133 million of buyers shopped online in 2006, which was 85% of USA online users.
Only 40% of consumers come to a shopping site with a committed brand in mind, so the site must engage, inform and make the purchase easy.
Retail outlets recorded sales of about $3.5 trillion in 2005. From 2004 to 2006, retail sales grew about 7% year over year.
E-retail sales are a small proportion of total sales but are growing very quickly, and excluding travel, increased to $114 billion in 2005, a 25% improvement compared to 2004.
comScore reports a 25% increase in online sales during the 2006 holiday season over 2005.
Online sales reached $138 billion in 2006, and Forrester Research forecasts online sales of $171 billion by 2009; an 18% increase, year over year.
Travel spending online was $65 billion in 2005. Analysts anticipate travel sales online to nearly double to $122 billion in 2009.
90% of consumers now research online. Then some buy online and some from a physical location.
These are very large numbers and the growth of online research and buying will only increase as people become progressively more strapped for time.
Our Online USA Business Directory is playing an important role for the 10 million businesses listed, since we direct qualified prospects to them, with zero cost involved.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
USA Internet use is growing quickly
The USA Department of Commerce reports that 140 million people in the USA now have Internet access in their home, and that those small businesses who sell their goods and services online have grown 46% faster over the past two years than businesses who do not promote their firms on the Internet.
Digitrends reports that 87% of online users now depend on the Internet to access local businesses and information.
Harris Interactive reports that 52.7% of online Business Directory users visited a business as a result of what they saw in the online directory and that 85.5% of online Business Directory users would recommend the site to friends.
The Washington Post reports that less than half of Americans read a newspaper on a daily basis.
As people become more time poor, and as 3G mobile devices become more widely used, online activity, particularly searching for goods and services from local businesses, will continue to increase.
All old media is in retreat before the trend to get information online, and it’s impossible to see this being reversed.
Our USA Online Local Search Business Directory, with over 10 million businesses listed, is at the leading edge of this movement to online, and the prospects are provided to the businesses with no cost to them.
Digitrends reports that 87% of online users now depend on the Internet to access local businesses and information.
Harris Interactive reports that 52.7% of online Business Directory users visited a business as a result of what they saw in the online directory and that 85.5% of online Business Directory users would recommend the site to friends.
The Washington Post reports that less than half of Americans read a newspaper on a daily basis.
As people become more time poor, and as 3G mobile devices become more widely used, online activity, particularly searching for goods and services from local businesses, will continue to increase.
All old media is in retreat before the trend to get information online, and it’s impossible to see this being reversed.
Our USA Online Local Search Business Directory, with over 10 million businesses listed, is at the leading edge of this movement to online, and the prospects are provided to the businesses with no cost to them.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
The depressed economic conditions are substantially impacting USA small businesses
The United States Federation of Small Business reports that 95% of small business proprietors think their business is being negatively affected by the current economic circumstances, with 55% saying they have had a downturn in revenue.
85% said that health care costs, reduced credit facilities and increasing fuel prices were the main concerns.
23% of small business owners have cut staff, 36% have reduced business travel, 36% have lowered marketing expenditure and 29% have frozen bonuses and staff income increases.
A majority of the small business owners surveyed reduced business expenses in the last six months and 45% tried to increase productivity, in many cases, with new technologies.
The trend to lower sales, higher costs, less available credit, and longer periods for payment of invoices by larger companies creates a very difficult environment for small businesses.
The advantage they possess is the flexibility and agility to adapt quickly to changed circumstances.
Those who survive what looks to be a fairly long period of economic uncertainty and general gloom will be well placed to grow when good times return.
Our USA Business Directory is helping small businesses, by sending them highly qualified prospects in their locality, with no cost for them.
85% said that health care costs, reduced credit facilities and increasing fuel prices were the main concerns.
23% of small business owners have cut staff, 36% have reduced business travel, 36% have lowered marketing expenditure and 29% have frozen bonuses and staff income increases.
