May 5th, 2009
Chief Executive Magazine has ranked Texas as the best state to do business again for the fourth year in a row.
Ranks were determined by a state’s natural resources, regulation, tax policies, quality of living, education and infrastructure.
Where did Texas shine? According to Chief Executive’s survey of 543 CEOs, Texas received highest ratings under the categories of transportation and economy. Also noted was the state’s access to capital, technology and innovation.
According to the magazine’s survey, the states that perform the highest tend toward lower taxes and lower rates of unionization.
Who joined Texas at the top of the list, and which states performed most poorly? Here are the five highest and five lowest rated states for business, as found in this survey:
Best for Business:
1. Texas
2. North Carolina
3. Florida
4. Georgia
5. Tennessee
Lowest Rated for Business:
46. California
47. New York
48. Michigan
49. New Jersey
50. Massachusetts
May 5th, 2009
The Internet’s share of total media ad spending is rising by more than one percentage point every year, with estimates predicting continued growth despite - or perhaps because of - the recession.
eMarketer is reporting that marketers are spending more on Internet ads, while spending less on advertising in other traditional media, such as newspaper, radio & magazines.
In the current economic climate, companies are holding on more tightly to their cash and demanding to see immediate results from any campaigns they fund. So it makes sense that many are turning to the Internet, because they can more readily measure the results of Internet advertising than they can with traditional media.
David Hallerman, eMarketer’s senior analyst, believes that Internet Search has become the new model for online advertising. “When marketers link advertisements to an individual’s search interest at the precise moment that interest is expressed – as happens with a search query – its relevance tears down the usual consumer resistance to the advertisement.”
Advertising that consumers welcome is the new reality, and it’s beginning with online advertising. And because it combines effectiveness and efficiency for marketers, it is likely to promote the continued growth of the Internet’s share of total ad spending.
On-Target Marketing can help you get your brand and your message online. Contact us today!
May 5th, 2009
 According to a study released by the Council for Research Excellence and the Nielsen Company, the average American is exposed to screens for 8.5 hours a day – which equates to about 61 minutes of ads and promotions.
This could include time spent on TVs, cell phones, computers and more, but the predominant medium continues to be television (accounting for 99% of all video consumed in 2008), with computer usage coming in second.
One of the strongest revelations found in the study was that the amount of time spent on screens was consistent across age groups.
“It flies in the face of conventional wisdom, of course, which tells us that the younger cohorts apparently spend more time with screen-based media,” said Michael Bloxham, a director of the center at Ball State in an interview with The New York Times.
Here are some highlights found by the study, categorized by age group:
18-24-year-olds:
- Watch the smallest amount of live TV of any age group (3.5 hrs/day)
- Spend the most time text messaging (29 min/day)
- Watch the most online video (5.5 min/day)
25-34-year-olds:
- Spend the most time of any group watching DVD or VCR videos
35-44-year-olds:
- Spend more time on the Internet than other groups (74 min/day)
45-54-year-olds:
- Spend the most time on email
65+ year-olds:
Would you like to put your brand in front of these viewers? It’s time to contact On-Target Marketing. We look forward to helping your business grow.
May 5th, 2009
The numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics are in. The Houston – Sugar Land – Baytown area recorded the largest employment increase in the U.S. from January 2008 to January 2009 with 172,000 new jobs.
Unemployment in January 2009 was 6.5%, and this number has held steady through the statistics reported in February and March. That’s two percentage points lower than the national unemployment average of 8.5%, and much lower than the 372 metropolitan areas who have a recorded jobless rate of at least 15%.
In March the leisure and hospitality sector gained another 5,100 jobs, and the transportation and utilities sector added 4,300. And according to the Houston Business Journal, there’s good news coming from the manufacturing sector:
“Indices for production, capacity utilization, volume of new orders and shipments all edged up for the second consecutive month. Meanwhile, the business activity index, though still negative, showed improvement, and the six-month company outlook index turned positive for the first time since June 2008 with 32 percent of firms surveyed believing better days are ahead.”
Houston’s positive business environment continues.
May 5th, 2009
 When times get tough you can choose: Hit the brakes or step on the gas. With most people pulling off of the “road to growth” right now, the coast is clear to speed past, gain market share and not only get somewhere… get where you always wanted to go.
According to a Fortune Magazine Study from the last recession in the 1990s, this is not the time to cut advertising. It is well documented that brands that increase advertising during a recession, when competitors are cutting back, can improve market share and return on investment at a lower cost than during good economic times.
In the 90’s, Fortune found that the successful companies do not to think of advertising as an expense, but as an investment. Think long-term: the recession will end, things will get better, and by maintaining or increasing your advertising budget you will gain on everyone else who cuts-back when times are tough.
