QR Code to video/audio presentation delivered directly to the hands of consumers

June 22, 2011 By Peter DeMott Leave a Comment

Engage with your prospects in their homes

I went to Comtactics and looked at some of the ways that they have used QR codes to help consumers join the conversation or engage. In one example they associated audio presentations with QR codes at each display at the Dayton Art Institute. People could pull out their smart phone, scan the QR code and hear an audio presentation played about that display at the museum.

Fragmented broadcast market

That got me thinking. With the extreme number of choices presented on TV and RADIO these days including internet radio and internet TV it is becoming more and more difficult to get an advertising message out using those forms of media. But with the amazing growth of smart phone usage and bar code scanning by shoppers, more and more people are becoming savy with these devises. People can now scan a bar code at a store and instantly do a price comparison online which shows them where else the product is currently available and at what price. QR code scanning is quickly becoming a way to give more information or engagement with consumers.

Consumer awareness growing fast

Comtactics has Scavenger Hunt which has been used in conjunction with QR code scanning at the GREEN here in Dayton and which is rolling out for other areas as well. Stores that participated put QR codes on their windows and engaged with prospective customers as they participated in Scavenger Hunt on their smart phones.

QR codes with audio/video delivered right into the homes of your best prospects

Here is where it gets interesting for me as a REACH Magazine senior sales executive. I have the ideal way to deliver QR codes to consumers in their homes. What I would like to start with is to find businesses that are willing to or currently have audio or video introductions, testimonials, or additional information about their products or services that we can associate with a QR code on their print ads in REACH magazine.

The QR code would be mailed as part of their regular coupon ad to from 50,000 to 260,000 homes in the greater Dayton advertising area. The QR code would say “play additional audio information” or “play additional video testimonials from your neighbors” or something of that nature. Instead of 60 seconds played on the evening news, a commercial or video testimonial or additional information could be playing all day, every day as people go through the pages of REACH magazine and see and scan QR codes on various ads.

REACH is so well read that it would be an ideal delivery method

According to THE MEDIA AUDIT Reach Magazine has readership well over 95% in the Dayton market. REACH is Dayton’s favorite coupon magazine. Direct mail delivery insures that geographic areas specified by you will receive the ad. By adding QR codes to particular ads (done correctly – There are important aspects of how this works) brand engagement could be increased significantly leading to, of course, more sales.

To keep consumers curious and participating, the QR code could be changed with each issue of the magazine testing various forms of engagement with valuable consumers. If you wanted to test various QR codes, we could mail different ads to different zones in the market. Through Comtactics we can offer QR code tracking as well which will tell you how many people actually engaged through this program.

Please comment. What do you think of this new media opportunity and how do you think that consumers will respond with additional no-pressure opportunities to engage?

Peter DeMott • REACH Magazine • Dayton Ohio • 937-478-6222 • peter@photosbypdemott.com

Filed Under Advertising in Dayton, Customer engagement, Customer Perception, Growing your business, more customers, Social Media for Business Tagged With Advertising in Dayton, Dayton's favorite coupon magazine, Grow your business, REACH Magazine, Reaching consumers, Tools for business, web site marketing

Back to School and end of summer advertising is something that you have to plan NOW

June 20, 2011 By Peter DeMott Leave a Comment

Now is the time to plan “back to school advertising”. But, what can you do to stand out when their are newspapers full of national advertisers trying to capture the back to school shoppers?

REACH Magazine is direct mailed into the home. It is not in the Sunday Newspaper. It is full color glossy throughout so you can present your business as it should be presented, in full color and on glossy stock.

What ranks among the 15 favorite things that typical consumers do each day? Checking the mail each day is still in the top 15 things for over 85% of all consumers. Sending them incentives to take action via direct mail which presents your company in good light and with measurable response is a good thing for most businesses. However, it still takes a personal consultation to make sure that there is a good fit.

What are our August & September REACH mailings good for?

• Back to school sales / children’s clothing $5 OFF any purchase of $25 or more (if they come to your store with this coupon, I guarantee they will spend more than $25 per ticket)

• Children’s after school activities / This is when families decide what activities their children will be participating in throughout the school year.

• Last Fling on the summer activities / Everything recreational

• Vacation preparation / Anything related to getting that vacation in before school starts

• Young adults / What do they need before going off to college? (computers, clothes, car repairs, oil changes, etc.)

