Don't Tell Anyone, Sales Are Up, Sshhhh

So the Office of National Statistics is saying that sales from October 2008 to October 2007 is up 3.2% and 3.0% up on September 2008, but surely that can't be right! The CBI and British Retail Consortium has said that sales fell 0.1% last month.

Read on ...

Somehow I think these positive figures will be pushed under the carpet by the Beeb, ITV and Sky as good news is just no news at the moment!

Internet Advertising Revenue To "Fall Off A Cliff" in 2009? My ...

Last night ITV news said there was a severe slow down in high street spending. Actual spending in October in the UK was down 0.1%, not the 1% feared by many.

Now I rate Venturebeat very highly, in fact I think its exceptional. But they yesterday stated that slowdown in internet advertising in Q3 as "sobering". I just don't see it myself. I prefer the IAB's take as it has "stabilized"!


Many in the industry see that if online ad spending isn't growing exponentially every quarter then its something to be worried about. Every form of marketing spend goes through spirts of growth and then the rate of growth slows - its nothing new.

The interesting element of the debate comes down to the "fact" that internet advertising is often more accountable than its offline alternatives and as more and more marketing departments become savvy to this I'm sure we'll continue to see more and more budgets shift online (I'm sounding like we're back in 2000!). And TV ad spend is the one that's tanking according to the Guardian.

And then there's the different forms of online marketing and the budget allocations divided between display, SEM, SEO, Affiliate, Social will shift throughout the next couple of years no doubt!

It seems that the media are obsessed with negativity at the moment. If you're a journo then you are just not allowed to say anything positive. Any data that is inconclusive HAS to be shown in a negative light by the media as that's what they think people want to hear - I strongly suggest that isn't the case.

I think they underestimate the attraction of online marketing and the savvyness of marketing departments to know that online is more accountable and efficient than most other forms of marketing.

PWC has it spot on:

David Silverman, a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, added that, “a weakening economy will continue to be a challenge to all forms of advertising-supported media. However, the Internet should be better poised to withstand the storm given its ability to combine performance-based advertising along with broad-based branding.” Source: PR IAB Nov 20, 2008.

Google Measuring The Usefulness of Forums

Do some searches and you'll often get links to forums. But how useful are they - you don't know before you click?

Well now Google is giving some summary information about the number of posts and the last post date.





has anyone else seen this?

Thanks Webgains For The Christmas Hamper

Just a quick thank you to Webgains for the Christmas Hamper from Virginia Hayward I received this morning!

Anyone that knows me, knows I love cake, chocolate, wine, biscuits and nuts so this is an absolutely perfect gift for me Laura! I know it won't last until Christmas!!

The issue I've had this year is that I've been working so hard on consultancy stuff and there's just soooo many merchants around that its often difficult to find the hidden gems in a network. Over the year I've been broadening out my target area from a very select niche of retail into more general segments. Thankfully Webgains have some cracking merchants - especially for Christmas targeted sites :D as well as some brilliant ones for Easter. I also need to get my target list ready for Valentines too! However, before all that I need to do a thorough review of the Virginia Hayward Christmas hamper.

I'm looking forward to doing more with Webgains next year - probably at the expense of networks that aren't evolving. Oh and if you want to know more about them, you can meet some of the team here.

No-One's Talking Of The "R" Word "Ooop North"

Well I spent the day yesterday on a client's stand at the North West Business Conference talking to various people about content and links for them - yes doing link building properly and not sending out ill-targeted emails, but actually talking to people. The up-shot of this is that The North West Regional Development Agency, The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, various management consultants and commercial lawyers are all very keen to add content to the site and link in.

The interesting thing, however, was that out of my 60,70 or so conversations I had with these business associations, people thinking about starting up companies, business owners and angel investors; I can't think of one that either mentioned the "R" word or not even uttered the phrase "credit crunch".

Are people just fed up of the phrases, or is it not affecting everyone - in contradiction to what the mass-media is making out? My view is that you'll never dampen entrepreneurial spirit. There was many fantastic business ideas there, one actually appeared on Dragons Den and "failed", and now she's seeking angel investment for another business. There's people like Ben, AKA the Can Can Man, that always makes me smile when ever I meet him - if you're business is flagging, then give him a call! (p.s. Matt, I think he'd be great for the Expo!)



There were many people clambering over themselves to pitch their business ideas in the speed pitching event - in fact it was more than twice over-subscribed!!

I'm back for another day today (it was just so damn good for business - both mine and there's!) and I'll see if anyone mentions the "R" word again today!