I've discovered a very sweet treat for gummy bear lovers the world over.
Would you partake of this confectionery behemoth?
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Ringing Up Sales with Long-Form Advertising (Part 1)
There are many options when it comes to advertising. But here's one I bet you haven't thought much about, long-form advertising. Long-form advertising, also known as an infomercial, has helped to make many entrepreneurs wildly successful. Of course, they are still many others who have gone bust while attempting to sell a new product with an infomercial, Personally, I like long form advertising. It gives the advertiser a lot more time to talk about the benefits of the product. And depending on the medium, consumers can ask questions and get an immediate response. Compared with a :30 or :60 second spot, consumers benefits more from an infomercial by having access to more information, seeing how a product works, being able to ask questions and hearing testimonials. In terms of cost, it comes down to content vs. frequency. I'll talk more about this in the next post or two.
However there are a couple of non-negotiable factors that must be in place in order for an infomercial to work. First, the product or service should be something that people will want to buy. Sounds obvious right? Well it's not. Do you remember the Slumber Sleeper or the Beer Burglar Alarm? Exactly. Next, you need a pitch person that is both knowledgeable and passionate about your product or service. Although it's your product/service, it doesn't mean that you're the best person to front your infomercial. You might want to consider a paid spokesperson. This is someone you'll compensate to represent your product or service. The late Billy Mays is a great example of a very successful paid pitchman. He was best known for his association with OxiClean, but he also represented several other products.
If however, you embody the passion and presence for tv, then hosting your own infomercial is the way to go. The one person that personifies a successful television infomercial salesman is none other than Ron Popeil. In fact, I consider him to be the king of the television infomercial, a marketing/infomercial genius. Mr. Popeil's inventions have been bought by millions, but that never would have happened without his incredible talent to sell in the long-form advertising format. I encourage you to read his bio. He learned a great deal at his father's knee, but Popeil mastered the art of selling in an infomercial. Popiel took his father's inventions, the Chop-O-matic and the Veg-o-matic and made them household names.
Popiel also introduced us to the Popeil Pocket Fisherman (I really wanted one of these), Mr. Microphone (I really, really wanted one of these), and the Showtime Rotisserie (not that I needed it, but I wanted to be able to just "set it and forget it"). There are about a dozen other products from his company Ronco, that Popeil has successfully sold using infomercials.
But wait...there's more. In part two of this post, we'll take a look at radio infomericals, including one in which I co-hosted.
Have you ever purchased a product that was advertised in an infomercial?
However there are a couple of non-negotiable factors that must be in place in order for an infomercial to work. First, the product or service should be something that people will want to buy. Sounds obvious right? Well it's not. Do you remember the Slumber Sleeper or the Beer Burglar Alarm? Exactly. Next, you need a pitch person that is both knowledgeable and passionate about your product or service. Although it's your product/service, it doesn't mean that you're the best person to front your infomercial. You might want to consider a paid spokesperson. This is someone you'll compensate to represent your product or service. The late Billy Mays is a great example of a very successful paid pitchman. He was best known for his association with OxiClean, but he also represented several other products.
If however, you embody the passion and presence for tv, then hosting your own infomercial is the way to go. The one person that personifies a successful television infomercial salesman is none other than Ron Popeil. In fact, I consider him to be the king of the television infomercial, a marketing/infomercial genius. Mr. Popeil's inventions have been bought by millions, but that never would have happened without his incredible talent to sell in the long-form advertising format. I encourage you to read his bio. He learned a great deal at his father's knee, but Popeil mastered the art of selling in an infomercial. Popiel took his father's inventions, the Chop-O-matic and the Veg-o-matic and made them household names.
Popiel also introduced us to the Popeil Pocket Fisherman (I really wanted one of these), Mr. Microphone (I really, really wanted one of these), and the Showtime Rotisserie (not that I needed it, but I wanted to be able to just "set it and forget it"). There are about a dozen other products from his company Ronco, that Popeil has successfully sold using infomercials.
But wait...there's more. In part two of this post, we'll take a look at radio infomericals, including one in which I co-hosted.
Have you ever purchased a product that was advertised in an infomercial?
