9% gain) and The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index rose to 118 points—it’s seventh consecutive monthly gain.
As Isaac M posted last week on our blog: “I'm a small business owner, running a technology consultancy for schools. Over the past year, my numbers have become significantly better, private and public schools are doing a lot of buying, and America's getting back up on its feet from where I see it!”
Let’s be smart—not blindly optimistic--in 2012 and hope Issac is right.
VCRGD6XDXT3T
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Tech Marketing Budgets Up for 2012
Digital, content marketing and lead-generation top priorities. More positive indicators for economic recovery
According to new findings from IDG Research Services, two-thirds of the technology marketers surveyed said they expect their budgets to rise next year with digital programs capturing half the spend. Live events are expected to garner one fourth (24%) of tech marketers’ budgets with the remainder spread among print, broadcast and other media.
Our experience is that tech marketers tend to pave the way for marketers in other industries who have long sales cycles and who need consistent, high-value touch points with multiple decision makers.
What are tech marketers’ goals this year? Lead generation topped all digital budget categories with almost 27 percent, followed by display/banner at just under 20 percent and search at almost 19 percent.
What is the most important campaign metric? Researchers say click-through rate is the most important factor in campaign success with cost-per-engagement and interaction rate almost equal in importance.
Top 5 spending priorities? Content marketing, which includes white papers, case studies, videos, custom websites, video and white papers, is among tech marketers’ top five spending priorities for 2012:
--71 percent will be investing in collateral
--61 percent will be investing in webcasts/virtual events
--59 percent will be investing in videos
--55 percent will be investing in research
--54 percent will be investing in content marketing or custom programs
Our Take? Tech marketers are historically a good bellwether for any mature industry with a long sales cycle. We expect those in financial services, pharmaceutical, legal, insurance and other professional services to follow tech marketers’ lead.
NOTE: When asked about the biggest challenges in producing marketing content, approximately two-thirds of the marketers indicate they will outsource one or more projects involving content creation, creative development, ad unit creation and online production/services.
More signs that modest economic rebound is likely to stick
Here’s some more optimistic news that came across our radar this week:
-- The National Federation of Independent Businesses said its index of
small business attitudes rose in November for third straight month—7 percent more small business plan to expand their payrolls in the next three months, than plan to cut them.
-- The number of workers voluntarily leaving their jobs hit a 2-year high: The Labor Department reported this week that a record 1.9 million workers resigned their jobs in October.
-- Fed policy makers this week said they plan to keep short term interest rates near zero through 2013. Retail sales up for sixth consecutive month and gas prices down or holding steady in most parts of the country
One millionth mobile app just released
Apps shrink the programs that were once available only on a desktop PC and make them usable on smartphones and mobile devices. Experts say the pace of new app development dwarfs every other kind of media—about 15,000 new ways a week to check stock trades, restaurant reviews, sports scores, directions, traffic, videos, articles and shop. Back in 2008 there were less than 10,000 apps available according to Mobilewalla. Five years ago, building an app for a phone meant going through the carrier, dealing with hardware, QA issues and inconsistent user experience. Now there’s a world of more powerful devices, higher quality networks and high-resolution cameras.
Our Take: More and more of your target customers are unchaining themselves from their desks and you better be mobile optimized—not only your creative, but your strategic mindset as well.
Consumers and businesses ARE spending money—they’re just being pickier about how they spend it and with whom they spend it on. Your target customers have never been better armed with purchase information and nothing sells itself anymore. No matter how talented your sales team; you won’t win in the new post-recession landscape without great marketing and customer support to back up your promises.
Happy Holiday from all of us here at HB Publishing & Marketing Company. Looking forward to working with you again in 2012. Let’s make it a great year.
VCRGD6XDXT3T
According to new findings from IDG Research Services, two-thirds of the technology marketers surveyed said they expect their budgets to rise next year with digital programs capturing half the spend. Live events are expected to garner one fourth (24%) of tech marketers’ budgets with the remainder spread among print, broadcast and other media.
Our experience is that tech marketers tend to pave the way for marketers in other industries who have long sales cycles and who need consistent, high-value touch points with multiple decision makers.
