The BIGGEST Difference Between Local El Paso Business Ads and Super Bowl Ads (it’s not budget)
Small businesses may think that because airtime is expensive that they could never make those during Super Bowl. Small businesses would be WRONG! But that’s good news for you.
Super Bowl is also known for its commercials. It has grown in popularity because it makes it entertaining for people that may not be interested in football (great marketing opportunity). These commercials/ads have a few seconds to get you to REMEMBER their message. Small businesses may think that because the the airtime is expensive that you could never do a commercial like this. Small businesses would be WRONG! But that’s good news for you. Here are a few questions to ask yourself about Super Bowl commercials:
Which commercials do you remember the most?
What makes those commercials so memorable?
Do you need a large budget?
Is the message clear?
Does it solve a problem?
Did they ever explicitly ask you to BUY?
Are you approaching your ads the same way?
What is your audience remembering about your commercial/product?
What problem are you solving?
Let’s break them down a few of my most memorable commercials from this year (2023)
Tax Season
Farmer’s Dog
Bud Light on Hold
Tax Season
If you provide a service that isn’t flashy but is very necessary, this was a really good way to go about it. The commercial portrays that if you do your taxes with H&R Block, they make it so easy, that it will feel as joyous as Christmas. People will be just as excited to have “tax season” come around. Would you actually hold them to this standard? Of course not, but it is a good way of portraying the message since Christmas does have that significance of joy.
What makes this commercial memorable? It makes the product appear flashy and fun, for something that clearly does not have the reputation of being flashy or fun.
Do you need a large budget? Not necessarily. This could’ve been portrayed in a number of ways, but still delivering the same message.
Is the message clear? Yes. We make tax season so easy it’ll be joyous for you! Sometimes there’s a slogan that is just 2-3 words that makes you easily remember the message.
Does it solve a problem? Yes. It makes the mundane task of doing taxes “appear” more “fun.”
Did they ever explicitly ask you to BUY? NO! You are a spectator witnessing this, and makes you want to be a part of it. It simply IMPLIES what your life will be like after you buy.
Questions to ask yourself about your business.
Are you approaching your ads the same way?
What is your audience remembering about your commercial/product?
What problem are you solving?
Farmer’s Dog
The Farmer’s Dog commercial shows the life of a dog. From a puppy and how it coincides with the dog’s human family. As the commercial goes on you see the dog getting older… and older… and you’re expecting the inevitable 😭… but then it doesn’t…How is this dog still around…? Because of good nutrition, you get extra years to make memories 🤯
What makes this commercial memorable? Because we love dogs! More time with them is something we all want!
Do you need a large budget? No. This could’ve been portrayed in a number of ways, but still delivering the same message.
Is the message clear? Yes. Live longer by using our product and giving you the desired result of making more memories with them.
Does it solve a problem? Yes. That dogs have a shorter life span than we would want, this helps extends their life through healthy lifestyle.
Did they ever explicitly ask you to BUY? No. It simply IMPLIES what your life will be like after you buy. (Starting to see a pattern?)
Questions to ask yourself about your business.
Are you approaching your ads the same way?
What is your audience remembering about your commercial/product?
What problem are you solving?
Bud Light
This one caught me off guard because usually these commercials are at a party scene. “Typical” situations where you would be drinking. Hanging out with friends, celebrating, etc. This one also had the very mundane task of being put on hold. So what’s a good way to liven things up and make the time FEEL like it’s going faster? Have a drink! Before you know it, you’re having fun and forgot you were on hold.
What makes this commercial memorable? Very relatable task where we mindlessly wait to even talk to a real person
Do you need a large budget? No. This was shot in a living room.
Is the message clear? Yes. This product makes life temporarily more fun.
Does it solve a problem? Yes. This product makes life temporarily more fun.
Did they ever explicitly ask you to BUY? No. It Makes you remember the next time you’re in this situation. “Oh I wish I had X product that could’ve made this moment a little more tolerable. It simply IMPLIES what your life will be like after you buy. (Make them want it!)
Questions to ask yourself about your business.