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Another Way Technology is Leveling the Playing Field
If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, in business, technology is really the great equalizer. Small and mid-sized businesses can compete in ways they never would have been able to just a few years ago. They can pretty sell anywhere they choose, tapping into previously unapproachable markets. If you sell soap, the Internet allows for a global client base. No longer do the mom and pops of the world have to sit back and dream about expansion. Anyone with a well-designed website that has quality shopping cart software, and the appropriate fulfillment and distribution systems can have the same web presence as a multinational corporation.
Marketing and advertising options have also greatly improved for SMBs thanks to technology. And the one device that I believe holds the most promise going forward is your cell phone. A great example is text marketing or Short Message Service (SMS). In fact, SMS marketing is one of the fastest growing marketing channels, and for good reason too. Mobile phones are everywhere; audience measures on mobiles are 9 times more accurate than the Internet, and 90 times more so than tv.
The benefits are quite significant; when a mobile user texts your business, it's to request information or participate in your offer, so that's even better than permission marketing; you can get started for well under $100; you can create promotionals that require a quick response--and get it; you can develop creative promotionals that require an action such as forwarding your text to a friend, and of course the mobility factor can greatly increase traffic into your place of business.
Are you currently using text marketing? If you haven't thought much about using text messaging in your marketing plan, then perhaps it's time to consider it. Send me your feedback.
Marketing and advertising options have also greatly improved for SMBs thanks to technology. And the one device that I believe holds the most promise going forward is your cell phone. A great example is text marketing or Short Message Service (SMS). In fact, SMS marketing is one of the fastest growing marketing channels, and for good reason too. Mobile phones are everywhere; audience measures on mobiles are 9 times more accurate than the Internet, and 90 times more so than tv.
The benefits are quite significant; when a mobile user texts your business, it's to request information or participate in your offer, so that's even better than permission marketing; you can get started for well under $100; you can create promotionals that require a quick response--and get it; you can develop creative promotionals that require an action such as forwarding your text to a friend, and of course the mobility factor can greatly increase traffic into your place of business.
Are you currently using text marketing? If you haven't thought much about using text messaging in your marketing plan, then perhaps it's time to consider it. Send me your feedback.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
This Saturday's Video
I'm still here, but according to California preacher Harold Camping, not for long. Today's video features a report on Rev. Camping's prediction of the rapture, but more importantly (far more importantly) is the fact that Rev. Camping seems to see all the hoopla as a good thing to give his church more attention, and at the end of the report, you'll also see they've made arrangements to collect more money on the heals of this publicity. So the question is, "Is any publicity really good publicity"? Let me know what you think.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Back To Business
I'll post a new blog tomorrow. I've just about recovered from sending two of my daughters to prom this weekend.
Thanks,
Deborah
Thanks,
Deborah
Thursday, May 12, 2011
National Small Business Week is May 16-20th
Each year, the Small Business Administration sets aside one week as National Small Business Week (NSBW) to recognize the nation's small businesses. There are approximately 27 million small businesses in the US, and they account for the creation of between 60-80% of all new jobs.
Throughout the week, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, DC is where the SBA will recognize the achievements of outstanding small businesses, present speakers from government and business who will address topics such as procurement, financial assistance, social media, exporting and growth strategies. The cost for the full conference is $550, but you can also select specific events to attend that are priced separately. But you don't have to go to DC for the SBA's conference, you can watch a live webcast.
In just the past couple of days, I've heard radio commericals from banks offering special packages for small businesses as a promotional tie-in to NSBW. In a web search, I also found other businesses offering special services to small business for NSBW, such as Sam's Club, which is offering a range of services and product discounts. Any time is a good time to take advantage of a great offer, and with the economy still struggling to recover, it's good to see increased efforts to support small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy.
Will you participate in any organized events for NSBW?
Throughout the week, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, DC is where the SBA will recognize the achievements of outstanding small businesses, present speakers from government and business who will address topics such as procurement, financial assistance, social media, exporting and growth strategies. The cost for the full conference is $550, but you can also select specific events to attend that are priced separately. But you don't have to go to DC for the SBA's conference, you can watch a live webcast.
In just the past couple of days, I've heard radio commericals from banks offering special packages for small businesses as a promotional tie-in to NSBW. In a web search, I also found other businesses offering special services to small business for NSBW, such as Sam's Club, which is offering a range of services and product discounts. Any time is a good time to take advantage of a great offer, and with the economy still struggling to recover, it's good to see increased efforts to support small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy.
