Search Engine Optimization is the art of driving organic traffic to your website. I call it an art form because it takes a specific knowledge based on how search engines work in combination with creativity, logic and patience.
Some seo companies charge thousands of dollars each month with dedicated seo managers focused on big sites. These individuals are committed to driving organic traffic to websites.
To clarify, organic traffic are those search results which are not ads. Ads will typically have "ad" next to the search results but it's surprising how many people don't realize they are ads even though "ad" is quite visible next to the url (website address).
SEO basics. When a company manages your websites SEO these are a few of the things they will do each month to improve your traffic.
1) Keyword Analysis. This involves evaluating the best keywords which will help drive quality traffic to your website. More times than not, your website will have a tough time getting the number 1 ranking with a highly desirable keyword phrase. You can't always compete against those companies who have a full time seo manager. Sometime it's better to be number 3 or 4 in the 2nd or 3rd best keyword phrase because you don't have to compete against the market leaders.
2)Relevant High Quality Fresh and Frequent Content. The old old saying content is king is still true, but more importantly we need to look at it as relevant high quality content. For the past 20yrs the amount of pages of content on the internet has grown exponentially. To that end not any content will do. Content on your site must mirror what people are looking for. Aside from relevant content is the frequency of relevant content. The more frequent and relevant the more crawling and indexing will occur over time. Crawling is the term for what search engines do when they look at your website. indexing is assigning a rank to your site based on the search query. This rank constantly fluctuates based on algorithms which also change.
3)Meta tags: You may or may not have heard of this term. To simplify, this basically tells search engines what to look for on your website in relation to search relevance.
4)Backlinks. These are the number of relevant high ranked websites which link to your site.
5)Longevity. Search engines like Google favour longevity and fresh content.
These are just a few points which help build organic rankings and traffic. If you are looking for an affordable and cultivating seo management strategy let Balla Media take your website to the next level
Saturday, April 29, 2017
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Media SellingTactics and Strategies You Should Know
I've worked in media for over 20 years and it doesn't cease to amaze me how some media channels haven't changed in their approach to creating value when at times there is no or little value. When you are buying advertising here are some red flags to watch out for:
1) The media rep says we are so busy and running into sold out inventory but we still have some avails.
This is a common tactic. Albeit there will be times when a radio, tv station or billboard is in a sold out situation. However this is not the case all the time especially not when you happen to show interest in a buy or request a proposal. When I worked in radio as a sales rep we had 2 inventory structures. The sales managers inventory to the team and the REAL inventory. A sales manager would say to the team we are 95% sold out when in reality we would be 50-70% sold out... real estate development housing works in the same way....you'll see a sign which says a 70% sold out display on the lawn....sometimes that sign doesn't change for over a year. When a media says they are in a close to sold out situation it could be they want you to move quickly to avoid disappointment....if you ever come across this statement that "We are close to sold out" or "Ou inventory is filling up fast" you should think twice. First off do you want to be on a station where the commercial islands are just jammed packed with other sponsors and your message gets lost?? Secondly, by walking away you are sending a message that you do not buy under these conditions. When a media creates a false sense of inventory they have a self justified right to increase rates. It's a false value created by a false demand. As an agency we know there is always a way to negotiate a better rate or more efficient schedule for the same investment. There is always an alternative to the main streams to deliver highly effective cost per thousands without falling into the trap of tactics. If the station is still a good fit for your business and the investment is in line with your ROI and the CPM or CPP is in line then start your branding campaign at a timeline when there is no price pressure. Wait til the price is right. If your campaign is based on urgency or a sale you may have no other option than to but pay the piper.
2) A media may sell a sponsorship with an exorbitant value attached to the promotion or sponsorship.....you'll be apprised you can have it for a fraction of the cost. Decide with caution and don't fall into this pressure trap either. Radio, TV stations will typically run a promotion using their promotional or programming inventory. At times there may be an opportunity for clients to piggy back as a sponsor or to "own" the promotion. A station will place a value up to 2 to 3 times of there promotional inventory based on their top rate card price for a commercial...eg. If a 30 second commercial spot is sold at top rate card for $100, the station will place a value of $250 on their promotional occasion...
Within this promotional spot as a business you may receive a name mention or a tag line.....in no way is it worth a $250 value based on this case scenario. So a tv or radio station will offer a client a category exclusive sponsorhip for "XX" amount of dollars based on the promo value. If the media is providing this promotion in exchange for product for prizing then it could be worth it depending on the exposure....each opportunity needs to be assessed on an individual basis based on awareness ROI. Don't pay for a promotion until you consult with an unbiased party such as an advertising agency to determine the true ROI value. The amount you invest in whether it be cash or product investment (cash) may be better invested in a regular airtime schedule with that media or in another media.
3) We are the number 1 station with seniors who love to ride bikes on a Tuesday while eating hot dogs. Ok..so you get my point. Every media is number 1 in something. You have to carefully compare apples to apples when considering where to place your ad dollars. An experienced agency has the knowledge and expertise to analyze media schedules based on target demographic, location, reach, frequency while dovetailing your specific creative and marketing objectives.
4)Selling you more or not enough for an efficient campaign. There are sales reps which will sell you too much and reps who won't sell you enough. Buying and selling media is an art form. It's a delicate process of understanding weighing a number of variables from budget, audience, reach, frequency and of course the message. If one of these are out of kilter it could mean a waste of time and money.
Media can create awareness and drive calls and traffic to your website or retail location...just remember it can't close the business...that's what your business and your people are supposed to do. Contrarily, I have worked with clients who said they "Tried" a certain media and had no success. No response. Once I dig a little deeper I eventually find out what the real issue was. Sometimes the campaign works and the client's phone rings but the business has poor front lines, or there is a customer service issue or no one is there to answer the phone...or sometimes it's the schedule where the rep didn't give them enough frequency or the campaign ran short. Sometimes it's the creative. Creative needs to be compelling creating an emotive response....remember it's not always about price as we know...customers do not always pay based on price they pay based on convergent factors where emotion meets logic...when your business has solved a problem for the consumer or has created an emotively empathetic response which at times is priceless.
1) The media rep says we are so busy and running into sold out inventory but we still have some avails.
This is a common tactic. Albeit there will be times when a radio, tv station or billboard is in a sold out situation. However this is not the case all the time especially not when you happen to show interest in a buy or request a proposal. When I worked in radio as a sales rep we had 2 inventory structures. The sales managers inventory to the team and the REAL inventory. A sales manager would say to the team we are 95% sold out when in reality we would be 50-70% sold out... real estate development housing works in the same way....you'll see a sign which says a 70% sold out display on the lawn....sometimes that sign doesn't change for over a year. When a media says they are in a close to sold out situation it could be they want you to move quickly to avoid disappointment....if you ever come across this statement that "We are close to sold out" or "Ou inventory is filling up fast" you should think twice. First off do you want to be on a station where the commercial islands are just jammed packed with other sponsors and your message gets lost?? Secondly, by walking away you are sending a message that you do not buy under these conditions. When a media creates a false sense of inventory they have a self justified right to increase rates. It's a false value created by a false demand. As an agency we know there is always a way to negotiate a better rate or more efficient schedule for the same investment. There is always an alternative to the main streams to deliver highly effective cost per thousands without falling into the trap of tactics. If the station is still a good fit for your business and the investment is in line with your ROI and the CPM or CPP is in line then start your branding campaign at a timeline when there is no price pressure. Wait til the price is right. If your campaign is based on urgency or a sale you may have no other option than to but pay the piper.
2) A media may sell a sponsorship with an exorbitant value attached to the promotion or sponsorship.....you'll be apprised you can have it for a fraction of the cost. Decide with caution and don't fall into this pressure trap either. Radio, TV stations will typically run a promotion using their promotional or programming inventory. At times there may be an opportunity for clients to piggy back as a sponsor or to "own" the promotion. A station will place a value up to 2 to 3 times of there promotional inventory based on their top rate card price for a commercial...eg. If a 30 second commercial spot is sold at top rate card for $100, the station will place a value of $250 on their promotional occasion...