What are tech marketers’ goals this year? Lead generation topped all digital budget categories with almost 27 percent, followed by display/banner at just under 20 percent and search at almost 19 percent.
What is the most important campaign metric? Researchers say click-through rate is the most important factor in campaign success with cost-per-engagement and interaction rate almost equal in importance.
Top 5 spending priorities? Content marketing, which includes white papers, case studies, videos, custom websites, video and white papers, is among tech marketers’ top five spending priorities for 2012:
--71 percent will be investing in collateral
--61 percent will be investing in webcasts/virtual events
--59 percent will be investing in videos
--55 percent will be investing in research
--54 percent will be investing in content marketing or custom programs
Our Take? Tech marketers are historically a good bellwether for any mature industry with a long sales cycle. We expect those in financial services, pharmaceutical, legal, insurance and other professional services to follow tech marketers’ lead.
NOTE: When asked about the biggest challenges in producing marketing content, approximately two-thirds of the marketers indicate they will outsource one or more projects involving content creation, creative development, ad unit creation and online production/services.
More signs that modest economic rebound is likely to stick
Here’s some more optimistic news that came across our radar this week:
-- The National Federation of Independent Businesses said its index of
small business attitudes rose in November for third straight month—7 percent more small business plan to expand their payrolls in the next three months, than plan to cut them.
-- The number of workers voluntarily leaving their jobs hit a 2-year high: The Labor Department reported this week that a record 1.9 million workers resigned their jobs in October.
-- Fed policy makers this week said they plan to keep short term interest rates near zero through 2013. Retail sales up for sixth consecutive month and gas prices down or holding steady in most parts of the country
One millionth mobile app just released
Apps shrink the programs that were once available only on a desktop PC and make them usable on smartphones and mobile devices. Experts say the pace of new app development dwarfs every other kind of media—about 15,000 new ways a week to check stock trades, restaurant reviews, sports scores, directions, traffic, videos, articles and shop. Back in 2008 there were less than 10,000 apps available according to Mobilewalla. Five years ago, building an app for a phone meant going through the carrier, dealing with hardware, QA issues and inconsistent user experience. Now there’s a world of more powerful devices, higher quality networks and high-resolution cameras.
Our Take: More and more of your target customers are unchaining themselves from their desks and you better be mobile optimized—not only your creative, but your strategic mindset as well.
Consumers and businesses ARE spending money—they’re just being pickier about how they spend it and with whom they spend it on. Your target customers have never been better armed with purchase information and nothing sells itself anymore. No matter how talented your sales team; you won’t win in the new post-recession landscape without great marketing and customer support to back up your promises.
Happy Holiday from all of us here at HB Publishing & Marketing Company. Looking forward to working with you again in 2012. Let’s make it a great year.
VCRGD6XDXT3T
Monday, December 05, 2011
Be Ready for Surge in Pent Up Demand
While we’re seeing some encouraging signs on the Euro zone crisis, the U.S. jobless front and the U.S. financial markets, these are fickle indicators which should be taken with a grain of salt. If you’re a business owner, B2B marketer or media owner, we have some more solid signs of optimism for you to sink you teeth into.
Car sales surge
Auto sales in the United States climbed 14 percent in November as lower gas prices and a wider availability of Japanese models helped the industry achieve its highest selling rate in more than two years, automakers and analysts said last week. Chrysler was up 45 percent over November of last year, Ford was up 13 percent and GM 7 percent.
Cyber Monday
Meanwhile, ComScore, reported that online shoppers spent $1.3 billion on Cyber Monday, a 22 percent increase from last year, at that time the biggest online shopping day of the year. IBM Benchmark said online spending had climbed 33 percent. What’s more, a National Retail Federation survey found that 14 percent of shoppers said they would use mobile devices to shop, up from 7 percent last year.
Technology spending for business in midst of fastest transition ever
The International Data Corporation, whose technology analysis and predictions influence a lot of corporate purchases, foresees the creation of a new high-technology industry in the convergence of mobile devices, social networking, and cloud-based computing and data storage. As a result, the company says in a new study, many industry giants will scramble to sustain relevance, and some upstarts will achieve leadership positions or be purchased.
