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Month's Features: Verified Would Like to Welcome... It's Not The Size Of An Ad, It's Where You Put It That Counts Third-Party Audits Needed for Trade Show & Events Mobile Phone Advertising Potential Where Do The C-Level Execs See Advertisements? Smaller Newspapers Feel the Squeeze Events Calendar Hispanic Consumers More Positive, Receptive to Marketing Tips & Techniques: Other Non-Qualified |
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![]() Verified Would Like to Welcome...
The Taos News is a paid weekly newspaper published for the local area that reports the news of Taos County and the Moreno Valley. The Taos News presents objective viewpoints on important issues and allows reasonable space to those with differing views. Features include arts & entertainment, restaurant reviews, horoscope, classifieds, and more. The Taos News is available for pick up on the corner with street vendors and on racks in businesses throughout the local area.
La Jolla Light Coastal Group is comprised of five weekly newspapers and websites reaching San Diego's most affluent markets. All five newspapers are direct-mailed to the six zip codes in San Diego County where the median home price exceeds $1 million. In print weekly and online daily, news coverage is hyper-local, focusing on community news, information, and personalities. From the romantic seaside towns of La Jolla, Del Mar and Solana Beach to the burgeoning legal and tech centers of Carmel Valley and the winding roads of Rancho Santa Fe, these five distinct newspapers and websites provide the content related to the places readers call home.
Metro
Magazine is a content-driven city/regional publication covering a 22-county
region that includes Raleigh, the Research Triangle, and Eastern North Carolina.
From the Triangle to the Coast, Metro is the cure for Bored Life Syndrome. ![]() It's Not the Size of an Ad, It's Where You Put It That Counts While contrasting content is popular among many marketers, relevance is the more effective strategy, according to newly released data from Condé Nast in conjunction with research firm McPheters & Co.
Recall of particular ads varied by the type of sites on which they were viewed. Social networks, along with shopping and food sites, generated the highest recall levels of 29% to 39%.
Of note, there were large differences in recall by type of product advertised. "While we have long known that context is important for print advertisers, we welcome proof that the same is true online," said Drew Schutte, SVP and Chief Revenue Officer for Condé Nast Digital. "These results reinforce the importance of a marketer being associated with category-specific websites with established brands," Schutte added. In the analysis, each of some 400 ads for which recall was measured was associated with the websites in which they appeared. Ads were segmented by whether they appeared on websites with related content. Recall of ads was measured among Internet users who were directed to surf the Internet at will for 30 minutes.
In contrast to online ads, TV and magazine ads generated a strong propensity to be seen and recalled, according to the research. Full-page, four-color magazine ads were determined to have 83% of the value of a 30-second television commercial, while a typical Internet banner ad has 16% of the value. © 2009 MediaPost
Communications ![]() Third-Party Audits Needed for Trade Show & Events by Jennifer Armor
According to Lee Knight, editor-in-chief of Exhibitor Magazine, the problem is an industry-wide joke. "For the most part, exhibitors talk, talk, talk about the need for audits but never actually ask organizers to provide them. And on the rare occasion they do ask, organizers simply reject their requests, and that is the end of it. Instant acquiescence. No repeat requests. No demands. No line in the sand. No outrage. No retaliation. No response of any kind that would suggest the exhibitor's original request actually mattered." There are several reasons why it is important to audit a trade show or event: 1) to have confidence the audience numbers are accurate The audit itself is a fairly simple process. The auditing company samples the show's registration database and contacts attendees to validate attendance and demographic data. The auditing company then prepares a standardized report indicating the show's qualified attendance and demographic figures. In 2001, CEMA (Computer Event Marketing Association) was the first to endorse standardized audits for the technology trade show industry. In 2003, approximately two-thirds of all major IT trade shows conducted independent audits. Dave Brull, Director of Membership and Marketing at the Trade Show Exhibitors Association, said, "People don't understand audits." But he was quick to add that an independently audited show can be a useful tool for determining the demographics of attendees. "It gives a true understanding of what a show is and who is walking through the door. An independent audit is very useful." While verified attendance figures and accurate demographics are primary benefits, audits provide numerous ancillary benefits to exhibitors, allowing them to plan more effective