Advertisement Ideas: Lessons Learned From Relay For Life!!!

As I watched this video of one of my Relay Idols, Jeff Ross, A member of The American Cancer Society Relay For Life Hall Of Fame. Jeff’s lessons from this presentation can carry over to almost any business model when it comes to marketing and delivering your message. The key is to be consistent with your message. Jeff’s passion for The Relay For Life teaches us that if we are to attract and keep clients/customers we must be passionate and consistent. We also learn that having a team that can lift you and promote you will help you to succeed in business.

Relay for Life teaches us the importance of planning, implementing and evaluating a project so that we can grow our business. Relay shows us the importance of advertising as with put promotion and advertising people do not find us and if people do not know about you and how to do business with you they will go elsewhere. Relay teaches us about brand recognition, now that I have been involved in Relay for Life for over 15 years I can spot that logo a mile away. Relay teaches us how important it is to make our customers happy and why we need to turn our customers into advocates. We learn that when we deliver what we promise and give people a reason to engage with us that we increase the chance of them becoming a customer. Relay teaches us to overcome excuses as many people will tell you why they don’t want to be involved or why they do not want to make a donation this is like someone making excises why not to do business with you. Relay teaches us how to use the logo so it is used in a way that gives people a good feeling so that they will want to do business with us. Relay teaches us the importance of knowing your target audience so as to effectively market to them. The way you attract a 21-year-old is different from the way you attract a 75-year-old. Each demographic that you seek has a different way that they will resonate with you. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Lessons Learned From Relay For Life!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Why You Still Suck At Business!!!

The reason you still suck at business could be attributed to you not following these 4 basic agreements. On Friday I saw first hand why a so-called marketing expert continues to struggle in his business as I called to ask about his donation to The American Cancer Society Relay For Life and his answer it is out of my hands I made a formal complaint against you with The American Cancer Society. He violated agreement #1 and now I see why he has jumped from client to client with little or no success.Like many so-called entrepreneurs in South Florida he was all flash no cash, good talk but no execution, and more promises without delivery. What was funny is the donation was only going to be $18.70 and all he had to do was visit http://main.acsevents.org/goto/jdogg2 and make a donation. Another gentleman who wrote me on Facebook and told me to remind him about the donation which I did several times and guess what still no donation. Again a gentleman that shows pictures of his fancy car and fancy house but doesn’t deliver on his promise. Then there are those who said they would participate in POINTS FOR THE CURE BASKETBALL EDITION AND DONATE $.10 per point their team scored and still haven’t made a donation. By not being impeccable with your word you are doing yourself and others a disservice and probably costing yourself business that is going to a competitor who is impeccable with their word. Remember one oh crap will ruin a 1000 at a boys. This could be why you still suck at business.

The second principle is very important as it is important for you to do what is right in your heart and not take anything personally. I used to get upset when people would come to The WRPBiTV Studio to tape a segment for my TV Show The Anything Bucket, which airs on www.wrpbitv.com on Tuesday at 6:30 PM EST and not buy their clip as I believe the clip is well worth the investment of $150. Then I realized it wasn’t about me at all and I shifted to be thankful to and grateful for those who did purchase their clip. Those that understand the value of having the clip as part of their marketing mix are those I choose to do business with and to recommend. It is very interesting to hear why people do not buy their clip and then I remember that there are two types of people in the world action takers and excuse makers. Those that are proactive with advertising and implement sound advertising ideas and make solid advertising choices are the ones who are successful while the others still suck at business. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Why You Still Suck At Business!!!

Advertisement Ideas: How To Engage Your Audience!!!