Frank Gens, IDC’s chief analyst, who led the study, said, “The incumbents are facing a huge transition.”
Spending on the new technologies will reach nearly $700 billion, or about 20 percent of the $3.5 trillion in hardware, software, and services spent on information technology worldwide, IDC said. What’s more, researchers said spending on the new technologies is growing six times that of traditional computer servers and personal computers, and by 2020 will be 80 percent industry growth.
If the IDC predictions hold true, the tech industry could be undergoing its fastest-ever transition. Earlier transitions, like the move from mainframe and mini computers to personal computers and client-server technologies, led to the rise of giants like Oracle and Microsoft, and the downfall of older stalwarts, like Digital Equipment Corp. and Wang Laboratories.
This time will be no different, Mr. Gens said, adding: “Hewlett-Packard will be challenged. Microsoft, Intel, SAP, RIM, Oracle, Cisco, Dell – they are all facing the next transition, competing to be around in 2020. At least a third will fade away.”
Mobile devices
Mobile devices, which earlier this year outshipped personal computers worldwide, will in 2012 generate more revenue than PCs for the first time, IDC said. Shipments of mobile devices will outstrip PCs by two to one, and 85 million mobile applications, or apps, will be downloaded. More money will be spent on mobile data networks than on networks tethered by lines.
The rapid transition to mobile, driven by an explosion of tablet computers, will challenge both traditional computer software companies like Microsoft and beneficiaries like Apple, which is seeing the dominance of its iOS operating system challenged by the open source Android operating system developed by Google.
“By 2013 we’ll know who the leaders are,” Mr. Gens said. “Android will be there, iOS will be there – will Windows 8 put Microsoft there? By the end of the year we’ll know if putting a PC operating system onto mobile was a good idea.”
The increasing number of people and machines online will additionally create an explosion of digital data. IDC said that the amount of data stored in 2012 would increase 48 percent from 2011, to 2.7 zetabytes, or 2.7 billion terabytes. By 2015, the firm said, the total will be 8 zetabytes.
Recommended Reading
No matter how old you are or what stage of life you’re in, we’d like to recommend David Brooks’ recent NY Times editorial series Life Reports.
You can draw your own conclusions, of course, but as marketers and innovators, two things really grabbed us. First, when people take stock of their lives, most regret the risks they DIDN’T take, not the ones they did take. Second, you should measure people by the progress they make in their lives, not by the natural talents they possess.
OUR TAKE: Now if the time of year when many of us reflect on where our businesses and personal lives stand relative to where we thought they’d be a year ago. It can be a gut-wrenching exercise. Just remember that no matter how you measure it, make sure you’re using the right metrics to make your assessment. Also, take time to reflect on everything that DID go right, not just things that came up short.
VCRGD6XDXT3T
Car sales surge
Auto sales in the United States climbed 14 percent in November as lower gas prices and a wider availability of Japanese models helped the industry achieve its highest selling rate in more than two years, automakers and analysts said last week. Chrysler was up 45 percent over November of last year, Ford was up 13 percent and GM 7 percent.
Cyber Monday
Meanwhile, ComScore, reported that online shoppers spent $1.3 billion on Cyber Monday, a 22 percent increase from last year, at that time the biggest online shopping day of the year. IBM Benchmark said online spending had climbed 33 percent. What’s more, a National Retail Federation survey found that 14 percent of shoppers said they would use mobile devices to shop, up from 7 percent last year.
Technology spending for business in midst of fastest transition ever
The International Data Corporation, whose technology analysis and predictions influence a lot of corporate purchases, foresees the creation of a new high-technology industry in the convergence of mobile devices, social networking, and cloud-based computing and data storage. As a result, the company says in a new study, many industry giants will scramble to sustain relevance, and some upstarts will achieve leadership positions or be purchased.
Frank Gens, IDC’s chief analyst, who led the study, said, “The incumbents are facing a huge transition.”
