Advertising Ideas: Going Down!!!

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Retail needs sales to entice consumers!!!

In today’s retail environment where more retailers are relying on online sales than ever before they need to entice the consumer to visit their brick and mortar locations with sales. This has created an drop in overall sales as consumers are now programmed to wait to make a purchase as they know that the item will go on sale soon. There was a time in retail when a sale was special today it seems that sales are happening each day which drives business however when items are off sale they don’t move as the consumer has gotten so used to getting the sale price that the first words out of their mouth when they encounter a sales associate is can you do better on this price. I encounter this daily in my job as a retail sales associate as people will come to the register and ask can I get more off or I have more coupons can I use them? I say to them everything is programmed in the computer and if you are allowed to use other coupons it will show up then. The reason retail is going down is partly due to the over proliferation of sales and the reduction of profit margins.

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Customer Service will either make you or break you in a retail environment.

In all my positions with retail stores over the years I have striven to deliver exceptional customer service as I have come to realize that all it takes is one bad encounter to ruin the 1000’s of good encounters. I have been a customer in places where I waited for what seemed forever for someone to come over and acknowledge me. I have also been an employee and witnessed other employees not engage with customers until they were approached. As an employee I will greet the customer make sure they are being helped and finding everything okay and if they aren’t being helped I will do my best to help the customer. I recently had a co-worker tell me don’t interact with customers outside our area as we don’t make any money on those sales. This co-worker has been with the company for awhile and I thought wow aren’t we taught to engage every customer. I generally greet the customer see if they are being helped if they aren’t I tell them I am from another department but I will do my best to help them and If I can not help them I will find someone that can. Unfortunately on some days it seems that the store is understaffed and as a result the customer service is lacking thus many customers may be leaving the store without making a purchase thus creating another reason for in-store retail sales going down.

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In many cases the reason sales are down in-store is due to decisions that executives have made not realizing that what may work at one store may not work at another store in a different market. This biggest mistake some corporate executives make is trying to have a national program not realizing that many consumers in different areas fall into different buying patterns and various socioeconomic groups. In Florida for example what sells in Boca Raton may not sell or be appealing to the market in Plantation. Sometimes an executive makes a decision without thinking everything through and when the sales are down as a result they do their best to justify their decision. Recently a local large retailer who had an extensive selection of mattresses decided to take out many of the mattresses and put in furniture. As a result the sales in the department are down despite selling some furniture but not enough to justify taking away the large array of mattresses that they once had. Sometimes it is important for executives to listen to the sales associates who are dealing with the customers on a daily basis as what looks good on paper is not good when implemented and as a result your overall sales diminish. If you are going to be a leader in the retail market space you must have a pulse on what is happening on the local level. This can be hard if you are a large retailer with 450 stores to oversee however you must be aware that what works in Manhattan, Kansas may not work in Manhattan, New York. Many times it is important to empower and inspire those on the front lines who are in the local market place.

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Another reason why your retail operation may be down is due to having too much of your capital tied up in inventory. I have observed many large retailers with excess inventory yet the buyers keep buying the products and sending the products to the stores where they sit in a store room for months. This is why inventory controls are so important. I recently had a co-worker tell me the computer may say there are 6 available but that may not be the case as the availability only updates once a week. I thought wow a big company that doesn’t do a perpetual inventory or a just in time system so that you can free up money to drive traffic and strengthen the brand. I then played this scenario, a customer calls and you check availability you say you have the item and when you check the physical inventory it isn’t there and the customer shows up anticipating that they are going to be able to pick up the product but can not because you don’t have it and they leave. Do you think they will talk positively or negatively about their experience with the store? Make sure you have the inventory for the customer but at the same time don’t have too much stock that your money is tied up in inventory. Have a tracking system and stock your stores accordingly.

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Don’t let the sun go down on your retail business because you were not able to satisfy the consumer, control your inventory, deliver excellent customer service, take advice from those on the front lines daily, able to adapt to the local market place. The reason your sales are down can be attributed to many factors so take a deep look and what you are offering and create a reason for the consumer to do business with you.

