the thought

All eyes are on the Democratic National Convention coming to Denver in August. True to form, when a large event happens in a market, the media opportunists come out of the woodwork! You certainly aren’t alone if you’re receiving phone calls from salespeople with an opportunity that relates to the DNC. Whether it’s an entertainment guide or taxi cabs, they’re beating the streets looking for advertisers! And rightfully so – the DNC will bring with it approximately 50,000 delegates, members of the media and other visitors, with most of that influx in the downtown and surrounding areas. With those visitors comes potential revenue, especially for downtown-area businesses. Place-based media (billboards, mobile billboards, taxi cabs, and countless non-traditional applications) and resource guides are leading the pack in terms of available advertising opportunities.

But is this something you need to participate in, and if so, how? If your business has a location directly in the line of fire of the convention you may want to consider adding some of the advertising opportunities to your arsenal. All of these visitors will need to eat, drink, socialize and shop, so if you offer any of those things, let them know you’re here! Other than retailers that benefit immediately, if you have a unique story to tell about your business, showcasing it to the media outlets that are picking up stories about Denver could be an angle to getting additional coverage for your company.

As for the rest of us – we’ll be hunkering down in the areas without all of the extra traffic!!

04:41 PM | Permalink

I’ve spent the last few months spending considerable time on the local real estate listing websites as my wife and I have been looking for a new home. One thing I became innately aware of through this whole process is that the first step is to vet the possible new house from what you see of it on the internet, from pictures to the listing details.

Thinking from a marketing perspective, I couldn’t think hard enough about how some realtors are really good about marketing a home with multiple pictures, virtual tours, & satellite views of the lot. After looking at these listings I had a real good sense of whether or not that home could be my home. On the other hand I’ve seen several dismal listings showcasing everything but the house – gardens, closets, an indoor hot tub with a rubber duck. In these cases I never bothered to spend much more time with them as I didn’t want to waste my time with such an unknown when there were dozens of better marketed homes to look at over the weekend.

When I saw the above picture posted, I couldn’t but help think of what the listing realtor was, or wasn’t thinking, when they decided to use this picture. And if I’m the person trying to sell this house, did they feel that this picture do justice in showcasing their home? All I can tell from it is that there is a big tree in the front yard, hardly the reason I’d buy a home. In a soft real estate market, does this really set this home apart from everything else? I sure hope some new pictures get posted soon because on paper this sounds like a good home but how can I tell from the picture?

10:00 AM | Permalink

By now everybody knows that Tiger Woods has just won his 14th major, and his 3rd US Open, in a riveting 91 hole tournament at Torrey Pines in La Jolla.

As a golf fan watching the US Open is one of those must-see tournaments every year. But for the casual golf viewer? Only if Tiger plays, and is leading, do they seem to follow.

I knew that with the drama being created by Tiger’s bum knee and his tenacity of staying at the top of the leader board that the ratings would be strong for this year’s US Open broadcasts. The only question though heading into Monday’s playoff was what Monday’s ratings would be.

Well, they were nothing but spectacular. A 4.2 household rating on ESPN for the first 9 holes and a 7.6 household rating on NBC for the back nine. The one number that isn’t reported, and one that I would love to see, is the viewership for the live streaming broadcast on the USGA’s website of the playoff. For people at work without access to TVs, this was their portal to watching the action. This number had to be huge. Kudos to the USGA for the foresight to stream the playoff live on their website with no gimmicks or hurdles to jump through as is so often the case with online video.

But where I’m going is that with the live on-line streaming it is just reinforcing that online video is a force to be reckon with as seen by the first rounds of the NCAA Basketball Tournament, podcasts of network shows, and now this.

Not bad for a Monday telecast when everyone was supposedly at work.

10:00 AM | Permalink

So today I was introduced to WhichWich, a fabulous little sandwich place here by my office…and to a program that they post on their wall: Have a photo taken at the top of a 14er with one of their sandwich bags, bring the photo in and get a free sandwich.

Now, I know most of the normal world would wonder why anyone would hike a fourteen-thousand foot mountain to get a $5 sandwich. But I figure if I’m going to be up there anyway, why not get a free lunch in the process? And get my picture on their wall! As soon as I got back to the computer I became exactly what WhichWich hopes for – the one who emailed all of their hiking friends to tell them about the promotion, and to suggest we do it on our next climb.

The best part? Almost everyone on that email list had never been to a WhichWich…and I’ll bet now they check it out the next time they’re driving past, to pick up a sandwich and a “hiking” bag.

