Radio Commercial and TV Advertising Tips

What Does It Cost to Advertise On TV?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 22:13:00 +0000

I am asked every single day something that I call the "Magic Question" - What does it cost to advertise on TV?

In reality it is a very complex question to answer. It involves figuring out exactly what it will cost to produce your commercial and what your expectations are for it - and then what station, time and scope of campaign you would like to have put together for you. Add all of this up and you have the answer to "What it will cost to advertise on TV".

To get a better understanding of the costs associated with advertising on tv, I suggest checking out this article.
It goes into greater detail and should give you a good idea on just how affordable it can be to advertise on the boob-tube. (When is the last time you heard it called that!?)

If you are a business owner and looking for some solid answers right now as to the cost of advertising on TV for your business, please give me a call at (231)468-9972 or email tony@televisionadvertisingexperts.com . After learning a bit more about your business I will be able to give you an exact estimate on what a television advertising campaign would cost.

How Facebook is Screwing Small Businesses

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 19:16:00 +0000

A few years back the "big" thing that facebook was encouraging and marketing to businesses was "to create a fan page." Through this page, a business could build a following of opt-in fans that could then see the posts of the business and participate in threads started by the business.

From about 2010-2011 this worked great! Businesses loved it because it was a great way to have one on one contact with their followers for a low cost. The main expense was the manpower and hassle of getting the "likes" or "fans". In many cases people would buy facebook ads to gain exposure and garner these likes. (So there was certainly some hard costs involved for those who thought this to be the wave of the future.)

Then in early 2011, with the flip of a switch back at the 'ol fackbook plant - It appeared as though something went horribly wrong for virtually all business "fan pages". View counts on new posts plummeted, comments died out and posts from brands were suddenly reaching a fraction of the eyes that they once reached?

What was going on?

Now we know. Facebook appeared to be getting ready to launch "promoted posts". Basically a way for you to pay them to reach the fans that you likely already paid to get - and who were willingly asking to hear from you. But now according to the "promoted post" option on facebook ... If you want to do that in almost any scalable form that will cost you.

As a marketer, this to me seems like very bad business. Its the equivalent of purchasing a radio or TV commercial, buying the air time on a radio or TV station and then suddenly before its about to go to air - the radio station call you up and wants to charge you extra to keep the transmitter on so you can "reach" the people that you've already spent so much time, energy and money gathering the attention of and paying to reach.

The value of having a huge fan base on facebook has plummeted in the process. "Likes" or "Fans" are no good if you can't reach them, or if you have to pay more to reach an existing base of followers that you very likely already spent money on getting.

Keep in mind, facebook already offers paid ads for business, but that doesn't seem to be enough to make them happy. They now want to take what many hungry businesses spent money growing (through facebook ads) and now charge a second time them to eat the meal they already bought. And charge a new fee for every single bite. While this may be doable for Pepsi, the average medium or small business - (who would most likely have more of a personal connection with their audience to begin with - THAT CHOSE TO FOLLOW THEM) doesn't have $20 - $100 to shell out every time they want to post and actually reach the followers that they have gained.

Sorry facebook, a move like this that truly gives the middle finger to small business is another reason NOT to move further away from your erratic marketing schemes. Maybe soon the old chain email about "charging" for an account will also come true. Only time will tell.

Tony is a professional marketing and advertising expert in the areas of radio, TV and web. Visit http://www.bestradiocommercials.com or http://www.televisionadvertisingexperts.com for more on his services.

Is Advertising On The Radio Effective?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:03:00 +0000

If there was a medium out there that had a listener base of more than 94% of the population, you would certainly consider it a very effective medium. Wouldn't you?

Does a medium like that actually exist? At this day and age there are so many mediums that bombard the consumer with advertising messages, how on earth could one medium still command such a large audience? How could such a medium command and engaged audience?

Sure it's easy to "pop up" every now and then in front of someone, but any sort of advertising medium needs to have a way to engage with that viewer or listener if its going to be effective.

You would think that a medium like that, that reached such a large percentage of the population would be extremely expensive to advertise on. It would also very likely be out of reach for most small and medium-size businesses, right? Wrong.

The medium that I'm talking about does exist. The medium is radio advertising.

Recent studies actually show that radio listenership is on the rise. CDs are slowly disappearing out of people's cars, and the frustration of creating that perfect "playlist" is losing its novelty effect. People are going back to a pre-programmed way of listening to music and using the medium as a way of escaping the stress of daily life as they commute to and from work. Often times a radio will be played from a web stream or a box on a desk during work hours, or just in the background at home.

The fact of the matter is that radio reaches more people than almost every other advertising medium out there. Sure it has its pros and cons, but with more radio stations out there than ever before it also remains one of the most targeted mediums for reaching a select clients. It is also very affordable.

When you compare all the options available to the small or medium-size business today, radio continues to come in is one of the most low-cost options when you consider the cost of reaching one individual listener at a time. (cost per thousand or cpm). It often times breaks down to just pennies. This translates to being 10x to 100x cheaper than other mediums.

Radio lives and breathes by delivering long-term results and maintaining relationships with its clients. Radio only works for the "radio station" if its advertisers are happy. Often times radio stations will throw in "added value" options such as extra commercials or promotions to support a commercial schedule to help ensure a positive experience for its advertisers.

The flexibility the medium and targeted focus have made it a top choice for advertisers since its inception years ago.

To have all of your questions about radio answered, feel free to call me or email me direct. My direct line is (231)468-9972 or you can email at tony@bestradiocommercials.com or visit my radio commercial website here.

