Marketing & Advertising Blog

How to get the most from your print ad

It can often be a creative challenge to come up with a print ad that is going to work… firstly it needs to get noticed and secondly it needs to get results.

The Newspaper Works has recently conducted a survey on the effectiveness of the creative designs in print ads, and how they work to achieve results and brand awareness for the advertiser. The findings are interesting and provide some great insights to advertisers.

The core questions in their surveys covered areas including the look of the design itself, the headline, whether there was a clear offer or not, whether it had great images etc and also investigated the action taken afterwards such as search or visit online, phone, buy or try etc.

The primary creative element that came out of the surveys as the most influential part of a press ad was the “headline”. This one fundamental ingredient of the design proves to have the biggest effect on what happens next. While many won’t read on after the headline, if you get it right, the consumers you are targeting will continue to read on and have potentially started their path to purchase.

The second biggest draw card in the creative department proved to be good copy. Your core consumers will always be hungry for information and The Newspaper Works found that convincing copy is strongly linked to the trial of a new product.

Another result although expected, highlighted the need for a print ad to stand out from the rest. With so many ads out there and so many competitors in the market it is becoming increasing difficult to do so. However, the more attention grabbing and ‘different’ your ad is, the more likely a consumer will harbour positive feelings towards your brand.

Finally and as equally vital to the success of your print ad, is what not to do. Having too much info or clutter in your print ad will not entice a consumer to read or even notice your ad. Along with having a boring or bland ad, these no-no’s can actually prove to have an adverse effect and will leave consumers with a negative perception of your brand.

If you effectively incorporate these key findings into your next press ad you will be on the right path to achieving brand awareness, sales and positive results. QA’s creative team enjoy working with our clients to create strong press ads that achieve real results.

How mobile friendly are you?

Mobiles and tablets are becoming the most used internet device, taking over desktop computers and laptops.

And, it’s forecasted that their use with only continue to grow.

Now, it’s more important than ever to ensure that your brand and customer experience on a small device is your number one priority.

There is no point ignoring the rise of the smart phone as your business will be left behind.

Besides getting your website mobile friendly there are many ways you can utlilse the rise of smartphone use to benefit your business…

Apps – Work great for online stores or where you can offer an extension of your services.

Advertising – There are various forms of mobile advertising including In-App & In-Game advertising. App use equates for 80% of mobile use so this can be an effective tool when you want to engage in very specific targeting.

SMS Marketing – An easy way to get a message or offer to your target consumers wherever they are and whatever they are doing.

Most of us are permanently connected to the internet these days, you only have to lift your head up when out at a café to see how many other patrons have their head down consumed in their smart phones.

If you haven’t considered how mobile friendly your online presence is, or you don’t even know if your website is mobile friendly, now is the time to call QA. We can arrange an assessment of your website and online offerings and advise you on the next steps you need to take.

The world is ageing and so too are consumers

According to Nielsen the ageing population is not being catered for…

Senior Consumers

By the year 2050 a massive 2 billion people worldwide will be 60 years and older. Industries are doing little to cater for this aging demographic, in fact quite the opposite is occurring with the ever increasing range of fast moving consumer goods and new fang dangled products and services.

The Nielsen Global Survey about Ageing returned some interesting facts. Consumers are concerned that manufacturers and retailers are doing little to make life easier for us as we get older. Some of the concerns include the need for wider aisles in shopping centres, handicapped accessibility and larger print on packaging.

So, if you are a business operator or marketer how might you be missing out on an opportunity…

Globally we are an aging population which means that the ‘Seniors’ group will have more money to spend. But you won’t capture this spend if you are not targeting your products and marketing to this group. For instance, the Nielsen survey found that more than 4 in 10 cannot find foods that meet their aging nutritional needs, and 51% worldwide find advertising doesn’t reflect the older audience.

These findings should be ringing alarm bells, it’s time to start considering the needs of the ageing population who will become future money spenders and potentially a much larger market than we are ready for.

Media Consumption and how our habits are changing

How much media do you consume? On a Daily basis? A weekly basis?

Here’s an average day for me:

30 min of TV in the morning before work
15 min of Social Media on a Mobile Device
15 min of Radio on the way to work
15 min of online news on a PC
8 hours of listening to the Radio at work
2 hours minimum online throughout work
15 min of Social Media or browsing over Lunch on a Mobile Device
15 min of Radio on the way home from work
15 min of Social Media on a Mobile Device
3 hours of TV at night
30 min of online browsing on a Mobile Device across the evening

My daily habits mean that I consume a massive 15 hours and 15 minutes a day of media. This is potentially several hours of advertising each and every day; I’m a great target for advertisers.

One of the major changes to media consumption in recent years is reflected in my usual day by the usage of a mobile device being either my iPhone or iPad which lets me access the internet at virtually any moment.

