Author Archives: admin

Bloggrs Bashing Radio

Bloggers Bashing Radio

         I regularly Google topics like ‘radio advertising tips’ or ‘marketing trends’ to broaden my knowledge and learn new marketing tactics.
You would be shocked to learn what some of the alleged ‘experts’ are saying online about radio advertising.
Many of these sites are obviously administered by computer-geeks and wanna-be gurus who write about our media out of sheer ignorance.
Yesterday, during one such search, I found a site that claimed to offer “Streetwise Advertising Tips.”
Here is some of what they had to say about radio.
  • “What you should typically expect through negotiation is half of the published rate.”
  • “A Boston station which typically sold morning drive spots for $150 sold me a package deal for $10.”
  • “Don’t believe radio sales people for a minute.”
  • “They skip client’s ads on a regular basis.”
Another site I found, which claimed to objectively overview all media, did not distinguish between radio and TV, and simply said, “Broadcast is too expensive for most small or new businesses to consider.”   Of course, they claimed blogging to be the best marketing tool on earth.
The sad reality is a lot of small businesses count on the internet as their research tool and they cannot decipher the difference between the quacks and the legitimate sites.
Now, more than ever, we need to quit beating up our fellow broadcasters.     (the geeks do that quite well already).
You need to educate your market about radio’s strengths and where you fit in a successful advertising strategy.
 
Our SoundADvice gives your clients and prospects proven marketing tips every week, while positioning you as a marketing professional they can trust.

Blogging Your Personal Brand

Blogging Your Personal Brand

 
John Potter, VP Training for the Radio Advertising Bureau, recently wrote ‘5 Tips To Enhance Your Image with a Killer Blog’ .
He said, “If you don’t have a blog, start one” and gave these five tips to make it killer.
1. Develop a strategy. Have a general sense of the kinds of information you will cover and stick to it.
2. Focus on the client. Write about marketing, advertising in general, and successful business tips. Make sure it is all about helping the client, not promoting your station.
3. Include a bit of humor. It rewards the client for taking time to visit your blog.
4. Maintain consistency. Clients should have a good idea of what they will find on your blog each time they visit. Be consistent in presenting your personal brand; ‘Marketing Consultant’.
5. Use all available resources. You don’t have to create content totally on your own. Get your ideas, quotes, and data from marketing articles.
 
John’s tips are bang on, but in all likelihood, you have a day job that keeps you pretty busy. When will you find the time to develop a strategy, research the marketing articles, write your own comments, maintain consistency and administer your data base every week?
 
Our radio e-marketing system, SoundADvice, does all of that for you and more, for less than you pay for your morning cup of coffee every day!
 
1. The Strategy? To position your account executives, complete with their photos and station logos, as marketing professionals who understand how to help advertisers capture bigger returns on their advertising investments.
 2. The Client Focus? Every marketing tip in SoundADvice is designed to help your prospects and clients grow their businesses. While we do not hard-sell radio in SoundADvice, every tip lends itself naturally to an increased use of radio.
3. TheHumor? Our professional writers use every creative technique known to man, to capture attention and ensure these useful tips are looked forward to every week.
4. The Consistency? We email your SoundADvice for you, so it looks like it comes from you, every week. In addition to the 60-second tips your clients receive, you will receive a complete back-up document for you to discuss when prospects and clients click through to request more information.
5. The Available resources? We scan more than 40 trade journals every week to keep the content of your SoundADvice timely and topical. Our SoundADvice Advisory Board consists of six seasoned marketing professionals and your membership includes 24/7 mentoring and coaching.
 
You can view samples of SoundADvice on our website; www.wensmedia.com, or click here to arrange a free online demo of how SoundADvice can become the exclusive personal blog for your account executives.
SoundADvice is a market-exclusive service, so don’t let your competitors beat you to the punch.

Clip Clop Factor

Beware of the Clip Clop Factor

          Beware of background noises when you are on the phone.    I was talking to a client on his cell phone the other day who said, “I’m stuck in (clip clop) city traffic on the way to a meeting(clip clop, and I might lose you (clip clop) when I go under the overpass (clip clop)”.
          Through the entire conversation I could hear this clip clop background noise. Then it dawned on me. My client wasn’t “stuck in traffic on the way to a meeting”. He was on his ranch, riding his horse!  He had no reason to tell me that other than, perhaps it might impress me that he was on his way to a meeting at that time of day.
          I often work from my boat, and when I’m on the phone, I tell clients up front they may hear the odd seagull in the background, and that I’m not boating, I’m just where I work from my boat.
          When you call a client or your boss, be careful what you claim to be doing; someone yelling, “fore” might give you away. 

Death of the RMB

To our Canadian friends;

     I’m appalled at the gradual demise and subsequent death of the RMB, radio’s marketing arm in Canada.  Please read my article entitled, ‘A Sad Day for Radio’ in Broadcast Dialogue magazine by clicking on this link.
http://www.broadcastdialogue.com/Admin/pdf/stories/2010-09%20Opinion_Ens.pdf

     I believe a rising tide floats all boats and I’ve always been a huge supporter of the importance of our industry working together for the good of everyone in it.
     In the late 70’s, I was able to work with the RBC, predecessor of the RMB, to get all of the stations in various markets to work together to host a Radio Day Conference to educate local advertisers on how to use radio effectively.  Every station in the participating markets benefited and we took valuable share from local newspapers and yellow pages.
     In the absence of an effective industry marketing organization YOU can be the catalyst to work together with our stations in your market to educate local advertisers about the important role of radio in the new media landscape.
     ENS Media Inc. has built a new Radio Day Program that includes us acting as an intermediary between you and your competitors to host and deliver a local advertiser seminar highlighting the power of radio in the new media landscape, and custom tailored to your market.  Click here to arrange for an appointment to discuss how we can help you make this happen!

Transitioning from the Front Lines to the Front of the Lines

Transitioning from the Front Lines,
to the Front of the Front Lines

           There is no denying that experience can be a great teacher. But all too often we promote our best ‘experienced’ sales people to sales managers with no management training or safety net.
          It’s not fair to the newly appointed manager, to their staffs, nor to the company.
          Having a successful track record in sales enables the newly appointed manager to capture the respect and credibility necessary to lead; that’s a good thing.
          But the skill sets she/he acquired as a sales person do not necessarily equip them to be great managers.
          I’ve had the heart-breaking experience of seeing dedicated passionate sales leaders crash and burn in management roles. Not because they didn’t have the work ethic, desire, intelligence or integrity to succeed, but simply because they were given the title, an office, and told “good luck”!
          And it can be intimidating for a new manager saddled with a truckload of new tasks to ask for coaching or training for fear they might appear weak or incompetent in their new role.
          I do admire the intent of companies that prefer to promote from within.
If you do promote from within, and want to see your candidate succeed, consider doing two things;
1.) Hire a management coach to confidentially mentor their growth.
2.) Invest in management training to ensure their continued success.
          To not do so is unfair to your new manager, their staffs, your customers and your company.