Advertisement Ideas: Taking Advantage Of Opportunities!!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Taking Advantage Of Opportunities!!!

 

 Today’s blog post was inspired by The Pet Shop Boys song Opportunities. As I began to listen to the song I understood that it was talking about collaboration. Collaboration is a an excellent way to maximize your message and also reap the benefits of strengthening your brand and increasing your revenue.  When it comes to advertising sharing the expenses with other businesses makes sense as everyone can get their word out and reap the rewards. Let’s take for example that a FULL PAGE AD in La Bonita Kidz and Teenz, www.labonitakidz.com, costs $500 you can find 4 other businesses to split the costs and each business pays $100 and all 5 of you get maximum exposure with your own message and thus making the advertising affordable.  It is finding ways where everyone benefits that you have the most success.

 It is through team work that you can lift other people and thus lift yourself. Think about it you have a sub shop and down the block is a movie theatre. You visit and meet with The General manager and offer them discount coupons to your sub shop and in return they give you FREE Movie passes to give to your patrons. This creates a great cross promotion where everyone benefits and in return both businesses increase their exposure and their revenue. The idea is to look for great opportunities to create abuzz in the marketplace that will benefit everyone involved. The opportunities are endless when you begin to get creative and proactive. Ask yourself what have I passed up in my advertising and marketing as I made excuses to not take advantage of the opportunity. Think of what could have happened had you invested in an offer to pay $140 + tax to La Bonita Kidz and Teenz for a 1/4 page ad and a write up to appear in the magazine and reach 5000 mothers of middle school and high school aged students. You could have leveraged the write-up to build credibility and create interest in your product or services. When making an advertising decision ask yourself what does a client/customer represent to me? Think how many new customers/clients do you need to justify the investment in advertising?  Make sure the advertising is hitting your target audience, do not get fooled by circulation/distribution numbers. There was a local pre-school who decided to get caught up in numbers and bought an ad for $1000 in a publication that is distributed to 50,000 residents not realizing that 42,000 were being delivered to over 55 years of age communities, not exactly his target audience. When making the decision to promote or advertise make sure that the avenue you choose reaches your target audience. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Taking Advantage Of Opportunities!!!!

Advertisement Ideas: 30 Days To Jump Start Your Marketing & PR!!!

Advertisement Ideas: 30 Days To Jump Start Your Marketing and PR!!!

 Are you maximizing your message? Are you overwhelmed when you hear Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumbler, Stumble Upon, Vine, LinkedIn? Have you sat down to plan, implement, and evaluate an effective marketing and public relations strategy? I am amazed by the many  entrepreneurs who tell me they do not have a marketing plan. I often respond if you don’t know where you are going how are you going to get there. This entry is designed to be a road map on how you can jump-start your marketing and public relations in 30 days. It is based on a track record of success in obtaining media coverage for those who have chosen to work with me. It piggy backs on the concept of plan your work and work your plan. If you want to attract customers/clients you must have a strategy to do so as the idea of build it and they will come as a strategy is becoming less and less effective.  Every day you open to accept clients/customers you should be doing something to market your business.

Advertisement Ideas: The 30 Day Plan

 Create your message and announce it to your staff. Develop your logo that will be synergistic with your message. Put out a media release to your media contacts and your email list.

     Decide where you are going to promote your message, write and send out media releases.

 Promote across your Social Media platforms. Choose 4-5 to use and see which gives you the most reach. You can do this daily, weekly, every other week, or monthly. The key here is to give content that will be of service and value to your audience.

 Begin to attend networking events and deliver your message then follow-up with the people you spoke to with a special offer.

 Create a you tube channel and start posting videos that are relevant, entertaining, and resonating.

 Research and find media outlets to advertise with. Make sure all ads have a strong call to action. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: 30 Days To Jump Start Your Marketing & PR!!!

Advertisement Ideas: How To Drive Business With Effective Advertising!!!!!

Advertisement Ideas: How To Drive Business With Effective Advertising!

 As an advertising executive I am asked all the time, JDOGG how do I know that an advertisement in your magazine, La Bonita Kidz and Teenz will work? My answer is you don’t however I can tell you one thing if you don’t advertise you will be at a disadvantage.  I am asked how do I know the ad will be effective? Again my answer is you don’t that is why I am here to help you to effectively maximize your message. The key is to have fresh ideas that none of your competitors are using so that you stand out from the rest and build your brand.

