Are you being sold?

So you're watching Elisa and Jack on 30 Rock talk about whether the McFlurry is the best dessert in the world. Yeah, what about it?

Did you know that's a form of advertising known as product placement? And it's a type of stealth advertising that's grown 8% in the first half of 2009 with 9,540 prime-time product placements.

Some critics want the FCC to require networks to disclose these placements. Their proposals range from text running along the bottom of the screen to a flashing red light alerting viewers when an advertiser is pushing something. A red light – give me a break!

Look at shows like the Biggest Loser in which the dieting contestants hike from one Subway to another to get a meal as part of the contest. It seems like a natural part of the show and Tv viewers are smart enough to "get" that Subway paid to be a part of it. They also offer disclosures at the end of the show. ("Special consideration provided by Subway" for example.)

So what do you think? Where is the line? Talking about a McFlurry vs. walking to Subway? What about driving a certain kind of car or discussing brand name shoes (Hello, Sex in the City)? You decide. Are you being deceived? Or is it just the next generation of advertising?

Source: Facts have been taken from Business Week, October 26, 2009. Post also includes opinions of blog author, Michelle Lefebvre.

Win a $25 iTunes Gift Card

Take our QUICK 3 question survey about iPhones and APPs, and you'll have a chance to win a $25 iTunes Gift Card. One person will be selected to receive a gift card and all will be eligible to learn more about upcoming APP innovations. Contest ends 11/3/09. Survey starts here...

Customized Service

Get the most for your money Every business has unique marketing needs. Which is exactly why DLA doesn't offer a one-size-fits-all approach to working with our clients. However, our customized service falls into two general categories. Per-Project Approach For clients who have either short-term or up-and-down marketing needs, this approach is often the most cost-effective. We have many clients we've worked with this way for many years, completing various projects as they come along. The Center for Health Ambulatory Surgery Center is a good example of this. When they needed a professional web presence, they contacted us as the result of a referral within the medical community. We recently completed our first project with them which was a comprehensive website requiring project planning, copywriting, on-site photography, design, coding and custom content management. CEO Thomas Feldman explains how the process worked, "DLA jumped right in, handled the project start to finish quickly under a tight deadline, worked professionally and did not impede patient care whatsoever. I would use them all over again." Retainer Relationship Other organizations have ongoing marketing, advertising and public relations needs. For these businesses, a retainer can be the answer. It gives them access to a full team of copywriters, media buyers, creative staff, web developers, PR professionals and other marketing staff. One of the key elements of the retainer relationship is a discounted rate for services in exchange for a commitment of both number of hours per month (and number of months for the contract). This retainer relationship allows medium-sized businesses that can't afford an in-house marketing department to compete with those businesses who do have the advantage of an in-house staff. Pam Schubach, the YWCA's CEO, shares how it has worked for them to have access to our services on a moment's notice. "The staff at DLA are very responsive to our ongoing needs at the YWCA. They have also the ability to tailor the message to the media to position our information to receive the best coverage." Bottom Line So, which option is right for you? That all depends on your needs and goals. We can discuss your needs and help you decide on the best way to meet your marketing objectives. In the meantime, here's a quick look at the two options. Per-Project Approach · Best for occasional needs · No long-term commitment Retainer Relationship · Best for ongoing needs · Reduced hourly rate

8 Things Killed by the Internet

• Polite disagreement

• Letter writing

• Memory

• Daydreaming

• Waiting a whole day for sports scores

• Footnotes

• Leaving your desk for lunch

• Concentration

Source: Matthew Moore in the (London) Daily Telegraph, reprinted in the Reader's Digest.

No Contest!

An informal survey of DLA clients and visitors tells us that people overwhelmingly prefer Peanut M&M's over Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Our results are based on how often we refill various treats in our conference room candy bowl.

If you haven't participated in this "poll" yet, maybe it's time you visited the DLA offices!

Peoria #5 Among Mid-Sized Cities to Start a Business

CNN/Money ranked Peoria fifth among mid-sized cities that offer the best opportunity to launch a business. In a listing of U.S. cities of all sizes, Peoria was ranked 15th.

Not bad, if you ask me. Sure, it's been a challenging year as a business owner – especially since we're in the advertising biz which is one of the first things to get cut when budgets get tight. Of course, I strongly believe that companies need to maintain a strong marketing commitment in order to remain competitive. But that's not the point of this post.

Here are several reasons why I personally agree with the study:

• Peoria is comprised of people, families and businesses that give everything it takes to get the job done. We don't quit.

• We have a true business community. Not just individuals and companies that work side-by-side, but people that work cooperatively to help each other. Sure, there's a squabble here or there, but in general it's a community of support.

• Even when things are bleak, there's a generous spirit in Peoria. Just watch the annual St. Jude Telethon – you'd never be able to tell there was a recession. And that's just one example. Every weekend (and many week nights) you'll find people at charity events, donating their time, money and passion to help those in need. That demonstrates the character of people and businesses in Peoria.

• The cost of doing business in Peoria is reasonable.

• We don't have ridiculous commutes, causing us to waste precious time fighting traffic.

And that's just the first few reasons that came to mind. But beyond my own reasons for being an entrepreneur, you can click here to read the Journal Star article and find out what others have to say. You can read the original article here. Congratulations Peoria!

DLA E-Newsletter October 14th Issue

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