I found out because my article, How to Start an Advertising Campaign, just got denied from a ezine -article website because they said it wasn’t original content! Now I look like the thief and I am being penalized when I am a victim of plagiarism.

I worked really hard on this article & all of the others too & I would never dream of stealing someone else’s work & can’t imagine that someone else would do that, but they did.

Here is the page with my stolen content on it: http://www.adsplusonline.com/howeffective.html

I emailed this company and demanded that they remove my content immediately.

The scary thing is that it’s so easy for anyone to steal copy from another website & use as their own. Which leads me to many questions:

• How can you prove who the original author is?
• How can I prevent this from happening again?
• How do you know when someone is illegally using your content?

Has anyone had a similar problem? What did you to resolve the issue?

What’s all the hype about anyway?

Interaction:

Social Marketing sites allow us to connect to people all over the world! Sure you can connect with people on-line via your company website and email, but social marketing sites take it much deeper than that.

You can easily find:

• old classmates
• people and businesses in a certain area
• business colleges
• people with the same interests and hobbies

Keeping in touch and sharing things is fast & easy. You just update your “status” and all of your friends can see it and comment on it.

Share Photos:

Most social marketing sites also allow you to post your own photos to share too. BPS has several billboard photos already posted.

Social Marketing Uses:

• Blog Posts: Post your latest blog entry on your social marketing sites & link it to your web page. Some sites automatically do this for you.
• Industry Related News / Trends: Share anything useful with your friends whether it’s a link to a web page, interesting article you read or video you like.
• Share Thoughts & Photos: Be different from your company website: Let your friends get to know you & your personality. Share things that you like & find interesting- you may find out that you have more in common with your friends than you knew.
• Discussions: Want to see what people think about an hot industry topic? Post a discussion on your social marketing site.
• Events & Special Promotions: You can keep all of your friend informed of all of your special events, sales, grand opening, new store locations, and much more. With facebook, you can even sent out electronic invitations to all of your friends or a selection of them.

Social Marketing Sites:

Here are some popular social marketing sites that we (BPS Outdoor Media) are listed on. Please take a look at our social marketing web pages & join us by becoming our friend.

www.facebook.com/bpsoutdoor

www.myspace.com/bpsoutdoor

www.twitter.com/bpsoutdoor

www.linkedin.com/in/bpsoutdoor

www.friendster.com/bpsoutdoor

Question: Do you use any of these social marketing sites in your advertising? If so, which ones do you use & why?

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Please take a moment to view 6 of my favorite articles that they are currently featuring on their website & vote for them (at the bottom below the links) this will help me stay at the top of the business list.

http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Selena_McIntyre

Two more of my articles have been accepted to

http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/selena-mcintyre/254268.htm please check them out here too.

Thanks

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Waycross...rates need lowering?

Marketing experts view recessions like this one as an opportunity to increase advertising and some even fill their competitors advertising spots.

One of the best kept secrets in advertising is…billboard advertising and now is the perfect time to invest in it.

Outdoor advertising costs:

• 80% less than television advertising
• 60% less than newspaper advertising
• 50% less than radio advertising

Corporate Co-ops for Outdoor Advertising:

Several National Companies have Outdoor Programs set up to help pay for the monthly billboard rent and or the production. Get in touch with your Marketing Department to find out more.

Billboards reach 93% of all Americans! So don’t wait any longer, use this current recession to your advantage by stepping up your marketing and grabbing the good billboards before your competitor does.

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• advertising and marketing tips and trends
• design tips from the pros
• industry news
• our latest blog post delivered to your email
• first options on billboards that have just become available
• and much more…

Outdoor Advertising Trends has a brand new design and some new features like:

Feature Billboard(s):

In the past we listed all of our available billboards & gave brief information about them. Now we will focus on a few billboards of the best signs that have just become available for rent. These billboards will still have advertisers on them so this newsletter will be the only way you’ll know of the signs availability. Use this feature to your advantage to grab the sign before your competitor does.

We will also include more detailed information about the featured billboards like:

• DEC’s
• Rates
• Photos
• Location Description and size
• Contact information for the salesmen in charge of the billboard.

Articles / Blog Posts:

Over many years (even decades) we have learned many different tips and advertising/design techniques that can save you time and money. As advertising changes now and in the future, we use our experiences, our clients experiences, education, and advertising knowledge to keep you updated to the industry changes and things we learn.

