Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications

"It's Not What We Do." Why?

I, along with thousands, of others subscribe to the blog by Seth Godin.  This morning Seth points out a problem with saying, "It's not what we do" when it comes to times of change.  As he writes, "Simon & Schuster or the Encyclopedia Britannica could have been Google (organizing the world's information) but they didn't build a search engine because that's not what they do."

It's like when I and two friends, back in 2001, opened up a compact tractor dealership.  We were in the media business.  So why did we do it?  To prove to the world of agriculture that it was possible to sell tractors on-line.  We did sell 12 or 15 within six months but closed the business because it was not what we did. 

You do see the difference between an information business building a search engine and a media business opening a tractor dealership...right?

Sometimes the idea or service is just NOT in your field, not your core business.  Tractors wasn't ours but the encyclopedia folks missed the boat because information is their core.

It's like advertising and marketing.  We don't build anything at Insight Advertisingother than winning advertising and marketing campaigns for our clients.  It's what we do.  I can't tell you how to build a rotary cutter or a hay rake but I sure can market it in ways manufacturers could never dream.  We can't arrange wedding flowers or make wine but we can put more eyes on those products than what the designers or wine makers can.

It's what we do...

Sometimes companies who continue to "try" marketing on their own need to stand back and say, "Advertising...it's not what we do.  Wonder who does?"

Thanks for reading and you can keep up with us on Twitter, @MichaelLibbie or @InsightADV.

 

 

 

 

 

Social Media for FEMA?

Three friends came to Atlanta to tell members of the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association (FEMA) about Social Media.  Roughly 150 business people listened to Willie Vogt of Farm Progress, Tom Flynn and Josh Fleming from Lessing-Flynn , an ad agency in Des Moines, tell them about making sense out of Social Media.

I'm not sure it worked...I'll be able to let you know more following my session with them on Saturday.

I'm not sure it worked because while they were able to talk about it, they failed to show the power of social media.  I'd suggest that many in the audience would like to have you think they are from Missouri, "Show Me".  Show me what it looks like, how it works, how it can put me in touch with others.  Show me what people are saying about farming, farm machinery, farm safety, farmers.  Show me how to use it, show me how to set a Google watch on my company, my name...my future.

Show me...

Part of the overwhelming trouble with doing social media events and having digital generation folks do the event is...a failure to speak the same language.   This event was OK...but I'm not convinced they picked up many disciples.  We'll see...on Saturday.

Thanks for reading...from Atlanta - Michael Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications.  Follow us on Twitter @MichaelLibbie or @InsightADV

 

 

Flying With Cookies...

Took a trip this week to the Atlanta for the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association fall meeting.  Did I tell you I dislike flying?  You see, I'm old.  Old enough to remember when taking a flight was special.  The people dressed to take the trip.  The folks waiting on you looked professional and they were nice...  Today travelers look like refugees from Uzbekistan and the "help" look and act like left overs from some Soviet gulag.  OK maybe not that bad...but compared to the "golden age of flight".  Travel by air is a mess.

My office booked my flight to Atlanta on Midwest Airlines.  "Who?" I asked.  "They have airplanes?"

Was I surprised.  The crew was crisp, attentive and personal.  The aircraft was clean and actually smelled good. 

But...it was the cookies that got me.  Yes, hot, like right out of the oven, chocolate chip cookies to die for.  Oy, the smell...the fun...it was soooo...cool

You see how little it takes to get me excited?  Fresh chocolate chip cookies and I'm all over it.

But the real difference was the people.  They conversed with us, they smiled, they actually seemed like they enjoyed shuttling refugees from place to place.

One more thing.  Who ever is doing their PR...hire them.  The "in-flight magazine" had four letters to the company praising the efforts of various staff members from all over the country.  And, know what?  I think they were real...  Nice work.

So, bring it on...warm cookies, warm smiles and flawless travel.  Nice job Midwest Airlines....very nice.

 

 

Photo Shoot...Stella's Blue Sky Diner

We've got a client, Calcium Products, who has used a "Flo" character as a "spokesperson" over the past several years.  It's an image that has worked and people remember, perhaps because it is so different.  That's "Flo" in a typical ad piece.

We needed to do some new images so I made a phone call to Stella's Blue Sky Diner of Urbandale and visited for a bit with Carrie...the owner.

During the conversation, asking permission to come in and do a shoot, I also asked about business, "It's OK", said Carrie.  "The economy hasn't helped much but we're doing OK."  I asked her about social media.  She said she had a "MySpace" account, "The kids set it up and we do some other advertising."