Will you participate in any organized events for NSBW?
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Do-Not-Track Online Act of 2011
In some ways, the internet is still a new frontier. While we all know how to surf the net, the steady emergence of new technology and applications, keeps privacy advocates scrambling to find ways for consumers to maintain their anonymity (or as much as possible).
So it's no surprise that privacy advocates were elated to learn that Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) has introduced the Do-Not-Track Online Act of 2011. This is not the first federal bill of its kind (on the state level, California is considering similar legislation), but this one would allow consumers to "opt out", preventing ad companies and other networks from tracking their online activities. Chris Calabrese, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) legislative counsel, called Rockefeller's bill "a crucial civil liberty protection for the 21st century." But Do-Not-Track should not be compared with the Do-Not-Call list which prevented marketers from calling consumers. Rockefeller's bill is designed to prevent consumers from receiving targeted ads, but they will still be exposed to some ads.
If passed, the legislation would have far-reaching implications. Most notably for the online advertising industry and for mobile phone networks, both of which are key players in targeted behavioral advertising. The bill would allow for service providers to collect information needed from consumers to provide a particular service, but once that service has been provided, the information must be promptly deleted. It is likely that most consumers will welcome added online privacy protection, especially in light of the recent news that both Apple and Google were collecting data on the location of users of their respective mobile phones.
As both a consumer and member of the advertising/marketing industries I can see where both sides are coming from. However, one question that I would like answered is how will the proposed changes impact small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) that advertise online? SMBs use targeted online advertising such as Google Adwords, disproportionally more than bigger companies. If lots of people choose to opt out, what sort of impact will this have on the online advertising efforts of SMBs?
This should be interesting.
Do you support the Do-Not-Track Online Act of 2011?
So it's no surprise that privacy advocates were elated to learn that Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) has introduced the Do-Not-Track Online Act of 2011. This is not the first federal bill of its kind (on the state level, California is considering similar legislation), but this one would allow consumers to "opt out", preventing ad companies and other networks from tracking their online activities. Chris Calabrese, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) legislative counsel, called Rockefeller's bill "a crucial civil liberty protection for the 21st century." But Do-Not-Track should not be compared with the Do-Not-Call list which prevented marketers from calling consumers. Rockefeller's bill is designed to prevent consumers from receiving targeted ads, but they will still be exposed to some ads.
If passed, the legislation would have far-reaching implications. Most notably for the online advertising industry and for mobile phone networks, both of which are key players in targeted behavioral advertising. The bill would allow for service providers to collect information needed from consumers to provide a particular service, but once that service has been provided, the information must be promptly deleted. It is likely that most consumers will welcome added online privacy protection, especially in light of the recent news that both Apple and Google were collecting data on the location of users of their respective mobile phones.
As both a consumer and member of the advertising/marketing industries I can see where both sides are coming from. However, one question that I would like answered is how will the proposed changes impact small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) that advertise online? SMBs use targeted online advertising such as Google Adwords, disproportionally more than bigger companies. If lots of people choose to opt out, what sort of impact will this have on the online advertising efforts of SMBs?
This should be interesting.
Do you support the Do-Not-Track Online Act of 2011?
Monday, May 9, 2011
Direct Mail and 2D Code, A Match Made In Heaven
I will resume posting on Daily Mentions on Thursday, September 1, 2011.
I am re-posting the following since I received feedback following the original post that 2D Code was out of the reach of small businesses. I personally reponded to those who took the time to send me an email. As I stated, 2D Code is yet another tool for marketing. Here's the post, and as always I welcome your feedback. See 'ya on the 1st.
Today, small and mid-sized businesses are approaching marketing and advertising much like large companies; they are using a multi-tiered approach. Today we'll look at direct mail. It may seem that direct mail has taken a backseat to social media, and in a way it has. Everyone's talking about social media. There are forums, seminars and webinars to help us learn new and better applications for its use. But direct mail has not been idle.
Increasingly, we're beginning to see direct mail marketing incorporating technology. Savvy marketers are embedding their brochures, envelopes, fliers and postcards. Embedded code is helping to improve cross media marketing, and can increase your direct mail campaign ROI.
