I discovered TWO truths after the article ran. 1.) Little old ladies still read the paper. They made up about 90% of the offers of donations, calls and visits to my store. 2.) FREE publicity in the paper works, I still kind of doubt that true ads do.

SIDENOTE: In my market, our GANNETT owned paper has a well-read WEEEKEND section. Concerts and events that are incorporated into reader content and supported with ads do well as a rule. They also support events with a follow-up web site called Metromix.com.

Keep up the good work!

Ken

Ken

It doesn’t come down to do newspapers work to sell tickets. The question is do you get a return on the cost of newspaper ad? Yes. I believe newspaper ads can sell tickets, but I wouldn’t buy an ad at the retail cost they STILL expect you pay.

After years of newspaper hostility toward event marketers “We are the only game in town, and this is our annual rate which will go up 5% each year”. Now, after that abuse year after year, marketers are turning their back.

How many times have event marketers BEGGED ad departments for more affordable ways to buy ads. As I would tell my retail newspaper rep…”My event budget doesn’t increase year to year to handle your increases, find me a way to spend money with you.” And their response, “Sorry, just can’t do anything.” Or the classic, “I asked my boss, we just can’t get you any bonus inches.” Yet, EVERY OTHER PAGE would have some massive in-house ad. There would be money left on the table that they would turn down. I have countless examples of where I tried to spend money.

It has been a couple years since I had to buy newspaper, so I don’t know if attitudes are changing. All I know is that from the sales side, they deserve what is coming to them.

Unless they wake up and be flexible and honest with advertisers, they have no chance.

Brandon