She may or may not know about the power of Twitter or Blogs...but when we go in to do the shoot, I'll spend some time sharing the message and perhaps help set her up.  Hey, it's what we do...and because Stella's Blue Sky Diner is so cool...they deserve it.

I think I have a new project...

 

 

 

Are YOU Being Eaten Alive?

It happens every day.  During my discussions with clients and perspective clients the words, "Social Media" come up.  Just the other day I was visiting with a perspective client that is getting "eaten alive" by the giant franchise and losing 20% of every dollar she makes PLUS having customers "think" that just because the item appears on the "franchise website" it is available locally.  Which...it...is...not.  We'll fix this with her own locally controlled site.

Then, we talked about Social Media and how to tell the story of her business and stand apart from the others.  She said, "I don't know, we don't want this to turn into a bitch session."  Huh? 

It is amazing how people perceive what and how social media works.  Maybe this will help:

Found this NEAT GRAPHIC by Lindy Dreyer from Social Fish that explains very well what happens when you take what some call the social media "risk" and turn it into an "opportunity". Have a look at what can happen to your message when you open the gates.

Thanks for reading...and learning.

 

 

 

 

Blah Products = More Advertising?

It came to me during my daily radio show, Insight on Business, today.  I had read an article about why people advertise products and services.  And wondered, out loud, if the reason some folks have to advertise like crazy is because their product and service is...well...blah.

Think of it for a moment.  IF each time a customer came into contact with your product or service and his/her expectations were met or truly exceeded. Would you really have to advertise or would the word of mouth spread so fast that you wouldn't have to?

And this coming from an advertising agency guy.

Think about it...  Here in the Midwest we have a department store called Von Maur.  They rarely advertise.  Oh sure from time to time they will be in traditional media but not like other department stores.  Could it be the result of superior customer service and products?  Neither is boring...

So, what is the message?  If you have a commodity (boring) product or service that is just getting by you will have to increase your advertising buy.  However if your product or service always meets and exceeds your customer expectations...maybe you won't?

So, which is it?  Wanna share????

Sunday Morning Coffee - October 25

Sunday morning, time to grab a cup of coffee and talk over the events of the past week and look forward a bit to the coming seven days.   Not much advertising and marketing news today...just a visit.

Iowa Wins!  Now THE University of Iowa is 8 - 0 first time in school history.  An exciting final two seconds.  Whew............

Friday I attended an event called Highlight Midwest.  135 business start-ups, entrepreneurs and "tech-geeks" registered for this gathering held at the Des Moines Social Club.  The presenters did their work in small groups with up to four presentations going at the same time.  It was...interesting, grungy, and hopeful.  I went to watch and learn and see what it would be like to be the oldest guy in the room.  And, I was until Senator Chuck Grassley strolled in.  Senator Grassley isn't a stranger to these type of events.  (Twitter in hand he is admired by this group of 30-somethings and I think the feeling is mutual.)  Look for more of these events as young, very bright, people attempt to build technology businesses from...ideas.  One such start-up is Silicon Prairie News - something for the "creative class".

Last week I "went off" on Governor Chet Culver's office.  Here is that story.  This weekend I got to thinking about Michigan. Governor Jennifer Granholm presides over a state with 17% unemployment and a budget train wreck.  It's much worse than Iowa.  Yet, Granholm is "out there" talking to the folks in Michigan and using technology @GovGranholm to reach voters. While her approval rating is hovering around 40% we're thinking her communication efforts keep her from dipping lower.  We'll see, but our wish is that the staff in Governor Culver's office step aside and quit filtering his message.  (Gov. Granholm is not running due to term limits.  I erred in saying she could be re-elected during the radio show on Friday.)

It's all your fault!  Or so hints Electrolux.  The Swedish company is closing two Iowa plants and cutting 850 jobs over the next year.  It seems that YOU are not buying enough washers and dryers so they are closing shop in Iowa and taking the manufacturing to Mexico.   Ahhhh...let's see...so in Mexico they will be making fewer washers and dryers or cheaper washers and dryers?  Won't matter to the 1,850 Iowans who have lost Electrolux jobs since 2006.  Maybe if Iowa workers were paid $10 a day they might stay?  Adios Electrolux...here is the story from the Des Moines Register.

I'm feeling a bit "snarky" this morning...