Satellite Radio Advertising: The Pros and Cons

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:21:00 +0000

Space, It iѕ loaded wіth floating metal objects that rоtatе the planet and beam sіgnalѕ back to our gadgеts. One of these floаtіng metal objects is a satellitе created to push radiо programming to оur receivers. In the Unіteԁ Ѕtаtes thе only brand on thе industry is Sirius XM ѕаtеllіtе radio.

Satеllite radio is filled with hundrеdѕ of stations with pгоgrammіng that range frоm hit to obscure music; talk programming from conservative views tо hоmе desіgn recommendations tо Нowаrԁ Stern. In reality іt is a medium that offers something fог everyone. This is 1 оf the causes it's bесomіng аn incredibly widely known alternative fог sаtеllite radіо maгkеtіng.

A standard misconception concеrning the medіum is that it іs "free of cоmmегсiаlѕ". While the music stations do ѕtау freе of any satellite radio mаrkеtіng, the talk stations dоn't. Тhеу have numerous commercial breаks per hour just as аnу speak show on АΜ oг FМ radio wоuld. The shоws that оffeг marketing and advertising sоlutіonѕ are quite distinct & оffeг advertisers a method to mіcго-tагget an аudience with a particular interest.

What ԁоes satellite radio marketing соѕt for a ѕmall busienss? Τhе answer to that quеѕtiоn wіll differ dependent on the statiоn you want to advertise оn. Some of the more unique formats wіth a small аudiеnсe numbers саn fall аs low as fifty dollaгs per commeгcial, while the top stations such as Ноwarԁ Stern might cost hunԁreԁѕ of ԁоllаrѕ рer airіng for the reаѕon thаt the reach of а station like this really is much higher.

Satellitе radio offеrѕ smaller & medium-sіzed cоmpаniеѕ that do not have а big budget the орpогtunity to reach а national audience.

Тhiѕ is somethіng nеw, because the fee роint to reach a nаtional audience on national Τеleѵіѕiоn or a syndicated гаdio show may be fаг to expense prohibitive for mоst minimal and medium sіzeԁ firms. With a beginning budgеt of around 4,000 UЅD, ргаctісally any business can have theіг meѕѕage broadcast to the nation thrоugh ѕatеllite radio mагkеting. The message can аlѕo be targeted to quite a precise group of folks bаseԁ upon the рrоgгаmming that the radio сommеrсial airs on. Programming tагgetѕ range fгоm pet lovers to cіgar enthusiasts to new moms & eѵerything іn between.

What was once the work оf science fiction, is nоw a medium that рutѕ an additional tоol in the arsenal of modest buѕіnеsѕ when they need to get an productive mеѕsagе out to the masses on а limited budget.

For a free quote on satellite radio advertising or to find out how to advertise on satellite radio call (231)468-9972 or email info@satelliteradioadvertising.com .

What does Radio Advertising Cost?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:30:00 +0000

The answer to this question really depends on three things:

· The population city you want to advertise in.
· The station you are advertising on
· What time of day your commercials will air

There is no “one for all” menu board that anyone can give you to determine the price your advertising will cost without doing some research first. What I do is match my customers advertising goals to those three main points. Location, the station that would best reach the type of customer my client needs and the time of day they are listening.

I always have to ask myself questions about budget that magic number plays a big part in any radio commercial or advertising campaign.

“Can my client afford to be on the air during drive time?”

“Can my client afford to be on multiple times a day?”

“Can they be on more than one station or would it be better to focus the budget on one highly targeted station and go for high frequency?”

These are all issues that run through my mind as I work with a business owner that wants to advertise on the radio.

Oftentimes what one may “guess” to be the best idea for advertising; or approach to take will not be the most effective. Unless you work in the industry day in and day out and know where these pitfalls lie, it is very easy to fall into one and loose a boat load of money in the process. It’s important not to go into radio advertising blindly and just use your gut. While it can be the most effective medium out there to promote a business, it can also suck your bank dry if you are not doing it right.

There is a method to the madness of radio advertising. There is also usually some form or radio advertising for virtually any budget in any city. Obviously it will cost more to advertise in larger cites because you are paying to reach more people, but the options are there. It’s all a matter of placing a quality commercial in an optimized place on the correct station for a set period of time.

The first thing you need to do if you are considering radio advertising is to ask yourself three things: Who do you want to reach? Where are they located? What can you offer them to make them take action? Those are key points to consider before starting a radio campaign.

If I can help in any way, feel free to reach out to me through the info in the resource section.

Resource:
I strive to help business effectively reach their target customers through compelling & creative radio commercials. For help with radio commercials or radio advertising in any part of the country be sure to email tony@bestradiocommercials.com or call (231)468-9972.

How Many People Listen To The Radio?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:44:00 +0000

Chances are if you are reading this article with a preconceived notion that radio listenership is low or down. You may have a friend who said “Who listens to the radio anymore?!”. After reading this you will be able to give them they answer on an industry they thought they knew so much about. The short answer “Millions my friend, millions”… then trail off with an evil laugh.

Radio attracts nearly 66.5 million adults to its airwaves each and every week. Not bad for a medium that many people call “old”. The reality of the situation is this: Yes, there are other medium out there to advertise on, however there is yet to be a medium that reaches people in the mass number that radio does. The recent study showed that nearly 93.1% of all adults 12+ listen to the radio each week.

So think about it, nearly 93.1% of the people in your city are tuned into a radio at some point in the day. Maybe it’s on the way to or from work. Maybe it’s streaming the local station at their desk to play the contest that promises to give away hundreds each day. It could be the clock radio as one gets ready to head off to a busy day in the office or as that same person calms down for the evening and drifts off to sleep. Radios are all over the place, and people are using them.

