A Smaller Pie Doesn’t Mean No Pie

Over at the Sales and Marketing Loudmouth Blog, Tim Rohrer has a very interesting take on the role of local marketing. He summarizes his premise this way: Remember, to advertise effectively at the local level, find out how consumers are behaving and then fashion your message to take advantage of their direction and momentum. I […]

How Important is the Call to Action?

Nearly fifty years ago, social psychologist Howard Leventhal conducted experiments in which he tried to convince Yale University seniors to get a tetanus shot. Leventhal initially divided the seniors into several groups, and gave each group different versions of a seven-page booklet on the disease and its effects.   According to Malcom Gladwell in his […]

Great Reason for a Sale

In Influence, the Science of Persuasion, Robert Cialdini cites experiments demonstrating that people are more likely to comply with your request if you give a reason. The reason doesn’t even have to make much sense. Copywriting instructors have incorporated the “Reason Why” technique into their lessons. Mr. Toskana’s obviously been studying up on this stuff […]

When the Disclaimer Cancels the Rest of the Ad

A recent issue of Automotive News had a print ad for Force Events. Here’s the headline: GET 1000 UPS* IN YOUR SHOWROOM THIS WEEKEND! An “up,” in auto dealer lingo, is a prospect who walks onto the lot. So if a dealer hire Force Events this weekend, he’ll get a thousand customers through the door, […]