Tag: Answers

Advertisement Ideas: No Time For Assholes!!!

Advertisement Ideas: No Time For Assholes!!!

 

No Assholes Please! In his book The No Asshole Rule Robert I. Sutton shows one how to deal with assholes and  the damage that they do and ways to overcome their negativity. He deals with work place assholes. I have encountered non-work place assholes and decided that there is no time for assholes. Recently I was at The City of Sunrise 4th Of July Concert and fireworks collecting donations for The American Cancer Society. I did very well collecting $248 to help create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.  I stood at the exit asking people to donate to the cause. One young person about 26 years old asked how do I know you aren’t going to take the money and buy beer. I should have ignored him  but I allowed my pride to get in the way and I became a bit confrontational and this created a scene and I became the asshole to the point where his girlfriend put her elbow to my throat. At that point I backed off wished them Namaste and knelt in prayer. It was at that point that I realized I have no time for assholes as I stooped to a lower level that doesn’t serve me or the charity well. I learned that next time, don’t even dignify this person’s comment with a reply and to continue to do what I do. I realized that there is no time for assholes because there are many people who will support the cause and will appreciate what I am doing. I have come to realize that what I teach others about some will, some won’t , so what, some waiting, next. I have come to realize that the less time I spend dealing with assholes the more successful I become. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: No Time For Assholes!!!

Advertisement Ideas: How To Reverse A Negative Trend!!!

Advertisement Ideas: How To Reverse A Negative Trend!!!

Olive Garden: Free Kids Meal

As I skimmed the business news today and saw that Darden Restaurants had reported a downward trend in earnings and dividends for The Olive Garden Operations I immediately thought what would I do if I was a marketing director to reverse this trend? The answer came easily step up the marketing and advertising so as to drive traffic and increase the amount of visits a patron will make to the restaurant. This thinking is the opposite of what most companies do and as a result of cutting the marketing and advertising budget the downward earnings trend continues. The key to being successful and making your share holders happy is to constantly be in front of the consumer and give them a reason to patronize your business. It is imperative to look at why your sales are off and why the dividend payouts are dropping.  One key factor is inconsistency in the operational process of  the business.  In a chain like The Olive Garden it is important to empower the General Managers of the individual restaurants to make marketing decisions. A good general manager will know who his customers are where they are coming from and how to get them coming back.  I recently had the pleasure of having The Olive Garden in Boca Raton, FL sponsor the survivors/caregiver dinner at The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Boca Raton. The district manager was very supportive and is now sponsoring the survivors/caregivers dinner at many of The Relay For Life Events in South Palm Beach County. As a result of their support this particular Olive Garden is hosting The Relay For Life Wrap-Up Party that is being supported through other sponsorships. This Olive Garden will also see more business as every participant in Relay For Life is being promoted to patronize this Olive Garden. In sponsoring community events you have the chance to reverse a negative trend.

starbucks.gif

Starbucks recently announced a price increase, which is one way to reverse a negative trend as people will pay for something they desire and perceive to have value. In increasing prices though you risk a loss of customers who may go to a competitor whose price is cheaper. It is very important to keep the perceived value in your product so that you can reverse any negative trends. Starbucks while raising some prices also maintained the perception that it was worth it. Starbucks also is running many special promotions so that the price increases will not be perceived as that bad by their customers. For Example you get a Starbucks Gold Card which allows for $.50 refills on ice tea and coffee so you pay the $.10 more for your first drink but you do a refill so you still save a substantial amount of money. In promoting The Gold Card Starbucks maintains their customer base as Starbucks customers tend to be very loyal to the brand. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: How To Reverse A Negative Trend!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Kicking Butt And Taking Names!!!!

Advertising Ideas: Kicking Butt And Taking Names!!!!

