Paul Finebaum Speaking at Dothan Opera House

Leading Authority in Southern Sports Coming to Dothan

(DOTHAN, AL.)- Mike Schmitz Automotive Group presents ‘An Evening with Paul Finebaum’ benefiting the Wiregrass Children’s Home on Tuesday, August 14. The event features a Meet & Greet at The Grand on Foster followed by a speaking engagement and lively Q & A session at the Dothan Opera House.

Ticket pricing for the 7:00 p.m. Finebaum main event is $50 for floor seating and $25 for balcony seating. The Meet and Greet is at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are $150 each or $500 for a package of 4 and include: heavy hors d’Oeuvres, two drinks, photo opportunities and priority seating during the main event (only 100 tickets are available for the Meet and Greet). Tickets are available through the Dothan Civic Center and all ticket sales will benefit the Wiregrass Children’s Home.

Finebaum has been writing and commentating on regional and national sports in the South for over 20 years and his syndicated radio show is heard throughout the Southeast on 27 affiliates, including Dothan’s AM 560 and 100.1 FM. The Finebaum Show is also heard nationwide on Sirius XM – Ch. 91.

He began his career in 1980 with the Birmingham Post-Herald and since then has been awarded over 250 national, regional and area sports-writing awards. Finebaum’s articles have appeared in national publications including the New York Times, Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News. During the college football season he also writes a weekly column for SI.com (Sports Illustrated).

Finebaum is a frequent guest on the ESPN TV show “Outside The Lines.” He’s also appeared on CNN’s Larry King Live and the famed TV show “60 Minutes” on CBS.

Tom Ziegenfelder, Wiregrass Children’s Home board member, is excited to have Finebaum come to town to help raise money for a great, local organization.

“I am looking forward to having Mr. Finebaum in town for a great event that will help raise money for an important cause,” says Ziegenfelder. “The Wiregrass Children’s Home gives children the chance for a brighter future by offering children the parental guidance, love and support they are without.”

For more information on the event, call Whittaker Marketing at 334-673-1010 or visit www.WiregrassChildrensHome.org. For ticketing information, call the Dothan Civic Center Box Office at 334.615.3175 or to purchase tickets online visit www.DothanCivicCenter.org.

ABOUT PAUL FINEBAUM

Paul Finebaum has been the leading authority in Southern sports for over 20 years through writing and commentating on regional and national sports issues.  Finebaum began his career in 1980 with the Birmingham Post-Herald and since then has earned over 250 national, regional and area sports-writing awards. His articles have appeared in national publications including the New York Times, Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News.

Finebaum’s career in radio also began in Birmingham in the 1980’s, and his popular radio program arrived at WERC in 1993. This show is not only the most listened show in the state of Alabama, but has also won numerous broadcasting awards. For the extended version of Paul Finebaum’s biography, please visit www.Finebaum.com.

ABOUT WIREGRASS CHILDREN’S HOME

The Wiregrass Children’s Home provides a safe haven for neglected and abused children throughout seven counties in the Wiregrass area of Southeast Alabama. The home offers these children the loving support they desperately need in the midst of crisis, as well as a window of hope and promise for tomorrow. For more information about the Wiregrass Children’s Home, visit www.wiregrasschildrenshome.org.

ABOUT MIKE SCHMITZ AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

Dothan’s Mayor, Mike Schmitz, formed Mike Schmitz Automotive Group in 1978. Schmitz owns the Hyundai, Mazda, and Mercedes-Benz franchises as Mike Schmitz Automotive Group in Dothan. All of the Schmitz dealerships have won numerous factory and sales awards for customer satisfaction and having sold nearly 3,000 new and used vehicles annually. In 2008, Mike Schmitz was Alabama’s recipient of what is considered the auto industry’s most prestigious retail honor, the TIME Quality Dealer Award. For more information on the Mike Schmitz Automotive Group, please visit www.MercedesBenzofDothan.com. For a complete biography on Dothan’s Mayor, Mike Schmitz, visit http://www3.dothan.org/bio.html.

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Even if you aren’t using Pinterest, you have at least heard of the fastest growing social media platform. Over the past few weeks, Pinterest has updated its Terms of Service and Policies to better reflect the direction the company is heading. To inform “pinners” of these changes, the Pinterest Team sent out an e-mail detailing the most important changes. Here they are…

• The original Terms of Service stated that by posting content to Pinterest, you grant Pinterest permission to sell your content. The Pinterest Team agreed selling content was not their intention, so they have removed this from their Terms of Service.

• Pinterest will no longer allow pins that explicitly encourage self-harm or self-abuse.

• In order to make sure alleged copyright or trademark infringements do not occur, the Pinterest Team released simpler tools for anyone who tries to report infringements.

• The Pinterest Team also added language to help pave the way for new features such as Pinterest API and Private Pinboards.

Changes will take effect on April 6, and can be viewed on the Pinterest website.

What do you think about the new changes? Do you agree the changes will help position Pinterest in the direction it wants to head?