That is why the medium of radio is so effective and relied upon by millions of businesses every year for advertising their messages. Radio commercials reach thousands of people at a time. Compare this to more current mediums and break down the numbers of what it costs to reach an individual and you will find that number (defined as cost per thousand) to be the lowest in radio. If you were to ask me "what is the cheapest way to reach the most people. “I always tell them “radio”.

Of course there are other factors that play into the medium of radio and radio commercials being effective. Being on the correct station at the correct time with an effective radio commercial are key. This however can all be mapped out with an industry expert free of charge if you know where to look. (Hint: Check my contact info in the resource box).

With a little research (which you are clearly working on right now), investment in your business you too can utilize the medium to your advantage.

I strive to help business effectively reach their target customers through compelling & creative radio commercials. For help with radio commercials or radio advertising in any part of the country be sure to email tony@bestradiocommercials.com or call (231)468-9972.

Three Tips For Successful Radio Advertising

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:28:00 +0000

Before you make the investment in radio advertising one of the first things you need to consider is who you are advertising to. This is your target customer. If you do not know who your target customer is, take a step back and re-examine your business strategy. This should be something that you can spit out within.02 seconds of someone asking you who your target customer is. Maybe your target customer is multiple people. If this is the case ask yourself what is it that you want to advertise and who is the target customer for that specific product or service.once you've established this the next three steps should be fairly easy to get through.

Step one: Identify what it is that would drive customers to want the product or service you are offering. When people come to you and actually purchase your product or service what are they telling you? How are they describing the need you fulfilled by offering a product or service? This will be key once to get to the step of creating the actual commercial. The commercial itself will need to address this need.

Step two: Hire someone who knows what they're doing when it comes to writing a commercial. No matter how creative you think you are or how well your writing skills were in high school, chances are you're not qualified to write an effective radio commercial. Believe it or not there is a method to the madness when it comes to writing effective radio advertising copy. A small investment of hiring a radio commercial production company will be well worth it versus you scribbling a few lines down on paper that your employees will inevitably tell you "sounds great", yet your audience will completely miss the point of. Trust me I do this for a living and I've seen some very well-intentioned copy come across my desk from some very charismatic business owners, while the copy may look good it may not work. That is why we do what we do.

Step three: Identify the radio stations that best fits the audience you are trying to reach. This can be a bit tricky if you do not understand the demographics of radio. Just because you like a radio station, does not mean that your audience is listening to it. This is a pitfall that I see hundreds of business owners fall into every year. The business likes a specific type of music, while the target audience is listening to the polar opposite radio station. Ask the company that you had create your radio commercial if they can assist you with the media buy and negotiation with the radio station to help ensure your message gets to the right audience.

I strive to help business effectively reach their target customers through compelling & creative marketing. For help with radio commercials or tv advertisingbe sure to give me a call or email tony@bestradiocommercials.com or call (231)468-9972 .

3 Ways TV Advertising Is Becoming More Effective

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 21:12:00 +0000

I know… The title is a statement that you don’t see very often these days; I however believe it’s true. The reason TV Advertising is becoming more effective than ever before is a combination of several factors in play right now. Some of these factors may even be viewed as the “arch enemy” of the very medium itself. When you have lemons turn them in to lemonade right? Here are some way’s TV has been doing just that.

Factor Number One: Targeted Programming. The first reason for TV advertising becoming more effective is a more qualified customer viewing select programming. There is more effective, more on target programming out there than any other point in HISTORY. Instead of being passively viewed by huge masses where most could care less about your commercial, you can now reach a viewer who is engaged in a program that relates to what you are advertising. Giving you a much higher chance of connecting and converting. Don’t believe me? Just look at the tra-gillions of shows you could care less about on cable! Guess what! Millions of others out there DO care about those shows! Each niche show is another outlet for niche marketing.

Factor Number Two: Social Media. Some view it as a battle between TV and Social media, when in fact Social Media is HELPING drive TV views! Prime example – The VMA’s, when Beyoncé’ showed off her baby bump or Lady Gaga came out dressed as a man, the social media world LIT UP! So did millions of TV sets! People didn’t watch the clips second hand the next day on YouTube, they watched it live on TV as in real time they found out about what was going on through social media. They also stuck around to see the rest of the show… and the advertising. This happens with all TV shows now. If something is happening on a sitcom I can guarantee you that it is being talked about on social media seconds after it airs live. Social Media is driving more viewers back to the glowing box in the middle of the room.

Factor Number Three iPad’s and Laptops: The computer is no longer the escape box in the den or extra bedroom. It’s on our laps, in our hands and lives in our hands at all times. Most of the time at home, that place is in front of the TV. Is it a distraction? – Yes. HOWEVER if you are in-tune with this fact, you can tailor your message on TV to the viewer who has the net at their fingertips with a ploy to visit your website or get your app for a FREE burger, gift card, or stick of deodorant. Offer them something FREE on TV, and you will grab their attention, and not only get their eyes for 10 seconds, but for the following 5 mins while they go to your site and get the goods you promised in the TV advertising. If your product is any good, you will likely have a customer for much longer than that initial 10 seconds on screen.

If you ever need help creating an effective professional TV, Radio, Web, or Video Commercial please give me a call. It's what I do! I have hundreds of clients who would be happy to tell you that that our work doesn't "suck". My direct line is (231)468-9972. Or you can email me tony@televisionadvertisingexperts.com . You can see samples of our work at http://www.televisionadvertisingexperts.com and http://www.bestradiocommercials.com .

