Peter Levitan & Co.

The New Business of Advertising

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Video And An Advertising Agency Sales Pitch

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I’m in L.A. doing some work with agencies and a local micro-photo-series for my global The People project. While waiting to get started shooting on Venice Beach, I hit up the Social Media Marketing podcast – one of my long-term get-smarter podcasts. I landed on a really good one. I highly recommend that you listen to “How to Create Video Ad Funnels That Work.” 

I guarantee that the learning here could be applied to both your clients and your agency’s own sales program. Video rules – if done correctly. Here’s the podcast pitch from the host Michael Stelzner:

Thinking about creating more video ads? Wondering how to produce more effective social media video ads?

To explore how to create video ad funnels that work, I interview video ads expert Travis Chambers. His company, Chamber Media, specializes in creating scalable social video ads for clients such as Turkish Airlines, NordicTrack, and Yahoo.

I urge you to check it out. Especially if you want to learn from an ‘advertising agency’ that has separated itself from the mega-pack of zillions other advertising agencies.

But wait, there’s more…

The Chamber Media Website

The more is that I want to quickly highlight Chamber Media’s website.

They do a few things very right.

  • They have an unambiguous agency positioning that meets a clear market need.
  • I dig their concise opening sales pitch and so would potential clients: DRIVE MILLIONS IN PROFITABLE SALES WITH SCALABLE SOCIAL VIDEO ADS. They deliver the right words: millions, profitable sales, scalable and video ads.
  • They immediately go for the ask. The home page Work With Us button and the We’re Excited To Chat (as in friendly) contact page is aimed at driving leads. Chamber might ask a bit too many questions, but these are not required and helps the agency weed out low-spend low-value clients.
  • The Home Page goes right to strong cases and (!!!) results + ROI. ROI is in… pretty pictures, kinda, out.
  • They say what they do, list their clients, testimonials and show some very good press. How could you not say, “Yup, these guys are for real?”

It’s About Sales Baby

Way too many advertising agency websites do not sell. If you need some sales inspiration, head over to Chamber Media.

Me

A personal note: I am just getting started on my The People photo project. My goal is to shoot more portraits of more people on more continents than any other photographer. I will discuss this in detail in a future post. So far, I have over 300 portraits all shot with the same look = outside against a portable white background. I’ve now shot in China, Mexico, Selma, and L.A. Here are two from this week’s Venice Beach series. I think I’ll head back to Mexico with over 60 new portraits.

 

Just Watch This L2 Video

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Watch, Please

I hope you pay attention to L2. Great thinking, delivery and they got bought. There is learning here for any advertising agency that has something of value to share, wants to grow, make good bucks, stand out and get bought someday.

Here are L2’s 2018 predictions. Advertising is in there about 1/2 way.

My Book’s Video On Ad Agency Pitching

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My Book On Ad Agency Pitching – And, The Use Of Video To Sell It

TheLevitanPitch_COVER_Small-202x300A good and smart advertising friend is in the process of marketing his new book, “Rise Up: How To build A Socially Conscious Business”. Writing books is a good thing. He asked for some ideas on book marketing since I’ve published four books – two non-fiction and two photo books  – with another on its way.

Here is one big book marketing idea… Create an informational sales video for your book and get it up on your book’s Amazon page and… your book’s sales landing page. I put my video below to give you an example. However, here are a few more points.

  • Write a book to help sell your agency. Pick a subject that deals with your target market’s ‘pain points.’ My pain point, targeted at YOU, is how to win more new business pitches.
  • Your book will make you look like an expert and isn’t that what your future client is looing for?
  • The book does not have to be looooooong. Just, super smart and helpful. Look at how short many of Seth Godin’s books are
  • Use smart interviews with industry leaders and influencers to create content and make friends. About one-third of book is loaded with highly useful interviews.
  • Market the book in your inbound and outbound marketing programs. You know how to do this.
  • Repurpose and leverage the book’s content on your Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, blog pages.
  • Guest post on big industry websites to gain broad awareness and message reach.
  • Get your friends, like me, to help promote your book.
  • Use the book to get invited to speak at conferences. I am in April in L.A. speaking at Hannapin Marketing’s Hero Conference. It is the world’s largest PPC conference. My session is directed to digital marketing agencies: “Is PPC The Smartest Way To Sell Your Agency’s Services? Um, No.”
  • OK, one more link. here is my HubSpot presentation on why you should write a book …

