Aren’t we punny?!?!

Central Michigan Life, 436 Moore Hall, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859  989/774-3493   Fax 989/774-7805

A recent podcast by On the Media revealed Facebook marketing may not be as effective as many businesses think. First of all, the number of Facebook “likes” your company or brand has is not an accurate depiction of how many people will actually see, read, or interact with your posts.

Facebook has a complex system of determining what posts will show up on a person’s newsfeed based on what friends and brands that person typically interacts with the most. Therefore, if a person “likes” your brand, but then never clicks on, “likes,” or comments on your posts, your content will likely stop showing up in his or her newsfeed. Then, the only way he or she will see anything you post is by seeking out and visiting your page.

The podcast also stated only 42% of Facebook users believe “liking” a brand actually constitutes being a fan or showing preference for that brand. This means the majority of people “liking” your business on Facebook may not even care about it. They may simply “like” for the sake of “liking,” to enter a contest or sweepstakes, or try to get free stuff. Then, after that, they may block your posts or simply ignore them until they stop showing up.

You can have the most well thought-out, meaningful, and interesting posts, but if nobody sees them, especially your target audience, it is not very effective marketing.

Much research has also been done to try to determine the average value of a Facebook “like,” to understand how it compares in terms of traditional advertising dollars. However, according to the podcast, this research has provided no real answers or measurements.

While it can be tempting to start to rely solely on newer, cheaper media, such as Facebook for your marketing, it is not always the most effective way to reach your audiences and there is still not a great way to determine the value or impact of your social media campaign.

Therefore, a healthy mix of both traditional and new forms of media is usually the best way to approach your business’ marketing strategy. College newspapers, especially Central Michigan Life, still are the number one media choice for reaching that valuable 18-24 market you are after.

By: PR/Marketing Intern Amy Crockett

Source: http://www.onthemedia.org/2012/feb/03/little-thing-called/

To use a QR code, a consumer scans the code with his or her smartphone, like scanning a barcode, and the phone takes the user to a specified webpage. QR codes can be used on any printed or graphic material, including fliers, brochures, web pages, and newspaper advertisements.

College newspapers are some of the best places to print QR codes because these newspapers target and reach a younger audience. Members of the Millennial Generation are always connected through their devices and are always looking for new ways to interact with other people and with their favorite brands. It is not surprising, therefore, that studies have shown members of the Millennial Generation, many of which are today’s college students, are the biggest users of QR codes.

Here’s a quick look at how to effectively use QR codes in your newspaper ads.

What are the benefits of using a QR code?

QR codes can be used to drive traffic to an organization’s website or to link consumers to specific content the organization wants to emphasize in their advertisement. Linking consumers to product information pages or instructional videos can generate interest in your company or product. Linking consumers to event calendars, specials, or coupons can help to bring consumers into your business.

Using QR codes also makes your company or product more interactive, actually reaching out to consumers to bring them more detailed information and content. This can help consumers feel more connected to your brand and therefore more likely to keep coming back.

What should my QR code link to?

A study has shown that people are most likely to scan a QR code containing:

•A discount or coupon

•Additional product information

•Entry into a contest or sweepstakes

Make sure your code’s content is valuable to your consumer. Otherwise, they may feel like you have wasted their time and start view to your company or brand less favorably. It is also imperative that your code links to a mobile-friendly page so that users can easily access and view the content on their phones.

On a college campus where students are constantly connected, it is important to make sure they are staying connected to your brand. QR codes are a great way to do it.

Ask your CM LIFE account executive to help you set up your QR code. We can do it today, and include it on your next ad.

Sources: http://blog.oncampusadvertising.com/, http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/5-steps-to-a-successful-qr-code-marketing-campaign/ 

Wishing you all the best in 2012!

Never send a man to do a woman’s job… from CMLifeVideo on Vimeo.

Check out the best one here:  AUSTIN POWERS 

James Bond needs a new luxury pad from CMLifeVideo on Vimeo.

Or, do you prefer fun with STARSKY & HUTCH

We did some spoof’s of our favorite TV and movie detectives in honor of this year’s Housing Fair. These campy, 30-second videos played on CM LIFE’s Facebook page and on our Vimeo page. Are you looking for something fun and creative that we can do for you? Give us a call. We are itching to stretch our imagination!

Here is the full story:

General Motors has done some backpedaling after one of its new ads, which touts driving GM cars as a superior alternative to cycling, caused outrage across the Internet and on college campuses.

The offending ad, which is running in college newspapers throughout the country, features a young man struggling on a bicycle and shielding his face in embarrassment  from a young woman who looks on comfortably from her (presumably GM) car. The image sits under banner text that reads, “Reality Sucks.”

Next to that banner text, the ad states, “luckily the GM College Discount doesn’t.” The campaign’s tagline reads “Stop pedaling … Start driving.”