Within this promotional spot as a business you may receive a name mention or a tag line.....in no way is it worth a $250 value based on this case scenario. So a tv or radio station will offer a client a category exclusive sponsorhip for "XX" amount of dollars based on the promo value. If the media is providing this promotion in exchange for product for prizing then it could be worth it depending on the exposure....each opportunity needs to be assessed on an individual basis based on awareness ROI. Don't pay for a promotion until you consult with an unbiased party such as an advertising agency to determine the true ROI value. The amount you invest in whether it be cash or product investment (cash) may be better invested in a regular airtime schedule with that media or in another media.
3) We are the number 1 station with seniors who love to ride bikes on a Tuesday while eating hot dogs. Ok..so you get my point. Every media is number 1 in something. You have to carefully compare apples to apples when considering where to place your ad dollars. An experienced agency has the knowledge and expertise to analyze media schedules based on target demographic, location, reach, frequency while dovetailing your specific creative and marketing objectives.
4)Selling you more or not enough for an efficient campaign. There are sales reps which will sell you too much and reps who won't sell you enough. Buying and selling media is an art form. It's a delicate process of understanding weighing a number of variables from budget, audience, reach, frequency and of course the message. If one of these are out of kilter it could mean a waste of time and money.
Media can create awareness and drive calls and traffic to your website or retail location...just remember it can't close the business...that's what your business and your people are supposed to do. Contrarily, I have worked with clients who said they "Tried" a certain media and had no success. No response. Once I dig a little deeper I eventually find out what the real issue was. Sometimes the campaign works and the client's phone rings but the business has poor front lines, or there is a customer service issue or no one is there to answer the phone...or sometimes it's the schedule where the rep didn't give them enough frequency or the campaign ran short. Sometimes it's the creative. Creative needs to be compelling creating an emotive response....remember it's not always about price as we know...customers do not always pay based on price they pay based on convergent factors where emotion meets logic...when your business has solved a problem for the consumer or has created an emotively empathetic response which at times is priceless.
Media SellingTactics and Startegies You Should Know
I've worked in media for over 20 years and it doesn't cease to amaze me how some media channels haven't changed in their approach to creating value when at times when there is no or little value. When you are buying advertising here are some red flags to watch out for:
1) The media rep says we are so busy and running into sold out inventory but we still have some avails.
This is one of the most common tactics. Albeit there may me times when a radio, tv station or billboard is in a sold out situation but not all the time and not when you happen to show interest in a buy or request a proposal. When I worked in radio as a sales rep we had to inventory structures. The sales managers inventory to the team and the REAL inventory. A sales manager would say to the team we are 95% sold out when in reality we would be 50-70% sold out... real estate development housing works in the same way....you'll see a sign which says 70% sold out display on the lawn....for a few years. On another note when a media says they are in a sold out situation it is an obvious mention for you to move quickly to avoid disappointment....if you ever come across this statement that "We are close to sold out" you should walk away. First off do you want to be on a radio station where the commercial islands of just jammed packed with other sponsors and your message gets lost?? Secondly, by walking away you are conditioning the media rep that you do not buy in these conditions. When a media creates a false sense of inventory they have a self justified right to increase rates. A false value created by a false demand. As an agency we know there is always a way to negotiate a better rate and that there is always an alternative to the main streams to deliver highly effective cost per thousands without falling into the trap of tactics. If the station is still a good fit for a client and the investment is in line with your ROI and the CPM or CPP is in line then start your campaign at a timeline when there is no price pressure. Wait til the price is right.
2) A media may sell a sponsorship with an exorbitant value attached to the promotion or sponsorship.....but wait you can have it for a fraction of the cost. Don't fall into this trap either. Radio, TV stations will typically run a promotion using their promotional or programming inventory. At times there may be an opportunity for clients to piggy back as a sponsor or to "own" the promotion. A station will place a value up to 2 to 3 times of there promotional inventory based on their top rate card price for a commercial...eg. If a 30 second commercial spot is sold at top rate card for $100, the station will place a value of $250 on their promotional occasion...
Within this promotional spot as a business you may receive a name mention or a tag line.....in no way is it worth a $250 value based on this case scenario. So a tv or radio station will offer a client a category exclusive sponsorhip for "XX" amount of dollars based on the promo value. If the media is providing this promotion in exchange for product for prizing then it could be worth it depending on the exposure....each opportunity needs to be assessed on an individual basis based on awareness ROI. Don't pay for a promotion until you consult with an unbiased party such as an advertising agency to determine the true ROI value. The amount you invest in whether it be cash or product investment (cash) may be better invested in a regular campaign or in another media.
3) We are the number 1 station with seniors who love to ride bikes on a Tuesday while eating hot dogs. Ok..so you get my point. Every media is number 1 in something. You have to carefully compare apples to apples when considering where to place your ad dollars. An experienced agency has the knowledge and expertise to analyze media schedules based on target demographic, location, reach, frequency while dovetailing your specific creative and marketing objectives.
4)Selling you more or not enough for an efficient campaign. There are sales reps which will sell you too much and reps who won't sell you enough. Buying and selling media is an art form. It's a delicate process of understanding weighing a number of variables from budget, audience, reach, frequency and of course the message. If one of these are out of kilter it could mean a waste of time and money.
I have worked with clients who said they "Tried" a certain media and had no success. No response. Once I dig a little deeper I learn to find out what the real issue was. Sometimes the campaign works and the client's phone rings but the business has poor front lines, or there is a customer service issue...or sometimes it's the schedule where the rep didn't give them enough frequency or the campaign ran short. Sometimes it's the creative. Creative needs to be compelling creating an emotive response....remember it's not always about price as we know...customers do not always pay based on price they pay based on convergent factors where emotion meets logic...when your business has solved a problem for the consumer or has created an emotively empathetic response which at times is priceless.
1) The media rep says we are so busy and running into sold out inventory but we still have some avails.
This is one of the most common tactics. Albeit there may me times when a radio, tv station or billboard is in a sold out situation but not all the time and not when you happen to show interest in a buy or request a proposal. When I worked in radio as a sales rep we had to inventory structures. The sales managers inventory to the team and the REAL inventory. A sales manager would say to the team we are 95% sold out when in reality we would be 50-70% sold out... real estate development housing works in the same way....you'll see a sign which says 70% sold out display on the lawn....for a few years. On another note when a media says they are in a sold out situation it is an obvious mention for you to move quickly to avoid disappointment....if you ever come across this statement that "We are close to sold out" you should walk away. First off do you want to be on a radio station where the commercial islands of just jammed packed with other sponsors and your message gets lost?? Secondly, by walking away you are conditioning the media rep that you do not buy in these conditions. When a media creates a false sense of inventory they have a self justified right to increase rates. A false value created by a false demand. As an agency we know there is always a way to negotiate a better rate and that there is always an alternative to the main streams to deliver highly effective cost per thousands without falling into the trap of tactics. If the station is still a good fit for a client and the investment is in line with your ROI and the CPM or CPP is in line then start your campaign at a timeline when there is no price pressure. Wait til the price is right.
2) A media may sell a sponsorship with an exorbitant value attached to the promotion or sponsorship.....but wait you can have it for a fraction of the cost. Don't fall into this trap either. Radio, TV stations will typically run a promotion using their promotional or programming inventory. At times there may be an opportunity for clients to piggy back as a sponsor or to "own" the promotion. A station will place a value up to 2 to 3 times of there promotional inventory based on their top rate card price for a commercial...eg. If a 30 second commercial spot is sold at top rate card for $100, the station will place a value of $250 on their promotional occasion...