Advertisement Ideas:Surprise, Surprise. Surprise!!!

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The other day (4/3/2019) I was meeting a friend for lunch and we decided to meet at Delvecchio’s in Plantation, FL. I showed up a bit early for our meeting only to be surprised that they were closed during what would have been regular work hours. I called another location to find out what was happening as many times things happen and the business would reopen. I was told that the owner decided to close this location permanently. The person on the phone simply said they could keep up with it anymore. I found this a bit odd as they are located near a 55 plus community, have office buildings across the street, are next to an elementary school, and down the block from a middle school, and have a high school near by this location. As I went next store to Subway to eat with my friend I started to think about Delvecchio’s and how many other businesses like Delveechio’s close because they do not market daily. I am surprised by how many business owners I encounter who are not open to receive ideas about strengthening their brand and increasing their revenue. So many times a business owner get’s so wrapped up in the other aspects of the business that they forget the importance of marketing and advertising. Surprise, Surprise, Surprise if you are not marketing you are losing a large segment of the market as they are going those that are on the top of their mind. It is imperative to know your community and how to reach the potential customers/clients in your community. Knowing you target audience and how to reach them and have them do business with you is key.

CreateUSP-vl

In order to avoid putting the closed for business sign up permanently you need to develop a Unique Selling Proposition. It is important to set yourself apart from every other business in your industry. Think of business and what they became known for and then follow their model in your business. When you think of McDonald’s you think of The Big Mac, when you think of NIKE you think sneakers, when you think All State you think accident forgiveness. The key is having something that you are known for that others in your industry don’t have. Ask yourself what do I have that is proprietary to my business and how can it put me on the top of the mind of the consumer. Then ask yourself how will I market this Unique Selling Proposition.

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The key to marketing is to build raving fans that will share your business with others. I remember working at Sinbad Sports back in 2016 and taking fliers to all the sports bars and speaking to General Mangers who allowed me to hand the fliers out to their patrons in return I allowed them to put fliers in the store. This allowed me to share a unique selling proposition as the sports store with all teams available. Another Unique Selling Proposition was the fact that the store had me as a knowledgeable employee able to answer questions while also promoting the store on social media. I remember during football season on Thursdays I would make my NFL Picks and post them on social media. I did this using different merchandise and showing my picks via video. At Sinbad Sports we also had items that you couldn’t find anywhere else thus I made it a point to feature them as well. I share this to emphasize the importance of marketing and engaging your staff in the process.

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It is important to get to know your customers and to make them feel welcomed and important. When some one does business with you give them a reason to continue to do business with you. Do unique things like finding out their favorite food and then getting a gift card to a restaurant that serves that type of food to give to them the next time they come in. When you do things for your customers and they feel appreciated they will not only continue to do business with you they will share your business with others. Surprise, Surprise, Suprise, customer service is important. Remember they chose to do business with you so give them a reason to keep doing business with you and to recommend you to others.

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Surprise, Surprise, Surprise without a structured advertising and marketing plan you will find yourself throwing good money after bad and eventually this takes a toll on your business as many times it leads to closing the business permanently. Sometimes there are other factors why a business closes however one of the most common reasons is lack of marketing. Marketing is very simple find the problem that your business solves and then promote your business to those seeking to solve that problem. Make sure you know your niche market and target your advertising and marketing to them so that you strengthen your brand and increase your revenue. Marketing should be done daily.

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise you can not have results if you are busy making excuses. I have heard so many times that oh business is slow I can’t afford to market. My answer is instead of complaining think of affordable ways to market. If you have some down time in your business hop on social media and invite people to do business with you by offering a special. When I worked at Celebrity Sports I would do videos and send them out and post them in groups. On some of the days doing this brought in a few people who told me I didn’t plan on coming y but I saw your video. On days that I wasn’t in the store I was out in the community finding people who liked sports or knew people who liked sports as a result I picked up a few regular customers. My Unique Selling Proposition was that I could do auctions on a consignment basis with non-profit organizations which helped them raise money while putting the store in front of the consumer so that when they needed something sports or pop culture related they though of Celebrity Sports 1st.