A majority of the small business owners surveyed reduced business expenses in the last six months and 45% tried to increase productivity, in many cases, with new technologies.
The trend to lower sales, higher costs, less available credit, and longer periods for payment of invoices by larger companies creates a very difficult environment for small businesses.
The advantage they possess is the flexibility and agility to adapt quickly to changed circumstances.
Those who survive what looks to be a fairly long period of economic uncertainty and general gloom will be well placed to grow when good times return.
Our USA Business Directory is helping small businesses, by sending them highly qualified prospects in their locality, with no cost for them.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
USA consumers do their research online but mostly purchase offline
ComScore reports in the second yearly Local Search Usage, an online survey of 3,000 respondents, that total USA searches have increased by 25% over the last year, and while substantial research is done online, most purchases are made offline.
Local business details are found by consumers in search engines 31%, Yellow Pages or White Pages 30%, internet Yellow Pages 19% and local search sites 11%.
The results have altered from last year which had Print Yellow Pages at 33% and Search Engines at 30%.
Although online is used for the majority of local research, purchases are mostly made offline.
After online local searches, consumers contact a business by phone 39%, visit the business 32%, or contact the business online 12%.
1 in 5 local business search consumers with an internet enabled cell phone have conducted a local search on their phone. 1 in 2 iPhone and other wi-fi device owners conduct local searches on their phones.
22% said that they called directory assistance from their mobile phone, with 411 getting 64% and 1-800-FREE411 getting 29%.
So the local search field is becoming more focussed online, but people still prefer to shop in person after the research has been done.
Our USA Online Local Search Business Directory is proving very profitable in the current tough economic conditions, for the 10 million businesses listed, because we provide qualified prospects at no cost to them.
Local business details are found by consumers in search engines 31%, Yellow Pages or White Pages 30%, internet Yellow Pages 19% and local search sites 11%.
The results have altered from last year which had Print Yellow Pages at 33% and Search Engines at 30%.
Although online is used for the majority of local research, purchases are mostly made offline.
After online local searches, consumers contact a business by phone 39%, visit the business 32%, or contact the business online 12%.
1 in 5 local business search consumers with an internet enabled cell phone have conducted a local search on their phone. 1 in 2 iPhone and other wi-fi device owners conduct local searches on their phones.
22% said that they called directory assistance from their mobile phone, with 411 getting 64% and 1-800-FREE411 getting 29%.
So the local search field is becoming more focussed online, but people still prefer to shop in person after the research has been done.
Our USA Online Local Search Business Directory is proving very profitable in the current tough economic conditions, for the 10 million businesses listed, because we provide qualified prospects at no cost to them.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
USA small business owners would prefer to be responsible for their Social Security retirement fund rather than have it run by the government
ING DIRECT's ShareBuilder 401k reports, that in a survey of 500 USA small business proprietors, 67% would rather have control of the management and distribution of their Social Security funds, in a personal account such as a 401(k) or IRA.
77% of those surveyed thought that people should look after their own retirement arrangements, with only 23% saying that the government should take care of it.
30% thought that Social Security was a major issue in the current presidential election, and an additional 45% thought it was important.
Fewer than 10% of companies with 50 or less employees currently offer 401(k) plans, which makes small business staff rely on Social Security benefits more than employees at larger companies.
The general view was that small business owners are happier if they are in control of their retirement funds rather than having the government control them.
The wish to exercise control is typical of the small business community which has to try harder than their larger competitors who have both better access to credit and superior buying power.
We assist small businesses with our USA Local Search Business Directory, which has 10 million businesses listed, the majority of which are small businesses, by delivering qualified prospects to them, without cost.
77% of those surveyed thought that people should look after their own retirement arrangements, with only 23% saying that the government should take care of it.
30% thought that Social Security was a major issue in the current presidential election, and an additional 45% thought it was important.
Fewer than 10% of companies with 50 or less employees currently offer 401(k) plans, which makes small business staff rely on Social Security benefits more than employees at larger companies.
The general view was that small business owners are happier if they are in control of their retirement funds rather than having the government control them.
