CPR Promotional Check-Up - Nov 11, 2011

Thanksgiving Googlizing

I've given up trying to badger people into tweaking their websites for holidays. Either you want to have fun and be topical, or you don't or can't.

With that said: last year a few stations used turkey drumsticks as cursors, a couple of stations stock Pilgrim-ish clothing on the inevitable artists on their masthead, turkeys bouncing or flying around the screen is a nice touch and just a simple backwards ticking clock to the tie the doors at the mall open, works too.

Thanksgiving Imaging

In 2009 Hot in Houston's imaging was "The Ten Worst Things You Can Say At Thanksgiving." Like, "Hey, turn off the game and flip to VH-1. This is the week I'm on Celebrity Rehab" or, "I don't care if you ARE my cousin. %$&# girl, you're looking fine."

There's a compilation of "Things That Sound Naughty But Aren't" that Tom Bernard at KQRS dusts off every year and that I think first went out in 1977 in some prep sheet. Seriously? Write your own. It'll be funnier.

The First Turkey Of Thanksgiving

1. We're in Show Business. (Sometimes filling out TPS reports can make you forget that)
2. In ANY economy, a free Christmas tree with some ornaments is a great prize.
3. TV and print always cover the First Baby Of The New Year.

So, if Steven Spielberg, Monte Hall, Shannon Elizabeth, Melissa Joan Hart or any other member of our Show Business Bretheran were tasked with giving away a tree...would they stick it for bids in the VIP Club or do a keyword text promotion? No. Because there's no "noise" and there's no "visual".

Here's something that no one has ever done. And that's always good.

Get a dozen turkey eggs from a turkey farm. Number them. Give away the numbers on the air. NASCAR them with client logos and on Thanksgiving morning, webcam them in an incubator. First turkey of Thanksgiving to be born/hatched wins a tree and the accompanying accoutrement for its listener.

It will give the DJ's something "Thanksgivingy" to talk about on Thanksgiving. I know: what a concept. And it'll drive webhits. And if you work it, you will get press.