Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications

Lots Of People "Talk About It"...We Know It!

I guess that if I received a dime for every time I've been at a seminar and been forced to listen to folks "try" to explain the rural lifestyle...I'd retire from our advertising agency.

It happens all the time.  An editor from a "farm magazine" or a broadcaster from a "farm radio station" or a marketing guy from a "farm equipment company" stands in front of a room full of marketing and advertising types and tells them about the "rural lifestyle market".

But, have they lived it?  Nope.

Do they really know the market?  Ahhhh...nope.

Here is what they know:  There are 2.2 million "farms" in the United States.  A "farm" according to the USDA is any production facility that reports gross sales of over $1,000.  From experience let me tell you it does not take a lot of land to reach sales of $1,000.  Two foals sold from three acres of land...bingo you are over the limit and a "farm".

Here is what most folks just don't get:  While there are 2.2 million farms there are over 40 million households living on 3 - 100 acres of land.  These may be folks who have lived the rural lifestyle for generations or they may be "Ruralpolitians" who live on an acreage or small farm but work in town...full time...at white collar jobs.

Often the only thing one "rural lifestyle" person has with another is their love of the LIFESTYLE.  Not commodity farming.  And, that is what most rural marketers simply don't get.

We do...and we've been doing this for a dozen years.  Now we even talk about this group of people on the only full hour live radio show in the nation that speaks to the issues of living a rural lifestyle.  (We even help plant wine vineyards...)

If you are interested in marketing to this group...make contact with us.  If you're interested in listening live to the show you can do that by going to the 98.3 WOW-FM site and signing up.  We'll stream live to your computer every Sunday morning at 8.

Thanks for reading....and now for listening!

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications where the rural lifestyle rules...

You Shoot...Video Too?

Sure!  It's one of the options our advertising agency clients have.

We could "farm out" the production to other folks but we think the best work comes from people we already know and work with all the time.  That's not to say other companies that specialize in television or video production are not good.  Some are simply great!  It's just that when we're involved from the "video treatment" all the way through final edit the close relationship we have with our clients shows.

Here we are setting up for a shot on location in Missouri with Lyle Steinman spokesperson for Country Vet Pet Foods of South Dakota.

One of the things many clients don't understand is the TIME that goes into video production.  They are surprised that a four minute video or a thirty-second television commercial takes hours and hours to plan, shoot and then edit.

It's all part of the process.  The the final reward is putting our client's product or service in front of thousands, if not millions, of consumers with a well thought out and attractive piece of film.

Want to learn more?

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications where our shooting is usually confined to film...

Wine Making...In Your Own Winery?

The advertising agency business can be fun.  New, innovative and different is what we live for.

There are many things we enjoy.  Among them is finding new and exciting ways to build a business and then passing that information on to like minded individuals (You!).

Here's one that we thought was very clever.

There is a section of Des Moines called "Sherman Hill" that was once a blight on the city.  Today that same area has dozens of restored Victorian Era houses.  It's now a tourist destination.

This past Sunday the Sherman Hill Neighborhood held a tour of homes.  For $10 you could walk the route and visit homes that were being restored or had been completed.  Fun stuff.

One of the homes on the tour also had a business that hit our passion for innovative.

"Vines to Wine" is all about having individuals make their own wines from juice imported from California.  We're not talking sweet grape juice but some of the finest varieties available.

Here is how it works:  Get a group of friends together, make a reservation, decide on what type of wine the group would like, pay the money, sit around learning about wine while "making" your own.  Slap your own label on the bottles two months later and vola!  You've got wine!

Marketing the unique idea has not cost much and word of mouth has brought dozens of groups to the home.  Wines cost between $10 to $12 a bottle.

Neat idea and kudos to Eric and his family for bringing this idea to Iowa.  So, what do you think?

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications where we're always looking for innovative ideas...and we share.

Your Address Matters...Honest!

At the risk of offending some folks we need to offer some advice regarding your e-mail address.

We'll get right to it...  If you own a business, and we honestly don't care what kind of business, you need to get a business e-mail address to become credible.