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Surprise, Surprise, Surprise you need a knowledgeable marketing person who can build your brand and increase your revenue. You need someone who will be proactive and help you stay ahead of the curve so you are the leader in your industry not a follower. It is important for you to empower this person to make decisions. You will need someone who understand your business and has your best interest in mind. You will need someone that seeks and acts upon opportunities.

Avoid having to put this sign up by making marketing and advertising a priority.

Advertisement Ideas: It Is All About The Benjamins!!!

Advertisement Ideas: It Is All About The Benjamins!!!

See the source imageIn  business it all comes down to the bottom line of how much revenue are you producing and how much of that revenue is  profit. In our society today it has become all about the Benjamins. It is important to know why you went into the business you went into. Once you find your why you can begin to generate a whole lot of Benjamins. Many people I come in contact who have a business do not understand that you need to invest in a solid advertising and marketing program so as to generate the Benjamins. I have walked into many a business and been the only shopper there  and I thought how is this business surviving. The other day I stopped by a store that I used to work at and in the 1 hour I was there they had 0 traffic. The fact that they are located in a busy shopping plaza behind three sports oriented bars and due to the merchandise they have they should have been busy. I asked how sales have been they said a bit on the slow side. I did notice a buy 1 get 50% promotional sign at the entrance. I thought how are they letting people know they are open and making this great offer? In a matter of minutes I had formulated a plan of action that if the owner was receptive and willing to make a small investment could work in driving traffic and being on the top of the mind of the consumer. They have incredible merchandise however if no one knows they are there and no one is shopping in the store they will not be making many Benjamins. I thought they need brand awareness so I did a quick live video which is something they should be doing daily with a featured item of the day. They should create a tag line that is easily remembered and entices people to shop there. They could implement some type of cause marketing program as consumers like to support businesses that they perceive to be giving back to the community. They had an item that I really liked and I thought why are they not advertising is sports memorabilia publications and featuring this item. They recently placed an ad for a social media marketing intern for $10 an hour. If you are serious about creating a buzz on social media and acquiring customers and turning them into loyal customers it is going to take more than paying someone $10 an hour to do social media marketing. If you want to make Benjamins you have to invest Benjamins. Make sure that when you have a retail store that your associates working the floor have top notch customer service skills and that they are creating buyers not browsers. Ask questions get to know the people coming into your store. Treat every customer as though they are the most important person walking into your store.

See the source imageIf you are going to attract Benjamins to your business and create a nice profit margin you need to have a plan that is proactive. Sometimes it is necessary to go back to the old school way of doing things and hit the street talking to people that are with in 3 feet of you. For example you have an eyeglass store you should go out and everyone  you see wearing glasses you should hand them your 4″ x 6″ card showing who you are and what you do and why they should do business with you.  Make shure  that when you planning that you include your unique selling proposition or point of difference so people know what sets you apart from everyone else. Look at who you are seeking to attract and where you might find your ideal customer and then formulate a plan to bring in those Benjamins.

No automatic alt text available.If you want to learn more about strengthening your brand and increasing your revenue so you have a good flow of Benjamins please attend the OLD SCHOOL MEETS NEW SCHOOL MARKETING WORKSHOP in October. Look for more details coming soon. For a $50 investment you will receive a video interview, a promotional one sheeter, and a tailor made press release to help you in your quest to strengthen your brand while increasing your revenue.

Image may contain: Jonathan Lederman, smiling, standing, shoes, suit and indoorJonathan JDOGG Lederrman has been helping businesses to grow for over 20 years and has a proven track record of success as he possesses a keen ability to find the essence of a business and come up with easily and affordable marketing programs that will build brand awareness while also increasing revenue. Businesses that have listened to JDOGG have had success. STAY POSITIVE!!!

 

Advertisement Ideas: One Oh Crap Ruins A Thousand Accolades!!!

Advertisement Ideas: One Oh Crap Ruins A Thousand Accolades!!!

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Over the years I have come to learn that every interaction you have in a business is important for all it takes is one bad interaction to create unnecessary challenges for your business. I have come to learn that you never know who you may be interacting with and how they can positively or negatively impact t your business.

