Forum Moderators: LifeinAsia

Message Too Old, No Replies

Economic Impact of Sept 11

Techo-companies clobbered by the general business downtirn

         

cyril kearney

6:08 pm on Oct 3, 2001 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



I am located across the river from New York City and the impact on my business is almost overwhelming.

We expanded operations by adding 5 new servers, routers and upgraded our communications to take on four new clients October 1. All are now on hold with only one client a possiblity before the end of the year.

I handle problems like this by doing consulting work either myself or using subcontractors. Work runs out for me on Monday. I'm not using any sub-contractors and they are beating on my doors for work. Nothing is on the horizon for the rest of October.

September payments are trickling in much slower than usual. October's bills are in the mail but I expect payments from them to be slow too.

The clients I talk to are optimistic but everyone is delaying projects and holding off spending money. No one is panicing and no one is cutting staff. They are just in wait and see mode.

Is this just an NYC area problem or are others feeling the ripple effect? How are others handling this problem?

Liane

6:39 pm on Oct 3, 2001 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



I am in the British Virgin Islands and the impact has been pretty noticeable here on the tourist industry. Bookings for sailing and land based vacations are very slow in coming and this is usually the busy booking season!

Nobody here is panicing ... yet (except me perhaps). I have had two cancellations due to flights being cancelled. My electricity bill went up nearly 30% over the norm as a result of inflated fuel prices. This doesn't bode well for the motor yacht side of the industry.

Hits on the site (despite rankings boost across the board) has gone from about 1000 to 1200 hits per day to around 500 or 600. It is slowly climbing back up, but actual inquiries have all but stopped.

I am praying for an early cold snap to make people start to think *Caribbean*!

agerhart

6:41 pm on Oct 3, 2001 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Liane, if you have any half-off deals or something like that I will gladly spend my Christmas there! :)

dwedeking

6:48 pm on Oct 3, 2001 (gmt 0)



We've noticed a dip in "new" design sales over the last 3 months (compared to last year) but an increase in seo and maintenance type work. I think this is more related to a general economic slow down rather than the one event on Sept 11th. What Sept 11th did for us was make those "marginal" leads wait as everyone is holding off on commitments until they are sure everything will be all right.

agerhart

6:50 pm on Oct 3, 2001 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



I agree with dwedeking,

I also don't think that the recession should have a negative impact on the SEO industry, but a positive one. With the slowdown of the economy, every company is going to be looking to reach their audience for the lowest cost.......SEO is alot more cost effective than print or TV marketing!

I think it all has to do with sales. A good sales person can pitch SEO to be the savior during the economic recession.

msr986

6:56 pm on Oct 3, 2001 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



I own and run a brick and mortar retail store in the Los Angles area, as well as a related ecommerce site.

The downturn in the Los Angeles area has been devastating. Local reports say that the cities of Anaheim, Pasadena, and Burbank are down 40% on general retail.

I do believe that things will pick up again within the next couple of weeks. People need to realize that although a terrible tragedy has occurred, life for most of us is really unchanged. We go to work, we go to school, the super markets still have food.

We'll just have to tighten our belts a few notches.

I hate to think what will happen if people don't snap out of it soon.

MSR

Macguru

6:57 pm on Oct 3, 2001 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Some clients in the tourism, hotellery and travel industry already cancelled some options. Got bad news 2 weeks ago. What I really do worry for is that some persons, corporations or .gov agencies will use anything to make a gain...

NFFC

7:05 pm on Oct 3, 2001 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



The last two weeks for me in the UK have been a little quieter than normal but this week has bounced back very strongly. Hope this gives a little hope.

Macguru

7:14 pm on Oct 3, 2001 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Just hitting the right pedal for a while. That will do. ASAT

Liane

9:16 pm on Oct 3, 2001 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Hi agerhart,

No half off deals, but there are two weeks for the price of one and ten days for price of seven as well as 10% off 7 day deals to be had all over the place! Sticky mail me and I'll find the best deal around! How about a nice motor yacht for you and 7 of your best friends over Thanksgiving?

seth_wilde

9:23 pm on Oct 3, 2001 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Our design work has slowed but our SEO stuff is booming...

biggest changes have been with our big travel clients. I have one thats talking about shutting down for six months and the other is actually spending more money in the hope of picking up market share while everyone else is cutting back marketing budgets...

agerhart

9:24 pm on Oct 3, 2001 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



That's exactly what I predicted!