Advertising Information

A Lunchtime Lesson on Print Advertising


I promise you'll be able to finish this article before you finish the first half of your PBJ. Are you sitting down? Good. Because I have some startling news for you.

Print ads are here to stay. That's right. Those dusty, musty, fusty old relics of the century past are still with us. And despite the ubiquity of commercials on radio and TV; despite the onslaught of banners, pop-ups and all manner of intrusive online ads; newspapers and magazines are, and always will be, a mainstay forum for mainstream advertising.

There's something about the readiness, the handiness, the heft and feel of a magazine or a newspaper that appeals to the nature of human beings. Yes, flat screens that glow with vivid colors are attractive. Especially when they're displaying something we specifically asked to see.

But as we page through a magazine or a newspaper while enjoying our lunch or riding a commuter train, we don't mind at all if a surprising or intelligent or just plain appealing ad - even one in black and white - suddenly grabs our attention. We expect it. We secretly look for it. We even welcome it as a break from all the dull gray type we've been slogging through. Why? Because - let's face it - a really good ad is a delight to behold.

Is this the kind of ad your target audience is seeing? Do your ads stop them and make them smile?think?take in your message and make a mental note to look closer at your product or service? Maybe even go to your website for the kind of information that could lead to a sale?

Think carefully about this. If your ad doesn't stand apart, doesn't attract, appeal or grab; if it doesn't delight in some way, the readers you want to capture and bring into your world will simply turn the page and plow on through the dull stuff . . . until they bump into your competitor's delightfully different ad. And then they'll stop - and, unfortunately for you - pay attention to the message.

So take a close look at your company's ads. Do they stand out from the crowd of other ads? Are they different from your competitor's ads in a powerful and relevant way? And most important, do they convey your core message in an engaging, persuasive and delightful manner?

If so, let them run and run, because they're bound to bring you business.

If not, better change your approach soon. Before the competition eats your lunch.

Gary Watson writes ads for companies that want to add to their bottom line. He also does product/service naming, slogans/tag lines, billboards, web content, sales letters (print and email), etc. etc. He can be reached at Gary@GWCopy.com.


MORE RESOURCES:

Health Newstrack

Researchers: Ban on Fast Food TV Advertising Would Reverse ...
MarketWatch - 17 hours ago
The study also reports that eliminating the tax deductibility associated with television advertising would result in a reduction of childhood obesity, ...
Fast-food ad ban could cut child obesity: US study Reuters
Food advertising to children faces scrutiny Irish Times
TV ads for fast food contribute to child obesity Los Angeles Times
AdAge.com (subscription)
all 49 news articles


The Inquisitr

Apptera secures $10.5 million for advertising network expansion
CNET News, CA - 17 hours ago
Apptera, a company that delivers visual and voice advertising, announced Wednesday that it secured $10.5 million in funding from Lightspeed Venture Partners ...
Apptera Secures Additional $10.5M Funding, Appoints Former Yahoo ... MarketWatch
Mobile Ad Network Apptera Earns $10.5 million in Funding Wired News
Apptera gets more funding and a former Yahoo VP on its board VentureBeat
Bizjournals.com - Digital Media Wire
all 18 news articles


thinkLA Honors Horizon Media's Zachary Rosenberg as Southern ...
MarketWatch - 10 hours ago
Eligibility is open to all advertising executives at agencies, media companies and public or private organizations. Nominations are reviewed by the ...


Big Three automakers curtail advertising dollars
MarketWatch - 14 hours ago
By David B. Wilkerson, MarketWatch CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- The Big Three US car manufacturers have cut their advertising spending this year in another sign ...
Nielsen: Big 3 cutting back on ad spending MarketWatch
all 7 news articles


Fonality Call Center System Saves SunPorch $100K in Annual ...
MarketWatch - 18 hours ago
SunPorch assigns a different phone number to each advertisement it runs and uses PBXtra Call Center to automatically identify the advertising source for ...


A Global Strategic Business Report on the Advertising Industry ...
MarketWatch - 12 hours ago
The global outlook series on the Advertising Industry provides a collection of statistical anecdotes, market briefs, and concise summaries of research ...


McClatchy Reports October 2008 Revenues
MarketWatch - 10 hours ago
today reported that consolidated revenues in October 2008 decreased 17.8% and advertising revenues were down 20.4% compared to revenues in October 2007. ...
McClatchy October revenue falls 17.8 percent Forbes
McClatchy ad revenue drops 20% in October Bizjournals.com
No October Surprise: McClatchy Revenue Down 18% On Continued Ad ... Editor & Publisher
Sacramento Bee
all 31 news articles


mocoNews.net - Interview: Pekka Ala-Pietila, CEO, Blyk: Mobile ...
Washington Post, United States - 14 hours ago
The downturn is obviously having an impact on advertising, what does this mean for Blyk, given that your model is so reliant on it? ...


CNET News

paidContent.org - Life Photo Archive Goes Live On Google ...
Washington Post, United States - Nov 18, 2008
Time Inc. execs aren't commenting on advertising but I've confirmed that the deal with Google includes revenue sharing for advertising. ...
Google adds iconic Life photos to index Bizjournals.com
LIFE Posts Archive On Google; Says Blogger Infringement A Low Priority Photo District News
10 Million Rarely Seen Images from LIFE Archive Now on Google TMCnet
all 223 news articles


Ottawa Citizen

Advertising stalls for Big Three automakers
www.rbr.com, Virginia - 6 hours ago
Through July 2008, the Big Three American car manufacturers (GM, Ford, and Chrysler) all showed negative advertising growth over 2007, according to Nielsen ...
Video: Big Three Strapped For Cash CBS
Ad Spending By Big Three Carmakers Hits the Skids Multichannel News
google news commentComment by Gary Chaison Prof. of Industrial Relations, Clark University
Television Week
all 834 news articles

Advertising - Google News

home | site map
© 2006