If you haven't already, you can expect to start seeing tags embedded with two dimensional (2D) code being used in direct mail. Two of the most popular are QR code and Data Matrix. Both are 2D codes (as opposed to the older 1D barcodes). Data Matrix actually preceded QR code, but holds only half the number of alphanumeric characters as QR code. Data Matrix is believed to be more secure than QR code, but Data Matrix doesn't use Japanese characters (Kanji). And since the Japanese are wild over QR code (it recognizes Kanji), it has emerged as the preferred code there, and increasingly, here in the US.
2D codes can contain text, URL or other data, and is readable by a dedicated barcode scanner or a camera phone. This is an example of 2D code:
This little bitty square is beginning to change the game for direct mail. I think of it as bringing your mailer to life. For example, let's say you own a shoe store. You're planning to mail large postcards to advertise your summer shoe collection. The postcard includes a QR code that has been encoded with your website's URL. When the postcard is scanned, visitors will be directed to your website where they can see more selections. Maybe you have a discount pin number on your site that can used for your 12 hour sale. If the scan was done by a mobile phone, there's a chance that the user is in his or her car and will head over to buy. Or perhaps an aspiring recording artist hands out business cards with a QR code which when scanned will send the user to a mp3 stored online to hear his music. Just think of the possibilities.
You can create your own 2D code. There are numerous code generators (especially QR) available for free online. Just do a google search. Sometimes for a fee (and sometimes there is no fee), you can get added features such as code tracking, editing and analytics.
It's this kind of cross media marketing that is helping to level the playing field for SMBs.
How would you use 2D code in your direct mail campaign?
I am re-posting the following since I received feedback following the original post that 2D Code was out of the reach of small businesses. I personally reponded to those who took the time to send me an email. As I stated, 2D Code is yet another tool for marketing. Here's the post, and as always I welcome your feedback. See 'ya on the 1st.
Today, small and mid-sized businesses are approaching marketing and advertising much like large companies; they are using a multi-tiered approach. Today we'll look at direct mail. It may seem that direct mail has taken a backseat to social media, and in a way it has. Everyone's talking about social media. There are forums, seminars and webinars to help us learn new and better applications for its use. But direct mail has not been idle.
Increasingly, we're beginning to see direct mail marketing incorporating technology. Savvy marketers are embedding their brochures, envelopes, fliers and postcards. Embedded code is helping to improve cross media marketing, and can increase your direct mail campaign ROI.
If you haven't already, you can expect to start seeing tags embedded with two dimensional (2D) code being used in direct mail. Two of the most popular are QR code and Data Matrix. Both are 2D codes (as opposed to the older 1D barcodes). Data Matrix actually preceded QR code, but holds only half the number of alphanumeric characters as QR code. Data Matrix is believed to be more secure than QR code, but Data Matrix doesn't use Japanese characters (Kanji). And since the Japanese are wild over QR code (it recognizes Kanji), it has emerged as the preferred code there, and increasingly, here in the US.
2D codes can contain text, URL or other data, and is readable by a dedicated barcode scanner or a camera phone. This is an example of 2D code:
This little bitty square is beginning to change the game for direct mail. I think of it as bringing your mailer to life. For example, let's say you own a shoe store. You're planning to mail large postcards to advertise your summer shoe collection. The postcard includes a QR code that has been encoded with your website's URL. When the postcard is scanned, visitors will be directed to your website where they can see more selections. Maybe you have a discount pin number on your site that can used for your 12 hour sale. If the scan was done by a mobile phone, there's a chance that the user is in his or her car and will head over to buy. Or perhaps an aspiring recording artist hands out business cards with a QR code which when scanned will send the user to a mp3 stored online to hear his music. Just think of the possibilities.
You can create your own 2D code. There are numerous code generators (especially QR) available for free online. Just do a google search. Sometimes for a fee (and sometimes there is no fee), you can get added features such as code tracking, editing and analytics.
It's this kind of cross media marketing that is helping to level the playing field for SMBs.
How would you use 2D code in your direct mail campaign?
Friday, May 6, 2011
This Saturday's Video: What Are They Talking About?
So you don't think you're a communicator? Think again, everyone has something to say. These adorable twins apparently have important business to discuss.
What do you think they're talking about?
What do you think they're talking about?
Live Chat This Saturday...You're Invited!
Join me for a live chat session this Saturday morning at 9:00 to discuss ideas about marketing and advertsing for small- to midsized businesses and non-profits. I hope you'll join me. I'll share what I know, but I'm also looking forward to hearing your ideas and gaining insight from you as well.
