AUGUST MARKET REPORT
It is truly amazing what confidence will do to business (see SME article). In September 2008 the financial world as we knew it was all but finished and the great depression was about to return.
All the recent news and statistics are suggesting the downturn we have just gone through was not as severe as that of 1990 however at the same time business confidence levels were some 20% worse then in 1990. Why? Because those powerful positions worldwide, talked the situation down. This led to the level of confidence falling further than the reality of the situation and has given those in power something think about. Next time they should be very careful not to play politics to the detriment of the economy, jobs and business profits.
The level of activity in business sales is at a very high level with good size transactions going to contract and settling. Numbers for sales in July were very good and above those in July 2008, so we expect continued strengthening in the business sales market.
The biggest issue facing some business owners wanting to sell now is that the 2009 financials reflect the toughest year business has had in many years. The profits are more likely to reflect 2006 returns rather than 2008, and small businesses are valued on what they return.
Astute sellers will still come to the market and potentially achieve good sale prices but may need to take some of the sale price over time. This allows the buyer to protect themselves from paying too much up front for a poor result in 2009 whilst also paying a fair price for a business which has had this aberration in their figures, based on the unusual circumstances.
The Banks share prices are very strong and they look to be on the improve and once they start returning to lending in the business arena, things will further improve and strengthen.
The August and September outlook is optimistic and positive so we hope this is the beginning of a sustained recovery. Unemployment is still a worry, however this is largely due to employers holding off to make sure that the recovery is sustainable, as no one wants to put on staff only to put them off. We are still experiencing strong enquiry for just about every business we have listed, however some areas are stronger then others including IT services, Health, Clean Green businesses and good quality businesses with a bottom line of $250,000 for a 5 day working week.
Peter Gwynne, Group Managing Director
TIPS FOR SME
Here are 5 of The Best Tips For SME business owners On A Budget
- Paid Search Marketing
Paid search is not new to the Australian market, but many businesses are still yet to benefit from this cost effective and measurable form of advertising. Google AdWords provides the ability to set up a free account, and will step you through the process of creating a campaign. With however the vast proportion of companies advertising on Google, much cheaper paid search opportunities exist on the Yahoo & Ninemsn network through Yahoo Search Marketing. With 11% of all Australian searches conducted on this network and only 3.7% of total search advertising conducted on this network it can provide a lower cost alternative channel for promotion. And the best bit is that you can set your daily budget on these networks to control your costs.
- Prepare A Press Release
Distributing a press release online can be an effective way of increasing traffic and bringing engaged users to your site. And the best bit is that any online PR conducted will also assist you to improve your SEO rankings.
- Blogging
Another free tool available to the masses is that of blogging. When it comes to blogging you also have a few options available. If you have a lot of valuable information to provide to users, why not consider setting up a blog on your site. You can obtain a free blog from wordpress.org and place it on your domain. The added benefit of a blog is also that search engines love content so by having a blog you may also improve your search rankings.
The other opportunity is to find other sites which you can blog on. If you choose this route it is important to understand that plastering your message on every forum and blog you can find is not the most effective way to leverage these sites. Use your expertise to help people and as part of this subtly include your company contact details. This will help you to position yourself as an authority on a given subject.
- Social Networking Ads
As nearly half of all Australians have a profile on a social network, and the average time users spend on these networks at nearly 30 minutes per week this is another low cost opportunity to exploit. Both MySpace & Facebook offer pay per click advertising opportunities as low as USD $.15 cents per click. Best of all both the MySpace & Facebook networks offer targeting options to ensure your advertising reaches your desired audience.
- Article Distribution In the digital age where content is king, sites are always on the look out for new content. On many community/networking based sites organisations have the ability to upload articles/resources on a range of topics. In addition articles can be loaded to article specific sites which can be listed on the site as well as can be re-printed on other sites.
Do you have any other low cost marketing tips to share with our reader?
Email Claire now.
GOLD COAST COMPANY BEATS THE HIGH COST OF TV ADVERTISING
VMBIZ Pty Ltd, based at Varsity Lakes on the Gold Coast, has come up with a solution to beat the high cost of regular TV advertising by developing an online advertising system called TV Email Advertising.
“What we have developed is the power of television advertising delivered with the convenience and cost efficiency of email. Basically it’s a TV “infomercial” production of up to 2 minutes duration about your company presenting the benefits of why a customer should be doing business with you which is delivered directly to your target audience via email but with no attachments”… says Eric Higgs – Director of Business Development with VMBIZ
Small business owners recognize the need to advertise to sustain business, sometimes spending a small fortune on their advertising, often with little result. So the need to get better results from their advertising is a very high priority for the small business owner…this is where VMBIZ comes in.
A proven credibility builder this revolutionary marketing medium is ideal for enhancing customer loyalty as well as providing new customers a truly professional insight into the features of your business. It is perfect for special promotions, product launches, service or treatment follow-up reminders and profiling your businesses points of difference.
“The type of TV Email Advertising that VMBIZ offers is a faction the cost of traditional advertising and your reach is far more accurate as you can target your audience”, said Mr. Higgs.
Just as TV’s, computers and emails have changed the lives of most people TV-Email Advertising is revolutionizing the way businesses now reach their target audiences. It is a professional way to promote your product or service as people can see what is on offer and what’s more it can be viewed in the privacy of client’s office or home.
“We do everything for our clients”, said Eric Higgs “We script, produce, shoot, host and stream,, in fact we will even manage their email delivery to save them doing it”
With a successful track record of 2 years operation this Company is now looking for selected individuals to partner with in all major marketplaces to service SME’s everywhere. Not a franchise, there are no royalties or advertising contributions.. this business model, like its service is unique and very rewarding.
Want to be part of this fantastic opportnity, contact Hallmark for further information.
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