Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications

Welcome Home Daddy and The Spin...

2009-07-11T07:19:11-05:00

Daddy is home for the next three weeks. He's been flying aircraft in Afghanistan for the past six weeks...and he's headed back too soon. Our son-in-law, Chase, is a captain and pilot for C-130's and this was the scene when he arrived home this past Friday.

Grand-daughter, Sailor waiting and watching the plane come into base a recording of a safe return. We're all so grateful and even though he must return in 21 days, the time to reflect is today.

Chase would blush and say it's not that big a deal. But it is...to him and the military families who are experiencing the increased violence in Afghanistan. While writing this post I heard a newscast that said more Americans have now died in 2009 fighting in this backward country fueled by a lust for a faith that calls them back to the 7th century than have died in Iraq.

It's tragic...and scary and far too often ignored by those of us living our lives "normally". Nothing "over there" is normal. But...it is here!

Or is it? That the Iowa State Fair...that icon of everything wholesome...is now taking your "vote" on their warped decision to sculpt Michael Jackson in butter speaks to the "other side" of normal. For folks reading this from outside of Iowa ya gotta be scratching your head. But, understand, this butter sculpture thing is a big deal here. For generations the Fair has honored various individuals by having their image sculpted in butter and placed in the Agricultural Building for thousands of folks to see.

But, Michael Jackson?

We've long contended that given the ongoing war(s) and how they have touched so many families from Iowa...that a sculpture honoring the military might be a fitting tribute. We've suggested other Iowans as well. And, now...feeling the public backlash the Iowa State Fair has suddenly suggested that the life-size image of Jackson is somehow tied to the Moon Landing by, Neil Armstrong. Yeah, right.. Now if only they could somehow get an Iowa angle to Armstrong...like, "Ohio native, Neil Armstrong, who first walked on the surface of the moon, has a third cousin Earl who lives in Earlham, Iowa (who is a Michael Jackson fan) and so we are recognizing those Iowa roots with the fact that Michael Jackson once performed at the Iowa State Fairgrounds...and..."

So, Iowa State Fair...who is your "spin team"? Even that is so far fetched nobody is buying it.

Two "take-a-ways" from this....no matter what business you happen to be in.

ONE: Be thankful everyday. Having Chase "state-side" for 21 days is wonderful. But, are we grateful each and every day for the little things we have? Time to get to it.

TWO: If you must "spin" for the media. Don't make the spin even less believable than the original decision. Unless you think, like some politicians, that the larger the lie the more likely people are to believe it.

Michael Libbie - Thanks for reading... You can keep up with us on Twitter @MichaelLibbie and learn more about our advertising agency, Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications by heading to our site, www.InsightCubed.com

You can also read us in The Des Moines Register...

Read...Like You Have A Passion For...Golf

2009-07-08T06:33:34-05:00

I subscribe to a number of advertising, branding and marketing blogs. I get to read at least one book a week on marketing and advertising. Why? Because I want to learn and take that learning to my clients and to the listeners of our daily radio show, Insight on Business. That is my job. So, the next question to you might be, "How many blogs do your subscribe to that are specific about your occupation? How many trade magazines cross your desk that you actually open? How many newspapers, online or hard copy, do you read? What trending reports do you receive?

Well?

Several years ago I attended a seminar with about 125 top level executives engaged in the long term health care industry. The speaker asked those who attended these same questions but started differently:

"How many of you," he asked, "are active in some sort of hobby and what is it?"

"Reading!", "Golf!", "Cycling.", "Horseback riding.", "Photography!", "Skiing."...the list got pretty long.

"OK, how many of you subscribe to more than one magazine or newsletter that has a focus on your hobby?"

80% of the hands went up.

"How many of you have ever taken lessons, from a professional, over the past six months, to get better at your hobby?"

Well over 50% of the people in the room raised their hands.

"How many of you practice your hobby or engage in your hobby at least twice a week in an effort to become better at what you love? Or how many of you watched a television show that focused on your hobby"

85% of the people there raised their hands. Then the sobering questions:

"How many of you subscribe to three or more journals associated with the long term health care industry?" About 40% responded they did.

"How many of you subscribe to a news service to keep you abreast of the issues facing your industry?"

Fewer than 20%.

"How many of you, in the past month attended a class devoted to your industry, or watched a training film about your industry or participated in a lecture to the general public about your industry?"

Less than 10%.....

But, we sure like to golf.

Read more. It just might improve your game...errr...Business!

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @MichaelLibbie and have a look at what we do by going to www.InsightCubed.com thanks for reading.

At The Risk Of Offending Some...

2009-07-05T13:41:03-05:00

Last week on our business radio show, Insight on Business, I had this story and I started it out the same way, "This may upset some folks but what is going on is also getting out of hand."