Within this promotional spot as a business you may receive a name mention or a tag line.....in no way is it worth a $250 value based on this case scenario. So a tv or radio station will offer a client a category exclusive sponsorhip for "XX" amount of dollars based on the promo value. If the media is providing this promotion in exchange for product for prizing then it could be worth it depending on the exposure....each opportunity needs to be assessed on an individual basis based on awareness ROI. Don't pay for a promotion until you consult with an unbiased party such as an advertising agency to determine the true ROI value. The amount you invest in whether it be cash or product investment (cash) may be better invested in a regular campaign or in another media.
3) We are the number 1 station with seniors who love to ride bikes on a Tuesday while eating hot dogs. Ok..so you get my point. Every media is number 1 in something. You have to carefully compare apples to apples when considering where to place your ad dollars. An experienced agency has the knowledge and expertise to analyze media schedules based on target demographic, location, reach, frequency while dovetailing your specific creative and marketing objectives.
4)Selling you more or not enough for an efficient campaign. There are sales reps which will sell you too much and reps who won't sell you enough. Buying and selling media is an art form. It's a delicate process of understanding weighing a number of variables from budget, audience, reach, frequency and of course the message. If one of these are out of kilter it could mean a waste of time and money.
I have worked with clients who said they "Tried" a certain media and had no success. No response. Once I dig a little deeper I learn to find out what the real issue was. Sometimes the campaign works and the client's phone rings but the business has poor front lines, or there is a customer service issue...or sometimes it's the schedule where the rep didn't give them enough frequency or the campaign ran short. Sometimes it's the creative. Creative needs to be compelling creating an emotive response....remember it's not always about price as we know...customers do not always pay based on price they pay based on convergent factors where emotion meets logic...when your business has solved a problem for the consumer or has created an emotively empathetic response which at times is priceless.
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Boobs versus Brains when it comes to a media buyer's or business owner's decisions.
So this is a subject which is not typically spoken about because some decision makers are fallible to
to the vice of sex appeal when it comes to making poor business decisions. When I refer to "Sex Appeal" this term by itself very subjective in nature. Some will admit that they have purchased media because the sales person who was selling them the goods was attractive and charming. Was the decision a smart one? As in maximizing their dollar to reach their target customer in the most effective way? HELL NO! I've been in sales for over 20 years and have worked with countless business owners and buyers. Let's clarify. Business owners are not always buyers and vice versa.
When I refer to buyers I am not necessarily referring to those who "Buy" media at an agency level but rather the individual in a company who is "In Charge" of buying media. We would hope that agency media buyers would not be subject to anything more than metrics, value, demo, grp's, cpp, cpm's etc. when making decisions on behalf of the agency's clients.
There are the sales people or media planners who put their whole heart and soul, expertise, wisdom and knowledge into a brilliant media plan. It would be a media plan which would make all the difference for a client and take them to the next level of business activity and success only to be trumped by the fact that they were not valued as much as the bimbo trollop who came in and showed her cleavage.
When one comes across a scenario such as this there are a couple roads to take....the high road which is to subtly, gently, then directly shake up the clients senses to demonstrate in a non-insulting way that their penis has over powered business logic. The low road is to agree with the client's decision and then walk away.....this is the cowards way out and you are not doing yourself or the client justice by letting go and shaking your head. Your job as a media sales consultant is to use logic combined with metrics, exceptional creative along with a hyper targeting media buying strategy targeting their demos and to show them the light!!
Many years ago I was in competition with another media rep who possessed different physical assets than myself and because of this was favoured by the male client. In a nutshell I won the sale, but what was frustrating was the mere fact that I had to work 4 times as hard to win the sale even though I delivered an amazing presentation with robust value and the audience which I could deliver was more in line than my competitions. Please note I referred to this experience as frustrating and nothing more.
I use to wonder how some really stupid media people survived...the fact was that they were not stupid.....they knew how to use their personal appeal which over powered a client's pure logic without any media planning sense . Please note I did not say "Sex" appeal here...as some of these gals and guys were not in the least bit sexy but rather demonstrated whoreish and slut like qualities in nature. They were good people with naturally skewed intentions. Ok, so now that I made somewhat of a point I hope I have inspired the above average media planners and sales people to rise above the "others". Take control of the sale and do an exceptional job super serving your clients with all the God given knowledge you've built up from your years of experience. Work with the clients who value your business and show a receptiveness and potential to grow their business...the other business owners or buyers who possess a less finicky and flaky business acumen can be fired, by you at any time.
to the vice of sex appeal when it comes to making poor business decisions. When I refer to "Sex Appeal" this term by itself very subjective in nature. Some will admit that they have purchased media because the sales person who was selling them the goods was attractive and charming. Was the decision a smart one? As in maximizing their dollar to reach their target customer in the most effective way? HELL NO! I've been in sales for over 20 years and have worked with countless business owners and buyers. Let's clarify. Business owners are not always buyers and vice versa.
When I refer to buyers I am not necessarily referring to those who "Buy" media at an agency level but rather the individual in a company who is "In Charge" of buying media. We would hope that agency media buyers would not be subject to anything more than metrics, value, demo, grp's, cpp, cpm's etc. when making decisions on behalf of the agency's clients.
There are the sales people or media planners who put their whole heart and soul, expertise, wisdom and knowledge into a brilliant media plan. It would be a media plan which would make all the difference for a client and take them to the next level of business activity and success only to be trumped by the fact that they were not valued as much as the bimbo trollop who came in and showed her cleavage.
When one comes across a scenario such as this there are a couple roads to take....the high road which is to subtly, gently, then directly shake up the clients senses to demonstrate in a non-insulting way that their penis has over powered business logic. The low road is to agree with the client's decision and then walk away.....this is the cowards way out and you are not doing yourself or the client justice by letting go and shaking your head. Your job as a media sales consultant is to use logic combined with metrics, exceptional creative along with a hyper targeting media buying strategy targeting their demos and to show them the light!!
Many years ago I was in competition with another media rep who possessed different physical assets than myself and because of this was favoured by the male client. In a nutshell I won the sale, but what was frustrating was the mere fact that I had to work 4 times as hard to win the sale even though I delivered an amazing presentation with robust value and the audience which I could deliver was more in line than my competitions. Please note I referred to this experience as frustrating and nothing more.
I use to wonder how some really stupid media people survived...the fact was that they were not stupid.....they knew how to use their personal appeal which over powered a client's pure logic without any media planning sense . Please note I did not say "Sex" appeal here...as some of these gals and guys were not in the least bit sexy but rather demonstrated whoreish and slut like qualities in nature. They were good people with naturally skewed intentions. Ok, so now that I made somewhat of a point I hope I have inspired the above average media planners and sales people to rise above the "others". Take control of the sale and do an exceptional job super serving your clients with all the God given knowledge you've built up from your years of experience. Work with the clients who value your business and show a receptiveness and potential to grow their business...the other business owners or buyers who possess a less finicky and flaky business acumen can be fired, by you at any time.
Monday, March 2, 2015
The Landlord Tenant Act - Public Health - Bed Bugs - Rent Collection From Individuals On Government Assistance
As a Landlord I would first like to defend the rights of the tenant. A tenant has the right to live in a safe, warm environment which delivers the basic amenities for living day to day from hot water, heat, functioning plumbing and electrical.
The Landlord needs to be able to deliver these needs. That's the basis to exchange money for a place to live.
Here is the problem. There is too much onus on Landlords to cover the costs of delinquent low income tenants. The other unfortunate dilemma is the low income tenant who lives well below the poverty line. Whether the individual is on disability, Ontario Works etc.. .the ones suffering by design are the low income tenants and landlords. Of course not all low income tenants fall into the category of unaccountable, unreliable individuals who have a disregard for the unit they are renting. I'm not by any means demeaning or demoralizing individuals who genuinely need assistance. Fortunately there is a system, there is a process, albeit it may be far from perfect.
