How To Be Overcharged For Web Services

August 20, 2014August 20, 2014 / Duane Christensen

Image courtesy of “debspoons” / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Now… I’m not exactly sure this local company is being overcharged by one of my favorite local advertising agencies… I’m only 97.5% sure of it.

Here’s something I read on this particular advertising agency’s website. Their words are in bold in the paragraphs below. My breakdown of their words is in RED)

[______________ company] partnered with us to increase their profits. (Because this agency used the words “partnered with us”, I would automatically NOT want them as my ad agency. They also said “profits”. It bugs me. I’m pretty sure the company didn’t call up this agency and say, “We’d like to partner with you to increase our profits.” Sure, maybe I’m being nit-picky, but it just bugs me, ok?! We developed a website for them on an easy to use content management system, and we drive traffic to their website through Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing. [____________ company] is now ranking number one on the popular search engines! (This agency is hoping business prospects reading this are not “with it” in the “Interwebs” language – because which keywords is this company ranking #1 for? Even I can build a website and get any local company to rank #1 pretty fast and easy for an obscure enough keyword. Bottom line – just be honest with us, please. And I searched the top 6 or 7 keywords and different variations of those keywords that most people would type into Google – this business was not even close to ranking #1.)

We also support their social media efforts, keeping top of mind awareness with their followers. (First of all, this company is not in an industry where people are breaking down doors to Like their Facebook and Twitter pages – aside from their wives and mothers. But this agency I’m sure told them they needed a consistent social media presence. And that they’re really good with social media, and they’d be more than happy to handle it for them. Of course, charging them a stupid amount of money for absolutely zero value in return.) We track their incoming traffic, so [_____________ company] can see exactly what their marketing dollars are providing for a return on their investment. (So, technically, yes, if you add to someone’s website traffic, that’s a “return” on investment. But this industry that I’m naming unnamed, is one where there’s not a ton of competition. And the competition they do have…don’t have a lot of web marketing going on at all. So, getting more traffic to the website, and showing them the numbers is great. But it wasn’t difficult for them to do, yet they’re charging a pretty penny for it. They’re slick. And I’m not a fan of “slick” advertising agencies and marketing people.)

Isn’t that almost PSYCHOTIC that I looked into those two small paragraphs so deeply? I know. Dude, get a life. I needed a break- and had half an hour to spare, ok? And I don’t like it when small business owners get taken advantage of.

ANYWAY…

Please be careful before you buy any kind of marketing service or advertising.
Ask TWICE as many QUESTIONS as you think you should.
Sleep on it. Then, ask more questions.
Keep your “radar” up for buzzwords that mean nothing.
Keep your “radar” up for sales-ey type of talk. Look for sincerity.

Gotta run. Have a great day!

Duane Christensen

Your favorite marketing dude at Results Radio Townsquare Media

Sioux Falls, SD

605-940-7984

duane.christensen@results-radio.com

The 6 Words That Perfectly Explains My Radio Clients’ Success

August 8, 2014 / Duane Christensen

This quote by Bobby Orr… gets its own blog post. This quote contains just as much glorious advice for all you Sioux Falls business owners and advertisers…as it does for budding hockey players. Ready? Here it is…

“Forget about style; worry about results. ”
― Bobby Orr

Can you hear the angelic choir from the heavens?

Regarding your advertising, no matter if it’s online, TV, Radio, Billboards, etc., you need to get over what you “think” your advertising should sound or look like. All that matters…are the results.

And we have a pretty good history of that here at Results Radio Townsquare Media. Personally, I have wonderful, beautiful, successful clients who have been on the radio with me for over 10 years.

The people who benefit most from doing business with me on the Radio… are the ones who are finally ready to just DO IT RIGHT. They’ve been burned. They’re tired of throwing money at things that don’t work.

If this sounds like you…let’s sit down and discuss your situation.

We don’t worry about the “style” of your ad. We don’t worry if it sounds “professional” enough or not. All we worry about… is figuring out what will bring you RESULTS.

I think you can become just as well-known and popular in Sioux Falls as Bobby Orr is in the hockey world. Let’s talk about how to do that.

Duane Christensen

Results Radio Townsquare Media

605-940-7984

duane.christensen@results-radio.com

duanechristensen.townsquareinteractive.com

Radio Advertising’s Superpower: What Can It Do For You?

August 7, 2014September 14, 2015 / Duane Christensen / 1 Comment

Image courtesy of “vectorolie” / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Radio advertising’s superpower is long-term branding for a business. When a local Sioux Falls business wants to build a brand, be remembered, and reach a lot of people, there is nothing better than a good, consistent radio advertising campaign. Warning: You can’t release just any kind of radio ads out into the world…it has to be well-thought-out and strategic (which is our specialty). So, what can a consistent radio advertising plan do for you? Let’s get right to it. You like lists, right?

1) Awareness of your business. You become a choice to those who didn’t know about you.

2) Change perceptions about your business, service, or product…where perceptions need to be changed. Which will allow you to attract more customers and increase your sales. Duh, right?

3) Cause people to remember certain words or phrases when they need what you sell. And we anchor those words or phrases to your business name…so they contact YOU instead of a competitor.

4) Cause people to “FEEL” and “SEE” what it would be like if they were your customer. Get them to like you before they have ever bought from you.

5) Brand your business. When people think about, hear, or see your name, they KNOW WHAT YOU STAND FOR (or against)…and they feel good about that. Which immensely increases the chance YOU will be the business they choose to BUY from.

With all of the above 5 things cranking, you then get…

6) Consistent business growth. By consistently saying the right things to a whole bunch of people, you’ll keep attracting new faces. So, if you treat people right, and keep most of your current customers…your sales will continue to grow. You won’t have to wonder “how are we going to make some extra sales this month?” You won’t have to discount your services or slash prices of your products to get new business. You’ll be attracting the profitable people – not the wishy-washy ones who have to get everything on sale.

This stuff works. I have clients who’d love to tell you about it.

Let me know if you’d like to talk with me about marketing your business in the Sioux Falls area.

Radio advertising has received a bad rap by a lot of business owners. But only because they didn’t do it right. They didn’t understand radio’s superpower. And the advertising people they talked to in the past…didn’t understand how to unleash radio advertising’s superpower.

Duane Christensen

Results Radio Townsquare Media

Sioux Falls SD

605-940-7984

duanechristensen.townsquareinteractive.com