I recently attended a workshop that was being given by a business consultant hired by a group to teach on a number of subjects. The group made the choice of learning more about the work habits of "Baby Boomers", "Gen X" and "Gen Y" folks. The presenter did a nice job in sharing what motivates each group with regard to work, work environment, training and dealing with cross generational workforces.

He should have stopped there.

The next topic was about "Social Media" or "Web 2.0". You may have heard, "...a one eyed man is king in a community of the blind" and in this case it was true. Less than 1% of the 25 people in the room knew what a "Tweet" was, a Blog or even that Facebook should be something important to business.

I'm not sure what they paid the presenter but when he was done the vast majority of the group were confused and totally unconvinced that marketing by way of social media was something they could embrace. That happens when the speaker fails to translate the basics and then show how valuable social media can be. When a guy posts fewer than 700 Tweets and follows less than 300 people...ahhhh...

And blogging? Another fail. It was scary when he said, "Our tech guys have figured out how to put my tweets on my blog. I have no idea but they got it done."

Please... And that's the point. Buyer beware when it comes to getting a "professional consultant" to come in and teach marketing and social media. Not all "get it". And, we are seeing more and more of this in the market place.

Sour grapes they didn't hire us? Maybe...but had they...the folks at the meeting would have come away with a new understanding of how Social Media can work and work well. Maybe next time.

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications you can learn more by heading to www.InsightCubed.comand follow us on Twitter @MichaelLibbie.

Michael Jackson...In Butter? Seriously?

2009-07-01T11:25:56-05:00

Ahhmmm.. I leave Iowa for a couple of days and the place goes crazy! The word is out that the Iowa State Fair will "honor" Michael Jackson this year by creating his likeness (which one we're not sure) in butter to proudly stand near or next to the Iowa State Fair Butter Cow.

What are you people smoking over there?

Over the years the Iowa State Fair has had images of Iowa natives, John Wayne, Brandon Routh as Superman and last year Olympic Gold Medalist, Shawn Johnson. Garth Brooks has been in butter and so has the Last Supper.

But...seriously Michael Jackson?

Our opinion is that riding the wave of popular is more important than tradition...in this case. If the Iowa State Fair wished...they might have erected a memorial to Coach Thomas...first on our list. But there are others with a keen tie to Iowa and agriculture.

How about the current United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack? The first Iowan to hold that position in over 60 years. Or perhaps Mary Louise Smith a pioneer in women's rights. Norman Borlaug...anybody?

Looks like we'll miss that attraction in the Agricultural Building this year.

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. Follow us on Twitter @MichaelLibbie and read us in .

Supermarket Prices...STILL Going Up

2009-06-30T06:38:57-05:00

Amid growing unemployment, inflation fears and consumer saving vs.spending the prices you pay for food is still increasing. But, like they say, the good news is not by as much as in 2008.

Nielsen Research just released their Supermarket Pricing Trends and noted the increase of 0.44 percent is much lower than last year at this same time. They look at 45 different items that includes everything from butter to bleach and bacon to hot dog buns. Those same 45 items today will cost you, on average, $143.65.

Contrary to what we've written for our radio show, Insight on Business, the new survey says private label products have actually lost ground in pricing. In fact, private store brands fell by 4.7%. We don't think that is because of panic selling on the part of the labels...we do think it's a correction in the inflated pricing we saw from last year.

The report incorrectly suggests that the price of dairy items have fallen due to the fact they were "over priced" last year. Somebody in New York City must write this stuff. The real reason dairy pricing has dropped is because the dairy farmers are receiving less than half of what they made last year. In fact, times are so bad on many of the nation's dairy farms we're beginning to wonder if the commercial dairy industry might be the next thing to head "South of the Border". Meanwhile, anti-trust issues are popping up against the handful of companies that control the US milk market.

So, what does this mean to you...if you are in the business of selling products or services. We think it suggests you can raise prices...slightly IF you are trying to cover for increases passed on to you. However, be careful...consumers have more information today than just two years ago and it price adjustments are too far out of whack. Expect a backlash.

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications - Learn more about us at www.InsightCubed.comand follow us on Twitter, @MichaelLibbie. And, of course...read us in The Des Moines Register.

Wandering Charleston

2009-06-29T22:13:11-05:00

I'm in Charleston with the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association Summer Board Meeting. My goal...as it has been for several years is to learn, contribute and perhaps field a client or two. After all that's what we do...help folks sell more of what they make.

Today was a short day with little in the way of "official" business. So, I wandered the area near our hotel, The Charleston Place. If you are coming here to check out the wisdom of marketing and advertising there isn't much today. However something must be here for people to brave the high temps and higher humidity. Why would folks come here in the summer???