No, we're not kidding.  And, yes it is real.

We'll be the first to admit that not every business out there can, at first, get their e-mail address to match their business URL.  But, seriously, if you want to be taken seriously, you need to do this quickly.

Why?  It shows you have a permanency to your business. 

We're constantly surprised that some emerging business people don't seem to understand how important this is.  For some reason they think an "AOL", "MSN" or "Yahoo" address is just fine.  It isn't and if you allow this to go on it says something about "your brand".  Ready?

C-H-E-A-P - There is just no other way to describe it.

Look, a nice site with e-mail is not a drain on your business it is an investment.  Pure and simple.

Are we wrong about this?

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications a full service advertising agency proudly based in Des Moines, Iowa.  Sorry we got so blunt....

Rural Lifestyle Radio...Is On

Highway 6 - Your Road to the Country is on...this morning at 8am.  Highway 6 is the only radio show that spends an entire hour talking about issues of importance to the rural lifestyle

If you own an small farm or acreage you'll want to tune in to 98.3 WOW-FM or come on-line to listen over your computer.

We're on every Sunday morning at 8am!

On this mornings show we'll talk about compact tractors...what the heck has been happening to the sales numbers?  Look for dealers to start cutting prices and giving more incentive to come and buy those under 40 horsepower units.  We told you why...

We also talked about the Midwest decline in population and what is going on there.

Food prices getting to you?   There are up again and they may keep rising.  What in the world is going on?

We also discussed the latest additions to your local McDonald's...watch for some exciting changes soon.

Our special guest on Sunday is Dick Tremain (L) from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service...if you have land...and want to figure out what to do to preserve or restore it...we hope you are listening.

Michael Libbie - Host and Acreage Owner.

Sales? Or Marketing? Can't Have Both...

Next month the folks from the Farm Equipment Manufacturing Association (FEMA) will meet in New Orleans.  (Please remember, this is the "Other FEMA" headed to New Orleans...)

Among the many attendees will be folks with the title of "Vice President of Sales & Marketing" or "Sales & Marketing Manager" or any combination of those two duties.

The trouble is...most of these folks are more "sales" than they are "marketing".  It is a problem that plagues not only members of FEMA but a host of other companies that, for reasons known only to them, they figure "sales" and "marketing" are the same thing.

This is short sighted and ill focused.

Here is what usually happens with the "Vice President of Sales & Marketing":  Road trips.  Endless travels from state to state meeting with dealers, distributors and doing trade shows.  These "road warriors" spend 90% of their time in sales.  Meanwhile, nobody is home thinking about marketing.  And, that is the failure of the system.

Marketing is so much more than making sure sales quotas are reached.  And, while marketing people should get out of the office and into the real world to meet with not only the sales side...but also with CUSTOMERS... their real goal should be spending time focused on thinking.

Thinking of how to better position their product or service in order to attract more customers by giving them what they want...and need...should be their top priority.  But...nope, they'll be packing their bags to go visit a dealer in Denver or a wholesaler in Hoboken rather than focusing on marketing.

But, hey...that's OK.  Because that is how we make our living...we get to do the thinking while the VP of Sales and Marketing books another flight.

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications where we're happy to spend our time helping you think through your marketing decisions...  By the way, this one is for our friend Jerry Nichols.  A speedy recovery my friend.

Capture Your IDEAS!!!

I have to pass this along to you...hey who said business blogging isn't full of great thoughts?

Not sure about you and your day...but with me the most creative moments are early in the morning...in the shower!  DO NOT EVEN GO THERE!!!  It is not a pretty sight.

It is, however, the only time when the phone isn't ringing, I'm not reading something, the e-mail isn't coming in and the door isn't swinging open.  (Good thing too.)

It's not uncommon to have five or six client ideas pop into my head...but remembering them all was a chore. 

Answer:  I put up a dry erase board in the shower!  Steam does not seem to effect it...and hey...the ideas stick around.

If I get really stuck on a project I'll invite Kunta, the "brains" of the outfit, in to help.  At least he "wolf whistles" and says, "Good Boy!"  I thought so too...

