So imagine a staple of Online Media at the center of a swirl of rumors. Facebook was rumored to start geo-location support. It’s been the nerd talk for 2010: geo-location. Sites like Foursquare and Gowalla are leading the way. But just like Twitter, Facebook seemed poised to announce a new geo-location feature for accounts. With a huge user base, Facebook could easily put Foursquare and Gowalla on the path to shut down.

Facebook’s big developer conference ended without squat about geo-location. Then yesterday, the advertising world was buzzing about McDonald’s and Facebook. Turns out McDonald’s will be the launch advertiser to use Facebook’s upcoming geo-location feature. Check in at a McDonald’s and get a free fries or something. Can you imagine being enticed to show your phone the next time you order a Big Mac?

Geo-Location and New Social Media Tools from Facebook will make your business more profitable.

I’ve been hesitant to mention geo-location until this very moment. Mainly because if you’re not in New York City, maybe 5,000 people are using either Foursquare or Gowalla. On top of that, there was no clear leader between the two. No reason to invest in the idea until now. The moment Facebook launches it’s time for every company or business to analyze implementation to their media strategies.

Rewarding people for sharing their patronage with friends is network marketing making things happen. “Free” advertising for minimal cost. Chipotle still engages in a similar form of “free” network advertising. At locations near college campuses, Chipotle would offer free burritos on Saturday. What college kid gives up a free lunch? Chipotle would spread the word a bit and before you knew it, college kids loved Chipotle. They loved it so much Chipotle has an entire college campus marketing division.

With the impending launch of geo-location on Facebook, I don’t recommend panicking. It’s ok to get an extra cup of coffee and visit sites like Foursquare. Just don’t feel overwhelmed quite yet. It is the weekend in a few hours after all.

The potential from this news is extraordinary. It will also quell any detractors out there as well. It is very clear that McDonald’s is getting this unique privilege from a very large media buy. The full details are not clear but in what will sure be a big splash, McDonald’s will help transform Online Media trends.

For the average small business there might be a learning curve. That’s expected. Considering that you want people to visit your business you will probably catch on quickly. Sending “Check-In” promotions to friends who hopefully then visit and “Check-In” themselves. From there their friends see where they “Checked-In” and love the promotion so they show up and “Check-In.” After that it gets quite cyclical and the potential becomes beyond incredible.

Have you already been having fun with Foursquare or Gowalla? Let me know! I’ve been trying it out myself a bit under a pseudonym and it can get addicting fast!

Have a fantastic weekend and I look forward to seeing you here again on Monday!

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TZ

I was totally deceived for a while! is by Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Area Media Strategies, Relations, Advertising and Marketing firm.

Branding an identity from crisis. How to avoid an industry stigma and remain positive.

How many times have you heard of the company Cameron International? What about Transocean? I’m a huge animal lover and I drive an SUV to carry them around to the park, vet or even on a road trip. So now that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is reaching the shores and affecting wildlife preserves I’m getting really anxious. When I go online and read more and more about it I only hear about one company: BP. British Petroleum, a worldwide oil conglomerate, that sells you gas, explores for oil and finally drills. Or do they?

I’ve heard of BP plenty of times. They’ve had cute commercials in years past, a colorful logo and they’re huge in Southern California (where I’m from). Cameron International and Transocean are new to me. Are they new to you? Certainly I’m not an oil expert. But the multi-billion dollar industry is not as simple as it looks. BP and others like it, contract out to local companies that specialize in certain jobs. They hire one company for exploration to find new oil reserves. They then hire another company to drill the oil. Then another to send it to shore and of course it continues on from there.

Transocean is the operator and owner of the rig responsible for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. (http://deepwater.com)

Transocean is responsible for the oil extraction. They are the technical owners of the rig and they operate it themselves. BP hired Transocean for their services and most importantly, their expertise. Cameron International is responsible for the equipment Transocean uses. Most importantly they manufacture the safeguard device meant to plug an oil drilling hole in the event of an emergency. Obviously between the two companies something went wrong. Oil is washing ashore and threatening delicate wildlife and damaging the fishing industry already. Millions of dollars in damages are poised to skyrocket. Ultimately, who is responsible for this mess?