Featuring the ads in college newspapers might have seemed like a great idea at GM, considering the nature of the discount the company is offering. But the company seemed to forget that college campuses are a hotbed of cycling enthusiasts, many of whom aren’t too keen on car culture, or General Motors.

One professor at UCLA sent the ad to the editors of the website Bike Portland, who, in turn, published the harsh comments that GM might not want to hear.

“GM, the company that required us taxpayers to bail it out in 2009, is now biting the young people who bear and will bear the environment and health damage of its gas swilling ways,” the professor wrote. “While every driver in LA knows that the reality which truly “sucks” is the grid-locked, car-loaded, obesity-enhancing, stress-generating car-toxicity of simple commuting in this region.”

And it wasn’t just academics who were upset, with many cyclists taking to the Web to voice their complaints.

“Yes, GM has decided that it’s okay to make college students feel ashamed for riding bikes, a choice that’s almost certainly better for themselves, their schools and their communities … The ads suck, but I don’t need to tell you that,” blogger Alissa Walker wrote.

Soon, Twitter reposting of the email addresses of Selim Bingol, vice president global communications at GM, and  Mark L. Reuss, GM’s president became a trend among those peeved with the ad.

The company seemed to have realized the error of its ways quickly. Since Oct. 11, GM’s Twitter feed has been a stream of apologies to other Twitter users who have voiced their anger and distaste.

At least the company seems to be grabbing the attention of some of the right people. Cyclist Lance Armstrong  recently retweeted a GM announcement: “Wanted to let you know we have been listening to the community and decided to pull the ad from our rotation.”

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2011/10/gm-backpedals-on-anti-cycling-ad/#.TpeV34VhXWc.email

Tip #1:
Choose unique events to participate in. Your small business is located in Mt. Pleasant so why not take advantage of your biggest target market: Central Michigan University students. CMU hosts many unique events every semester that gives small businesses a chance to market and advertise themselves. Mainstage and Wares Fair are held every Fall semester. Each event gives your small business the opportunity to set up a booth and hand out samples, coupons, t-shirts, etc to thousands of CMU students. At an affordable $50 each to participate, you only use a small part of your promotional budget.

Tip #2:
Utilize Social Media. Today virtually every college student has a Facebook account and most access Facebook multiple times a day. Why not take of advantage of this FREE and easy way to reach college students? It is easy to create a Facebook page on your own, no need need to hire a professional website designer, all you need is a computer and Internet access. Facebook is easy to navigate and even easier to update. You can post on your business’s Facebook page every month, every week, every day, every hour, or even every minute if you chose to. You can post printable coupons for consumers to your Facebook page, display products and services, business hours, specials, contact info, and even a map so consumers know exactly where your business is located. Most college students are more apt to check your business Facebook page, rather than the phone book, yellow pages or other online sources. Facebook displays information about your business quickly in a clear and concise manner. Also, Facebook is easily accessed through smart phones so consumers can look at your business Facebook page from virtually anywhere. Another effective social media tool is Twitter. This is also a free service that can be easily created, maintained and updated. Twitter is only announcements or “tweets”, which are clear, concise statements that viewers can read quickly. When your business is having a sale or special event you can “tweet” about it on your Twitter page and say, for example, “All jeans buy one get one free today only!” Twitter is usually updated more frequently than Facebook because it is only tweets and is primarily used to inform consumers quickly. Twitter is a great way for consumers to learn about your business’s products, services, specials and other business information all at a glance through tweets. Twitter is also accessed via smart phones, so consumers can view your Twitter page while they’re on the go.

Tip #3:
Don’t forget about print advertising! Although social media has become a very popular and effective way to market and advertise your business, it still lacks the reader impact of print advertising. While most businesses average less than 500 “likes”, newspapers STILL have THOUSANDS of readers. Remember there are more than 20,000 students (not to mention faculty, staff and community readers) NOT getting your message via Facebook. CM LIFE publishes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday reaching more than 30,000 readers daily. The ad staff at CM LIFE has a menu of affordable advertising choices (browse some of the options while visiting this site today) to reach the CMU and Mt. Pleasant markets. From daily mighty-minis to full page ads, special promotional deals, online ads, rack and bus-shelter posters, CM LIFE offers packages to fit all range of budgets.

Tip #4:  Add targeted publications to your marketing plan. CM LIFE also offers Central Michigan Apartment Life and Campus Cash Coupon books as available options to target in on key markets. Each of these publications also has its own dedicated website that your business can utilize for promotional purposes. Central Michigan Apartment Life publishes every August, November and February and is distributed via campus and community rack locations, plus is mailed to new students and transfer students via the CMU Orientation the CMU Health Professions offices and CMU Graduate Studies program. www.centralmichiganapartments.com. Campus Cash Coupon book has been a staple on campus for more than 15 years. These books are published every September and February, and are distributed via events and racks and online via the campus cash website and Facebook promotion. (CM LIFE’s Facebook page is now at 7200+ likes, #2 in the country among college newspapers). Coupons are the most effective form of advertising because they are traceable. You will effectively market and advertise your business and attract new customers. Also, you will be able to track exactly how many coupons you get back from consumers and this will help you to decide if you want to keep using the same coupon or offer a different coupon the next time you advertise.