 One thing to remember is to be creative in your advertising so you will attract business. One idea I gave to an advertiser, who owned a car, was to advertiser Topless Car wash with a disclaimer ( we wash everything but the roof) $12.99 you want the roof done $13.49. This worked as his business increased. When I worked in the bowling industry we used programs from The Bowling Proprietors Association of America to drive business and we did extensive local area advertising to fill the leagues. One promotion I implemented one Summer was Beanie Baby Bowling, where the kids paid $10 for 2 games of bowling, shoes, and a beanie baby. The first week we had 40 people filling 8 lanes by the end of the summer we had 110 bowlers filling 22 lanes with the reaming lane filled with summer league bowlers. When I worked for Footlocker I would take the friends and family coupons and distribute them in the mall and at the local high school, sales increased by 138% when I did that. The key is to understand that word of mouth advertising, print advertising, radio and TV advertising, and social media advertising will work if you are creative. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: How To Drive Business With Effective Advertising!!!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Why A Full Page?

Advertisement Ideas: Why A Full Page?

   As an ad executive and marketing consultant with La Bonita Kidz and Teenz Magazine, www.labonitakidz.com. I am often asked why a full-page. My answer is always because it gives you an opportunity to tell your story because facts will tell but stories sell. The second answer I give is because it allows you an opportunity to section the page  off and promote many things about your business. My third answer is because for $500 + tax you are getting maximum exposure in the market place over a 3 month period of time as we are a quarterly magazine. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Why A Full Page?

Advertisement Ideas: Finding Your Why!!!

Advertising Ideas: Finding Your Why?

 

As I sat at lunch today (4/5/13) at The Progressive Black Men National Conference along with Clifford Townsend, a Mindset Coach and Speaker I had the pleasure of hearing a presentation by one of the alumni members about finding your why? As I listened to him speak about brotherhood and finding your why I thought what if a business could convey their why in advertising?

You can visit www.pbm1989.org to find out more information about Progressive Black Men and the work they are doing. You can even consider sponsoring them and having an opportunity to share your why. The key is to define your why.

 In finding your why ask yourself why am I in this business? Ask why I opened my doors this morning? Ask why you are promoting what you are promoting.  I have always stated that facts tell and stories sell. By having a why story you will resonate with people who can relate to you and thus want to do business with you.  I am often asked JDOGG why do you do what you do? My answer is because I have a desire to help other people excel and I have learned if you help enough people get what they want you will get what you want.  I also answer because I know that marketing works for people do business with those they know like and trust. By sharing your why with others they begin to know you, like you, and trust you.  Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Finding Your Why!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Capitalizing On UF, FGCU, UM And Heat!!!

     

Advertising Ideas: Capitalizing On UF, FGCU, UM, And Heat!!!

As this week unfolds the basketball world is a great place to turn to turn to see how you can drive business.  Capitalizing on the success of UF, FGCU, UM, and The Heat seems to be a simple task as this is what many people are talking about. UF will play FGCU in a sweet 16 match up in The NCAA Tournament, UM advanced to the sweet 16 of The NCAA Tournament, and The Miami Heat are sitting at 26 victories in a row chasing the all time record of 33 in a row.  The key is to find ways you can drive traffic with your advertising and create a buzz to strengthen your brand and build revenue. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Capitalizing On UF, FGCU, UM And Heat!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Donald Trump, You’re Fired!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Donald Trump, You’re Fired!!!

     Imagine if you could get on Celebrity All Star Apprentice with your product or service and give Donald Trump a hard time and then say to Donald Trump You’re Fired? Imagine the publicity you would get and how you can leverage your experience in your future advertising programs and in all your literature. It is when you do something a bit outlandish that you are remembered and in many cases you build an audience of people who will do business with you because they admire your boldness.  Donald Trump was given a gift from his father and parlayed that gift into what he is now. He has branded himself very well. There are those who really like him and those who do not however he is always in the forefront and garners much desired media attention. Look at his stunts he has been involved with:
 Who could ever forget Donald Trumps feud with Rosie O’Donnell. This feud gave both of them a lot of media attention.Think about who you might be feuding with and how this can be turned into a brand building opportunity. Her is South Florida Dolphin Carpet and Tile was feuding with Home Depot and both parties received much media attention showing once again that controversy creates cash.

 Donald Trump shaves Vince McMahon’s hair after a hair vs hair match that aired on a WWE Pay Per View with millions of viewers. True it was all scripted but think of how many people saw this and remember Trump for this. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Donald Trump, You’re Fired!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Put Yourself Out There!!!