programs, to better allocate their budgets, to meet the needs of their audience, and to better measure the effectiveness of their programs. But show organizers aren't going to adopt trade show audits without a good reason. Knight is positive that the industry can find a solution. "To change all that, exhibitors need to demand transparency. When that does not work, build coalitions. Get colleagues in other companies involved. Present ultimatums with financial consequences, ones that will drive your needs to the top of the organizer's priority pile. Get tough, get unreasonable and get results." According to a key finding from a survey conducted by Forrester Consulting Services for American Business Media, companies are planning to exhibit at fewer shows next year and will be more selective. Since face-to-face events are the most expensive among media buys, exhibitors will require verified attendance data from the show organizers on which to formulate their budgets and strategy. ![]() Mobile Phone Advertising Potential
The exploding mobile ad market—which is projected to hit $10 billion to $15 billion by 2011—are enabling companies to spread their marketing message across traditional newspapers, the Internet, and now, mobile phones. The Kelsey Group recently said that local mobile advertising revenue is expected to reach more than $3.1 billion by 2013, while local advertising across newspapers, magazines, and other traditional mediums will fall. Local mobile search is set to dominate this trend, making up more than half of mobile advertising, and over 35 percent of all searches by 2013. Newspaper publishers will see multiple revenue and measurement opportunities from advances such as this in mobile marketing, including the ability to receive compensation for commerce-enabled ads that run on their websites, and the ability to measure the effectiveness of their mobile ad campaigns. Most importantly, these advances are forcing newspapers to rethink their readership and how to best deliver the goods. Publishers need to understand how to publish their material on small screens, build interactivity into stories, and run a network that allows sales people to sell ads on pages. ![]() Where Do the C-Level Execs See Advertisements?
Google—along with Forbes Insights—conducted the study after service companies, such as Accenture, IBM, FedEx, General Electronic, Siemens, and UPS came to Google asking for help to reach C-level executives at large corporations. They wanted to know if these high-level executives spend time on the Internet, and if they do, what type of content they might consume. Stereotypes may have C-level executives delegating research to others, but the study reveals that 53% prefer to search the web and locate information themselves. Sam Sebastian, Director of Local and B2B Marketing, says easy-to-use tools and personal accountability may have something to do with C-level executives taking personal responsibility to research information themselves. "That might be signing and authorizing financial statements," he says. "They are taking much more personal responsibility." And while executives are also more likely to click links from content than ads, the less intrusive the ad, the more likely they are to follow the link. For example, 86% said they occasionally or frequently click on linked words from web articles and content, 58% click on paid search listings in search engine results, 53% click on website banner ads, and 37% click on pop-up or other interruptive ads from websites. More than four in ten—41%— of executives under age 50 say they will frequently click on paid search listings, compared with 6% of those 50 or over. A similar split occurs with website banner ads, with 34% of those under 50 clicking frequently, while just 2% of those age 50 or over who say they do. Executives were also asked to rate the value of different online and offline information sources. Across the board, search engines were considered more important than other options for locating information, including interacting with colleagues. Eighty-seven percent rated general search engines as very valuable, followed by guidance from colleagues at work, 77%; guidance from personal networks, 65%; links from online content, 58%; subscription search engines, 54%; and guidance from outside advisors, 53%. Marketers looking to catch the eye of C-level executives might have a better chance with video than text if they are under age 50. Thirty-three percent of C-level executives under age 50 reveal that they view work-related videos daily on business-related websites, compared with 11% of those age 50-plus. This will increase as the next generation of CEOs, CFOs, and COOs move in. "Today, you might not reach a bunch of CEOs and CFOs with blogs, RSS feeds, or Twitter, but these online tools will be mainstream as the next crop move in during the next couple of years," Sebastian says. "We will see many enter that camp in another 24 to 36 months, and it will have a huge impact on the way companies reach these executives." Forbes Insights, along with Google, surveyed 354 U.S. company executives with annual sales exceeding $1 billion during March and April this year. In the one-on-one interviews, 47% held C-level titles. The remaining 53% held senior-level titles, including EVP, VP, and Director. © 2009 MediaPost Communications ![]() Smaller Newspapers Feel the Squeeze
