Social Media, Mobile and Internet Data by the Minute [infographic]

Strategy Plan One

June 22, 2012 

Social Media, Mobile, Internet Data

It is mind boggling how much data we create and digest through multiple forms of electronic media and devices.  Taking the business perspective on the “data created every minute” information in the infographic from Domo:

• Consumers spend over $272,000 / minute – sites are showing trends in e-commerce fused with social media activities
• Brands receive ~35,000 likes / minute on Facebook – does your business have a presence in social media sites?
• YouTube users upload 48 hours of content / minute – Sites with video lead to more sales
• Mobile increases its user base by 217 every minute – trends are favorable in mobile app and e-commerce through mobile devices
• Facebook users share almost 700,000 pieces of content / minute – as an astute marketer in your business, create valuable content worth sharing

Here are some additional Social Media articles, blogs and infographics:

• Social Media and Online Customer Trends [Infographic]
• Twitter Statistics Showing Exponential Growth [infographic]
• Digital Marketing – Conversion Opportunities for Business
• Social Media Buttons for Targeting Your Business Audience [infographic]
• Social Media Statistics on the Fortune 500 Companies [infographic]
• Social Media Statistics on Pinterest – Traffic and Online Sales Impacts

More on Mobile Market and Mobile Apps:

• Competitive Mobile App Market
• Mobile User Business Challenges [infographic]
• Popular Apps – The Best Apps for Small Business
• How do you like those Apps? App Sales [infographic]

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Business information, resources and tips for the entrepreneur

© 2012 Strategy Plan One

US #Unemployment #Statistics Favorable for April 2012

Strategy Plan One

May 4, 2012 

Unemployment Statistics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has just released more favorable trends in the unemployment statistics.  The Bureau reported the unemployment rate now sits at 8.1%, a 0.8% drop over the April 2011 unemployment figure.  It was estimated that 115,000 more jobs were added in April 2012.

Courtesy:  The Washington Post , Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unemployment Statistics – Sectors

The increase in jobs follows the trend of job increases month after month through 2011 and 2012.  However, the trend shows declining number of new jobs over the past 3 to 4 months.  This might be a sign of employment catching up with the recent slight bump in economic recovery.  Slow and steady.  It could also be a sign of a shrinking labor pool that may exist in certain US business sectors.

The lowest unemployment statistics for April 2012 occurred in the government, education and health services, and financial sectors (3.7, 4.8, and 5.5% respectively), while the small business and entrepreneurial sectors of construction, agriculture, leisure, and business services show the higher rates of unemployment.  Recent statistics have shown that those sectors might be experiencing slow recovery mode.

Strategy Plan One

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© 2012 Strategy Plan One

Retail Industry Statistics Favorable for March 2012

Strategy Plan One

April 18, 2012 

Retail Industry

The retail industry is potentially on the rebound with some of the most current data out for public consumption.  This is good news for businesses and entrepreneurs around the country who are all desperately looking for signs of recovery.

The latest advance report is out by the US Census Bureau on retail statistics estimates for March 2012.  The report, including the statistics for the combined retail and food industry, cites that the industry total revenue for March 2012 was $411.1 Billion.  This represented an increase of 0.8% over February 2012 and a 6.5% increase over March 2011 figures.

Retail industry sales alone increased by 0.8% from February 2012 and consistent with the 6.5% increase above March 2011 data.  The biggest sector jump in the retail industry occurred in building material and garden retail sector, with a 14.1% increase over March 2011 statistics.

Business owners and the industry will cautiously analyze the next few months to determine if this pattern will continue and if it is solid signs of recovery.

Strategy Plan One

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Business information, resources and tips for the entrepreneur

© 2012 Strategy Plan One

Construction Spending – Construction Industry on the Rebound?

Strategy Plan One

April 13, 2012 

Construction Spending

Construction spending has one of the biggest impacts on economic indicators, as the construction industry is huge.  Construction spending gives us a picture of how well the construction industry is doing in the economy.  Construction, as a major employer is tied to employment and to the housing industry statistics.  The value of construction includes key cost categories such as labor, materials, professional services, and overhead costs.

The following graph from the US Census Bureau shows the trend in construction spending.  The data report indicates that in February 2012, construction spending was at almost $809 Billion, +5.8% increase over February 2011 data.  This represented a $45 Billion increase in construction spending year over year.  Private construction spending accounted for almost a $49 Billion net increase, while public construction spending dropped by nearly $4 Billion.

Overall, the construction industry is on the road to recovery it seems, but still not near the highs of over $1.2 Trillion in construction spending back in 2006.

Strategy Plan One

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How do you like those Apps? App Sales [infographic]

Strategy Plan One                                                                                                                     

April 9, 2012 

App Sales

It is interesting to observe the app sales war play itself out across the top platforms, with the notable Blackberry, iPhone and Android companies and developers jockeying for customer revenue.  Even though Blackberry (BB) reports have not been favorable of late, take note of the impressive sales data around BB app sales.  Where BB lacks in volume of apps for its platform, it makes massive ground in the sales per app & return on investment per app.

This infographic from BlogBerry.de highlights data from the three most popular platforms:

• BB: 70,000+ Apps; Over 6 Million downloads per day
• iPhone: 500,000 Apps; 66.2% are paid apps; 4 times the Android app sales
• Android: Over 400,000 Apps available; 79.3% of Apps have been downloaded less than 100 times

Strategy Plan One

http://strategyplanone.com

Business information, resources and tips for the entrepreneur

© 2012 Strategy Plan One

Oil Prices & Impacts on the US Economy and YOU [Infographic]

Strategy Plan One

April 1, 2012 

The price of crude oil, and consequently the price of everything, is rapidly increasing.  This infographic, courtesy of fuelfreedom.org highlights the impacts of oil prices.

Some fact and impacts of oil prices:

• 10 out of the last 11 recessions occurred after an increase spike in oil prices
• $330 Billion – US net outflow for foreign oil
• Economists projecting 2012 to have the highest gas prices in history
• Estimation of up to $200 per barrel of oil if Iran relationship worsens
• Highest impacts would occur to lower – middle income earning families

Time for increased emphasis on alternative energy sources and technologies?  You bet.  Tough economic times an challenges such as these open the doors further to business opportunities around alternatives and green clean energy.

Strategy Plan One

http://strategyplanone.com

Business information, resources and tips for the entrepreneur

© 2012 Strategy Plan One