Thanks,
Deborah
Thanks,
Deborah
An Advertising Opportunity that Small Businesses Shouldn't Miss: Pt. 3
So, why is Facebook the leading destination for web advertisers eventhough they have only average clickthroughs? And why do I believe that Facebook is a great place for small- to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) to advertise? In a word, I think it's because of "friends." Research (and lots of it) shows that social media and peers influence purchasing decisions. This is a big difference between Facebook and say, Google for example. Granted, Google is a search engine, not a social media site, but therein lies the difference. And it's not just Google, the same can be said for AOL, Yahoo, or any of the others on the comScore Ad Matrix list. Yes, they have better clickthroughs, but if we're talking influence, then Facebook has the clear advantage.
Google has many positives. One that immediately comes to mind is that when people put in keywords to search for something, it's for something they want, and probably sooner rather than later. Google does a great job matching your ad with the users' search queries (of course you provide them with the info and must bid on placement order for your ad), and their tracking tool for conversions is excellent. Google Places is also a great tool for promoting your business.
But Facebook takes targeting to entirely different level. There are numerous targeting option available. You can target by geographical location (and even micro target this option), birthday, age (exact or broad), sex, workplace, likes and interest (the sky's the limit here), colleges, universities, college majors, education, friends of connections, you can build a community around your business, you can add images and do much more. Plus, there's the option for people to "like" your business which can be another influencer.
Small businesses spend approximately $12,000 on advertising, with $2,300 dedicated to online advertising according to the Borrell Associates survey, Outlook 2011: SMBs Everyody's New Best Friend. Without question, making Facebook a part of your online buy can be a great investment.
I want to be clear, I'm not here to promote Facebook or to be unnecesarily critical of any of the other web publishers. My purpose is to offer SMBs information that will help you accomplish your marketing and advertising goals, while maximizing your resources.
I've had this article, Social Network Marketing: What Works? on my website for sometime, it's a short read and very relevant to this post.
If you're using Facebook for advertising, what was your experience like?
Google has many positives. One that immediately comes to mind is that when people put in keywords to search for something, it's for something they want, and probably sooner rather than later. Google does a great job matching your ad with the users' search queries (of course you provide them with the info and must bid on placement order for your ad), and their tracking tool for conversions is excellent. Google Places is also a great tool for promoting your business.
But Facebook takes targeting to entirely different level. There are numerous targeting option available. You can target by geographical location (and even micro target this option), birthday, age (exact or broad), sex, workplace, likes and interest (the sky's the limit here), colleges, universities, college majors, education, friends of connections, you can build a community around your business, you can add images and do much more. Plus, there's the option for people to "like" your business which can be another influencer.
Small businesses spend approximately $12,000 on advertising, with $2,300 dedicated to online advertising according to the Borrell Associates survey, Outlook 2011: SMBs Everyody's New Best Friend. Without question, making Facebook a part of your online buy can be a great investment.
I want to be clear, I'm not here to promote Facebook or to be unnecesarily critical of any of the other web publishers. My purpose is to offer SMBs information that will help you accomplish your marketing and advertising goals, while maximizing your resources.
I've had this article, Social Network Marketing: What Works? on my website for sometime, it's a short read and very relevant to this post.
If you're using Facebook for advertising, what was your experience like?
Thursday, May 5, 2011
An Advertising Opportunity that Small Businesses Shouldn't Miss: Part 2
In part 1 of this post, I mentioned that there's a shift taking place in online advertising, and that the shift can have a positive impact on the advertising and marketing efforts of small- to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) and non-profits. The affordability of online ads can help you expand your advertising campaign. I hope that if you're already using media, you have incorporated online as part of your mix.
But if you're not, for as little as $50 you can test how well online can work for you (actually, this can be done for much less, but spend at least $50 for better testing analysis). For a small amount of money, you can start advertising online, increasing your exposure in a meaningful way. However, it's important to note that buying media, whether tradional or new, requires a knowledge base. In other words, there's more to it than simply buying space. Knowing the difference between CPA and CPM or various display media channels is critical to your success. Learn as much as you can or hire a company to work with you.
