Downbeach Design

Marketing Consulting

2011-12-22T14:23:00.001-08:00

While my last official salaried position in marketing ended when the Sands Casino closed in Atlantic City five years ago I actually never left the field. Starting and growing my videography business took all of the resources I learned in my previous ten years plus new skill sets unique to small business.

2011 saw our best year and 2012 is looking good. So much for the over hyped recession. That said, we're looking for new opportunities. Opportunities in marketing.

A great match would be a new or small company looking to hire a marketing professional but can't fit it in the budget. We fit all budgets and offer everything from marketing development to graphic design and ad placements. We are based in Berlin Maryland and offer our services throughout the mid-atlantic. All initial consultations are enlighting and free. For more information contact us at jchrisrodgers@gmail.com

Do you relate with Smug People?

2011-12-20T20:27:00.000-08:00

...well it seems ad agencies think so. It's bad enough that this Christmas season advertisers phoned it in. Especially in comparison to last year. Why not just rerun 2010 ads. Instead we have Best Buy, Infiniti, Walmart to name a couple giving us their version of Christmas cheer. Joy to the World? Not this year.

Have any more examples?

BEST BUY : GAME ON SANTA

WALMART : GIRL GOES BOOM

INFINITI: SNOWBALL FIGHT

Best Tip I've Heard

2011-12-17T13:43:00.001-08:00

Seth Godin's first rule of Marketing & Branding - Keep you Promises.

Sounds Easy. Can you fulfill? Check out his post below.

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/12/the-simple-first-rule-of-branding-and-marketing-anything-even-yourself.html

Indoor Maps availability - Google Maps for Mobile Help

2011-12-06T16:31:00.000-08:00

Remember Mapquest? Seems like a lifetime has passed since I used it. Google Maps became the new standard and now they raise the game with indoor maps. That's right. Can't find your way out of an Ikea? Don't worry.

Indoor Maps availability - Google Maps for Mobile Help:

'via Blog this'

Ad of the Day: Why Is Will Ferrell Doing Low-Budget Ads for Old Milwaukee in the Quad Cities? | Adweek

2011-12-06T16:26:00.000-08:00

Ad of the Day: Why Is Will Ferrell Doing Low-Budget Ads for Old Milwaukee in the Quad Cities? | Adweek:

'via Blog this'

General Management - 10 Questions + 10 Actions = Lead Generation Gains : MarketingProfs Article

2011-11-26T05:18:00.000-08:00

General Management - 10 Questions + 10 Actions = Lead Generation Gains : MarketingProfs Article:
'via Blog this'

Facebook Ticker to Carry Sponsored Stories | ClickZ

2011-11-20T19:50:00.000-08:00

Facebook Ticker to Carry Sponsored Stories | ClickZ

Reebok creates largest 3D street art

2011-11-20T19:49:00.000-08:00

Reebok creates largest 3D street art

Web Stuff

2011-11-15T04:59:00.001-08:00

Love Amtrack's WiFi campaign. Simple. Great color selections and they look great on a wall where riders can't miss them. If only Amtrak own the rails they ride on this would be the way to travel the North East.

Here's a Mercedes ad for their A-Class. A very popular model in Europe but not offered here in the states.

Apple and Droid gets all the Press but Xbox really rulles the living room, offering many more options that googletv or AppleTV, like DVR with live TV along with everything else. But I think Kinect is Microsofts most underrated product. It's gone from the living room to the hospital and its being worked to translates sign language. It's true innovation.

Crafting your Business Plan

2011-11-04T21:06:00.000-07:00

Business owners where do you look for inspiration? Your competition? I hope not. Sure way to kill an opportunity is to let it wither. Try this. Visit you local brewery. There are worse ways to kill an afternoon.

I have a successful videography business somewhat modeled on what is one of my favorite industries. Craft Beers. I don't go often or drink much but when I travel, I make a point to see who's brewing.   Despite working on reverse business models as my own, namely brewers can monetize thousands of customers simultaneously while I can on service just one, there are traits that inspired my own business.

Brewers are a prideful bunch but almost without fail not boastful. Their product, like mine, wasn't born overnight. It's crafted artistically. They don't follow a lead path. While their beers may fit a style like an IPA, Porter or Stout the route they take is different.

They take local further than almost any industry. Look at Delaware's Dogfish Head. They not only ship beer across the nation they send a bit of region with them.

Brewers are quirky. They like being different and are given more room to take chances since its expected of them.   Sucessful companies often are different.

Brewers customers are brand managers.   They're loyal and will pay more for quality. They spread the word. If your business is based mainly on referrals you're well on the road to success. To get them talking get innovative, get artistic and go quirky.

Sharing on the web. How, when and what time do people do it? | Adverblog

2011-10-24T04:46:00.000-07:00

Interesting graphic when people are most active on Social Media. I've read before that Wednesday and Thursday were the peak days and used statistic in my own work. Makes some sense but it's pretty obvious that most marketeers have discovered it as well. Facebook is looking like the Garden State Parkway in the summer on Wednesdays. Don't get lost. Make sure you post a URL link with your message to ensure your link is seen.