• Day care options for during the school year

Also, HOT summer types of business:

• Driveway replacement (paver, concrete, ashphalt) and seal coating

• Installation of a paver patio and planning for fall landscape upgrades

Restaurants with patios and restaurants without patios

• Depends on how nice it is in the evening whether people will choose outdoor seating

If you would like to discuss your business and how to best use the powerful and popular direct mail delivery of REACH magazine (Dayton’s most popular coupon magazine) to promote your business, please email me or give me a call. The August mailing of REACH Magazine will close out shortly after the 4th of July holiday weekend.

Please call me now!

Peter DeMott • REACH Magazine in Dayton OHIO • 937-478-6222 • peter@photosbypdemott.com

Also at no cost to you, call me about getting your web site SEO working better, using QR codes in your advertising to create curiosity and consumer interaction with your brand/store/business or to discuss your participation as a business on facebook (6 months ago over 400 million people were on facebook, now over 700 million are there sometimes daily)

Filed Under Advertising in Dayton, Growing your business, more customers, More profits, The power of the mailbox Tagged With Advertising in Dayton, Coupons, Dayton's favorite coupon magazine, Direct mail, Direct mail advertising, Grow your business, Incentive marketing, REACH Magazine, Reaching consumers, restaurant advertising, Summer advertising, Target marketing, Tools for business

New QR codes and how to use them to market your business

June 10, 2011 By Peter DeMott Leave a Comment

5 Ways to Use QR codes for small business

That was the name of the presentation, but I was so involved that I did not take good enough notes to list the five ways here.

I went to the New Media Dayton meeting today in particular to hear about QR codes and how businesses can us them to promote. The presentation was given by Shawntay Fields of Comtactics Mobile solutions & Interactive Marketing here in Dayton. She did an awesome job presenting and showing us several examples of businesses using QR codes to interact with their customers with calls to action, increased customer loyalty and several other points. She gave us several places (URLs) on the internet to create QR codes free and also explained that various forms of QR code tracking are also available at an additional cost.

http://www.newmediadayton.com/506/june-10-5-ways-to-use-qr-codes-for-small-businesses/

I can immediately see how some of my current REACH Magazine clients could implement a QR code into their print ads and even on window stickers at store locations or job site signs to increase consumer interaction and even give incentives to buy now or learn more about the business.

You can create your own FREE QR codes at one of these web sites:

http://qrcode.kaywa.com

http://weallscan.com

http://scandayton.com

I was impressed with the group New Media Dayton and plan on attending more of their meetings in the future. They have a GROUP on LinkedIn which you can join to learn more.

Julie Wallings was taking pictures which will be up on the New Media Dayton web site within a couple of days.

Getting a QR code scanner for you smart phone is easy

Just go to iTunes and pick up one of the FREE aps for QR code scanning

All you want to know about QR codes to promote your business

Additional reading from Mashable:

QR codes to market your small business

Learn More about creating QR codes

Online marketing is moving to the streets and offline

Example

Here is an example of a very simple QR code. This one will likely appear on the ad on the back cover of REACH magazine promoting the summer Blood Donation drive with the Community Blood Center. In the summer sometimes blood donations drop and each year we help the CBC ramp up donations by promoting them in REACH magazine. This QR code took me about a minute to make using the Kaywa link above.

You could win a brand new JEEP Patriot by signing up to give blood this summer. Scan this QR code to learn more.

June REACH Magazine is headed for your home packed with consumer value

May 27, 2011 By Peter DeMott Leave a Comment

What makes REACH Magazine different than some other coupon magazines?

For advertisers in REACH magazine we feel that it is more important to connect with consumers than to blast them with coupons on the front cover. Some other coupon magazines in the Dayton market place one or several advertisers on their cover with coupons, but we have found from consumers that they LOVE REACH Magazine because the cover is about them. They also tend to throw away magazines that have their cover cut up, so if the coupon on the cover works well, then all the advertisers inside the magazine will suffer.

Connecting with consumers right from the start

I think our JUNE REACH magazine cover is exceptional. Seldom does a photograph have so much positive interaction as this one and it is all about dad and the kids too. Don’t forget father’s day just around the corner. I’d love to know what you think of the JUNE cover of REACH magazine. Please click on the comment button and tell me what you think if you have the time. Covers like this are one reason that some many people in the Miami Valley LOVE REACH Magazine.

