Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Big Choices For Many Today

National letter of intent day is so exciting for so many people.  It is the culmination of a long recruiting year for coaches and schools, and it provides closure for those who have to make the difficult choice of where to spend the most important 4-5 years of their lives.

Years that will never be forgotten.

It seems the hype gets bigger every year as schools wrangle kids away from other schools, and it sometimes becomes a huge marketing blitz for their respective schools.  Players and parents are torn because the options can be so varied, depending on their focus and goals for the upcoming years.  Still, it is a very exciting time.

What a lot of these young kids don't know is how much the next four years will really impact their lives.  Will they achieve what they set out to achieve scholastically?  Will they meet that special friend or teammate that will be a friend for life?  How will they want to be remembered in their college days, a time that can be so stressful at times?

I remember when I was in college I stressed about my grades constantly.  We used to joke about "figuring out our grades" as we were studying in the library only halfway through the semester.  It was in college where I really learned to study and earn good grades.

To my surprise, in my professional life nobody has ever asked me about my grades in college.

So as players, athletes, and students make their big choice today they will keep a lot of things in mind as they look ahead to the next few years.  Will they win a championship at their respective schools?  Will they get drafted?  Will they make the Dean's list?  Will they look back and know they made the right choice?

These are all huge questions and thoughts that probably accounted for many sleepless nights the past few weeks, months, and in some cases, years.  And it all comes down to this one day.  National letter of intent day.

Don't let the sports hype fool you.  It's just a side show of what is really important.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

The Future Is in Multi-Media Campaigns

OK..you are the General Sales Manager of TV or radio station.  If someone approached you with a multi-media campaign idea that would help generate $165,000-$220,000 in new and incremental revenue for only a $5,000 investment, would you sit down with this person?

It's amazing how many people won't.  And boy are they missing out.

Managers nowadays are so bogged down with their everyday routine that sometimes they don't want to take the time and look at the important campaigns and initiatives that could help them achieve one of their biggest years ever.  They often say, "we have too many initiatives going on right now". 

Is it an objection or do they?

The days of selling airtime exclusively are over for TV and radio reps.  There are too many mediums to choose from and providing more value for the advertising customers is crucial.  Creating a partnership is even better.  A multi-media campaign that combines airtime, a business to business controlled editorial magazine, and a web component are the perfect combination for success.  Magazines are sexy and provide your chance to "tell your story"---something you can't do in a normal thirty second radio or TV commercial.  You can also provide beautiful pictures and testimonials supporting your business, or maybe highlight a new product or service you might have.  Most stations are driving traffic to their websites anyway, another reason to take advantage of a multi-media campaign.

In a recent flood of calls I made for an upcoming marketing trip, it is amazing to me how many people aren't willing to take the time and spend thirty minutes and explore something that could change their year.  Their reps will make more money, the station will incur new and incremental revenue, and more importantly, they will be able to gain a commitment from clients, something very difficult in this economy.

So the next time you get a call from someone with an opportunity like this, set the appointment and take thirty to forty minutes out of your day.

It could mean the difference in crushing your budget forecast, or not making it at all.