I will admit it.

I watch a lot of television.

No, really, A LOT.

And, as many of my family members and friends know, I am that (annoying) person who moans and groans after seeing certain spots. But instead of ranting and raving about bad ads, (copyranter and AdScam/The Horror! already do that incredibly well!) I want to do a series of “Spot-on Spots” – ads that are just standouts among the extremely professional term–“crap”.

First up – When Weird Works

We’ve all seen them, laughed at them, cringed while watching them, and … Continue Reading

Contrary to many people’s beliefs, there is more substance to the world of online videos than the following:

Online videos also have the ability to educate and inform consumers, and more importantly, they can motivate these consumers to work with your company.

People spend a considerable amount of time watching videos, probably more than they’d like to admit. According to Arbitron and Edison Research, the weekly audience for online video has tripled in the past five years. Research also showed that the typical respondent spends 3 hours … Continue Reading

Right now, we live in an age where things are constantly changing. We can’t go more than a year until our computers or cell phones are passé, and their technology is nearly obsolete. In the world of advertising design, things are just as much on the move.

So, let’s get down to the brass tacks – How do we stay on top of these constant changes, or better yet, ahead of them?

Two words: adapt and innovate.

“Old media” (TV, radio, print, direct mail, tradeshows, etc.), unlike our outdated iPhone 4s, are actually still relevant, very much so. The trick is to … Continue Reading

A ComScore study has shown that the average American spends 32 hours per month on the Internet. So, what does this mean for your advertising dollars? Many people would jump to the conclusion that because people spend more time online, their online ads will automatically bring them more business.

But you’re smarter than that.

In order to get any results, your business must invest in targeted, relevant ads which are on sites that your consumers visit frequently.

Say your business is a car dealership. You’d like to reach customers that live within … Continue Reading

Facebook marketers were thrown into a tizzy last week by the suggestion that using 3rd party apps can be detrimental to your post’s EdgeRank.  If that sounds indecipherable, you are not alone.  There’s a lot to know when it comes to making your brand voice heard on Facebook.

Let’s look into the brouhaha more deeply.

Last week, EdgeRank Checker released a study outlining the influence of 3rd party application programming interfaces (“APIs”, more commonly referred to as “3rd Party Apps”) on Facebook engagement.  These apps are commonly used to schedule … Continue Reading

To create an effective, multidimensional campaign, there is one aspect of the campaign that is absolutely crucial: salesmanship.

Real face-to-face interactions with a company representative make all the difference. True salesmanship requires someone who not only knows the product inside and out, but above all, truly listens to the client and reacts in “real time.” It’s not just about the pitch — well-rehearsed, cookie-cutter answers and a snazzy PowerPoint presentation — it’s more than that.

Real salesmanship involves ongoing give-and-take conversations … Continue Reading

Last week, we discussed the importance of conducting integrated marketing campaigns.  One of the integral components of an integrated marketing campaign is the media plan.

To build better value for your client, Stream Companies recommends buying media on a quarterly basis, as opposed to buying month-to-month.  (Month-to-month is defined as booking media in or right before the month being booked. For example, scheduling NBC on 9/1 for a 9/15 start.)  On average, broadcast and radio stations will reduce rates by 15% if a client books for the … Continue Reading

Promote, Promote, Promote – Compelling offers, unique selling propositions, seasonal sales, giveaways… the strength of your campaign (AND its success) starts with your promotion’s value as perceived by your target customers.  You know your customers.  What do they want to hear?

Hyper Target – Now that you’ve got an irresistible promotion, pinpoint your audience.  By hyper-targeting your customers, you’ll ensure that your message will be in front of the right buyers at the right time.  You’ll also ensure that will be none of your effort and or investment is wasted.

Diversify … Continue Reading

Pardon the dust.  Excuse the unsightly mess.  Just ignore the din of hammers and saws and keep on about your business.

Stream Companies‘ office expansion is now in full swing. An expanded and updated production wing will soon house our award-winning production unit.  The expansion we will also enable us to accommodate our recent explosive growth in creative and sales staff.

Never mind those rumors you have heard that the addition is intended for the sole purpose of housing our ever-increasing collection of trophies, certificates, awards, medals, etc.  While … Continue Reading

Self-service advertising for small-medium sized businesses has brought Google billions—could Facebook’s growth in this category result in a future duopoly?

AdAge recently highlighted Facebook’s 2010 worldwide online ad revenue, which was $1.86 billion; a 151% increase over the company’s estimated 2009 advertising revenue of $740 million worldwide.

Facebook is still far from Google in terms of market share for self-service advertising; however new eMarketer estimates show that similar to Google, the majority of Facebook ad revenue comes from small businesses.

Reports show that 60% or $1.12 billion of the total 2010 ad revenue on … Continue Reading