By Steve Lapa
President
Lapcom Communications Corp.
The calendar has officially changed. Hopefully your checks will start saying 2023 and it’s time to dig in and get back to work. Wait, does anyone still write checks? For sure your Q1 plan is complete and ready for action.
Let’s look at the first two major events in Q1, as each represents sales opportunities for virtually every radio format.
The Super Bowl is in five weeks. You don’t need to be selling sports talk radio or the gameday play-by-play to capitalize on the most-viewed sporting event in the media. The audience numbers connected to this event are now legendary. Nearly 1 billion viewers watched the 10 highest-rated TV broadcasts of the Super Bowl. As we sell the value and results of radio/audio, the TV numbers simply support the social impact of the event. Whether your radio station will broadcast the game or not, there is a sales opportunity for the seller pitching the right package to the right advertiser. This year the competition for local ad dollars will be heightened as we deal with inflation, recession, and lingering supply chain issues. The traditional “bars and cars,” big screen TV sales and even gameday gear-up may all be impacted at the local advertiser level. Sharpen your pencil and package creatively with all assets on board.
Valentine’s Day in six weeks. We are projected to spend nearly $ 24 billion on Valentine’s Day – or about $175 per person. That puts Valentine’s Day neck-and-neck with Mother’s Day. So, wining and dining, flowers, jewelry, spa day, greeting cards, gift certificates, it’s all part of this great tradition that has defined February for nearly 1,600 years. Yes, you can go back to the Romans for the first celebration. For sure the Romans had a way to promote the Valentine’s Day festivals that spread the word far and wide leading to the traditions we have today. The sales opportunity connected to Valentine’s Day is a simple four step process:
1. Cover the traditional categories.
2. Open your thinking to new opportunities.
3. Be ready to respond to “We sell out, anyway.”
4. Full asset packaging.
Getting back in the saddle and regaining your sales rhythm may take a few cranks of the engine. But like riding a bike, the muscle memory kicks in and before you know it, you’re coasting again. Happy Selling!
Steve Lapa is the president of Lapcom Communications Corp. based in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Lapcom is a media sales, marketing, and development consultancy. Contact Steve Lapa via email at: Steve@Lapcomventures.com