PetsMarketplace.com

SEO Trends for 2009

2009-01-27T11:40:00.000-08:00

Following the pace of change relating to search engine optimization — or SEO as it’s often called — can be dizzying.

Sure, there are landmark changes every once in a while that almost everyone hears about; Google’s introduction of “universal search”, in May 2007, is one example.
But Google says they made more than 400 changes to the ranking algorithm last year. Who can keep up with that?!

Luckily, you don’t have to keep up with every detail. But there are some important SEO trends you should know about as we go further into 2009. I’ll break the list down into two sections — Strategy and Tactics and Industry/Big Picture Trends - and then turn it over to you at the end.

Industry/Big Picture Trends

1. Increased SEO Awareness

SEO used to be something akin to voodoo; the only people who understood it were the ones doing it. But now it seems everyone knows about SEO. (Heck, even Wal-Mart offers SEO services!) As more small business owners become aware of what SEO is and why you should be doing it, competition should increase and put a premium on smart decision-making when it comes to doing SEO in-house or hiring a consultant.

2. Moving SEO In-house

On that note, in-house SEO has never been more popular than it is now, and that trend should continue into 2009. The upcoming SMX West search marketing conference even has an entire day devoted to in-house SEO. Companies big and small are recognizing the need for and value of having dedicated staff to recommend and implement SEO strategies.

3. SEO Consultants and Firms Booked Up

Many of us who don’t work in-house have never been busier than we are now. Because of trend No. 1 above, small business owners are hunting far and wide for SEO help. Purely anecdotal evidence, but something that many fellow SEO friends are experiencing: I usually get 2-3 emails a month from small business owners looking to hire an SEO. Last week alone I received five. There’s big demand and a lot of SEOs will be booked up.

4. It’s Google’s World

Google has dominated the SEO landscape for years, and their lead over Yahoo and Live Search is only getting bigger. There are several companies that try to track market share, and their numbers differ. But they all agree that between 60-70% of searches happen at Google. That doesn’t mean you should put all your SEO eggs in Google’s basket, but it does mean if you’re not being found on Google, you’re not being found.

5. SEO Tools & Automation

Hoping to take advantage of the growing interest in SEO, and the difficulty in finding the right consultant, more companies and individuals are creating online tools that automate portions of an SEO analysis. While some of these tools offer helpful data at a basic level, what matters most is how you use the data they provide.

6. SEO Scams

The downside of increased interest in SEO is that many small business owners will continue to spend money making unethical scam artists rich. $99/month for 500 directory links? $200 for search engine submission services? Don’t do it. Read what several search industry leaders had to say about SEO scams, and make sure this is one trend you avoid in 2009.

Strategy & Tactical Trends

7. Content = Authority (Still)

Links are the currency of SEO, and content is what attracts the links you need to rank well. When you rank well, you have authority. If you run a service-based business, you must be giving away your knowledge and expertise in the form of articles, blog posts, or other unique content that will attract links. If you run a retail web site, this still applies. Follow Amazon’s lead; I think they’re the SEO-smartest retailer online.

8. Content Variety …

I mentioned Google’s universal search at the start of this article, and other search engines have also been providing blended results for some time. What this means is that the Google search results page is no longer a list of 10 web page links; it now includes videos, news articles, blog posts, images, and more. In turn, this means that SEO isn’t just about tweaking your web site; it’s about creating and optimizing whatever forms of content make sense for your business and industry.

9. … Especially Video

The numbers are astonishing. YouTube gets more searches than Yahoo. About 100 million people watched videos on YouTube in October, and the average viewer watched 92 videos that month. eMarketer just reported that video is the number one tactic that US marketers will be focusing on in 2009. If you’re not doing it, chances are your competition will be.

10. Personalized Search Results

Personalization of search results has been simmering for a couple years now, but has started going mainstream recently. Google is leading the way with things like SearchWiki and Preferred Sites. Plus, things like your location, your recent searches, and which datacenter your search gets sent to can also impact the 10 search results you see at any given moment. It will continue to become more unusual to see the same 10 results when you and a friend in another state do the same search.

This renders ranking reports borderline useless. In other words, it’s no longer about whether your business is ranking for a certain search term at, say #2 in Google. Traffic and conversions are what you should be tracking, not what number you rank at for a specified term.