Cameron International manufactures devices for oil drilling meant to cap oil spills before they happen. (http://c-a-m.com/)

There are a ton of people who are anti-oil and blame companies like BP. Well BP has already stepped forward. They’ve accepted blame and have dedicated a full clean-up and restoration team. It’s only expected because the technical clean-up of any oil spill is responsible to companies like BP. But the cause of the oil spill does not belong necessarily to BP. Lawyers will soon be able to analyze data and conclude who is to blame for the oil spilling in the first place. The real loser either way is BP and the oil industry as a whole.

BP has taken the right course: they’re accepting blame in it’s entirety. For their reputation, it’s best to be seen as humble, apologetic and committed to righting it’s wrongs. But what about the industry? What about these two companies who are most likely to be blamed for the spill in the first place? Media strategies offers businesses the unique ability to engage the public and media en masse and form the story from their perspective. While no official investigation has made any official findings public, it’s possible to see the BP media machine charge after their contract workers.

Avoiding any stigma is very difficult and it does not happen overnight. What is possible is to avoid the stigma for yourself and place it squarely on another entity. Managing crises is very sticky business. It too, does not happen overnight. But what do you do? Try making information easy to read and easy to understand. Make sure it explains your perspective and make sure that you separate yourself from those you are not wanting to be associated with. Sounds easy but the key is making that information easy.

I’m not a big fan of animals being harmed because of a careless corporation. But in the game of industry stigmas it’s always best to be honest and forthcoming – whether you’re the one to blame or not. You have a voice and it’s in times like these that you have to use it. If you don’t then you are more likely to be used as a scapegoat. And that’s not any fun.

I hope you all have a great Monday! Looking forward to the weekend already! See you back on Wednesday!

Tell a Friend,

TZ

Tony Zazza, a 15-year media, marketing and advertising expert, is the Principal of Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Texas Marketing Firm, that specializes in growing small to medium sized businesses to their fullest potential.

Blame Game going Bad. is by Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Area Media Strategies, Relations, Advertising and Marketing firm.

Media Strategies, Media Relations, Social Media and Google Search. How to realize the true potential of online communities for business growth.

I’m not joking at all. I’m completely serious that ‘Googling’ will come to an end. I may just be a few decades ahead of myself is all.

Ya know how they refer to Facebook and Twitter as ‘Web 2.0′? It’s not because they’re social media, it’s because of the technology behind the websites. Back when Web 2.0 started a good friend explained to me the underlying principle guiding the technology. After building a Web 2.0 company himself he was best to describe it. Web 2.0 is designed to respond to you before you act. In other words, it should know what you want to see and show it to you before you even click a button.

Creepy?

You’re already getting used to it right now. I wrote this week about Facebook’s privacy and new features. Facebook announced today that over 50,000 websites have adopted their new plug-ins that essentially help Facebook dominate content across the web. Now you have over 50,000 different websites that you can ‘Like’ and suggest to friends. Facebook then passes that along to your friends and your friends pass their likes along to you.

Have you seen those Microsoft Bing commercials? They always take a jab at Google, the dominate search engine, for not being very visually appealing. Do you agree? Google is very simple. It’s text and list based. You search and their engine gives you results with very few images (unless you search for images) and it’s just very pure data. Bing is a very visual search engine. But even the typical search engine is slowly seeing a fate worse than death.

For marketers, Google is an amazing way to track and analyze where advertising dollars are spent and their results. Facebook, Twitter and others do not have that “graphing power.” You can’t walk into a room of high-dollar executives and show them results on a dry erase board because there’s only very select information. Facebook’s new methods of ‘Like’ and commentary centralize social media interaction in a way easier to potentially analyze.