Another thing that consumers like about REACH Magazine – Variety of content

I am currently looking for the following types of business to add to Dayton’s REACH magazine. I have ads for these business categories that are working great in REACH magazines in our other markets. If you know someone in these categories please give me a call or email.

• Plumber

• Painter

• Asphalt and/or concrete driveway company

• Jewelry store / high end

• Garden center

Just to name a few.

Now it is your turn.

Is there a category of business that you would like to see in REACH magazine? Or perhaps you would like to know if your business might do well in Dayton’s favorite direct mail coupon magazine. Give me a call and we can talk about it.

Peter DeMott • REACH Magazine • Dayton Ohio Direct Mail advertising that works • peter@photosbypdemott.com • 937-478-6222

Filed Under Advertising in Dayton, Customer Perception, Growing your business Tagged With Advertising in Dayton, Business growth, Centerville, Coupons, Dayton, Dayton's favorite coupon magazine, Direct mail, Grow your business, REACH Magazine, Reaching consumers, Tools for business

Be in the Dayton Air show Cover issue of REACH Magazine

May 10, 2011 By Peter DeMott Leave a Comment

Our July REACH magazine is our Dayton air show cover issue. With thousands of people coming to see the air show this year, many consumers will be attracted to REACH to review the contents and plan for a great event that involves less driving and loads of fun for the whole family.

Although REACH magazine is already Dayton’s favorite coupon magazine, the air show cover always draws more attention and excitement from and for the community. With Bin Ladin buried at sea, the air show and enthusiasm for Flag and country could be very strong this year. With gasoline prices high, may will see this as an opportunity for a full day of fun for the whole family close to home.

What better time to show off your business in REACH magazine? Call today for a free consultation and to learn more about advertising in REACH magazine. Remember that REACH is a magazine and is direct mailed into 260,000 homes throughout the greater Dayton area including Springfield, Troy, Tipp City, Vandalia, Huber Heights, Springboro, Miamisburg, Kettering, Oakwood, Centerville and more. If you are planning special events in your business around the patriotic or air show theme we can also use our zones to geographically target your advertising to your primary area and July is the time. Just being in REACH brings more eyes to your business than any other magazine in the greater Dayton market.

Deadlines come up fast with each REACH magazine going into production about ONE MONTH ahead of the distribution date, so call now. REACH will arrive in homes throughout the area during the first week of July and typically has a consumer shelf life of 4 to 6 weeks. The Dayton Vectren Air Show is scheduled for July 23rd and 24th, 2011.

Peter DeMott • REACH Magazine in Dayton, Ohio • peter@photosbypdemott.com • 937-478-6222

Filed Under Advertising in Dayton, more customers Tagged With Advertising in Dayton, Dayton, Direct mail, Direct mail advertising, Grow your business, REACH Magazine, Reaching consumers, Target marketing

Service businesses can save GAS by using geographically targeted marketing

May 10, 2011 By Peter DeMott Leave a Comment

Yikes, Gasoline prices over $4.15 per gallon:

With all the news about gasoline prices, I thought I would through this idea out there for service businesses. One business that I work with mentioned that each time gasoline goes up 10¢ it costs him another $300+ per month in costs. Of course, I don’t know when you are reading this post, so gasoline may be back under $3.50 per gallon or it could be over $4.15 which I saw at some gas stations last week.

Gasoline prices cause pinch and lost profits for many fuel reliant businesses: Click here for Dayton Daily News article

Use less gasoline & waist less time driving for double savings:

When discussing this with a new advertiser we decided that it would be a better investment for him to go with a full page in just three zones which were more geographically confined rather than go with a half page and publish the ad for the full market. The full page would produce more recognition for the business within a tighter geographic area reducing drive time between calls and reducing gasoline expense as well. Instead of juggling service calls from piqua to springboro to Xenia and Brookville, this company would concentrate their advertising in their best performing areas so that their driving would be more consolidated. Each unit would spend less time driving and use less gasoline and in many cases be able to turn more service calls per day creating more bottom line profits to the company.

Additional unexpected savings: Less wear and tear on vehicles, less mileage on vehicles and more retained value.

Do you own a service business working with consumers in their homes? Perhaps you should find out about target marketing through REACH Magazine in Dayton, Ohio.

