We are happy to announce that the new Century 21 Sweyer website launched last Friday. The new site design was a collaboration between Sage and Century 21, and we have integrated a lot of new functionality including a quick search that allows users to search for properties and agents directly from the homepage. Other new features include a direct link to new listings that have come out in the last week and a new section for those interested in considering a career in real estate. The Career page was created in Flash and allows users to interactively learn about each of the departments within Century 21 Sweyer.

The most significant change comes with the redesign of the property listing search pages. The new search page has been redesigned for increased usability. The search results pages have options for viewers to select the viewing layout that suits their needs. They can choose from a basic list view of properties, a gallery view that shows larger images of the properties or a map view that plots the listings and highlights which listings are listed by Century 21 Sweyer.

On March 23 we launched the new J. E. Evans Construction website. J. E. Evans is a construction company that has been building homes in the Wilmington area since 1963 and came to Sage to develop their online presence. The company desired a modern website that would showcase their portfolio of work and allow potential customers to reach them easily.  To meet their needs we developed an interactive, Flash photo gallery of their homes and a contact form for users to easily contact them for a quote. Knowing that J. E. Evans would expand their website in the future, the design was created to be flexible and allow for future growth.

On March 6, ARS Heating and Air launched a new website for their New Hanover County franchise.  The site contains information about all the services offered by ARS as well as downloadable coupons for customers.  The website was designed with branding elements similar to the ARS corporate site, but is tailored to meet the needs of the local franchise.  The website will be used as a marketing and branding tool and as a place to drive local customers for more information about ARS services.  ARS will have the ability to make updates to their site and upload current coupons using a content management system. In addition to website design and hosting, Sage Island is also providing internet marketing services and a pay-per-click campaign to increase website traffic.

Today our nation’s teens are paying attention to the issues with our economy and our new president more than ever before. Recently Scarborough Kids Internet Panel released the findings of a new study that indicates America’s youth population is highly interested in the state of our economy and very optimistic that President Obama will help resolve these economic issues. As many as 75% of those surveyed felt that Obama will help solve our current economic problems.

Many teens are seeing for the first time the impact an economic downturn can have on their lives. Teens surveyed say they have had to quit playing a sport, missed doctors’ appointments and changed their eating habits due to the economic pressures their families face. These experiences are leading to an increased interest in politics and government affairs — 81% of teen surveyed are interested in understanding more about the causes of our current economic issues. Today kids are turning to parents and teachers to learn and understand more about our country’s issues. In fact 47% want to talk more to their parents about these issues and 64% are discussing the downturn with their teachers.

What does this mean for those of us marketing to teens and their families? It is good news. This data gives us a window into what Americans are facing on a daily basis and helps give us a better understanding of how to talk to them. It helps us speak their language and develop innovative products designed to fulfill needs and be budget friendly.

Additionally, today’s messaging needs to be smarter and more aligned with what the target audience is looking for. No longer are consumers buying on a whim — price and need are of the utmost concern. Marketers need to be aware of this and focus their messaging accordingly.

Marketers can take this opportunity to stay top of mind with their consumers. Though buyers may not be able to afford their favorite brand right now, staying in front of your audience with consistent messaging will put in the right place when consumers are ready to resume their typical buying habits.

Are you trying to market to an older audience and aren’t sure the best way to reach them? Well the Internet might be your best option. According to a study by Pew Internet and American Life Project, increasing percentages of older American are now online and doing more once they get there. The largest increase in internet use since 2005 was seen in the 70 to 75 age group, now more than 45% of that group is online – compared to only 26% in ’05.

This huge increase means great things to marketers. With the increasing number of senior targeted websites, reaching the 65+ market is easier than ever before. These older Americans are not just sending email, they are downloading videos, shopping and researching health information.

Additionally, Generation X is age group most likely to bank, shop and buy online. This leaves teens and Generation Y as the most likely to seek entertainment online, including gaming, videos and virtual worlds.

This data only proves that the internet is not just a medium to reach young Americans, it is a valid media source for all generations.

Check out the entire report from Pew Internet and American Life Project.

The way we use search engines is about to be turned upside down. Yahoo! is finalizing an application that will keep track of your searches, recognize when you are doing research and store the information for later use. The new tool, Yahoo! Search Pad, is still in the test phases, but according to company previews the tool will work like an elaborate bookmarking system.

For example, if you are researching a vacation and purchasing a new TV, separate categories will emerge in your Search Pad that will allow you to keep sites organized and grouped. You can go back to the Search Pad and write summaries about the sites you have visited, delete sites you no longer need and order them as you see fit. The tool can be turned off on a search by search basis or turned off completely.Yahoo! Search Pad is a great example of how Yahoo! is working to set themselves apart from Google and other search engines.

To learn more about this new tool check out this video from Tom Chi, Senior Director of Product Management for Yahoo Search.

With the current state of the US economy, many businesses are scrambling to make ends meet and are finding any available expenses that can be cut. In many cases marketing budgets are the first thing to go. However, several companies have found new and innovative ways to reach their customers and drive sales.

Hyundai is a great example of a company speaking the words their customers want to hear. Last fall they started testing an idea that was revolutionary in the automotive industry – a return policy. This concept is foreign to car buyers and dealers alike, but what Hyundai realized was that people are not hesitant to buy cars (if they are priced right), they are scared of losing their jobs and being stuck with a car payment. Their return policy states that if you lose your job within one year of purchasing your car, they will cover the difference in the value of the car and the amount the buyer owes. This policy extends to disability, loss of driver’s license, foreign job transfers, bankruptcy and death. This is only one innovative example of how Hyundai has grown to the world’s fifth largest automaker and has 7% of the US market share. Not bad when you take a look at the current state of the US auto industry.

We are all familiar with online advertisements on our favorite websites, but what if those ads were targeted directly at us and based on our search habits? Most of those typical, generic ads are just that — typical and generic and not driving revenue for marketers. Enter personalized ads. Overstock.com is testing a new personalized advertising concept that displays ads based on what their site visitors are viewing, and if these ads aren’t getting clicks, they change when you change what you are viewing. This new technique garnered seven times as many clicks on their ads and a threefold increase in sales for Overstock.com

So in a time when business owners are selling their homes just to keep their businesses afloat, some companies are revolutionizing the way they reach their customers and are seeing revolutionary success to match. All it takes is a little creativity!