CPR Promotional Check-Up

For Our Well-Coifed Friends, The Sales Staff

Copy dem on dese.

Little Green Dress Party

Is to too soon to sell a St. Patty's event? Hell no. And don't forget a Little Red Dress event in December.

Fill The Tree

Reynolds and other companies that pay for recyclable aluminum have usually seem to have discretionary money for the right promotion. 'QUE in New Orleans did Fill The Tree. They created a giant tree out of wire fencing. Donations of cans were dumped in through the top. It was estimated that, when filled, the value would be $10,000. All the money from the cans went to charity.

An On-Line Consignment Sale

Second hand stores and thrift shops are doing a brisk business. Why shouldn't you? Like eBay but local and with clothes and cars and furniture.

Fuuuuddggggeeee....

For a Tires Plus or similar client, how about a competition amongst dads to see who can change a tire the quickest? They would obviously win a major award (one of those leg lamps) and some tires for their ride.

Taco Bell

The World Series was the most recent event where the chain offered free tacos if an athletic achievement was, well, achieved. They did it here in the Twin Cities with Dave Ryan trying to make a free throw. He was mentored by a former Timberwolves coach...and missed. The prize would have been a free burrito for everyone in town during lunch that day. As it was, you could still go in and get a free taco. Come up with something for one of your morning show hosts to attempt and bring it to The Bell.

Furniture Stores

I can walk you through the Clue promotion that one of the CHR's sold, if you want me to. How about doing an on-line version of that video game where you build your own theme park. Basically you have a template of a house, and dragging and clicking from an inventory of wares, you fill the place. Have an actual designer judge the entries and the best gets some of the client's merchandise.

Clothing Stores

Same as the above but with listeners dressing the morning guy. On-line there would be a template of him standing there in boxers. Drag over some shoes, a belt, a shirt, etc. The female co-host picks one every day and that's his outfit for the next morning. The listener who dressed the morning guy gets a gift card to the store.

Liquor Stores

THERE is a recession-proof industry. I've seen Blockbuster have a shelf with DJ's weekly choices of what they're watching. What if, using Dave Ryan as an example, you did "W.W.D.D.?" Or, what would Dave drink. Just a section near the counter with a bottle of wine, maybe a microbrew or some exotic foreign beers that would be changed every week.

Grocery Stores

Very simple: on-line Price Is Right to win a giftcard. Log in, and you are presented with five items and five prices. Match the prices to all five items and win. Play once a day. Must me a VIP. Items change each day.

Autobody Or DUI Attorney

Same thing. Match five celebs to five smashed cars. Play once a week.

Webinar

I'm doing some kind of thing next Monday where a few hundred people can be on-line and ask me questions about Promotions. Easily sponsorable for the next time you have a celebrity guest on the morning show. Sponsored by either an internet service or other techy client. I think that making it pay-per-view is one hoop too many.

Verizon

For the company that asks, "Can you hear me now?," doing "Bug'd" with live cellphones would be huge.

Lingerie/Adult Toys

Guys are pretty much idiots when it comes to purchasing any of that kind of stuff for their wives. So, I was at a station in Michigan a few years ago where the morning co-host was doing a remote at a "toy" store. And she was more then accommodating when guys were asking what they should buy. She took them by the arm and led them from rack to shelf to display case, explaining her preferences and how, well...you get the idea. To say that the client moved product would be an understatement. This could JUST as easily be done at Victoria Secret or any lingerie client.

Walmart/Target

These clients are doing very well right now. Back in the day, KDWB did "Minnesota Mommie" and had listeners tip the morning show to a hard-working single mother who needed recognition. (Kind of like how Christmas Wish is designed to work.) Every Friday they'd call up this woman, tell her story, she'd cry and they gave her some stuff. Spa. Lunch. And money for shopping. They focus-grouped this on the women at the station; the A+1 choice of places they wanted to go shopping? Target.

Theater Chains

Taking a bit of a hit right now. Sending listeners to movies and having them do sponsored podcast reviews would be an idea. People who listen would be randomly chosen to win tickets or giftcards. Having a "Where's It Playing" link on the website is a no-brainer. You should be doing that anyway.

Go. Sell. And share if you have any campaigns, proposals or promotions that you've been doing to generate rev.