friday fav

I'd like to introduce a new feature for my blog today..."the friday fav."  This will be my way of showcasing a weekly spot, commercial, short film etc...a production I have seen that I admire and would like to share with you.​

This particular spot is a PSA from a couple of years ago.  You may have seen it but it's definitely worth another look.  I have no problem saying this is the most effective, well done spot I have ever seen...period.  Every time I watch this, I get chills.  This PSA has an amazing concept, great use of music, NO voiceover (none needed), spot-on editing and slo-mo ...all I can say is WOW!

please let me know what you think, of this concept in general or of the individual videos I will post.​  Feel free to like, share or leave a comment.

Thanks and have a great weekend!

it's OK to KISS your billboards

Billboards can be a very effective means to advertise a product, service or business.  I personally think billboards can be a great addition to an overall advertising campaign.  But, (yes there is a but)…I’ve noticed lately there is a tendency for advertisers to “cram” too much information on billboards. 

So my humble advice is STOP IT!!  Putting too much info on a billboard is the absolute worse thing you can do…you might as well take those dollars and throw them out the window while you drive down the highway because you will get the same return on your investment…a big fat NOTHING!

I have had this conversation numerous times with business owners, and I understand the urge to put as much info as possible on a billboard.  “We want our name/logo of course, but we also want our web site address, and oh yeah we need our street address and that we’re just across from xyz store, and we HAVE to have our phone number and…

Next thing you know the board is a big mess of words with no clear message and you’ve thrown a bunch of money out your car window.

So my short and sweet advise to any business owner is the tried and true method of KISS…keep it simple stupid.  Yes this works here too.  NEVER put your address or phone number on a billboard…yes I said “Never.”  Your target audience is driving down the road.  They are behind the wheel of a car, sipping hot coffee.  The last thing you want them to try and do is use their phone to add your number.  I once saw a board on I-95 with a QR code on the board!...not kidding…I couldn’t believe it…a QR code on the interstate.  Thank goodness I didn’t also see folks pulling over to get out of their cars to walk up to the board so they could “scan” the code??!!

So keep it down to the bare minimum…your name/logo, a nice eye-catching visual like a colorful picture, one brief message with 5-10 words, (shoot for 5) and maybe a web url.  And let that be it…nothing more. You must resist the urge to add additional info.  Save the details for your youtube video or your website.

Remember, billboards are best used as an extension of your brand, as part of a campaign of messages across multiple platforms.  Let the other platforms get into the details and your boards just be a visual reminder that, hey we are here and we want to help you.

And speaking of help, please like this post or leave a comment so we can help improve our blog.  And if you want more info on the best ways to market your business, please contact us at cre8tive pixel, we’ll be glad to help.  

watch, win and fail

It’s the last Thursday of April…can you tell it’s also the first day of the coveted “May Book.”  That’s right, local TV is putting on their best (or worst) face because Nielsen will be counting viewers, (or at least trying to give it their best guess) so local ad rates can be determined for the next 6 months.

I’ll bet wherever you live, at least one station in your local market is giving away something…a prize you can win…(an iPad a day…cash money…etc etc) and I’m pretty sure the contest started today and ends Wednesday May 22…which just happens to coincide with the time frame for the ratings period.

Why?  Why do local stations do this?...because those who partake claim it brings in more viewers, which translates to more revenue.  But do you really want to buy your viewership, OR would you rather earn their respect by providing quality journalism, entertaining and informative programming.

I understand it’s a business and you want to make more money…yeah I get it.  But here’s something to think about…take the resources you would have spent on the contest and put them into providing a better news product.  I don’t know, maybe hire that weekend producer you so desperately need…or buy another portable live camera unit so you can provide more live shots…or maybe give your staff a raise because they work their butts off trying to provide the regions best local news and are never appreciated for their efforts.  Guess what…a better work environment with the best equipment and a full staff will ALSO translate into increased viewership and more revenue.

Most number one stations in most markets do NOT contest…because they are doing it the correct way…providing a professional, quality product, and doing so with staff that are good at what they do and proud of their work.

Providing a work environment that is supported by management is worth far more than any contest…and lets be honest, todays viewers are onto you…they know what you are doing.  So please stop it…stop contesting and start looking within your own organization.

Local stations have the advantage no other news organization has…they are LOCAL…in the communities they serve.  So remember that the next time you are considering a contest.  Don’t buy viewers; gain their trust and their respect by providing the best product possible.  They will reward you and you’ll get your increased revenue legitimately...by earning it!