3 Ways to Make Your TV Advertising Effective

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 19:23:00 +0000

Any business that utilizes TV advertising knows that there is a fine line between catchy and effective. If you try to be too "catchy" or "creative" the viewer can lose sight of what the message is all about. You may succeeded in keeping their attention and making them laugh, but you will have failed at bringing them in as a potential customer. If you go over the top on what your biz is all about, you lose them in a fit of boredom. So what can you do to make your TV advertising soar above these hurdles and pitfalls to stand out with success on the screens? Here are three simple principles to remember when creating your TV Advertising message.

#1 Get a better Focus: All too often I see and hear businesses trying to cram a little bit of everything into a thirty second message. Their thought process is "I want to show off all the amazing things we can do!". While in theory, that's not a bad idea. In a realistic world of ADD attention spans and constant bombardment of crap commercials, it is the last thing you should do in a TV advertising message. You need to focus in on who you are trying to reach with your specific message. If that is a 28 year old female with a mid-level income who lives in the burbs, your message needs to speak to THAT person. Try to craft a message that reaches her AND her 60 year hold Harley loving hermit uncle who lives in a trailer 30 miles out of town and you will FAIL. While your biz may target each customer in some way, a combo message cannot. So focus your message on your prime target, if there are multiple targets - create multiple commercials with a unique focus for each ad.

#2 Get a Better Commercial: FREE IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER. I cannot stress this enough. Especially when it comes to commercial production. I know the TV station may be offering "FREE" or super cheap production, but YOU WILL GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. If you are going to invest in an air plan on TV why wouldn't you invest in commercial production that looks good and is created by people who know how to take your message and make it work. Generic pan shots of your storefront and specials flashed across the screen just won't cut it. You wouldn't buy a house and never get the power hooked up because it was an "added expense", don't cut the power to your TV advertising campaign before it starts. Hire an outside TV production company to make something GOOD!

#3 Make a Better Offer: This is where you need to really look at what your customers want from you, what can you give them that would make you stand out by leaps and bounds above your competition? Don't buy into BS like "we have better service" or "we have better selection", because while that may be true - Your customers are sick to death of hearing that! They don't care. They want a real offer from you, what can you bring to the table that no one else can or is willing to do. Find that hot spot, get it in your TV advertising and you will be golden.

And oh yea… If you ever need help creating an effective professional TV, Radio, Web, or Video Commercial please give me a call. It's what I do! I have hundreds of clients who would be happy to tell you that that our work doesn't "suck". My direct line is (231)468-9972. Or you can email me tony@televisionadvertisingexperts.com . You can see samples of our work at http://www.televisionadvertisingexperts.com and http://www.bestradiocommercials.com .

3 Ways Radio Commercial Testimonials can be Effective

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:14:00 +0000

You hear them all the time in radio commercials. Customers raving about a select business or service. However, not all radio commercial testimonials are created equal. The old rule of "any exposure is good exposure" does not apply here. If you heard someone talking about a service you were contemplating using, and it came across as very "forced" or "fake" - It may taint your idea of the service. It may even make you feel as though they were trying to "cover up" something... otherwise... why would they have "fake" customers talking about them? Even if that is not the case, that is the perception to the consumer. However when a radio commercial testimonial ia delivered in a genuine and sincere tone - it can be super successful! Here are the three keys to a successful radio testimonial.

The first key that you should have on your radio testimonials are real people. It sounds obvious, but more times than not testimonials are bogged down with bad voice actors reading from scripts written by the business owner in only the way a business owner would describe their business. The average customer does not walk into a store and say "wow, you have the best selection and the lowest prices around - with deals starting at 9.99 - that's amazing!!". You know your business better than your customers - so you talk in "owner speak". If you want your testimonials to sound real AND connect. They need to come from the way your customers talk. How do you know what they are saying... Ask Them! Whey they talk about your business they my describe it in ways you never thought of.

The second key to a successful radio testimonial is not TELLING people what to say. Too often, I have clients bring me REAL customers who want to talk about their business. Then I see them walk into the studio with a script in hand! Newsflash! They are not talking about your business at this point, they are reading from a script you gave them, and might a I add... this is the worst type of testimonial. At least an actor can make an attempt at sounding real. Joe Blow with a script in his and is going to butcher what you want him to say about your business like you wouldn't believe! No scripts when it comes to testimonials... Just questions... Questions that the people who are being recorded do know know in advance!

The third successful radio testimonial key is - Keep it customers only. No one wants to hear your children talk about "daddy's store" or your wife make some stupid off handed remark about her husband or vice verse. People want to hear what other people just like them thought about your business - period! Keep the children talking and spouse jokes for the Christmas party presentations.

An effective marketing plan starts with an experienced marketing team. If you have any questions about TV Advertising or Radio Advertising call me anytime - (231)468-9972 or email us here. Or visit http://www.bestradiocommercials.com . My company has been one of the most trusted names in Television Advertising and Radio Advertising for years.

Talking Fish Infects Radio Commercials

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:05:00 +0000

Have you heard the "Talking Fish" radio commercial from a certain fast food restaurant?

This single radio commercial has been the centerpiece of countless face book postings, tweets, and comments on blogs and websites all over the world. What makes this particularly interesting to me is the fact that this is from a radio commercial. Yes, a radio commercial. A medium that many say is "not relevant" anymore. A medium that supposedly "no one listens to" (even though a recent survey found that 94% of Americans listen to the radio at some point every single day.) Its a medium that has quite a bit of power in 2010.

Is it still the only outlet to get new music from? No. Is it the only outlet to get news and weather from? No. Have these affected the effectiveness of radio commercials? No.