Image result for Every Interaction CountsYesterday (8/22/2017) I encountered a situation that got me to asking why the hate? Here I was reaching out to a business owner, Mike Artz of Collectables in Hobart, Indiana and this was his response via a Facebook.  Wouldn’t it have made more sense for him to simply write thank you for reaching out to me I wish you much luck in your effort however at this time I am unable to support your project. Think about how you are responding to people and it will tell you why you may be struggling in your business. If this is how he responded to me how many other people has he responded to in this manner and how many of them have not done business with him and share their negative experience with others. In today’s marketplace it is imperative to  be nice in all encounters so that people are moved to do business with you. At the end of the day the only thing that endures is your character.

I looked up his profile on Manta.com and buzzfile.com and saw he had $68,000 in annual sales so I can fully understand if he politely said no to supporting the effort to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

Image result for Kindness CountsHe obviously forgot the first adage of business that Kindness Counts. I simply did what I have been doing for over 40 years and asked a business owner for support of a charitable cause. I never expected this type of response. This only goes to show us that our marketplace needs to be taught compassion.

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Mike Artz: WHY ARE YOU POSTING ON MY POST THE FOLLOWING

JDOGG: I was hoping that you could help me with an endeavor that I have undertaken to help those touched by cancer. I am The People Lead for The 2018 American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Sunrise. I am hosting POINTS FOR THE CURE FOOTBALL EDITION on November 12. I am doing this to honor the memory of my mother who was called home to GOD on July 5, 2012. I am seeking chance drawing items for this event. Www.relayforlife.org/sunriseflwill show you how we did in 2017. The shipping address is 9141 Sunrise Lakes Boulevard #102 Sunrise FL 33322. Thank you for supporting the effort to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

Mike Artz: what a tool that you had just become !!

JDOGG: I posted because I have reached out to others to support The American Cancer Society Relay For Life and POINTS FOR THE CURE FOOTBALL EDITION in this manner and have had much success.
I have found that when you support others they support you.
Already for 2018 I have hosted a Spirit Night at Tijuana Flats that raised $157.24. I hosted a Give Back Night at Bru’s Room that raised $168.90. The money raised funds research, education, advocacy, and services.

Mike Artz:whom gives a fuck !! you commented on my post!1 create your own post v/s slamming others. no wonder why you can not find a job!! you can’t follow rules!

JDOGG:I have a few gigs which are usually on the weekend so I was looking to work during the week. What I posted was not spam it was a simple request for your assistance to help those touched by cancer. In return you would have tapped into my network and possibly moved some more merchandise.

Mike Artz:i don’t give a fuck !! remove it from my for sale posts now!
it has not a damn thing to do with what i am selling !! its called phishing & scammin!
JDOGG:You can delete it. I wish you much success in your effort to sell your merchandise.
Mike Artz:fuck off !
get a job on your streeet corner!
you need medical help i will call 911 down in florida !
JDOGG: It is funny Mike that you have resorted to name calling and using profanity. Remember GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER. I wish you much success in your effort to sell your merchandise.

Mike Artz: sunrise florida
JDOGG:I have work that is very rewarding. I hope you have a great rest of the week filled with much peace, love, joy, and prosperity.
Mike Artz:go to hell & stop typing you cock sucker!
JDOGG:The Sunrise PD is a supporter of Relay For Life of Sunrise. Again I wish you much success in your effort to sell your merchandise. It is unfortunate that we couldn’t be of service and value to one another.
    I share this with you because it seems as though hatred and bitterness has permeated the market place and civility has gone out the window. By the way you can call Mike at 219-942-2632 and let him know that he missed out on an opportunity to be aligned with someone who has a nice social media following and who promotes those who support his efforts to help those touched by cancer.
Image result for JDOGG LedermanNow think about it the next time someone approaches you for support because you never know the reach that person has and how they can impact your business.  In this case all the accolades that Mike Artz may have built up are gone because he will never see my business and those that read this article may think twice about doing business with him.
   Image result for marketing and public RelationsAs an experienced marketing and public relations consultant the 1st thing I teach my clients is to be kind in all that they do as you never know how that kindness will be returned. Imagine if Mike Artz had been kind in saying no I may have still recommended that my colleagues who collect sports and pop culture memorabilia contact him to see what he is selling. The lesson to take from today is that all it takes is one oh crap to ruin a thousand accolades.