Peter DeMott • REACH Magazine in Dayton, Ohio • peter@photosbypdemott.com • 937-478-6222

Filed Under Advertising in Dayton, Growing your business, More profits, The power of the mailbox Tagged With Advertising in Dayton, Direct mail, Direct mail advertising, Grow your business, Reaching consumers, Target marketing

Is it time to revamp your business plan? Article from Entrepreneur Online

May 4, 2011 By Peter DeMott Leave a Comment

A Better Business Plan Can Lead to New Customers

It is interesting to see how some small businesses review their business plans when the market changes and others just hope that things will change or get better and they will get busy again. I liked this article because it made some very useful suggestions. Many times I am very surprised at how little businesses know about their customers so this one suggestion stood out to me. Take a good customer out to lunch and find and identify changes you may not have noticed.

“While you were busy building your business, your market may have changed, even slightly, or your customers may have changed.”

This article on Entrepreneur Magazine online talks about the importance of knowing your market and making changes when needed to reach consumers in new ways.

Today, more and more businesses that would never have considered offering coupons are now trying out Groupon and other Half off deal programs to generate new customers. It is interesting to me as a REACH magazine sales executive to see this when I know that we can generate significant new customer counts without such drastic discounts. We also have the ability to focus your marketing on people that are geographically within areas that are more likely to become regular repeating customers.

Enough from me though, here is the article: A Better Business Plan can lead to MORE CUSTOMERS

Paragraph headlines

• Sell more to existing customers

• Review your pricing

• Review your marketing message

• Expand your nearby markets

Peter DeMott • REACH Magazine Dayton & Cincinnati • 937-478-6222 • peter@photosbypdemott.com

A REACH consultation if free of course and it will provide you with thought provoking information about direct mail incentive advertising including ads from other markets in your category of business. Find out more today so that you can make an informed choice about the power of direct mail coupon advertising in REACH Magazine. Call today.

Filed Under Advertising in Dayton, Customer Perception, Growing your business, more customers, More profits Tagged With Advertising in Dayton, Business growth, Coupons, Dayton, Direct mail, Direct mail advertising, Grow your business, Incentive marketing, REACH Magazine, Reaching consumers, Target marketing, Tools for business

Don’t discount weather when evaluating the response from your advertising

April 20, 2011 By Peter DeMott Leave a Comment

I just finished talking with a very happy REACH client. Here in Dayton, you don’t know what March 1st is going to look like. It could be 60 degrees and sunny for a week or it could snow like it did the first week of March this year.

Three Strikes and you are out

Daniel Reeves has tried several coupon magazines in the Dayton market for his company Window Genie. In each case he gave the magazines THREE issues to make something happen. Now he mainly uses REACH. He tells me that REACH is where he gets the majority of his business activity. He goes by THREE STRIKES and your are out.

What do you do when ONE ad does not perform well?

However, the March 1st REACH ad did not perform very well. His son said maybe we should cancel, maybe REACH does not work any more, but Daniel was steadfast. Daniel also talks frequently with Window Genie franchises in other markets. He continued with REACH and the April issue is performing well even with all this rain. People are getting on with their spring cleaning even with the rain, however snow was not making people very happy in early March and calls were down that issue. Who knows, March next year my be warm and sunny.

Consumers don’t always understand your business

It was funny, in one case a client was surprised that Daniel and his team were out power washing their deck in the rain. Daniel explained that we end up getting soaked anyway so the rain is not a deterrent to getting that part of our work finished (lightning is another matter – aluminum ladders and lightning don’t go well together).

Whatever advertising you do, give it a fair test

When I start a new client in REACH magazine, I always encourage them to sign for at least 3 mailings consecutively in the same zone. More times than I can count, over the years, clients who had less than spectacular first mailings were happy clients by the third issue (not just happy, but delighted and growing their businesses). One mailing is just not a fair test and there are too many things that can effect results on a one time basis.

Generally speaking REACH is weather proof. If it rains the first week that the magazine is in the homes then the response kicks right in the following week once people are getting out and about again. Name recognition doubles on the second mailing and we have time to make significant changes to the ad on the third issue if we need to shake things up. Other forms of advertising need some time too. Nobody buys ONE TV ad or ONE Radio spot.

