Sunday Morning Coffee - February 28, 2010

That was fast...  February.   Anybody else with me on that one?  The month skated right past...  Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee.  Not a lot of business just some observations and a visit over a hot cup.  And, as always, I'm interested in your take.  So...let's get at it:

Today concludes Pheasant Fest, being held at Hy-Vee Hall in the Iowa Events Center.  By the end of the day Brad Heidel and our friends from Pheasants Forever will have put about 30,000 people through the displays and seminars.  But you might not be able to spot them...the favorite gear seems to be something in soft shades of cammo.  If you go today...stop by the Country Vet Pet Food booth and say "howdy" to the crew.  Dang...nice looking booth!

Our friend Dave Funk has his campaign booth at the show.  Not a bad move...play to your friends.

Speaking of politics:  You know we tend to steer clear of that...there are enough "talking heads" out there...but couldn't let this one pass by:  Jonathan Narcisse, my flame throwing friend, will challenge Governor Chet Culver in the Democratic primary this summer.  The first time a sitting Iowa Governor has been challenged since 1994.  Jonathan will not win...however that isn't the end game.  My sense is that he's always wanted to run as an Independent a very, very conservative Independent.  Narcisse is associated with Adam Steen of 25 Connections who's father, Tom Steen, is the COO of the Iowa Family Policy Center .   In tuning up a statewide primary race Narcisse will get some press and practice for the November General Election.  All of which will hamper the Republican nominee (Terry Branstad) by siphoning off votes from Christian/Economic Conservatives and Chet will be re-elected.  Go ahead, write it down someplace...we'll see. (Photo:  Des Moines Register)

How about the US Hockey Olympic Team!  We'll play Canada for the Gold this afternoon with NBC coverage starting at 2PM Central.   My butt will be in the chair watching. Personal Purim Party?

Belong to a local Chamber of Commerce?  What has your chamber done for your business to help you thrive in this economy...cut a ribbon?  The Urbandale Chamber does that...and more.  This past Friday morning they held a Retail Round-table where members came and learned more about government, Website SEO, HR and Social Media/Marketing (me).  Each person got some "hands on help".  Now THAT my friends is helping members learn so they can earn...so they can pay their dues.  CUDOS to the leadership...I'm looking forward to the next group...  Sales?  Banking?  Stay tuned.

What a difference a response makes.  On our show, Insight on Business, tomorrow during Metro Monday we'll talk about the swift reaction and help Cafe di Scala received from their Twitter Friends after a "Tweep" said she received poor service.  Very different from the Legends Story of two weeks ago.  How social media can help save your business...tomorrow at 12:30PM Central.

We're more connected than we know...  When news got out yesterday about the earthquake in Chile and the fear of tsunami issues across the Pacific it was Twitter and the Internet that had the story.  Local TV and Radio?...nada.  Local radio was too busy airing syndicated shows. 

At a time when some business leaders are folding...a new business in the form of a magazine comes to Des Moines.  The Pet Enthusiast opens up shop and taps an under-served market with a great look...  We'll talk with Holly Hartling about her move to the magazine world during Insight on Business...part of Des Moines Local...LIVE, Monday afternoon.

Thank you Mayor Frank Cownie.  We had a great meeting with Mayor Cownie (photo) this past week.  His ability to know, really know and understand the economics of sound environmental issues...is world class.  Des Moines is fortunate because this is a critical reality of our time and he "gets it".

I recently re-connected with my good friend Gale McKinney from Twin Rivers Media.  It's been a very, very long time since we've put our heads together and created great stuff.  More to come?  Hope so...

Nuf?   OK...pushing this out the door.  Have a great Sunday...and don't forget the hockey game this afternoon.....  Start the chant...  USA, USA, USA...

You can keep up with me on Twitter:  @MichaelLibbie (personal and business) or @InsightADV (business baby) or @RuralLifeRadio (our love for everything...rural)  Thanks for coming by...  Hey, have you read The Des Moines Register yet?

 

 

Retail - You Ready For This?

This Friday (February 26th) I get to speak at a Retail Round-Table for members of the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce about social media.  This should be fun.  

Why?

 

Consider that over the past week there have been dozens of positive...and negative stories about retail facilities broadcast all over the Internet.  Here is just a sample:

• Legends Restaurant vs. The Des Moines Public School Teacher;
• Sears re-brands Kenmore and uses Social Media to do the heavy lifting;
• Starbucks engages Social Media to defuse negative stories about the chain;
• Cafe di Scala is told by a customer (on Twitter) that service is bad...we doubt that but...
• A Canadian goes Viral with his Snowblower issue...Sears Part Two..

And that's just a couple of examples local...and national.