Are you approaching your ads the same way?
What is your audience remembering about your commercial/product?
What problem are you solving?
Small Business Takeaways
What is the ONE element that El Paso businesses are doing that these DID NOT…?
…
BUY NOW!! Which is obviously very necessary for a business, but for what reason?! What problem are you solving? The Futur is always talking about how people like to buy, but don’t like being sold to. the internet has really changed this, because if we have a problem, we know how to search. Before the internet, we had to be told what type of problems businesses were solving.
The average age of a small business owner is 44. Gen-X. Commercials from decades ago were very different, but many of us have not broken out of that model.
If you build it, they will come. Not anymore. What problem are you solving? Some of the biggest companies that came out of the last decade were solving a problem.
Instagram - A social media platform that focused on images
Square - Making it easy to take card payments.
Spotify - Instead of having to buy music… you can RENT music.
Uber - Turning consumers into suppliers
Uber Eats (and other food delivery) - People want food, but don’t want to go out. There are drivers already out as Uber drivers.
Does this mean you have to invent some new app or totally change your business? No it just means you have to be more creative in the problems you are solving. And more than ever… people have all sorts of problems 😅.
Pick something you really relate to that your business may already be doing. Maybe this is why you got into the field to begin with. Focus THAT message. Do you have coffee shop, and you decided this because you didn’t like the way you were getting your coffee from somewhere else, so you’re trying to fix it. Focus THAT message. Better ingredients, more effective process, longer lasting, better prices. How do you make them want it? Reactions are a great way. Record reactions or have your customers send you reactions. You can offer an incentive if they send you a reaction. Free item or discount on their next visit.
Recap:
Have clear message…
That solves a problem…
And makes them want to be a part of it…(without having to tell them to BUY)
Now that you have focused your message. Plan an event around your new message. Here are some tips on planning events in El Paso.
What We All Want From El Paso Events
Events are beneficial to businesses for entering new markets, giving the community things to do, and to build stronger relationships in the community. But things can go south real quick if we don’t plan correctly. Here are some tips that will have people eagerly waiting for the next event.
Many times in El Paso we don’t hear about an event until after the fact. We see friends posting about the event they just attended, and we didn’t even know it was occurring. Sometimes even big events like a tour or big name artist. What’s worse is that we were available, and had nothing to do!
Other times, even if we do attend an event, it is poorly run, leaving us with lots of questions. Events are beneficial to businesses for entering new markets, giving the community things to do, and to build stronger relationships in the community. But things can go south real quick if we don’t plan correctly. Here are some tips that will have people eagerly waiting for the next event.
Announce and Advertising
Announce your event as soon as it is confirmed. If you don’t have all the details, simply state that details will be coming soon. This at least puts a bug in the pubilc’s ear that they need to watch out for this event. An online poll showed that if people are interested in an event, they would like to know WEEKS ahead of time. Depending on the size of the event, I would recommend 6 weeks for smaller events to 6 months for larger events.
Next step is to advertise. Advertising has definitely changed. There is a learning curve, but for the better. Advertising has become more efficient and more targeted.
Traditional vs Digital
You can get a billboard for an average of about $3,000. A TV/radio commercial for about $5-$500 per second of airtime depending on the reach of your area. This CAN reach a lot of people, but do they all need to be reached?
Although this sounds good in theory, it is better to accept that not everybody is going to be in your market. Would you air a commercial for women’s hygiene products to a male audience? Even if you aired to everybody, it is only being 50% effective (assuming women make up 50% of this audience).
This is how digital marketing is more effective. People share their interests, have formed behaviors and patterns on the platforms. When you place a digital ad, you have the ability to target these very specific pattern. Omni-Versal is constantly learning new techniques and strategies to make digital marketing more effective. If this is an area you are struggling with, and are in the El Paso, TX areas, contact us for a quote. The video below breaks down the main differences between traditional and digital.
