Insight on Business - April Fools....

Welcome back...I took a couple of days off and back into the swing for Insight on Business your connection to news and information about advertising, marketing and consumer trends. Miss a day and you miss a bunch.  The stories we're following today:

First up...thanks for the support regarding out on-line radio/television adventure.  We're coming back bigger and better than ever.  Between now and then...we'll share our thoughts and impressions here.  Let's go:

The vast majority of business leaders think "April Fools" pranks are inappropriate for the work place.  Only 3% of bosses think it's OK.  How about you? Here is a story from the Houston Chronicle.

I switched over to the NEW UberTwitter for my Blackberry...haven't been able to send a Tweet from it...in over 24 hours.  Anybody else?  Makes me crazy.  Well, "crazier anyway. Ah..at press time...it worked!

Does every company need a Jared?  That's an issue we've talked about before.  As a matter of fact, way back in 2006 when we asked, "Who is Lauren Bishop?".  Here is that post. ( Gosh have we changed much?)  Here is a piece from Fast Company.  Our thoughts:  The trick to any advertising message is to have it become memorable and connect with the target demographic.  That  not only works for Subway with Jared but also Calcium Products with "Flo".   In both cases we have, and often by accident, an image and a story that relates to the message and to the target consumer.   What about your company?  Who is there to tell the compelling story for you?  You just might have a Jared in your world...we just need find him (or her).

I LOVE it when sombody else agrees with us!  No time for Social Media in your office?  Here are "Five Tricks for the Busy CEO" and how you can make time to connect with consumers.  Good stuff from Shira Levine.

Consumers are buying...less.  That shouldn't be a major surprise but we think the real message here is the other side of the story:  Consumers are "shopping" less.  And the losers seem to be convienence stores, electronic stores, home-improvement stores...  The winners:  Grocery stores, "super-stores" and "dollar stores".  Three things to keep in mind NOW when trying to attract the "new consumer":

• Ramp up your prefered customer program if you don't have one...get started.
• Engage new customers by offering something of value...for free.
• Market "Trust" and "Value".

We're NOT kidding...we're all over this.  Are you?  And, if you need "back up".  Here is a great article on the impact of the recession from our friends at Nielsen.

Insight on Business with Michael Libbie is a production of our advertising agency, Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications and brought to you by:

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And...we monitor Twitter @MichaelLibbie (personal and business) as well as @InsightADV come by for a visit?  And...Kizzy says, "Hello."  Actually her first words were, "Where's Mom?" 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Comments

[Georgie]

Kizzy's a star!!

[Michael Libbie]

Of course!

[Brent Pohlman]

Great Post Today! Lots of Great Information! I hope radio shows are reading your posts.... Lot of time and effort went into today's post!

Thanks Again!

Brent Pohlman - Midwest Laboratories

I remember seeing Flo for the first time at a show in Omaha a few years ago! The Legend Lives On!

[Michael Libbie]

I need to hire you to keep us all pumped up!! Thanks for the nice words! Flo is a legend in her own mind ;-). It was one of those golden moments that stuck. A "Jared Moment" for agriculture? Thanks again! We'll be back in a few weeks...wait til you see this next adventure. - Michael