11. Local Search and Mobile Search

Mobile search has been on the way for years, but it never arrived. Until now. Mobile search used to be as fun as root canal, but the growth of smartphones - fueled by the iPhone - means mobile search is more enjoyable, more productive, and more popular than ever before. If your business appeals to people who might be searching on the go, local SEO should be a high priority for you in 2009.

12. Value of Your Audience and Community

Social media (sites such as Facebook and Twitter) isn’t going anywhere. And more of your potential customers are using it to make connections. You should be, too. By being active in online communities, you can develop an audience (look at the 38,000 followers Zappos has on Twitter!). When you do it right, that audience will help you push out your content (see No. 7 above), link to your content on occasion, tell their friends about you, and become your de facto marketing department.

Few small businesses will suddenly find themselves with 38,000 Twitter followers, but don’t underestimate the value of connecting with even 25, 50, or 100 people in the right online community.

Geo Targeting - Now more than ever!

2009-01-23T14:33:00.000-08:00

Geographical Targeting is playing a crucial role in today's search engine optimization strategy.

Every website is built with a purpose and has its own target audience; while some may be targeting the global audience, others may be contending for the local niche. Market segmentation is an age old theory and is practiced widely. Businesses often implement geographical market segmentation based on their product/service offering. A florist based in Seattle is most unlikely to serve customers based in New York. Similarly, a ‘car breakdown’ service provider in the US would not be interested in promoting his website in the UK, or for that matter on global domain because that it not their intended target market. This is where the concept of ‘Geo Targeting’ fits into your marketing strategy; the need to showcase your products/services to your targeted audience. After all target audience is what matters the most.

Paid advertising like Google AdWords has a feature that makes it possible for marketers to target their intended geography. Hence, a Seattle based florist can run a paid campaign that is only visible to searchers located in Seattle. With search engine optimization, it was difficult to replicate the same effect and almost impossible to target cities without appending city name (geographic locator) in the keywords. But the search volumes for such keywords were significantly low and therefore made it infeasible in most cases.

Search engines in an endeavor to provide more relevant results to searchers started to incorporate the principles of geo targeting. This was based on the finding that majority of searches are local in nature i.e. city, state or country specific. So if you were to search for budget airlines while in the United States, the results would be tilted towards US based budget airlines. Repeat the same search from a different country and you would find that the results are centered on airlines from that particular country. Different results for searchers present in different geographical locations; you get the hint don’t you?

Search engines filter and display results based on the geographical location of searchers. They do so by establishing the geographical intent of a searcher based on various factors. Search engines also establish the geographical relevancy of web pages in order to present the most appropriate search results. Knowing these factors would help you effectively gain online visibility in the desired geographic location. The signals that come into play are:-

Top Level Domain (TLD) is a potential signal that can be used by search engines to establish the geographic relevance of a page. An .fr domain is a clear indication that the website is intended for France and hence treated the same. Having the relevant TLD for your website is therefore essential.

Location of web server is also treated as an indicator that can tie a website to a particular geography. Search engines could treat a .com website hosted in Australia to be from Australia. It is therefore important to get the website hosted locally.

The inbound link profile of your website is another indication that search engines use to associate the website with a particular region. If a significant portion of the inbound links is coming from a particular region, search engines are more likely to interpret this regional association as a sure sign of the website’s location. A comprehensive back link strategy is therefore mandated to use this factor effectively.

The language used on the website can also be treated as an indicator but there are potential pitfalls. In case of multilingual websites this factor may not be foolproof. Also a website in Spanish could be associated with Spain when it could be directed to some other Spanish speaking nation. In addition to this, the repetitive use of city or country name may lead search engines to believe that there exists a regional association. It is therefore required that you incorporate the relevant language signals to help search engines make the desired decision.

Google local listing details the physical address of a website and is plotted on Google map. This information can be easily used by Google to “put 2 and 2 together” and draw the regional connection. Getting listed there would not only benefit you in local searches, but also help you build the regional connection.

Google webmaster tool incorporates an option which allows verified site users/webmasters to indicate Google the intended region for the website. By default it is not set to any particular country. Setting the most appropriate region from the list is also a plausible option.

The factors mentioned above may not be comprehensive but sufficient to help you achieve online visibility in your target market. As with all others things pertaining to search engines, it is very difficult to predict the weight each of these factors carry individually. Search engines use these factors in various proportions and the presumed weight could vary depending on the number of factors available for decision making.

by Saurav verma January 22, 2009

250 Free Business Cards at Signup!

2009-01-16T10:37:00.000-08:00

Feelin the Love?