Variety of ads
Once you start learning more details about your event, release them as you find out. This builds anticipation. As you start releasing info, it is more easily digestible. For example let’s say you are doing a themed event. You have confirmed a special guest. Run an ad based on this guest. You have confirmed a special activity, run an ad announcing this activity. You are releasing a new product for the event, run an ad announcing this product.
This helps target different markets. And you can start to see which one may be more popular and more in demand, and plan accordingly for it BEFORE the event. Digital ads offer you demographic info to help you understand what to expect.
Size of the Event
Something that can make an event terrible is being unprepared for the turnout. Especially if the venue is too small for the amount of people. It’s great to have a great turnout, but the lack of preparation can turn some people off to future events.
With your digital advertising, try to start getting a feel for how many people to expect. Are there a lot of interactions, such as commenting, and sharing. Ask questions to see the engagement. Facebook events gives people the option to let you know if they will be attending. Not everyone that claims they will attend will attend.
About 10-25% of people will not show up after saying they will. You can alsorequire a ticket, even if they are free. This can give you more information as to what to expect and plan accordingly.
Competing/Coinciding with Other Events
When you are going to plan an event, you have to research as to what else may be going on that day that can hurt or help out your event.
For example, let’s say you have a business downtown, and they are doing the lighting of the Christmas tree. You should have promos and products that go along with this event. This would not be a great time for you to do your Hawaiian night luau. People in the area are in a different mindset. Even if you had a people interested in an anti-Christmas party, would this be the best time and place to do it?
Another example is if there is another event going on that has the same market(customers). For example, if you are setting up an art event, are there any other art events that may pull from your event? Are your artists going to be torn between choosing your event or the other?
This is the reason movies won’t release if they know they have to compete with a blockbuster movie like a Marvel movie. Sometimes avoiding the release for several weeks because they know this will be pulling movie-goers.
Help Us Picture Ourselves at the Event
You need photos and video of your event or setting. If it is the first time doing an event, then you may not have video or photos of real people attending your event. Show pictures of the event location with decor set up for the event. Go LIVE on social media to showcase the venue or how it is going to transform.
I like to know what to expect from an event, and at times has been a deterrent if it is a location I have never been to, and there are no photos. It has also left a bad taste in my mouth if stock photography was used. Stock photography and video are generic photos and videos. For example, if an event used generic photos or video of people at the event, and once I arrive it was not like it was in the photo, I feel deceived. If you need event photos and video for an announcement, contact us. This is not what was “promised.” Ease people into the environment so they know what to expect
Bathroom
Most people don’t really feel comfortable with port-a-potties. We use them because it is better than nothing. Some would prefer to go elsewhere before the event. So whatever info you can provide about this is great.
Also, have people that are going to be constantly monitoring bathroom situations for cleanliness. Supplies, such as soap, towels, and trash. Many events have been ruined by poor bathroom situations.
Parking
This has been a HUGE deterrent for me. If I am familiar with a location and know it has a terrible parking situation, I will not attend. I don’t mind paying for parking, but also as long as I am aware of it ahead of time. I do not like surprise expenses and neither does the public. Make this perfectly clear as to what to expect from parking.
If I do not know what to expect from parking, and it is a terrible situation, I will leave. If the venue has future events, I will not attend until the situation is dealt with.
What is considered terrible parking:
Small capacity - small lots where you have to wait for others to leave to get a spot.
Dirt lots - No maintenance, potholes, big rocks, debris that can damage tires or flying up from other vehicles. Well maintained gravel lots are fine.
Unorganized - Sometimes when there are big lots, there should be people directing traffic to know where to park to make it more efficient. When nobody directs, we get spots that are wider than they should be, taking up valuable room.
Tight maneuvering - When the parking lot is so small that it feels like we can barely drive around each other.
Paid vs FREE - Either one is fine, as long as it is made perfectly clear what is to be expected
Security - We are a fairly safe city, so even if it is in broad daylight with eyes capable of seeing something. No obstructions. Good lighting. Close to the venue where people coming and going can see suspicious behavior.
