ALRIIIIGHT...That's it, I've had enough...
- Thread starter Phil
- Start date
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
Re: ALRIIIIGHT...That's it, I've had enough...
Hell yeah!
Make note of who these local commericals are and then run out and make some specs and THEN show them.
Hell yeah!
Make note of who these local commericals are and then run out and make some specs and THEN show them.
Barry_Green
Moderator
Re: ALRIIIIGHT...That's it, I've had enough...
Search the archives about six months to a year ago for my diatribe about local commercials... it is a hellish and unsatisfying world you plan to enter, and the nightmare is unyielding... local commercials are conceived, shot and posted by guys at the TV station who are getting paid $8 per hour and who get maybe two hours total to do the whole gig. But again, search for the rant...
Search the archives about six months to a year ago for my diatribe about local commercials... it is a hellish and unsatisfying world you plan to enter, and the nightmare is unyielding... local commercials are conceived, shot and posted by guys at the TV station who are getting paid $8 per hour and who get maybe two hours total to do the whole gig. But again, search for the rant...
skippyfetus
Carbonite Member
Re: ALRIIIIGHT...That's it, I've had enough...
That's funny because I was just thinking the same thing... kinda makes you want to take over your local tv commercial business huh?
That's funny because I was just thinking the same thing... kinda makes you want to take over your local tv commercial business huh?
Phil
Veteran
Re: ALRIIIIGHT...That's it, I've had enough...
I'm not going to do commercials, I'll just teach them how! Anyways, I'm sure that it's like any job, their budget is soo low, that that's all they can afford. But maybe I should write some ideas and send them, even if they look crappy, at least it'll be a good story!
It worked for Clerks! lol
I'm not going to do commercials, I'll just teach them how! Anyways, I'm sure that it's like any job, their budget is soo low, that that's all they can afford. But maybe I should write some ideas and send them, even if they look crappy, at least it'll be a good story!
It worked for Clerks! lol
Terry_Lasater
All about the Caption
Re: ALRIIIIGHT...That's it, I've had enough...
I can guarantee you it's not that easy as most of those cheap local advertisers don't want to pay (much of) anything. So, if you feel like the hours and hours you'll spend chasing a $100 bill are worth it, then knock yourselves out.
Not to mention, these advertisers probably have either a small ad agency or freelance producer handling their production, air buys, etc. and you risk stepping on the toes of someone who may be able to lock you out of future production with any of their clients.
It would be a better idea to learn who the ad agencies, freelance producers, etc. are in your market and approach them with examples and ideas of what you can provide.
If you start going direct to businesses that are already on air with commercials, then you risk swift alienation from ad agencies and production houses in your market. You will suddenly become a blip on their radar screen and they will strategize to compete hard against you.
If you wanna make some local spots...™ look for advertisers who are not currently on TV. Check with your local cable company for advertising rates so you can offer a potential client a package deal that includes production, post-production and an air-buy.
Now you're on to something...™
I can guarantee you it's not that easy as most of those cheap local advertisers don't want to pay (much of) anything. So, if you feel like the hours and hours you'll spend chasing a $100 bill are worth it, then knock yourselves out.
Not to mention, these advertisers probably have either a small ad agency or freelance producer handling their production, air buys, etc. and you risk stepping on the toes of someone who may be able to lock you out of future production with any of their clients.
It would be a better idea to learn who the ad agencies, freelance producers, etc. are in your market and approach them with examples and ideas of what you can provide.
If you start going direct to businesses that are already on air with commercials, then you risk swift alienation from ad agencies and production houses in your market. You will suddenly become a blip on their radar screen and they will strategize to compete hard against you.
If you wanna make some local spots...™ look for advertisers who are not currently on TV. Check with your local cable company for advertising rates so you can offer a potential client a package deal that includes production, post-production and an air-buy.
Now you're on to something...™
dvpixl
Veteran
Re: ALRIIIIGHT...That's it, I've had enough...
in new york, there are plenty of opportunities for that kind of thing. but the problem is they're all taken. lots of small local ads and even foreign channels to be more on target. anyway, you still need some sort of connection or a big gut.