I’ll be calling Daniel to power wash the green stuff off my house from all this rain sometime soon. So, if you need your windows washed, your deck cleaned, your gutters cleaned out, give Daniel a call at the Window Genie. If you are ready to give REACH a fair test, even if you have tried other magazines in the Dayton market, give me a call. Peter DeMott • REACH Magazine • 937-478-6222 • peter@photosbypdemott.com

Contact the Window Genie (and we do a lot more) below.

http://www.windowgenie.com

937-829-5475

Filed Under Advertising in Dayton, Growing your business, more customers, More profits Tagged With Advertising in Dayton, Coupons, Dayton's favorite coupon magazine, Direct mail, Direct mail advertising, Grow your business, Incentive marketing, REACH Magazine, Reaching consumers, Target marketing, Tools for business

Two Men and a Truck North Dayton uses CALL TRACKING to determine value of advertising

April 13, 2011 By Peter DeMott Leave a Comment

Owners us CALL TRACKING to determine value of advertising expenditures

David and Laurie Malseed have now been in REACH magazine for a couple of months. These young business owners are using today’s technology to measure the effectiveness of their advertising by using CALL TRACKING phone numbers in the various places they invest in advertising. By going to their login for their tracking numbers they can see each month exactly how many calls originate from each advertising source.

Coupon and Ad in REACH Magazine brings in highly qualified leads

When they investigated the results from their first month in REACH they found that they were closing on about 70% of the calls they were receiving. David gave me some details which I am not at liberty to share here, but based on what he said REACH has been a home run for their business coming right out of the gate. They were even receiving calls from people who were planning to make a local move later in the summer and based on the interactions I have had with them, I am sure those calls will also become customers. David has a tight ship with pleasant and quick phone answering and personal and informative support for their clients.

Zoned mailing helps prevent wasted advertising dollars

In addition since they have a franchise limited territory (there is a Two Men and a Truck franchise that works the south half of the Dayton market) we were able to target only areas in the north half of dayton using our zones. They were able to target Troy, Tipp City, Huber Heights, Vandalia, Englewood, Brookville, Springfield and all the communities in between by selecting only the zones that are geographically closer to their location.

Here is what Laurie had to say in a more general light about REACH magazine and my interactions with them as they moved from hopeful anticipation to very satisfied advertiser:

“Our ad in REACH magazine paid for itself the first day it was available to the public! Our dealings with REACH have been quick and efficient. We would definitely recommend REACH over the other magazines.

Thanks Peter!”

I was sorry that I was not able to make it to their official grand opening a few weeks ago.

Company builds relationships online using web site and facebook page

If you live in the north half of Dayton and surrounding communities and you are planning a local move, I would highly recommend these folks. They really care about everyone they meet and they will do an excellent job for you.

Visit them on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Two-Men-And-A-Truck-Dayton-NorthOH/148937035143612?ref=ts

Learn more on their web site: http://www.twomenandatruck.com/movers-in-dayton-north-ohio

To find out more about REACH magazine please give me a call about scheduling a business consultation. As I told David and Laurie, my goal is to develop long lasting business relationships, not to just sell ad space. I have over 20 years experience in incentive marketing and working with small to medium sized businesses who are trying to reach consumers. My consultation covers many aspects of your business to insure that REACH is a right fit for you and that you will grow your business with Dayton’s favorite coupon magazine.

Peter DeMott • REACH Magazine • peter@photosbypdemott.com • 937-478-6222

Filed Under Advertising in Dayton, Call tracking, Growing your business, More profits Tagged With Advertising in Dayton, Business growth, Coupons, Dayton, Dayton's favorite coupon magazine, Direct mail, Direct mail advertising, Facebook, Facebook marketing, Facebook marketing for businesses, Grow your business, Huber Heights, Incentive marketing, Lead source tracking, REACH Magazine, Reaching consumers, Target marketing, Tools for business

Your April REACH Magazine is packed with value and variety and is arriving this week

April 2, 2011 By Peter DeMott Leave a Comment

One thing that you will notice about the April REACH magazine in Dayton is the value and variety of types of business represented. There is something for everyone and for every need that you may have for spring cleaning and preparation for a great summer. Tell me what you think when you get yours.

Learn about REACH Magazine so that you can make informed choices about your advertising.

Peter DeMott • REACH Magazine Dayton • peter@photosbypdemott.com • 937-478-6222

Filed Under Advertising in Dayton, Growing your business, more customers, More profits Tagged With Advertising in Dayton, Business growth, Coupons, Dayton, Direct mail, Direct mail advertising, Grow your business, Incentive marketing, Offers, REACH Magazine, Reaching consumers, Target marketing, Tools for business