The wish to exercise control is typical of the small business community which has to try harder than their larger competitors who have both better access to credit and superior buying power.
We assist small businesses with our USA Local Search Business Directory, which has 10 million businesses listed, the majority of which are small businesses, by delivering qualified prospects to them, without cost.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Online advertisers in the USA are focusing on Local Search to secure offline sales
Borrell Associates reports that Local online advertising in the USA is predicted to grow 48% to $12.6 billion in 2008.
Marchex reports that 73% of national advertisers in the USA who sell products or services through local outlets do digital or online marketing and 50% said they were doing local online targeting.
However, 45% of these said they did not use different tactics for different local markets.
50% of marketers are trying a number of different local sources, but managing the campaigns and generating volume are difficult.
While 47% reported that 25% of their in store sales were a result of their online marketing, measuring the return on Investment and tracking the online prospects to sales was difficult.
Paid search produces 30% of the consumers’ local business information, and print directories provide 31%. Internet Yellow Page sites, local search sites and cell phone marketing account produce 31%.
So the importance of online local search to generate off line sales is being recognised and substantial advertising funds are being invested to get results.
Our USA Online Local Search Business Directory, with 10 million businesses listed, is at the cutting edge of this development, with substantial pages indexed on Google, and providing prospects to the businesses with nil cost to them.
Marchex reports that 73% of national advertisers in the USA who sell products or services through local outlets do digital or online marketing and 50% said they were doing local online targeting.
However, 45% of these said they did not use different tactics for different local markets.
50% of marketers are trying a number of different local sources, but managing the campaigns and generating volume are difficult.
While 47% reported that 25% of their in store sales were a result of their online marketing, measuring the return on Investment and tracking the online prospects to sales was difficult.
Paid search produces 30% of the consumers’ local business information, and print directories provide 31%. Internet Yellow Page sites, local search sites and cell phone marketing account produce 31%.
So the importance of online local search to generate off line sales is being recognised and substantial advertising funds are being invested to get results.
Our USA Online Local Search Business Directory, with 10 million businesses listed, is at the cutting edge of this development, with substantial pages indexed on Google, and providing prospects to the businesses with nil cost to them.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Small businesses in the USA are very concerned about the economic future
A ShareBuilder 401k survey of 500 small business owners found 63% are now very concerned about the future of the economy.
59% said that they are saving less money for personal use or for retirement compared with a year ago, and 40% said their businesses are in a worse financial situation than they were a year ago.
Many small business owners are making smaller contributions to their own 401(k) accounts, with 11% also reducing or eliminating matches for their employees.
16% of the businesses surveyed have made premature withdrawals or borrowed from their retirement accounts.
In 2007, 35% of small-business owners had some sort of retirement plan. In 2008, the number has dropped to 26 percent.
And of the 74% of businesses operating without retirement plans, 45% say they are now less likely to start 401(k) plans compared with a year ago, even though tax credits are available.
The current economic situation for small businesses, of reduced credit being available to them and slower payments from their customers, is hurting them.
Our USA Local Search Business Directory is helping, by providing qualified prospects to the 10 million businesses listed, most of which are small businesses, with no cost to the business.
59% said that they are saving less money for personal use or for retirement compared with a year ago, and 40% said their businesses are in a worse financial situation than they were a year ago.
Many small business owners are making smaller contributions to their own 401(k) accounts, with 11% also reducing or eliminating matches for their employees.
16% of the businesses surveyed have made premature withdrawals or borrowed from their retirement accounts.
In 2007, 35% of small-business owners had some sort of retirement plan. In 2008, the number has dropped to 26 percent.
And of the 74% of businesses operating without retirement plans, 45% say they are now less likely to start 401(k) plans compared with a year ago, even though tax credits are available.
The current economic situation for small businesses, of reduced credit being available to them and slower payments from their customers, is hurting them.
Our USA Local Search Business Directory is helping, by providing qualified prospects to the 10 million businesses listed, most of which are small businesses, with no cost to the business.
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