So, our message to my friends the retail members of the Urbandale Chamber will be the echo of my friend Christophe Langlois of London who was on our radio/tv show, Insight on Business this week:  "When you measure the ROI of social media you first must measure the ROI of NOT engaging your customers, your future customers and your employees.  That is the real measure of making a huge mistake."  You rock Christophe!

See you retail folks at 9am.  Come with notepads....

Cutting Down "The Noise"

We're all about making it easier for consumers to connect with our clients.  We're also passionate about not wasting the consumer's time with advertising and marketing that...is just noise.  Sounds sensible right?

Here is the issue.  Each day we see, hear or read advertising messages that are so full of words that our minds shut down.  'You really think I'm going to read all those reasons why I should buy your product or service?"  While the advertiser believes he/she must give you every reason under the sun to make a purchase and crowds their advertising message with facts and figures the consumer is begging you to...."Stop the noise...please."

It's an interesting paradox.  Who do you satisfy...the business owner/manager or the target customer.

We opt for the customer...because if your message isn't different, brief and catches the attention of the consumer then the cost of creative, placement and distribution is...wasted.

That's our take...what's yours?  (Here are some examples of "less is more".  If you like you can click on the images and look at the larger image...)

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee - February 21, 2010

Sunday Morning...let's sit down and share some stories, ideas and heck...just a visit over a hot cup.  Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee...not much business just a chat between friends.  And, as always, we're interested in what you have to say...so fee free to join in.

We've always known this about video...but we've not found the time, or the motivation, to do it for ourselves. (excuses)  That all changed this past week when we carried the "Hair In My Salad" story about teacher Marsha Richards and restaurant owner Mark Rogers.  On the way out of the Des Moines Local...LIVE studio I thought, "Gee, Legends American Grill (that "hairy place on Court Avenue" is just a block away.  Why not do a location shot to augment the radio/tv Show Page?"  That, plus the story, helped boosted our readership and click through rate like crazy.  Using video on your blogs or website yet?  

Yes, we think Lindsey Vonn is hot.   Even with ski goggles, a helmet as big as a pumpkin and what seems like five inches of padding.  OK...we said it.

We've been watching the Winter Olympics each night and, for us, there seems to be a reality about the winter games we don't get with the summer games.  Not only are these athletes amazing but the mixture of speed and hard surfaces like snow and ice make for some dramatic television.  And...loads of folks agree.  For the first time in six years American Idol was knocked off the top spot for Wednesday nights.  The Olympics had 30.1 million viewers while Idol came in with 18.6.  You seem to like it too.

I remember moving to Iowa in 1979.  We had to buy wine at a State Owned Liquor Store that had all of the charm of a crack in the sidewalk.  It was a "control" issue.  This past week the Iowa Board of Pharmacy, on a vote of 6 to 0, recommended to the Iowa Legislature that medical marijuana be re-classified opening up its use in the state.  Can you spell evolution?

A shout out for Rural Economic Development and our friend Jason White at the Midwest Partnership.  Folks worry about all this consolidation talk.  You know, combine services to save budgets but still get the job done.  Here is a success story.

Did you hear that Iowa Brewers(think beer not baseball) want the Iowa Legislature to adjust a 90 year law to allow higher alcohol content in beer?  You can "sell" it in Iowa...just can't make it.

Awkward?  This past week I was in a business meeting that went south.  The person doing the presenting simply excused himself from the meeting after the perspective client offered one or two "stalls" to the buy.  I'd never seen anything like it.  After fifteen minutes the presenter simply stood up, said he had to go and left the other guys card on the table.  Three things to do when you get a "stall" during the conversation:

• Keep your cool and let the perspective client talk it out.  Chances are they will figure it out and realize it is a stall.
• Use the language of the stall to turn it around but answer the concern.
• It's not a personal attack...it is simply a stall...don't go nuts and make an enemy.

Coming up tomorrow on our radio/tv show, Insight on Business, it's Todd Razor (photo on the left) from the Des Moines Business Record.  Lots of things to throw at Todd on a Metro Monday...join us live at 12:30PM Central.

Only ten more inches of snow and Des Moines will match the record snow winter of 1912 - 1913 at 72".  We can hardly wait....oh my!

I can't explain it...  We sent Valentine's Day Cards to our grand-children in St. Joseph, Missouri on the same day.  One arrived in two days the other took twelve.  Anybody?

Back to local media:  Our friend, Paul Yeager from Iowa Public Television (shown here working in the "Living Room" of our Des Moines Local...LIVE studio) and his show, The Iowa Journal are taking another look at Social Media.  Last year Mike Templeton and I appeared on the show to discuss SM and it's impact on business.  Paul is looking for Iowa folks who have seen marked improvement in their brand and sales to come on and talk about it.  We're game my friend. 2009/2010 for Social Media may be the year we remove the word "social" from the mix and simply call it...."Media".  It's that strong.