Bed Bugs, Cock Roaches etc.
Here lies another big issue. The onus is on the Landlord to exterminate bed bugs and cockroaches.
This is a huge problem especially considering that Landlords do not breed these pests. These pests are transient and breed harmoniously from the living environment of the people who dwell there, from previous tenants, visitors or items brought in to the unit.
The eradication of these pest should be on the onus of the government because it is a public issue. It is an epidemic not unlike a flu, rat infestation, TB any communicable disease from typhoid to cholera, west nile etc.... A Landlord must abide by the laws of the Landlord Tenant Act, Public Health, to that end the municipal and provincial government should cover the costs of extermination as pests are a variable not stemming from the Landlord but rather are stemming from society and the living condition, articles belonging to a tenant or used items they purchase....bedbugs travel easily and jump onto subjects or belongings without prejudice.They can be found in the most affluent hotels, apartments, theatres, community housing, hostels...etc.
E.g. A tenant brings a bed bug infested bed from one residence to the next. The new residence which never had an issue with bed bugs is now is infested. The treatment needs to be funded in the same way as any other epidemic..
The financial onus on the landlord is huge and unjust.....the cost for bedbug extermination is approx $400-$600 per one bedroom unit...this is only one of the reasons why we have slums and a deteriorated society because of the level of financial burden on landlords. Public Health is governed to issue an order against the Landlord for treating the unit. There is no legal onus on the tenant to ensure they following guidelines to prevent bedbugs from entering their unit. A realistic process would be if there is a pest issue, the tenant apprises the Landlord with a pest infestation form...let's call it a P1. The P1 goes to the Landlord and the landlord sends it to public health or the department which executes the extermination. This department reaches the tenant and educates them on the prevention and eradication of the pest and apprises them on what they need to do to prepare for fumigation.. They then send out their own exterminator. Leave the Landlord out of it.
There are so many considerations and rulings in the landlord and tenant act which favor the rights of the tenant and discount the value of the Landlord.
Rent Collection - Government Assisted, Delinquent Tenants - Non Payment of Rent
There needs to be more government accountability to the Landlord when it comes to ensuring a government assisted individual pays their rent on time. If a major portion of welfare, disability, cpp cheques etc is allocated to rent then the individual tenant needs to be excluded from the payment process and the rent needs to go direct to the Landlord from the agency. If a tenant decides to move, then they must fill out a rental move payment notice form 60 days prior to the move where one copy goes to the Landlord and the other to their agency worker. The receipt of this notice is acknowledged and confirmed between government agency and landlord.
This eliminates the potential of payment delinquency from the tenant and countless Landlord Tenant Tribunal Hearings.
Property damage caused by tenant. In the event a tenant damages the property they are renting and are on limited income they need to fill out a Landlord Damage Compensation Form....let's call it an LDC1. Form gets sent to the agency and to the landlord. The agency requests 3 quotes for repair from the Landlord and the lowest quote is awarded the repair.
When a tenant doesn't pay rent the Landlord delivers an N4 form to the tenant for non-payment of rent. It takes about 6-8 weeks to get a hearing with the board to evict the tenant. Once there is a hearing a ruling for a standard order of eviction another month has passed. If the tenant has still not moved out and has continued to not pay rent then the Landlord can go to the sheriff's office at the court house to request a physical eviction. The timeline for the sheriff to appear on site can be anywhere from 1 - 3 weeks. Once the Sheriff appears on site and evicts the tenant then there is the issue of the tenants belongings. They have 72 hours to remove their belongings. After the 72 hours the Landlord can then dispose of the units contents. Then there is the issue of cleaning up and fixing up the unit to get it in suitable condition to rent out again....when you add up the dollars for the 3-4 months of lost rent, hearing costs, sheriff summons, clean up and repairs the landlord is into thousands of lost dollars.....
For Government Assisted individuals there is required to be more efficient collaboration between Government Agencies and Landlords. This will eliminate the lengthy and costly process for a Landlord Tenant Tribunal Hearing and the sustaining costs of eviction, clean up and repair.
The Landlord will most likely never recoup the months of lost rent from the drawn out Landlord Tenant Tribunal Process.
As a society we really need to move toward these types of changes...it will save tax payers dollars, increase property values, and improve the quality of living for government assisted individuals.
There is always a solution, anything is possible.
The Landlord needs to be able to deliver these needs. That's the basis to exchange money for a place to live.
Here is the problem. There is too much onus on Landlords to cover the costs of delinquent low income tenants. The other unfortunate dilemma is the low income tenant who lives well below the poverty line. Whether the individual is on disability, Ontario Works etc.. .the ones suffering by design are the low income tenants and landlords. Of course not all low income tenants fall into the category of unaccountable, unreliable individuals who have a disregard for the unit they are renting. I'm not by any means demeaning or demoralizing individuals who genuinely need assistance. Fortunately there is a system, there is a process, albeit it may be far from perfect.
Bed Bugs, Cock Roaches etc.
Here lies another big issue. The onus is on the Landlord to exterminate bed bugs and cockroaches.
This is a huge problem especially considering that Landlords do not breed these pests. These pests are transient and breed harmoniously from the living environment of the people who dwell there, from previous tenants, visitors or items brought in to the unit.
The eradication of these pest should be on the onus of the government because it is a public issue. It is an epidemic not unlike a flu, rat infestation, TB any communicable disease from typhoid to cholera, west nile etc.... A Landlord must abide by the laws of the Landlord Tenant Act, Public Health, to that end the municipal and provincial government should cover the costs of extermination as pests are a variable not stemming from the Landlord but rather are stemming from society and the living condition, articles belonging to a tenant or used items they purchase....bedbugs travel easily and jump onto subjects or belongings without prejudice.They can be found in the most affluent hotels, apartments, theatres, community housing, hostels...etc.
E.g. A tenant brings a bed bug infested bed from one residence to the next. The new residence which never had an issue with bed bugs is now is infested. The treatment needs to be funded in the same way as any other epidemic..
The financial onus on the landlord is huge and unjust.....the cost for bedbug extermination is approx $400-$600 per one bedroom unit...this is only one of the reasons why we have slums and a deteriorated society because of the level of financial burden on landlords. Public Health is governed to issue an order against the Landlord for treating the unit. There is no legal onus on the tenant to ensure they following guidelines to prevent bedbugs from entering their unit. A realistic process would be if there is a pest issue, the tenant apprises the Landlord with a pest infestation form...let's call it a P1. The P1 goes to the Landlord and the landlord sends it to public health or the department which executes the extermination. This department reaches the tenant and educates them on the prevention and eradication of the pest and apprises them on what they need to do to prepare for fumigation.. They then send out their own exterminator. Leave the Landlord out of it.
There are so many considerations and rulings in the landlord and tenant act which favor the rights of the tenant and discount the value of the Landlord.
Rent Collection - Government Assisted, Delinquent Tenants - Non Payment of Rent
There needs to be more government accountability to the Landlord when it comes to ensuring a government assisted individual pays their rent on time. If a major portion of welfare, disability, cpp cheques etc is allocated to rent then the individual tenant needs to be excluded from the payment process and the rent needs to go direct to the Landlord from the agency. If a tenant decides to move, then they must fill out a rental move payment notice form 60 days prior to the move where one copy goes to the Landlord and the other to their agency worker. The receipt of this notice is acknowledged and confirmed between government agency and landlord.
This eliminates the potential of payment delinquency from the tenant and countless Landlord Tenant Tribunal Hearings.
Property damage caused by tenant. In the event a tenant damages the property they are renting and are on limited income they need to fill out a Landlord Damage Compensation Form....let's call it an LDC1. Form gets sent to the agency and to the landlord. The agency requests 3 quotes for repair from the Landlord and the lowest quote is awarded the repair.
