Marketing sparks - creative ideas

When most of us hear the word, "sparkler," we think of something you light with a match that gives off sparks. However, I want you to think in terms of clever ideas rather than firey sparks. For the purpose of this Squidoo lens, the term "sparkler" refers to a mini marketing campaign involving a display ad that asks three questions. Each question requires more than just a simple answer. It requires a defense of its position - it's "claim to fame."

The overriding idea here is that as a result of all the effort involved to bring you the answer to all three questions at a single location, you will remember the questions, the answers and the reasons why those answers are valid. Immediately below are three modules. Each module features a question, an answer and a defense to the "claim to fame."

The problem with traditional advertising is two-fold. First, few people read the newspaper, listen to the radio or watch TV for the advertising (with the possible exception of the Super Bowl). People engage traditional media for the news and entertainment value - first and foremost. For advertising to be noticed, it must somehow engage the reader away from his initial purpose - reading about news and entertainment. The second problem with traditional advertising is that in most cases it does not provide marketing feedback to the advertiser. Hence, the advertiser remains clueless regarding the impact of his advertising message on his audience.

Unlike traditional advertising, online advertising can easily provide marketing feedback regarding an advertising message. So, why not link both traditional advertising and online advertising together? That is what a Sparkler display ad campaign does. It provides a landing page link in a printed publication or public display to a website using a budURL to automatically track all visitors to the page. But, what motivates the public to travel from the printed page to an online site? Answer - the opportunity to answer a question. Sparkler public displays in storefronts make this easy to do. Simply take a business card from the display.

There is another advantage to doing a sparkler display ad. Each ad is composed of three business questions from threee different businesses. Therefore, three businesses help pay for both the display ad and online space. Each business asks a different question. Each business not only provides an answer to their own question, but defends it online. (See Sparkler Q&A in the module below.) Plus, each Sparkler display ad is PR-optimized. That means each ad is backed up with PR buzz to the media via social media press releases. The overall cost for the PR buzz, offline and online publicity is less than the initial cost for just one business to post a traditional display ad.

Mediabids.com is a new way to to buy ad space in newspapers and magazines. In a very real way it actually bridges traditional advertisng with online advertising. This is important because it can save any business time and money - an average of 60%. Here you by-pass the sales pitch, meeting and phone time to negotiate ad rates. This special online auction service brings the publications to you, which will then compete for your advertising dollars.

Any small business wanting to expand its market base should take a look at Mediabids.com. The service actually introduces you to new publications. You can even compare and research publications with online media kits.

There are no fees or no hidden costs to see what Mediabids.com has to offer. You pay only for the price of an ad if you decide to make a purchase.

If you are a small business engaged in advertising your business, please do not "go solo." Think BETTER TOGETHER. Whenever possible, seek out co-oped advertising opportunities with other businesses. Such opportunities should save you money.

What is it that makes a person respond positively to a display ad? What is it that causes him to WANT to purchase what is being promoted? Is it the size of the ad that matters most? How about the color? Is it clever words and a "call to action?" Many marketers believe it is "clever words" and a "call to action" that induces sales - much more than the size or even the photogenic beauty of an ad.

Mediabids.com gives you tremendous leverage in the purchase of ad space. Using that ad space to spread your message through a Sparkler campaign greatly adds to that leverage. To begin, three distinct businesses contribute to the purchase of a single ad space through Synergistic Buiness Marketing. But then, the print ad exposure goes viral on the Internet via a budURL link that is connected to a Squidoo lens. The Squidoo lens then showcases each of the three businesses in a separate module as previously demonstrated. But, that is not all. There is also PR optimization buzz specifically directed at the local news media. This is done with SMR's (Social Media Releases) and an ever-expanding wide range of social media resources.

Why not reach out for help BEFORE you know you desperately need it? "Could have, should have, would have..." usually ends up meaning you didn't do what you knew you should have done in the first place. See the "Helping Hand" module farther down the page.

There are lot of things you can do to build a business, any business. Although many things cost money, there are a lot of things you can do that are more a matter of clever innovation than cash outlay. The whole idea behind wikinomics is based upon mutual collaboration between business concerns. According to marketing guru, Seth Godin, we have come full-circle (see the picture in this module). The business of life is all about people - more than anything else.

Make no mistake, there is "power" in employing strategies to build your business when the needs of people are at the core of the strategy. Consider, for example, netweaving, big shrimp marketing( see module video below) and co-op advertising.

If your business needs more customers, you have come to right place. Here consideration is given to both conventional and unconventional ("outside the box") thinking.

Grant-funding is something all nonprofit organizations seek. The Foundation Center is a national library system with branch office and cooperating collections across the USA designed to help. But, where should a nonprofit turn for funding when grant money cannot be found? Prehaps a little non-traditional outside-the-box thinking would help?

The majority of top USA foundations contributed more than one billion dollars in grant money between 2008 and 2009. Due to the current economic environment and the increased demand for grants, some foundations have decided to reduce the number of grants, but increase the dollar value of the grants they do give. Therefore, pursuing grants remains a good idea for those nonprofit organizations who qualify. However, may need to limit your RFP letter to just two pages. Since many of these foundations have a presence on Foursquare.com, you may find it beneficial to reach out to them with a short text message there first. A short text message in the right place can be very powerful tool - especially before sending an RFP letter. Think of that text message as being a mutual uplift for both your needs and those of the foundation.

Who are the top USA foundations? Click here.