Spending on the new technologies will reach nearly $700 billion, or about 20 percent of the $3.5 trillion in hardware, software, and services spent on information technology worldwide, IDC said. What’s more, researchers said spending on the new technologies is growing six times that of traditional computer servers and personal computers, and by 2020 will be 80 percent industry growth.
If the IDC predictions hold true, the tech industry could be undergoing its fastest-ever transition. Earlier transitions, like the move from mainframe and mini computers to personal computers and client-server technologies, led to the rise of giants like Oracle and Microsoft, and the downfall of older stalwarts, like Digital Equipment Corp. and Wang Laboratories.
This time will be no different, Mr. Gens said, adding: “Hewlett-Packard will be challenged. Microsoft, Intel, SAP, RIM, Oracle, Cisco, Dell – they are all facing the next transition, competing to be around in 2020. At least a third will fade away.”
Mobile devices
Mobile devices, which earlier this year outshipped personal computers worldwide, will in 2012 generate more revenue than PCs for the first time, IDC said. Shipments of mobile devices will outstrip PCs by two to one, and 85 million mobile applications, or apps, will be downloaded. More money will be spent on mobile data networks than on networks tethered by lines.
The rapid transition to mobile, driven by an explosion of tablet computers, will challenge both traditional computer software companies like Microsoft and beneficiaries like Apple, which is seeing the dominance of its iOS operating system challenged by the open source Android operating system developed by Google.
“By 2013 we’ll know who the leaders are,” Mr. Gens said. “Android will be there, iOS will be there – will Windows 8 put Microsoft there? By the end of the year we’ll know if putting a PC operating system onto mobile was a good idea.”
The increasing number of people and machines online will additionally create an explosion of digital data. IDC said that the amount of data stored in 2012 would increase 48 percent from 2011, to 2.7 zetabytes, or 2.7 billion terabytes. By 2015, the firm said, the total will be 8 zetabytes.
Recommended Reading
No matter how old you are or what stage of life you’re in, we’d like to recommend David Brooks’ recent NY Times editorial series Life Reports.
You can draw your own conclusions, of course, but as marketers and innovators, two things really grabbed us. First, when people take stock of their lives, most regret the risks they DIDN’T take, not the ones they did take. Second, you should measure people by the progress they make in their lives, not by the natural talents they possess.
OUR TAKE: Now if the time of year when many of us reflect on where our businesses and personal lives stand relative to where we thought they’d be a year ago. It can be a gut-wrenching exercise. Just remember that no matter how you measure it, make sure you’re using the right metrics to make your assessment. Also, take time to reflect on everything that DID go right, not just things that came up short.
VCRGD6XDXT3T
Friday, November 25, 2011
Giving Thanks for Some Hopeful Signs for Retailers, Jobs, Factory Output and Home Construction
Don't underestimate the power of a Black Friday shopper
So Americans are getting soft, you say? We’re getting, fat, lazy, unmotivated as the rest of the world passes us by, you say? Well you haven’t seen Americans shop on Black Friday. If there’s one thing we don’t need to outsource it’s the ability to find a deal. Before you choke on that turkey wishbone in laughter, think about how the web is transforming the shopping experience. Consumers have never been better armed with comparative pricing information, specs, sizes, colors and where to find the best deals. Retailers have to keep opening earlier, competing with both online and bricks-and-mortar sellers and motivate their employees to work, longer, harder and faster when they’d normally be home (sleeping) with their families.
OUR TAKE? When properly motivated, Americans can do anything they set their minds to with resourcefulness, determination and stamina—kind of like a nation of small business owners.
Macroeconomic indicators
For the holiday season-to-date, consumers have spent $9.7 billion online -- marking a year-over-year growth rate of 14 percent, according to new comScore data. During the first 20 days of the season -- which began on November 1--daily online spending peaked on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at $688 million, comScore reports.
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level since early April, a sign that layoffs are easing and hiring might pick up--it was the fourth decline in five weeks. Meanwhile, a Commerce Department report said that builders started slightly fewer homes in October, but submitted plans for a wave of apartments, a mixed sign for the struggling housing market.