Have a look around. Each photo can be enlarged with a click. Just around the corner from the hotel is Meeting Street. Shop after shop after shop. Business today seemed brisk. People in town for Freshman Orientation for the College of Charleston. This is Williams Sonoma (stop me before I max out the card!) a favorite in an old theater.

And, I know how boring it is to watch "somebody's" slide show or photos...but humor me a bit.

There is a message at the end.

On the right is the entrance fo a church. A Unitarian Church...what is interesting is that around all of the churches I saw...there are the old graveyards. Lacking space like we do, the church just buried the folks "on site". What a hoot come Halloween.

Down in this section of Meeting Street, in the opposite direction of The Collage of Charleston, are a series of antique shops. Now, antiques here tend to be a bit different than antiques in Iowa. Old here dates back to the 1700's. I was in buildings, still used along Market Street, that were built 25 years BEFORE Iowa became a state.

Market street runs into Broad Street. This seems to be the professional section of the Old City. Plenty of law offices. I had to muse a bit...wondering in which set of suites the South Carolina Governor's wife may have visited before trying to work it out...with the "wandering head of state". (Side bar: Just what the heck was he thinking anyway?)

Row after row of very old homes turned into offices and upscale lunch and dinner places. Horse drawn cabs, trolleys and peddle-cabs seem to be a favorite mode of transportation in the Old City. (Side bar: How these guys wear SUITS, dark yet, during the summer here is beyond me. Give me flowing robes or something..yikes!) A word about the horses, I was told by one of the guys I visited with that the ASPCA or city or somebody will not let the horses work when it gets hot. How hot does it have to be? Don't know but I was glad I wasn't pulling around a bunch of folks!

I walked down a street off Broad and came on this cross street paved in cobble stone. Check the private home. All along the side streets these two and three story narrow homes are bunched together. Nobody has to worry about mowing the lawn here. But, watch your footing. A guy could sprain an ankle on these things. But...charming? You bet!

So...the marketing message here has got to be the word "charming". We've seen that floated around in number of uses...but this place has it. There can be NO OTHER reason to head here in the summer but...people do. I spoke to folks from all over this country and others who were just as amazed in the character of the area.

And...the city works the "look". Not every home is well painted and spiffy...but, you can forgive that because the look fits into the texture of the community. Lot's of fun and thanks for indulging me just a bit. Now...back to work!

Some Thoughts on "Amazing" Billy...

2009-06-28T22:10:24-05:00

This has been a very, very weird week.

Ed, Farah and Michael (all who were deeply involved in marketing and advertising) were, on Sunday morning, joined by the Uber-Pitchman, Billy Mays. I had finished my Sunday morning radio show and went directly to the airport and jumped on a plane headed for Dallas and then on to Charleston. Once at DFW I was checking Twitter and learned of his death, just a few hours earlier.

What was really odd is that in the June edition of the American Airlines magazine there was an article about Mays...and I had just finished reading it before arriving in Dallas.

Love him or loath him...he was truly amazing (Ah Mayzing!!)... We liked him.

For many advertising agency types Billy was like fingernails on a chalkboard. He wasn't polished, wasn't hip...he just "sold stuff". And that's why we liked him. While others would make fun of Billy...he wasn't beyond making fun of himself. Here is a video of him ordering McDonalds food and being...Billy. It's a classic. And it was filmed this past April.

In an age when "pitchmen" were thought to be too...old fashioned and not hip...Billy found his mark and was ready to move on to other avenues... But not now. So, call us silly...but we'll miss Billy Mays the self taught, self motivated, King of the Pitch. No more..."But there's more!!"

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications see our work or contact us at www.InsightCubed.com. Use Twitter and follow us @MichaelLibbie.

Twitter Top Ten - "Step Away From The Computer"

2009-06-25T22:56:23-05:00

On our daily radio show, Insight on Business I covered a post by Michael Brito a "community builder" at Intel. While we've written about our Twitter Suggestions in the past, Michael added to our list of five and rounded it out to the "Top Ten". During the show I mentioned I'd put my thoughts and Michael's together in one article. So, here goes:

Before you make a grave error and think that, "Now that I have a Twitter account people will follow me to the end of the world and buy the stuff I'm selling." Pay attention.

Do your research before engaging potential customers.

It might be a good idea to get the "lay of the land" before you start stroking your keyboard. Let's say you are actually wanting to "sell" something and you have decided to use Twitter to engage customers. Take a few minutes and do a search on the conversations going on that might impact your efforts. And, if somebody is already saying something about you or your product...it might be good to know.

Determine your goals...

What is it that you want to do with social media like Twitter? Some folks use it to do research into brands or potential products. Some use it to support existing customers. Some simply want to sell. Know what you want or think you want before you start.

Should you be a "Brand" or a "Person"?