The study's findings temper the optimistic view evinced by many publishers in smaller markets, who take pains to distinguish their properties from the big metro dailies. Over five years ending in 2008, newspaper profitability fell across the board regardless of size, the Inland study found. This included large drops at newspapers with circulations of 25,000–50,000—one of the segments that was supposed to be faring better than the big metro dailies. If this trend continues, bankruptcy and sale or closure could follow for scores of newspapers, as the plague afflicting big metro dailies infects smaller markets. Their fate will largely be determined by indebtedness, which has proved the bane of big publishers, especially with the global credit crunch. Like any other small business, small newspapers without a lot of debt will be in a much better position to weather an extended downturn than those that borrowed extensively to replace printing presses, buy real estate, or acquire other newspapers. In the future, any discussion of the fortunes of small newspapers will have to specify how small. While the 25,000–50,000 cohort may be suffering, newspapers with circulations under 15,000 did see revenue grow over the last five years—albeit just 2.4%. While only a modest increase, that's a lot better than the newspaper business overall, which saw total revenues decline 22% from 2004–2008, according to the Newspaper Association of America. Many small newspapers are on the auction block for record low prices, according to Cribb, Greene & Associates, a brokerage that handles mergers and acquisitions for daily and weekly publications. Many such newspapers can currently be had for a price equal to somewhere between just four and eight times their earnings before income tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), according to John Cribb, the brokerage's managing director. That's a big discount from just a few years ago, when prices equal to 10–14 times EBITDA were more typical. Cribb said ad revenues at smaller papers are typically down 10% to 15%, noting: "Certainly, these are ugly numbers compared to what newspapers are used to, but they are not disastrous. This is not the financial condition of an industry that is failing." © 2009 MediaPost Communications ![]() Events Calendar National
Society of Professional Journalists Conference National Federation
of Press Women Alberta Weekly
Newspaper Association 2009 Annual General Meeting & Convention Laredo Group:
Intelligent Selling of Internet Advertising – Level I Laredo Group:
Intelligent Selling of Internet Advertising – Level II Pacific Northwest
Newspaper Association 89th Annual Meeting 2009 Midwest Newspaper Summit Niche Digital
Conference OMMA Global: New
York SNA Fall Publisher's
& Advertising Director's Conference Ad Con NNA 123rd Annual
Convention and Trade Show Independent Free
Papers of America Society of News
Design UC Berkeley Media
Technology Summit If
you have an event that you would like to announce, please send your information ![]() Hispanic Consumers More Positive, Receptive to Marketing
The results indicate that while the overall consumer mindset is increasingly negative, Hispanics are more optimistic in the period following the "meltdown," vs. the time prior to September 29, 2008:
Study results show contributing factors to why Hispanics are less affected by today's economic climate:
The findings highlight Hispanics as a key target consumer for advertisers:
Mediaweek writes that Hispanics are more willing to pay for branded prescriptions than non-Hispanics, and that advertising carries a lot of weight with Hispanics, who enjoy TV spots and remember touted products when shopping. Hispanics are 38 percent more likely to buy from an advertiser than non-Hispanics, seeing it as a source of information, not a nuisance. Univision notes that one casual dining space advertiser saw a sales lift of 23% by targeting Hispanics. © 2009 MediaPost Communications ![]() Tips & Techniques: Other Non-Qualified Other Non-qualified circulation is defined as copies that are not distributed to readers during the normal course of distribution. Examples of non-qualified circulation include:
All publications must have a minimum number of non-qualified copies in circulation for normal business activity and cannot have 0 non-qualified copies. The total number of non-qualified copies a publication has can be calculated by subtracting the total number of qualified copies from the total number of copies printed. For example:
Please do not "back" into your non-qualified by deducting a set number of office copies from your total printed and assuming the rest of your copies are qualified. Tradeshow/special event distribution is generally not considered qualified circulation. However, it can be footnoted on your Audit Report to allow advertisers to know that your publication has bonus distribution. If you have questions about non-qualified circulation, please contact Verified at 415-461-6006. Please
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