Does Your Phone Compliment You?

A few years ago, Apple redefined the parameters of advertising a product. Not only does a product need to be functional, but it also needs to be convenient, personal, and beautiful. Those are no longer added bonuses - they are defined as a necessity. After all, the products you use become part of your image; therefore, they should complement and compliment you. You don't want something perfectly functional that doesn't also look good sitting on your desk, do you?

Consumers no longer see a sign, make a phone call, and patronize a business that can serve their needs. In an oversimplified sense, this may still describe a small percentage of business activity. But years of thriving economic conditions have made changes to our perception of needs and wants. It's not unusual for consumers to browse shopping malls, online websites, and even Facebook with a subtle inclination to impulse buy. Looking for someone to tell them what they want (or better yet, what they need), consumers are open (and have become accustomed) to powerful marketing messages that suggest where that "extra" money should go. Apple was one of the first companies to capitalize on a changing consumer mindset, and gave it a boost to a new level when they rolled out all the "I"s. It's not a "youPad" or a "wePod." It's a fashionable, necessary accessory that links you to the top bracket of the consumer crowd. "iPhone" - do you? You must - it fits your needs. Whatever they are - it fits them. Functional? Of course, but that's not where the real value lies. Doesn't it look slick? You need one. You're slick, too. Everything about you should say "slick." Are you listening to me? You should. I'm slick. iPad.

Cue a new consumer reality. Suddenly needs and functionalities are on the same par as wants and extras. In fact, they sometimes fall behind. Don't waste your money on something that satisfies your needs. Spend it when you can have your cake, eat it, get the solid silver plate, and have your teeth (and your friend's teeth) cleaned afterward. Why settle for just cake? That doesn't do anything for you, does it? Peripheral advantages - that's what you really need. Cake is just cake. My cake will make you a star. Isn't that what is most important, after all?

It's a definitive shift in advertising structures and schemes. No longer can businesses expect that because they put up their shingle people will come running to buy their product or service. In fact, it can be detrimental to a business if this is the extent of their marketing. It's not about you providing a service or product - however good it is. It's about delivering it in a gold package, in a surprisingly good timeframe, with bells attached and ideally a self-softening ingredient that will automatically soothe the skin of the consumer when they open it. Value in your product? It's there - right under the big red bow.

Advertising - it's no longer just putting up a sign. It's not just the value of your product or service - it's how you deliver it. It's how you follow up with it. It's how well you center the consumer in your processes. Put an "I" in it, if you can.

Get Their Attention

It's an anomaly.

It's an anomaly.

Sometimes it's that simple - the success of a marketing tool can stem directly from making people think (or read) twice. Find unique ways to grab attention and generate interest in your product. Irregularity is one of the common denominators for many Facebook status updates, Tweets, and YouTube videos that go viral. The same holds true for television commercials, radio ads, and print media - each have their own strengths and opportunities to powerfully communicate a message.

The next time you intend to place an ad, don't stop at your company name, logo, contact information, and a nice picture. Use the space you've reserved in the most creative, eye-catching way possible. It won't cost any more to have a unique approach than it will to have a completely blank space. But you will see a difference in your return on investment.

Want some feedback on your advertising? Call (403.929.1380) or email me today - before you commit to another round of generic messages. Take action today and see a better bottom line tomorrow.

'Tis the Season

So this is Christmas.

It's the time of year when the flyer pile in the mailbox is enough to jam it open and spill onto your front porch. Advertising is highly competitive as charities and not-for-profit organizations kick in campaigns against commercial enterprises; everyone is vying for your extra dollar during the season when they know there is a greater chance that you will be spending money on more then just essentials.

From a business perspective, this is undoubtedly the season of spending. An optimal time to encourage people to explore the path of generosity (and indulge themselves while they are at it). A thousand signs, posters, Twitter messages, emails, flyers, radio and television commercials, and any other conceivable means are devised to attract your attention. Some businesses thrive solely on holiday spending to make up for losses incurred in other seasons of the year.

So how do you come out on top in this rapid firefly of advertising and competition? How do you keep your business on top in the milieu and confusion and onset of crowds of people that are openly looking for the best deal? How will your business handle these conditions and survive the current economic climate; better yet, how will your business boost its profitability and dominate its market in the new year? It's a buyer's market - why will consumers come to your door, and keep coming back in the future?

At ActionCOACH, we offer business owners the knowledge, tools, and skills they need to succeed. We offer the support, clarity, and third-party perspective that gives you the competitive edge. A franchise built on real-world experience, testing and measuring, continual adaptation to meet the changing needs of businesses around the world, ActionCOACH has the ability and means to increase your profit margins and drive your business to new heights of success. We have a proven system of expertise that works. It's business owners like you that joined with ActionCOACH and took their company to the top. You can, too! Make this season the beginning of a new era - and look forward with hope in a fantastic future for you, your family, and your company. This will be the best Christmas yet ...