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications where we're all about ideas...even in the strangest places.

"So, What Do You Think?"

I did a pod-cast interview today with Sherry Borzo of DSM Buzz.  Sherry was here to do a segment for her show "Entrepreneur People - Real Stories About Real People".  It was fun to be on the other side of the microphone for a change.

After she left there was one question that stuck out in my mind, "What did you once believe to be true about business that you no longer believe."

Great question...

My long answer you can hear once the pod-cast is loaded and on-line but here is the meat of the answer:

I used to believe that business people knew everything about their business, their market and their product.  They don't and that was a shock.

In fact, I now believe they actually know very little about their market or potential market.  And, it's a good thing because that is one of the ways we make our living.  We help business leaders / owners sell their product or service into markets they may have never dreamed of reaching or impacting.

So, who wouldn't want to find new people to sell into?

I also told Sherry that our business centers on one thing...finding more customers for our clients and then getting the customer involved in making a buying decision.  That's what we do...everyday.

Thanks Sherry for your work in helping small business owners gather a knowledge base that is free...and accessible.

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications where we help our clients see the forest...and the trees.

Steak (Or Chicken) for 12,000 Please...

Sunday, after the radio show, we decided to go to the Harkin Steak Fry...actually they don't FRY the steaks.  But what can you expect from politicians?

We had NO idea it would take us nearly three hours to get to the site, which is only 30 miles from our office.  But, when you crowd all those vehicles on two lane roads just outside of Indianola, Iowa...  I'm not sure what I expected but it was big.  Considering over 12,000 people showed up.  Which is interesting from just a numbers point of view.  There were 33,000 at the Republican Straw Poll in July.

Six of the folks running for office from the Democratic Party were on hand to blast the Bush Administration, the war effort and offer themselves to the crowd as the Iowa Caucus gets closer.  I'd give you all the details...but this is not a political blog.  Here we talk about advertising and marketing.  But, a couple of observations:

Hillary Clinton must have too much money.  Honest.  Starting at least four miles away from the event there were Hillary signs every three feet.  No kidding!  Must have been thousands...and if you do the math...that would be 7,040 signs.  And, some were in some odd places.  She did well with her speech. I asked one of the national reporters about what he thought of the event and the speeches.  His only negative note was about her speech.  "She's got the 'speech thing' the cadence that 'sing-song' way of speaking.  It's kind of a negative." Never mind that...her supporters were in full force.

Chris Dodd was angry.  I don't know...he just seems angry.  Maybe he is and according to him he has a right to be that way.

Bill Richardson easily had one of the best speeches.  I've seen him before and he just gets better.  Maybe it's because he's a governor and is used to talking to regular folks?  Not as many signs...or supporters as Hillary.  But, like one CNN reporter told me, "Richardson seems to be a regular guy and people like that.  Not a lot of "air" with him.  Substance."

Barack Obama.  Good speech...very interesting logo.  Really, it is artsy and hip.  It is different than we've seen in the past and Kudos to the folks who thought it up.  Nice touch.  The senator did bus folks to the rally...about three of them we were told.

John Edwards was excellent.  Honest.  Just enough anger, just enough force.  His wife Elizabeth also made the trip and folks were really, really touched by that.  Edwards also had some inventive attention grabbers like the platform outside the site that was 30 feet in the air with a hot air balloon basket and a guy sending flames into the air.  (Global Warming???) He also had a large crowd...we met one guy from Alaska who is working on the campaign.  For some reason he didn't see much use in supporting Mike Gravel...who did not make the trip to Iowa.  (Nether did Dennis Kucinich...Hey...I noticed!)

Joe Biden.  I was ready for a fantastic speech I had seen him before...but it didn't happen.  And for the first time his delivery seemed slow.  And...I believe he was the only person to use notes.  It showed.  The other observation was that Senator Biden just seemed tired.  Not sure what was up...  But, after the speech he shined.  Senator Biden was STILL "holding court" with anybody who would listen a full hour after the event ended.  Even if it was just one-on-one.

Senator Biden walking with a reporter...still holding court.