When a tenant doesn't pay rent the Landlord delivers an N4 form to the tenant for non-payment of rent. It takes about 6-8 weeks to get a hearing with the board to evict the tenant. Once there is a hearing a ruling for a standard order of eviction another month has passed. If the tenant has still not moved out and has continued to not pay rent then the Landlord can go to the sheriff's office at the court house to request a physical eviction. The timeline for the sheriff to appear on site can be anywhere from 1 - 3 weeks. Once the Sheriff appears on site and evicts the tenant then there is the issue of the tenants belongings. They have 72 hours to remove their belongings. After the 72 hours the Landlord can then dispose of the units contents. Then there is the issue of cleaning up and fixing up the unit to get it in suitable condition to rent out again....when you add up the dollars for the 3-4 months of lost rent, hearing costs, sheriff summons, clean up and repairs the landlord is into thousands of lost dollars.....
For Government Assisted individuals there is required to be more efficient collaboration between Government Agencies and Landlords. This will eliminate the lengthy and costly process for a Landlord Tenant Tribunal Hearing and the sustaining costs of eviction, clean up and repair.
The Landlord will most likely never recoup the months of lost rent from the drawn out Landlord Tenant Tribunal Process.
As a society we really need to move toward these types of changes...it will save tax payers dollars, increase property values, and improve the quality of living for government assisted individuals.
There is always a solution, anything is possible.
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Building LEGO's Branding Block and Fueling Shell's "Protecting Biodiversity Platfform"
This
video is helping LEGO build it's "Branding" BLOCK and giving SHELL the
platform to reposition and fuel its future message of how much it
works to protect the environment.
Greenpeace is the conduit. WHAT? That's crazy...yes it certainly sounds contradictory as to who is fueling the mandate and could be a calculated risk for Greenpeace.. However, keep in mind the brands in this campaign are Shell and Lego AND Greenpeace.
I checked out the Greenpeace site and they have invested in this message with great web creative and video. The home page looks like a feature page for Shell and Lego.
With millions video adviews to start the conflict it's a great way to start the awareness flow. At times to marketers
it's not good or bad publicity, it's just plain publicity to create awareness.and stir emotion.
Emotion in ads effect the right side of the brain (Emotional Laterization). Whether it evokes anger, sadness, joy or the warm and fuzzies it still creates the emotion. This is where it creates the depth of impression. In time most people may not remember the message but there is investment in the brand in everyone's mind. Whether it was orchestrated or not if still gives all parties the public platform to showcase their opinions and make the next move or not.
There was a copy write issue then it was lifted...what a better way to invoke interest than by first taking it off the internet then to finally to allow it.
Shell protects Biodiversity:
http://www.shell.com/global/future-energy/arctic/protecting-biodiversity.html
Emotion in ads effect the right side of the brain (Emotional Laterization). Whether it evokes anger, sadness, joy or the warm and fuzzies it still creates the emotion. This is where it creates the depth of impression. In time most people may not remember the message but there is investment in the brand in everyone's mind. Whether it was orchestrated or not if still gives all parties the public platform to showcase their opinions and make the next move or not.
There was a copy write issue then it was lifted...what a better way to invoke interest than by first taking it off the internet then to finally to allow it.
Shell protects Biodiversity:
http://www.shell.com/global/future-energy/arctic/protecting-biodiversity.html
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
How much should I pay for a website?
How Much Should I Pay For A Website? (Small Business)
August 26th, 2014
These are the 7 basic factors which come into play for website design costs:
-Template site or partial template or full custom design
-Database for content (not all databases are created equally)
-Number of pages
-Number of images: Provided Images, Stock Photography, Professional Photographer Required?
-Content Writing - Important for Search Engines To Crawl Your Site and Index Your Site's Pages in relevance to actual searches
-Hosting, Emails and Maintenance
-Project Management: Time spent on planning and development
So How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost?
The range in design costs to develop and launch range from $900- $6000. Using the a la carte estimates above you can see how they can add up quickly. Another way to break the budget down is to assume:- 15% Planning
- 25% Interface design
- 40% Programming
- 20% Project Management
See the breakdown of pricing and costs below:
Basic Website Components and Costs
On average, the following figures can be applied to estimating the cost of a small business web siteIf you would like a detailed estimate call Balla Media at (905) 572-7474 Balla Media
- Domain Name – $10/year - $49 per year depending on the extension
- Server Space Hosting – $10 to $200+ a year (depending on traffic & hosting services)
- Web planning, design and development time – Determined By Scope of Project
- Continued website Maintenance – $500 a year and up (depending on number/type of updates required - some companies may include hosting in this price)
- Marketing your website online – Determined by your budget
- Custom Content Management System - The Ability For You To Make Changes To Your Site Based On Your Sites Requirements
Important Factors that Contribute to Website Cost
When trying to budget web design costs there are a number of factors to consider:- Is this a brand new site or a redesign?
- How prepared are you – do you have a detailed requirements document?
- Do you need a blog or content management functionality (CMS)?
- Do you have graphics already created for the site?
- Do you want the site to automatically resize for mobile and tablets?
- Do you need multimedia (Flash, video, etc.) on the site?
- How much content do you have and how much do you need created?
- Do you need other special features like social media channels, SEO, ecommerce, or something else?
- Who is going to maintain the site after it has been launched?
New Sites Often Cost More Than Redesigns
When you’re starting from scratch, so is the web designer. They have nothing to work from, they can’t look at your existing site and get an idea of your online brand or features and functionality requirements. All new sites really should require a “discovery and documentation” process. This process will help define the online brand, website structure and functionality. We think this process is critical because it helps set expectations on all sides and reduce potential frustrations. Simple business websites, where the client has a solid idea of what they want, can get by on a minimal amount of discovery and documentation, perhaps one day’s worth of effort. BUT… more complex websites may require weeks of meetings and the creation of many detailed documents to fully define the project.
Interface Design
Interface design is also referred to as
the look-and-feel or visual design. The interface design will
incorporate your branding, all your photos and images, even your page
layouts. Don’t assume that if you’ve already got a pre-made template you
won’t need any images or layouts re-done. Interface design is usually
an iterative process, this means that the designer will show you several
options and then modify those based on your feedback to arrive at an
approved design. For a small business website, the average budget $900 – $4,000
to get you from concept through to the final design that will be handed
off to the developers for programming. Don’t skimp on the interface
design or visitors won’t give your website a second glance.
Images and Graphics
Website graphics are tricky because
they can range from $10 each for cheap stock images to $100′s of dollars
each for custom or high-end stock images. Compelling and appropriate graphics can make a huge huge difference in the effectiveness of your website. On the low-end, budget at least $100 for stock images. If you have a good designer they can make a cheap image look like a custom one.But that’s not all. You will probably also need stock icons and buttons to compliment your design. Budget $50 for them as well.
Mobile and Responsive Design Cost - (Should be included in overall price)
Mobile devices are swiftly becoming critical to online success and your design should at least be mobile-friendly. The best designs are “responsive“,
designed to automatically adjust their layout to look good on multiple
devices: smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers. Creating a
responsive design can cost 20% – 30% more than a site
for a desktop web browser (the price of progress). This cost is because
the interface designer needs to design how the site will look on the
various devices, the programmer will need to program the designs and
finally more testing is required before the site is ready to launch.
Almost all our projects these days include responsive programming.Costs for Content Creation and Insertion
The least expensive way to go is to create all the content yourself and insert it into the site yourself. Most designers have no problem delivering a blank design template that you populate with text and images. But if you want the design firm to add your content and adjust the layout of the text, you should budget $100 – $150 per page.Programming Special Features (Costs To Consider)
There are a ton of extra features that web developers can integrate that will improve your business but can also up the price. Sometimes these features are “included” in your website framework – but beware, just because they are “included” doesn’t mean that they look or work the way you want. The estimates below reflect the general requirements we have seen, however there are many factors that can push these costs higher. If you don’t see your add-on here just give us a call and we can provide an estimate.- Custom Content Management Systems- for
clients who want to manage their own content we integrate and customize
content management systems (CMS). We work with PHP-based open-source
CMS solutions like Drupal and WordPress.