Sing up by February 14^th and we will include 250 business cards sent directly to your business!

Think of it as a Valentines gift from us – to you!

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Babycakes San Diego now a Pets Marketplace Showcase!

2009-01-12T10:07:00.000-08:00

Babycakes San Diego is a coffee house that not only serves great coffee, but delicious desserts in a comfortable, friendly environment. There is an outside patio that is perfect for hanging out with you, your friends, and of course, your pet!

Click here to view website.

PetsMarketplace is proud to announce its new directory service which is now available online to visitors and new businesses. It boasts endless amounts of new features for everyone.

Your directory listings are also controlled entirely by you. We have a members interface where you can log in and change any details, add photos and videos for PetsMarketplace customers and much more!

Click to find out more!

Find a Pet Service fast with PetsMarketplace.com largest online Pet Directory!

2008-12-22T13:52:00.000-08:00

All Animal Services, Animal Hospital , Animal Rescue , Bakeries, ,Birds , Boutiques , Cats, Purebreds, Cleaning Services ,Carpet Cleaning ,Furniture Reupholster ,House Cleaning ,Clinic ,Crawlers ,Tarantulas ,Dog Trainers ,Dog Walkers ,Dogs ,Purebred Dogs ,Fish ,Aquariums ,Tropical ,Funeral Services ,Clergy ,Cremation Services ,Pet Cemeteries ,Grooming ,Pet Salons ,Pet stylists ,Pet Health Care ,Pet Acupuncture ,Pet Holistic, Pet Massage Therapy ,Horse ,Boarding Stables ,Breeders ,Riding Instruction ,Horse Supplies & Equipment ,Horse Training ,Horse Transportation ,Human Services ,Air Purifiers ,Pet Loss Counseling ,Humane Societies , In Home Pet Services ,Pet Insurance ,Large Animals ,Pot-Bellied Pigs ,Natural & Organic Foods ,Nutrition & Fitness ,Fitness ,Nutrition Consulting ,Weight Loss ,Pet Business ,Education ,Pet Care ,Pet Furnishings ,Pet Portraits ,Artists ,Photographers ,Pet Psychics ,Pet Sitting Services ,Boarding ,Daycare ,In-home Sitter ,Kennels ,Pet Supplies ,Pet Whisperer ,Reptiles ,Retirement Centers ,Safety ,Fences & Gates ,Scooper Services , Shelter ,Small Animals ,Taxi Services ,Therapists ,Toys ,Travel ,Veterinary Services ,Clinics ,Emergency Services ,Hospitals ,Specialists ,Weddings ,Event Planners

© PetsMarketplace.com

50% OFF LISTING YOUR BUSINESS!

2008-12-08T14:32:00.000-08:00

Largest Pet Directory online today!

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If you own a pet business sign up here!

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Bird in the Hand

Over 2 million consider buying a pet as a Christmas present

2008-12-08T10:32:00.000-08:00

More than two million people (4% of the adult population) are thinking about buying a pet as a present for a friend or family member this Christmas, leading to concerns that some of these people may not have given enough consideration as to whether the recipients can afford to look after the pets properly.

The findings, from new research conducted for Petmeds (www.petmeds.co.uk), the leading online pet medication and pet products store, found that 7% of men and 2% of women are considering buying a pet for a loved one this Christmas. However, with pet owners already struggling to afford the rising cost of keeping animal in the current economic climate, the company is warning people not to buy a pet unless they are wholly prepared for the cost and responsibility of looking after them.

PetsMarketplace is proud to announce its new directory service which is now available online to visitors and new businesses. It boasts endless amounts of new features for everyone.Your directory listings are also controlled entirely by you. We have a members interface where you can log in and change any details, add photos and videos for PetsMarketplace customers and much more!

Ricky Thomas, Managing Director of Petmeds, said: “Owning a pet is a huge responsibility and people need to be totally confident that they can care for it properly. Our research* shows that one in five pet owners are struggling to afford their animals’ upkeep, and 2% are considering abandoning them. The number of animals abandoned generally rises in the New Year and we are very worried that a combination of the tough financial climate, rising costs, and people buying pets as Christmas presents may lead to a record number of abandoned pets.”

The East Midlands, Anglia and the West Midlands are the areas of the country where you are most likely to be bought a pet for Christmas, with 6% of adults in these regions considering purchasing a pet as a present.

