Thursday, November 28, 2019

Try These SEVEN Unusual Places To Put Your Advertising

Try These SEVEN Unusual Places To Put Your AdvertisingTry These SEVEN Unusual Places To Put Your AdvertisingThe terms traditional and non-traditional media crop up more and more on creative briefs these days. In fact, most clients are moving away from the traditional, knowing that they must capture the imagination of consumers in a new way. Traditional media is usually comprised of Television Spots (Usually 15, 30 or 60-seconds)Radio SpotsCinema AdsPrint AdsBillboardsDirect MailInsertsMobileOnline Non-traditional media takes advertising to different places, including (but elend limited to) Coffee cupsShopping bagsDoor hangersEvent signageHandoutsSponsorshipsTaxi CabsElevatorsEscalators3D Billboards or stuntsPR stunts Those are leid complete lists, but the big difference between the two is the expected vs. the unexpected. Billboards, TV ads, direct mail, they have all been reserved for advertising homilies. And the customer knows that they will look there to get an advertising message this is why non-traditional media is so strong, because it catches consumers unawares. However, there are places beyond non-traditional that you should consider, because now those unexpected places to advertise are becoming inundated with messages from big brands far and wide. Think Laterally - Go Beyond Regular Guerrilla. Its fine to put a message on a coffee cup or shopping bag, if the context is correct and makes an impact. But to just advertise for the sake of it, you will bedrngnis get noticed any more than you would in a newspaper or TV ad. You need to stand out, and make a point in a memorable and creative way. Indeed, it often takes much more creative thinking to execute a campaign that pushes the media boundaries, because you are always taking location/placement into consideration. The creative needs to support it to work. So here then are 4 places for advertising that you may not have considered. They will only work for certain types of products or services, b ut they are more likely to catch the attention of the consumer than the usual methods. 1 Fruit and vegetables in the grocery stores Almost every piece of fruit and veg you buy comes with a small sticker on it, usually containing a code for the checkout person to key in. But why have just one sticker? Another one, larger and more prominent, could be a great way to advertise your product. How about an ad for certain alcoholic drinks on the side of limes or lemons? Maybe stain remover ads on the beets, or ads for contact lenses on carrots. Be original. People always examine fruits and veg closely, they wont be expecting an ad. And they might just be swayed by your originality. 2 The Bottom of your Shoe There are a few ways you can pull this off. First, create custom soles for shoes and advertise with the imprints they make. Obviously this needs to be targeted to areas that accommodate footprints, such as places with snow, or wet sand. But if youre going to advertise ski-wear o r beach products, hundreds of ads can be placed all around town just by having a few people wearing shoes. Another way to attack this is by placing sticky flyers around town. When people tread on them, the ad gets stuck to their shoe. Why is this good? Think about it this way. What if you were trying to illustrate how easy it was for someone to follow you home, or that in some countries that would have been a land mine? Maybe its self-promotion - for advertising that really stays with you, call X agency. Think outside of that cumbersome box. 3 Money Its not handled as much as it used to be, now that we have credit cards, debit cards, Paypal, and even phones that accept transactions, but money still goes through millions of hands every day. And its a great way to draw attention to your business. From coins to dollar bills, and bigger currency if you really want to make an impact, its a great way to put an offer directly in someones hands. On coins, something simple - maybe a mes sage about picking up cheap dates with a dating website. On paper money, maybe its turning bills into big savings - take the dollar bill into a local store, theyll give you $5 off something in there. Of course, there are rules about the defacement of money, so read up on them carefully. Its a gray area, and needs to be navigated with care. 4 The Human Body Were people watchers, but not in a creepy way (at least, most of us arent creepy). We cannot help but look at other peoples faces in crowds, on buses, waiting for trains, at work, in the grocery store, or anywhere else with other consumers. So, why not take advantage of that by using the human body as an advertising medium. There are already ways to facilitate this, with companies like Buy My Face helping broke students rent out their faces for cash. Is there a message you could put on someones face that would be perfect for your brand? A face cream perhaps? How about other parts of the body? Arms, legs, backs, if theyre exp osed they are a new way to communicate with potential consumers. 5 Inside Video Games This is not that saatkorn as the pop-up advertising and sponsored messages that appear in the apps you get from the Google Play and the App Store. No, in this instance, the actual landscapes and environments of the games people play (obsessively) every day can be used to grab impressions. Their worlds have become so sophisticated, and in some instances ultra-realistic, that they emulate the same places we work, live, and vacation in. Cities have billboards. Bathroom stalls have ad placements. There are even people reading magazines with ads right on the cover. If you have a product that ties beautifully with a game (for example, auto insurance, and Grand Theft Auto) then you should seriously think about this avenue. It can bring in a whole new audience. 6 Baggage Claim and Airport Gates A captive audience is an audience that is much more likely to notice, and interact with, your advertisin g. People are waiting for long periods of time, sometimes five to six hours, with very little to do. They have their phones, but dont want to eat up the battery life. They have books and magazines. But their eyes are looking for things to entertain them. Step up and do that job. And do it in a way that is memorable and fun. What can you do with a baggage claim carousel? Can you pay to put something on it, that goes around and around for hours? Can you print something on it? At the gate, can you take advantage of floor clings, seat covers, and even trash receptacles? These are all opportunities that can make you stand out from the crowd. 7 The Homeless At first glance, that is a mercenary and heartless suggestion. But...take some time to think about it. The homeless are in desperate need of clothing, food, blankets, shoes, socks, water, and many other items. Some rely solely on donations from passers-by. Others go to shelters in times of need. However, if you have a natural tie to any of those necessities, why not do something good with your advertising dollars, and get a little back in return? Provide blankets and pillows that have your branding on them. Give out food packages, and essentials for both the summer and the winter. The recipients will be glad of the assistance, and you will benefit from some positive word of mouth? Sometimes, its better to do something good with the money rather than blowing it all on a billboard or 30 second TV spot.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