Today as I was making phone calls to garner support for The 2015 American Cancer Society Relay For Life of West Boca Raton, which I am The Fund The Cure Lead for I realized how important it is to engage, listen, and then prioritize. Many of the calls I made were fruitful and productive because of the willingness of those who were able to engage in a meaningful conversation. I had many who listened to me and who were open and receptive tot he idea of donating at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/jdogg2 if I sent them a link via email. Some people were not so open to having a conversation and just didn’t get the idea that every encounter you have either via the phone, via email, or in person can benefit you in some way. By engaging your audience and being focused on what you would like the outcome to be you will be able to focus and as a result increase your chances for success. It is time for you to remove the idea of I am not interested from your vocabulary and show interest because you never know who you may be talking to or how the person you are speaking with can be of service and value to you. It is also time to stop telling people you are too busy to talk to them as this does not endear you to them and doesn’t help you to garner an ally for your business. Today a women told me over the phone she was too busy and had to hang up the phone. If you are too busy to speak let your phone go to voice mail so you can focus on who you are busy with or the tasks you are busy performing. I walked into an insurance office yesterday to share Relay For Life and seek a donation and the women stated she was too busy. I said okay and left her my card so she could look up Relay For Life at her leisure. I walked out thinking wow you are too busy to engage in a meaningful conversation for about 5 minutes that could change someone’s life. I also thought wow I won’t be seeking an insurance quote from her. Te realtor who brushed me off won’t be getting a call when I am looking for a home. The key is to always make time for people as they maybe be a solicitor today but tomorrow they may be a customer and they may know others that can benefit from your products or services. The idea is to always engage the people you are coming in contact with throughout the day.

Engage the audience by listening. Today I asked a woman for a donation and asked her if she could share the fact that she was donating with others she said she would donate but wasn’t comfortable with asking others. I thank you. I was also intrigued by the work she told me she does so I told her about my TV Show, The Anything Bucket, which airs on www.wrpbitv.com on Tuesday at 6:30 PM EST. I invited her to be a guest. She was open to the idea and asked me to email her information, which I did. About 2 weeks ago I saw a man get out of his car and I noticed his license plate NFL Alumni I walked up to him when I caught up to him and I introduced myself and gave him my business card. He called me from Chicago this week and after we have a conversation paid me compliment and said I really inspired him. I was at my local Starbucks about 6 months ago when I overheard people speaking about marketing so I went up introduced myself and gave them my card. One of the ladies called me and said how she admired the fact that I engaged her and the people she was with because many people don’t do that anymore. She was a guest on my TV Show a few weeks later. The point is when you are doing business or representing a charity it is important to engage your audience. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: How To Engage Your Audience!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Sell Your Why Not Your What!!!

As we begin to promote ourselves we need to make less of what we are promoting but why we are promoting it. Too many times entrepreneurs and marketing executives get caught up in the what and forget the why. people don’t really care about the what they care more about the why you are doing things. When you engage potential clients/customers don’t tell them what you do tell them why you are doing it. A typical example in when I am asking people for donations for Relay for Life I always tell them why I am collecting using some of the programs that are funded when someone visits http://main.acsevents.org/goto/jdogg2 and makes a donation. I inform them of facts like we want to provide rides to and from treatments and doctor’s appointments for cancer patients through Road To Recovery which provided 380,000 rides to and from medical appointments in 2013 that number is expected to increase by 10% for 2014. The key is to let people know why you are doing something. In business it is when the customer/client buys into your why that you will have the most success with your business endeavors. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Sell Your Why Not Your What!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Black Friday – Stop The Madness

Advertising Ideas: If You Only Knew How Black Friday Originated!!!

I do not know for sure if Black Friday had its roots in the slave trade. I checked the dates of some of the historical advertising posters for the buying and selling of slaves and they corresponded to the Friday after Thanksgiving. In the 1870’s they would advertise the sale of slaves, which brought consumers to the slave auction. They made large profits but may have sacrificed their spiritual well-being. Today consumers are targeted for consumer goods on Black Friday and as a result of the TV Ads, the radio ads, the newspaper ads and the social media ads we see that this may be working. During slave trading auctions fights would break out and people would be killed. During Black Friday now fights break out and people are killed. In both cases you are left pondering for what? In both slave trading and today’s Black Friday you are feeding the coffers of the so-called privileged few who have found a way to manipulate you and convince you to stay in a position of lack. Ask yourself am I any better off with the new shiny object than I was before I had it.

Snopes.com states that the term Black Friday does not have anything to do with the slave trade. I wasn’t there so I can only go from the evidence that Slave sales were advertised and many of the dates correspond to the day after Thanksgiving. My point here is that advertising can often be used to manipulate people and keep them in the lack mindset. Regardless of the origins of Black Friday is has created madness that has seen more people hurt than helped. Maybe we should abolish Black Friday as encourage retailers to close on Thursday and then run business as usual and thus not encourage the lawlessness of the few who ruin it for everyone.