Is saying, "illegal aliens" hate speech?  That seems to be the notion among many.  "They" tell me we should be saying, "undocumented workers".   But the question remains, "Is the person here legally or illegally?"  Are they "working" or "not working"?  Are they native to this country or "alien" to this country?  I'm no "Rush" fan...but can somebody explain this to me?  Honest...I'd like to try to understand.

Tax groceries?  In Iowa there is no tax on groceries.  Some have suggested a 1% tax on food would, in a matter of months, correct the state's budget deficit.  Others have suggested Iowa should bring back "touch play" gambling, something the state pulled the plug on two years ago after the machines were placed nearly everywhere other than high school hallways.  Of the two...we'd opt for groceries.  But, it is an election year so expect more inaction than action.

Gotta leave on a positive note... 

This coming week a flurry of activity prior to heading to Atlanta for the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association Fall Meeting.  During a new session we'll be there to help members understand, sign up and start to use social media.  Should be fun.

Speaking of social media you can keep up with us by using Twitter - @MichaelLibbie or @InsightADV for those of you in the rural world we also monitor @RuralLifeRadio.  A quick reminder of our daily business radio show, Insight on Business part of Des Moines Local...LIVE and on the air Monday - Friday starting at 12:30PM Central.

Thanks for reading...let's' stay in touch?

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Branding, Talk Radio, Government

Hi.  Just before the weekend hits thought we'd share with you the radio show from today.  Monday - Friday starting at 12:30PM Central we do a show called, Insight on Business.  Now with over 30,000 listeners/viewers each day, Des Moines Local...LIVE is becoming something really special.

Today on the show we talked about branding, marketing the Midwest, how staff can get in the way of a brand and tradeshows with @TheBrandWarrior, Mark True.  Here's the show, enjoy!

 

Does Staff Get In The Way?

Staff are an important part of any business.  They are the "water carriers" of business.   They are the men and women who carry the corporate brand.  They are the warriors in the trenches and they can do more harm than good...if they don't understand the brand or the company.  (We don't do politics...but this one was too good to pass by.)

Case in point - The State of Iowa and the Governor of Iowa.  Governor Chet Culver last week told the citizens that he was going to take a 10% pay cut, reducing his pay from $130,000 by $13,000.  It was, he said, his way of showing that he too was not above the budget woes the state is going through.

Almost before his words hit the paper staff members were "correcting" what the "governor meant".  That, really, it was not fair to cut salary "retroactively" so rather than a 10% cut the governor was really going to cut his own salary by 5.8%.

HUH?  (Here is the Des Moines Register story from today.)

Note to Phil Roeder, John Frew and others.  Shut up.   Let the Governor of the State of Iowa tell us.  For months you guys continue to bobble, shuck and jive and you  make "The Big Lug" seem like he doesn't have a clue.  Note to Governor Culver:  You might start saving money by asking those in your office who continue to screw up to leave.  We can understand what you say, when you say it.  Talk to us...and not through them.  K? 

Sorry...it just makes me crazy.  Doesn't matter, business or politics:  If the staff doesn't "get it" the brand takes a hit.

Thanks for reading...

Michael P. Libbbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications where you can keep up with us on Twitter - @MichaelLibbie or @InsightADV

 

 

 

 

NAMA & Renze of Omaha

Yesterday I spent the day with our client, Calcium Products. (More on that in a future post about agency/client relations.)  While most of the day was spent talking ideas,  future marketing plans and making site visits to customers, Craig Dick and I took a side trip to Omaha and attended a NAMA(National Agri-Marketing Association) meeting in Omaha at Renze Display. (Doug Buchanan - right)

WOW...

Our host, Doug Buchanan, took us through the Renze facility where we had the opportunity to examine new trade show display designs, learn about new technology that allows printing on just about any surface and see what is new and changing in the trade show industry.

Oh the possibilities...

We saw displays that rival many of our clients total annual marketing budgets and we saw new display ideas that make it look like we've spent the entire budget, at just a fraction of the cost.  (Like larger than life products from a one time display from last year...that's a 6' fall Redi Whip container!) There was no lack of new ideas.  In the end, Doug handed out a booklet with suggestions and reprints from Exhibitor Magazine.  In it are many of the same thoughts we've written and spoken about during our business radio show, Insight on Business.  Here is an example from last year, "Four Seconds To Impact!"

In the end...it was a great show and a wonderful eye opening adventure.  Now...if only folks will listen...

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications where you can follow us on Twitter - @MichaelLibbie or @InsightADV - One more thing...we found it interesting that a national marketing group is having to give lessons on social media to it's members.  What's up with that?  Oh my...welcome to new technology and new communication.