Some of our articles have been featured in:

Magazines:

• Outdoor Advertising Magazine
• Outdoor~Today
• B&B - The Spirit of Civilization Magazine

On-line:

• www.bpubs.com - The Business Publication Search Engine
• www.sovereignmediajp.com
• http://diecoadvertising.com/Outdoor_Articles.html
• http://www.zorra.gendersquare.org/Z-Doc/artikels.htm
• http://www.hariesdesign.com/new/artikelreferensi/referensi/efek-psikologi-dari-iklan
• http://www.startaid.com/review/5204383/BPS-Outdoor-Advertising-Bright-futures-begin-with-billboards.html

Newsletters:

• www.outdoorbillboard.com
• http://www.nigeriansinamerica.com/vbulletin/archive/index.php/t-13103.html

Interview:

We were interviewed by Winston Marsh in July 2006 about billboards, designs, and colors to use & not use on billboards. http://www.winstonmarsh.com.au/subscriber/jul06/howtousecolours.htm

Sign up today and see what all the hype is about:

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El Cazador's Billboard

About two years ago I was designing an billboard ad for a local Mexican Restaurant that had just changed owners and wasn’t doing very well. I didn’t do anything any different for this restaurant & had never even been there before. The owner loved my work so much that he wanted me to make matching business cards for him, which is something we normally don’t do, but for some reason we did this time. The owner came by to see a proof & loved it & his billboards that I did for him so much. He was sthrilled that we were willing to do something out of the ordinary to help him out and was so happy with the artwork I did for him, that he told me to come by his restaurant & he’d buy my lunch. So my husband and I went by there & loved the food & the atmosphere. They bought both of our lunches that day and he didn’t have to. We were happy because we just had a really good lunch and didn’t even pay for any of it.

We came back shortly after that and still go there at least once a week. We started bringing friends, family and co-workers with us. Now everyone we brought are bringing people here and those people are bringing more people. Two years later, the place is always packed and it all started from one “free lunch” (and a few billboards.)

I’m definitely not saying to start giving things away to everyone, but small things do matter & can make a huge difference. Never underestimate the power of kindness. Treat everyone special even if they aren’t current customers. Talk to people you see on a regular basis (dentist, teacher, vendor, neighbor, etc.) about your business and give them coupons , discounts or even freebies ocassionally. You never know how things will turn out. The best type and most poweful type of advertising is Free.

State Farm's Eco-Flex Poster

30-sheet posters have seen better days as they constantly decrease to make room for the more environmental friendly “eco-poster” also known as “single sheet posters.”

These new posters are made of polyethylene (PE) susbtrates which is the most commonly recycled plastic in the world. Billboard eco-flexs are now 100% recyclable and are be used to make railroad ties.

These new single-sheet posters look just as good if not better than traditional 30-sheet posters. They’re printed with the quality of flex vinyls but are much lighter. However, eco-flexs do not last as long as a vinyls, but the prices are comparable between the two.

The “eco poster” has many advantages such as:

• it is very lightweight
• durable
• can be installed in damp weather (Unlike traditional posters)
• lasts longer than 30-sheets
• is printed as 1 whole sheet instead of 30 separate sheets
• can be relocated if needed

Wendy's Eco-Flex Poster

BPS currently has three clients that are taking advantage of the single sheet posters. One of these clients, State Farm, has been up for two months with out any problems and still looks great. Another client wanted to change locations of his billboard and was able to do so with the eco flex while a standard poster would not have been capable of moving since it’s glued down.

Eco-Flex Posters are the future of outdoor advertising but are still very new. We’d love to hear your thoughts about the new trend & your experiences with single-sheet posters.

For More information, please check out some other informative websites:

http://www.eco-flexx.com/

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/11/ecoflexx_a_more.php

http://www.greenzer.com/blog/tag/eco-flexx-billboards

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Insurance Unlimited

Yesterday, April 9, 2009, the very first Hispanic Billboard went up in Tifton Georgia! This billboard is located on Highway 319 South and McCormick Drive in Tifton, Georgia.

The billboard translates to “Protect your car and your pocket too.” This sign advertises for Insurance Unlimited and was designed by Progressive Insurances’s National Art Department.

There were 15,060 residents in Tifton and only 7.56% of Tifton’s population is Hispanic, according to the 2000 Census Bureau.