Careful here. We believe that people still buy and communicate with people. Rare is the company that can stand alone on their branded logo as the background photo and bio photo. Sure, Southwest Airlines @SouthwestAir can do that. But our company? Nah...our advice is get personal and use a real photo. Unless you have some burning cause or a solid remarkable trade mark.

Build Twitter Street Creds...

It's not about the number of followers, tweets or retweets it's about what you have to share. Remember, this is a CONVERSATION. Be interesting and trusted and the rest will happen.

Track the Conversation...

Michael Brito suggests that you invest in a paid tracking service to better track the conversations. We're not too sure. We think if you do this like a job and really pay attention to this and other venues you can pretty much gather the information you need. However, if it's critical that you don't want to miss anything. Perhaps.

Be Less Structured...

We've all seen it. Somebody gets on Twitter and bangs out ten or twelve messages and then "goes away" for the day. OR...all the messages are "selling something". What a turn off. We've long stuck to the 80/20 rule. Communicate first and sell later. Nobody likes to be "dogged" with every post.

Listen & Observe - Then Engage

If you just charge in and expect the Twitter Community to embrace you... Well, you're in for a surprise. Once again, this is a conversation. Just like in a real person to person conversation if you spend all the time going down one "rabbit trail" while the person you are talking with goes down another..there is no communication. It's a shouting match. Grow the relationship.

Be Real and Believable

Don't have somebody "Tweet" in your name. The community will smell it out quickly. And, give it some time. Not everybody is going to come running . Remember what we wrote about being a trusted source of good information?

Track & Measure and Re-Tool...

If you know what your goals are (see above) it should be pretty easy to be able to track and measure your progress. Are you hitting your goals? If not, maybe back up and try something different. A different tone...even a different account if you really fail.

Engage Now...

Some people go through the planning stage FOREVER. Meanwhile as you are planning you are losing time. Like we said, don't just dive in without a plan...but make the plan quickly and get started. It's better, we believe, to be in the parade than standing on the sidelines and watching it go by.

Thanks for reading. If you want to keep up with me it's @MichaelLibbie and to see some of the work we do and listen in to our radio shows head to our website, www.InsightCubed.com have a look around.

Michael Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications where we, like you, are always learning. If we can help more...give us a call.

Plum Jam AND All That!

2009-06-22T10:01:21-05:00

There is always a "first" for everything. Some of you may know that I now do a daily radio show called, Insight on Business. For 90 minutes Monday - Friday we talk advertising, marketing, public relations, communications. You know the "stuff" we do for our clients every day of the week. It moves fast and, should you wish...check out our Daily Show Page where we set the topics of the day.

But...back to the first.

On Friday my guest was Ginger Johnson of Snap Creative Works. Not only was she full of energy and right on topic, creative communication, she brought a jar of Plum Jam.

Now, I've been doing radio since Marconi and from time to time folks bring their book, a sample of their product or sometimes a cookie. (Once a guy brought me Kim-Che...the bottle broke and stunk the place up for a week.)

But...Plum Jam? From a person who works at connecting people and things?

Brilliant and it shows the "out of the box" way to get positive attention and drive home your point.

So...when you make your next sales call...will you take something that is expected or do the unexpected and be remembered?

Follow us on Twitter @MichaelLibbie, find out more about our advertising agency at www.InsightCubed.com and...come on by for the show, when you can.

Michael Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications

Small Business & Customer Service - A Myth?

2009-06-18T10:22:56-05:00

Early this week Todd Razor from The Des Moines Business Record was a guest on our radio show, Insight on Business. (Here is the link from that day.) Todd is the Online Editor for the company that produces that product and others. He was a great interview.

His online offering today for Iowa Biz had to do with poor customer service among small business owners. It was written by another friend Tom Vander Well. Good stuff.

Poor customer service is something we've written about many times. We also get to counter those stories when we receive good service...however, those articles are few and far between.

But, poor customer service among small business owners? Yep. I have, over my career, spent hours in small business meetings where I hear owners moan and groan about the "Big Box Stores" or "Corporate Stores" taking away their business. How often have I been in a Chamber meeting where this is a topic of some discussion? They complain to their associations, legislators and just about everybody else.

But, the fact remains that too many small (and large) business leaders who produce poor customer service seem to be unaware of what is really hurting them. Look, most of us, just like Tom says in his article, WANT to do business locally. But so often it's impossible.

So, today...quit whining and perhaps put some polish on how and what you do. Gather your people together and remind them who they really work for. And, if you need a shot in the arm...call us. Shucks, it's better than letting folks walk out of the door...never to return.

Let's do business...and service who is really Number One. The rest will follow.

Thanks for reading...you can learn more about our advertising agency by heading to our site, www.InsightCubed.com, follow us on Twitter @MichaelLibbie and join our daily radio show, Insight on Business. Here is the link to the daily Show Page.