But the shift in online advertising comes from the battle for market share between top web publishers. According to data from comScore's Ad Matrix, Facebook has emerged as the leader garnering more than 31.2 % of the 1.11 trillion display online ads in the fourth quarter of 2010. This represents a 23.1% increase over the third quarter. Here's the breakdown (percentages represent market share):
Facebook 31.2%, Yahoo 10.1%, Microsoft sites 4.8%, AOL 3.0%, Google sites 2.5%, Turner Digital 1.6%, Fox Interactive Media 1.1%, Glam Media 0.9%, CBS Interactive 0.8%
Viacom Digital Media 0.8%
The above data represents big players, but there many others to choose from, and in a competitive market, buyers are in the position of strength--even with so-called fixed rates. So don't cast off this information as only being important to large advertisers. As I mentioned in part 1, small and mid-sized business owners are quickly becoming the belles of the ball. Your small ad dollars matter in a big way.
When it's all said and done, getting conversions is the bottom line for your online campaign. One thing that really jumps out at me about the comScore list is that although Facebook is in the number one position, their ads are known to have lower clickthroughs (that's when a visitor actually clicks on your ad and goes to your website) than the industry standard, about half (according to Webtrends). So what's behind the popularity of Facebook for advertising? It's really not a big mystery, but I think the answer bodes very well for SMBs. Well take a look at this in the third and final part of this post.
Have you used online advertising before? If so, did it work for you? If you haven't, why not?
But if you're not, for as little as $50 you can test how well online can work for you (actually, this can be done for much less, but spend at least $50 for better testing analysis). For a small amount of money, you can start advertising online, increasing your exposure in a meaningful way. However, it's important to note that buying media, whether tradional or new, requires a knowledge base. In other words, there's more to it than simply buying space. Knowing the difference between CPA and CPM or various display media channels is critical to your success. Learn as much as you can or hire a company to work with you.
But the shift in online advertising comes from the battle for market share between top web publishers. According to data from comScore's Ad Matrix, Facebook has emerged as the leader garnering more than 31.2 % of the 1.11 trillion display online ads in the fourth quarter of 2010. This represents a 23.1% increase over the third quarter. Here's the breakdown (percentages represent market share):
Facebook 31.2%, Yahoo 10.1%, Microsoft sites 4.8%, AOL 3.0%, Google sites 2.5%, Turner Digital 1.6%, Fox Interactive Media 1.1%, Glam Media 0.9%, CBS Interactive 0.8%
Viacom Digital Media 0.8%
The above data represents big players, but there many others to choose from, and in a competitive market, buyers are in the position of strength--even with so-called fixed rates. So don't cast off this information as only being important to large advertisers. As I mentioned in part 1, small and mid-sized business owners are quickly becoming the belles of the ball. Your small ad dollars matter in a big way.
When it's all said and done, getting conversions is the bottom line for your online campaign. One thing that really jumps out at me about the comScore list is that although Facebook is in the number one position, their ads are known to have lower clickthroughs (that's when a visitor actually clicks on your ad and goes to your website) than the industry standard, about half (according to Webtrends). So what's behind the popularity of Facebook for advertising? It's really not a big mystery, but I think the answer bodes very well for SMBs. Well take a look at this in the third and final part of this post.
Have you used online advertising before? If so, did it work for you? If you haven't, why not?
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Daily Mentions Housekeeping
I just received a very nice email from a visitor to this blog who wanted to let me know how much he likes Daily Mentions. However, said that he would have left his comments on the blog, but didn't because he didn't want to establish a public profile at the time.
I appreciate knowing this because posting was initially set to allow comments with or without a profile. For whatever reason it didn't (probably because I'm constantly making adjustments and didn't save the option).
But you can now comment with or without a profile. I look forward to hearing from you!
Thanks,
Deborah
I appreciate knowing this because posting was initially set to allow comments with or without a profile. For whatever reason it didn't (probably because I'm constantly making adjustments and didn't save the option).
But you can now comment with or without a profile. I look forward to hearing from you!
Thanks,
Deborah
An Advertising Opportunity that Small Businesses Shouldn't Miss: Pt. 1
Being in the business of providing marketing and advertising services to small- to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) and non-profits, I know all too well the hesitancy that many prospects have(whether they explicitly express it or not) about spending money on "those things" in a tough economy. But it's not just small businesses, large corporations are also cutting back on advertising and marketing. When reading trade publications or participating in online industry forums, it's apparent, everyone is feeling the crunch. Which also explains why many of the big agencies are now courting small businesses (which they once routinely ignored).
