NBC-40 is your local Mobile Marketing experts – we have a variety of solutions to provide you as a business owner to tap into these current key consumer behaviors.  The following article I feel demonstrates a bit about why and how you should get into the ‘mobile world’ with your business.  It’s not perfect – yet.  But – you need to be there and put it to work for you and get in the game.

(Article is a reprint from www.mobilecommercedaily.com – by Jeannette Kocsis)

ARE YOU LOSING SLEEP OVER MOBILE COUPONS??

Mobile coupons are really hot. Every retailer is thinking about it – and perhaps they are losing some sleep over it too.

Many questions are still popping up and good answers are hard to come by. But with average redemption rates of mobile coupons at 5 percent to 10 percent, it is no wonder that it is top of mind.

The mobile world would be much easier to conquer if everyone had a phone that could display an accurate bar code, and if all retailers had a point of sale (POS) system that could handle the transaction.

But many top retailers today do not have the capability at the cash register – to handle the transaction, much less match it to a customer record. And they may not want to rely on the people manning the registers to enter a long complex code to capture a bar code numeric sequence properly.

Bar codes bar none
Many companies have come out with work-arounds, using technology such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification – which uses radio waves to transmit data).

The RFID method relies on users attaching a label or other item to their phone which allows a scanning device at the cash register to read the label and get the data. 

The concept is that consumers use their phone to bring the offer, but the RFID handles the redemption and associated transaction.

One problem with this method is that people may not want to attach a brand label to their phone, or add yet another item to their jingling bunch of car keys. And it does require the retailer to invest in a way to read the RFID signal.

Some retailers are offering mobile coupons that are generic – used by anyone – and can be incorporated in POS systems by using the manual coupon code field, if they have one. 

This works much better in online stores – we know who the customer is by their shopping cart checkout, and can associate an offer code that signals that it came from a mobile campaign. 

It is a little more difficult in the retail locations that may have the ability to enter the code, but what happens when the customer pays cash? We may still not know who the customer is and may not be able to track the sale.

Some major retailers do have the ability to scan mobile bar codes and have cashiers enter the code when they need to.

Indeed, some retailers have added a “hot key” that brings up a mobile bar code entry screen on the cash register – allowing for a scan when possible, or to prompt the cashier to enter the manual code. And if customers are identified through their transaction, they can close the loop.

Some of you may be thinking, well, so what! I need to show the channel works and if I can make a mobile offer and track it the best I can, at least I can show that the channel is worth further investment and then get more funding from management. 

Fast clip
One thing is certain: fast-moving technology keeps this channel in a constant state of evolution.

We have to keep in mind that a significant number – and still majority – of our customers are more than likely using phones that are not capable of the new, cool things coming.

We should not rely on new technology, but should think about creative solutions at the infrastructure level that can enable mobile marketing. And then keep an eye toward the future and make sure we are building with that in mind.

So close your eyes and take a short nap. The industry will catch up, and in the meantime, if you do not have a POS system that can handle it, you will have to make the decision to invest in something that can handle our new world, or test the mobile channel by increasing customer adoption within your brand and in your retail locations – just more generically than you would like for now.

Keep in mind that, after all, you are driving sales and providing another cool channel to your customers.

There will be a Derby Hat Contest for the ladies too!  Don’t be late… get there early to participate in the auction items and get ready for the run for the roses!

Eveything we eat, buy, consume, share, or use was sold – is sold – or will be sold.  Selling is all around us… we all do it.  You have probably heard from many people – “I could never be a salesperson” I don’t have that ‘gift of gab”.  Well, it’s really not all that technical.  Here’s the deal…. SELLING IS HELPING.  When you sell – you are simply HELPING someone get what they want or need and showing them that you can HELP them better than someone else.  (Of course honesty and follow up by doing what you say you are going to do is a big part of this too).  HELPING others whether you are a business owner, a community volunteer, UPS driver, Parent, or Advertising Salesperson is collectively part of our days…  We are all SELLING.

HELPING is what we do for businesses at NBC-40… We can HELP your business grow with television ads, mobile couponing, mobile text campaigns, internet advertising/contesting, and so much more.  Whether you are a new business or you’ve been in business for 50 years… people are always searching for people to do business with.  We HELP make that process easier.  HELPING to bringing buyers and sellers together – regardless if you generate $100,000 in sales a year or $100,000,000.   It’s rather simple really. 

Speaking of HELPING — here’s a commercial of one of our newer advertisers at NBC-40.  HELPING is what they do! 

As Zig Ziglar has been quoted as saying… “You will get all you want in life if you HELP enough other people get what they want”!  Focus on HELPING with your business and try to ignore the numbers… you might get a new perspective on how you do what you do.