One of the key ingredients in being effective with your advertising campaign is tracking the campaign . How you track results is very important when you are planning and implementing advertisement ideas.  The idea is to have a kick butt campaign that will allow you to track customers and  thus engage them on a regular basis.   The appeal must be entertaining, relevant, and resonating so that it achieves the objectives that you have set in place. Your advertising program should include a great headline, a great offer, and a tracking system.

 Do you recognize this? It is a QR Code where a client scans it on their phone and it takes them to your website. Once they visit your website you want to have a way to capture their information. One way to do this is to make your site a FREE Membership Site, where the visitor has to give you name, age, and email. This will give them a used code and allow you to then track their visits and thus create a program to target them to buy your product or services. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Kicking Butt And Taking Names!!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Using Charitable Involvement To Improve Your Bottom Line!!!

Advertisement Ideas:

Using Charitable Involvement To Improve Your Bottom Line!

 On April 8, 2014 I had the pleasure of hosting a give back night for The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Boca Raton at Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries. That evening we raised $66.32 our percentage of sales. This made me think why are more people not approaching businesses to do this and why are more businesses not doing this. I normally would not have gone to Five Guys if it were not for the fundraiser, however that night I received my business. About a week later I was meeting with The owner of The South Florida Gold of The American Basketball Association. Guess where I chose to meet? You guessed it Five Guys. Why because of there involvement with The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Boca Raton.  The point is that this is one way you can use your charitable involvement to increase your bottom line. In aligning yourself with a charitable cause and advertising the event you will attract people who may not have ever done business with and have an opportunity to make them regular customers.

 After the event you can invite the charity to come and accept the check, take photos of them accepting the check, and then send out a media release to all media outlets about what you did for the charity. People may read the article and as a result want to set up a fundraiser with you or do business with you. In doing this not only do you increase your brand awareness but you also increase your bottom line.  The more you promote your charitable giving the more recognition you receive. I am from the old school where I support the businesses that support me.

 Dick’s Sporting Goods is a sponsor of The Lauderhill Broncos, a Pop Warner Football Team that I announce for. Guess where I shop when I need sporting goods and sports wear? You got it Dick’s Sporting Goods.  In sponsoring local sports teams your business gains exposure in the market place and thus creates a buzz that puts you on the top of the mind of your target audience. As a result of your community involvement you increase your bottom line. Again you can leverage your team sponsorship by taking photos of the plaques on the wall in your location, doing a video, and having a representative at games thus strengthening customer relationships.  The Lauderhill Broncos has 8 teams with an average of 26 players per team and each player will need cleats, practice shorts and practice jersey’s so if you are a sporting goods provider like Dick’s it makes sense to become a sponsor. The games are played on Saturday and after the games the players, coaches, and families need a place to eat so if you are a restaurant owner sponsoring the team has the potential to increase your bottom line. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Using Charitable Involvement To Improve Your Bottom Line!!!

Advertisement Ideas: How To Use Social Media Effectively!!!!

Advertisement Ideas: How To Use Social Media Effectively!!!

Facebook logoAre you on Facebook and are you using it effectively? This is a question I ask all that I work with as many are just posting and spinning their wheels going in circles. The fact is that your post could be great and very engaging but only 20% of your friends are going to see it. The question is how do you combat this? The answer use the events pages and send invites, direct message those that you want to receive your message, tag as many people in posts as you can.

Advertisement Ideas: A Social Media Success Story!!!

If you are an avid reader of this blog you know that I am passionate about my involvement with Relay For Life. I have tried all types of fundraising and doing general posts on Facebook to no avail. Today (5/21/2014) I decided to use a different approach and I went on my page and began to click on my friends and sent them this message:

I hope this email finds you having a great and prosperous day. I was hoping you could help me with an endeavor I have undertaken to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. In 16 days I will be participating in and emceeing The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of West Boca Raton. I am walking in memory of my mother, Judith Miller, who GOD called home on July 5, 2012. She passed due to complications of a major heart attack while battling non-operable metastatic lung cancer. Over the years I have lost many friends and relatives to cancer and thus my way to honor them is to collect donations to support research, education, advocacy, and services. I have set up a page at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/jdogg1 where people can make a secure tax-deductible credit card donation. 100% of the monies raised are given to The American Cancer Society to help finish the fight while assisting those affected by cancer. As of today I have raised $1666.32 and sit as The #1 fundraiser for this relay.  I thank you for your support.