OK...now for the BEST thing to come out of the event:  Ready???

Candy Crowley.  The senior political correspondent for CNN stayed after most folks had left and just talked with people.  No, she was not interviewing them.  If anything she was giving interviews.  And she was engaged with the folks talking with her.  I've always been struck by her straight forward reporting style.  She is quite a woman and, I think, was very flattered by the attention she was getting.  One lady asked for her autograph.  I think Candy wrote a paragraph to the woman.  She gave advice to a young woman wanting a career in broadcasting, she laughed, was serious and just enjoyed the people.  Candy Crowley...she's not running for anything...but she was a real winner Sunday afternoon...here in the heartland.

Michael Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications...now, if only somebody would invite us to a GOP function!  (In Iowa...)

What Is A Guy To Do?

This is my friend Gary M. Levenson, MD.  Gary is the senior physician for the pulmonology group at Mercy Medical Center of North Iowa located in Mason City, Iowa.

I spent several hours with Gary and his family this past week and we talked about his recent honor of being published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings which is a peer reviewed journal sponsored by that most prestigious of hospitals.

He gave me a copy of his article, Intrapleural Fibrinolytics Combined With Image-Guided Chest Tube Drainage for Pleural Infection.  OK, I admit...by just reading the title I had only a vague idea of what his landmark study was about.  He was able to fill in the rest during our visit and it is exciting stuff.

I then told Gary about the world of the Business and Medical Blog and suggested that he give it a try.   Well, I know Gary only too well so I decided to do the Blog for him. 

The reason?  Well, what is a guy to do to prove the power of the Blog?  I hope to allow others out there to be able to notice his work and get folks in other professions to understand the potential of the blog.  Thanks, Gary for the information and the time we shared together. 

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications

Rural Lifestyle Radio Show Link

The link for our rural lifestyle radio show, Highway 6 - Your Road to the Country is up.  You can follow the stories we talked about on the show this morning.

Our thanks to Iowa DNR Wildlife Research Supervisor Willie Suchy for his involvement in the show.

Head over to our BLOG Post about the show...and enjoy.  And, remember, even if you live outside of the Des Moines, Iowa area you can listen live by going to 98.3 WOW-FM and registering.  We'll stream it to you...live...or as live as we can get at 8am!

Thanks for reading and for listening.

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications...

Willie Suchy - This Week on Highway 6

Join us this Sunday morning at 8am on 98-3 WOW-FM for news and information for folks living...or wanting to live...the rural lifestyle.  Highway 6 -  Your Road to the Country is the only full hour radio show dedicated to acreage and small farm living.

Our guest for the full hour will be Willie Suchy, Wildlife Research Supervisor for the State of Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Willie has over two decades of information and wildlife experiences.  We'll talk about the deer population, common issues that acreage and small farm folks have with all sorts of animals and some tips on wildlife health.

This will be a great hour of information from a guy who knows his "stuff".  Got a critter question?  Be listening this Sunday morning at 8 and take part in the calls to the studio.  It's going to be a great show.

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications we're the folks that have the experience to help you market to people living the rural lifestyle.  Oh...and if you want to listen but don't live in Des Moines...click here and sign up.  We'll stream to you online.

A Little Time Off...

I was on the air last night doing one of the two local radio shows I host and knocking my co-host Thomas Allen about taking a vacation.  Which he is.

But, so am I.

Our administrative offices will be closed Thursday and Friday of this week.  We're taking a little time off.  However a couple of our designers are hard at work creating some fantastic new fall ads for our clients.  They'll be montoring the phones and e-mail.

We've "blogged ahead" a bit so...it's kind of like we are here...but not.

Thanks for the work, for reading our blog and listening to our shows.  Catch you early next week...like Sunday morning on the Rural Lifestyle show, Highway 6 - Your Road to the Country.

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications where we think this "day off thing" is kind of neat.

Stopping Or Quiting? Big Difference!

We Blog...  In fact, some folks ask me how the heck we have time to do three different blogs on three very different subjects.  Because we like it?  Because we think it is valuable?  Because we think we have something to say?  Because we like to write?