Advertisement Ideas: Burn The Box!!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Burn The Box!!!

Image result for Think Outside The Box It is now time not only to think outside the box but to burn the box and release the contents that may be stopping you from maximizing your brand awareness and revenue.  In the 40 years that I have been working with non-profit organizations and for profit businesses I have noticed something that those who struggle have in common and that is they get stuck in their ways and do not adapt. There is no reason today for anyone to struggle. The reason you may be struggling is that you allowed yourself to be caught in a way of thinking that hasn’t allowed you to move forward in a positive direction of your goals.  I have heard so many times over the years that I don’t have money to advertise or I’ve tried everything and nothing is working. This mindset is what is keeping you trapped in the box and why you are falling short of your goals. It is time to burn the box and go from limiting beliefs to limitless beliefs.

Image result for burning boxesIt is time to put all of your limiting beliefs into a box and burn the box then spread the ashes as compost and then begin to change the way you go about doing things. When you think you don’t have money to advertise you need to turn that into I will find affordable and effective advertising methods. I recently came into 19 boxes of books from assorted genres as a result f a death in my family. Instead of saying oh I don’t have the money to advertise theses books I found some free resources like sell and trade groups on social media and started posting photos of the books. I also decided to donate 50% of all book sales to The American Cancer Society Relay For Life Of Sunrise. As a result I sold 4 books today (7/15/17). I still have a condo that looks like a used book store but I am finding ways to let people know about the books and as a result I am moving the books and helping a cause that I believe in while also turning inventory into cash. When you burn the box and release the stinking thinking that is stopping you from manifesting the life that you want you will find that you begin to attract more peace, love, joy, and prosperity into your life. It all comes down to having the proper mindset when it comes to raising funds for charity or running your own business. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Burn The Box!!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Become A Message Bomber!!!!

Advertisement Ideas:Become A Message Bomber!

As we celebrate our freedom to take advantage of the opportunities that The United States Of America provides us today (7/4/2017) you can become a message bomber as you advertise your business. Imagine going to a 4th of July event and handing out patriotic CDS with the words courtesy of ___________ with your contact information and website on them. You could also find events where you could have a booth or hang a banner that puts you in front of a large audience that has potential clients/customers attending. It is time for you to become a message bomber and make sure you have marketing/advertising material where ever you go as you never know who you might meet and how you can be of service and value to them or how they can be of value and service to you. The idea is simple be proactive with your advertising/marketing and become a message bomber so that people will be enticed to purchase your products or services. Imagine you all you can do to tie promotions into holidays such as 4th of July you can take items that are normally $20 and mark them down to $17.76 for 4th of July week. The possibilities are endless if you use some creativity.
One way to become a message bomber is to do a salute to the troops promotion and get the word out that you are donating a portion of all your sales to organizations that support servicemen and servicewomen. You can advertise that you are giving discounts to all military men and women and their families. You can find ways to support veteran’s organizations and include what you are doing in your advertising/marketing campaigns. You can even give everyone a free American Flag with purchase while your supplies last. In tying in the holiday theme and planning out a strong marketing/advertising strategy you will see that you strengthen your brand awareness and increase your revenue. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Become A Message Bomber!!!!

Advertising Ideas: Are You Missing Opportunities?

Advertising Ideas: Are You Missing Opportunities?