That’s been the biggest problem for social media to date. So many others, including myself, know that social media is a valuable tool. Putting an exact number on that value has been the hardest thing to do yet. But what is very clear is that Facebook and Twitter are recognized by about 85% of the US population. That’s more than the percentage of people with regular internet access. Social Media strikes a chord with most people. Here’s what I think the major reason is:

Everyone wants to be involved in a community and share experiences and opinions with others.

To date, there has been no way that a single person can in theory interact with billions of others in the blink of an eye. Connecting with someone on the opposite side of the planet is easier than ever imagined. Google is very single-user focused. Facebook has been too mass-mob focused. Blending and bridging the gap makes for a very clear message:

Media Strategies is an active method to be seen and be heard in a community environment of instant action and instant response.

Searching will be dead. Finding will be king. Bookmarking will be a habit and sharing is only natural. If you’re not getting on board now you’re only delaying the inevitable. Until Monday friends, have a great weekend!

Tell a Friend,

TZ

Tony Zazza, a 15-year media, marketing and advertising expert, is the Principal of Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Texas Marketing Firm, that specializes in growing small to medium sized businesses to their fullest potential.

It’s the end of Google Search… is by Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Area Media Strategies, Relations, Advertising and Marketing firm.

Online media strategies are more relevant with reviews and social networks. Bad reviews travel fast and damage any image branding. Important business tips for today.

So maybe you were following me this weekend when I had a gaffe with a local Italian eatery? When I say gaffe I really mean FIASCO!

Quick recap: I call to order dinner for my friends and I. I’ve ordered before and I’ve loved the food. Some new person answers and has no respect for me and no clue what she was doing. She lacked any sense of professionalism. After a difficult time of ordering a certain sauce (she constantly mispronounced it after I spelt it to her THEN asked, when I described it as an Italian Spicy Sauce, why I didn’t just call it that) my order finally arrives.

Here’s where it escalates:

My order is completely lacking the sauce I spent almost 5 minutes trying to order. I’ve ordered the sauce by name many times before and there has never been a problem. Now tonight, I get a rude, obnoxious and unprofessional person that cannot just ask someone with more experience for help. So when I call back and tell her there’s no sauce, she tells me that my food should arrive shortly. WHAT?! I just got done telling her my food had arrived. My reason for calling was … no sauce.

Now this person abruptly tells me to wait, puts me on hold and doesn’t even say ‘sorry’ for no sauce. Really? She comes back and says someone will bring me the sauce. I then ask for a manager. She then yells to someone: “they want to talk to you!” The reply I hear? “I’m too busy to talk to them!” Now I’m furious and the rest you can follow on Facebook.

What does this have to do with media strategies? Well, in a few days my status will pop up via search engines. My local network already knows of my troubles and eventually the poor review will be easily searchable. That business will not go under because of me but it will have a slight ding against its record. Right now there is one review on Google – there will soon be two. One good and one bad. For a fledgling business, that does not do much for positive branding.

In one instance, any company’s branding can get a ding or become slightly tarnished. With the explosion of social networking, reviews are much more available to consumers. Consumers can interact and automatically avoid places with poor branding and poor service reviews. Online media was originally a collaboration tool and if you’re not careful, people can collaborate against you.

The internet is a huge tool. Never avoid using it!

Hopefully I have enough time to cook at home for a while – I don’t feel like ordering out again soon! I’ll check back here on Wednesday, take care!

Tell a Friend,

TZ

Tony Zazza, a 15-year media, marketing and advertising expert, is the Principal of Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Texas Marketing Firm, that specializes in growing small to medium sized businesses to their fullest potential.

This adds to the List of the Worst Ever! is by Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Area Media Strategies, Relations, Advertising and Marketing firm.

Gain Media Exposure Easily! Use lottery frenzy to get on the news and do it for a very low cost.

Ever see the hype when Mega Millions reaches an all-time jackpot high? There’s frenzy at every convenience store and gas station. For $1 a play people are lining up for their chance at millions of dollars. It has intrigue, excitement and millions of people playing. Here’s an idea to get people showing up in droves to your place of business and media lining up to interview you:

Make the World’s Next Multi-Millionaire – All for Just Showing Up.