- Training and documentation – You will probably need some instructions and documentation on how to maintain and edit site content.
- Blog- Many clients want a WordPress or similar blog within their website, customized to their website branding and design.
- E-commerce shopping carts, catalogs, payment processing e depending on requirements.
- Email Marketing Campaigns- Clients that want to gather emails and send out branded email blasts for announcements or newsletters require an Email management tool. We integrate 3rd-party tools (graphicmail, mailchimp, constant contact, etc.) and create an email blast template design, we can even manage your email blasts.
- Branding/Identity Development- Logo design is something we are often asked to do. On the low-end, we start with an 8-hour process that generates about 6 rough logo concepts. If one of these is chosen we go through several rounds of edits to arrive at a final version.
- Style Guides- An online style guide is important because it establishes brand consistency and provides a guide for all your print collateral and online marketing. .
- Targeted Landing Pages- Landing pages are pages that promote a specific product or service. They are usually part of an email, social media, or banner ad campaign. We can design and create these pages starting at
- News feeds of both your content (outgoing) and adding content to the site (incoming)
- Contact forms and surveys
- Newsletters
- Advertising integration (Google AdWords)
- Photo gallery
- Metrics: Google analytics, custom reports, etc.
- SEO: on-page optimization, off-page optimization submission to search engines, etc.
- Social media: Create and manage social media network profile such as Twitter, FaceBook, YouTube, Pinterest, Google+, LinkedIn etc.
So How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost?
The range in design costs to develop and launch range from $900- $6000. Using the a la carte estimates above you can see how they can add up quickly. Another way to break the budget down is to assume:- 15% Planning
- 25% Interface design
- 40% Programming
- 20% Project Management
And Don’t Forget the Maintenance Cost
Websites don’t just maintain
themselves, and the best are changing all the time. Maintenance is
something that most businesses forget to budget or think that they can
do it themselves. But the first time you delete your entire home page by
mistake and lose 8 hours of sales trying to get it back up and running,
you’ll wish you’d spent the extra money on a maintenance contract. Make
sure your web developer offers post-launch maintenance, many don’t
because they can’t be bothered by clients calling with small requests.Maintenance contracts vary greatly depending upon what you expect from the firm. You should budget monthly to have a designer/developer on call if you have a problem that you can’t fix. And if you expect them to do additional work such as creating new images, adding new content, maintaining social media or newsletters, etc. expect the price will go up.
Final Note
A final note: If this website will be a significant part of your business PLEASE DON’T SKIMP on the design and development. If you’d expect to pay $100,000 for a brick and mortar retail shop (inventory, interior design, furniture, rent, utilities, staff, equipment, insurance, etc) – then don’t balk at paying reasonable rates for the creation of your online business. Your budget should be based on what your business needs.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Mortgage Broker Vs Bank - The hands down choice
Whether you are in search of a mortgage for an investment property or residence, the need for a mortgage may be eminent. My experience through both types, investment and residences has always lead me to the same path in terms of securing a mortgage. A mortgage broker has the channels and resources available to them to hunt for the best rate for the client whereas a bank mortgage representative is there to provide you with a menu of one item; theirs.
The process of application for a mortgage is also so much more pleasant through a broker. A broker typically is paid a finding fee through the financial institution they secure for you, whereas a salaried employee from the bank is paid regardless, based on their black and white criteria from your application. They are limited in their abilities and decision making. The application process through a bank can appear slightly disorganized and mildly patronizing, when dealing with chuckling inexperienced bobble heads who feel the need to exude a false sense of high power in determining the fate of your outcome.
A bank will take much longer to respond to your questions and application as they are not paid based on transaction. A broker is service/results driven and will get back to you much sooner with the results or answers to your questions. Brokers are referral driven. They know that if your experience was a good one you will refer them to family and friends.
To that end, do not waste your time with a mortgage through your bank or any bank directly for that matter. Find a reputable mortgage broker who will go up to bat for you to secure you the best terms and rates. At the same time you should still do your home work on available rates and be aware of what is out there as you may still need to challenge your broker to ensure they have secured you the best rate.
Rob Balla
The process of application for a mortgage is also so much more pleasant through a broker. A broker typically is paid a finding fee through the financial institution they secure for you, whereas a salaried employee from the bank is paid regardless, based on their black and white criteria from your application. They are limited in their abilities and decision making. The application process through a bank can appear slightly disorganized and mildly patronizing, when dealing with chuckling inexperienced bobble heads who feel the need to exude a false sense of high power in determining the fate of your outcome.
A bank will take much longer to respond to your questions and application as they are not paid based on transaction. A broker is service/results driven and will get back to you much sooner with the results or answers to your questions. Brokers are referral driven. They know that if your experience was a good one you will refer them to family and friends.
To that end, do not waste your time with a mortgage through your bank or any bank directly for that matter. Find a reputable mortgage broker who will go up to bat for you to secure you the best terms and rates. At the same time you should still do your home work on available rates and be aware of what is out there as you may still need to challenge your broker to ensure they have secured you the best rate.
Rob Balla
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Kudos to Bell Media for Mental Health Awareness Day
When looking at our society and it's priorities this can be a touchy and subjective subject depending on who you are and what effects you personally. Government monies whether provincial or federal has many channels to go through to get to each end user. Being a Landlord myself I have bared witness to extremes ways of living. Through default I've had to intervene in situations taking on the role as Ann Landers, fielding issues outside of the realm of typical Landlord accountability. Unfortunately at times I need to attend to issues from individuals who are mentally ill. This is a challenging and complicated undertaking especially when empathizing with the individual.
Mental health issues effect society in the most dramatic ways yet politicians and law makers seem to avoid dealing with this problem head on. Perhaps they choose to turn a blind eye because everyone assumes there are "Systems" in place to manage those individuals with mental health challenges. Yes, there are some weakly structured organizations in place to provide some support and assistance to those individuals but when a problem occurs such a persons living conditions are not kept clean then no one can really help. When I refer to living conditions as not being clean I don't mean that there are a few dirty dishes lying around or dirty laundry hanging on the floor, I'm referring to feces on the floor, bed bugs, mold, filth everywhere, decomposed organic matter on the floor etc. This type of environment will effect the living conditions of other tenants and harbor disease and malaise.
Society not only ignores those individuals with mental health issues but lacks to have the foresight of its repercussions and aftereffects. The ripple effect takes on many forms and effects many government agencies(By-Law, Public Health, Social Services), health care providers,businesses, law enforcement agencies and landlords.
I'm hoping I will be proven wrong when I say that society (Lawmakers, Politicians etc) deems mental health concerns as not a priority primarily because there is not enough money to be made and it is not a viable election platform for garnering votes. Mental Illness is our modern day leprosy. This may sound extreme but so many people are effected by it as it can be perceived as a private or embarrassing condition if it effects oneself or family member. It can be more embarrassing than being identified as having an STD.
Whether it's OCD, ADHD, Depression, Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, Schizophrenia, PTSD etc. these are issues which need to be super served and not shunned or swept under the bureaucratic carpet. As a Landlord I have witnessed ALL of these conditions with tenants who have been diagnosed as such. There is a huge degree of anger, confusion and sadness in the lives of these folk.
On the other hand, when a person has too much pride or is unaware that they may have a mental illness issue and they are unemployable in the short or long term they are supported by welfare (Ontario Works), Instead these individuals should be diagnosed with having a disability and collect ODSP.
Personally I can attest the fact that there is no support system for Landlords in dealing with the conditions of habitat, rent collection, individual tenant support. There are some Landlords who are not fit to be Landlords however there needs to be a government and landlord support network in place to streamline the issues and help those individuals suffering from mental health problems.