But Terry that was brilliant. i should be hunting those local networks down.
in new york, there are plenty of opportunities for that kind of thing. but the problem is they're all taken. lots of small local ads and even foreign channels to be more on target. anyway, you still need some sort of connection or a big gut.
But Terry that was brilliant. i should be hunting those local networks down.
dvpixl
Veteran
Re: ALRIIIIGHT...That's it, I've had enough...
then I was thinking... if people in this community isn't out there making stuff... and always in here just conversing about how bad other people's work is, then how in the world are we going to make that difference?
i'm joking.
btw 8/hr for video production? you've got to be kidding me.
then I was thinking... if people in this community isn't out there making stuff... and always in here just conversing about how bad other people's work is, then how in the world are we going to make that difference?
i'm joking.
btw 8/hr for video production? you've got to be kidding me.
JohnT
Well-known member
Re: ALRIIIIGHT...That's it, I've had enough...
Yeah, You would think that getting some small busineses to pop for local cable commericals would not be to hard to get into. I guess at least finding out the rates from the cable companys for 30-60 sec spots and just piching a good deal to the cust could make ya a few bucks.
Yeah, You would think that getting some small busineses to pop for local cable commericals would not be to hard to get into. I guess at least finding out the rates from the cable companys for 30-60 sec spots and just piching a good deal to the cust could make ya a few bucks.
Barry_Green
Moderator
Re: ALRIIIIGHT...That's it, I've had enough...
That's the other problem: the tv station can offer a package of spot+airtime. Unless you're a bona fide ad agency, you as a production company can't offer to sell airtime, so you can't make a similar "package"... nor would you probably want to, because selling airtime would involve an obligation on your part to identify and buy the best airtime for that client, to reach their prospective customers... and as a production company you probably don't have a dedicated market research/demographics staff.
So you try to partner with the cable company and TV stations, and they say "drop dead, we do our own productions". So then you go to ad agencies, who have the bigger clients and the bigger budgets, and they say "you shoot on what? Go away kid, you bother me."
Local commercials are hell.
That's the other problem: the tv station can offer a package of spot+airtime. Unless you're a bona fide ad agency, you as a production company can't offer to sell airtime, so you can't make a similar "package"... nor would you probably want to, because selling airtime would involve an obligation on your part to identify and buy the best airtime for that client, to reach their prospective customers... and as a production company you probably don't have a dedicated market research/demographics staff.
So you try to partner with the cable company and TV stations, and they say "drop dead, we do our own productions". So then you go to ad agencies, who have the bigger clients and the bigger budgets, and they say "you shoot on what? Go away kid, you bother me."
Local commercials are hell.
Phil
Veteran
Re: ALRIIIIGHT...That's it, I've had enough...
So Barry you recommend, since I only watch an hour of TV before bed, not to watch or get involved with the world of local commercial television??
;D Ok, I won't!
Although I have been watching Le Tour de France lately, and there are commercials every 5 minutes!!!
So Barry you recommend, since I only watch an hour of TV before bed, not to watch or get involved with the world of local commercial television??
;D Ok, I won't!
Although I have been watching Le Tour de France lately, and there are commercials every 5 minutes!!!
smkoch
Well-known member
Re: ALRIIIIGHT...That's it, I've had enough...
yeah man , don't do it. I wasted my time with my partner after a friend had refered us to a large company that rakes in easily a couple mill. a year, after serveral early morning meetings (it sucks getting up as early as they wanted) so they can get through it before starting work. they finally decided they'd go to the local best buy and pick up a hi8 and make something themselves. Unfortunatly I couldn't think of a way of telling them how stupid they were with out it getting back to the person that refered us. The reallity is that these people are in business to make money and keep it at all cost. so everything else is (how cheap) Unless I'm approached I don't bother. :-/
yeah man , don't do it. I wasted my time with my partner after a friend had refered us to a large company that rakes in easily a couple mill. a year, after serveral early morning meetings (it sucks getting up as early as they wanted) so they can get through it before starting work. they finally decided they'd go to the local best buy and pick up a hi8 and make something themselves. Unfortunatly I couldn't think of a way of telling them how stupid they were with out it getting back to the person that refered us. The reallity is that these people are in business to make money and keep it at all cost. so everything else is (how cheap) Unless I'm approached I don't bother. :-/
Re: ALRIIIIGHT...That's it, I've had enough...