Can you think of where I’m going? I did it myself years ago and I can guarantee that when done right, it will work again. I had three different local news stations and a cable news station broadcasting my face, my name and my brand. It was amazing! Here are the details you can follow and tweak to make the lottery work for you…

First, you have to stay on top of the news. You’ll hear well before that the jackpot is creeping up to an all-time high. Be alert and get ready. Prepare to tell anyone and everyone you are looking to make the next multi-millionaire.

Once the day of the drawing comes, fork over some dollars and buy a set amount of lottery tickets. Make the number of tickets you’ve bought well known. Make it limited and well known that you will only be handing them out at a specific time. You can be very creative here. Let’s say you own a pet supplies store. Wouldn’t it be funny to hand out tickets to owners that show up with their pet dressed up to look like their pets?? Make it wild but make it simple.

Finally – spread the word hard! Email anyone you can think of and try putting people on the street if you can. This is the grunt work of this idea. It’s a solid selling point, especially if you’ve customized a few things such as how many tickets you’re handing out.

After all of that – even if it fails – you’ve only spent one day and at only $1 a ticket you haven’t spent that much. Any left over tickets (IF you have any) are yours and who knows … maybe you’ll be the big winner either way!

Enjoy your Wednesday and hopefully spring is blooming for you with beautiful flowers and warm weather! See you Friday!

Tell a Friend,

TZ

Tony Zazza, a 15-year media, marketing and advertising expert, is the Principal of Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Texas Marketing Firm, that specializes in growing small to medium sized businesses to their fullest potential.

Make Millionaires at a Media-Filled Event… is by Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Area Media Strategies, Relations, Advertising and Marketing firm.

Stay on top of trends and information by allowing the Media to come to you. Make your strategy effortless.

Ever feel like you’re playing catch-up? Whether it’s work, family or even just some rest and relaxation, playing catch-up is annoying and frustrating. I feel like I’m there every week! Things get too fast or they’re not fast enough. Either way something must be done quickly and other items are pushed down the to-do list. It’s a huge bore. HUGE.

When it comes to plotting your strategy to take over the world – or your industry – the Media never seems to sleep. It may move at a snail’s pace, but it never fully stops. This does get very overwhelming and tiresome. It’s a never-ending marathon. And I hate to run.

What’s also great about it is that there are tools to help you stay on pace with the Media and not lose precious hours working. You can literally find the Media knocking at your door by taking advantage of some time-tested tools. They’re very quick to put in place and honestly these tools are becoming more and more essential.

First, discover Google Alerts. Sign-up for an account with Google and you can have search items sent straight to your inbox. Like to keep up with the Chicago Cubs? Set a Google Alert to literally search for ‘Chicago Cubs’ and email you either daily or as-it-appears with a link to the article, page or website mentioning ‘Chicago Cubs’. This works great for keeping up with your industry.

One of my clients uses it to keep up with her franchising company. Results are delivered to her inbox. Sometimes its odd articles about other nationwide locations and sometimes it’s a friend mentioning her location on their blog. It’s really usefully to keep random news coming to you without having to routinely search.

Second, find some way to track and analyze traffic to your website or blog. Do not use a ‘Hit Counter’! Those were cute when you could build an AOL Free Webpage back in 1997. They’re useless now. You want to know where people are coming from. Is it your Facebook? Is it your local newspaper? Your YellowPages ad? Knowing where people are coming from helps you in so many ways.

Let’s say you sell toy animals. You advertise, you’ve joined the Chamber of Commerce and you’re tweeting away. You’re sitting pretty good. You then begin to analyze your traffic and see that there’s a local toy animal fan club you knew nothing about that is accounting for a good portion of your traffic. You now have the knowledge of a great source of customers and advertising that you had no idea about before. It’s almost magical where your web traffic can come from!