So kudos to Bell Media for taking on the initiative of creating awareness of "Mental Health Awareness". Let's hope that it has touched a nerve in those individuals in government to initiate more change to offer more support to those individuals and families who are directly effected....and that would be everyone!
Mental health issues effect society in the most dramatic ways yet politicians and law makers seem to avoid dealing with this problem head on. Perhaps they choose to turn a blind eye because everyone assumes there are "Systems" in place to manage those individuals with mental health challenges. Yes, there are some weakly structured organizations in place to provide some support and assistance to those individuals but when a problem occurs such a persons living conditions are not kept clean then no one can really help. When I refer to living conditions as not being clean I don't mean that there are a few dirty dishes lying around or dirty laundry hanging on the floor, I'm referring to feces on the floor, bed bugs, mold, filth everywhere, decomposed organic matter on the floor etc. This type of environment will effect the living conditions of other tenants and harbor disease and malaise.
Society not only ignores those individuals with mental health issues but lacks to have the foresight of its repercussions and aftereffects. The ripple effect takes on many forms and effects many government agencies(By-Law, Public Health, Social Services), health care providers,businesses, law enforcement agencies and landlords.
I'm hoping I will be proven wrong when I say that society (Lawmakers, Politicians etc) deems mental health concerns as not a priority primarily because there is not enough money to be made and it is not a viable election platform for garnering votes. Mental Illness is our modern day leprosy. This may sound extreme but so many people are effected by it as it can be perceived as a private or embarrassing condition if it effects oneself or family member. It can be more embarrassing than being identified as having an STD.
Whether it's OCD, ADHD, Depression, Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, Schizophrenia, PTSD etc. these are issues which need to be super served and not shunned or swept under the bureaucratic carpet. As a Landlord I have witnessed ALL of these conditions with tenants who have been diagnosed as such. There is a huge degree of anger, confusion and sadness in the lives of these folk.
On the other hand, when a person has too much pride or is unaware that they may have a mental illness issue and they are unemployable in the short or long term they are supported by welfare (Ontario Works), Instead these individuals should be diagnosed with having a disability and collect ODSP.
Personally I can attest the fact that there is no support system for Landlords in dealing with the conditions of habitat, rent collection, individual tenant support. There are some Landlords who are not fit to be Landlords however there needs to be a government and landlord support network in place to streamline the issues and help those individuals suffering from mental health problems.
So kudos to Bell Media for taking on the initiative of creating awareness of "Mental Health Awareness". Let's hope that it has touched a nerve in those individuals in government to initiate more change to offer more support to those individuals and families who are directly effected....and that would be everyone!
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Tired of the same old ad messages from Financial Instituitions and Investment Firms?
It never ceases to amaze me how financial institutions deliver their marketing message in the same run of the mill, clichéd, hoaky, patronizing fashion. When financial institutions attempt to deliver a "Personal" correspondence through direct mail letters petitioning how they will save you money or have your best interest in mind, the message many time comes through as disingenuous.
Why do most of the images in a financial advisor or mutual fund ad have to include a cup of coffee with a couple, man or woman either sitting on a sofa smiling in comfort. This visual is so commonplace and trite. Attention marketing departments or agencies of financial institutions please change up the conventional and uninteresting advertisements to creative, contemplative and meaningful messages.
I won't point out any specific slogans as to not offend your financial institution of choice however I just want to point out most people are not richer than they think.
Why do most of the images in a financial advisor or mutual fund ad have to include a cup of coffee with a couple, man or woman either sitting on a sofa smiling in comfort. This visual is so commonplace and trite. Attention marketing departments or agencies of financial institutions please change up the conventional and uninteresting advertisements to creative, contemplative and meaningful messages.
I won't point out any specific slogans as to not offend your financial institution of choice however I just want to point out most people are not richer than they think.
Working with myopic businesses.
I'm not one to stereotype people but I will categorize some individual business owners as being myopic, limited and stubborn in perception when it comes to advertising. Over many years working with all types of businesses, in my experience there are individuals who are not ideal at taking marketing advice. Whether it's the Jehovah complex or a know it all attitude some of these folk have such strong preconceived notions about how they should advertise vs how people search or find their type or business. Introducing a proven strategy is like convincing a child that vegetables are good for them. Some of these individuals will assume their own advice for advertising rather than from an advertising consultant who has seen the results of poor and good judgement in action.
There are numerous outcomes to poor advertising decisions including wasting money, thinking that advertising doesn't work, misleading customers, leaving an inaccurate impression or the worst scenario going out of business.The professionals who work with the right marketing mix, budget and message unequivocally reap the rewards. Yes, "Word Of Mouth" is a powerful form of advertising however using major media vehicles will compound your "Word Of Mouth" effectiveness and brand awareness exponentially over time.
Recently I had a conversation with a prospective client who happens to be a family lawyer. We started chatting about how people find her types of services on-line and she immediately said she doesn't have time for people with mobile devices and that people don't go on the internet to find her even though she has a website and deems it force ably necessary to have one. I had 2 ways to handle this. The first way is to let her know that there are many lawyers reaping the rewards of on-line marketing and that I could provide her with examples and case studies. The 2nd approach is to fire this client by exiting the conversation politely and moving on. I decided to do both. Ultimately if I can provide information which this person will take to mind and heart there is a small chance that she may see the light. If a business does not value your opinion and it takes so much convincing in the first place, this is a tell tale sign this individual may have unrealistic expectations and will be high maintenance in the long run. Case closed.
There are numerous outcomes to poor advertising decisions including wasting money, thinking that advertising doesn't work, misleading customers, leaving an inaccurate impression or the worst scenario going out of business.The professionals who work with the right marketing mix, budget and message unequivocally reap the rewards. Yes, "Word Of Mouth" is a powerful form of advertising however using major media vehicles will compound your "Word Of Mouth" effectiveness and brand awareness exponentially over time.
Recently I had a conversation with a prospective client who happens to be a family lawyer. We started chatting about how people find her types of services on-line and she immediately said she doesn't have time for people with mobile devices and that people don't go on the internet to find her even though she has a website and deems it force ably necessary to have one. I had 2 ways to handle this. The first way is to let her know that there are many lawyers reaping the rewards of on-line marketing and that I could provide her with examples and case studies. The 2nd approach is to fire this client by exiting the conversation politely and moving on. I decided to do both. Ultimately if I can provide information which this person will take to mind and heart there is a small chance that she may see the light. If a business does not value your opinion and it takes so much convincing in the first place, this is a tell tale sign this individual may have unrealistic expectations and will be high maintenance in the long run. Case closed.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Wix Websites - Over Promise and Under Deliver
There is always a problem with template sites. The key word here is templates which can limit create vision. Wix is a story of over-promising and inevitably under-delivering.
Beautiful templates are ultimately undercut by a lack of structure and limitations in custom data base expansion.
Wix is a drag and drop website. This can cause problems. For example, the “snap to grid” button is a must for anyone using the editor. Snap to grid is a smart tool that can accurately guess how you’d like elements to align. If it’s turned off, you will end up inches from your monitor trying to line up items perfectly. Not fun and an inevitable pain with a true drag and drop editor that Wix smartly fixed.
Another annoyance with true drag and drop editors is with element ordering on a page. For example if you have a paragraph with an image below it, it can be a hassle to add new text to the paragraph because the text will overlap the image:
Wix is a drag and drop website. This can cause problems. For example, the “snap to grid” button is a must for anyone using the editor. Snap to grid is a smart tool that can accurately guess how you’d like elements to align. If it’s turned off, you will end up inches from your monitor trying to line up items perfectly. Not fun and an inevitable pain with a true drag and drop editor that Wix smartly fixed.