Don't get me wrong... To have a successful marketing campaign, online tools sure as hell better be part of your marketing arsenal! You also do not want to overlook time trusted tools such as radio, TV, even print sometimes as well... even though they may be "old". Old is not a bad thing... it means they have survived many storms and keep delivering results to their customers. People thought radio would die when the magic picture box came around too... that was about 60 years ago. Guess what... still alive and kicking... and with more listeners than ever before.

I'm not saying that simply because you create a radio commercial - magically customers will be driven to your doorstep. Content is king... in any medium.... from radio commercials to YouTube! If the content in that commercial is blah - no one will care or take Acton. If the "fish" commercial that became so viral simply said "we have yummy fish sandwiches" - it would not be so popular. The fact that it included a singing fish talking about how "if it were you on the bun, you wouldn't think this was funny" - made people talk.

Now, you probably shouldn't incorporate singing fish into your radio commercials or marketing campaigns, but you do need relevant and compelling content if you want to stand out and make it work. The next time you put your best marketing foot forward - remember the "fish story", and where it started. For content to be super viral, many times it starts on something as simple as a radio commercial.

An effective marketing plan starts with an experienced marketing team. If you have any questions about TV Advertising or Radio Advertising call me anytime - (231)468-9972 or email us here. Or visit http://www.bestradiocommercials.com . My company has been one of the most trusted names in Television Advertising and Radio Advertising for years.

Will My Radio Commercial Work?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:53:00 +0000

Will your radio commercial work? That is a question that any business owner who invests any amount of money into radio advertising asks themselves, and then asks the producer of the production followed by their friends, family, brother, sister read and pets and anyone else who will listen to the question. Not surprisingly every person who listens to that advertising has a different opinion. Whose opinion is right though? Is it that coworker we've been working with for years who doesn't have any advertising experience or radio commercial writing experience, but they're good friend? Is it your brother who's been super successful in their business yet has never once written or ever used advertising? Or is it your gut?

Nine out of 10 times I would say your gut is more accurate than the slew of unqualified people you consulted with. I'm not saying these people don't have valid opinions. I'm saying they don't have qualified opinions. If you needed surgery would you trust the opinion of your brother or coworker over that of a medical professional? If the answer is no, then why would you trust their opinion on what makes an effective radio commercial over that of a qualified professional who writes advertising for living?

What makes a qualified professional in the field of radio commercial production? Is it your salesperson from the radio station? Probably not. Their job is to sell you the commercial, unfortunately with so many radio station cutbacks they also become the person writing your radio commercial. Again nine of 10 times... not very effectively. So what do you do if you want an effective radio commercial? You seek out professionals who do it independently. These are people who do nothing but create radio commercials. People who get feedback from their clients on a daily basis as to what works, what doesn't work, what did work and what is currently working.

There he is no silver bullet, and no one will ever be able to tell you 100% that your radio commercial will work wonders. But an educated guess from a qualified professional who knows what they're doing in the field will give you a much better chance of success than the opinion of an unqualified acquaintance.

"But the radio station said they will produce my radio commercial for Free." Why would I want to spend any money to have it produced elsewhere? Because the quality of the radio commercial you get from the radio station is night and day compared to professional production company. One will likely work, one will not. I'll let you guess which one has the better chance at success. Bottom line... you get what you pay for. The radio station will discourage you from having a professional outside of the radio station create your radio commercial, why? Because they would rather see you spend that money with them on the media buy, rather than have you use those dollars to have an effective commercial produced outside their doors. It's not the fault of the salesperson, they probably don't know any better. But now you do.

Radio Commercials that are effective

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 08 May 2011 14:16:00 +0000

Just what does it take to get an effective radio commercial on the air? Is it a great voice? Is it a message that is easy to remember? Is it an offer that you can’t refuse? The answer to all those questions is quite simple. A resounding YES, YES and YES.

Radio commercials first need to have an appeal factor that makes them stand out and captures the attention of the listener. Once the attention has been gained, there needs to be a clear message. The message needs to be followed by a powerful offer from the business. This needs to be good, not just “we have the best selection” or “take 10% off everything”. It needs to be something that the target listener of the commercial finds very hard to turn down.

If all three elements are in play at 100% – you have an effective radio commercial on the air. If one of the elements is coming weak, the chances of success serious dwindle.

So what would a consumer consider a good offer? How do you clearly communicate it? What type of “attention getting strategies” work in a radio commercial?

The answers to those questions are unique to each and every business. If you would like to discuss your goals for bringing in more customers to your business, feel free to give my radio commercial creation firm a call. I would be happy to discuss ideas with you free of charge. You can reach me at 231-468-9972 . Or visit Best Radio Commercials website.

Just as you know your business inside and out – I know the world of writing radio commercials inside and out and would be happy to help you put together an effective message that drives customers through your door. I look forward to hearing from you… And who knows… you may be hearing from me on your drive home from work today when listening to the radio.
An effective marketing plan starts with an experienced marketing team. If you have any questions about TV Advertising or Radio Advertising call me anytime - (231)468-9972 or email us here. Or visit http://www.bestradiocommercials.com . My company has been one of the most trusted names in Television Advertising and Radio Advertising for years.

Radio Commercials that Work Better than Others

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 08 May 2011 14:14:00 +0000

Radio Commercials are all around us. I mean think about it… in the waves that are flowing through the air right now… there are probably dozens of them playing right now, and even flowing right through us. If you’re one of the lucky ones who can pick up “radio waves” in your brain, you get to hear them whenever you want. The rest of us are forced to use a tuner of some sort.

