On Tuesday morning, new data was released by the Census Bureau on housing starts in the U.S. And the picture is rather bleak. April privately-owned housing starts were at a seasonally adjusted rate of 891,000, which is a 30.2 percent drop from March of this year. It is also 29.7 percent below the April 2019 rate.
Building Anxiety: Housing Starts Plummet
Math Meets Civics: Education Job Numbers Plummet During Pandemic
Earlier this week, I shared with you the detrimental financial impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the healthcare sector. It is somewhat counterintuitive that hospitals that are overflowing with coronavirus patients would be losing money. As I explained, however, many healthcare organizations have had to sacrifice more lucrative...
Why is the Healthcare Industry Suffering Financially During a Pandemic?
Last week, I shared with you some of the industries that have been hardest-hit by the COVID-19 crisis, including restaurants, childcare centers, and construction. The negative impacts to these industries seem fairly logical given the temporary regulations and shutdowns put in place to help prevent the spread of the virus. But amid the...
Overcoming Hurdles: How Business Bankers Can Meet Customers Where They Are
With the economic peril caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, every small and medium-sized business (SMB) owner finds him or herself in a different situation. Some are wondering if they will survive closures or this downturn. Others are having to reinvent what they do and how they do it. Still others are tweaking their budgets to adjust to...
These Industries are Among the Pandemic’s Hardest Hit
At Vertical IQ, we recently have focused our research efforts on monitoring the industries most affected by COVID-19. On our free COVID-19 webpage, you’ll find economic updates, sector updates, and details on how specific industries are being impacted.
The Circle of Trust...
…and the opportunity (necessity) to build trust with your clients and prospects during and after COVID-19 through industry, company, and executive research
Using the 10-Second Rule to Improve Your Client Meetings
You’ve heard of the 5-second rule, whereby food that has been dropped may be eaten without any stigma. But are you familiar with the 10-second rule? If you are a professional services provider who works directly with clients, you should learn about this important principle.
Help Clients Understand the Impact of COVID-19 on Their Industry
It’s the topic on nearly everyone’s mind right now: coronavirus (COVID-19). And millions of business owners are worried about how this pandemic is going to impact their company, both in the short-term and in the months to come. That’s why Vertical IQ has created a new dedicated webpage with expert research on how COVID-19 is affecting...
When Life Gets Crazy, Get Specific
In the midst of chaotic times such as these, my mind turns to messaging. Sounds weird, I know. But after 25+ years in marketing, it’s second nature to me. Messaging is the core element of marketing and communications. While everyone is being swamped by information about COVID-19 and its impacts, I’m evaluating which messages work. What’s...
Honing the Human Element
We’ve all heard the phrase, “I’m only human.” There was even a hit song from ‘80s pop stars The Human League with that catchphrase as its chorus. While the expression implies that human beings are prone to failure or somehow less-than, I have to disagree. Especially when it comes to facing down the financial technology and banking bots...