Industry News - December, 2007

The internet is fast-becoming the leading marketing arena, one leading industry expert has suggested.

But with more than 15 billion web pages and one million blogs in the world, the task of making sites and adverts stand out is a difficult one.

However, according to marketing adviser Rich Schefren, the decline in traditional marketing methods means that businesses need to grasp online advertising to ensure they stay at the top of their game.

He told PR-USA: "The '... more...

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should use a combination of different marketing mediums, a leading industry expert has suggested.

Using internet advertising including email, in addition to other types of marketing, such as direct mail, will help businesses maximise effectiveness, according to a tutor at the Institute of Direct Marketing.

James Matthewson of the Institute of Direct Marketing noted that evidence suggests a combination of direct mail and email can be &qu... more...

Mint, NatWest and the Royal Bank of Scotland have all launched a tripartite of competitive credit card deals.

This could be a sign that lenders are attempting to tap into the New Year borrowing psychology to "turn over a new leaf".

According to James Falla, director of debt consultancy firm Thomas Charles, the New Year is "absolutely the right time" to begin sorting out finances.

However, despite competitive credit card offers, Mr Falla emphasises t... more...

Insurance companies can expect a spike in the number of home insurance claims on Boxing Day, research from Sainsbury's Home Insurance suggests.

This is highlighted by figures from Bradford & Bingley, which reveals that more than 76,000 residential homes are burgled in the UK around Christmas.

Offering automatic increases in insurance cover over the festive period could serve as a useful marketing tool for insurance companies keen to capitalise on providing peace of mind to... more...

Loan companies are in the process of tightening the criteria on which they lend money due to the credit crunch, not the time of year, according to one expert.

The director of national money education charity Credit Action, Chris Tapp, has noted that the number of people being accepted for personal loans has dropped from "66 per cent to about 50 per cent".

He added that more credit card companies were turning down more applications.

Mr Tapp continued: "We... more...

Lenders could be well-advised to step up their personal loan marketing campaigns during and in the run-up to the New Year.

According to financial services adviser Equifax, loan applications will increase in January as people try to consolidate Christmas debt.

In light of the credit crunch, lenders and financial service providers could be in for above-the-norm activity as more consumers find themselves falling foul of the sustained lending crisis.

Neil Munroe, external ... more...

With lenders slow to pass on the base rate cut to Standard Variable Rate (SVR) mortgage products, Tesco Mortgage Finder is marketing a comparison tool with a financial incentive.

The supermarket's Mortgage Finder is offering customers a £100 cash claim if they can find a better mortgage deal than that found through their service.

Colin Robertson, head of lending for Tesco Personal Finance, explained that it is hoped this service will make the process of mortgage finding le... more...

The competition in the marketing of credit cards and loans is increasing, with supermarkets now matching the market-leading providers.

According to research by EveryInvestor, Tesco is the cheapest lender, offering credit card with zero per cent on balance transfers and new purchases for 12 and three months respectively on its credit card.

However, figures also reveal the top four supermarket franchises are even vying for market position with high street lenders such as Virgin, ... more...