So how does this all fit together within the world of advertising. Here is a simple example of my own habits explains. After spending the last few days browsing online furniture retailers I have been considering purchasing a few items for my home, obviously there are so many options around today that this becomes a tedious task. After noticing the end of a winter sale on TV last night I grabbed my iPad which was sitting in its usual spot (on the coffee table in front of the TV) and had a quick browse, no purchases were made. This morning on the way to work I heard a radio commercial from the same retailer, on my lunch break I decided to jump on my mobile phone and have another browse which ended in purchasing a new dining suite which will now be delivered to my home within 3-10 business days.

Mobile devices give us the ability to search, browse and shop online and make decisions anywhere and anytime of day. Making advertising your product even more important.

We all face an overload of media each day but if your advertising is not being seen or heard it will be your competitors advertising that will be catching the potential customers that you will be missing out on.

How Sunny Media has changed how I experience and interact with news and the media

Insights from Bridget McCulloch, Sunshine Coast University Student and Sunny Media Intern…

A few months ago, social media, television morning shows and other people were my main outlets for consuming the news, never had I thought of actually picking up a newspaper.

Since undertaking work experience with Sunny Media, news and the media has become a whole lot more valuable to me.

I interpret, access and absorb news in a whole new range of ways, and I’ve learnt extensively about the process and production behind the way news is put together for consumers.

I have been learning in great detail about the development of media releases, media contact lists, and the importance of research and background information to support these.

I’ve also recently attended a media launch for a major redevelopment on the Sunshine Coast and gained great insight into how the launch is run, how interviews are conducted, and how the outcomes of the launch are distributed.

Not only was it extremely valuable to experience this first hand, but to be a part of and see the importance of the planning and coordinating of a media launch is imperative to my future career in the industry.

QA have exposed me to a significant range of real life experiences that have already, and will continue to support my knowledge of the industry and my opportunities within an advertising career.

So in a nutshell, here’s the tops five things I’ve learnt about generating publicity:

Make sure you have a newsworthy angle to pitch to the media
Prepare a high quality media release with a good headline and quotes
Ensure you have good interview and photo opportunities for the media
The easier you make it for a journalist the better response you will get
Understand who the key local journalists are and what they consider to be newsworthy.

Bridget McCulloch is a third year USC Bachelor of Communication Degree, with a major of Creative Advertising and minor of Graphic Design. She is the recipient of the inaugural 2014 Sunny Media USC School of Communication Bursary Award.

Bridget’s behind the scenes look at a news interview.

Sunny Media bursary helps kick-start my advertising career

Bridget McCulloch

Over the past three years I have studied a Bachelor of Communication, with a Major in Creative Advertising and Minor in Graphic Design at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Earlier this year, through the university, I was lucky enough to receive the inaugural USC School of Communications Bursary that was funded by Sunny Media.

However, rather than just an exchange of money, QA went even further and generously offered me the opportunity to come into the office and experience the day to day operations of a full service advertising agency.

As most of my peers know, work experience is extremely hard to gain within the industry, especially on the Sunshine Coast, so I was ecstatic at the offer and keen to grab the opportunity with both hands!

Three months down the track, the work experience I have now undertaken with Sunny Media has been incredible. I’ve worked with their directors and other staff who have guided me through work with real clients, introduced me to numerous industry professionals, and exposed me to endless opportunities.

I have been working with a range of different clients, preparing anything from media releases to marketing plans. I am also helping to run social media accounts for a major Sunshine Coast development which is really exciting.

Through QA’s guidance and support I have been able to apply my knowledge and undertake real work before I’ve even finished my degree. I know this will give me a distinct advantage when I start applying for work.

With graduation quickly approaching, the work experience I have done with QA is a fantastic leverage to find a career within the industry. Not many other students gain the same opportunities so I am extremely thankful for all the support I’ve received.

I am completely inspired by everything I have experienced so far and it has vindicated my decision to pursue a career in advertising. I have very high ambitions for the future and thanks to QA and USC I am well positioned to enter the workforce.

From Left, Peppi Bueti, Bridget McCulloch, Roger Delaney

QA helped turn a humble iPhone case from Cairns into an international seller

It all started in far north Queensland when a team of Aussies discovered a need in the market for a sturdy product that would protect the iPhone, but not just any old case!

The team at Indepth Cases designed an iPhone case that was waterproof, shockproof and dustproof. The case is perfect for tradesmen, miners, water lovers and those with an active outdoors lifestyle.

The Indepth Case allows your phone to be completely waterproof and fully functional underwater, allowing you to take underwater photos.

QA helped launch the product across Australia with an advertising plan that incorporated a limited budget with highly targeted TV placement. The initial strategy focussed on the cheaper option of digital tv, in particular ONE HD which is already a channel highly targeted to males, sports lovers and fishing enthusiasts.

After just one month on air Indepth Cases had launched their way into the marketplace, online sales had gone through the roof and fishing store stockists were getting a fantastic result.

Indepth Cases have now evolved over time with added features and accessories including a belt clip, bottle opener, floater accessory, mounting clip and more female friendly colour options (pink of course).

With everyone moving over to the iPhone as the preferred phone choice this was definitely the right market to get into. Indepth Cases have continued on a long-term advertising campaign across all states of Australia in only the highest targeted programming designed to reach the core market of outdoor, water and sports lovers.