Region Percentage of adults considering buying a pet as a Christmas present this year Number of adults considering buying a pet as a Christmas present this year East Midlands & Anglia 6% 306,177 West Midlands 6% 250,112 North & North West 5% 389,613 South West & Wales 5% 311,916 Yorkshire & Humberside 4% 179,429 South East 3% 311,377 London 3% 171,434 Scotland 3% 124,884 Source: Petmeds.co.uk, 2008* Rodney Zasman, veterinary surgeon, said: “We would never advise the purchase of a pet as a gift unless you are sure it will be wanted and well looked-after. If you do find you are struggling to afford the costs of pet ownership, there are a number of charities which provide financial help. People can reduce pet costs without compromising their pets’ welfare, by sourcing pet food and medication from a reliable and trusted pet website.”

Petmeds has recently established an online and telephone advice forum where pet owners can get help and advice on ways to look after their animals and reduce costs. The service is staffed by trained animal experts and a team of vets who are on hand to help owners ensure they get the best treatment for their animals.

What is a Social network?

2008-11-18T10:06:00.000-08:00

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Not to be confused with social network services.

A social network is a social structure made of nodes (which are generally individuals or organizations) that are tied by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as values, visions, ideas, financial exchange, friendship, kinship, dislike, conflict or trade. The resulting graph-based structures are often very complex.

Social network analysis views social relationships in terms of nodes and ties. Nodes are the individual actors within the networks, and ties are the relationships between the actors. There can be many kinds of ties between the nodes. Research in a number of academic fields has shown that social networks operate on many levels, from families up to the level of nations, and play a critical role in determining the way problems are solved, organizations are run, and the degree to which individuals succeed in achieving their goals.

In its simplest form, a social network is a map of all of the relevant ties between the nodes being studied. The network can also be used to determine the social capital of individual actors. These concepts are often displayed in a social network diagram, where nodes are the points and ties are the lines.

Obamas' pet to be part of White House tradition

2008-11-10T14:24:00.000-08:00

President-elect tells reporters that picking a first family dog is "a major issue."

By Ann Sanner
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Saturday, November 08, 2008

WASHINGTON — The White House has been mostly a dog house when it comes to presidential pets. And President-elect Barack Obama plans to keep it that way.

During the presidential campaign, Obama had promised his daughters a pet no matter the outcome of the election. "I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House," Obama told Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, during his victory speech Tuesday in Chicago.

On Friday, at his first post-election news conference, Obama jokingly said getting a dog is "a major issue." He told reporters that his mention on election night of getting a puppy had "generated more interest on his Web site than any other topic."

He said, "We have two criteria that have to be reconciled. One is that Malia is allergic so it has to be hypoallergenic."

Obama also said there are a number of breeds that are hypoallergenic, and that the family's preference is to adopt a dog from a shelter.

"But obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me," Obama said, referring to his mixed race heritage. "So whether we're going to be able to balance those two things, I think, is a pressing issue on the Obama household."

Actually, there is no such thing as an allergy-free furry animal, doctors say. Dogs and cats all shed skin cells. And proteins found in their saliva or urine can also trigger allergic reactions.

Still, the American Kennel Club says there is a good selection of low-allergy dogs. And they don't have to be hairless or tiny. Poodles, for example, are considered a good choice for people with allergies, along with several terriers and Portuguese water dogs.

The poodle was the top choice for the Obamas in an American Kennel Club survey of more than 42,000 people.

Also, a surprising number of shelter dogs are purebreds, said John Polis of Best Friends, an animal rescue group based in Utah. Some animal rescue societies are devoted to particular breeds.

"There is a misconception that shelter dogs are all mutts," Polis said. "But a person who wants to adopt a poodle can find one. There are plenty of ways to adopt a purebred dog."

The current pet occupants of the White House are President Bush's two Scottish terriers, Barney and Miss Beazley, and a cat, Willie. Barney has his own page on the White House Web site and stars in an annual Christmas video.

Pets have long been a tradition with first families.

"If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog," Harry Truman once said.

George Washington got his dog, Vulcan, from Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de Lafayette as a gift. James Garfield named his dog Veto as an indirect warning to Congress. Abraham Lincoln's beloved dog, Fido, was killed by a knife-wielding drunk. Herbert Hoover's dog, King Tut, accompanied him in campaign photos.