Although think about it… Who actually “wants” to hear a radio commercial? Probably not too many people, however every day we do listen to radio commercials. The ones that we remember… not many – simply because so many do not stand out. But the ones that do… these are pure gold for the companies behind them. A memorable radio commercial can bring in hoards of business in the form of new customers.

Radio Advertising and its Effects

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 08 May 2011 14:11:00 +0000

Radio Advertising. Ask around, and you will find a mixed bag of emotions and thoughts. Some will say “ITS AMAZING… IT drives in LOADS of business”. Others will say “I tried it once and quit”. How could there be such variance of opinion on a topic if say both people ran businesses that were virtually identical? What did one do that the other didn’t? Is it all luck?

Just as a doctor needs to ask questions to diagnose a problem, we need to look at what each business did different to identify what went well and what went wrong.

I would venture to say that one business invested in frequent air-plays on a radio station that had high listener-ship with their target customers and had a professionally produced commercial that was creative, to the point and made a compelling offer.

The other, I would venture to guess has one or a combination of the following problems. A message that was off target, audio that was NOT professionally produced – making the business sound cheap and un-trustworthy, air-times on a radio station that did not cater to that businesses target clientele and/or very infrequent air play.

But how much is enough when it comes to air-play? What should a professional radio commercial sound like? What radio station best reaches your target clientele? Just as you know your industry inside and out, I know mine and would be happy to help you fill in the answers to these questions, and any other questions you may have about the industry.Radio Advertising isn’t right for everyone, but for many it can be like striking gold if done right.

Television Advertising Experts.com

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:45:00 +0000

Just launched our new site!!!

Television Advertising Experts.com ! Very excited to offer full Television Advertising production services to ALL clients now! Here is a sample of our Television Advertising work!

Political Television Advertising

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 23:51:00 +0000

Are you ready for it? "But it Just ended!!!" you say! While that is true, the stage is about to be set for the 2012 Presidential Bid, and if you think the last 2 years have been ugly... Get ready for an all out backyard wrestling match between congresspeople, senators, candidates, your pet dog lucky and the neighbors second cousin Murray.

But what really makes a successful message when it comes to political advertising? If history is any lesson it is made up of two very simple things. A message that is both "Simple" and "Emotional". Sounds to simple right. Its not. In fact many candidates have taken things too far, trying to over-explain issues and agendas only to loose the interest of their audience. This may not be exactly how you want a voting public to think... however it is... so lets stick to reality. Its is the way a majority thinks, and the majority is who every candidate is after.

Why is that? Because the well thought out individual who does their homework, knows the issues, and knows exactly what each candidate stands for will never be swayed by political television advertising. The people who will take the political advertising into consideration are the sideline viewers. They have little time to research every single issue or may lack the resources to do so. In the giant pie chart of the general public, this group has the biggest piece of pie. Unfortunately, this group is also the group that is often times taken advantage of in tricky, confusing, manipulative political television advertising. Advertising that comes across as both "simple" and "emotional". While there is nothing wrong striking the an "emotional" cord with a "simple" message, its important to remember that the message needs to be accurate.

After the dust has settled, or even in the middle of a storm - if that "simple" and "emotional" message is construed as slander or defamation of character and brought to court. It can very quickly derail an otherwise strong campaign. Something that neither the candidate or the general public should have to put up with, when trying to find the best people to lead their communities into the future. So weather you are a casual viewer of political television advertising or a candidate trying to craft a message. Remember two things when watching or broadcasting - "Simple" & "Emotional".

How to make a Radio Commercial Relevant

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:46:00 +0000

If you are airing radio commercials for your business, take a moment to look at the ad copy. Then ask yourself… does this script speak to my target customer of today? Are the terms reminiscent of how your customers speak? Are the descriptions accurate and appealing or do they sound over-used and cliché’?

I recently spent several hours driving across a state listening intently to local radio, and what heard what disturbing. Especially in an economy where every penny counts. I heard radio commercial after radio commercial filled with weak offers, non-existent call to action lines, and less than appealing voices calling for the consumer to take action . If just ONE of these commercials had a little more time spent on it - ironing out the details – reviewing its goal - it would have been a shining diamond in the rough of the radio commercial landscape.

I was hearing terms like “space age technology” in a message targeted at 20 some-things. I’m sorry but the space age technology line was outdated by the late 80’s. Twenty years later, it’s an antique term.

“Biggest variety” “great selection” – These I hate too. It describes nothing. Everyone has a selection. What makes your selection different? Point that out!

WWW… Please stop with this! Everyone knows www, hell you don’t even need to type it anymore! “Visit us online”. Really? Why? What’s the ploy of visiting you on line… give me a REASON! Please DON’T send me to your site, if it looks like it was designed in 1995 by your cousin’s son for a school project.

I’m just scraping the surface here. I could go on and on for days. Bottom line, If you advertise. Make sure you know what is being said about your business in those “advertisements” or they could very quickly start working against you as compared to “working for you”.

How to Test a Radio Commercial

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:41:00 +0000

I often hear the following words from new clients who have never advertised on the radio before “I just want to test radio… And I don’t want to spend much… What can we do?”. I completely understand where they are coming from. If one does not know how the medium works at attracting customers the “test” radio campaign will cause many to walk away without ever giving it a fair chance to produce positive results.

Let me ask you this. Would you “test drive” a car for 400 miles and only put ¼ of a tank of gas in it?

When the car broke down, would you blame the car for not performing to your expectations?

Of course not! If you want to drive the car 400 miles you will fill it up with sufficient gas to do so. The same is true for radio or any form of marketing. If you want to “test” a medium of advertising – You need to give it sufficient fuel to see what the realistic results can be. Just a quick squeeze of the pump will likely not get you any sort of measureable results when driving the car. Dedicating 1/4^th of the funds you otherwise could put towards a marketing campaign and expecting to see any sort of measureable results is simply foolish thinking. Results are measured at the end of a journey, not with-in the first quarter of it.