Sharing on the web. How, when and what time do people do it? | Adverblog

All Icing No Cake

2011-10-20T11:19:00.000-07:00

There was a report yesterday that half as women as men open small businesses. If you take away cupcake shops, it's probably only a quarter. Cupcakes, icing and all seem to be the key to economic recovery. Banks have jumped all over this. There is hardly a small business ad not involving a cupcake. They look pretty (even in black and white) and make our mouth water, but where is the creativity.

There are lots of business to be started that don't come with tooth decay and a dose of guilt.

Here are those cupcakes of an ad campaign in practice.

Facebook's New Metric

2011-10-05T18:35:00.000-07:00

Some days my office is a mess; files piled high, multi-colored post-its posted. As much as the clutter bothers me there's a good reason behind it - I'm busy. They're opened jobs. I know how to mind what I need. When I first opened my office there were not the piles of files, stacks of papers there are now.

I'm sure you've noticed Facebook recent changes. It's busier, more robust. Cluttered even? Especially compared to its early days when there were just a few status updates and a whole lot of white space. If you advertised on the site like I did, early success often turned to stagnation. But now all, that clutter serves a purpose to learn how people use their site and even get users to to look to the right (where the ads are).

If your business has a page, you'll notice the new "People are talking about", "Friends of Fans" and "Total Reach". All ways to see how social your page is.

The Importance of Blogging

2011-08-30T09:57:00.000-07:00

In the age of Facebook and Twitter, blogging seems almost antiquated. If you can say all you need in just 140 characters, why bother with 140+ words? While, it could be argued the popularity of blogs has peaked. They're still wildly popular and profitable for some who have made a career of blogging recipes, coupon tips or better ways to raise a family.

Those who are successful at it understand the three important things it communicates to the readers; Your Brand, Your Message and its Permanence.

I'll skip the first two as books can be written on each and I'll likely touch on them eventually and just tackle permanence today.

What do I mean by permanence? With twitter you get immediate action. It's a call to action. Same goes with your companies' status update on Facebook. Short sales for the week? Give your followers a call to action and make those goals. That's great, but if you're selling something someone needs to find you. Facebook is good at this, twitter no so much. If you have a blog that you maintain regularly, you've left a trail of breadcrumbs.

Google search still rules. In some fashion the search function always will. If you use a blogging site that is run by google such as blogger.com, each time you write a post you've created a website. Everything you've written is now within reach. If you're mindful in the words you use they'll lead the customer to your door.

I prefer blogger versus wordpress. I understand blogger's design limitations as I've used the site in some way for ten years. However, I'll take that over the likelihood that Google will find my keywords faster on a Google site versus a non-Google site. The reality is if you write a post and no one finds it, you'll have a tough time building a following. Combine that with Google Analytics you have all the metrics you'll need to become a smart blogger.

So while, the crowd shifts from Facebook to Twitter to Groupon you'll always be easy to find.

‪1800 Tequila - COMMERCIALS‬‏ - YouTube

2011-07-26T12:44:00.000-07:00

This commercial says more than whole advertising campaigns in just 18 seconds and it's for Tequila no less. Don Draper where are you when the commercial world needs you.

‪1800 Tequila - COMMERCIALS‬‏ - YouTube: ""

Advertising blog – AdPulp – advertising, marketing and media news, inside analysis and opinion

2011-07-26T12:39:00.000-07:00

Advertising blog – AdPulp – advertising, marketing and media news, inside analysis and opinion

Buying a Volkswagen from an old lady...

2011-07-01T06:26:00.000-07:00

Perdue redefining Advertising again.

2011-06-28T06:41:00.000-07:00

Here in Southern Delaware we're surrounded by independent Perdue Farms. Their new marketing campaign is a documentary-style ad campaign.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/27/business/media/27adco.html?_r=1&ref=media

New Zealand apprently has great web design as well as Ogres and Hobbits

2011-06-28T06:35:00.000-07:00

Awesome interactive website. Have fun.

http://www.newzealand.com/us/

Negative Keywords and You

2011-06-28T06:33:00.000-07:00

A great little article about a way to improve your google ads.

http://www.marketingprofs.com/short-articles/2317/how-identifying-negative-keywords-can-lower-costs-and-boost-results

Will Digital Advertising Wait for Your Brand? | ClickZ

2011-06-28T06:30:00.000-07:00

Will Digital Advertising Wait for Your Brand? | ClickZ

Milk Ad

2011-06-28T06:27:00.000-07:00

4 Ways Video Can Help Your Social Media Marketing Success | ClickZ

2011-06-08T06:37:00.000-07:00

4 Ways Video Can Help Your Social Media Marketing Success | ClickZ

Looking for a production company to build your video presence? Check out Forever Lucky Films.