3 Tough Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

3 Tough Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them3 Tough Job Interview Questions and How to Answer ThemYoure in the hot seat in an interview for a job you want badly. The hiring manager and gruppe are pulling out all the stops, asking tough job interview questions, to make sure that they separateout the wheat from the chaff with a large pool of competing candidates.Here are three tough job interviewquestionsthey might ask you, along with some interview advice on smart ways to craft your answersQ Whats wrong at your current job to make you want to leave it?A Striking an appropriate tone is critical to your response to this question. While you might genuinely be fed up with political situations in the office, an annoying boss, or difficult colleagues, you certainly dont want to hint at these situations to a prospective employer.Even if you feel that your current boss and/or company is limiting your growth potential and inhibiting your further career development, you need to expres s this in a positive way.For example, Ive really enjoyed my experience to date at my current company, and Ive achieved an incredible amount there, so Im very grateful for those opportunities. For my next step, Im ready to take it to a higher level than I feel I can go in my position. I believe that I can contribute even mora in the position that youre offering because its such a great match for my expertise and skill set.Q What would people who know you say is your biggest weakness?A The greatest weakness question is a dreaded one among interviewees, and its important to get it right because pointing out certain types of foibles to the hiring team can give them cause not to hire you. With this in mind, be strategic, and find a way to turn a negative into a positive.Say something like People who know me well would probably say that I get so intensely involved with my work projects that I dont know when to quit and put them down. Im very passionate about my work, so I need to be caref ul to pace myself and take a breather once in a while.Q You have a gap (or gaps) in yourresume- why?A Whether you took time off for family, personal pursuits, travel, or were laid off and couldnt find work right away, its important to be ready to explain it. Its a no-brainer for recruiters and managers to zero in on these breaks in employment and ask about them, so prepare your approach in advance.Your goal is to show how you used the time off to improve your professional skills in some way that can benefit your next employer. You might phrase your answer along these lines It took longer than expected after a company-wide layoff to land my last job, but I really made the most of my time between positions. While interviewing, I took the opportunity to bone up on some industry skills by taking a class in ABC, which has really paid off in my current position.When you thoroughly prepare for the tougher questions that many interviewers ask, youll be that much closer to landing the job yo u want.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Self-Certification of Women-Owned Businesses

Self-Certification of Women-Owned geschftlicher umgangesSelf-Certification of Women-Owned BusinessesWhile some certifications are not worth the paper they are printed on, certifying your geschftsleben as woman-owned definitely is worth doing especially if you plan to do geschftliches miteinander with any local, state, or federal government entity. Your business does not have to be entirely owned by women in order to qualify for certification as a woman-owned business (WOB) as long as the business is at least 51% owned by a woman(en).If the business is publicly owned, 51% of stock must be owned by women.Additionally, a woman (or women) must be actively involved in the business in a certain way (see more below about requirements for being certified as a WOB). Benefits of Being Certified as aWomen-Owned Business More Opportunities If you are planning to do business with a government agency the first and most likely place you will be found is in the Contractor Registry.Exclusive Opp ortunities When you become a certified WOB you may receive discounts for memberships or even free subscriptions to services and magazines.Increased Credibility Becoming certified is a process you must apply and be approved for certification.Not all businesses are eligible for certifications and not all that apply are approved.Being certified makes your business stand out in a unique way. Requirements for Self-Certification of a Women-Owned Business You absolutely can self-certify your business as women-owned, so long as it falls within the parameters of what a woman-owned business is. However, this self-certification can be challenged upon procurement award. If this happens, the procuring agency may request proof of the firms WOB status, or even require certification. If you fail to comply, you could lose the award. Your business may also be overlooked as there is considerable discretion among contracting officers in how they accept, approach, and award contracts. A formally ce rtified women-owned business may, in the eyes of a contracting officer, be preferable. Definition of a Women-Owned Business The term women-owned small business concern as defined by the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) as A business that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more women or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more women and in which management and daily business operations must be controlled by one or more women. It is important to note, however, that the Small Business Administration (SBA) has other, more specific criteria for women, including The business must be independently owned and operatedMust be organized for profitIs not dominant in its field or industry Additionally, the SBA further defines small business based on industry, number of employees, and receipts. WOSB Program Third-Party Certification The SBA has approved four organizations to act as third-party certifiers under the WOSB Program El Paso Hispanic Chamber of CommerceNational Women Business Owners CorporationUS Womens Chamber of CommerceWomens Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)