our insights

<p>Late last year something happened in my business’ sales cycle and it got me thinking.</p><p> To support another organization, I placed a call to a friend of mine whom I had known for about a dozen years. &nbsp;In the course of the conversation about this other topic, he asked me about marketing and advertising. &nbsp;He wondered how we help clients...</p><p>‍</p>

<p>The year was 2003 and sequels were all the rage – The Lord of the Rings, Matrix, and Terminator movie series were topping the box office. &nbsp;Speaking of Terminators, it was that year that Arnold Schwarzenegger became California’s Governor too. &nbsp;The government was...</p>

<p>It’s fascinating when a client says something to me that I’ve already thought or said myself many times. As if hearing the idea for the first time, their comment hits my head (or my heart) and drives home a concept chock full of value. That’s exactly what happened to me during a recent Zoom call with a client.</p><p> We were talking about their media plans and how they suggested we approach their strategy for the coming season. We were working through their goals, their budget, previous success, and some new ideas to...</p><p>‍</p>

<p>This fall, out on a walk, I noticed a house in my neighborhood that provided the perfect picture for what we tell our clients. It was so appropriate I decided to snap a picture. Hopefully it isn’t your home. I’m hoping it can illustrate an important point about your business. Think ahead. </p><p>Thinking ahead is good advice for...</p><p>‍</p>

<p> Someone makes a move, then the opposing side responds and makes a change. It's the way the sports world has worked for centuries. It's also how business functions.</p><p> Football teams played the Single Wing and...</p><p>‍</p>

<p>While I can’t remember every single detail, I do clearly recall that years ago, a friend of mine – <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0014IuAi1m46U4DsltNkKaiAu0VMVUhLA-hD6AY9mxJwRE6IRtQQ6i4uv_Vwn0fMNjB88UHaUepluYZqknuzxPrbLGzfHTj3k88ZGOfrmn2oCpsHisYXcs-vMKTkWnh0K7ACe0_krpKWtZUZYaBZJUxwPN-3FTpi1mc&c=p6CAYM_B61c4cFa76yPL_ZrAyJPh8587CRUfjhIpRoS6v55Pb9x0rQ==&ch=yHb7q47agTMPKv_8LK3tSzf3AT_Gct8TSgeVzdKtTwWX6HrTI347FQ==" target="_blank">Brett Winter Lemon</a>, was showing me his iPhone on Kirk Avenue in Downtown Roanoke. It was spring. We were outside. He excitedly started...</p>

<p>Every market has one of these types. Here in the Roanoke-Lynchburg television market, where our marketing firm is based, we are lucky enough to have two.</p><p>I’m talking about car dealers with terrible commercial campaigns.</p><p>No, it isn’t limited to just automotive marketing, but these guys are the...</p><p>‍</p>

<p>For the past decade, I’ve noticed something that seemed kind of odd to me initially. Over time, I continued seeing this pattern and I figured it was time I identified it.</p><p>Some of the smartest people I know own companies, invent products, or find a better way to accomplish a goal. They are brilliant at what they do and have built a product or service based on some sort of genius technological solution. The work they do takes...</p><p>‍</p>