April '03 - State of the Business

Super-busy? Super-slow? In between?

[pleeker]

I'm curious about the state of the business wherever you're reading this.

The first quarter of the year is always our busiest time (my company does hosting, creative, programming, SEO, etc.) since local companies have new marketing budgets to spend, etc. This year was no exception, as we've been busy since Jan. 1st.

I expected a slow down with the war and general uncertainty in the world, but instead we continue to get busier and busier with each passing week. It's very unusual.

Is anyone else experiencing this? What's the state of your business these days? I'm wondering if it's regional -- we're in the Pacific N'west.

That's all, I have work to do. :)

[lawman]

My day job is criminal defense attorney. Business went in the toilet as soon as the Iraqi situation heated up.

lawman

[fathom]

hmmm... ever thought of optimizing a web site for "war crimes".

March the guilty bast*** in! ;)

[lawman]

I'm only licensed to practice law in Georgia USA. I'd go broke fast if I depended on those offenses for my living. :)

lawman

[curlykarl]

"I'm only licensed to practice law in Georgia USA"

Do you have to get a new license if you move to a new state?

Seems strange if you do :)

[lawman]

Do you have to get a new license if you move to a new state?

Yep, you even have to take the new state's bar exam before you can be licensed.

lawman

[le_gber]

you even have to take the new state's bar exam before you can be licensed

Is that because each and every states in the US got its own set of laws? Like if they were different countries.

I always like when some conmen said in a movie:

'Let's cross the state border, it's out of the sheriff juridiction'
man, that's cool

Leo

[JayC]

We're way off topic, but it's that way with almost any licensing in the US -- they're state licenses. If I were a licensed electrician here in New York, I'd have to get a new license if I moved to another state. I'd need a new driver's license, too.

[curlykarl]

Can you imagine what it would be like if we operated a similar system in the UK!

If you practiced in London and wanted to move to Birmingham you would have to resit your exams again.....bizarre :)

[lawman]

Under the US Constitution, certain areas are administered under the auspices of the National (usually called the Federal) Government. The rest is administer under the auspices of the various states (This is the Federal system).

Three branches of national government (4 if you count the free press also known as the Fourth Estate), bicameral congress, States rights and individualism. I suppose that can seem bizarre, depending upon your perspective. ;)

lawman

[DrCool]

What's the state of your business these days?

Basically January was one of my best months ever until February came along and March outshined both of those. This month I have seen a very slight downturn but nothing that wasn't expected. I don't think the war has had an effect, just more people getting away from their computers and getting outside.

[Chicago]

Internet services space since January - April

- Discretionary spending way down.
- Risky / Experimental projects way down.

- Large investments way down.

- Small project, tweaks, changes very stable.

- Fragmentation in the market place is huge, what one charges 500 for another charges 5000, and so on. The customer is very confused.

-Internet Marketing (specifically SEM and its many derivations) WAY WAY UP! Cost effective with a clear and quick ROI - this is the service of 2003 IMHO - along with the small project/tweaks which coincide with SEM.

By Q4- Q1(04)- People will begin to believe in the value again, thanks to SEM among other valuable services and discretionary spending will (MUST) return.