Another annoyance with true drag and drop editors is with element ordering on a page. For example if you have a paragraph with an image below it, it can be a hassle to add new text to the paragraph because the text will overlap the image:
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Think about your visual message with Billboards, Transit Ads, Direct Mail etc.
With over 20 years of media advertising experience noticing and critiquing business ads has become second nature. When I see weak visual business messages on billboards or bus sides I ask myself if the media rep could have given better advice to the client on maximizing their message.
The other day I noticed a new pizzeria restaurant advertise its business on the side of the bus. It basically had the name of the business and perhaps a slogan included. There was no physical address, website or more information about the experience or any emotional assimilation triggers.
The big issue I had was that there was no address. You have rolling billboard exposure throughout the city with no address attached to a business which should be pulling in people. What went wrong there. $3000 - $4000 down the drain.
2 weeks ago I noticed a billboard for a local dentist. The logo was so tiny with grey over tones. There was no powerful complimentary image attached. Hardly noticeable. It promoted the street it was located on which happened to be right around the corner from the billboard. Why not a simple message "Your new dentist is just around the corner" with an arrow to the right...simple and to the point complimented with a visually complimenting logo.
If you are a business planning on growing your revenue through advertising, connect with an advertising agency with a good reputation and proven track record. As a business owner you know your business really well, advertising agencies know advertising and how to deliver your message effectively. When you work directly with a media rep from a local media outlet (TV, Radio,Billboards,Print etc) you are leaving chances to someone who may care more about commission than providing you with an unbiased recommendation on what you will need to do. An advertising agency knows that if your advertising works your relationship with them will continue.
You can typically count on an advertising agency to provide you with an unbiased opinion based on your businesses goals. Their experience and understanding on how each media operates, creative input, and scheduling is invaluable. You will save money and avert making common mistakes. An agency will also negotiate the best rates on your behalf. There are many things to think about when considering your campaign including but not limited to targeting your audience, the frequency of your message, crafting the message, consistency in your campaigns and your budget.
Work at your business and doing what you do best. Hire an agency to help you with your advertising, after-all it's what they do best!
Rob Balla
Balla Media
The other day I noticed a new pizzeria restaurant advertise its business on the side of the bus. It basically had the name of the business and perhaps a slogan included. There was no physical address, website or more information about the experience or any emotional assimilation triggers.
The big issue I had was that there was no address. You have rolling billboard exposure throughout the city with no address attached to a business which should be pulling in people. What went wrong there. $3000 - $4000 down the drain.
2 weeks ago I noticed a billboard for a local dentist. The logo was so tiny with grey over tones. There was no powerful complimentary image attached. Hardly noticeable. It promoted the street it was located on which happened to be right around the corner from the billboard. Why not a simple message "Your new dentist is just around the corner" with an arrow to the right...simple and to the point complimented with a visually complimenting logo.
If you are a business planning on growing your revenue through advertising, connect with an advertising agency with a good reputation and proven track record. As a business owner you know your business really well, advertising agencies know advertising and how to deliver your message effectively. When you work directly with a media rep from a local media outlet (TV, Radio,Billboards,Print etc) you are leaving chances to someone who may care more about commission than providing you with an unbiased recommendation on what you will need to do. An advertising agency knows that if your advertising works your relationship with them will continue.
You can typically count on an advertising agency to provide you with an unbiased opinion based on your businesses goals. Their experience and understanding on how each media operates, creative input, and scheduling is invaluable. You will save money and avert making common mistakes. An agency will also negotiate the best rates on your behalf. There are many things to think about when considering your campaign including but not limited to targeting your audience, the frequency of your message, crafting the message, consistency in your campaigns and your budget.
Work at your business and doing what you do best. Hire an agency to help you with your advertising, after-all it's what they do best!
Rob Balla
Balla Media
Saturday, December 14, 2013
So many businesses are still wasting their ad budgets on YellowPages on-line
If you are a business which advertises heavily on yellow pages (on-line or the book) you probably are doing so for 1 of 3 reasons.
1) You've always advertised with yellowpages and have received some results and you do not want to change your advertising approach because of the fear of not getting leads from on-line or from the little yellow dinosaur book (There is still some value in the book, but not as much value as yellowpages places on it).
2)The yellow pages sales rep did a hardcore sell on you leaving you with the impression or feeling that if you don't advertise on yellowpages you won't appear hardly anywhere on the internet
3)You just don't have the time to explore more viable cost effective options available
If you are a regular yellow pages advertiser(on-line) you should realize that you are overpaying through your nose. I've worked with many clients who had the fear of God placed in them from yellow pages. They are telling businesses that yellow pages has the best on-line suite of products available, and that if you don't spend with them you are losing out BIG TIME and no one will find you on the internet.
Yellow Page reps have positioned themselves as being part and partners with google. Please remember YellowPages is simply a search directory within the world's largest Search Engine Google. Google does not give them preferential treatment apart from hundreds of other Google Partners. In the truest sense, yellowpages is simply an overpriced middle man delivering a fancy dog and pony show with all the bells and whistles. They deliver one of the worst return on investments for on-line marketing available.
YellowPages reps lie to get the sale. Yes, shocking isn't it. I witnessed a yellowpages rep tell a business owner and myself that google would not be where it is today if it wasn't for the rich content that yellow pages provides google for local businesses. Really??? LOL.
You are much better off to spend your money directly with Google or the Microsoft Network (BING and Yahoo) and to optimize your site with content to deliver a better user experience.
Below is an example(Google Analytic Source) of a business spending $1800 per month on YellowPages and $190 per month on Google.
Here is the ROI breakdown:
Yellow Pages Cost Per Lead: $1800/31=$58 per lead
Google Cost Per Lead: $300/83=$3.61 per lead
Note: This site has also been optimized...the organic traffic (no charge) is decent traffic as well.
Moral of this lesson. Stop wasting your money on yellow pages and hire a reputable Google Partner/SEM/SEO Company to give you a much better return on your investment.
1) You've always advertised with yellowpages and have received some results and you do not want to change your advertising approach because of the fear of not getting leads from on-line or from the little yellow dinosaur book (There is still some value in the book, but not as much value as yellowpages places on it).
2)The yellow pages sales rep did a hardcore sell on you leaving you with the impression or feeling that if you don't advertise on yellowpages you won't appear hardly anywhere on the internet
3)You just don't have the time to explore more viable cost effective options available
If you are a regular yellow pages advertiser(on-line) you should realize that you are overpaying through your nose. I've worked with many clients who had the fear of God placed in them from yellow pages. They are telling businesses that yellow pages has the best on-line suite of products available, and that if you don't spend with them you are losing out BIG TIME and no one will find you on the internet.
Yellow Page reps have positioned themselves as being part and partners with google. Please remember YellowPages is simply a search directory within the world's largest Search Engine Google. Google does not give them preferential treatment apart from hundreds of other Google Partners. In the truest sense, yellowpages is simply an overpriced middle man delivering a fancy dog and pony show with all the bells and whistles. They deliver one of the worst return on investments for on-line marketing available.
YellowPages reps lie to get the sale. Yes, shocking isn't it. I witnessed a yellowpages rep tell a business owner and myself that google would not be where it is today if it wasn't for the rich content that yellow pages provides google for local businesses. Really??? LOL.
You are much better off to spend your money directly with Google or the Microsoft Network (BING and Yahoo) and to optimize your site with content to deliver a better user experience.
Below is an example(Google Analytic Source) of a business spending $1800 per month on YellowPages and $190 per month on Google.
Here is the ROI breakdown:
Yellow Pages Cost Per Lead: $1800/31=$58 per lead
Google Cost Per Lead: $300/83=$3.61 per lead
Note: This site has also been optimized...the organic traffic (no charge) is decent traffic as well.
Moral of this lesson. Stop wasting your money on yellow pages and hire a reputable Google Partner/SEM/SEO Company to give you a much better return on your investment.
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