Lastly, discover Trending. Whether it’s Twitter’s topic trends or Google’s Hot Trends, knowing what is capturing the attention of the online world can help you know what’s new, hot and in demand. All with no effort from you.

Do you sell collectable 1980′s movie posters or former child star memorabilia? This morning sadly, Corey Haim was discovered dead. Too young to pass on in my opinion and I’m sure in yours but if you specialize in such material, maybe you should advertise your Corey Haim products because their demand and value have increased. Sure you could search news sites and search the web for every person you may have products for – but why waste time? Discover breaking news fast.

It seems spring is finally arriving! I’m so excited – ready for warm days and bright sunshine! I’ll see you all back here on Friday to get ready for the weekend – keep in touch with comments!

Tell a Friend,

TZ

Tony Zazza, a 15-year media, marketing and advertising expert, is the Principal of Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Texas Marketing Firm, that specializes in growing small to medium sized businesses to their fullest potential.

Guess what was knocking on my door today… is by Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Area Media Strategies, Relations, Advertising and Marketing firm.

Media is shifting to new adventures, new revenues, new platforms and new strategies.

If you opened a newspaper today you might be one of the few to know. It’s something that has been coming for a while but now it’s time to officially announce the truth. Traditional print media is dying.

Rupert Murdoch: eat your heart out. There’s less money today in print media. Just recently Rupert announced that the New York Times would charge for it’s online content by 2011. With the announcement of the iPad and the iBookstore – how will newspapers survive? CNN and the New York Times have dabbled in charging for online content before. It hasn’t been very successful. There are many reasons why.

First is that anyone can be a publisher. Anyone can produce content that is accessible worldwide. Total cost: almost nothing. You can find news directly from the source or varied opinions targeted to any very niche readership. The internet allows for very impersonal accessibility and very personal outreach. It is one of the very few fair playing fields for business today. The other being a Farmer’s Market.

Second is that people love a deal. Free information is a fantastic deal. Why look to a paper for the latest CDC warning when you can go directly to the CDC for what you want to know? Why visit twelve news sites when a few search engines put all of the latest headlines in a convenient location? Convenience typically results in a HUGE up-charge. When you can get a plethora (I love using plethora in a sentence!) of conveniences for a low monthly rate to an ISP (Internet Service Provider) of your choice – why pay for multiple convenience up-charges?

Finally – the old saying “You can’t have your cake and eat it too” applies here. For decades newspapers sold advertising, classifieds and sponsorships for enough money to pay for operating costs and then some. Then they would charge readers to read the same newspapers littered with ads and the like. Brilliant business model for 1970. Horribly archaic for 2010. *Ahem – Rupert, I’m talking to you!*

Print media is not totally dead yet. It may survive in some form of retirement for a while. Monday, Pew Research Center revealed that the most popular form of news access in the US was still a tie between Local and National Television. Third was Online News. A growing gap was found between a fourth-place Print News and it’s online counterpart. Finally the advocates for online media are being proven right by constant studies.

Printing was last a revolutionary technology at the end of the Medieval Age. Today, online technology and gadgets associated with getting people online are hot, affordable and fun. Paper cuts are out. Just sayin’. We’re lucky in Dallas to have the Dallas Morning News. Why? Because they are embracing online technology and potential to bring new and amazing content to readers. Both online and offline.

Do you still read a newspaper or news magazine in print form? Let me know! In the meantime I encourage everyone to visit DallasNews.com to see the many niche blogs and videos you won’t find anywhere else.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you and I’ll see you again on Friday!

Tell a Friend,

TZ

Tony Zazza, a 15-year media, marketing and advertising expert, is the Principal of Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Texas Marketing Firm, that specializes in growing small to medium sized businesses to their fullest potential.

It’s sad but every good thing must come to an end… is by Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Area Media Strategies, Relations, Advertising and Marketing firm.

Apolo Ohno Knows the Secret Strategy Every Business Owner should Know...