Advertisement Ideas:Put Yourself Out There!!!

 

 

I sat at Starbucks today and my phone rang as I went to take the call I noticed a man with Possibility Thinker on his laptop. I went over and introduced myself and we began to talk he told me he was the National Sales Director for SiriusXM Radio and he asked me for my card. I went to my car retrieved my card and a copy of my demo cd. He took them and then gave me a VIP  card for free use for the year. I have always been a believer in putting yourself out there because you never know who you  might meet and who may be of value and service to you or how you might be of service and value to them. Many times people don’t interact and they lose out on major opportunities. I have learned you are not going to resonate with everyone and there are going to be those who are just not ready. This has led me  toa philosophy of Some Will, Some Won’t, Some Waiting, So What, Next. I continue to put myself out there because you never know where what you are doing will led or who you may come in contact with. By interacting with others you may lift them up and they may lift you up and as a result everyone wins.

 One way to win and to put yourself out there is through effective advertising.  Using a 3 foot rule, where you talk to all those who come in contact with you within 3 feet can be an effective way of advertising as you may resonate with those you approach.  having a plan to put you out there is very important as people will see who you are, learn what you do, and perhaps do business with you or recommend people to work with you.  Another great way to put yourself out there is to find publications that reach your target audience and purchase advertising and use the advertising space to tell your story because facts tell while stories sell. Putting ads on the internet, on radio, and TV are effective as long as you are reaching your target audience. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Put Yourself Out There!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Allstar Celebrity Apprentice Shows Value Of Contacts!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Allstar Celebrity Apprentice Shows Value of Contacts!!!

Trace Adkins and the other celebrities had been here before as they were past participants on The Celebrity Apprentice now it cam time to step it up for The Allstar Celebrity Apprentice. Trace was named a team captain and Brett Michaels was named a team captain and they chose sides. Trace I believe made the better choices as he knew the first task was going to be a fundraising task so he chose the people with the best money contacts. Trace’s team won the challenge and raised a record number of  dollars for his charity, The American Red Cross. As trace began to call his Rolodex he also made a bold decision to not open the restaurant to the general public and make it exclusive to the celebrity contacts. Trace’s plan worked as a donation for T. Boone Pickens of $100,000 came in and many other donations came in totaling over $400,000. the other team did a great job raising over $200,000, however in the end Brett Michaels was fired.  The lesson here is to leverage your contacts.

   

Advertisement Ideas: How To Leverage Your Contacts!!!

In watching The Allstar Celebrity Apprentice I learned that Donald Trump has a knack for leveraging his contacts. The question now is how do you leverage your contacts?

 Are you using your phone to call upon customers/clients that maybe you haven’t seen in a while? Are you using the phone to follow up with someone you met at a networking event.  By communicating with contacts you begin to build a network that can help you with your goals and objectives. This week make a list of 25 people who you will call to see how you can be of service and value to them. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Allstar Celebrity Apprentice Shows Value Of Contacts!!!

Advertisement Ideas: How To Be Perceived Positively In The Market Place?

Advertisement Ideas: How To Be Perceived Positively In The Market Place!!!

 I recently goggled Peggy McColl after hearing her speak at The Superstar Summit in Fort Lauderdale, FL. I found many articles on the front page that called her a scam artist preying on the likes of aspiring authors.Other articles were written by her where she gave advice about becoming a best-selling author.   I have never worked with her nor purchased any of her products thus I can not make a definitive judgement about her, however if I based my decisions on the articles I read I would have to think twice about giving her my money. This led me to the question of what are people saying about you? I also asked what is my reputation like? This then led me to give you tools for creating a positive image in the market place.

Advertisement Ideas: Tools To Create A Positive Image In The Market Place

1: Your greatest tool is yourself and how you interact with others. Maya Angelo wrote the following and I believe this tool can help you in creating a positive image in the market place.

2: Utilize your satisfied customers to tout you with written and video testimonials. If you click on the testimonials on this page you can see what people are saying about me.

3: Address the negative press immediately, For example when I was featured in the newspaper several years ago for a monopoly game that I was developing for The Coral Springs Jaycees that didn’t come out on time. I immediately addressed it and then when the game was produced and distributed a retraction was printed from the initial story. This issue taught me that you must be upfront and transparent especially when dealing with the press. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: How To Be Perceived Positively In The Market Place?