"Ever since President Hoover there have been dogs at the White House who have been major photographic stars," said William Bushong, historian at the White House Historical Association and curator of an exhibit on White House pets. Pets "are part of painting a whole picture of a president's life."

Pets Marketplace | Pet Place Station

Bluegrass Pet Crematorium

Animal review: Savannah Monitor

The Healing Power of Pets

2008-11-04T15:02:00.000-08:00

Pets Have a Place in the Sickbed
USA Today

Another, separate nod to patients' connections to pets is evolving: A handful of hospitals and care facilities now arrange care for the pets of people confined for days or weeks.

"It's a huge burden of concern to take off the patient," says Kate Fischer, patient pet-care coordinator for St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan, which has a volunteer corps that tends to 200 to 300 pets a year. Often the pet belongs to someone who lands unexpectedly in the ER, or someone who has no one to call on when surgery is required.

"Every hospital needs something like this," says Fischer, and she's working with the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals to spread the concept.

In Ontario, a similar program was introduced last year at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health, which has 26 facilities throughout the province.

Judith Brindley, fighting her way back to health after a rare bone marrow disease nearly took her life, realized one day she would improve no further without the company of her beloved greyhounds, which were banished to a caregiver on doctors' orders.

So she researched how to reduce the chance of dog-to-human disease transmission, such as wearing latex gloves when poop-scooping, cleaning paws after walks and frequent washing of muzzles. She battled for weeks before winning a grudging OK from physicians, who felt the dogs posed a threat to a body compromised by chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant, stem cell transplant and immunosuppressant drugs.

Finally, in July, Brindley reclaimed Grace and Roy after a three-month separation.

"There's no question that having (the dogs) with me these past few months made a huge difference in my recovery," says artist/art teacher Brindley, 65, now cheerfully settled back into her active, dog-rich Manhattan life and preparing to resume teaching next week. "They gave so much to my recovery. Their greeting me each day as though it was a special day … made me realize how lucky I am."

All pet owners and most in the medical community now acknowledge the healing power of animals. Some doctors even write prescriptions giving hospitalized patients access to the pets they left at home. At the 1,000-bed Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del., patients can request orders for a recuperative in-room visit with their pet.

But there are pockets of disagreement among doctors when it comes to allowing seriously ill or functionally fragile people to return to a home occupied by a pet buddy. Some advise pets be exiled, fearing that someone in a full-leg cast, for example, might trip over a rambunctious cat and undo everything; or someone with open wounds or whose immune system is weak from chemotherapy or diseases like HIV/AIDS could pick up an infection from the animal.

"I receive phone calls virtually weekly" from veterinarians phoning on behalf of clients who are distressed because a physician has issued a no-pets advisory, says John New, head of comparative medicine at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. They call New because his specialty is public health, which means he monitors animal and human health concerns and guidelines. New never advises them to "ignore the physician's advice, of course," he says, but "in many instances I can give information on assessing the situation and offer precautions."

It all comes down to degree of risk and whether a person — or doctor — feels the need to reduce it to nearly zero, or is willing to accept somewhat more. Every situation "must be handled on a case-by-case basis," New says. But he points out that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has prepared guidelines for reducing exposures for people with various weakened-immune-system conditions, "and nowhere do they say 'get rid of the pet at home.' "

In fact, the guidelines for dealing with HIV-infected people say such patients "should not be advised to give away or destroy healthy pets" but should be dissuaded from acquiring a puppy or kitten under 6 months old because of a specific bug they may carry.

Ray Pais, director of pediatric hematology/oncology at Knoxville's East Tennessee Children's Hospital, gives "lots of instructions" to his patients' parents. "But I never tell anyone to get rid of the dog or cat," he says, though he does discourage proximity to pet birds because their droppings dry into a dust that can infiltrate lungs. And he's not fond of pet lizards and turtles because of salmonella risk.

"Most of the infections we worry about — by far more than half of the infections we see (in kids undergoing cancer treatments) — are infections from germs in their own bodies," such as in their mouths or their intestines, that in healthy people are beneficial but in compromised people cause illness.

"Our young patients have already given up so much," Pais says, "I see no reason at that moment for them to also lose the dog."

Indeed, a growing body of anecdotal data suggests time with a pet may be "as powerful in the person's recovery as the medical treatment," says the American Humane Association's Phil Arkow.

