Hull - Fighting Online Against the Credit Crunch
Hull has never had the strongest economy in the UK, and hasn't been immune from the Credit Crunch. Unemployment in Hull is now up over 8%, putting the city 5th in the country worst hit by job-losses. Notable industries, such as caravan manufacturing, have been hit hard.
But it is not doom and gloom in the city. There is significant development in Hull at the moment, with more planned, in the retail, business and leisure sectors.
In retail, the new St Stephens mall has recently opened with immediate success. This flagship shopping centre combines with the new Paragon rail/bus interchange to give the centre of Hull a new focus. The planned expansion of Princes Quay on the river front will further enhance Hull's attraction for locals and tourists alike.
Hull is also developing rapidly for businesses. Humber Quays now provides world-class office space, with fantastic views over the river, and is home to prestigious names such as Royal Bank of Scotland, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and the World Trade Centre Hull & Humber. The recent upgrading of the port rail link will further enhance the capabilities of the maritime sector which already employs over 20,000 people.
Hull's leisure sector has never been stronger. The Deep - the award-winning aquarium - is a world-renowned success; the much-acclaimed Hull Truck Company has just moved to a brand-new theatre in St Stephens, and at long last Hull City is bringing Premiership football to the area.
So how can Hull's small and medium sized enterprises ensure that they avoid the worst effects of the Credit Crunch, benefit from the regeneration of Hull and thrive in their own right? In a word - Marketing. Anyone who has read a marketing textbook will know of at least 5 Ps of marketing - presence, product, price, promotion and place. For SMEs in Hull who have the first four of these sorted out, there is a new place for them to market themselves - the internet.
Why the internet? The reasons are almost as limitless as the internet itself. Hull businesses can reduce their costs, reach a wider market and potentially promote their products to the whole world, provide their service 24 hours/day 7 days/week, and offer more personalised services. The net provides a level playing field - giving users access to businesses big and small, and an inexpensive, well-designed site can outperform a poor site which cost tens of thousands of pounds. Hull businesses need to have a web presence if their competitors are already there, and they need to steal a march on their competitors if they aren't.
And now there is a very easy way for Hull businesses to get online - they can list themselves on a local website such as Activ Hull. This will enable them to show their main products, selling points and benefits as well as the essential contact details for a very reasonable price. And importantly, a listing on Activ Hull will get them noticed very quickly through search engines such as Google.
Credit Crunch? What Credit Crunch?
About the Author:
Activ Hull is your complete online guide to the Hull area, to find out more go to Activ Hull