What a great two weeks of sport! I love the Olympics. I’ve known that most of the athletes focus on their sport as a full-time job. I know that they get sponsorships but I didn’t know that they get a cash payout based on how many medals (and what medals) they win. Honestly – I think I could live on the payouts but when they don’t have full-time jobs they must be doing something else.

I’ve included a caption of Apolo Ohno’s secret to not only earn income – but to gain exposure. Apolo is probably getting complimentary miles or flights for his permission granted to Alaska Airlines – and exposure.

What does that matter to an athlete? Name recognition will help him launch an athletic equipment line. Start a television show. Anchor the next Winter Olympics. The possibilities are really endless. It’s a great business decision to build on opportunities. Sometimes opportunities come directly to you. Sometimes you have to make the opportunities a reality.

One of my clients, Corinthian Wellness Spa in Southlake, has a wonderful relationship with The Melting Pot. They share a similar environment in their businesses. They are also very complimentary in what they do. They don’t overlap but they also share a similar client base. Why not advertise in each other’s businesses with events and promotions to help each other out? Sometimes exposure is simply reaching out. Have brochures, menus, offers and events to entice people into the door. Find venues that could benefit from exposure in your establishment.

Apolo’s secret, and my client’s experiences, is a lesson that is often over looked. Media Strategies is about exposure. Exposing your business to as many eyes as possible does not need to be expensive. It’s completely reasonable to partner with another business that compliments what you do.

I hope you all had a GREAT weekend – the sun was out here in Dallas and I only hope it comes back soon! I’ll see you all on Wednesday and take a moment to share any cross promotions you may have!

Tell a Friend,

TZ

Tony Zazza, a 15-year media, marketing and advertising expert, is the Principal of Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Texas Marketing Firm, that specializes in growing small to medium sized businesses to their fullest potential.

I know Apolo Ohno’s Secret! is by Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Area Media Strategies, Relations, Advertising and Marketing firm.

Targeting Business Goals Aggressively is New Business

I’ve come across a ton of people in a variety of different situations with their business. Some are just starting out and some are wanting to regain their former glory. A lot of people are hurting in this economy and there are plenty of people with some amazing ideas for business. One of the most important questions I have to answer is this: “What to do?”

Talk about a complicated answer all the time. I work differently for each client to ensure the best result. But when I think about what I do for myself and others I know the answer: be aggressive and smart.

The dollar’s value has risen again – there’s a warning that by 2011 there will be a housing shortage – there’s finally plenty of optimistic predictions for the economy from government and private leaders. Being aggressive right now is like training for a marathon in bad weather. Adverse conditions are a great opportunity. It’s not easy to run a business right now but it will get better. Listen to Warren Buffet’s advice and expand in times of recession.

There are even quite a few strategies to grow that are more cost-effective than you might think. Over a month ago I posted on how to get ‘Googled’ without even having a website. With the new trend of geo-location growing, every business should be posting their information to Google with their address, phone number and website information. Get located at no cost. It’s an amazing resource.

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TZ

Tony Zazza, a 15-year media, marketing and advertising expert, is the Principal of Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Texas Marketing Firm, that specializes in growing small to medium sized businesses to their fullest potential.

Today – like everyday – means war. is by Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Area Media Strategies, Relations, Advertising and Marketing firm.

Pepsi has a long tradition of Advertising and Marketing around a Super Bowl Ad - Not in 2010

… If you did see the commercial – you were NOT watching the Super Bowl. Nothing hilarious and nothing noteworthy about any ads from the cola manufacturer. If you, like millions of us yesterday were (I had queso, dip and great sliders! Yum!), were watching the Super Bowl you saw millions of advertising dollars for Coca-Cola and Doritos. However Pepsi was noticeably absent yesterday.

Instead of spending $30 million + on marketing and buying airtime for the big game, Pepsi turned to an online campaign called ‘Refresh Everything’. The company built this online campaign with a blog, Twitter and Facebook account to reach out to local communities with grants ranging from $5k to $250k. Grants have been distributed based on input from the nearly 400,000+ followers and fans. Even NFL stars were given the chance to choose local community centers to receive a piece of the $20 million Pepsi was dolling out.

