I just got back from the ASI Dallas show and boy am I tired of jokes about cowboys. Since I’m currently staring down an inbox so full it’s actually come alive and is clearly thinking of ways to kill me, I thought I’d bang out a quick list of some of the things I learned in Dallas this year. Think of it as my last informative gift for you, before my sentient computer strangles me to death with my crummy iMouse, growling “WHY DON’T YOU HAVE EMAIL ON YOUR PHONE YET?”
The 10 Things I learned in Dallas
- Marketing: On average, men need 7 advertisement exposures or “touches” to become aware of an advertised item. Women need only 4. (Colin Graf, ASI’s marketing manager for supplier sales)
- Marketing: Marketing efforts can be divided into three basic categories: Customer acquisition, customer retention and brand awareness. A basic idea I know, but worth mentioning because, at least from my perspective, I rarely see discussion of customer retention programs. Plenty on branding and getting new business in the door, but I can think of few instances where I’ve spoken with distributors about work they’ve done to help clients retain or sell deeper to current customers. Maybe something worth thinking about.
- Squirrels: The squirrels in Texas have red bellies and underfur (as opposed to the white we have up on the East Coast).
- New Products: Companies are starting to sell water bottles with built-in filters, like these from Prime Line. As someone who has lived in a lot of places with awful water, I think these are just the best ever.
- Digital: QR are codes are officially everywhere. On products, on booth space, on every possible flier, booklet and guide. I feel like that anymore, if you want to have any traction with your QR codes, you’re going to have to be more creative than “Welp! Here’s my code thingy, please use it!”
- Digital: SMS marketing is becoming more popular and respected. Several companies were at the show selling SMS programs as their main offering, and they seemed to be getting a lot of attention from attendees.
- TV News Colors: The ABC news background colors, like their digital framing effects, story footers, etc., seemed to be all cast in red. It’s weird because in Jersey (and everywhere else I’ve been really) ABC news is always very blue-oriented. I would have assumed that color choices would have been uniform across networks, like how all Fox channels use red graphics, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. How weird right? I wonder why they chose to go with red (or blue for the tri-state area)?
- Pizza: The pizza in Dallas is not good. Sorry non-east coasters, but I did my research and have to confirm this tragic stereotype. Do not eat Texas pizza if you like yourself.
- Marketing: With digital marketing (things like QR codes, SMS or text marketing, etc.), your goal should be to deliver ideas that encourage interaction. (Chris Jenkins, CEO of Gotcha! Mobile Solutions)
- Trade Shows: ASI Dallas seemed to be a good show again this year. I talked to a decent amount of people and everyone seemed to be excited about the attendance levels and quality of the supplier attendees. If you’ve never been (and can afford the trek to Dallas), see if you can make it out next year.
Thanks for reading everyone. Until next week!
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MONDAY MIKE FACT: I have no idea what I’m going to have for lunch today.