Updates
Use social media to give people updates! Updating a website may be hard to do on the spot. Have a link on the homepage that is specifically for updates. CLEARLY VISIBLE. The link should take you to whichever social media platform your are going to use for the updates. Use this to update WEATHER, parking changes, traffic, schedule changes, entrances, policy updates. Anything that has changed that was not part of the original plan.
COMMUNICATION
Leave very little room for unanswered questions. Have an FAQ section clearly accessible answering the following 6 questions.
When?
Date
Start time AND end time
Best time to arrive or head over
Where?
Venue
Indoor or Outdoor
How to get there
Where you can park (free or paid)
Public transit routes
Landmarks
Booking
Do you have to buy tickets in advance
Different prices and packages clearly explained
Limited availability?
Audience
Family-Friendly
Age groups (over 18 or 21)
Items allowed
Bag check
Water bottles
Strollers
Metal detector
Food?
Food availability
Types of food
Outside food allowed
Seating for food
Price range
Alcohol (wristbands)
Think about it from the attendee’s perspective. Walk in their shoes. Leaving the house. What do you would take or not take? What time to leave? Best routes. Where to park and how much.
Items allowed signs need to be in the parking lot! People get upset when they are inconvenienced for something that should’ve been made clear well before even leaving the house. There should be little room for confusion or reason for misunderstanding.
Depending on the event, what food will be available. Do they accommodate lifestyle diets, allergies, kid friendly, and price ranges.
This is just a start and a basic frame work. Leave a section where you can be reached if it is a more specific question that was not addressed. And ANSWER in a timely manner. Not answering quickly makes the event appear unorganized.
We will have this available as an easy to use checklist to our email subscribers to make sure your event is a success!
Events are a great way to attract new people and markets to your business. Here are some other ways to attract more people to your event.
El Paso Comic Con 2022. Pros and Cons and how we can continue to have other great events!
What was a pleasant surprise was the talent of local artists. I’m not surprised at the talent, but it was cool to see them all in one place back-to-back from one booth to the next.
Experience El Paso Comic Con 2022
It has been a while since we attended El Paso Comic Con. Maybe since 2016. We figured it was about to time we check it out again. It was no disappointment.
Summary
Comic Conventions are for all things geeky and nerdy and fun.
Great guests, including William Shatner.
Extremely talented local & regional artists.
Non-regional artist companies.
El Paso’s communication struggles.
Artists contact info
What is a comic convention?
If you don’t know what a comic convention is… it is pretty much a convention for a bunch of geeky and nerdy fun things. It’s not just about comic books and super heroes. It can range from pretty much anything that gets a really hyped up fanbase. Movies such as Jurassic Park, Ghostbusters, Disney (including Marvel and Star Wars), and TV shows such as anime, The Office, Breaking Bad, etc. Across all genres. If there was a show that has very recognizable characters that may inspire you to dress up, you may find it at a comic con.
Pros: Great guests and local/regional artists.
Fun stuff of this magnitude is hard to come by for El Paso. They had great guests. William Shatner (Star Trek) and Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad & The Mandalorian) to name a few. Of course to meet them comes at additional costs. I imagine putting an event like this is hard work.
But what was a pleasant surprise was the talent of local artists. I’m not surprised at the talent, but it was cool to see them all in one place back-to-back from one booth to the next. The art is not just pretty pictures. They are very skilled drawings and paintings, but they have a lot of meaning.
Chuco Chamuco
One in particular that stands out is Chuco Chamuco. He can take a lot of familiar characters and places and turn them into representations of many things to tell a new, yet familiar story.
Bloonmac
Bloonmac is another one that does something similar, taking popular characters and placing them with local landmarks. They also have some original characters, and also offer social painting classes. Check out their contact info for more information.
Louie Diaz - Black Blood Artistry
One of our other favorites is Louie Diaz, Black Blood Artistry. He is an incredibly talented artist that specializes in photo-realism. It is unreal how real it looks… if that makes any sense. He can be frequently found at Kaleidoscope Art Market. Louie was also one of our featured Versal Artists. You can check it out here.
There were also some very talented semi-local/regional artists, from Austin and New Mexico, and even California. We heard a lot of compliments on the turn out, and the people from El Paso which is always good to hear.