So really, something unique that appeals to the lifestyle of the city can boost the word-of-mouth factor, and can be done without detracting from the atmosphere of the location. In fact, I’m looking forward to going back to see who’s picture is on the wall!

10:55 AM | Permalink

CENTENNIAL,CO May 21, 2008 —Thayer Media, one of the largest media planning, buying and placement agencies in the Rocky Mountain West, has added new team members.

New Staff

Larry Larson – Account Director/New Business Development
Larry brings 25+ years marketing and media experience to Thayer Media. His career has spanned multiple industries on the agency and corporate environments. Moving to Denver from Campbell Mithun in Minneapolis, Larry was the media director for US West and then Qwest. More recently, as a senior executive for Nextel, he led the media strategy through the merger with Sprint and then for Sprint/Nextel. His combination of client and agency experiences creates a strong understanding of media/marketing strategy, furthering Thayer Media’s commitment to providing strategic and impactful media campaigns.

Chessie Hall – Account Director
An 11-year media veteran, Chessie joined Thayer Media as an account director leading clients in the restaurant, real estate and shopping center industries.

Sarah Allen – Traffic Coordinator

Colin May – Media Assistant

A fifteen year-old agency with annualized billings in excess of $20 million, Thayer Media has grown to become one of the largest woman-owned firms in Colorado. Thayer Media represents a broad spectrum of clients in a variety of industries including healthcare, financial, restaurants, retail, real estate, transportation and education.

-END-

10:18 AM | Permalink

CENTENNIAL,CO April 25, 2008 —Thayer Media, one of the largest media planning, buying and placement agencies in the Rocky Mountain West, recently added staff to our energetic and forward thinking team.

New Staff
Jeff Pugel – Account Director

Michelle Watson – Media Planner/Buyer

Jennifer Cosca - Receptionist

Promotions:
Kelly Rooney – Media Assistant

A fifteen year-old agency with annualized billings in excess of $20 million, Thayer Media has grown to become one of the largest woman-owned firms in Colorado. Thayer Media represents a broad spectrum of clients in a variety of industries ranging from restaurants to real estate to adult education.

-END-

10:01 AM | Permalink

I was driving to work yesterday morning and I was listening to the radio. The morning show was talking about a video that was recently posted on youtube.com. Apparently, in the video there are four people that are gathered around a table together. They place four kernels of popcorn on the table and then put four cell phones around the popcorn in a plus shape. They all call the cell phones at the same time and in the video the cell phone waves pop the popcorn kernels. I have not personally seen the video but obviously it is a fake. First and foremost, cell phones remit radio waves not micro waves but on top of that, come on, there is just no way. The people from the morning show debated whether or not the video was a fake so they went and bought popcorn kernels that night and performed the experiment this morning. As suspected, the experiment did not work and the popcorn kernels did not pop. They were still not convinced because apparently they used air pop popcorn instead of microwave popcorn for their experiment so they are going to buy microwave popcorn tonight and repeat the experiment tomorrow again. It’s completely ridiculous concept but I have to say one thing… Great marketing for popcorn! To think of how many people will hear that morning show like I did or watch that video on youtube.com and go out to buy popcorn for their own personal experiment. Just goes to show you, you want to sell something, what better marketing than a doctored video on youtube.com.

11:35 AM | Permalink

There’s an article in the New York Times today titled Beloved Characters as Reimagined for the 21st Century. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/11/business/media/11cartoons.html?ex=1213848000&en=71fdb51074cf6500&ei=5070

The big news: Strawberry Shortcake is getting a new look – American Greetings has given her a “fruit-forward” makeover. This is the latest in a trend of updating characters to make them more appealing to today’s kids – apparently even Mickey Mouse will be going under the knife. I’m not surprised by the update (although I am a little shocked at the amount of press it’s getting). Products get refreshed all the time. Strawberry Shortcake has lost her “Raggedy Ann” look and now falls into more of the Disney Princess category. This alone isn’t enough to shock me, but then I read on.

Strawberry now prefers talking on her cell phone over brushing her cat. Her WHAT? Strawberry Shortcake has a CELL PHONE?

This is not helping my cause. My eight year old daughter wants a cell phone. She’s EIGHT! What does a child that age need a cell phone for? When are they far enough away from an adult that they’d need to make a call to get in touch? This is ridiculous, and now one of my childhood heroes, Strawberry Shortcake, has turned on me. As a parent, I think I’m pretty normal when it comes to what she’s allowed to be exposed to. Littlest Pet Shop, My Pretty Pony, American Girl…these are age appropriate. The idea of Strawberry Shortcake chatting and texting is really disarming.