It's early on Sunday and I've got tons of work to do for a client this morning.  We're putting together a co-op advertising program to help them...and their dealers get noticed in several parts of the country.  The client has never ventured into this area...should be interesting as we attempt to build brand.

Tomorrow - How to get your point across in print...without using loads of words.  Thanks for coming by.  You can follow us on Twitter:  @MichaelLibbie (personal & business), @InsightADV (business baby) or @RuralLifeRadio (our love for all things rural.)  Have a great day...

Michael Libbie - www.InsightCubed.com

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Public Relations - The Lost Art

This week another advertising agency professional and I were talking about the many big and little PR mistakes we've seen over the past five days.  And...how they were handled or should have been handled.  They ranged from the GIGANTIC errors Toyota is having to a private conversation I had with a banker about opening up checking accounts.  (No, most banks do not collect a Credit Score before allowing you to open up a checking account.  I called them.)  Oh, and yes, tucked among them was the Des Moines Public School teacher vs. Legends issue, the Homemaker's Furniture customer service issue (that, sadly, they don't even know about) and the insane way in which Governor Chet Culver's staff is using social media.  It is sooooo bad.  (Staff writes most of his Tweets and they are following a total of 98 people!  98, most of whom are other politicians and media people.  You and I?  Nope.  Go ahead, have a look.)

How can all this stuff go on in a world so connected?   Maybe, as my friend said, "Public Relations has become a lost art."?  Maybe.   Maybe it is too tough to think and to plan and to execute a solid PR campaign.  Maybe the folks who are running the failed campaigns (see above) are not doing their job.  Maybe nobody knows.

Here is your "Tip of the Day".  If you think you are running a solid PR campaign...call us or any marketing/ public relations expert and ask them, "Hey what do you think?"  Chances are...you'll hear some different ideas and that is good.  Great PR campaigns don't happen in a vacuum.  Ask Toyota...or Tiger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public Relations - The Lost Art

This week another advertising agency professional and I were talking about the many big and little PR mistakes we've seen over the past five days.  And...how they were handled or should have been handled.  They ranged from the GIGANTIC errors Toyota is having to a private conversation I had with a banker about opening up checking accounts.  (No, most banks do not collect a Credit Score before allowing you to open up a checking account.  I called them.)  Oh, and yes, tucked among them was the Des Moines Public School teacher vs. Legends issue, the Homemaker's Furniture customer service issue (that, sadly, they don't even know about) and the insane way in which Governor Chet Culver's staff is using social media.  It is sooooo bad.  (Staff writes most of his Tweets and they are following a total of 98 people!  98, most of whom are other politicians and media people.  You and I?  Nope.  Go ahead, have a look.)

How can all this stuff go on in a world so connected?   Maybe, as my friend said, "Public Relations has become a lost art."?  Maybe.   Maybe it is too tough to think and to plan and to execute a solid PR campaign.  Maybe the folks who are running the failed campaigns (see above) are not doing their job.  Maybe nobody knows.

Here is your "Tip of the Day".  If you think you are running a solid PR campaign...call us or any marketing/ public relations expert and ask them, "Hey what do you think?"  Chances are...you'll hear some different ideas and that is good.  Great PR campaigns don't happen in a vacuum.  Ask Toyota...or Tiger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Des Moines - New York Times

"Hey...Ma...we made the New York Times!"

You might remember my friend Ed Weintrob who was in Des Moines the the Iowa Newspaper Association meeting last month?  He sends regards and an article that appeared in the New York Times about the wonder we know as Des Moines, Iowa.

With the passing of Mr. Ruan this past week and the teacher/restaurant flap going on down at Court Avenue this was a very welcome bit of news.  

We love the fact that the article talks about cooperation.  The farming industry and people willing to get involved and build a city where there was once empty lots.  We think it's cool when other say we "get it" when it comes to developing living areas in the city center rather than let it empty out at 6:00PM. 

We've got our thumbs under our suspenders and smilin' a bit.  So, nothing else friends other than to send this out and let you know how proud we are of our little town.  Maybe you should drop in?

  

 

 

Where Is Your White Space?

Not everything has been created.  Not all the ideas are old.  Every person is not   
experiencing a great delivery experience.  Where can you fit in your idea to do better, deliver better, create more value?

That place is what some call "The White Space".  It's a void between what is...and what might be if only you take your idea to market.  It's something we talked about today on our business radio show, Insight on Business.  That "White Space" can only be filled if you can recognize the market, find a solution and then act.

But all that stuff takes work...