Carol Tavani, executive director of Christiana Psychiatric Services in Delaware, says "more doctors are becoming sensitized, largely through feedback from patients" to how important contact with a pet is, but she still hears of doctors who ask patients to "remove the dog or cat as if it were a chair." She calls that "rigid" and believes that "anything that is good for your stress is good for your immune system."

Artist Brindley says she is grateful for the skills of her doctors but believes many in the medical field should acknowledge the importance of pets in people's lives, learn more about pet-to-human disease transmission and discuss with patients "how to minimize the risk of having pets with them as they heal."

She knows "people may criticize me" for relentlessly badgering her medical team to allow Grace and Roy back into her life. But once the dogs were with her again, "I was relaxed. I didn't have to work on healing, I was healing."

FIND A LOCAL PET FRIENDLY BUSINESS

Belly Draggers Ranch

#2 Scooper

Professional Pet Sitters – Growing to meet the needs of today’s pet owners

2008-11-04T14:02:00.000-08:00

For many of us, a “welcome home” from a pet is just another reminder of why we work hard and lead busy lives. In fact, 62% of American households own pets. That’s more U.S. homes with pets than with children.

Professional pet sitting is one of the fastest growing careers in the world today. Organizations such as Pet Sitters International (www.petsit.com)

and the National Organization of Professional Pet Sitters (www.petsitters.org) boast well over 5000 members in all 50 states, 8 Canadian provinces, and 12 other countries. These organizations provide educational services as well as a community for pet sitters to communicate ideas, experiences, questions, and standards. Home based certification programs have recently been developed to further increase the quality of home pet care services. Lynn Palmer, owner and cat sitter at EZ Days and Nights, Alexandria, VA, notes that “When I prepare to care for an animal, I want the owners to be worry free while they are away from home – I know that’s what I look for in pet care.

People today are taking better care of their pets then ever before. 94% of pet owners have a photo of their pet on display. Another 87% give their pets holiday or birthday gifts, while 84% refer to themselves as “Mom” or “Dad”. Pets are a part of the family, and we expect them to be equally cared for. Caring pet owners love the extra security and attention pets receive from professional in-home care. “When a pet owner hires a pet sitter, they know that the stress on their pet will be minimal – the pet won’t have to be transferred, exposed to many other animals, or kept in surroundings that aren’t like home. And at the same time the pet sitter will take care of the home by closing blinds, watering plants, putting out the trash, retrieving the mail, and applying other crime-deterrence tricks learned.” explains Palmer. “…And many pet sitters today charge by time, and accept multiple pets at no extra charge. Everyone gets to stay together at home.”

So if you are one of the 72% of married pet owners who greet their pet first when you return home from work, or are one of the 65% that have sung or danced with your pet, consider contacting me to set up an “initial consultation” (free). You’ll be glad you did the next time you find yourself stuck late at work imagining your pet waiting patiently by the door.

FIND A LOCAL PET BUSINESS IN ONE CLICK!

So You Think You Want A Hedgehog…?

Norwegian Lundehund

Mental Stimulation

Pinching pennies? Not these proud pet parents

2008-11-04T13:56:00.000-08:00

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) -- Emilie Wilson's menagerie includes 15 ferrets, two dogs and four cats, including a hefty gray feline named Tonie Stewart who rides in style inside a pet stroller during family outings.

Carol Perkins, owner of Harry Barker, and her dog Josephine, pose with a shipment for the upcoming holiday season at Harry Barker, a pet supply company in Charleston, S.C., Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008. Retailers may be worrying about the possibility of the worst fourth quarter in generations, but those in the pet products industry are finding themselves in a veritable oasis among much of the gloom of American business. (AP Photos/Alice Keeney)

Carol Perkins, owner of Harry Barker, and her dog Josephine, pose with a shipment for the upcoming holiday season at Harry Barker, a pet supply company in Charleston, S.C., Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008. Retailers may be worrying about the possibility of the worst fourth quarter in generations, but those in the pet products industry are finding themselves in a veritable oasis among much of the gloom of American business. (AP Photos/Alice Keeney)

Wilson spent $300 on Christmas gifts for her brood last year and figures she'll exceed that sum this year. And despite the recession-like economy, the suburban Chicago woman has no plans to scale back pet presents anytime soon.

"I couldn't care less if there's anything under the tree for us, as long as there's something for Tonie," she said.

Retailers may be worrying about the possibility of the worst fourth quarter in generations, but those in the pet products industry are finding themselves in a veritable oasis among much of the gloom of American business. Companies that sell everything from organic dog treats to couture-inspired pet toys say business is up even as economic indicators show shoppers are pinching pennies during one of the worst downturns in decades.