Opportunities Quotes Quote about opportunity.How many times have you stated I am not interested or you haven’t returned a phone call only to miss out on the opportunity to build your brand and increase your revenue. Over the last 40 years I have approached many different businesses to assist me in my efforts to help charitable causes.  I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to companies supporting causes.  I have had organizations like World Wrestling Entertainment send me items that have helped in my efforts to help those touched by cancer. I have had companies like Jimmy John’s refer me to corporate and I haven’t received a return phone call. I have had some business people tell me to leave their store the minute I introduced myself and told them about what I was doing. This prompted me to wonder how many businesses are missing opportunities for their shortsightedness? I have come to learn that there are many people who lack the business acumen to take things to a level where their brand would stand out and as a result would pick up more business. In today’s very competitive market where competition seems to be on every corner it is important to take advantage of every opportunity to stand out and create a buzz while garnering new business while also retaining existing customers.

 A few years ago I approached my local Hungry Howie’s about helping to support The American Cancer Society Relay For Life. They were very receptive and have donated 10 large pizzas each year to support the effort to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. As a result when I think about ordering lunch or dinner I think of Hungry Howie’s Pizza, I especially like their baked ziti for one. My order averages about $20 – $25 each time I order and I order at least once a month. If you look at their return on investment from just me is very good not to mention how many other people I have told about Hungry Howie’s and as a result they have placed orders.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Pizza Hut, which I used to order from on a monthly basis as I believe in helping all local businesses to succeed. I say used to because a few weeks ago I contacted them about helping a local event to help those touched by cancer and their marketing person didn’t return phone calls or emails. His lack of response cost him my business as well as others that I have shared this with. So ask yourself the next time some one reaches out to you how not calling back or emailing back can affect your business.

Advertisement Ideas: Are You Missing Opportunities: A Case Study!

 Imagine some one calls your business or stops into your business to discuss an event that helps people touched by cancer that has 313 participants with 57 teams representing some very influential business leaders and you blow them off only to find out that this person has some great pull and is known for supporting those that support him. This is a prime example of missing an opportunity for you did not see the forest for the trees.

 

The other day I was out promoting an event and collecting donations for the event and I ran into a business that was very negative toward me. I thought wow if they had given me the time of day and understood that for 40 years I have been helping businesses with customer acquisition, customer service, and effective cause marketing campaigns. many times I can create a buzz about a business simply because I have the ability to do a very good Facebook Live Video while at the business that my followers see and as a result they support the business. Those that chose to be open to receive and listen have benefited those that gave the canned answer of we are not interested continue to struggle.

I have heard oh business is slow so many times in the last few years that I have come up with an idea of when business is slow go out and create opportunities. I recently worked for a sports memorabilia and apparel store and when business was slow I would do videos and post them across social media featuring a few items. As a result business picked up a bit. I also would take fliers out into the community after my shift and share the store and offer specials to people. I also started to interact with people in public who were wearing sports team apparel inviting them to come to the store.  I also made it a point to make sure people had a good experience when they shopped at the store. Unfortunately I was let go from my position with the store. I share this with you because many times you may be missing out on opportunities because you are stuck in a box. It is time to get out of the box and start to create opportunities and listen to people to see how you can be of service and value to each other. That is the problem with most businesses today they lack vision and when things are slow don’t look for opportunities to grow their business. Namaste!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Stop All The BS!!!

Advertisement Ideas:  How Credible Are You!!!

How do you know I am lying? My lips are moving? As I sat and watched President Donald Trump encourage people to manufacture in America buy American made products I thought wow how can he do this when his clothing lines are manufactured in Bangladesh, China, and Mexico. To me this put a real damper in his credibility. I did not vote for President Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton as I voted for The Libertarian Candidate. After watching   president Donald Trump campaign and gain election and then serve for the first 100 days I begin to think about my own credibility and the credibility of others. I realized that it is important to be impeccable with your word and to make sure that you are making decisions that are truly inline with your core values because at the end of the day the only thing that endures is your character. As an entrepreneur, marketing director, or non-profit leader it is important to be seen as credible is all aspects of your business for people do business and support those they know, like, and trust. If you are just making a sales pitch to generate money and do not truly believe in what you are marketing you will have some success but it will be fleeting and eventually your credibility will be damaged and your ability to generate revenue and strengthen your brand will be challenging. When you begin to compromise your credibility for profits you begin to lose and eventually the damage that is done is irreversible. Think about your credibility when you advertise and what you promise for there will come a time that you will have to deliver on those promises.

