Weekly 5: Small business optimism at highest level since 2006
The BI Weekly 5 is a collection of tips, news and data affecting the boating industry this week. Be sure to look for the BI Weekly 5 every Tuesday on BoatingIndustry.com.
1. Small business optimism at highest level since 2006
Small business owners are feeling better than they have since before the recession, with the NFIB Small Business Optimism Survey hitting 100.4 for December.
That was the highest reading since October 2006.
2. Attendance down at Nashville, up at Myrtle Beach boat shows
Boat show season continued over the weekend, with the Nashville Boat & Sportshow reporting 16,648 visitors, a drop of 16 percent from 2014, when attendance grew 43 percent. Organizers said below-normal temperatures may have deterred some attendees.
Thousands of consumers also turned out for the annual Grand Strand Boat and Sportsman Expo last weekend in Myrtle Beach, S.C., with attendance growing 30 percent from 2014, WBTW reported.
3. Social media use continues to grow
A new report from the Pew Research Center points to the growing importance of social media for businesses.
Of the 81 percent of American adults that use the Internet, more than ever are using social media and they’re using a wider variety of services. While Facebook remains No. 1, its growth has slowed, while Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter continue to surge in popularity. More than half of Internet-using adults now report using more than one social media site as well, up from 42 percent in 2013.
4. Florida lawmakers push to link driving and boating privileges
After an investigation by a Tampa, Fla., TV station showing the link between boating and driving under the influence, lawmakers there are considering bills that would tie licenses for the two together.
5. What consumers don’t like about mobile email
With more people than every relying on their mobile devices for email, it’s important to make sure emails are optimized for phones and tablets.
With that in mind, this list of top email complaints from mobile users is worth checking out.
While you can’t do anything about the top complaint (too many emails), many of the others relate to how emails or websites are formatted for those devices.