..the funny part is that by having the stupid commercials made, they are not saving money at all. the opportunity to put their best foot forward is lost, and the company is percieved by the public as a local yocal 2 bit operation that is at best semi-professional. IMHO if the people running those companies had any marketing brains they would simply look at the example set by very successful and lucrative companies, and see how many millions are spent, and how many employees are dedicated, and how many entire deparments exist just to make a better 30 second commercial, or magazine ad. Its ALL about advertising. the company image and reputation is what you make it to be.. so if they want to spend 200.00 making a commercial that makes people annoyed with the company because of the horrible singing of the company name in the background of an ad that makes people laugh at how stupid it is... less power to them.
in the business world of advertising you really need to spend money to make money. i really dont see why anyone would ever have a commercial made that lowers the public image of the company it was made for but.. oh well ... thats why most small businesses stay small or shrink to nothing. cause the people running them dont have the guts to take the associated risk to make it any bigger or better.. such as investing in a worthy advertising campaign.
..think small, stay small. and we all suffer for it.
..the funny part is that by having the stupid commercials made, they are not saving money at all. the opportunity to put their best foot forward is lost, and the company is percieved by the public as a local yocal 2 bit operation that is at best semi-professional. IMHO if the people running those companies had any marketing brains they would simply look at the example set by very successful and lucrative companies, and see how many millions are spent, and how many employees are dedicated, and how many entire deparments exist just to make a better 30 second commercial, or magazine ad. Its ALL about advertising. the company image and reputation is what you make it to be.. so if they want to spend 200.00 making a commercial that makes people annoyed with the company because of the horrible singing of the company name in the background of an ad that makes people laugh at how stupid it is... less power to them.
in the business world of advertising you really need to spend money to make money. i really dont see why anyone would ever have a commercial made that lowers the public image of the company it was made for but.. oh well ... thats why most small businesses stay small or shrink to nothing. cause the people running them dont have the guts to take the associated risk to make it any bigger or better.. such as investing in a worthy advertising campaign.
..think small, stay small. and we all suffer for it.
Re: ALRIIIIGHT...That's it, I've had enough...
Well said Neil. I run into that on a daily basis. However, my situation is a little different. I produce three local cable shows here in Jacksonville, FL. So I am always trying to convince business owners to spend money in advertising, thus buying commercials on my shows. The cable company hits my clients as well, and presents them with a super low package..all preempted spots, for as little as $25 a play. Well I can't eat on that . So, I target companies that for one, have the potential to have the budget to spend, also small enough that they don't have an ad agency. and I stick to companies that have a direct link to the type of programming I provide. One of the shows I produce is a weekly golf show. So I target, golf related business's and convince them that this is niche marketing, and will target their inteneded customers. But this comes at a premium price over the cable station preempted rates. I usually get $125 per play for a :30 spot, and if the business wants to be exclusive, then he must buy the whole package, four spots, billboard, ending credit.
Well said Neil. I run into that on a daily basis. However, my situation is a little different. I produce three local cable shows here in Jacksonville, FL. So I am always trying to convince business owners to spend money in advertising, thus buying commercials on my shows. The cable company hits my clients as well, and presents them with a super low package..all preempted spots, for as little as $25 a play. Well I can't eat on that . So, I target companies that for one, have the potential to have the budget to spend, also small enough that they don't have an ad agency. and I stick to companies that have a direct link to the type of programming I provide. One of the shows I produce is a weekly golf show. So I target, golf related business's and convince them that this is niche marketing, and will target their inteneded customers. But this comes at a premium price over the cable station preempted rates. I usually get $125 per play for a :30 spot, and if the business wants to be exclusive, then he must buy the whole package, four spots, billboard, ending credit.
Barry_Green
Moderator
Re: ALRIIIIGHT...That's it, I've had enough...
Low-buck clients are basically never worth it. On our cable system you can buy spots as low as $10 each. They run at midnight on some ridiculous channel nobody would ever watch, but what does that matter -- advertisers hear that TV ads should cost $10 apiece, and so that's all they want to spend.