There were also some non-local, artist companies. Much better resources, set-up, and mass production. It is good to have a diverse selection, but it does tend to take away a little bit from the “El Paso” Comic Con. I have mixed feelings about this. There was some really great stuff there too, but I dislike that it can take away from the local artists. Most artists, especially getting into it as a business, understand what they’re getting themselves into. Competition and resources, etc. I assume the sign-up is open to everybody and it is the local artists job to sign-up and sell along with the other art companies. In the end, we definitely had a stronger connection to the local artists because they are catering to us. they know what we like and how to put their artistic touch to still make it theirs. (I have attached contact info to most of the artists we encountered below)
Cons: El Paso’s communication struggles…
Like we have mentioned, this was a really fun event and I recommend going to it if you have the faintest interest. However, our city struggles with communication. From freeway lanes being closed and not being notified until it is too late. Finding out an event sounds fun to attend, then finding out it already happened. O dimply displaying signs to get a simple message across.
Allowances into the venue - I have a DSLR camera, aka a “fancy” camera with removable lens. It was not allowed into the venue, but the last time we came it was not an issue. Allowing the camera in or not is not the issue. Policies change, I understand that. But there were no signs.
Meet & greet section - We were vlogging the event. (Video link above). I understand if we are not allowed to film in a certain area, but we were confronted by security to delete a video I caught of Giancarlo Esposito. I am not upset about this. I understand if it is a stipulation the guest had or the event…BUT this is the first I hear about it. It was little surprising to be approached somewhat aggressively about filming. Luckily, the security guard was understanding. I explained that I did not know, I had not seen any signs or warnings. We complied and got rid of it. No harm no foul. On another occasion, a similar thing happened to somebody else. A different security guard was loudly informing that there is no video allowed in this section. The person, to us appeared to be complying, but the security guard continued to reiterate that the was no video in this section. To me… this is what can escalate situations. It feels like when your mom would nag at you about something you are already doing. “Ok mom ig et it!” 😜. So I think a simple sign could solve some problems I understand also here in El Paso we also have another tendency to think, “That sign doesn’t apply to me.” 😑. But I think a sign could do more good than harm.
Getting the word out - We bumped into an old colleague at the event, and said he had just found out it was going to be that weekend. Luckily we knew from a little longer ago that the event was occurring. But it happens countless times, that I see something about an event, and it either already happened, or it is happening as I’m discovering it. I honestly don’t know where the communication breakdown happens, but it happens quite frequently in our city. Our people sometimes complain that there isn’t anything to do. I disagree. I just think that nobody knows what is happening. They don’t know there options. Maybe using a common hashtag. Especially for local events. #supportelpaso #supportelpasobusinesses #elpasoevents or create a new one that we ALL use. Consensus.
The pros clearly outweigh the cons. But the cons still need to be addressed because it is a common issue at other El Paso events. We would like for El Paso to continue having great events like this with as few hiccups as possible, so here are a few things that can help:
Signs
Directing to parking for the event
Parking signs for cash/card/which floors or areas of parking facility.
Allowances into the venue
Areas of the event guests can access
Promotion & Marketing & Timing
2 weeks to a month and more frequently as it nears.
More exposure in more places as it nears.
Social media networking and getting different bubbles to post your stuff. Your bubble already knows. Find a way to break into other bubbles.
We are working on putting together a calendar where these events can be placed for everyone to see with easy access and visibility. They can be sent in to us to be put on the calendar. Our calendar is not ready, but if the event is far enough in advance, you can send it to us and hopefully by that time, our calendar will be live. We look forward to having great events and #supportelpaso 😉
Artist contact info
Louie Diaz/Black Blood Artistry - https://www.instagram.com/black.blood.artistry/
Imperial Border Squad - https://www.instagram.com/imperialbordersquad/
Blackened Art - https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlackenedArtDesign
Alex Grey Illustrations - https://bluehippopress.com/?v=e748b7c8fd06
Kim Trails Designs - https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/kim_trails?sub_action=designs