In an earlier post I wrote about the fun, new branding strategy J.C. Penney was implementing. A new re-design of the catalog, logo and website. A new pricing strategy excluding coupons, weekend sales and no more of that “.99” at the end of a price tag. I applauded J.C. Penney for taking a risk and growing with their target audience. I even said corporations and organizations could learn from J.C. Penney.

I still think the strategy behind the new branding is awesome, and I still agree J.C. Penney had to change in order to grow with its target market. However, the key to a new branding strategy is make sure the new strategy is implemented correctly in your stores and with your employees. Not just on paper.

The follow through at J.C. Penney stores could be better. Prices are a mess; everything is out of order and even the employees seem to be down.  It is very important for corporations and organizations to remember the importance of internal marketing. Make sure your employees are onboard with a change, and more importantly they understand why the change is taking place. Also, before you launch a new branding strategy, make sure the stores are ready for the crowds, questions and new prices. Your new brand could look awesome on paper, but if it is not followed through to your customers , the brand looses its meaning.

Every branding change in a company is going to have kinks to work out along the way, and customers are going to understand. The key is try to figure out what the kinks are before you launch your new brand, so you can be prepared for them.

What if I told you there was a one-stop shop for learning how to use public relations in your business? What if I told you this one-stop shop allowed you to learn about PR while staying warm and comfy in your pajamas? Yes, you read right-your pajamas! Well, you’re in luck my friend! This one-stop shop does exist, and is known as PR in Your Pajamas.

PR in Your Pajamas is an amazing blog where entrepreneurs, small business owners and those curious to learn more about do-it-yourself PR are able to come and find a ton of information on how to successfully use PR in a business. Elena Verlee is the mastermind behind PR in Your Pajamas, and is also the founder of Cross Boarder Communications.

Elena provides posts, tips and products to help you learn about the world of PR and the importance of having PR in your business. You can ask Elena questions, leave comments and give feedback.

PR is a crucial part of a business, but unfortunately it can be moved to the bottom of the pile and not budgeted for. However, with PR in Your Pajamas you have no excuse for not using PR to help promote and grow your business! If you have some time, I would recommend you go check it out! Make sure you come back and tell us what you think!

If you haven’t seen it already-you will soon. A more than 110-year-old store has decided to change its marketing strategy to reach a new market, as well as, continue its relationship with its loyal customers.

On February 1 J.C. Penney stores began its implementation of a new logo, new pricing, new clothing styles and a new store look. If you haven’t seen it-check it out!

According to J.C. Penney company news, the president of the store said they are redefining the brand to become a store for all American’s by offering them an experience they can’t get anywhere else.

So far, I think they are doing a great job.

The new look of the catalog, website and logo are clean, bright and trendy. The new pricing strategy includes everyday prices, month long values and best prices. According to the February catalog, there will be no need for coupons and weekend sales. Instead,  J.C. Penney will have month long sales and on the first and third Friday of the month the prices will be marked down even lower.

Yes, what J.C. Penney did with its marketing strategy was a risk, but then again, isn’t every change a risk? I believe corporations and organizations can learn from J.C. Penney.  It is important for a company to know it is never too late for a change. Even if you have been around for over 100 years.

The only way a company will continue to succeed is by growing with its target audience. If you don’t grow and adapt to your target audience, your company will have a hard time competing with those who do. It is important to research your target market and make sure you are giving them what they want and what they need.

If you haven’t already done so, go and check out the new marketing behind J.C. Penney. What do you think? Would you have done something different? We would love to hear your thoughts!

Are you still using a bulletin board at your office to post those important notes, phone numbers, photos of your favorite people, maybe even inspirational quotes, etc.? Does it make you crazy because no matter what you do to “organize” it, it’s a big cluttered mess? Imagine having all those important “things” posted online – and categorized for you! What?! Organized for me? Meet one of the latest social networks: Pinterest, the virtual pinboard. You have probably heard of it by now and if you haven’t, well, get ready. Your world is about to change.

When you create a profile on Pinterest, you then install the “pin it” button to pin images and videos from anywhere on the Internet onto personalized virtual bulletin boards. The boards are shared or followed by other Pinterest users. You can also link your “pins” to facebook.

“Ok, great, what does this have to do with my marketing and my business?,” you say? Businesses can showcase latest product ranges and highlight job positions. Businesses have the ability to add a price to pinned items and direct users to an online store. “Pin It” buttons can be added to products or articles. As of November 2011, Pinterest had nearly 5 million users. Pinterest could be a powerful business tool, depending on your target market. Eighty percent of Pinterest users are women, with more than half ages 25-44.

With the world of social media not slowing down, it’s important for businesses to keep up with the fast pace of the latest and greatest. Check it out: www.pinterest.com and get to pinning!

Hello everyone! My name is Aubrey Haskins and I am this week’s guest blogger for Whittaker Marketing, and honored to be here!

When thinking about what to write-I could not stop thinking about the way professionalism has changed over the years. I know you may be thinking “yeah so what,” but just hear me out. The change in professionalism has an affect on how marketers should reach those who are 18-to-25 years old.

