1991

The early 90's in California were no picnic. If you lived in Southern California foreclosures were on almost every street ; and if you were looking to sell your house you had to sell it way below market, and that's if you could find a buyer at all. The unemployment rate in California, in 1991, was at 7.8% and even higher in some counties than the state average(State of California labor force and Unemployment Data). Leaders were telling us the NYSE would hit 4000 before 8000. By 1993, the unemployment rate in California had shot up to 9.5%, not as high as the current numbers but, nevertheless, painful. The headlines of the day were dreary indeed. There was, in fact, a feeling of hopelessness in the air and there seemed like no end to the misery. Then came the internet , the next revolution, as America once again bounced back and dug itself out of the mire. Companies like Yahoo,Ebay, and others became household names. Americans once again were enjoying prosperity and innovation. By the year 2000, the unemployment rate in California had dropped to 4.9%. The average employee had seen a real rise in his wage and it seemed like all was well in Camelot. Looking back, I realize it wasn't big businesses or small businesses that brought us this new period of prosperity . It was new companies and new jobs and new innovation. Fast forward to 2010...That's exactly what we need now; new innovation, new technology, new jobs. Maybe the risk takers, this time, will be leaders of alternative energy. New jobs and opportunities in solar, wind, and other alternatives- or even a new power grid. Industries of all types could prosper. This, I believe, would lead to real growth. We just need to get these big engines started and have America return to prosperity once again.
Bill Palmer                               "The Best Boutique PR Firm On The Web"
Palmer's Global Digital
www.theglobaldigital.com 9/22/2010

Less "Sizzle" more "Steak"

In today's world isn't this what we are all looking for ?
How may times have we, at one time or another,
fallen for the sizzle only to be disappointed . Consumers with
the help of sites like Yelp and Foursquare are getting wiser on
where to make their next purchase. Recently my son and I
visited an upscale burger eatery to feast on a great gourmet
cheeseburger and some chili cheese fries (not the food we eat
everyday). The food was delicious and what made it even better
was, before we left, the manager gave us two coupons, each one valid
for a free burger of our choice. Wow! Not a big deal to most people but
it got my attention. Why? Because the manager knows we'll be back
and probably tell our friends- which is still some good old- fashioned
word- of- mouth. It would seem like a lot of business people have forgotten
the basics. Some companies will run a one page color ad in the local newspaper,
on the weekend, and in some markets that can run into an easy five figure price.
All this for a one day run so they can increase their traffic and
to bring in some business. Yet, they wouldn't spend niney-nine cents on a
customer who already likes their product and is very loyal. Just do
the math and see which is a better investment. Vendors are not any
different. They invest vast sums of money looking for new clients, but
will argue with an existing client over minor charges.
So, the next time you are in front of one of your customers, try a little less sizzle
and more steak. If you're thinking long term then the results
could be most impressive.
Bill Palmer
Palmer's Global Digital                                                      "The Best Boutique PR Firm On The Web"




www.theglobaldigital.com 9/19/2010

Year of The Tiger

According to Kaiser Kuo the three biggest social networking sites in China
are Renren.com,Kaixin001.com, and 51.com. Kaiser Kuo is a Chinese American
and an expert on China's internet. He is based in Beijing and formerly a Group
Director at Ogilvy & Mather China.
These sites are vibrant and thriving. American companies have not prevailed in
China's social networking and face tough scrutiny by the Chinese government.
Chinese social networking sites are all about entertainment and Chinese users
also find apps and add ons less intrusive than Americans. Chinese users are
more social and are willing to add strangers they meet on the sites.
Bulletin Boards thrive in China and are used much more than by their U.S.
counterparts. When entering this market you want to think "Mobile" as this may
be the only internet access some users have and smart phones are extremely
popular in China. If you think social networking is big here just think about the
opportunities in China. We believe this is going to present big opportunities and
you don't want to be the last one to the table or you may just get the scraps.
Bill Palmer
Palmer's Global Digital                          "The Best Boutique PR Firm On The Web"

www.theglobaldigital.com 9/16/2010

Africa's Economic Future

Africa may be heading to a better future than most
would have imagined. Digging deeper into the details,
one finds that Africa has benefited from investment with
a lower level of poverty than in previous decades. Make no
mistake there are several areas in Africa still suffering in the deep
depths of poverty, but the future may be a bit more promising.
In the book, "Le Temps de l'Afrique" (The Time of Africa), co- authors
Michel Severino and Oliver Ray discuss how the sub-Saharan economy
"has grown by a yearly average of 5.5 percent against only 1.35 percent
in the euro zone."
One only has to look at Kenya to see some recent results in growth,
the current GDP at about 5.2 percent came in above estimates of
4.5 percent.
Could we see U.S. and European companies investing more
in Africa ? With the recent labor strikes in China demanding better
wages and their rapidly increasing middle class, it is a real possibility
that we could see some shift in the foreseeable future, if political
stability can be maintained.
Bill Palmer                             "The Best Boutique PR Firm On The Web"
Palmer's Global Digital
www.theglobaldigital.com 9/15/2010

Brick and Mortar Meet Tech

This may be the year when they finally get it right!
Tech has become more business friendly and traditional
business models are learning you better lead in tech as more
and more consumers rely on it when determining where they
spend their hard earned cash.
Just recently Google/Youtube announced instant. Twitter
announced over 90 million tweets per day and a new format
including video. The fcc is considering release of unused tv
channels creating giant hot spots; and social media now is
surpassing Google in search... Will traditional business
finally jump on board and in a big way ?
The answer is yes! You only have to jump on the internet and visit
any of the top sites and there they are...more and more companies are
indeed "getting it," and what about small business ? They are coming
on board in a big way, At first reluctant, their tenacity has
rewarded them with success and profits.
Will this start a comeback in silicon valley ? Who knows, but it may be
the jump start they've been waiting for...Will it improve business in
one of the most difficult climates in decades ? Well, stay tuned...
Palmer's Global Digital
Bill Palmer                                   "The Best Botique PR Firm On The Web"
www.theglobaldigital.com 9/14/2010