However, I tell propects and clients alike, that they need to advertise, because it's NOT a non-essential item. Personally, I believe when it comes to advertising, small businesses can actually use an economic downturn to their advantage. Here's why, most businesses cut back or stop advertising during a downturn. But if you continue to advertise, guess who comes to the consumer's mind first when it's time to make a purchase? Another advantage of advertising in a tightened economy is that you'll get a good deal. Most reps will be happy to negotiate with you.
But there's another reason to pony up your advertising dollar; online advertising. Online advertising is what many small businesses already use, and now a very interesting shift in the landscape is taking place. This shift, which I will discuss in my next post, should be cause for any SMB to get really excited about planning their next online campaign. But I'll give you a couple of hints, cost and customization.
I want you to watch the short video below from Borrell Associates. They're talking about their survey, 2011 Outlook: SMBs Become Everybody's New Best Friend (you can get the survey on their website, but it'll cost you). If you've never advertised online, you need to. Funny, it took a survey for the large agencies to learn what those of us who've been serving small businesses already knew, online advertising works well for small businesses AND it can be really affordable.
On a scale of 1 to 5, for small and mid-sized businesses, how important is having online advertising in the mix?
However, I tell propects and clients alike, that they need to advertise, because it's NOT a non-essential item. Personally, I believe when it comes to advertising, small businesses can actually use an economic downturn to their advantage. Here's why, most businesses cut back or stop advertising during a downturn. But if you continue to advertise, guess who comes to the consumer's mind first when it's time to make a purchase? Another advantage of advertising in a tightened economy is that you'll get a good deal. Most reps will be happy to negotiate with you.
But there's another reason to pony up your advertising dollar; online advertising. Online advertising is what many small businesses already use, and now a very interesting shift in the landscape is taking place. This shift, which I will discuss in my next post, should be cause for any SMB to get really excited about planning their next online campaign. But I'll give you a couple of hints, cost and customization.
I want you to watch the short video below from Borrell Associates. They're talking about their survey, 2011 Outlook: SMBs Become Everybody's New Best Friend (you can get the survey on their website, but it'll cost you). If you've never advertised online, you need to. Funny, it took a survey for the large agencies to learn what those of us who've been serving small businesses already knew, online advertising works well for small businesses AND it can be really affordable.
On a scale of 1 to 5, for small and mid-sized businesses, how important is having online advertising in the mix?
Monday, May 2, 2011
Poll Results and More
Thanks to all who participated in my poll. The question was: Would you start a business in today's economy? The results split this way: 50% responded Maybe, if I could get a loan, and 50% responded No, nobody wants to spend money.
On another note, later this week, I'll have a live chat session. It will be a discussion for anyone interested in marketing and advertising tips, and sharing their experiences in this area. So if you own a small business or a non-profit, planning to start a business, if you're promoting a product, service, book, radio show, entertainment career or whatever, we'll talk tips and strategies. Watch for the date and time. You can also subscribe to my blog and I'll send you an advance notice.
One final note, I've only had this blog for a little under a month and have gotten nearly 700 page views, which I think is fantastic, especially since this blog is primarily about marketing and advertising. However, there are no comments. I would love to hear from you. I think commenting is a great way to share ideas, discover what others are doing and a good way to brainstorm.
Help me grow this community, send a friend a link to Daily Mentions:
http://debrowemedia.blogspot.com/
Thanks,
Deborah
On another note, later this week, I'll have a live chat session. It will be a discussion for anyone interested in marketing and advertising tips, and sharing their experiences in this area. So if you own a small business or a non-profit, planning to start a business, if you're promoting a product, service, book, radio show, entertainment career or whatever, we'll talk tips and strategies. Watch for the date and time. You can also subscribe to my blog and I'll send you an advance notice.
One final note, I've only had this blog for a little under a month and have gotten nearly 700 page views, which I think is fantastic, especially since this blog is primarily about marketing and advertising. However, there are no comments. I would love to hear from you. I think commenting is a great way to share ideas, discover what others are doing and a good way to brainstorm.
Help me grow this community, send a friend a link to Daily Mentions:
http://debrowemedia.blogspot.com/
Thanks,
Deborah
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