What do you think about this ad? Is this the sign of a new trend? How effective do you think this ad will be?

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Please remember that each type of media is different, so it is not a good idea to use a newspaper advertisement on a billboard. After all you wouldn’t wear your pajamas to church or a fancy dinner would you?

There are several different aspects of billboard advertisements. This article will tell you several designing tips to help you create a perfect billboard ad.

On average, a billboard is only viewed for 7 seconds! This is why it is very important to state your message as quick as possible.

A good rule is to use about 8 to 10 words in your entire ad! Your message must be very short so it can be easily read by the people driving 60 to 75 miles per hour by your sign. This is why it is very important to only include the most important information on a billboard.

Your billboard ad should include:

• The name of your business
• Contact Information: Telephone number, Web-Site Address, and or Physical Address
• A brief amount of directional information that can lead people from the billboard to your business.

You may also include:

• A brief description of your company
• A slogan - Try to make your slogan easy to understand, and be sure that it relates to your product. (Learn more about slogans)
• Benefits of your product: What does your product have that your competitors similar product does not have? How is your product better than your competitor? The answers to these questions are your most important benefits.

* Remember to use as few words as possible. Dwelling on one particular area will bore potential customers. A simple, catchy, easy to read ad will be remembered for a long time.

Size is also very important. Your copy must be big and clear in order to be read easily. Most people make their name bigger and bolder than everything else so it will stand out. A good general rule for the copy sizes is make your name at least 3 feet tall, and the rest of the copy at least 2 feet tall.

Use a font that is very clear, and easy to read. If you have to look at a word(s) for longer than 3 seconds, it is not clear enough. Thick letter styles are also more effective than thin, fancy fonts. Be creative with your fonts, but make sure they can be read easily and quickly.

Chick-fil-A billboard photo

Billboard Graphics:

Of course you can choose common graphics, like a photograph of your building, or if you sell cars, put a picture of your best seller on your billboard. These advertisements will work, but unique, creative billboards will get the most attention. Use a graphic that will make people turn around and take a second look at your ad. An excellent example of this is Chick-Fil-A’s billboard that has cows painting “Brake 4 Chikin” on a billboard.

No matter what type of graphics you decide to put on your billboard, be sure they are big enough to be seen easily from the road at extremely fast speeds. The higher the speed limit is, the bigger your graphics need to be. If your object is very complex or detailed, it needs to be big, but if it is something that can be easily recognized like fruit, it doesn’t have to be as big.

There are no correct or incorrect colors to use on billboards. Yellow and red are great colors for important information because they are attention getters. However, black and yellow ads get the most results.

One color rule is to contrast the background and the copy. For example, if your background is dark, use light copy and vice versa. Don’t put red copy on an orange background because these colors are too similar you will never see or be able to read the text.

Another good idea is to alternate your colors. An example of this is to have a dark background with one line of yellow text, the next line in white text, and then yellow text, and so on.

Be creative with colors. Don’t be afraid to blend your background or add an occasional outline or drop shadow. You must be careful don’t used too many colors, outlines, etc. because this will make your advertisement harder to read. Visual clutter is one of the most common design mistakes. Chaotic looking billboards will cause people to look away.

Also try to use colors that appeal to your target audience.

Zaxby

Simplicity:

By now you should have all the information you need and more. You’ll need to present the entire ad as simply and clutter-free as possible.

Simplifying things may mean that you have to prioritize things and only keep the most important items. This will not be an easy task, but it is definitely the most important one.

Now that you know how to design a money making ad, don’t forget to tell your potential customer how to contact you and, or your business.

Don’t try to make your ad appeal to everyone. Design your layout so it will appeal to your target market. Your ad response rate will be greater this way.

Proof-read Ask someone else to look at your ad. Find out if any part of your advertisement is unclear or confusing to them. You can also ask them what information they see at a quick glance. Listen to their first comments very carefully. After all, billboards aren’t allowed enough time for much more than a first impression.

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Chick-fil-A Billboard in Waycross Georgia

Secret #1 - Simplicity

This is a very powerful yet most overlooked rule of design. The truth is that a clean, crisp, non-cluttered ad will outperform a cluttered, hard to read ad.

The main purpose of an ad is to get people to purchase your product or service. The next objective of an ad is make people want to learn more about your product or service.

Benefits sell, features do not!

