Fixing a 30-second Radio Spot and Strengthening a Client Relationship

October 16, 2013 / Duane Christensen / 2 Comments

Image courtesy of “digitalart” / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It’s not their fault. They didn’t know it was BAD.

I recently received a radio script from new client. It was 30 seconds worth of words that sounded like every other ad that their industry cranks out. It was going to be ignored. It was going to blend in with every other craptacular 30-second radio spot that talked all about the business, but not about the listener.

So, I had a dilemma. I already knew they were going to spend some money to air the radio spot. I’m assuming most advertising people would have just let’r rip! “Let’s take their money and run for the hills!” But I didn’t do that. I called the client and started to explain myself. I gave the biggest reasons why it wouldn’t work. And then I said, there are a few things in the radio ad I’d like to keep…but I want to re-write it and see what you think.

A few hours later I sent a 60-second radio spot. I added some flair and “likeability” to the ad…but I focused the entire spot on that one main point that the business was trying to get across. I shined a light on it…instead of just mentioning once or twice. I made it impossible for listeners to ignore the message. Because the point of the ad had a good chance of attracting the right new customer. It had some merit.

Now, the radio spot was actually easy to listen to and keep someone’s attention. I added humor to it. I added unpredictability. I added a few production elements that added to the point we were trying to make.

They loved it. I don’t think anyone had ever explained how advertising works to them. They only dealt with order takers in the past…not marketers. They told me straight up that they appreciated my honesty up front and my experience that turned a mediocre ad at best into one that actually WORKED! They ended up making another buy and I think we’re on our way to a beautiful friendship.

And I felt better about myself because I did the right thing. I ran the risk of losing a potential new client because I told them their ad wasn’t going to work. Even if I did take their money initially…it would have been very short-term. They would have moved on to the next advertising medium or rep…and tried the same thing.

Now the business understands that it’s not only about WHERE you’re advertising…most importantly, it’s WHAT YOU SAY to the people that will make all the difference. Victory!

If you’d like to talk about how to NOT let your advertising blend in with all the background noise, just give me a shout. I’d love to discuss real options and different ideas.

Thanks for reading. Have a groovy day!

Duane Christensen

Results Radio Townsquare Media

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

605-940-7984

duane.christensen@results-radio.com

“And More!” Advertising (Resist the Temptation)

October 14, 2013July 26, 2018 / Duane Christensen

Image courtesy of “khunaspix” / FreeDigitalPhotos.net Ad writing tip: Try handwriting first, then type out your script. I’d even wait a day before typing it out. You’ll find more improvements to make the next day.

I caught myself typing “and more!” in a recent radio script I was writing for a special event. I slapped myself silly and then deleted that ugly, meaningless phrase. There was a small amount of blood, but I’m OK.

Why does “and more!” make it into WAY too many radio ads? Couple of reasons I suspect.

1) Lack of information. You’re trying to list a few things about the business or about a special event…and you really only have about two things to list but it doesn’t feel like that’s enough…so you type “and more!” thinking that the public will want to check out all the “and more” that there is to offer.

2) The client wants you to insert “and more!” into the ad copy. Probably because they’re terrified of leaving anything out…and they feel they’re safe if they add “and more!” They also probably feel that everyone hearing the ad will say, “And more?! Oh, boy! I can’t wait to find out what the ‘and more’ is!!!”

Whether you’re a radio advertising copy writer or a business owner writing your own ad copy…I beg of you to resist the temptation to put “and more” into your copy. Let me explain why…

People don’t hear those two words in your ad. And even if they do, they won’t even have a clue what they would entail. And they won’t be excited about those words, pondering what exciting and mysterious things could be waiting for them at your business or special event.

So, the words “and more” in your ad…are DEAD WORDS. They mean nothing. People want to know specifics. They want the juicy facts! But if you’re insistent on using “and more” because you’re pig-headed or don’t believe me…at least say “and a whole wagon-load of whatchamacallits!” in your radio spot instead. You might as well get some attention with your vagueness, right?

Maybe you’re a retail store and you’re having a huge sale. You decide to mention a bunch of name brands that you carry. After listing about 5 brands you say, “and more!” Sorry, but people aren’t going to fill in the blank. All they possibly heard are the brands they’re familiar with. Two out of the five if you’re lucky.