It worked as I went from $1662.32 raised to now raising $1797.00. That is a jump of $130.68 simply by using direct messaging. Now direct messaging all 2574 friends would take some time however if I choose to do 50 a day in the course of time I can reach those I desire to reach.

Advertisement Ideas: Using Other Social Media Outlets Effectively!!!!

Navigating the social media maze can become very arduous and time consuming thus it is important to pick the top 4 or 5 platforms that work for you. In social media these are things you should know.

Engage your audience make more about them and less about you.

 Make sure your message is relevant, entertaining, and resonating. The key is to grab your audience, keep your audience, and leave the audience wanting more. If you can give your audience information that relates to your industry to help them in their buying decision that builds credibility and confidence in you and when they are ready to purchase they will come to you before they go to your competitors. If you are involved in a charity you want to have a story that rips at the heart strings so the audience is compelled to take action.

Knowing what you want the audience to do is a big part of using social media effectively. Do you want them to visit a website and give you an email address so you can send them more information. The idea is to have social media interactions lead to a conversion rate. As I stated in the example with Relay For Life if you can engage and directly engage the audience with a strong call to action you will meet with success. It is important to reach people at a cellular level so that they will support your business and your charitable endeavors. People will support those they know, like, and trust so it is important to utilize social media to establish these 3 elements.  For example people know my dedication to Relay For Life and they see that across the social media platforms and they also see the articles that have been written about the event that I was responsible for and thus when they seek a publicity person they connect with me.

 The biggest way to make social media work is to be real. People like to deal with those who they can relate to. Share stories of success and lessons learned. Ask others to share their stories.  In creating a good social media profile and being consistent across all platforms you will effectively use social media. Stay Positive.

 

 

 

Advertisement Ideas: How To Make Current Events Pay Off!!!!

Advertisement Ideas: How To Make Current Events Pay Off!!!

 

Barbara Walters stepped away from TV today after a 50 year career. She leaves a legacy of excellence and insight in the industry. As she was saying goodbye on The View I put on my business and marketing hat and thought how many businesses will capitalize on this current event and how many others will lose out on an opportunity.

 Think about it whatever industry you are in you can capitalize on the fact that Barbara Walters is retiring. If you are creative you will drive business to you. Here are some ideas:

 1:You have a restaurant or club you can host a Barbara Walters look a like contest and give out prizes. You could promote this in all your marketing material.

 2: You have a brick and mortar business and you can host a chance drawing for Barbara Walters memorabilia.

 3: You can do a Tribute to Barbara Walters and offer a special promotion like buy one item get the next item 50% off. If you are a life coach, personal trainer, or other service type business you could run a program in honor of Barbara Walters 1st session $50. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: How To Make Current Events Pay Off!!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Return The Darn Phone Call!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Return The Darn Phone Call!!!

Hello Mr. or Mrs. Business Person,

Do you know what this is? It is a phone and it is an integral tool that can either enhance your business or derail it.  How many times have you said oh business is slow and made excuses as to why you are not as successful as you would like to be?  One reason is that you may not be returning calls to those who can be of service and value to you. I have that the lack of returning calls is very prevalent in business today.

As I sat at Starbucks today (5/14/14) working on blog entries and Relay For Life one of my colleagues, Vanessa who is building a new home, sat down and told me how hard it has been to find a shower door person and a pool person and how she has called several and none returned her calls. I said this didn’t surprise me as it has become the norm. We then got to talking about how the same people who didn’t return calls are the same people who complain about how their business is struggling. I would recommend to every business owner or organization that they print a sign and put it prominently in their office that reads RETURN THE DAWN CALL!!!! as a reminder that not returning the call can be costing them business and thus they may be leaving money on the table. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Return The Darn Phone Call!!!