When it comes to effectively marketing and advertising your small business remember to stay creative, think outside the box, utilize social media, and always remember to take advantage of the creativity and reach of print advertising in all its forms!

So what’s the simple solution? Simplicity. Oftentimes, keeping your ad simple will help it stand out more because it will be more pleasing to the eye as well as easier to read, understand, and remember. An article from an advertising and marketing website, Marketing Minefield, gives 12 top tips for print advertising, several of which deal with keeping your ad simplified.

1.Use a simple layout.

Keeping a simple layout keeps your ad concise and helps it look polished. This can make your ad more visually appealing and draw readers in. It can also focus their attention on the main message of your advertisement. A busy layout with a lot going on can often distract readers from the overall point of your ad, or deter them from even reading it.

2.Focus on one proposition.

It is important to focus your ad on one idea, one key message that you want your reader to remember. While you have a lot of great information to get out there, it is too much to ask of your readers to remember every detail. Therefore, it is imperative to make your key message simple and obvious. It is also important to have every other element of your ad working to promote that key message and help it stand out.

3.Use color effectively.

Color is a great tool to use for your advertisements. Color ads stand out more amongst the black and white print of the newspaper, and therefore catch more people’s attention. However, while it is tempting to use many different colors in order to attract attention, it is more effective to choose and stick with just a few colors. If you have a great picture or image in your ad, try picking colors or accent colors out of that image to also use to color your text. This will help tie your ad together, making it more cohesive and visually appealing.

4.Use the same format and layout again and again. 

It may seem boring to use the same format and layout for your ads from week to week. However, using the same simple layout can help readers recognize and remember your ads. You can still change the key message of your ad from week to week, but keeping several elements of the ad the same can help continuously keep one image in readers’ minds. This can help readers remember your ad and help you develop a strong brand.

Sometimes, especially when it comes to print advertising, simpler is better. Americans see an estimated 3,000 advertising messages per day. Creating a clear, concise, and cohesive ad is one way to cut through the clutter and reach your audience effectively.

Reference: http://www.marketingminefield.co.uk/print-advertising-tips/

Ernie Zeigler, CMU Head Basketball Coach. “I read CM LIFE to stay in tune with what is going on with our students and community.” CM LIFE reader for 4 years.

Chelsie Hardcastle, 2010 CMU Pan-Hellenic president. “My favorite part of the paper is reading the sports section. That is the first thing I go to when I open CM LIFE and has been since I’ve been reading it. I like knowing the scores for all the games that were just recently played and being informed when I couldn’t make it to the actual game.” CM LIFE reader for 3 years.

Frank Cloutier, Public Relations Director, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. “I read CM LIFE for the sheer pleasure of keeping up with the happenings of the university and the cultural exchange. It is a very important part of our community.” CM LIFE reader for 15 years.

Pierre Banks, 2010 CMU IFC President. “I read CM LIFE to keep up with various issues on campus. As well as to stay current with Chip athletics. CM LIFE covers a lot of Greek related press and, of course, I love to read about that.” CM LIFE reader for 3 years.

Jessica Dillon, Communication Disorders Major, CMU junior, Lansing. “I started reading CM LIFE when I was a freshman. Originally, I would just grab it to do the crossword puzzles with my friends. When I was done with the puzzles, I started to browse the articles in the paper. CM LIFE was what got me involved and kept me educated for the 2008 Presidential election. I eventually was grabbing it every day because I always found something I was interested in. I’ve been reading CM LIFE ever since!” CM LIFE reader for 3 years.

Casey Smith, Cleat Repeat founder, CMU student. “I read CM LIFE because it keeps me up to date with everything going on around campus. It also gave Cleat Repeat the PR it needed to get off the ground.” CM LIFE reader for 4 years.

We are the next generation of truth-seekers and story-tellers. And we only get to practice and train because of the support of our local businesses. The students of Central Michigan Life want to thank our many Mount Pleasant advertisers who faithfully support our journalistic goals.

A MICROCOSM OF CAMPUS JOURNALISM
By Karen Houppert
THE WASHINGTON POST
April 10, 2011

It is 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 17, the night of the campus presidential debates, and the media are everywhere.

Two newspapers staffers coolly moderate the debate, a photographer prowls the periphery, one reporter tweets and an editor stands observing it all…(Click Here for Full Story)