So what should you do to “test” a radio commercial. Think realistically. That is the best advice I can give. Give it a shot for 3-4 weeks with the budget you would feel comfortable spending as if it was not just a “test”. This is where you will see realistic results.

Just because you say “If this test works I will come back and spend lots more”… Will not magically enable you to get some sort of crazy “test rate”. Radio, TV, Print, Web – They all only have so much space for prime advertising, and guess what… someone is going to buy it at a fair rate. The key here being a fair rate, no gouging, just the going price. There is room for negotiation on all mediums. Just don’t go into radio advertising expecting to get it for next to nothing as a “test” when the person right behind you is ready and willing to pay a fair rate for the same time space you want to “test” something. Instead, go into it prepared to see what the realistic results would be on a budget you are comfortable spending for the time you want to be on the air.

The media wants you to come back and spend more and will very likely give you as much as they realistically can for your budget to get you to come back and be a repeat buyer. There is that word again… realistic. Keep expectations in this realm. If you run a realistic campaign put together by an experienced professional agency like Best Radio Commercails.com – you will likely see realistic results.

Satellite Radio Advertising vs FM Radio Advertising

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:40:00 +0000

It’s a debate for the ages… Ok maybe not quite that dramatic but it is a debate and a question that any business person looking to reach their target audience needs to ask themselves. Both have their pros and cons. As someone who works in the industry on a daily basis and has made countless media buys and who’s voice is heard on hundreds of radio commercials for both Satellite radio and FM Radio – let me share with you some of the things I’ve learded over the years so you can make an informed decision.

Let’s start out with FM radio. If you are looking to reach a specific city or just a few cities this may be the best route for you to take. The messages can be tailored to each individual city and population. It can be targeted down very narrowly by city, format and time of day. The costs will vary depending on the city you want to be on the air in. The larger the city – the higher the cost per airing. Don’t expect to run a radio campaign and get the same results in Des Moines as you would in NYC on the same budget, have realistic expectations for price differences based on station, time of day, and population.

Now let’s look at Satellite Radio Advertising. This has to be one of the most cost effective ways to reach a national audience on a budget. If your business has no geographic restrictions when it comes to finding new clientele – this may be the route for you. Satellite radio offers quite a bit of targeted programming to reach virtually any demographics, at targeted times of the day for a fraction of what it would cost to air individual FM campaigns in individual cities. Granted you are penetrating less people per square miles than a targeted FM campaign in an individual city, you are still reaching thousands in a wider geographic area. If you have the budget of a company like say “Pepsi”, you will likely want to do both. However, if you are a smaller dot com or a start up wanting to reach a national audience this is a decent route to take. The amount of listeners to major satellite radio stations (like CNN, FOX News, Oprah, Martha, etc) often equals to that of about two major market cities combined. While you may pay anywhere from $400 - $800 per spot in the major markets for FM to reach that kind of an audience, on satellite it will likely be a fraction of that depending on the time of day and station you are on.

Both Satellite radio and FM radio have their pros and cons. It’s all about identifying what avenue is right for your business and your budget. If you need any help with this – Feel free to drop me an email any time or give me a call. I would be happy to answer your questions.

What does radio advertising cost?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:22:00 +0000

This question is the equivalent of asking – How much does food cost at the market? – There are skittles and there is steak – all have very different prices. It’s the same with radio advertising. There are many factors that play into an effective radio campaign.
Some of these key factors are location, length of campaign, time of day it will be airing, amount of times it will be on the air, and the station it is going to be on. The price of a single bottle of water in an upscale restaurant will be very different than the cost of a single bottle bought in bulk at a big box store. Both are water… however both are found in very different settings. Sorry, I wish it was a simple question that I could throw figures out to you on. But every campaign is different!
The vast amount of options is a positive if you are a business person! With so many options, we can explore several options that may fit the budget you have in your mind. Some will reach more people, some will reach less people. The important thing to remember - almost all will reach people, and people are needed to keep you in business. Each plan will have stats attached as to what can be expected for exposure with your target customer.
“That’s great and all… but what about prices?” - Again… “What does food cost at the market”? There are effective plans in some areas for 1k or less and there are effective plans for 50k. It all depends on the size and scope of what you want to do and where. I can give you a ball park for your specific situation and market, which varies from market to market based on all these factors. If you would like to explore what these options in your area are, feel free to drop me an email. I would be happy to help point you in the right direction!
An effective marketing plan starts with an experienced marketing team. If you have any questions about TV Advertising or Radio Advertising call me anytime - (231)468-9972 or email us here. Or visit http://www.bestradiocommercials.com . My company has been one of the most trusted names in Television Advertising and Radio Advertising for years.

How Effective Are Radio Commercials?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:22:00 +0000

The answer to this question is quite simple – As effective as the person who wrote it. Contrary to popular belief (and contrary to what we hear all too often) an effective radio commercial should not just be a mundane cliché’ ridden script (i.e. conveniently located, don’t miss this, best selection ever, you won’t believe it!, etc) read by a deep voiced, over enunciating buffoon. Although, many times this is what we hear – so we think “that must be how it is done”.
It makes me sick to think of all the money hard working small and medium sized business people sink into ineffective radio air time, when if they did a simple Google search for “radio commercials”, they could have very easily found a production firm that could help them create a very effective radio commercial for the cost of a dinner out with friends. You wouldn’t work all year to get in shape, get the perfect tan only to walk up to the diving board and attempt to dive into a pool void of water. So why would you buy air-time only to fill it with a poorly written and produced radio commercial. If you are going to do it – do it right the first time!