My ad agency dedicated book, Buy This Book. Win More Pitches. (see above to purchase) just had its best sales month in January. I think that is because agency folks just like you thought hard over the holidays about how to grow your agency. As a FYI, in addition to books sales, I also get a large number of qualified leads for my consulting business at the start of the year. Looks like you guys have some pent up sales needs. Give ma a shout, I can help you get this whole process right.

OK, My Video

I asked Rebecca Armstrong, Managing director of Portland’s North agency to interview me. Easy!

 

4 Advertising Agencies That Get Video Marketing

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Does Your Advertising Agency Get Video Marketing?

Old-fashioned four legged TV set isolatedYou know video is a powerful marketing platform.

You know that people absorb more information from videos than from reading (Why? Maybe it’s our 2016 style mobile phone-driven ADHD…)

You know that video sells because you remember how much those mini shoe demo videos did to increase Zappos’ shoe sales. From a reelseo 2009 interview with Rico Nasol, Zappo’s Content Team Senior Manager: “Those videos are said to have a sales impact of 6 to 30% which has prompted Zappos to strive for 50,000 videos next year (they have about 8,000 currently). That will include 10 fully working studios for 2010 to handle all of it.”

You know that your current and future clients need to know that you know that video is a critical element of today’s advertising world.

You know that people will spend a lot less time looking at your website’s really cool graphics than your creative director thinks. You need to capture their attention – quickly and dramatically. You know that videos do that.

????

So, why don’t more agencies use video to sell themselves? Beats the heck out of me.

4 Advertising Agencies That Get Video Marketing

Here are four agencies that get video. Benchmark them.

By the way, I am not going to write a 750-word SEO-oriented blog post to support my thoughts. Just read my quick intro and watch the videos.

HawkSEM

HawkSEM is an L.A. based search engine marketing company. They lead their website with a video that immediately says… “HawkSEM in 90 Seconds”. They understand ADHD.

hawksem

 

FUNNELBOX

FUNNELBOX is a video marketing expert that sells itself via a wide range of informative videos about, yes, video marketing. They deliver these on their website, in their email program, and on YouTube. Even you can learn from them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewJS4Ma07cw

Brand Definition

Output PDX is a new video series from Portland and New York’s Brand Definition. This agency interviews leading Portland marketers to deliver smart thinking and to increase the brand recognition of… Brand Definition. Here is one of my favorite videos. Yes, its true.

Zulu Alpha Kilo

Finally, if you don’t think that video can help sell an advertising agency… visit Zulu Alpha Kilo and see why Zulo was named Ad Age Small Agency of The Year. Here, use their spec work video with your future cheapskate clients. I am sure that Zulo wouldn’t mind.

zulo

 

 

 

B.S. – Millennials Want Mobile Video Ads To Be On Every Device

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A Headline From ADWEEK: “Millennials Want Mobile Video Ads to Be Short and on Every Device”

voice-snyder-mobile-ads-hed-2015I know it’s Thanksgiving week and I should be in the spirit. But, I saw this headline and could only laugh at the insanity. The insanity of saying, get this…

Millennials Want Mobile Video Ads to Be Short and on Every Device

The key insane word is WANT. Millenials do not want “Mobile Video Ads to Be Short and on Every Device.” Why does ADWEEK perpetuate this B.S. (like who wants ads all over the place?) I don’t, you don’t and Millenials don’t. Headline copy like this does a major disservice to the advertising industry. I’ve written about the insanity of advertising ubiquity here.

logoOK, last point. The article that follows this headline does not even support the headline’s point. Read the article by Yahoos Andrew Snyder here. The article is about what works not what is wanted.

Happy Thanksgiving. I know you want that!