For nearly three solid years several of us poured our energy into an online Radio/Television station known as Webcast One Live. It was an amazing adventure that was full of promise. I still think it is a vision of the future. Much of this quick video was shot a year ago when the station was moving, we thought, into a much more broad world of shows. It was fun to find the video and, now, share it with you.
While I carry on Insight on Business with Michael Libbie as a blog feature, this was an exciting adventure and it helped me use some of the TV talents I had long ago moved away from. Big shout out to my two talented friends, Maxwell Crabb and Esme LeJeune. Great folks to work with. If you want to connect here...feel free to leave a comment or we can connect on Twitter @MichaelLibbie or our advertising agency is @InsightADV. Thanks for watching! - Michael
Here are several story lines we're following for Insight on Business with Michael Libbie. Brief thoughts from several fronts and ideas for your business, no matter the size. If you want to leave a comment here, feel free or we can connect on Twitter @InsightADV or our advertising agency Facebook Page.
The Danger of Social Media
Last week I presented Social Media & Business 101 to a group of sales professionals in Nebraska. In that presentation I always make the following statement: "Social Media is not a replacement for Traditional Media (radio, print, television) but it is an amazing way to connect with consumers to learn what they want before your competition has a clue." That's why when I see "social media experts" contend that Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc. are a "better replacement" than traditional media I get...nervous. That's simply not the case. Careful what snake-oil pops up in your in-box from some Social Media Wizard....
Trade Show ROI
Many folks are kicking off the 2012 Trade Show Season. That means many business professionals are looking at their expense lines and wondering, out loud, if doing all those trade shows is really a good return on their investment. Simple answer: It is IF you follow these seven trade show tips. When you do, your expense becomes an investment. But, careful...it takes...work. Bonus video included in that link so you can "see" what you should do...and what you should not be doing. One of my suggestions was to "do something" and just don't "sit there". Have a contest, have some fun... (Photo) Our friend H.A. Gross from Plaza Printerssent this photo from a recent WeddingsDSM trade show. He writes, "We played a game where visitors spun a wheel and had, at times, 50 people standing in line. Everybody won something with our imprinted name. We followed up and made a dozen sales. All new customers." ROI friends...
"When To Take My Name Off The Door"
Back in 1967 advertising icon Leo Burnett offered up a quick speech to advertising professionals sharing with them his passion for the advertising business. Our friends at Adrants passed this animation by Lobo along to us. We're sharing it with you.
Last night I attended an event billed as "Business Networking/Fundraiser for the Animal Rescue League". It was an idea cooked up by our friends atBMW of Des Moines and included a dozen local businesses who had tables set up in the showroom to push their products. Meanwhile we were encouraged to donate to the ARL of Iowa by buying raffle tickets for prizes from the vendors. There was also music, food and a wine tasting. Everybody wins...BMW gets folks in the door to drool, ARL raises funds, businesses connect with consumers. Nice job. One other thing. Would we have gone had it not been connected with ARL? Most likely not. See..it works. Here's a photo of our friends from The Urban Card...posing. Nice evening.
Thanks for coming by...have a great week! - Michael
Insight on Business with Michael Libbie is our regular look at business ideas and consumer trends that effect the world of advertising and marketing. It's the place where you can come and keep up with the fast paced world of...business. From opinion to fact it's all here. Let's go:
Start The Week - Connected
There are so many ways to "stay in the game" and stay connected with focused people on your team. One that we've recently found is a tool by 37 Signals. Actually it is four tools. Internal project tracking, communication and planning can take place in one location. It takes some getting used to...but we think it is a dynamic time saver especially if you have multiple projects going in multiple locations...like us. Go ahead and take a look...but promise to come back.
Start the Week - Informed
People often ask me how it is that I seem to know lots of pieces of information about such a wide variety of topics. Other than it being my "job" there is a method to this art. My "wake-up call" is every morning at 5. (OK, I go to bed early...) Before I roll out it's time to check the latest news sources (international, national and local) I've bookmarked. With just a few clicks I'm reading the overnights on the stock market, business briefs, consumer studies, social media trends....all before 5:30. Then, for things I want to report on on study in more depth, it's a simple e-mail to myself. Works...
Start The Week - Well
Nothing succeeds like...success. This past fall I decided to alter my eating habits and cut down on the carbs. The result has been a 20lb loss... That's a good start but I wasn't taking advantage of exercise options. I'm not much of a "gym-rat". While the friendships are great...I need to be at work well before 7AM. So the machine, that had been doubling as a clothes hanger, gets a thirty minute workout. The goal is to lose another 20 or so...me, and my doctor, would approve.
Start The Week - Different
This weekend I re-arranged my office. Not much different but added a piece of furniture and moved the "comfy chair" into my desk area. A "new look" allows for some creativity...me thinks. Breaking out of the old and into something different is a great idea.
And Finally...CNN
Last week was busy here in Iowa. The Iowa Caucus was in full blown "go mode" and the news media was looking for...stories. One that several of us worked on was getting a group of people together for Soledad O'Brien's new morning show. This is what it looks like at 4:15AM CT:
That led to this short clip. We were supposed to talk about the power of connections, social media, business and politics. But, we spent more time on...the weather. Thanks Ashleigh for reminding me to get a coat.
Thanks for coming by. If you want to connect, feel free to leave a comment here or you can find us on Twitter @InsightADV and here is our ad agency Facebook Page. Have a great week! - Michael