Edward Lawler III, a professor of management at the University of Southern California takes an aggressive view. He recommended that companies in 1990 look at the recession as an opportunity to deliver a “death blow” to other companies who had cut back on advertising. Your weapon? Advertising.
The article also gives examples of companies who at the time were moderately recognized, such as Geico, who pumped up their ad budgets and immediately gained market share even without their current spokesperson, that is, gecko.
Fortune also reminds us, similar to a recent article posted on our blog, to shift ad campaign messages from focusing on luxury and status to concentrate on efficiency and value. In the 90’s, Cadillac began emphasizing miles per gallon, and Bertolli modified their strategy from promoting their heritage to stressing olive oil’s health benefits.
When you’re considering your marketing and advertising plans for the upcoming days, keep in mind the advice of the experts and the methods that have proved successful for companies under similar circumstances. If you could use some help, contact us.
It’s time to step on the gas.
For the full Fortune article, click here. For more information about taking advantage of today’s climate to increase your market share, contact On-Target Marketing today!
April 14th, 2009
Thursday, 02 April 2009 12:43
The Sales and Marketing Council (SMC) of the Greater Houston Builders Association is proud to announce that the 2008 Houston Parade of Homes won a Silver award for best Special Promotion at the 2009 National SMC Awards in Las Vegas.
In an effort to drive physical traffic and build interest among new homebuyers and Realtors, the SMC designed the first consumer and Realtor focused Parade of Homes. The Parade was unique because it engaged the consumers and Realtors to grade and provide feedback for each entry.
The SMC reached their target market of consumers and Realtors through an extensive marketing campaign designed and executed by On-Target Marketing including a Parade website, internet banners, eFlyers, TV and radio commercials, and print media. The marketing message and prizes for participation were set to appeal to the demographics and psychographics of two groups: current potential buyers and Realtors.
With this being the first Parade in Houston and with no real history to go by, the SMC had to work expeditiously to ensure a successful event.
“With 154 homes entered and over $20,000 raised for our SMC, the Parade of Homes was a great success,” said Terry Dawson, SMC 2009 President.
“A special thanks goes out to our Parade co-chairs, Shelda Keith of ABB Mortgage and Paul Silverman of Move.com. In addition, a special thank you is owed to On-Target Marketing for composing the marketing campaign, collateral, TV and radio creative. Finally, the biggest thank you goes out to the participating builders and developers that made this Parade possible.”
On-Target Marketing is a full-service advertising agency, graphic design and web-marketing firm in Houston, Texas, and a Fastest Growing Business in Houston for two-years running according to the Houston Business Journal.
March 18th, 2009
 Google has entered the world of online behavioral targeting. The #1 seller of online ads has begun to track individual’s online browsing to determine their interests, then displays ads targeted toward those interests. Now, the ads that individuals see will be more relevant, but what is Google doing to protect user privacy?
According to the New York Times, Google says this new approach will help:
- advertisers reach their audiences more easily
- publishers earn more from their sales
- users see ads that are more relevant to their interests
Here’s how it works: Google uses a cookie to track users as they visit sites that show ads through its AdSense program. Google then assigns those users to categories based on the content of pages they visit, such as “potential car buyer,” “sports enthusiast,” “expectant mother” and so on. Google will then show ads relevant to their interests.
And what are they doing about user privacy? Google is the first to offer users the chance to access and edit the information stored about them or to opt out completely. Privacy advocates praise Google for allowing users access to their profiles, but they also say that Google needs to do more by notifying users that there is an option to access this information in the first place.
The program is currently being tested and is expected to expand quickly.
For information on how On-Target Marketing can assist with your online marketing efforts, contact us today!
March 18th, 2009
 Most consumers have learned to ignore online banner ads. How can online publishers create a solution? By generating bigger, bolder, in-your-face formatted banners. These banners are purposely more obtrusive… so how will users react?
According to the LA Times, the Online Publishers Association is releasing three new types of web banner formats to grab user attention. “The three new types of ads are the ‘fixed panel,’ which looks like part of the page but scrolls up and down as a user does; the ‘XXL box,’ in which users can turn pages within the ad; and the ‘pushdown,’ which opens to display a larger ad.”
The new formats should create new opportunities for advertisers to be creative and interact with their readers. Some concepts thus far include viewing a video inside the ad, taking a quiz, checking local weather or movie times, and flipping through “pages” within the ad.
Online Publishers claim that making ads large-scale and more intrusive is important in today’s marketplace, and insist that the ads are user-initiated: they will not expand unless the visitor chooses to engage.
Popular websites are beginning to try the ads to reach surfers who have learned to ignore traditional banner ads. But they must be careful not to bother users so much that they do not return. Others wonder how long it will be before users adapt to ignore these larger ads as well.
For information on how On-Target Marketing can assist with your online marketing efforts, contact us today!
|
|