Has it worked? – Yes!

This campaign is being referred to as a ‘Crowd-Sourcing’ project and so far Pepsi has already received 21% of Super Bowl-related media coverage and buzz. This coverage and buzz is great for their public image AND keeps them involved locally. To make matters even BETTER: rival Coca-Cola has only received 2% of coverage and buzz for their marketing dollar. Sometimes it’s the strategy and options you use when marketing and NOT the amount of dollars you have to spend!

Who do you think is the winner here?

I’m exhausted from being so festive yesterday – plus the weather is gloomy and it just makes me want to stay inside! Let me know what you think of today’s post and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can sneak in a quick nap! LOL. I’ll see you again on Wednesday for another post!!

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TZ

Tony Zazza, a 15-year media, marketing and advertising expert, is the Principal of Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Texas Marketing Firm, that specializes in growing small to medium sized businesses to their fullest potential.

Did you see that HILARIOUS Pepsi Commercial?! WOW… is by Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Area Media Strategies, Relations, Advertising and Marketing firm.

Domino's Recent Marketing Ploy May Have Already Backfired.

Imagine my surprise when I saw these self-depricating ads from Dominos airing during prime time. They announced that they were making a new crust and sauce to satisfy customers. “Wow,” I thought, “they are really listening to their customers and making a change for the better!” Did you feel the same way? The ads made a lot of buzz and Dominos made sure that they were disseminating that message through their stores, on their website and on their Twitter & Facebook accounts. Great media strategy, right?

WRONG.

There have been a slew of negative posts and retweets. Over half of all the comments about the new crust and sauce are horrible. Fans of Dominos on Facebook were announcing their switch to another competitor if they didn’t bring back their old recipe. What a nightmare! I have seen very few of the prime time ads since the first two weeks and I doubt anyone will see much more of them. Where did they go wrong?

When I choose pizza for a meal I always start at one place: the coupons. Why not see if my favorite pizza place has some coupons I can easily get my hands on? I usually forget to search their website because when I’m ordering pizza I’m usually too busy to think clearly. In the past two or three years I have stumbled upon very few if not any coupons from Domino’s.

For each client I approach their needs – not just their ideas. I incorporate this lesson: Keep it Simple and Find the Easiest Solution. I do not consider a multi-million dollar campaign to be an easy and simple solution. Printing more coupons however, seems very simple. Don’t let this same thing happen to you! (I’m hinting at my favorite pizza place here in Plano … )

Leave a comment with your favorite pizza place and I’ll tell you mine! I’ve got a busy weekend ahead and I look forward to hopefully stopping by before Monday – but until then, take care!

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TZ

Tony Zazza, a 15-year media, marketing and advertising expert, is the Principal of Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Texas Marketing Firm, that specializes in growing small to medium sized businesses to their fullest potential.

Who Wants Pizza?? is by Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Area Media Strategies, Relations, Advertising and Marketing firm.

Are these companies the future or just weeds popping up everywhere?

I noticed a trend today popping up on Google searches. Sponsored Tweets of Orlando is a company that brokers ad deals between Twitter users and those looking for promotion. The concept is rather simple:

1. Register with a Company like Sponsored Tweets or Ad.ly
2. Tweet messages from sponsors like 1-800-Flowers.com
3. Notate your tweet with “(ad)” or “#ad” to comply with FTC Rules
4. Get paid for each Tweet and more for each click-through

Ad.ly is already cash-flow positive. Considering the relative low overhead costs with such operations its easy to see that everyone will want to be in this business. Celebrities are cashing in like Kim Kardashian and lesser known LeVar Burton. The only question that has yet to be seen is just what sort of value this blatant Twitter advertising will hold years into the future?

Facebook has already been bogged for a couple of years with “Be the 1st to WIN a NEW …” and Facebook has not lost it’s appeal to people looking to network. Money is flowing but if you aren’t actively using Twitter you have nothing to gain.