Steady sales and increasing popularity has allowed Indepth to break into the international market, first with a TV advertising campaign in New Zealand, followed by an American campaign on the Outdoor Channel broadcasting to a reach of almost 40 million viewers.

Indepth Cases is a great example that advertising on a small budget isn’t a barrier to achieving results. QA look at all aspects of your business and devise powerful long term strategies to help you achieve growth and success, based on high level research, ratings, consumer behaviour and a thorough understanding of your product.

If you would like to launch your new product or company contact QA and we can help you achieve results.

Sunshine Coast Radio set to change… but how!

What will happen when one station’s most popular team moves on… across the road.

For the last 8 years, Sunshine Coast listeners have either loved or hated the Todd & Sami Breakfast show on Hot 91. Recent revelations revealed that rival radio station Mix FM poached the pair to host a new Drive Show, and this week marked their final breakfast show on Hot 91.

The pair will of course love their new lifestyle probably consisting of sleep ins and a lot more time with their families but what how will it affect local radio?

Mix FM already have the very popular Mark & Caroline hosting their breakfast program, which will now be followed by locally produced programming right throughout the entire day.

Mix FM would be counting on the move to bring over loyal listeners who previously followed the duo on Hot 91. The likelihood of this happening is very real and although only time will tell, Mix FM has set themselves up for a very interesting time.

Without an official radio survey they can’t report on exact listening numbers but as an advertising agency we certainly look forward to seeing how the change effects the balance of listeners in our local market.

Only time will tell! If you are from the Sunshine Coast let us know on Facebook who your favourite station is.

Is your advertising being seen or are you wasting money?

There is a lot more to advertising then just placing an ad and expecting a result.

We have many clients that come to us who already have advertising campaigns in place but they are wondering why they’re not getting the results they want.

Advertising can be hit or miss if you are not getting the planning right. As an agency, our role is to research all aspects surrounding each client, their product and the media available. Our main goal is to achieve better outcomes for our clients, by strategically placing advertising across the best possible options whether their budget is big or small.

There are many factors that need to be considered when it comes to placing advertising but here are QA’s top 3 tips;

Audience Reach figures will reveal how many viewers, listeners or readers will see your advertising. These figures are heavily relied on when comparing one option to another.

Who are your Target Market and what are their media viewing habits. Many advertisers start off with their own view on what their client is watching, or which radio station is the most popular etc. These views almost always reflect their own preferences. When placing advertising you must consider the Target Market and the research at hand rather than rely on your own or the biased opinion of one particular media.

Cost Efficiency helps you determine which option is going to reach the most amount of people for the least amount of money. There are a number of ways to measure cost efficiency but the most common is cost per 1000 (people). When we are working with a budget it is vital to achieve the best possible result with a limited spend, while your audience reach may not be at the levels you would like, you will still be achieving the highest reach possible for your budget.

These are just a few of the factors that we consider when planning a media spend. Here are QA, we like to say that we can do it better, so if you are an existing advertiser or have previously ran a campaign that didn’t get you the right results, talk to our team today to see how we can help you achieve better outcomes.

How QA PR helped bring Ocean Street alive

The Sunshine Coast has been buzzing with excitement surrounding the opening of the new dining and entertainment strip, Ocean Street Maroochydore which is the first stage of the redevelopment of the Big Top.

Boasting several new restaurants and featuring a variety of different international cuisines and a new live music venue, the revived Ocean Street has already become a hot spot for locals and visitors to the Sunshine Coast.

The launch of Ocean Street took place on Easter Sunday with the annual Ocean Street World Festival which attracted over 30,000 visitors. They came to be entertained by live music and trial a variety of tastes from both street vendors and the newly opened and existing Ocean Street restaurants.

The launch was successful to say the least… the Solbar was at full capacity every night over the Easter break and Hello Harry Burgers sold over 4000 burgers in three days.

QAPR have been working on the Ocean Street redevelopment and Big Top Market Fresh project for the past 12 months, as an integral part of the redevelopment team we have helped develop the branding, logos, website, social media, leasing support strategy, stakeholder engagement as well as a multitude of media coverage on TV, Press, Radio and Online.

QAPR have had constant communication with local and interstate media to announce information regarding every step of the project and to continue to drive public interest in the redevelopment. As a result Big Top Market Fresh and Ocean Street have been discussed in the media on a regular basis over the last 6 months and has been a constant point of interest in the local community.

The launch of Ocean Street was also backed up by a strategic advertising campaign, featuring a combination of press, TV and radio advertising aligned around the popular Ocean Street World Festival.

The right combination of PR and Advertising brought Ocean Street alive this Easter, and the strip hasn’t slowed down since. The next exciting step for QAPR will be the opening of the remaining new restaurants and the launch of the Big Top Market Fresh which will include undercover farmers markets as well as a refurbished full line Woolworths and up to 40 specialty stores later in the year.

If you would like to keep up to date with the exciting projects we are working on at QAPR follow us on Facebook.

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