Okay...I'm a bit frustrated at the moment. My manager is MIA on purpose. I've been on this job for 2 months. It's taken me that long to figure out that a good following and a solid network of leads is nonexistent throughout the entire station, especially with sales. They didn't say it at first but it feels like she hired me to be their "pusher man"!!
I'm serious!
Remember that Curtis Mayfield hit "Pusher Man"? Not exactly quality material for my belief system, but it's an interesting concept for sales- if you can bring your mind to think of it that way. Yes. I'm a free thinker. Hey- being a radio sales "pusher-man" or woman, is not necessarily a bad thing! In a sense, Radio Sales professionals are "pushers" of a various advertising options for their company/station. The problem in my case is when she hired me...there was nothing to "push" and no solid leads! I've been spending this time building relationships with business owners and church pastors by volunteering at their functions and fundraisers as a general helper (helping serve food and clean up). The result: more station awareness, open-door communication with local business owners and what's most important to my station manager and the station accountant...$0. Up until now they've been running the station off of donations mostly from people who probably never did, or no longer see the value in advertising on our station. The foundation laid by a team with short term thinking. (sigh)
Suggestions?
Tiffany, I sent you a message with a package that I have been selling here. October is Clergy Appreciation Month .. you can see the package and just change the details to fit your specific needs. This might help to get people listening, also might introduce you to business owners as they would probably do something to promote their Pastor even if they didn't have faith in your station.
Your networking sounds great, keep it up. See if maybe you can do a live broadcast at one of these functions .. even if you have to call in and have a guy on the board record it. Give some things away at the event and announce this on air .."for the next 30 minutes ... or ... Until 2 p.m." People will hear, they show up, you get pictures, put them on your station Face Book page. Keep focusing forward and stay in touch.
Jerry
Will do!
Thanks again!
Tiffany,
You might also want to try an entirely different approach - as an experiment.
Pick one individual to interview about his work, its highs and lows, its frustrations and disappointments as well as its redeeming moments and unmitigated successes (the things that make the adversity worthwhile). Ask him/her to illustrate with specific examples.
Do the same thing with one or more customers or parishioners, get them to talk about the individual or business from their perspective as one receiving a benefit.
Take the recorded material and (with the help of a station production person) weave the relevant sound bites into one or more "story" spots, told in the voices of the individuals themselves, natural and unforced.
Here's an example of the type of thing I'm trying to describe. There's no "magic formula" - just trying to open up a category that might be useful to you.
When you present a powerful campaign idea, illustrated effectively with a demo, your credibility shoots skyward. It's no longer about your station, your audience, your rates, or anything else like that. It's all about what YOU bring to the table for the client.
Hope this is helpful.
Jerry,
Could I get that package too?
Excellent idea, Rod! Thanks.