Never mind that that same 30 seconds would cost $4,000 to air during an episode of "Friends"... they don't want to hear that, they want to air those $10 spots, and then the next time you contact them they say "oh, we tried TV once, it doesn't work."
Yeah.
That's why Super Bowl spots go for $2,000,000 apiece, to the biggest (and theoretically savviest) companies in the world, right?
Drives me crazy... :
Low-buck clients are basically never worth it. On our cable system you can buy spots as low as $10 each. They run at midnight on some ridiculous channel nobody would ever watch, but what does that matter -- advertisers hear that TV ads should cost $10 apiece, and so that's all they want to spend.
Never mind that that same 30 seconds would cost $4,000 to air during an episode of "Friends"... they don't want to hear that, they want to air those $10 spots, and then the next time you contact them they say "oh, we tried TV once, it doesn't work."
Yeah.
That's why Super Bowl spots go for $2,000,000 apiece, to the biggest (and theoretically savviest) companies in the world, right?
Drives me crazy... :
Re: ALRIIIIGHT...That's it, I've had enough...
..yep. Ive made up my mind. Any future client that is giving me the whole "its expensive" thing..is going to get this info straight up.. no punches pulled. Im going to say:
".. so you want to step into the world of television advertising? ..well heres how it is. ..yada yada yada.. so either step up to the plate, or stick to running ads in the "Local Yodeler" magazine like your used to."
I mean for goodness sake. a yellow page ad in a smaller city costs 200.00 per month for a little 2 inch no color ad.. thats 2400.00 for the year! a 3 inch color ad is like 500.00 a month! thats like 6000.00 for the year.
and when you consider that fact that you cannot out razzel dazzel the big companies running the same business as you with full page color ads, and 5 inch full color ads on the same page, you are sort of pushing your luck to just put a little ad in the phone book, and then hope that someone chooses you..# 45 out of 65 advertisers in the same business at random out of the phonebook from your puny little ad when they have never heard of you before, and they have heard of the big boys all the time.. WHY? becuase they pay for good TV commercials which in turn give them business to affford paying for big ads so they are easy to find in the phone book. the best chance for a little company is to place a small ad in the phone book, so that people can look you up after seeing your ad on TV or hearing it on the radio, and then spend the money on radio or TV spots, and you better make it good , because making yourself and your company look like an idiotic choice on TV is bad. so
my schpiel is going to be all about :
" you need to ask yourself why you want this commercial made. if its because it would be cool to see your business on TV then just go through the cable company. I cannot compete with thier pricing, and will not go into your business, and spin around with the camera once, and hire some guy to shout out your products like its some sort of monster truck meets He-Man battle next sunday.
Now if you are serious about using television (which is the biggest marketing opportunity in the world) to advance and expand your customer base and business, and make you a return on your advertising investment. then lets talk some numbers, and let me show you what we can do for you by putting together a fresh, strategic and intelligent television ad which targets your key audience, and presents your business and its product or services in the best manner possible, and yeilds the biggest return on your investment through new customers.
paying for a TV ad should not be scary.. if TV ads did not work then big companies would not spend millions and millions each year with hundreds of people devoted to it. they do that because they know that intelligent advertising works. and they make billions more every year becuase of it. the idea of investing money in an ad now that has the potential to make your money back many times over should really be a comfortably easy choice for you, just as it is for them. what would be scary for them , is if they only spent 200.00 on their tv ads for the year, and they were going to run on some obscure channel in the middle of the night, right between a paid advertisement for a self enima kit, and "Rojana: the princess warrior of leather". the issue with advertising that becomes scary is when people only invest in a goldfish to throw into the shark tank.. your investment is not likely to ever come back to you at that point. pretty much, you only reap what you sow.
So what i suggest you do, is consider what you really want the ad to do for you, and then take a look at your options and determine what sort of investment you want to make in your business.. how you want your business to be percieved, and what sort of positive image, or monetary return you expect to get from your advertising.
I personally work with people to develop real advertisements. and do not just simply put your name on TV. If i were to do that i would simply be taking your money. Just as well, if the service of doing so was worth any more, and was actually an excellent opportunity and service.. the cable companies, would not be charging so little for it. and big companies would simply go to the cable companies to advertise.
i am not a salesperson.. im just letting you know how things work in the business advertising world. cause i came to make you a great commercial.. and chew bubblegum..