I’m a marketer, always have been. And I understand the idea of getting the right message to the right target at the right time, the media agency I work for is superior at making that happen. I actually appreciate that my little one recites an 800# after one viewing. I believe in the power of advertising. Which is why I’m so disappointed. And which is why I’ll be shopping on eBay for a 1980’s Strawberry Shortcake rather than heading down to Target to buy a new one.

I wonder what’s going to happen to Mickey?

04:33 PM | Permalink

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/06/business/media/06adco.html?ref=business

Reading about a media execution like this makes blimp advertising, skywriting, or aerial banners seem so yesterday and unoriginal.

Granted you need to have the right message in order to pull this off, but as the UK division of Honda’s tagline says, “Difficult is worth doing.” I couldn’t agree more.

03:18 PM | Permalink

I haven’t received my Economic Stimulus yet, has anyone? My son hasn’t either, but he did get a very official-looking notice from the Treasury the other day that his check would be coming to him but it is currently delayed for another 2 to 3 weeks.

As we both looked at the mailer and discussed it briefly, my second reaction was “hey! … the Treasury is now practicing a Customer Service tactic that most commercial companies and online retailers ignore”. I can make the effort to track a package with UPS, or an order for a shirt or two from Eddie Bauer. But how often do you get a notice that your delivery will be late along with an apology for the delay. The more successful retailers, particularly on the B-to-B side do this automatically because they are conscious that they are building or solidifying a relationship with their customer. Not just fulfilling an order and moving on to the next one.

It was certainly interesting that the Treasury Dept. was practicing CSR tactics.

Oh yeah, my first reaction was “ why the ---- is the government spending $ to let us know that a check was going to be late in coming. A check that has a frivolous reason for being in the first place, but a lot of cost attached to issuing them.”

But then, the USPS reported something like a billion dollar loss for the year, right? Hmmmmmmm

11:24 AM | Permalink

What is it about this show? 97.5 million votes for the winner!! A mere 23 million votes more than any previous finale. What makes American Idol such an incredible phenomenon?

Not to mention BIG business. Anything attached to American Idol becomes hugely lucrative.

From the I-Tunes downloads to the sale of tees, posters, games, and DVDs. From the new American Idol Experience at Disney World to the 2008 Live Summer Tour with 53 performances! Then there are the Ford Motor Company videos (which can be downloaded) and designs from fans for Coke cups not to mention the songwriting contest. Is it any wonder that American Idol commands the highest rate for a national advertising spot-more than any other current show! All kinds of celebs perform each season. (Have you noticed how many of them this year had a new CD coming out or a new tour?) For the last two years “Idol Gives Back” raised millions to aid our fellow man. You really have to hand it to the producers; American Idol is BIG business.

And to be honest, American Idol is just plain entertaining. To be a REAL American Idol fan, you have to invest several hours each week from January to May. I have to admit to being relieved they cut the on-air time for auditions this year; but some of those auditions are entertaining (and sadly embarrassing). Don’t you wonder how in the world some of these people ever thought they could SING? And so many of the really terrible auditions come from people who sincerely believed they could! After all haven’t their friends and family encouraged them to audition?

When we get to the 24 finalists we get down to business. Now the American public has the opportunity (or responsibility) of picking the right winner! We haven’t always gotten it right, but we have definitely had fun along the way. This year was touted as the year with great talent. That may have been true, but we didn’t have the privilege of seeing many great performances. I kept sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for that WOW moment to happen with several contestants. I believed in their ability, but we only got to see glimpses of that greatness. I admit to being disappointed there weren’t more awesome moments.

David Archuleta’s final performance was brilliant. How could a 17 year old be so poised at a moment that had to be incredibly stressful and difficult? What an impressive young man.

David Cook, however, WAS the American Idol. The American public did get it right this year. David’s talent and sincerity were undeniable. I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us in the coming years.

Then the flip side – the let down. Now what is there to talk about around the water cooler on Wednesday and Thursday mornings? We have to wait until JANUARY for another round of American Idol entertainment. No wait! The summer tour begins in July; then the American Idol Experience opens in Orlando; then the 2009 season begins on FOX. Ahhhhhh, just breathe, everything will be alright.

04:30 PM | Permalink