When my parents were younger they never dared to talk or text on the phone while waiting in line at the store, listen to their IPod between classes or while at work, play Angry Birds while at a family gathering or wear anything but a suit to a job interview. Today, those things are becoming a part of life’s routine for the 18-to-25 year old market.

This age group is constantly flooded with information and new technology, which can create a challenge for marketers who are trying to reach them with a new product, worthy cause, etc. I should know-I am 22.

The key is for a marketer to break through the clutter, and get out of its old, professional ways. No, I don’t mean stop being respectful, ethical and morally professional, but step out of the box and do something the 18-to-25 year-old market would do. Create a cool phone app, setup a Facebook or Twitter account or start a blog.

If a marketer doesn’t step out of its old ways, even if just a little, it will miss the train and be left at the end of the tracks.  Think the way your target audience thinks, and you will be on the road to creating a successful marketing campaign!

Time and time again we meet with business owners, managers, and marketing department managers who have the same question. They want to know what they can do to increase market share. Many of them have great ideas for new products, new markets, new strategies.  Creativity is great, but sometimes, the best answer is staring them right in the face:  growing their current customers and solidifying those relationships.  After all, other companies would love for your customers to become disenchanted with you.

Two weeks ago I was reading the local newspaper (yes I still read the newspaper which may make you not value my “old-fashioned” opinion). Publix, my favorite grocery, was running their weekly ad.  What they were offering was an answer to my busy, overcrowded, time-starved home life. As a working mother, I struggle with preparing meals for my family because 1) I don’t like to cook. and 2) Let’s face it, the grocery is not where I want to spend my free time.  Well, what do you know, but Publix was thinking about me.  They offered a link: www.publix.com/mylist which offers menu planning, recipes, a checklist for your selections, and then – GET THIS:  You can type in your grocery’s address and your list will be organized according the layout of YOUR store.  Sounds like a time saving technique that I usually scratch out on the back of an old receipt, but they had made my task even easier.  And therefore, making it easier for me to choose Publix again.

Here’s the application part.  Listen to your customers. Think about them. What do they need from you? What’s on their wishlist? Try to find a way to make it easier for them to consistently give you their business.  Use social media or traditional advertising to spread your message. Give it a good effort and you might just be surprised to find your next marketing strategy – the one that helps you make second quarter numbers –  was only one aisle away

Social Media is the new “It” in business. That’s because you can use social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to directly connect and communicate with customers. But how can your business leverage social media to work for you? In this blog post we’ll cover 5 tips that you can use to ramp up your social media campaign and really make it POP.

1. Promote from the outside. Having a Facebook or Twitter account is one thing, but it’s worthless without Likes or followers. Promote your social media hub from the outside in your other marketing and advertising endeavors. Your social media information should appear everywhere your phone or web address appears: business cards, signs, brochures, radio or TV ads.
2. Think about the “What’s in it for me” (WIIFM) factor. Why would a customer want to follow you on Twitter or Like your Facebook page? Give people a reason. Some ideas: discounts, tips/tricks or even giving your customers a place where they can be heard—which leads to the next tip…
3. Feedback. Don’t just post and ignore what your customers have to say. Respond. That’s the beauty of social media. It’s so easy to communicate with your customers on a 1 on 1 basis and find out what they want/need.
4. Keep social media fun. People don’t want sales pitches crammed down their throats. Sure, it’s OK to pepper in sales, but give people useful information. Not only will this help your customers, but it’ll help you build a positive trustful relationship with them.
5. Don’t spam. Keep posting below three times a day. Too much posting and your followers will likely un-Like/un-follow you or hide your updates. Having your customers like or follow you is a privilege, don’t abuse it.

A QR Code

Have you noticed the odd-looking digital code that’s appearing everywhere? It’s called a QR code. So what is a QR code anyway?

QR codes are not only the new tech-savvy trend, but they can also be useful in helping market your business. A QR code, which stands for Quick Response code, is a special digital barcode that users can scan with their smart phones to perform a variety of tasks.

QR codes were originally used in Japan to track auto parts in manufacturing facilities. Today, however, QR codes are used more commonly in the business world to help communicate with your clients more efficiently.

For example, you can add a QR code to your business card that automatically enters all of your contact information into the user’s phone. You can use a QR code to link to your business on Google Maps. QR codes can also be used to direct a user to a website or Facebook page. And really, the possibilities are endless. The more creative the use of your QR code, the more people will want to use it.

So why use a QR code? QR codes bring you one step closer to your client by making it easier for the customer to reach you. It’s much easier to simply scan a code than to remember a phone number or web address. Not just that, but QR codes are fun to use.

To take advantage of a QR code, a user only needs a smart phone and QR code reader application – available for free.

You can create a free QR code for your business from websites such as www.qrcode.kaywa.com or www.qrstuff.com. You can even create QR codes using a QR code app on your smartphone. Both of these platforms make it easy to set up how the QR code works, whether it directs the user to a website or enters a phone number into their phone.

Want to learn how to set up a QR code marketing campaign? Call Whittaker Marketing today; we’ll make it happen!