"I think they're buying nice dog collars instead of remodeling their kitchen," said Fiona Tavernier, whose Lollypadoodle business near San Francisco sells wool stuffed dog toys and is going strong.

It may sound counterintuitive -- even to some in the pet industry who say they're surprised business is robust -- but experts say many pet owners are as dedicated to their animals as parents are to children. And that means they're willing to sacrifice on themselves before trimming back on their four-legged friends.

"You know, for some families, the pet comes first," said Carol Perkins, president and co-founder of Harry Barker, a Charleston, S.C.-based pet toy company whose sales are up 40 percent this year. "The dog goes to the vet first and the dog gets organic food. Maybe some people will cut back on a dog bed, but they'll still buy dog treats, toys and collars and leashes."

The American Pet Products Association estimates Americans will spend $43.4 billion this year on their pets -- a figure that includes everything from treats to training -- despite the dramatic slowdown in discretionary spending. That's 26 percent higher than what U.S. consumers spent in 2004, the group said.

Market researcher Euromonitor International, which tracks sales of pet food and accessories but excludes the cost of animals, grooming, training and other expenses, puts this year's animal expenditures at $23.9 billion.

But the group forecasts the segment's sales are still on pace to grow more than 13 percent by 2013.

"It's definitely more resilient than most categories tied to discretionary spending," said Morningstar analyst R.J. Hottovy. "It's one of the last categories (people) cut out of their budget."

Backing that up is a poll earlier this year in ShopSmart, a publication from Consumer Reports, which says female shoppers are more likely to buy cheaper brands of everything from medication to milk, but are digging in their heels when it comes to switching to less-expensive pet food and personal care items.

Some parts of the pet food industry, particularly gourmet and organic pet food, will likely be even more insulated than the sellers of pet carriers, clothing and outdoor gear.

That's because many pet owners, who upgraded their kibble after contaminated pet food killed or sickened thousands of animals last year are leery of switching back, a move that could cause digestive problems.

"Once people have their pets on a certain pet food, there's health risks to switching over to another," Hottovy said. "As soon as they've moved up to the premium brands, they're kind of locked in, so it's hard to trade down."

Still, there are signs that the most extravagant expenses -- such crystal bowls and custom-made pet beds -- may be sidelined amid growing economic uncertainty.

"Gone are the days when people would buy $100 collars and fake fur," said Claire Chew, of Venice, Calif., who founded Luxepets, a line of pet keepsakes.

American Pet Products Association spokeswoman Leah Nelson said the group doesn't release industry sales projections, but that it is "eyeing the future" with caution.

That's why Paige Ormand, the owner of the Doggy Style Pet Shop in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood, is ordering more products that are less expensive -- for example, $5 toys instead of $20 models.

But she's not removing expensive gifts from her store shelves, either.

"This industry is way more insulated than other businesses," she said. "But I wouldn't say it's recession proof."

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Website Launched

2008-11-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

Pets Marketplace™: E-commerce

This newly launched site features a large database of vendors and service related listings along with organic and healthy products for purchase. It will be easy to navigate and will be the central place for pet owners to search for anything needed for their pets. This site will also link directly with PetPlace Central’s business webpages as a referral-based addition to each paid business listing.

LOCAL SEARCH.

“An increasing portion of the $14-plus billion in U.S. yellow pages spending is moving online, offering huge upside to Internet yellow pages providers and Web search engines alike. Local search is at the epicenter of this transition, in terms of product development, revenue growth and competition,” said James Lamberti, vice president of comScore Networks. “qSearch Local supplies search providers and industry analysts with the industry’s first objective, accurate and comprehensive understanding of competitive local search dynamics.”

ecomScore Networks, a leader in measuring the digital age, recently released the results of an analysis revealing the size and growth of the U.S. local search market.

According to the study, 63 percent of U.S. Internet users (or approximately 109 million people) performed a local search online in July, a 43-percent increase versus July of 2005.
Two out of five local searchers (41 percent) were looking for information on a local service in their home area, including car rental office, dry cleaner or lawyer.
The comScore study also found that performing a local search drives consumers to take action. During the second quarter of 2006, 47 percent of local searchers visited a local merchant as a result of their search behavior, while 41 percent made contact offline.

For more information on our website or to sign up please visit Pets Marketplace today!