All of the above.

And for over a year we've not quit.  Oh, we've maybe stopped for a day or two because of a holiday or, frankly, because we just didn't have much to say.  But...we've never quit.

There is a difference you know.  Because you stop your car does not mean you will not start it again.  But, when you quit driving...well, you quit.

During the past year I've run into many, many business that have simply QUIT their Blog.  The latest is the Blank Park Zoo here in Des Moines.  I was looking for some information last week and noticed that they have a Blog on their website.  So...being the blogging sort of guy that I am.  I went to it.

Looks like they started in June did five posts and quit.

What is worse is that they have "Info" working at the Zoo.  I sent an e-mail to them last Friday (Today is Monday).  "Info"...still has not answered my question.

Look, we're not picking on the Blank Park Zoo...it's a great place, a wonderful experience and a gem for Des Moines.  The problem is...perception and attention to their marketing potential.  Terry Rich is a super guy but, he can't do it all.

What this is about is another real life example of how we now communicate with our customers and the public in general.  Is it hard?  Yes.  Does it take time?  Yes.  Is it worth the effort?  We think so...

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications where we hope to spark you into realizing how critical it is to have a conversation with your customers...

Sunday Morning Coffee - 9 September - 2007

Sunday mornings are a great time to pour a cup of "Joe" and get caught up on the happenings of the week and just visit. (If you want to see more detail in the photos...just click on 'em for a larger image.)

Hope you were/are able to catch the radio show we do each Sunday morning on 98.3 WOW-FM. It's called Highway 6 - Your Road to the Country. If you're not in the Des Moines area you can always listen on line by signing up.  No excuses Texas!

By now you know that Fred Thompson has entered the presidential race.  It will be fun to watch, from a marketing perspective, to see if this late entry and further scrutiny into his life (public and private) will stand the test.  One thing is certain, and this according to my Republican friend Harlan "Bud" Hockenberg of Des Moines, "Nobody seems really moved or wildly excited, yet, by any of the announced candidates."  Can Fred turn the tide?  We'll see.

Not long ago we published a couple of articles about perception vs. reality in marketing.  We referenced McDonald's and "McAdvertising" and another study about wines/restaurant perceptions featuring Charles Shaw wines otherwise known as "Two Buck Chuck".  Art Dinkin is a regular reader of our Blog and this past Friday during the "BlogaNostra" meeting gave me a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon....by, of course Charles Shaw.  Who says this blogging isn't worth something...and my wife thanks you!

Last week I was at the Farm Progress Show on behalf of a client (Mayer Farm Implement) and LOVOL/FOTON the largest manufacturer of agricultural and construction equipment in China.  I spent three days with six guys from China.  Lot's of stories but this "road tale" is one that made an impact.  We were driving to the show when one of the marketing guys who could speak a little English asked if all the farm houses we were passing had, "water".  He meant, "Do all of these houses have plumbing?"  When we answered, "Yes.  And some have two or more bathrooms per house."  Their cameras started to record the phenomena as they, with great excitement, narrated their findings.  Humbling.

Cameras are ROLLING!  Here is a tip for your company:  If you are considering a video (and that could be a thirty-second television ad all the way to a fifteen minute "sales tool") know that 75% of the work to create this video goes on before the shoot, with setting the "video treatment", and after the shoot with the editing.  Knowing "what" needs to be shot and "how" the video will flow saves time and money at the shoot.  And, as you know, it is the editor that can make or break the final project.  Why do you think they give Oscars to folks who edit films? It's the magic!

Finally (and on a personal note) we had Kunta (our African Gray) to the doctor this past week.  Nothing wrong...it's just that we needed a baseline and a check up.  I'm often amazed by the people who go into veterinary science and how kind and gentle they are.  From large animal vets to the folks that take care of the "little guys" I am convinced that there is a special place in heaven for them.  I'm sure everybody says their vet is the best...but we know ours from the Ankeny Animal and Avian Clinic really are.

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications.  Enjoy your coffee and we'll catch you tomorrow as we start a whole new week!