.. and im all out of bubblegum. "
..yep. Ive made up my mind. Any future client that is giving me the whole "its expensive" thing..is going to get this info straight up.. no punches pulled. Im going to say:
".. so you want to step into the world of television advertising? ..well heres how it is. ..yada yada yada.. so either step up to the plate, or stick to running ads in the "Local Yodeler" magazine like your used to."
I mean for goodness sake. a yellow page ad in a smaller city costs 200.00 per month for a little 2 inch no color ad.. thats 2400.00 for the year! a 3 inch color ad is like 500.00 a month! thats like 6000.00 for the year.
and when you consider that fact that you cannot out razzel dazzel the big companies running the same business as you with full page color ads, and 5 inch full color ads on the same page, you are sort of pushing your luck to just put a little ad in the phone book, and then hope that someone chooses you..# 45 out of 65 advertisers in the same business at random out of the phonebook from your puny little ad when they have never heard of you before, and they have heard of the big boys all the time.. WHY? becuase they pay for good TV commercials which in turn give them business to affford paying for big ads so they are easy to find in the phone book. the best chance for a little company is to place a small ad in the phone book, so that people can look you up after seeing your ad on TV or hearing it on the radio, and then spend the money on radio or TV spots, and you better make it good , because making yourself and your company look like an idiotic choice on TV is bad. so
my schpiel is going to be all about :
" you need to ask yourself why you want this commercial made. if its because it would be cool to see your business on TV then just go through the cable company. I cannot compete with thier pricing, and will not go into your business, and spin around with the camera once, and hire some guy to shout out your products like its some sort of monster truck meets He-Man battle next sunday.
Now if you are serious about using television (which is the biggest marketing opportunity in the world) to advance and expand your customer base and business, and make you a return on your advertising investment. then lets talk some numbers, and let me show you what we can do for you by putting together a fresh, strategic and intelligent television ad which targets your key audience, and presents your business and its product or services in the best manner possible, and yeilds the biggest return on your investment through new customers.
paying for a TV ad should not be scary.. if TV ads did not work then big companies would not spend millions and millions each year with hundreds of people devoted to it. they do that because they know that intelligent advertising works. and they make billions more every year becuase of it. the idea of investing money in an ad now that has the potential to make your money back many times over should really be a comfortably easy choice for you, just as it is for them. what would be scary for them , is if they only spent 200.00 on their tv ads for the year, and they were going to run on some obscure channel in the middle of the night, right between a paid advertisement for a self enima kit, and "Rojana: the princess warrior of leather". the issue with advertising that becomes scary is when people only invest in a goldfish to throw into the shark tank.. your investment is not likely to ever come back to you at that point. pretty much, you only reap what you sow.
So what i suggest you do, is consider what you really want the ad to do for you, and then take a look at your options and determine what sort of investment you want to make in your business.. how you want your business to be percieved, and what sort of positive image, or monetary return you expect to get from your advertising.
I personally work with people to develop real advertisements. and do not just simply put your name on TV. If i were to do that i would simply be taking your money. Just as well, if the service of doing so was worth any more, and was actually an excellent opportunity and service.. the cable companies, would not be charging so little for it. and big companies would simply go to the cable companies to advertise.
i am not a salesperson.. im just letting you know how things work in the business advertising world. cause i came to make you a great commercial.. and chew bubblegum..
.. and im all out of bubblegum. "
Barry_Green
Moderator
Re: ALRIIIIGHT...That's it, I've had enough...
[quote author=iamloser link=board=Offtopic;num=1090475716;start=15#17 date=07/24/04 at 06:44:28]the issue with advertising that becomes scary is when people only invest in a goldfish to throw into the shark tank.. [/quote]
Brilliant quote.
[quote author=iamloser link=board=Offtopic;num=1090475716;start=15#17 date=07/24/04 at 06:44:28]the issue with advertising that becomes scary is when people only invest in a goldfish to throw into the shark tank.. [/quote]
Brilliant quote.