A rebound in manufacturing could lead to more hiring. Factory output grew in October for the fourth straight month, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday. Production of trucks, electronics and business equipment all rose, and building permits, a gauge of future construction, rose nearly 11 percent. The increase was spurred by a 30 percent increase in apartment permits, which reached its highest level in three years. Need more? Construction starts of single-family homes, which make up about 70 percent of residential home construction, rose nearly 4 percent last month.
While new homes account for just 20 percent of the overall home market, they have an outsize impact on the economy--each home creates an average of three jobs for a year and generates about $90,000 in taxes, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
Online video can boost your business
Still not sure if online video is worth it? Check out these new findings from
comScore.
-- Nearly 80 percent of U.S. Internet users –180million+ people—will view online video over the course of the month
-- The typical Internet viewer watches almost 20 hours of online video per month
--The average online video consumed is a full 5 minutes long
--The most watched videos add value by “teaching viewers something or covering a topic they care about,” says comScore.
What B2B marketers hope to accomplish with social media tools
According to new data from Chief Marketer’s 2011 Social Media Marketing Survey it is:
-- Drive traffic to websites (66%)
-- Generate sales or leads (48%)
-- Address company fans (47%)
Yes, times are tough. But give thanks this time of year that you have the brains, the team, the family support and the resources to figure out ways to get through it. You will. And we’ll all be stronger for it.
Happy Thanksgiving. HB
VCRGD6XDXT3T
So Americans are getting soft, you say? We’re getting, fat, lazy, unmotivated as the rest of the world passes us by, you say? Well you haven’t seen Americans shop on Black Friday. If there’s one thing we don’t need to outsource it’s the ability to find a deal. Before you choke on that turkey wishbone in laughter, think about how the web is transforming the shopping experience. Consumers have never been better armed with comparative pricing information, specs, sizes, colors and where to find the best deals. Retailers have to keep opening earlier, competing with both online and bricks-and-mortar sellers and motivate their employees to work, longer, harder and faster when they’d normally be home (sleeping) with their families.
OUR TAKE? When properly motivated, Americans can do anything they set their minds to with resourcefulness, determination and stamina—kind of like a nation of small business owners.
Macroeconomic indicators
For the holiday season-to-date, consumers have spent $9.7 billion online -- marking a year-over-year growth rate of 14 percent, according to new comScore data. During the first 20 days of the season -- which began on November 1--daily online spending peaked on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at $688 million, comScore reports.
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level since early April, a sign that layoffs are easing and hiring might pick up--it was the fourth decline in five weeks. Meanwhile, a Commerce Department report said that builders started slightly fewer homes in October, but submitted plans for a wave of apartments, a mixed sign for the struggling housing market.
A rebound in manufacturing could lead to more hiring. Factory output grew in October for the fourth straight month, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday. Production of trucks, electronics and business equipment all rose, and building permits, a gauge of future construction, rose nearly 11 percent. The increase was spurred by a 30 percent increase in apartment permits, which reached its highest level in three years. Need more? Construction starts of single-family homes, which make up about 70 percent of residential home construction, rose nearly 4 percent last month.
While new homes account for just 20 percent of the overall home market, they have an outsize impact on the economy--each home creates an average of three jobs for a year and generates about $90,000 in taxes, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
Online video can boost your business
Still not sure if online video is worth it? Check out these new findings from
comScore.
-- Nearly 80 percent of U.S. Internet users –180million+ people—will view online video over the course of the month
-- The typical Internet viewer watches almost 20 hours of online video per month
--The average online video consumed is a full 5 minutes long
--The most watched videos add value by “teaching viewers something or covering a topic they care about,” says comScore.
What B2B marketers hope to accomplish with social media tools
According to new data from Chief Marketer’s 2011 Social Media Marketing Survey it is:
-- Drive traffic to websites (66%)
-- Generate sales or leads (48%)
-- Address company fans (47%)
Yes, times are tough. But give thanks this time of year that you have the brains, the team, the family support and the resources to figure out ways to get through it. You will. And we’ll all be stronger for it.
Happy Thanksgiving. HB
VCRGD6XDXT3T
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