Rural Lifestyle Radio - Coming This Sunday

If you are into...or want to be marketing to the Rural Lifestyle Community we might be able to give you a hand.  We've been involved in this lifestyle for...gosh...do I have to tell you?

Not only do we know it, lived it, write about it...we also talk about it.  Each week Highway 6 - Your Road to the Country is heard in the Des Moines, Iowa area on 98.3 WOW-FM.  We're the only live hour long radio program dedicated to issues that impact the rural lifestyle.

You can hear the show live Sunday morning at 8 or or on line if you head to this link and register...we'll be right there.

This week we've got an interesting show featuring Dave Kanicki from Rural Lifestyle Dealer Magazine.  He'll be on talking about the lifestyle and the impact it is having on traditional agricultural equipment dealers.  Check out Highway 6 - Your Road to the Country for a more in depth look at the show.

Thanks for reading...and now for listening!

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications

Which Comes First...Or Should Have...

I was struck by a conversation I had the other day with a perspective client.  In our business we never know how serious a perspective client is about their marketing, advertising and branding issues.  So, we'll meet with business leaders to gage their interest level and then offer our services...if there is a match.

This time, while we listened intently, we learned there isn't much we can do for them.  The reason? Read on.

The person I met with has had several years of business experience.  He and his partners recently formed a new company and moved into their new offices.  The reason he said they had delayed meeting with us was because of all the moving hassles.  "New offices take a lot of time to move into and get ready."

I understand, we've done it ourselves.

Thirty-five minutes into the conversation (we were learning more about their business model) I asked about their media plan and their budget for advertising and marketing.  My reason for asking this question is to, again, gage their level of understanding of the market. 

Their answer:  "We didn't build advertising and marketing into our budget."   OK....  We asked:  "Would you like us to help you build a media plan based on your growth projections?"

"Well, we're not sure.  What we really need are suggestions on how to market our product."

"You could hire us.  That is what we do."

In the end we did offer them several ideas.  Along with a strong suggestion that maybe they should have put off the office move until they figured out their target market and marketing methods.

The time to think about branding, marketing and the media plan is long before you sign a lease.  Otherwise you may find yourself with too much bling and not enough cash to pay for it.

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications where we think the agency should be your second call...right after the CPA.

BlogaNostra - Des Moines Group and Don Sansone

When I travel around the country visiting with clients or potential clients and I start talking about Business Blogging I always give props to Mike Sansone.  You see, Mike is the guy that got us started.  We now write three (3) blogs and have several clients (NTPDA and Calcium Products) who also blog on a regular basis.

It's Mike's fault...

On Friday about 30 of us will get together at Panera Bread on University here in Des Moines at 8am to talk about our businesses, blogging and have a great time.  And, no...it's not a bunch of "Computer Geeks".  We're made up of a wide group of people from attorneys to...well, computer geeks.  We do this the first Friday of each month.

Point is you are welcome to come and join us.  No, not everybody gets their own cake like Mike...but he was absent for a couple of meetings.  You will meet some interesting, energetic and inventive people...it's worth a cup of coffee.

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications where we always ask "Don Sansone" for advice...

What If Your Employees Were Like This?

As you can see...we're gearing up for the 2007/2008 Iowa Stars Hockey Season.  I know...we're a little nuts about this sport and we're darn lucky to have the farm club for the Dallas Stars here in Des Moines.

As the calendar gets closer (just 38 days away) to the first puck drop of the season we're washing jerseys and unpacking the Iowa Stars posters, pucks and (of all things) bobble heads, I get a timely note from an employee of the Wells Fargo Arena.  I'm sharing this with you...because it's really a remarkable letter and something folks should point to as a baseline for employee participation.

John Jayne is the usher in Section 104...our section.  He has been the regular usher there for the past two years.  While on duty he has been spectacular.  Always considerate, asks about the family and goes out of his way to be of service.  His e-mail of today is no different:

"I just wanted to let you know that The Arena this year has asked for staff ushers for the Stars and Energy (basketball) seasons.  This is to have regular ushers at each section for every game. (unless illness, etc.)  Before, it was whoever was available and we were assigned a spot.  I have been appointed officially to the 104-105 section again this year.  Just wanted you to know that."