People want to know what’s in it for them. They would rather know how your product can help them (benefits) instead of what your product can do (features.)

For example, let’s say you are a real estate agent and your company has just won the best real estate award possible. I know you’re proud of the award and you should be, but please don’t make the award a big part of your ads. People that are buying or selling property would rather know that your agency will list their property on-line for convince and to time-savings.

Don’t try to make your ad appeal to everyone. Design your layout so it will appeal to your target market. Your ad response rate will be greater this way.

Remember each of us is in a different stages of life, and we all want different things. Once you find out what stage of life your target market is in, then you can make your ads reflect their emotional status.

Silhouettes Billboard

Secret #4 - Emotional Appeal

Design your ads in a way that will show consumers how your product or service will make them feel. This is a very effective marketing technique because ads us subliminal messages that will make us feel a certain way about your product or service.

Kay’s Jewelers ads are a good example of this technique. These ads always show happy people that exchange jewelry, hugs and kisses. When we view or hear these ads, we feel warm, loving, and happy. After seeing these ads several times, we start to associate warm, loving and happy feelings towards Kay Jewelers.

Ever since I was little, I was always told to “color inside of the lines” and “you have to color apples red instead of blue.” When I colored things the same way every else did, my work got lost in the crowd because it looked the same as everyone else’s.

In advertising the rules have changed. It’s ok to be different; in fact it’s great to “think outside of the box.” Some of the best advertisements are so effective because they are completely different from all the other ads.

Decide what is the single most important part of your ad. Then find a way to make it stand out more than anything else. Arrange the ad so the human eye will see the most important item first, then the second most important item, and so on.

Colorful Billboard in Blackshear, Georgia

Secret #6 - Colors

According to psychology.about.com, “Psychologists have suggested that color impression can account for 60% of the acceptance or rejection of that product or service.” The human eye is attracted to the colors red and yellow before any other color. Yellow backgrounds with black text is the most effective color combination.

Each color has different meanings to different cultures. For advertising purposes, it is extremely important to design your ads in a way that appeals to your target market. Try to choose colors that will compliment the message you are sending to your consumers.

Use as little words as possible. Try to use words that catch attention like powerful, amazing, shocking, and revealing.

Be sure the copy you use will be legible for your audience. Use fonts that are clear, easy to read and big enough for each particular ad.

Also be sure your ads have a smooth flow. Viewers may get confused if your ads constantly jump from one topic to another.

An ad will not be effective if no one believes it. You can have the most creative, colorful, and eye-catching ad, but if people read your ad and say “Yeah, Right,” than your ad will not be profitable. For example, an ad that says “Earn $100,000 a week with XYZ product” will not be as believable as an ad that says “Increase your sales by 20% with XYZ product.”

People always want help with things and are always looking for easier ways to do things. Make your ads help them and solve a certain problem your consumers have.

Try to start your ads with a question that allows your product to be the answer. Here are a common few examples:

• “Is your cold keeping you up all night?”
• “Are you tired watching your weight?”
• “Do you want to be your own boss?”
• “Is your cellular phone bill as low as possible?”
• “Are you unhappy with your current internet service?”

McDonalds classic directional sign

Secret #10 - Call to Action

Don’t forget to tell people what you want them to do after they see your ad. Don’t be afraid to come right out and say “Order Now,” “Call Today!” or “Visit our web-site at www.bpsoutdoor.com.”

Don’t forget to put your name and / or logo on all your ads, letterhead, envelopes and anything else your customers / potential customers will see. Make sure they are big enough to be seen. There’s nothing worse than seeing a great ad and wondering who the advertiser was.

Make sure your graphics, words, slogans, and so on make sense when used together. If your viewers have to ask what your ad has to do with your product than it won’t be effective.

Successful ads make a lasting impression on everyone. Give your ads something special and unique that will help make your ads memorable.

Good examples of this are: The AFLAC duck, the “Whats up?” telephone commercials, Wendy’s “Where’s the beef?” from the 80’s, and Verizon’s “Can you hear me now?” commercials.

Secret #14 - Repetition

Your ads will look more professional if you use the same fonts and colors as often as possible.

The average person must see an ad 7 times before they remember it. Once you’ve found an ad that produces results, use it everywhere and as often as possible. This will brand your ad into consumers minds.

Suggestions / Comments / Questions are welcomed. We want to know what you think makes an ad effective.

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