Just as with news online today – the content you may be used to receiving will now be wrapped around with ads and promotions. Pay-Per-Tweeting is probably here to stay. There’s one HUGE fact to remember before considering such services to advertise: Twitter is FREE to use. So long as you can engage people on your own, there’s no need to pay for someone else to be socially mentioning you. It doesn’t hurt but such things never pay for bills on their own.

Pay-Per-Tweeting is big money for large brokers and decent change for the rest of us.

I’ll see you on Friday yet again!

Tell a Friend,

TZ

Tony Zazza, a 15-year media, marketing and advertising expert, is the Principal of Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Texas Marketing Firm, that specializes in growing small to medium sized businesses to their fullest potential.

ALERT: Are you being conned by Pay-Per-Tweet? is by Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Area Media Strategies, Relations, Advertising and Marketing firm.

Mechanize your Marketing with Media

What is very new is the effect the internet is having on media strategies 15 years after its surge in popularity. Keep in mind that media strategies are mostly interactive and more cost-effective.

When you translate your current marketing strategies to media you are creating a solid opportunity for growth. Don’t discount your current marketing plan if it’s working. But it is prudent to see if you cannot replicate what you’re currently doing with a more cost-effective option in media strategies

• Keep your Target Market;
• Focus on Finding Marketing Gaps;
• Track your Current ROI;
• Strengthen your Communication Habits.

There’s no need to re-invent the wheel to translate your Marketing Strategy to Media. You’re going to remained focused on the people that buy your products. You’re going to always want to know of any marketing gaps in your current strategy. Knowledge is power: track how your sales came in and how much you spent to get the sales.

If there’s one thing you want to constantly work on is your communication. Make certain that you know the best way to communicate your brand, products, services and business information. What’s the fastest way to answer “What do you do?” Are you on a major street and easily found with the directions you give? Be meticulous about how you and your staff respond to any of those answers. Media Strategies starts with you and your communication.

I’ll have another tip on Wednesday, see you then.

Tell a Friend,

TZ

Tony Zazza, a 15-year media, marketing and advertising expert, is the Principal of Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Texas Marketing Firm, that specializes in growing small to medium sized businesses to their fullest potential.

Translate Your Marketing Strategy to Media is by Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Area Media Strategies, Relations, Advertising and Marketing firm.

Many recent polls of small businesses listed their 2010 resolution as “Reducing Overhead”. It was my first thought this year and I’m glad I’m not the only one. After a quick review of my situation I found myself pleased that I was not bogged down in overhead costs.

Are you feeling bogged down?

I’ve been laid off because of the economy and it is not fun. It was not fun for my boss either. But if you’re looking to lay off anyone – why lay off someone who helps to bring in the money?

Nothing is simple and sometimes decisions are not easy but necessary. So why not find someone with your drive to succeed as a business to run your Marketing/Advertising and Media Strategies division?

Take a look at the benefits having another small business owner manage your Media Strategy:

• As a Fellow business owner – they can relate to your needs and constraints;
• As independent experts it is much easier to avoid micro-management and demand exactly what you need;
• Being on a billing system rather than payroll you avoid unnecessary costs (i.e. health insurance, etc.);
• Get more bang-for-your-buck by managing your ROI directly and not superficially.

What it boils down to is that when you negotiate the terms of your goals with an out-sourced Media Strategy expert it is much easier to manage the results and costs.

I make my costs to be competitive with a low-salary employee so that it’s practical and investable for a business to use my quality services. Take a look at your situation and make a resolution be smart about reducing overhead.

Come back Monday for another Tip & Strategy.

Tell a Friend,

TZ

Tony Zazza, a 15-year media, marketing and advertising veteran, is the Principal of Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Texas Marketing Firm, that specializes in small to medium sized businesses.

Reduce Overhead with Media Strategies is by Zazza Media Strategies, a Dallas Area Media Strategies, Relations, Advertising and Marketing firm.