Pretty good to this point huh?  John had one more sentence:

"I'm looking forward to seeing and serving everyone again, and hope this will be a fun and successful year."

Ahhhhhhhh....  And, no the Wells Fargo Arena/Global Spectrum folks didn't ask him to do this...he just did. 

Employers often bemoan the lack of positive, engaged and loyal employees.  Wells Fargo Arena officials have a jewel here...we thought you might like to know.

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications where we celebrate the good stuff...daily.

So...Maybe ADVERTISE And Let Folks KNOW?

 So, my wife comes by the office the other day and tells me she is depressed.  (I can understand that...considering to whom she is married.)  But, this time...it wasn't about me!

It seems the Urbandale Public Library is going to discontinue loaning out books on mp3.  At least that is what a staffer told her. Not a big deal for you maybe...but to her. 

She was told that it just does not pay for the library to loan out mp3 versions of books because, "...nobody is asking for them".

HUH?

You mean with thousands and thousands of iPods and telephones equipped with mp3 capability along with a host of home players on the market...nobody is asking for books on mp3?

We think people just don't know.  Seems that once you are inside the library there are several signs letting you know they are available.  Even a scan of their website yielded little information.  Maybe there might be more interest and action IF the library actually let folks, who don't come into the building on a regular basis, know?

Think it's worth mentioning?

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications where we think it's all about marketing...silly us.

Rural Lifestyle Radio - September 2, 2007

OK...it's up!  If you would like to learn more about what we talked about on the only live full hour rural lifestyle show in the Midwest head over to our blog site for Highway 6 - Your Road to the Country.

We spent time on rural poverty issues, allergies, meat goats, compact tractors, funding road construction and repair and a host of issues that impact folks living on small farms and or acreages.

We're heard each week on 98.3 WOW-FM here in the Des Moines, Iowa area.  And, if you go to their site you can sign up and listen on line.

Thanks for coming by...

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications

Farm Progress Show - 2007 - Illinois

The 54th Farm Progress Show is a memory.  Punctuated mostly by blistering heat. When four of the five days you are on the ground hits 95 to 99 degrees...you have a tendency to remember.

This photo of the group who worked the FOTON Compact Tractor/Mayer Farm Implement booth was shot on the final day of the show.  It was only 85 with a nice breeze.  But this isn't a weather report..

Our job was to help our client get noticed at their first appearance at the Farm Progress Show...and meet with the factory representatives, all from China.  We accomplished both and learned several things:

• FOTON Heavy Equipment Manufacturing makes some great equipment and lots of it;
• They have no idea how to market in the United States...it's cultural...not lack of ability;
• We had a great time...learning...and teaching.

Our display had five tractors ranging from 25 to 82 horsepower and two excavators.  They drew lots of attention.  The reasons:  1) Price and 2) New Products.

Hundreds of folks came to the booth...all had the same first question, "So, where are these made?"  (Having six guys from China in the booth should have been a clue...) It was a fair question and it gave us the opening to tell more about the company and the product.  Both impressive.

However, we had a couple of things working against us.  First the literature produced in China was all metric and written poorly.  An example of that can be seen in this photo of the "warning" sticker on one of the excavators.  Poor language skills are an invite for trouble...and it was noticed.

The second issue was "China"...or rather the negative feelings many seem to have.  From dog food to toys with lead paint, there was plenty of fodder.

But the winner of the week was price.  When folks realized they could buy a quality 82 horse 4-wheel drive tractor with cab, air and all the bells and whistles for under $25,000.  And...that one dealer, here in Iowa, had sold 103 FOTON tractors in 23 months...skeptics turned to believers.

It was a lesson in communication.  We hauled two units back to Mayer Farm Implement of Iowa and closed out the 2007 Farm Progress Show.  But we'll be back in 2008 making friends and telling a great story.  Maybe by then we'll get the language changed...

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications where we're in this game for the long run...thanks for coming by.