Who is going to know that your business exists unless YOU tell them about it, render the type of service and quality to get others talking about it or pay someone else to get the word out for you? And the quickest way to do that is to invest - yes, invest - in advertising.

But where should you advertise and how much of it should you do? How much should you spend? How often should you advertise? What form should it take?

Lots of questions. Let’s look at some of the answers. And please note: Every advertising plan is unique, so these answers are just possibilities - suggestions - and should not be construed as YOUR plan. You will need to investigate the possibilities for your product and your target market and come up with your own plan before you begin.

Where you advertise depends on your type of business and the area you want to cover. You might choose local magazines and newspapers, or publications that are distributed free at local supermarkets and other retail and private outlets. You might also consider radio spots or press releases to augment print ads, try online videos, banners, etc., take the plunge into social media or sponsor events in your community.

We’ve already established that advertising is essential to identifying you as a player in your market. How much advertising you do depends on your budget. You must decide how much you can afford in order to get your name out. Since advertising is an investment, you will need to put a pencil to your finances to determine how much you can spend. Once you’ve established an advertising budget, begin by contacting potential advertising outlets. Ask what they charge for various ad sizes. Ask about circulation numbers and deadlines for placement. Print ads will be priced by ad size, circulation numbers and, sometimes, the location of the ad within the publication. Keep in mind that ads usually cost more if they run in color.

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People You Need to Know, Inc. (PYNTK), which publishes metro Atlanta’s premier business spotlight publication is teaming up with the Spirit of Sweet Auburn (SOSA) for their 25th Annual Springfest, which attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees during its three-day (May 8-10), yearly event.

The Spirit of Sweet Auburn is an organization that was founded in 2001 by Charles E. Johnson for the purpose of fostering the redevelopment, branding and quality of life of the Sweet Auburn District.

The vision of SOSA is to restore Auburn Avenue to its place of prominence as “the greatest street on the planet,” build the world’s greatest promenade linking the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site to the Center for Civil and Human Rights, and to transform the Sweet Auburn Viaduct into a world-class destination, attracting both tourists and residents.

SOSA promotes the idea that the Spirit that built Auburn Avenue is a universal spirit. It is the same spirit that ended apartheid in South Africa, bought down the Berlin Wall, was demonstrated in Tiananmen Square and resulted in the election of Barack Obama.

Anthony “Spark Plug” Thomas, publisher of People You Need to Know says, “We’re proud to partner with the Spirit of Sweet Auburn because the goal at PYNTK is to help business people make a BIG SPLASH in metro Atlanta by giving them world-class recognition, and I know of no other event where we have an opportunity to strengthen our brand on such a large scale. I believe any corporation or organization could benefit immensely from the exposure this event will generate. In addition, as a historian, I would love to see the restoration of Auburn Avenue to a place of prominence.”

He continues, “I’d like to commend Mr. Charles Johnson and his wonderful staff for doing another spectacular job in bringing people together on one of the most famous streets in America and I also want them to know that all of their hard work is greatly appreciated.”

PYNTK will be the Silver Sponsor of the Business & Technology Expo during this huge event.

Every once in a while, I think our brand really needs a breath of fresh air.

For those who follow this blog, you probably remember this post from a while back. Anyway, I thought it was time to drag it out, polish it up and add a little more zest to it. Sooo, let’s move forward with giving our brand a boost…

The more we’re able to separate ourselves from the crowd, the more memorable our brand will become, thereby making us the only solution for the people who need our product or service. Our website, writing skills, blog, business cards, our overall presentation speaks a certain language to others; we must strive to make it a positive one that’s power-packed with pizzazz and punch!

Our verbal communication skills can be the key to our success because most people are AFRAID to stand up and speak to a crowd. Get out into your community and speak as much as possible. Tell people about what you have to offer, in a subtle way of course. Give them information they can use. If you need to step-up your confidence, join a club that can help you improve your speaking skills.

Put Six Degrees of Separation to use. It works. Dr. Ben Carson, Johns Hopkins’ world-renowned surgeon and author of Think Big, was gracious enough to endorse my book, Grow Through It And Lead. I didn’t have to know Dr. Carson’s home telephone number, meet him at a cocktail party or fly to his office in order to get him to read my book and write an endorsement. His secretary was willing to help me achieve my goal after she visited my website. (Once again, Women Make Things Happen!)

Get out and do something. Help other people. Take the focus off yourself by making a contribution and watch your network grow. Someone once said, the real purpose of networking is to have no agenda.

Ultimately, YOU are the brand. What you create is just a by-product. So crank it up, be creative, be bold, have fun and always, always look for ways to improve!

- “The Spark Plug”

Nike, Coke, Dell, Microsoft and many other big name companies rely on their brand to keep them in the minds of buyers. But you don’t have to be a large company in order to benefit from the power of branding. Learn the basics about branding and why it’s so important for your business’ development, growth and longevity!

Designs In Motion, Inc. prides itself in delivering engaging brand identity, creative print media, commercial advertising, marketing, web development, web hosting and more. Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Michael McClellan’s professional career spans from commercial printing, interactive training and e-commerce development. Listen to the interview he granted on Spark Plug Radio and begin to take your business to the next level and beyond.

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People You Need to Know (PYNTK) proudly welcomes Michael E. McClellan to the Network!

Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Michael E. McClellan, of Designs In Motion, Inc. brings with him more than 18 years of design and marketing experience. He has a passion to help companies large and small with their overall brand development. He earned his BFA in Graphic Design / Illustration, and was a member of The University of Tennessee football team from 1989 until 1991.

His company is a full-service creative design firm, specializing in the enhancement of your company’s external and internal communications. Whether it’s print media, video production for TV, audio for radio, helping his clients with a unique web presence, or helping to create that dynamic ad campaign, you can rest assured that Designs In Motion will make your business stand out from your competitors.

The company’s competitive edge is the ability to focus and visualize their client’s thoughts and give them strong visual communication tools that promote their business.

Designs In Motion’s expertise in the creative arena has enabled their clients to achieve significant increases in visibility and brand awareness. Founded in 1998, the company is committed to offering excellent value to its customers through enhanced design solutions and outstanding customer service.

Just think of them as your image makeover specialist.

Through print media, web design, radio, television, web applications, promotional design, direct-mail campaigns, advertising, and marketing services, Designs In Motion, Inc. has your brand identity covered.

They may not be the biggest firm in town, but at Designs In Motion, Inc., they say big ideas and great design solutions can come in small packages.

Michael is a stickler for simplistic yet creative design solutions. His firm is deeply rooted by his faith, and he knows that his creative skills come from a Higher power. His goal for his firm is to position Designs In Motion, Inc. as one of the top creative firms in the Southeast.

When he is not immersed in meetings or design projects, he enjoys spending time with his family, coaching his son’s sports teams, or playing duets with his daughter at her piano recitals.

Call Michael today and let his company start putting your designs in motion at 404-455-1696.

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