Josh Sommers

ROCK HILL,  October 8   Incoming Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development Board Chairman Josh Sommers left, and Partnership President Tim McCausland, right, flank 2009 Walter A. Rhulen Award Winner Town of Thompson Supervisor Tony Cellini, and 2009 Distinguished Service Award winner Suzanne Loughlin, at the recent Partnership Annual Meeting.

Have you made a commitment to making new business opportunities? If you go to just two networking events a year, buy some ads in journals and wait for the phone to ring, the answer is no. If you want to grow a business in this challenging economy, you need to create awareness about your company … Continue reading “Mixing tactics is vital in business promotion”

The Orange County Chamber of Commerce’s new advertising and public relations agency is Focus Media. With 2,000 members the Orange Chamber is one of New York’s largest. Dr. John A. D’Ambrosio, Chamber President, said, “In just a few short years Focus Media C.E.O. Josh Sommers has developed one of the region’s premier public relations and … Continue reading “Orange County Chamber of Commerce Chooses Focus Media”

The new Orange County Business Accelerator selected Focus Media for advertising and public relations support. Pictured are OCBA’s Mike DiTullo, M. Wm. Lahey County Legislator, Ed Diana County Executive and Focus’s Tony Morino, Chrissy Lawrence and Kerry Donovan.

General Motors knows it has an image issue. The company has long been embattled with perceptions about reliability when compared to imports, and until recently, has been below the curve on fuel efficiency. The recent bankruptcy headlines haven’t helped, either. When you have a crisis or image issue, the last thing you want to do … Continue reading “GM takes its image issue head-on in new campaign”

One thing is for certain: You can’t be at every networking event or meet all the right people you need to succeed without a little help. But you can leverage social media to meet and stay connected with the right people. In addition to Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are the largest social media outlets making … Continue reading “Networking media helps to get your message out”

One thing is for certain: You can’t be at every networking event or meet all the right people you need to succeed without a little help. But you can leverage social media to meet and stay connected with the right people. In addition to Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are the largest social media outlets making … Continue reading “Networking Media Helps To Get Your Message Out”

Yes, it seems like the worst is over. Experts say we’re climbing out of the recession and better days are ahead. Although I predicted that companies who kept up their marketing heat during the recession would make the most gains when the economy turned around, here’s a column for those companies that crawled into the … Continue reading “Now’s the perfect time to expand marketing”

No matter who you are, no business has unlimited resources to spend on advertising. That’s why you’ve got to make every dollar count to get noticed. There’s always the one philosophy that some businesses try — at least the ones with deep pockets: throw a bunch of crap on the wall and see what sticks … Continue reading “Make the most of your budget for marketing”

Here’s a dirty little secret: While there are exceptions, most broadcast stations don’t program for the age 55-and-older crowd. The 25-54-years-old demographic is the most lucrative consumer spending group. Thus, it’s understandable that most radio and broadcast TV stations program to that audience so as to be attractive to advertisers seeking that demographic. It’s nothing … Continue reading “Use newspapers, cable to reach 55-plus crowd”

In tough times, many companies make the mistake of curling up into the fetal position rather than marketing hard to survive and position for future growth. As advised on a weekly basis in this column, the companies that keep their commitment to marketing will come out on top when this economy turns around. But during … Continue reading “Incentives can assist in motivating your staff”

All week long I haven’t been able to get the 1950’s song “Lollipop” out of my head thanks to it being featured in Dell’s latest TV campaign promoting the colorful options of the company’s Inspiron laptops. Dell’s TV spot has been on the air since late June for good reason. September’s back-to-school time signals heavy … Continue reading “Wintertime’s right time for plugging allergy relief”

Last September, Republican loyalists, and a lot of folks in the middle, were excited. Sarah Palin had just rocked the Republican Convention. She may have been a surprise pick, but she instantly gave McCain a spring in his step. But that’s before going off script. Palin was solid with a teleprompter when she was rolled … Continue reading “Palin’s media blunders reveal what not to do”

Many marketing experts agree that the electronic mediums of radio and television are the best outlets to use when establishing memorable brands. While a mix of advertising mediums, including print and Web, are essential when establishing your brand and awareness in the marketplace, brands that invest in television and radio stack the deck in becoming … Continue reading “TV and radio ads create memorable connections”

There is no denying it: It’s who you know. Yes, it’s true: Having connections can give you a leg up in this world. As it applies to professional opportunities, knowing the right network of people who can refer your product or service can open doors for you. Many professionals and businesses have made their success … Continue reading “Targeted networking will help you get ahead”

Your customers and the customers you hope to get have choices. What’s more, the marketplace is crowded with lots of advertising noise, making it a challenge to get noticed through the clutter. How do you stand out? A powerful brand is a core necessity. Your brand goes well beyond your logo and slogan. Does the … Continue reading “To be a leading brand, you must always deliver”

Matrixx Initiatives, maker of 19 Zicam-branded products that tackle colds, coughs and allergies, is in the midst of a public relations nightmare. Last week, the FDA advised the public to discontinue use of over-the-counter Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel and Zicam Cold Remedy Gel Swabs. The FDA warns that 130 users of the products reported … Continue reading “Zicam warning a lesson in crisis communications”