February 5th, 2010
CARU’s Guidlines
In today’s world, the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) has its work cut out for them to stay on top of the latest and greatest social networking and marketing trends as it relates to advertising to our children. As defined on their site, www.caru.org, CARU is a non-profit organization that fosters truth and accuracy in advertising directed to children who are under 13.
Categories: Advertising, Legal, Tips, Uncategorized, Winners
February 5th, 2010
Designing an Online Sweepstakes Entry Form
It is mind-blowing how the Internet has grown dramatically since its inception and to think the same phishing scams are still around. Although, they have changed just as dramatically as the Internet.
When designing a sweepstakes entry form, sponsors need to be extremely careful so the consumer does not feel like they need to give too much information in order to enter. Here are a few rules of thumb to keep in mind when designing an online sweepstakes entry form: Continue Reading…
Categories: Prizes, Promotion Risks, Technology, Tips
February 5th, 2010
So How Much Is Too Much?
You have spent money, time and resources over the years to gather your target’s personal information and build a valuable database, right? Right! Consumers have signed up on your site, perhaps replied to a previous e-mail blast and in some form or fashion, agreed to receive your communication. So now you believe you can blast them whenever you see fit. Right? DEFINITELY NOT! The question “how much is too much?” seems to always come up with our clients.
So here is our answer… Continue Reading…
Categories: Tips, Uncategorized, Winners
February 5th, 2010
Why Promotion Results Matter
Too often, we see clients conduct massive, large-budget campaigns. The campaigns may be well received and may receive a lot of press, but a simple question post promotion as to whether or not the promotion objective was met – be it increased store traffic or sales, is surprisingly an overlooked answer.
If you can’t measure the results, Continue Reading…
Categories: Statistics, Technology, Tips
December 3rd, 2009
2009 Holiday Sales - Up or Down?
As the holiday season is approaching, marketers are wondering, “How will holiday sales be this year?” Obviously people still have concerns about the economy and are being cautious with their spending.
“Households continue to focus on “essential gift giving” such as staple consumables, candy, beverage/alcohol and entertaining at home, and 86 percent said Continue Reading…
Categories: Economy, News, Statistics
October 1st, 2009
The Random Factor
Equal Opportunity = Legal Promotion
“Equal opportunity” doesn’t solely exist in the HR world. It is imperative that it exist in the Promotion world as well.
Clients often ask, “Can we select the winner from a specific state?” We answer with a resounding, “No”… and offer the following explanation… Continue Reading…
Categories: Legal, Prizes, Promotion Risks, Tips, Uncategorized
September 18th, 2009
The New Way to Communicate
“Tweet Tweet” seems to be the sound that is catching everyone’s ears. Moving into a heavy social networking era, Twitter is a great new way to let everyone know, who wants to know, what you are doing and the important things going on in your world. The whole concept seems to support the theory that it “Is a Small World After All”.
In today’s society, it is clear that celebrities hold a lot of weight when it comes to what’s hot and what’s not…what better way to advertise and support an upcoming movie or concert. The results are astronomical when you have 2 or 3 celebrities who collectively can reach millions of people instantly (http://adage.com/madisonandvine/article?article_id=136660).
From a philanthropical perspective, what a great way to communicate important information surrounding global concerns such as the Swine Flu (http://twitter.com/stopswineflu). Though, we are all going to have to walk through the growing pains of Twitter just like we did with junk email and learn to identify the reputable sources from the not so reputable sources, Twitter is a great second source for media outlets and massive communication (http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=136583).
There will be more to come with Twitter, we can all count on that.
Categories: Media, Technology, Uncategorized
July 29th, 2009
Am I going 55? How The Speeding Analogy Can Help You Evaluate Business Risk
No matter your position- conservative or otherwise- evaluating business risk scenarios in the promotional world is challenging.
Without a single federal task force regulating Sweepstakes, Games, and Contests, promotional oversight is decentralized and left in the hands of too many groups to list- the USPS (Federal Deceptive Mail Prevention & Enforcement Act), other quasi regulatory federal agencies, along with each state’s Attorney General office and Consumer Protection group, just to name a few. As a result, fines, penalties and other actions stemming from scrutinized promotions are not consistent or predictable. Continue Reading…
Categories: Promotion Risks
July 19th, 2009
You’re Already “Going Green” and Might Not Know It
The increased popularity of online marketing as a promotional tool aligns with the current trend in our society to “go green.” The new generation of technology, which includes social media networking is a low-cost way to engage consumers that is as well eco-friendly.
Chances are, you have chosen to use online and social media networking solutions for your promotions for the efficacy and viral nature of such platforms. But have you considered the positive environmental impact from using online promotions? Continue Reading…
Categories: Budget Friendly, Technology
July 19th, 2009
No Small Blunders in Cyberspace
Gone are the days where a local PR event gone awry would cause local bad buzz and in a few days’ time, be forgotten. Local newspapers would pick up the story; the faulted company would spend an afternoon preparing a statement to coincide with the drop of the negative article in tomorrow’s paper. If the company was lucky, the bad news would spread as far as the paper route.
With the expansion of online and social media, there is no longer such a thing as local. Nor is there such a thing as having an afternoon to prepare. Pepsi’s recent NY Yankees ticket giveaway in NYC comes to mind Continue Reading…
Categories: Advertising, Legal, Media, News, Technology