You mean to tell me you couldn’t wait for that sexy bra at Victoria’s Secret, or the big screen TV at Walmart, or the New Nike Sneakers at Footlocker. My recommendation is to get your priorities straight and ask yourself how will your life be enhanced by the new bra, the new car, the new TV, or the new sneakers.

Instead of buying into the hype of Black Friday find something productive to do such as donating time or money to a charity. You can start by visiting http://main.acsevents.org/goto/jdogg2 and making a donation. Greed is one of the deadly sins and greedy people will be punished. The only way to stop the madness is not to buy into the hype. As a business you want to create a positive image so people will buy products from you all year round. Having people trampled at your store doesn’t do that.

Remember it is not the materialistic that matters but the spiritualistic. Imagine if you just kept consistent in all you did as a business owner all year round and did not try to manipulate the public the results you might have. Imagine of you as a consumer did not buy into the hype and manipulation the prices you would receive. My message is to stop looking at what you don’t have and be more appreciative of what you do have. When you market and use public relations properly you won’t need the hype of Black Friday or other sales to drive business as people will come to you because they know you, like you, and trust you. It is time to go back to the idea that everyday is a day to be civil to one another and to be of service and value daily. Black Friday may boost your profits but it may not boost your soul. Black Friday may move merchandise but it may jeopardize you image and good will. So think about how you conduct your business.

My message to you is to stop the madness!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Pounding It Hard!!!

In basketball when we say someone is pounding the paint it is a compliment. The mentality to go hard to the basket should translate to you in business as you need to be pounding the paint, your area to cultivate new clients/customers. In basketball we refer to the ball as the rock and when that rock goes in it is a success. Getting the rock in the paint and scoring baskets doesn’t come easy it comes with hard work, dedication, and a commitment to be better every time you take to the court. In business clients/customers just don’t appear you need a plan of action to get them and keep them.

In basketball a slam dunk excites the home crowd and energizes the team. In business sometimes you have to go above the rim and throw down a monstrous dunk to excite your clients/customers and energize your brand. Ask yourself how can I pound it hard and create a slam dunk? One way is to look at your resources like your phone. When was the last time you connected with a past client/customer to see if they needed your product or service or if they knew someone who could benefit from doing business with you. I was recently in a jewelry store and the gentleman behind the counter who identified himself as the owner was complaining how bad things were and how his sales were off. I asked what are you doing to promote your business? His answer nothing. There is your answer you can not score points and garner clients/customers or retain clients/customers if you do nothing. I suggested he take out his phone and every day call 10 clients/customers that he hasn’t seen in a while and ask them if they have gold to sell or know anyone who is looking to sell gold. His answer was I don’t have time for that. I thought wow you just told me your business is off and you don’t have time to build it. I told him my theory about pounding it hard, which is to go out and hit the streets and find the people who are in your target audience and hand them information about who you are, what you, do and why they should be doing business with you. He said no people will come I have been here for 20 years. I said thank you and wished him luck. I went down the street to another jewelry store and the owner who I knew through some of my sales/marketing jobs said to me JDOGG things are doing well I have those calendars you like. I thanked him and asked him what he was doing and he say like you always say pounding it hard, I have my street team out everyday flooding the area with fliers announcing my specials, I have people calling past clients/customers to update records, I am sending out mailers to a target specific audience, I am attending networking events, and supporting charities. I left thinking that is why one business struggles while another thrives. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Pounding It Hard!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Roll Up The Sleeves And Get To Work!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Roll Up The Sleeves And Get To Work!

In my business consultations I tell my clients all the time it is time to roll up the sleeves and get to work. I believe it doesn’t matter who the governor is, who your mayor and council people are, who you state senator is, who the president is because in the long run they have very little impact on your business. It is you who will determine your level of success. It is you who will find the right people to help with your marketing and media relations. It is you who will build your brand. The decisions will be yours as an entrepreneur. Sure you will delegate your responsibility but when it comes to the success of your business it lies with you and only you. If you choose not to advertise and your business slows down that decision is on you not your competition, not the economy, not your workers, and not any other outside influence. I speak to many entrepreneurs and I hear so many excuses that I say okay which are you going to be the excuse maker or the action taker? The key to have a successful flourishing business is to work on it everyday and make sure that you are creating brand awareness daily. Ask yourself how am I rolling up the sleeves and getting to work? What can I do differently?