So… getting back to the main point – Just how effective are radio commercials? They are very effective! When written by someone who takes the time to fully understand your business, your goals, who you want to, reach, and what you are trying to accomplish. Not just write a script based on the broad strokes of your entire website or yellow page add.
Getting down to the nitty-gritty of how your potential customers think, answering their questions before they even asked them, and creating that itch to find out more about your business are all keys to an effective radio commercial.
An effective marketing plan starts with an experienced marketing team. If you have any questions about TV Advertising or Radio Advertising call me anytime - (231)468-9972 or email us here. Or visit http://www.bestradiocommercials.com . My company has been one of the most trusted names in Television Advertising and Radio Advertising for years.

How Effective Is Radio Advertising?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:21:00 +0000

This is a question that I get asked on a daily basis, so I thought I would sum it up in an article for all those out there searching for an answer. It’s quite simple really – Radio Advertising is as effective as you want it to be.
What do I mean by this? There are several factors that come into play when measuring the effect of a radio advertising campaign. Just as we learned in first grade – there is always a “Cause” that comes before the “effect”. So if you want a successful radio advertising campaign – let’s take a look at what can “cause” this to happen.

First, you need an effective message: A message that is put together by people who know how to write an effective radio commercial. Often time’s businesses will hire a professional radio commercial production firm to help them with this. While radio stations often offer “Free production” and “Free script writing” – the quality and effectiveness of these “free” efforts pale in comparison to what a small investment in a professional radio commercial production company can do for you. Bottom line, if you are going to do it – do it right. “Free” hardly ever means “Quality” or “effective”. If you have more questions about what an effective commercial consists of, drop me an email. It is listed below.
Second, you need an effective on-air schedule. Don’t just buy air time for the sake of buying air time. You will need frequency and consistency in your message if it is going to be effective. This often times requires being on the air for at least 3-4 weeks with a schedule that reaches the same people several times over in order for your target customers to take action. If you have more questions about what an effective on air schedule consists of, drop me an email. It is listed below.

Third – This ties into number two. Your commercial must be airing on stations that effectively reach your target audience. Quite simply – it’s demographics. No one in their right mind would to try and sell feminine products to a station that targets hard rocking males. Make sure your message is on target! The “most listened to” station in the market – may not be the “most listened to” by your target customer.
An effective marketing plan starts with an experienced marketing team. If you have any questions about TV Advertising or Radio Advertising call me anytime - (231)468-9972 or email us here. Or visit http://www.bestradiocommercials.com . My company has been one of the most trusted names in Television Advertising and Radio Advertising for years.

How Advertising is like Exercise

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 May 2010 00:10:00 +0000

If you want to have and maintain a healthy body you need to work out and exercise on a regular basis. It makes no difference if you "worked out really hard" 3 years ago and had the perfect body. Chances are if you stopped this regimen, you no longer have that body you once did. The same goes for a healthy business. If you advertised heavily and had loads of business "a few years ago" and now customers have stopped coming in. The answer as to why - relay should not be rocket science. Just as your muscles stop getting worked out if you stop exercising - your customers stop getting reminded of your existence if you stop advertising.
One of the most baffling things I hear often from business owners is the following: "Business is really slow, so we cut back on advertising, now its even slower... I don't know what to do". Did it occur to these people that the key to getting customers in the door is making them aware and excited about their businesses? Fading off into obscurity, is a sure ticket to a going out of business sale - NOT a one way ticket to increased business.
But "advertising" wasn't working for me! Let's say I walk into your business, pick up a Dixie cup from the water cooler, pulled the tab for water and nothing comes out. Should I immediately assume that EVERYTHING you sell "wont work"? Of course not. Your advertising plan may have been simply getting old. Every message has a shelf life. When was the last time you talked about something different? Maybe it was in a medium that does not have the same following as it once did. Or maybe – you were not getting enough exposure for what you could afford and need to find another outlet for your marketing dollars. I’m sure the answer is not simply to “Stop advertising”.
Chances are you are confused if you are in this state. You know your business! NOT the world of marketing. That is why at this point I would suggest talking with a marketing professional who can show you the options that are available to you on your budget. They work on a commission, so most of the time you never have to pay them anything as the outlets for advertising they get you on pay them for bringing in business. Most importantly – be honest with them. If your budget is 1k don’t tell them you can spend 5k and expect some sort of crazy discount to do business with you. These agents can negotiate deals and prices – they can’t work miracles. They want your business and will likely do whatever they can to get you the most for your budget – to ensure a turn around and a continued relationship.
And yes… it just so happens that this is what I do for a living. I love helping businesses dig out of dark spots, and new businesses see their true potential. If you would like to talk more about ways to help your business grow give me a call anytime. (231)468-9972 OR email me… tony@bestviralmedia.com . Before you throw in the towel, or are just staring your venture – An effective marketing plan starts with an experienced marketing team. If you have any questions about TV Advertising or Radio Advertising call me anytime - (231)468-9972 or email us here. Or visit http://www.bestradiocommercials.com . My company has been one of the most trusted names in Television Advertising and Radio Advertising for years.

HOW TO BUILD TRUST WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 20:21:00 +0000

An effective marketing plan starts with an experienced marketing team. If you have any questions about TV Advertising or Radio Advertising call me anytime - (231)468-9972 or email us here. Or visit http://www.bestradiocommercials.com . My company has been one of the most trusted names in Television Advertising and Radio Advertising for years.