Advertisement Ideas: How Strong Is Your Brand?

84% of consumers surveyed in a recent brand awareness poll, when asked to name who they though of first when sneakers were mentioned stated they think of NIKE. This has led me to ask the question How Strong Is Your Brand? Now you may be thinking NIKe has a strong brand because they spend millions on advertising and marketing and I don’t have a NIKE budget. I am here to tell you that you don’t need a NIKE type budget to strenghthen your brand all need is some working knowledge of the market, who your target audience is and how they are getting their information and making buying decisions.

Advertisement Ideas: Strategies To Strengthen Your Brand

The American Cancer Society has been a recognized organization helping to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays by strengthening their brand and forming many great partnerships. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: How Strong Is Your Brand?

Advertisement Ideas: Are You Kidding Me?

How many times do you tell a store owner it is all in the message? This sign should have been top and a bottom to be more specific and less offensive.

Would you do business with this guy. They got your attention however not the best tag line they could have used.

After looking at these two signs I started to think about other unique situations that make you ask the question, Are You Kidding Me? One that immediately came to mind was Wendy’s doing a promotion to help those affected by diabetes with this ad on their billboard.

This is like Kentucky Fried Chicken selling the pink buckets for breast cancer awareness their intention is good, however we all know one of the contributing factors to cancer is poor diet.

In October I delivered a mixed message as I did a promo video for Hungry Howie’s. I don’t regret doing it as it was supporting a good cause, however as I reflected back I realized this was not the message as again poor food choices lead to cancer. I use this as an example of my Are You Kidding Me Moment. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Are You Kidding Me?

Advertisement Ideas: GET A CLUE!!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Get A Clue!!!!!

I have witnessed many clueless business owners over the last few months, who simply do not understand without proper advertising/marketing that their business doesn’t thrive. I have heard the economy this, the economy that, things are slow, I can’t afford to advertise/market. I have heard every excuse that you can think of. I have come to the conclussion that some business people are just clueless or so set in their ways that they would rather make excuses than look for ways to improve.

Do you know what this is? It is the #1 interactive video sharing site in the world. I ask people do you have a You Tube Channel and you would be amazed how many have said no. Come on people it is free and if you use it properly you can strengthen your brand. My channel is www.youtube.com/jdogglederman. I have marketing tips, promos I have done, testimonials from clients, and I even have a short rap I did for www.feelthehugs.com. With today’s technology you can have a video a week. The video should be relevant, entertaining, and resonating. Here are some samples of how you can use You Tube: Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: GET A CLUE!!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Wake Up and Make It Happen

I was going to title this blog Wake The F Up America but wanting to keep the blog PG related I decided to title it Wake Up and Make It Happen. How many of you have called BS on the message to the right saying it can’t be done or it takes too much money to make it happen, or I’ll never be able to do that? These negative beliefs are the beliefs that are stopping you from waking up ans making it happen. I am not here to tell you it is going to be easy because it takes some work and time. I am not here to blow smoke up your rear either and I am not going to pee on your shoes and tell you it is raining. I am here to tell you that with the right strategy and the right attitude and making the right connections you will make it happen. Let’s break down these 10 questions to help you to plan, implement, and evaluate the steps needed to take action to make it happen. I learned these in The Junior Chamber Of Commerce(Jaycees) and many have used them to become successful in their personal and professional life.

1: What is the primary purpose? This is a way to formulate your mission statement

2: What are the goals and objectives? This will help you see the big picture and to stay focused

3: What is The Manpower?This will help you to decide who you should seek to help

4:What Materials, Supplies, and Resources will be needed? This will help you in making your choices?

5: What Are The Potential Problems and Solutions?This will alleviate having to guess.

6: What is the Budget?- This will help in determining the cash outlay and pay back.

7: What are the steps necessary and the completion dates? This will help you to stay focused

8: What revisions have you made to the original plan: tweaking the plan is always good practice

9: What Changes would you recommend for a similar project?

10: Give Specific and Measurable Results and a Summary of the project? Being able to give a summary will help you to improve as you grow.

These questions were used to plan and implement and evaluate special projects that The Jaycees Ran. They translate into business as it lays out an opportunity to wake up and make it happen. It is when you have a road map to follow and adjust to that you are most successful. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Wake Up and Make It Happen

Advertising Ideas: What Is Your Presence?

Advertising Ideas: What Is Your Presence

As I typed in the search on bing for the definition of presence this is what I found:

pres·ence

[ prézz’nss ]

existence in place: the physical existence or detectability of something in a place at a particular time
attendance: somebody’s attendance at an event or physical existence in a place with other people
area within sight or earshot: the immediate vicinity of somebody or something

I began to think about the question I ask to people all the time what is your presence. I ask this because it is no longer build it and they will come, it is now build it and give them a reason to come. I am currently sitting in Starbuck’s and there is a steady flow of customers I being one of them. Their presence in the marketplace and online is not by accident. People can go anywhere for coffee, however Starbucks has created the idea that their coffee is part of a lifestyle of prosperity. They have positioned themselves as the place where professional go to meet, mingle, use wi-fi, and to enjoy their coffee and other assorted items. When on sees the following logo they know it is Starbucks.

Starbucks has created a presence and an awareness through the consistent use of their logo and creating an identity. What are you doing to create your identity so as to increase your presence? Continue reading Advertising Ideas: What Is Your Presence?

Advertisement Ideas: How Deep Is Your Network

When I think of the word network the movie scene where the radio host urges people to go their windows and yell out I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore.

Is this how you feel when you attend networking events only to be bombarded by those looking to sell you something or enroll you in their program when the proper aspect of networking would be to share and lern about the other person. I did this today at The Cuccess Mix and Mingle. The word is spelled incorrectly on purpose as there are 3 cs needed to become a successful business person commitment, communication, and collaboration. As you build your network you will begin to see that being of service and value is a key component. Think about what can you do to enhance the lives of those you come in contact with at a networking function. Sometimes it may not be an official networking activity, however you will find yourself meeting people that you can be of assistance so always carry you contact info with you. If your calling card is the book you wrote carry it with you and give it out, if it is a cd you made hand that out, if it is business card hand that out. Remember when you are networking you want to be remembered so make sure you have something that makes you stand out. At many networking events I am asked to make announcements because of my great announcer voice, many times I will meet the organizer at the event and offer my services and many times the organizer didn’t even think about the importance of having a professional voice. This is one way I stand out. The key to creating a deep network is to stand out so people will know about you and feel as they know you, like you, and trust you.

As you network keep in mind that it is like teaching the world to sing as the more people you share with and find commonality the bigger your network will become and the more potential clients you will have. I often stress using a 3 foot rule, where if someone is within 3 feet of you, you talk to them as you never know how you can be of service and value to each other. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: How Deep Is Your Network

Advertisement Ideas: How To Pay It Forward

When I do consultations with businesses I am often asked how can I pay it forward. I usually answer find a charitable cause that you are passionate about and research programs that you can participate in and then create a marketing strategy that will promote how you are paying it forward. One of the charitable causes I am involved with is The American Cancer Society Relay for Life in which I participate annually, this year my website that you can visit to make donations is http://main.acsevents.org/goto/jdogg1. I mention this as I use my involvement in this cause to garner free publicity for my business. Last year I wrote an article JDOGG Barks to Assist Cancer Patients, this article appeared in several local newspapers, and on many radio station web sites as a result of paying it forward I was able to garner a few emcee bookings. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: How To Pay It Forward