Are you up to it?

Thanks for finding us, for reading and for learning.  You can keep up with us on Twitter:  @MichaelLibbie  Just in case this isn't enough.

 

Sunday Morning Coffee - February 14, 2010

Sunday morning is a great time to gather around our virtual coffee-shop and visit about loads of different things.  A little business, a little gossip, a little insight?  Stick around for a bit and have a sip of Sunday Morning Coffee.

I attended a conversion service Friday night for my sister-in-law.  That was very cool.  Welcome to the "Tribe" Esther Ruth...

Dead Meat - Can I be frank with you?   It's the morning of February 14, Valentine's Day, and gentlemen, if you have not purchased the necessary sacrifices for the "Goddess of Love" (and you know who she is) you can escape the "dead meat" status if you act right now!  We're giving you permission to close this edition and GO TO THE STORE...even if it's your local Walgreen's or food center (many are open 24 hours) and GET SOMETHING.  It's been my experience that WHAT is not as important as, "GO GET SOMETHING YOU IDIOT"!    , Trust me, you do not want to unleash the fury of the gods....  You've been warned.

For those of you who did the smart thing and have or are getting ready to lavish the attention of the centuries upon your Valentine...   You rock and may be entitled to live another year.

We're workin' on it.  Over the past two weeks we've been unable to post the audio or the video from the shows on Des Moines Local...LIVE.   I don't know...but, we are working on fixing the problem.  I can tell you this, when we do not have the video or audio for later download it really cuts into our viewer minutes and interaction.  We know that not everybody can drop what they are doing to watch my show, Insight on Business, or the shows of the other 55+ hosts and we're on it.  Honest...

There is a trial going on in tiny Allison, Iowa.  Mark Becker is accused of shooting and killing beloved Parkersburg Coach Ed Thomas in front of members of the school football team.  Of course, Mr. Becker is claiming he is/was nuts.  No kidding...  Here is a brief look at the story from The Des Moines Register.

Our son and his bride have been reading to our grand-daughter, Taylor, who celebrated her first birthday on Friday!  How cool is that?  Anyway, this is a page from a book that he says he and Mandi have been reading from...at least every other night for months.  Notice anything strange?  The answer is later in the post. Even published works...like books, can have errors.  Look again...

Ironic...it's snowing (again) here in Des Moines (they tell us we're over 50" for the year) and in Vancouver they are having to truck loads snow to some Winter Olympic sites. 

Michael Gartner, former president and current member of the Iowa Board of Regents, took his board to task regarding their decision to increase tuition at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa.  Bottom line:  This decision was "the easy" way to deal with fiscal issues, not the smart one. A good read and here you go!

I found it odd that with dozens of media types at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville last week there was no TweetUp.  It was talked about...but nobody took the lead.  That's kind of too bad...cause it would have been...news.  If only I'd have been there?

Update from last week:  I mentioned that we had been trying to catch Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie for a visit regarding a way to infuse some positive environmental changes in the way the city deals with its parks and turf.  You know...a way to avoid pouring more chemicals on city property.  We made progress...he called.  And, this will be exciting if we can get it all done.  We'll share more down the way.

From Taylor's book:  It's not "Eggplant" it reads, "EggLant". 

Thanks for reading and you can keep up with us on our website, www.InsightCubed.com or visit with us on Twitter:   @MichaelLibbie (personal and business), @InsightADV (business baby...business) or @RuralLifeRadio (our love of neary everything rural)  Have a great Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why Super Bowl Ads...Don't Sell Stuff

Three days following the Super Bowl, that had the highest viewers of any TV show at 106.5 million viewers, people are still talking about the ads. (Sidebar:  By the way the former viewer winner was the season finale of M*A*S*H that held the record for nearly thirty years.)  But do the ads make you go buy the stuff they are hawking?  After all, that's the reason...right?

The answer, for both questions is...no.

Here's the deal:  The ads, which are meant for entertainment, are done in such an outlandish way so you and I talk about them.  That is the reason we remember the Mars Candy Company Snickers ad, that's why we are still talking about the Dorietos ads...and that's why we've already forgotten the Googlead.  You see, the Super Bowl is a grand show and the ads that are in the show must equal its entertainment value or...they are forgotten.  Bet you didn't rush out on Monday and buy bags of Snickers or Doretos...right?

We call that product awareness...not selling.

Two other things about the ads this past Sunday.  Did you notice the lack of Social Media connection?  We can't remember one ad that asked this high viewer-ship to follow them on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.  Maybe because we already were?

And, remember...the job of an ad...any ad...is not to actually SELL...  People still do that and while that great ad helps with product awareness and gains your interest.  You get my point.

Thanks for reading!