Web Design
Thing are Improving in Home Improvement
We recently took several laps around the Indiana State Fair Grounds buildings visiting with some new clients and gauging the optimism of the entrepreneurs in the home improvement industry. Things seem decidedly brighter this year and we have picked-up several clients recently that work in residential remodeling and refinishing. It makes some logical sense.
American’s seem to be stepping-up and spending more on home improvements for the first time since 2006 – providing some lift and some longer-term positivity. Forecasting firm HIS Global Insight is predicting an upturn of 3.3% in 2011 and an additional 5.7% increase in 2012. There was also a report last week that indicated confidence among builders of single-family homes is at its highest level since mid-2007.
“People are remodeling instead of moving,” according to David Crowe, chief economist at the National Association of Home Builders. Home improvements have gotten a lift from several trends, most notably due to the fact that consumers have a pent-up demand and that spending has been depressed for so long. Smaller projects seem to be fueling the trend – and, with some homeowners under-water on their mortgages – all is not uniformly rosy.
However, according to one owner of a California landscape and design firm, homes have “gone back to being a house again instead of an ATM…long term, people do think they will get a return on investment, but they are being realistic and realizing that’s a number of years off.” (Source Material: Wall Street Journal, 01/20/2012)
We invite you to take a look at some of our recent projects in the home improvement category …Fishersdoit.com, archbricktile.com, barbercabitnet.com.
For many businesses in this category, there is a “pent-up demand” when it comes to improving their websites as well. We are proud of what we have put together and our clients are pleased with the results and the increased traffic to their sites.
What’s YOUR First Screen?
First Screen. Second Screen. Third Screen.
I went to a seminar about a year ago where a marketing/technology expert referred to the smart phone as a consumer’s “third screen” through which they receive news, entertainment and stay connected. The event was sponsored by a TV station – so, of course, Television was the first screen; the computer screen, the second – and, the smart phone was the emerging third.
Being of an older demographic, I understand this perspective – and, I have mentioned it in presentations and discussions occasionally. As marketers, it is important to remind clients of the high degree of local search being done from mobile devices and how prevalent smart phones are becoming. When I mentioned this “third screen” idea during a recent presentation, a “twenty-something” marketing staffer in the room quickly interrupted me and said – “not for me…it’s my FIRST screen.”
Indeed the smart phone is the “screen of choice” for a growing number of consumers. I-Phones started the trend and Android-equipped phones accelerated it in 2009 and 2010. According to a recent CNN report, Smartphone usage is growing at an amazing rate. Having only an 11% market share in 2008, it grew to 17% in 2009 and 27% in 2010. Looking for those figure for 2011. The percentage grows daily. For more and more consumers, it is becoming the primary source of search, information and connectivity.
Is your website mobile friendly? Is it easy for consumers to find you from their smart phones? Is your site optimized for local and mobile search? If not, your business runs an ever-increasing risk of not being found at all by an ever-growing portion of the consuming public.