If you would like to find out how you can HELP more people with your product or service contact me and I’d be happy to visit with you.  HELPING is all that I do… Together we can build your businesses sales.

Stanton Ross
Account Manager
WTWC-TV / NBC-40
Tallahassee, FL
850-459-9922 (Cell)
sross@sbgnet.com

Coming soon to Tallahassee… “Mobi-Deals”!
Finding the best deals in and around Tallahassee has never been easier… just download the “Mobi-Deals” app to your phone and you can find coupons from various participating businesses closest to you! NBC-40 is your mobile marketing connection in the Tallahassee area. If your business wants to participate – call us today at 850-201-3137.

**Note – this is a sample of the promotional video from Flint, MI (another Sinclair Broadcast Group station).

Stanton Ross
Account Manager
WTWC-TV / NBC-40
850-459-9922 (Cell)
sross@sbgnet.com

Hey Tallahassee… What a great way to get specials and discounts from CHECKERS!  Get mobile ‘coupons’ sent straight to your phone!  Just opt-in by texting “Checkers” to 45203 and you will get a FREE Checker Burger just for joining the Checkers Text Club!  If you have a business and are interested in mobile marketing applications – just contact me and I’d be glad to customize a solution just for you!  We can create a mobile campaign that can be used for information distribution, couponing, customer service, updates, and more.  Timely, Instantaneous, Mobile, and environmentally green.  Put mobile marketing to work for your business and see the results!

Stanton Ross
Account Manager
WTWC-TV / NBC-40
850-459-9922
sross@sbgnet.com

The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver start soon… There’s lots of opportunities for your business to participate as a sponsor.  Online and broadcast commercial placement is available to you to patch into a ‘fiercely loyal’ audience.  NBC-40 will virtually ‘own’ the eyes of the market over the 17 days of the Olympics (2/12 – 2/28).  As we get closer to the Olympics – the enthusiasm is growing and the energy is building… Get in the game – advertise with NBC-40 and get your biggest ‘bang for the buck’.  Remember – all the other networks will be in re-runs cause they don’t want to compete for viewership while the Olympics take the main stage.

Let me customize a program for you and your business that will allow you to take advantage of this television event!  Many programs start at LESS THAN $1000!

Stanton Ross
Account Manager
NBC-40 / WTWC-TV
850-459-9922 (Cell)
sross@sbgnet.com
“Your Entertainment Station”

The 2010 Winter Olympics start on Friday February 12th with the Opening Ceremonies… Leading up to the Olympics – NBC-40 has prepared this (among other versions) “Olympic Vignette” that your company can sponsor.  A great way to locally support the Olympics and get excellent exposure for your business.  We simply take your logo and add it to the end slide of the commercial and we then produce an audio ‘tag’ for you that is about (:05) seconds.  Very Professional looking!

Put the NBC-40 “Olympic Vignettes” to work for your business.  Inexpensive – yet effective… Call me today to see how your buiness can be a sponsor!

Stanton Ross
Account Manager
NBC-40 / WTWC-TV
850-459-9922
Sross@sbgnet.com
“Your Entertainment Station”

Click to join now… and receive coupons from retailers YOU select from.  Get exclusive discounts and offers from area businesses and be the first to know about special contesting from NBC-40.  Just go to www.wtwc40.com and click on the tab for the NBC-40 Text Club – then select which businesses and offers you wish to recieve text coupons and information from… it’s EASY!  If you are a business looking to grow by taking advantage of new and cutting edge ways to engage with your customers – contact me today!  I’d be happy to customize a program just for you.

NBC-40 IS ‘Your Entertainment Station’!

Stanton Ross
Account Manager
NBC-40 / WTWC-TV
850-459-9922
sross@sbgnet.com

The 2010 Winter Olympics start with the Opening Ceremonies on February 12th… Vancouver Canada is the host of what looks to be a spectacular showcase of athletic talent!  NBC will capture all of the action and bring it into your living room.  This two week event will be sure to have a LARGE captive audience… what an advertising opportunity.  It’s not just for those big national companies either.  Let me show you how advertising in the 2010 Olympics can bring your company excellent exposure and help you put your sales in MOTION!

Contact me today and I’ll show you how you can win with NBC-40!

Stanton Ross
Account Manager
850-459-9922

NBC-40 has prepared this guide to give people in the area quality information on how to not only prepare for a hurricane – but also what to do during a named storm.  There’s also plenty of tips on what to do after a storm.  Helpful numbers and websites are all included.  Go to www.wtwc40.com and review it today!  No need to remember where you put it — it’s all online for you!  From your friends at NBC-40 – please be safe and BE PREPARED.

For Advertising opportunities in the hurricane guide or other NBC-40 programs – contact Stanton Ross / Account Manager at sross@sbgnet.com