Ad-ology Research recently updated their Industry Marketing Insights report for Real Estate Agents/Agencies. The following are the predicted Top 3 Opportunities/Challenges from the report for this industry for the upcoming 12 months:

• Baby Boomers are a key group. Approximately 26% of Baby Boomers plan to move to a new home this year.
• In 2009, as a result of Internet home search(es), 28% of buyers found the agent used to search for/buy their home. Buyers who used the Internet during their home search were more likely to contact a real estate agent than those who didn’t use the Internet.
• There was a 4% decrease in the number of home buyers who reported using a real estate agent in 2009 compared to 2008.

The Industry Marketing Insights report for Real Estate Agents/Agencies is available on Ad-ology.com (Research Store) for $195 USD with local market data for any U.S. market.

[Source: Ad-ology Research. June 29, 2010]

Economists and out of work Americans are looking for signs of revival in the U.S. job market. It’s too soon to tell if hiring is occurring in any significant way. However, a new Elance survey shows that when SMBs do hire, they’re going about the process in a new way.

Nearly 2/3’s of surveyed business owners say they are using online hiring instead of traditional hiring. And, in addition to hiring online, businesses are looking for employees to work on a project by project basis. This staffing practice allow businesses to maintain flexibility at a time when profitability is still under stress. Additional benefits of online hiring include “24-hour/7 day a week access to talent.”

How widespread are these new ‘distributed organizations?’ The survey results indicate more hiring managers are comfortable with hiring the right team members for a project and not so concerned about their physical location.  Fewer than 20% of hiring managers said that a team member’s location is important for an online hire.

Survey results also  show:

• Businesses who have made at least 1 online hire: 86%
• Made between 2-5 online hires: 49%
• Made 6+ online hires: 15%

How can potential employees stand out when businesses are seeking to make an online hire? Decision makers consider the following criteria:

• Ratings from prior employers 89%
• Viewing a portfolio of work 84%
• Pay rate 73%

Elance analysts predict the online hiring trend will continue. Businesses that serve this marketplace have an opportunity to increase revenue by promoting their products and services and more SMBs and employees seek to find each other online.
[Source: Elance Survey Reveals Majority of Small Businesses Prefer Hiring Online vs. In-Person. 23 Jun. 2010. Web. 29 Jun. 2010]

One of the major causes of continued market turmoil is economic uncertainty. In the extended period of uncertainty we’re now experiencing, investors have been slow to make decisions and even slower to commit capital to new projects. This hesitation is impacting the advisor-client relationship even for high level strategic financial advisors.

A new SEI survey indicates that two pervasive attitudes are affecting the rate of investment:

• “Inevitable” tax increases will harm the economy: 80%
• Regulatory reform for financial services industry is unavoidable: 62%

The survey also indicates that only 16% of advisors can afford to spend significant time and effort seeking new clients. Instead, 46% of advisors are spending time reassuring existing clients. Over half of advisors (51%) find that clients are “extremely skeptical about the economy and very concerned with future growth.”

Yet bringing in clients is still a top concern for advisors. Here’s where they are looking for contacts:

• Referrals from CPAs and accountants: 45%
• Participate in an online social community: 54%
• Actively use social networking as prospecting tool: <5%

While advisors are waiting for more definition on the future of the market, some are making changes to their portfolios. Nearly 40% have added alternative investment options. In addition, these advisors continue to “provide clarity, direction, and new solutions for our clients,” says Mark Matley of the Salt Lake City, UT-based Insight Group. Whether they are seeking to reassure clients or secure new ones, these advisors may turn to addition marketing to improve their standing.
[Source: SEI Survey: New Reality of Advisor-Client Relationship Takes Focus Away from Top-Line Growth. 23 Jun. 2010. Web. 28 Jun. 2010]>

Ad-ology Research recently updated their Industry Marketing Insights report for Ice Cream Shops. The following are the predicted Top 3 Opportunities/Challenges from the report for this industry for the upcoming 12 months:

• Operators are reporting a resurgence of interest in frozen yogurt as consumers perceive these options to be healthier.
• More ice cream shops are co-branding their offerings with other food types such as donuts or sandwiches. In doing so, they can make better use of ad money, appeal to a broader cross-section of consumers, and smooth out revenue streams during the year.
• Despite the continued seasonality of ice cream sales, heavily weighted in the months between April and August, frozen dessert sales are seeing better performance during the entire calendar year.

The Industry Marketing Insights report for Ice Cream Shops is available on Ad-ology.com (Research Store) for $195 USD with local market data for any U.S. market.

[Source: Ad-ology Research. June 25, 2010]