In rolling up your sleeves and getting to work you will begin to reap many benefits like a buzz in the community, customer/client loyalty, and of course increased cash flow. I was out collecting donations recently after delivering my All You Have To Do Is Ask Presentation when I came across a jewelry store and the owner said I am not interested things are slow. Granted I look like a salesperson when dressed in a suit and tie but I am also a potential customer who can also refer people business. I said to the gentleman to bad as I could have brought you some people. He argued and said not in this economy I simply asked him when was the last time you called customers you haven’t seen in a while?His answer I don’t do that. I said okay maybe you should consider adding that to your mix instead of complaining, and I left. Think had he rolled up his sleeves and called 10 previous customers and asked for referrals he may have seen a jump in his business. When things are slow that is when you should be making personal contact with people and letting them know you are still here to serve them and asking them if they know 2 people who can benefit from you services. Remember that every encounter you have is a chance to build a stronger customer/client base and to enhance the customer/client experience. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Roll Up The Sleeves And Get To Work!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Put Out Or Get Out!!!

In the ever evolving market place where social media seems to be taking over it is still important to get out from behind the computer and put yourself out into the market. I have written many times about the 3 feet rule and the importance of getting out into the community. You can have all the social media sites in the world but if people don’t know about them they do not serve you well so it is important to get out and let people know who you are, what you do, and how they can connect with you. One key when putting yourself out there is to answer the question how you can be of service and value to the people you come in contact with.

Advertisement Ideas: Ways To Put Out Instead of Getting Out!!!

When attending networking events it is imperative to get to know a few people at the event. Do not try to get to know everyone build relationships one event at a time and each time you go to the event greet the people you meet and then set a goal to meet 3 new people so that you build your data base and also strengthen relationships. Think of the one thing you want to offer those you meet and then how you will follow up. The idea is to pick a lane and stick to it. As you build relationships through networking you will find that you are able to convert people into clients as you continue to be of service and value. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Put Out Or Get Out!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Why Doctors And Big Pharma Piss Me Off!!!

As I sat in my cardiologists office debating why I did not want to take Lipitor and would do a natural holistic approach I realized just then why doctors and big pharma piss me off. Doctors piss me off because of their holier than though attitude and the belief that they are the only ones that know what is best for your treatment. Big Pharma pisses me off because of all the advertising and side effects. I asked my doctor why would I take one prescription drug that can cause other issues. It also pisses me off that even with insurance my echo-cardiogram will cost me $250 out of my pocket. The idea of affordable health care sounded great on paper but on practice it has done exactly the opposite of what was promised. Doctors also piss me off because they hide behind their degrees and try to justify the high rates they charge. It all comes down to the idea that there must be a better way. Why is is you can buy a bottle of Tylenol in a CVS for $5.99 and the hospital wants to charge you $7 per pill come on hospital administrators give me a break. Hospitals, doctors, big pharma, and insurance companies have become greedy money grabbers who have no regard for their patients.

Here are more reasons why big pharma pisses me off, the side effects of Lipitor.

Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Why Doctors And Big Pharma Piss Me Off!!!

Advertisement Ideas: CVS Re-Branding! Smart or Stupid?

Today, Corporate America is all a buzz about the recent name change for CVS and the decision to remove the tobacco products a month earlier than expected. This leads to the question of whether a name change is good or bad for business? If CVS is to be a totally health based store they need to remove more than tobacco products from their shelves. They will need to stop selling sugar laden drinks, candy bars, food high in sodium and any other items that are considered to be risk factors creating health issues. The CVS name has come to mean community, value, and service to the loyal customers it has garnered over the years. The change from using pharmacy to health should prove lucrative as the connotation of pharmacies in The United States has become a detriment as they are often viewed as evil corporations out for the big money grab. Depending on what other steps CVS takes in the re-branding process will determine whether this was a smart business move or a knee jerk stupid decision to satisfy shareholders. The removing of the tobacco products may prove to be advantageous in the long run as the staunch anti-smoking groups may be more inclined to shop at CVS.

CVS is not the first large chain store to remove tobacco products from their stores. A few years ago Walmart removed tobacco products from their shelves and have also added healthier food choices in their stores. As a result their earning have seen a trend upward. Though I only go to Walmart to fill prescriptions and check my blood pressure I have seen first hand the increase volume of people shopping there. How much of this can be attributed to the removal of tobacco products I do not know, however from the outside looking in it seems to have been effective. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: CVS Re-Branding! Smart or Stupid?