several factors including your media.
While most of the "mass" media has seen severe revenue declines since 9/11, the promotional advertising industry has continued its long expansion. Depending on the source you believe, this industry is estimated to be an $18 to $24 Billion industry.
If you pick up the current Reader's Digest magazine, you'll see it is nearly half the thickness of a typical issue a few years ago. Many magazines, both old and new have shrunk, as advertising has required less pages. For some magazines, the recent decline in revenues has brought an end to their existence.
The decline in independent newspapers as well as the thinning of most editions continues to decline also. There may be exceptions, but many newspapers have only survived through mergers. Few cities in the US still have two separate daily newspapers anymore.
Radio revenues have taken a beating, with "talk" radio being the bright spot on the AM dial.
I don't have much current info on Television, but have heard similar stories of decline on the national level, with local revenues varying depending on more local factors and economic situation.
On a personal note, my orders are continuing strong, based on solid customers and my 18 years in business in my market, with 3+ years online. Going into the Easter holiday weekend, we wrote 16 orders on Wednesday and Thursday, with 10 of them generated by my outside salescalls on Wednesday and the other 6 coming in by phone, fax, or email.
The 16 orders were from 13 different clients, including 3 who are new clients. Most of the orders are from my region in Louisiana, but we had a few Out-of-State orders via the internet.
I think some of the "burst" of activity can be attributed to the quick resolution of the "Saddam" situation in Iraq.
We'll all know more with time and 20/20 hindsight.
Dennis Bevers
BASSCO, Inc.
www.CuttingEdgeAdvertising.com
"Offering promotional solutions for businesses large and small!"
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