In my many years of working with for profit and non-profit entities I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to credibility. I have had people promise to pay me for announcing a game and I have gotten to the game and announced the game only to have the owner of the team leave and then tell me we didn’t have a contract when we had correspondence and confirmation through Facebook. As a result I now get payment in advance or I don’t take the gig. The only exception is if I have a long-term arrangement with the team. I have found that many people here in South Florida are all flash no cash and can not be trusted. I recently had a situation where a women promised to have fundraise for an event and at the last-minute backed out this affected my credibility as I signed her up. I did everything I could to help the woman to successfully fundraise and each time I was met with excuses and with 11 days before the event she backed out not realizing that we based much of the budget requests to help those touched by cancer on her fundraising goal. Now we have to find other sources to help the people who were told yes we have those services available to you. Remember when you back out of a commitment you not only hurt your credibility but you hurt the credibility of those that vouched for you.  Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Stop All The BS!!!

Advertisement Ideas: How To Use Your Donations To Generate Profit!!!

Advertisement Ideas: How To Use Your Donations To Generate A Profit!!!

As a business adviser I have always taught the entrepreneurs that utilize my service the importance of making charitable donations be them monetary or in-kind. When you support charities and donate money or good and service you can implement a strategic marketing plan that will allow you to support the community and also turn a profit. One of the best advertisement ideas that I came up with was over 20 years when I asked a local restaurant to host a charity night to raise money for The Coral Springs Jaycees Spreading The Joy Program, which provided Thanksgiving Baskets and a Children’s Shopping Spree for families in need. The restaurant asked what is in it for me and I explained that by donating 20% of his sales for one night he would attract people who wouldn’t normally come to the restaurant and have an opportunity to turn them into regular customers. He was hesitant at first but agreed and that first give back night raised $189 for the project. Meaning that we brought in bout $1,000 worth of business on that night not to mention the amount of people who became regular customers. Since my first give back night I have seen many restaurants adopt this concept and have much success because it creates a win-win situation for all parties involved. When you have  a giving plan it will turn into profit over time as people like to do business with those they perceive to be giving back to the community. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: How To Use Your Donations To Generate Profit!!!

Advertisement Ideas: The Importance of Cause Marketing!!!

Advertisement Ideas: The Importance Of Cause Marketing!!!

If you are a frequent reader of this blog you know how deep my passion runs for helping those touched by cancer through my involvement with Relay For Life. I do my best to share Relay with as many people as I can especially businesses that can use cause marketing as a strategy to acquire customers and retain customers. I have partnered with many business like The Tijuana Flats in Tamarac, FL, The Chuck E. Cheese’s in Sunrise, and Skyline Chili in Sunrise, FL to do fundraisers and I have been very successful in bringing people to these establishments who normally would not have gone. As a result several of those involved in Relay have become regular customers at these establishments. I have had mush success with those who understand the importance of cause marketing. The key is to partner with a cause that you are passionate about and then leverage your involvement by mentioning it in advertising, through your social media,  and in your media releases. The idea is that you never know who may come into your business because of your support of a cause.

I went to a McDonald’s located Nob Hill Road and Sunset Strip yesterday (4/1/2017) to seek support of Relay For Life and the manager told me you have to call the owner but didn’t have the owner’s number. I thought here is someone who is supposed to be looking out for the best interest of The McDonald’s franchise and should be astute enough to understand the importance of cause marketing. The interesting part of the interaction was that I was going to place and order but because of the manager’s attitude and lack of information to give me to contact the owner I left and went to SUBWAY and bought my meal there as they have supported Relay For Life.  Think about it and do the math I would have sent about $8- $10 at McDonald’s but because of the manager’s lack of understanding of the importance of cause marketing another business received my business. The reason I share this with you is to show you that you must empower your managers to make some decisions when it comes to cause marketing because you may be leaving money on the table because of their lack of understanding the importance of cause marketing. $8-10 may not seek like a lot of money to be walking out the door but think about it how many people will see this story and not go to that McDonald’s and do you think I will be going back to patronize that location? Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: The Importance of Cause Marketing!!!