Day Job: Designing for Newspaper

Newspapers!  They’re the old stand-by in advertising.  And, although it may seem to be usurped by the plethora of new digital and print media available, newspaper advertising is still a very effective venue for many advertisers.  In my day job, unless clients have a chunk of their advertising budget to devote to weekly or daily ad runs, I usually recommend newspaper as a good option for marketing time specific events or promotions.  Here’s my eHow article about using good newspaper design techniques to get the most bang for your newspaper advertising buck.  Click and comment!

How to Design an Effective Newspaper Ad

Day Job: Managing Your Advertising

Part of my day job is to manage advertising programs and campaigns for various clients.  Sometimes my clients toy with the idea of just relying on our company for the creative stuff and trying to manage the administration of their programs themselves.  My first piece of advice is always, “don’t do it!”  And, it’s not just because we lose revenue.  It’s because the management of an advertising program takes a lot more time that clients usually think.  Although it may seem like you’re saving something by not writing a check to your ad agency each month, sometimes you actually end up paying more by doing it yourself.  You pay for it in lost productivity, valuable time spent on the wrong things, or misplaced energy that could be spent growing your business.

BUT, if you get the advertising management task added to your to do list, here’s my article at eHow.com with some tips to make the job easier.  Click and comment!

How to Manage an Advertising Program

Day Job: Working with Media Reps

I’ve been doing a little writing for eHow.com through Demand Studios.  It’s a great opportunity for freelance writers to gain some experience (and get paid) by writing “How To” articles within their fields of expertise.

My day job is in advertising, marketing and graphic design.  So, I decided to post some of the articles.  Check them out on eHow and post your reviews and comments.

How to Work With Media Advertising Representatives

Advertising Curiosity

Because I work at an advertising agency, I’m always interested in advertising/design issues, opportunities and curiosities that present themselves in media.  As I was looking at the LA Times website this morning, one such curiosity made its presence known: boxes labeled throughout the site as “Google Advertising.”  I assume these links are part of the ever elusive Google AdWords program. 

The task of understanding and managing campaigns with Google AdWords  is daunting in my limited experience.  However, I see Google ads EVERYWHERE.  They are literally all over the internet in both business and personal websites. The lure of getting paid puts Google ads on lots of blog sites just like this one.

Probably the most curious aspect of Google advertising is how the content specific ads are selected.  I’m sure there is some complicated algorithm that governs the selections, explaining why it completely eludes me.  But, as I noticed some of the actual ad postings in my wandering through latimes.com, I have to wonder…

Is Google the great tally sheet for bottom-lining a web page’s content?

Is Google the great filtering system where dust-laden extra words are trapped, allowing only the essential to heat and cool the visitor?

Is Google the great pot in which content is boiled down to it’s essence?

Scary.

I have to hope and believe that my carefully turned phrases are more than the sum of their content network impressions.  At least, that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.  Regardless, I saw some interesting (and maybe telling) content matched ads at LAT:

• On the Entertainment page –
  Plastic surgery, stomach fat and anti-aging abound.  Hmmm…
  The most interesting were “Plastic Surgery in Mexico” (is that advisable?) and “10 Rules for Stomach Fat” (fatloss4idiots.com, no less).
  Just a note — That one for fatloss4idiots.com is everywhere.  Apparently no matter what news stories you’re interested in, you can always benefit from dropping 9 lbs every 11 days.
   
• With an article about Tiger Woods at the U.S. Open – 
  The most notable was “Tortured Philly Fan Shirt.”  In case that golf thing doesn’t work out. The website says it all: drunkenbleachers.com
   
• On the World page – 
  Again with the ads about plastic surgery, tummy tucks and the infamous “10 Rules for Stomach Fat.”  Is the whole world really looking for a nip and a tuck?
   
• On the Environment page – 
  “Forensic Science School” offers “plenty of good deals on a variety of products.”  I don’t even want to know.  Also, right behind the opportunity to “Run your car on water,” you can get another “10 Rules for Stomach Fat.”  I guess that’s for literally reducing your carbon footprint.
   
• With an article about Leiberman endorsing McCain – 
  We have “Fortunes from the Web,” “TV ads Win Elections,” and my favorites, “Work at Home and Love It” and “Retire Early.”  So, just what is Google trying to say about McCain’s chances?

Daytime Television Debris

Recently, I spent almost a week at home with bronchitis, and along with stints of checking email and obsessing about the work projects I wasn’t getting done, I had the occasion to tune in to daytime television.  Now, I’ll admit that I can be up for a good soap marathon with the best of the couch potatoes, especially when I’m sick.

However, during my recent bronchitis soap marathon, somewhere between meeting Victor’s long lost son, watching Katie grieve for her brother who committed suicide so he could be her heart donor (it’s a soap, people!), rolling my eyes at Jack and Carly’s argument because we all know they really love each other, and conniving with Lizzie to keep Bill from taking over Spaulding Enterprises… I started surfing channels.  Channel surfing always yields some interesting moments when paired with being tired, bored and on meds.  I found that in those circumstances, you’ll pay attention to almost anything which obviously leads to lots of thought debris – those random observations that really have nowhere else to go.  So, here they are on EyeJunkie! Continue reading »