Advertisement Ideas: From Conception To Inception!!!!

Advertisement Ideas: From Conception To Inception!!!

 Advertising, marketing, public relations,  and media relations is much like the cycle of having a child. The child is conceived and grows in the womb and then is delivered into the world. A good marketing, advertising, public relations, or media relations program takes on much of the same process as the idea is conceived  and developed then presented then brought out into the world. The key is to be able to go from conception to inception so as t strengthen your brand and create brand awareness. In creating brand awareness much like in creating a baby it takes time for the idea to incubate and develop. Once the idea is put out into the world much like the new-born baby it must be nurtured and guided so that it begins to mature and thus deliver the message that you intend it to deliver. As a baby grows and begins to talk it communicates exactly what it wants. Your advertising, marketing, public relations, and media relations program should do the same.

Advertisement Ideas: From Conception To Inception Consistency Is The Key!!!

 In August on 2013 I launched a TV Show, The Anything Bucket, which airs on www.wrpbitv.com on Tuesday at 6:30 PM EDT.  The key to the success of the show has been that I have stayed consistent from the inception point until the inception point. There have been a few tweaks along the way as the original intro was changed to reflect the message of the show and that is to be an information source while also being entertaining for the viewers. I have interviewed many guests and have several shows available on demand at www.wrpbitv.com. The show launched with an initial viewers ship of 38,000 and today reaches over 50,000 in 145 countries.  In being consistent with my approach I have been able to secure guests. In being consistent in the promotional process I have been able to utilize social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to grow an audience. Having the show information on my business cards has helped to build an audience. After inception adjustment and changes will be made, however if your message is consistent you will continue to have excellent brand recognition and awareness. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: From Conception To Inception!!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Okay America It Is Time To Wake Up!

Advertisement Ideas: Okay America It Is Time To Wake Up!

 

This is a call for all Americans to Wake Up especially business owners and non-profit leaders who are making excuses and not thriving. It is time to understand that until you all get together and work toward a common goal nothing will change. I met with a business owner today in a shopping plaza and he said my business is off because of the high price of gas? I recalled the scene from Animal House where Hoover covers his mouth and says B.S. I was tempted to do the same thing as it was just another excuse that business owners like to make. I didn’t I asked when was the last time you did an intensive advertising campaign with a specific strategy geared to not only drive business but to increase revenue? His answer I haven’t I do everything via word of mouth. Hello, time to wake up Mr. business owner. It isn’t the price of gas it is the fact that you don’t have a current advertising campaign. I pointed out that he was in walking distance to the town houses and single family homes around the plaza. His answer so. The point was if he did a targeted campaign to those people and gave them a reason to come to his business he may see an increase in business. Again it is time to stop making excuses and to take action and stop blaming gas prices and other outside issues.

 I called on a business this week to invite them to come on my TV Show, The Anything Bucket, which airs on www.wrpbitv.com on Tuesday at 6:30 PM. Their initial response was you are catching us at our busy time of the year. I answered well I thought you might be able to find 30 minutes to come up to the studio and tape an 8 minute segment to make sure you were busy all year round as my show reaches over 50,000 viewers each week of which 77% are in your immediate service area. He then said he might want to come in. I said okay sound great when would you like to come do a taping. His answer I have your number I’ll get back to you. I stated okay.  As I hung up the phone I thought wow another business that needs to wake up. Here a business had a chance to be on TV for 8 minutes and they had to think about it? Again another person to wake up.

 The reason your business or non-profit isn’t flourishing has nothing to do with the economy, gas prices, competition, or other factors it has everything to do with you and you’re not taking advantage of opportunities. It is time to wake up America and be proactive with your marketing. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Okay America It Is Time To Wake Up!