Strength vs Weakness

2011-05-31T13:23:00.000-07:00

What's your business's biggest strength - service, product or is it irreplaceable?
What are your biggest weaknesses? Do you spend more time fixing the weakness or showing your strength? Ignoring your weakness hide what you're good at. If you can fix it yourself, make sure you get someone who can.

Deutsche Bahn -- Early Boss

2011-05-24T06:19:00.000-07:00

Brutal Ad

2011-05-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

This ad will stick with you. It's brutal. Honest. And I've never seen a better performance by a child actor. Haunting.

Strategy - Snow White and the Seven Online Marketing Sins : MarketingProfs Article

2011-05-23T11:17:00.000-07:00

Gimmicky? Sure. But you should be thinking about these things.

Strategy - Snow White and the Seven Online Marketing Sins : MarketingProfs Article

IPAD games for Cats

2011-05-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

It's been an odd year for cat food advertising. With commercials that play out like soap operas to now games directed to cats. It's all about name recognition and exposure when the animal can't tell you what to buy.

Big Surprise. More Likes don't Equal More Sales

2011-05-18T19:44:00.000-07:00

I hear a lot of talking about likes. We all have pages with various amount of likes. I have very few while a less successful competitor has ten times the number. I'm letting it grow organically as it actually would.

Debra Aho Williamson over at AdAge Digital has a write up about how to convert likes to sales. As a note. Her article has 197 likes as I write this.

Check it out here.

So You Like My Brand on Facebook. Now What?

Love a good Print Ad

2011-05-18T19:36:00.000-07:00

To Work

2011-05-17T06:09:00.000-07:00

Maybe my favorite commercial. Shame the message is lost when you think that Levi's doesn't make their blue jeans here in the states.

Refuel Commercial.

2011-05-17T06:07:00.000-07:00

Smart + Engergized=Smart

Email Marketing - Email and Search Still Sway Most Online Buyers : MarketingProfs Article

2011-05-17T06:02:00.000-07:00

Have you forgotten about Email and Search Marketing with all of the hullabaloo about social marketing? Don't. They're still more effective way to pull customers.

Email Marketing - Email and Search Still Sway Most Online Buyers : MarketingProfs Article

Force of Nature

2011-05-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

What can your business learn from how WalMart does business? Reduce Waste. Give unused product a deserving home. Save the Planet.

Force of Nature

Unfortunately, importing less from China is not happening anytime soon.

YouTube - Santa's Forgotten Letters

2011-05-09T10:57:00.000-07:00

YouTube - Santa's Forgotten Letters

Paralyzing Your Visitors With Too Many Choices | ClickZ

2011-05-09T10:39:00.000-07:00

Clickz shares some of the issues websites have with setup.

Does your landing page offer too many choices? Here's how to fix it:

Don't present detail too early in the process
Group related choices into a smaller number of categories
Use visual shortcuts to reduce reading

Missed Communication

2011-04-21T06:39:00.000-07:00

Are you hitting potential customers with the wrong message?

We're quick to ignore mis(sed)communication. What are you trying to say? ...and to whom?

Effective Hidden Camera Drunk Driving Spot

2011-04-20T08:03:00.000-07:00

Competition

2011-04-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

You have more competition today than yesterday. There will be more tomorrow than today.

Does that scare you or inspire you?

Get better at what you already do well.

What do you know you know and what do you know you don't know?

2011-03-31T04:51:00.000-07:00

How well do you know your Customers?

How well do you know your Almost Customers?

Does this Ad Taste Funny?

2011-03-30T06:29:00.000-07:00

It used to be a ad campaign lasted years, even decades. A campaign was generational. Now it lasts maybe a few months. In the case of Facebook advertising it gets stale before a loaf of bread. Standing out in the crowd was always the goal. But now the crowd shifts.

Do you lead the shift or ride the wave?

Sherman Williams Commercial

2011-03-24T08:50:00.000-07:00

Haven't noticed this campaign until last night. This is advertising at its best - creative, descriptive and whimsical.

Customer Relationships - How Vulnerable Are You to Customer Defection? : MarketingProfs Article

2011-03-15T15:03:00.000-07:00

How do you keep your customesr from defecting? The good folks over at MarketingProfs break it down.

Warning: You will have to put in the work.

Customer Relationships - How Vulnerable Are You to Customer Defection? : MarketingProfs Article

Fresh Start

2011-03-07T12:50:00.000-08:00

So today we officially turn the sign from 'closed' back to 'open'. Sure there is dust everywhere but the wheels haven't stopped. We've been selfish though, working on developing our own production company - Forever Lucky Films. Since then we've filmed more than 200 weddings. That's over a thousand hours of footage if you're counting.

At this point over 90% of our clients are based from word-of-mouth, which is exactly how we like it. It allows the time and resources to work on other projects. Once of those being the relaunch of Downbeach. We'll be doing things different this time around and one those changes is keeping the business blog based. That means updates, Facebook integration and lots of creative things to keep you and I interested.

Stay tuned.