“You Want Toys or Fries With That?”

I Love, Love, Love this idea!!

In Santa Clara County of California kids may now have to choose between a toy with their kid’s meal or fries.  What a great incentive to get children off of obesity causing habits.  Maybe if they choose fruit as a side they can be rewarded with the toy?

Obesity in children is such a growing problem.  Children are misguided by convenience foods and uneducated about the effects that they can have on them.  Maybe “tricking” them into making the healthier choice will create a taste for better things and instill healthier habits.

Along with this comes unlimited marketing opportunities that can utilize education to draw in attention and create a personal care between you and your audience.   I know that I would definitely choose the restaurant that offers some sort of healthy choice incentive for my son rather than one that just doesn’t care.

Here is the entire article… enjoy!

Nobody Likes Sales People

I recently had a conversation with a friend and co-worker of mine (let’s just call him Focus) regarding our dislike of sales. This may sound a bit strange coming from two “sales” people but that is what makes this conclusion so great.

Nobody likes sales people! They are annoying, all they think about is their own bottom line and they are so generic. I don’t want to sell anything. I DO however want to create ideas and concepts.  The sale will happen on its own as long as the product is worth it. Making this realization and verbally expressing it gave me almost a new excitement for what I do.  It is so easy to get sucked into the “sales” rut. That can almost make you feel depressed and worthless. I think it is so important to recognize and encourage the creative side of this position (AKA Sales). With out creativity there is no sale!

I think I should get my business cards to read:

Maggie Melville, Ideas and Concepts.

A Bad Day Of Fishing Still Better Than A Good Day At Work!

Why not do both?

What do I always say? Event Marketing is about catching consumers on “their turf” while they are having fun! Yay!

For those of you who do not know, the Saltwater Classic is Florida’s largest off shore saltwater tournament.  This tournament, hosted by 96.5 WHTQ, is held at Rusty’s Seafood and Oyster Bar in Cape Canaveral.  Saltwater Classic brings over 4,000 participants (not to mention spectators) out for this “one and a half” day event.  You should also be aware that about 1,000 of them are boat owners… Here’s what goes down…

Friday night we have the Official Captains Party! (Woo Hoo) This is mandatory for all participants.  Participants will register at the party.  There is also a stage with entertainment, live seminars provided by The Sportsman Channel, drinks, raffles and prize give aways!

Saturday the tournament begins.  Boats in the water by 6am, weigh-ins begin at noon and conclude by 4pm.  Prizes are awarded to the biggest catch in each category.  Meanwhile.. spectators crowd the weigh-in stage to “ooh and ah” at the massive sea life that is brought in!

The whole tournament is documented by Bright House Networks and available On Demand! (very cool)

Why am I telling you about Saltwater Classic?  Because if you and your business are looking to gain the attention and loyalty of Men with expendable income or anybody who is into outdoor sporting or boating…. then you simply must contact me to get involved with this event.

Wouldn’t you “rather be fishing” then sitting in an expo center?

Do Your Own Thing

I once had a client say to me, “I don’t think we’re going to do the event because the attendees are just there to enjoy the festivities.”
Really??  .. Of course that’s what they are there for!  If we created an event that was no fun then there would be nobody for you to be in front of.

Just to clarify any misconceptions about event marketing.. these are opportunities to engage consumers in an atmosphere that is fun! I can say it a million times but it never gets old.  It is about the emotional connection.   Nobody is really interested in talking about … say.. car insurance while they are at an arts and crafts show but when you throw in a wheel to spin for prizes and a “big green lizard” suddenly car insurance is fun!!

If I were a home construction company, I would much rather be the only construction company involved with a fun community event rather than one in a sea of twenty at a home show.

Basically, what I’m saying here is embrace the opportunity to stand out above the rest.  Do something different that catches consumers off guard and makes them remember YOU over your competition.  As my Grandma Uhl would always say, “Do Your Own Thing, Darnett!”.   Surprize  them! Put yourself where they least expect it… on their turf.

-Maggie Melville-Cox Events Group

Would You Hire Yourself?

So, in my every pressing effort to always strive to become better, I found an article in Ad Ages-Talent Works that spoke about being “employable”.  The article (What Makes You Employable in 2010?) points out what personal qualities are of value to employers.  As I was reading through, I realized that each one of these qualities are also necessary for a quality, successful marketing campaign.  After all, the point of advertising is to connect personally and emotionally with the consumers, so why not think of yourself (your business) and an employable asset to the consumers that you so desire?

Here are the 10 ”employable traits” that were pointed out:

1. EQ. Emotional intelligence is so important for so many reasons, none more important than the fact that advertising and marketing is about people. Fundamentally this skill is about the ability to empathize and to read people, but it’s also about the ability to act on this understanding in a meaningful way, a critical skill for the agency business.

2. Organizational Skills. Effective presentation is about content and style. The right look and the right words in concert are key, whether at an interview or pitching a piece of business. Project-management roles are becoming more in demand as business becomes increasingly project-focused.

3. AQ. IQ and EQ are certainly critical to success today, but even more important is adaptability quotient. Practically this refers to a mindset that embraces change. Individuals who have a high AQ will often pick fast-paced, rapidly changing environments. They can use skills they have developed in one job in a totally different context. Adaptability plays out in many forms: vocational, mental, geographic, linguistic, financial, hours worked. The more of these any individual can embrace, the better his or her employment chances. Simply said, doing things that others don’t want to do or are incapable of doing is key to enhancing opportunities and going beyond existing roles. More significant AQ points to a mindset that strives for results, whatever the variables are.

4. Ideas-Driven Mentality. Top business strategists have an almost childlike interest in seeing things in new ways. They are hungry for knowledge and perhaps travel and read much and are interested in new fashion, be it apparel or electronic. An employee who can make a difference is one who has a healthy interest not just in the status quo but in making things better. Those who search for new perspectives will be welcomed by agencies and clients alike.

5. Entrepreneurial Mindset. Seeing things in different contexts is valuable, and new ideas are always welcome, but what’s critical is making meaning of ideas in a commercial context.

6. Personality. I have interviewed hundreds of people, some for jobs for which you might assume personality is not so important. The reality is that whether you’re creative, financial or strategic — and not just account people — those with personality get the best out of people with whom they interact, both inside and outside the agency.

7. Communication Skills. Written and verbal skills are important in a business that is all about messages, ultimately communicated via image or word. Articulating a perspective, arguing a viewpoint, selling an idea — they all depend on language skills. Language skills for new media are important, but more critical are social skills and face-to-face communication, which, to some extent, are threatened by e-mail, SMS and other modes of communication.

8. Persistence. A single-mindedness, a determination, an ability to endure not only sets one apart but is often the difference between those who succeed and those who don’t. If for no other reason, persistence equals opportunity to be in the right place at the right time.

9. A Sense of Mission. A clear sense of mission and a stake in that mission binds individuals, teams and companies together. Even the least passionate person, a less-than-stellar communicator, a person who easily gives up, can become a passionate, communicating trooper if he has a sense of mission.

10. Passion. If you enjoy something enough, that passion touches other people. Enthusiasm can absolutely differentiate you from an equally qualified but slightly morose soul. If you enjoy something, you have a greater chance at excelling at it and therefore being in demand to do it, whatever it is.

Read More:

http://adage.com/talentworks/article?article_id=141853