Fill your radio spots with something better. Get people’s attention. Tug at their emotional strings. Get them to FEEL what you can do for them. Make them want to experience what you can offer them. That won’t happen with laundry lists of unremarkable items and a whole bunch of “and mores” snapped onto the ends.

When you and I work together on your radio advertising campaign…or your special event advertising…I’m going to dig deeper. I’m going to make YOU dig deeper. Let’s give people some information they might actually care about. Let’s entertain them. Let’s make them LIKE you before they even become a customer. And when they do…then YOU can make them LOVE you. Sound like a plan?

Have a kick-butt-take-names kind of day!

Duane Christensen

605-940-7984

I write this blog on behalf of my own sales and marketing career at Results Radio Townsquare Media in Sioux Falls. (8-station radio group + ad writing + strategy). This is not the company website. This is my own personal radio advertising blog. I hope to educate future radio clients as well as share some extra insight to my current radio clients. I’ve been doing this long enough where I know what works and I know what doesn’t in the world of radio. When you want to make a splash and grow your business in the Sioux Falls and surrounding market, please get in touch with me. I’d be happy to talk about the options you have and share my ideas with you.

Better Ads = More Buying Power

October 4, 2013December 2, 2013 / Duane Christensen

You want to advertise, but you also want to invest WISELY.

Let me help you spend your money. Just kidding. Let’s help you get MORE for your advertising investment, eh?

Here’s how this works.

Let’s say you were going to hire an AVERAGE or below average advertising person. They’ll gladly take your money…and then sloppily put together some ad with no idea about whether that ad might work or not. OR they’ll tell you that you have to air 42 ads a week regardless of your type of business or your local competitive situation. You’ll end up spending more money…and getting less in return if you go with this option.

What’s the other way to go? You can have better ads (or commercials – whatever you want to call them) When you have better ads and a better overall strategy fueling your ads, then you don’t have to BUY as many ads to air each week. Seriously. I’m not makin’ this crap up!

When you’re actual advertising message “hits the mark” with your targeted prospects better…then they have more impact. Here’s a totally made up scenario…

You’re told that you have to buy a lot of ads to make it work. So, you buy 45 ads a week. The ad itself is nothing special. But you’re “getting your name out there”, right? You’re disappointed with the results.

Then, you decide to do it better. You call me. We talk. You understand how advertising works a lot more just because we had a 20-minute conversation. You’re a bit more optimistic, hopeful, or maybe even excited now. I put a plan together for you. Instead of 45 ads a week on the radio per radio station, I suggest 24 to 30. Then, I come up with a better ad. Or series of ads. And then those ads start working. They’ll start working when a lot of thought is put into the plan in the beginning. There’s a foundation at the heart of it that will allow everything to work better, faster, and just plain WORK!

So, I’m not only going to be able to save you money initially, but you should be MAKING more because the advertising you’re doing with me and Results Radio will be pulling in more profitable customers to you. Then, all you have to do is make those customers happy and tell a few people about you…and Boom things start really crankin’ for you. Life is good!

With the money you’re saving initially on fewer ads each week…you could probably advertise on a 2nd radio station for the same money that the “average” ad person would have proposed!

Image courtesy of “stockimages” / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
MORE BUYING POWER!

Do you understand now that BETTER ADS WILL GIVE YOU MORE BUYING POWER?

BUT…none of that has a chance to become reality until you call me for an initial 20-minute conversation. Maybe it’s over coffee. Maybe it’s in our cozy little library at Results Radio. Maybe it’s in our top-secret brainstorming room with cushy, colorful chairs.

I’m a nerd about this stuff. I’m YOUR nerd…if you’ll have me. Let’s chat. I’d love to help out! I’d like to help you reach your business goals. What? You don’t have any? You should get some, because then you can get excited when you reach them. What’s your Sioux Falls or surrounding area market potential? Can you double your revenues? Triple them? Set some goals. I want to help you reach them.

Thanks for reading. Have a groovy day!

Duane Christensen

Results Radio Townsquare Media (8-station radio group)

Sioux Falls

605-940-7984

Let me add a little disclaimer here. Not every situation is the same, but this is a pretty frequent scenario I just talked about. And no, not every ad person will help waste your money faster. But I’ve seen too many who do not have your best interest at heart…or not have the knowledge to make your advertising work for you.