One of the HOTTEST off line opportunities of 2021 will be...

Both. In the corporate world, say insurance for example, the BIG company will provide ad money to their "agents", distributors or outlets. So a MET LIFE agent might get X number of dollars per year to use on advertising. These corporate co-ops come with lots of strings and restrictions on how the money will be used.

THAT form of Co-Op is a Billion dollar industry, and if someone is representing a product of service from a Fortune 1000 company, they should certainly check into what corporate money is available.

I have been involved in THAT co-op marketing in the past. But for the Warriors, I'm referring to the second type, MULTIPLE BUSINESSES SHARING ADVERTISING COSTS.

It is a tested and proven method for advertisers, with NEW twists popping up all the time. There is the really OLD world methods, like Val-Pak and other stuffed envelope mailers, which are still being mailed.

The big problem for those of us who want to do this, is...TIME.

We've had a lot of discussion here at WF about the 9 x 12 EDDM and the many variations of it. I've spoken to dozens of these people and what happens is they try to put too many ads on their cards. I want speed.

If two ads are profitable, I close the card and mail it. Sure, smaller amounts of moolah coming in, but with speed, sometimes the same amount of TIME could produce a huge difference in bottom line net profits.

I'd love to hear about your Strategic Co-Op Commerce, any new twists, which makes life easier are always welcome. Thanks for sharing.

GordonJ

So many opportunities coming our way. Healing and/or division. Both will be big markets, because that is our time in history. No matter who is in the White House, USA will continue to be a very divided country. Money to be made pitching to your group. Likewise, a lot of people will want some HIGH touch activity, which will create high demand.

There are many opportunities with TECH, as far as helping businesses recover. I think it will be a very crowded, albeit, potentially lucrative market. Any thing cell, push, social media marketing will continue to be hot.

Lots of businesses will be buying these "TECH" SERVICES. If I were a younger man, I most certainly would get into providing these.

HOWEVER, being a tired old owl, I have developed some tendencies...

My decades old mantra, 'FLY LOW, COLLECT THE DOUGH" is at the top. I enjoy my insignificance in the world, have no want, need or desire to be "someone".

The little voice I most often hear is from OCCAM, and keep it simple. Over the decades, I've learned I want to get the FASTEST return on effort, with the MINIMUM amount of work, which can be RAPIDLY duplicated. So, this places an emphasis on SPEED over amounts.

I now follow the paths of least resistance. So, it may not be a "postcard", it could be a flier, or even a sign, but the thing which quickly gets a Yes, IS the thing I want to do.

Again, this is a personal preference, and if I had more time in my tank, maybe I would pursue higher incomes, which take more time to implement and 'MAY' have longer returns potential...but if one has learned how to use their money, how to make it work for them, then I will take FAST money, quick and easy money, money in my hand today

over deferred money, even though it could be much more, every day of the week. I think and believe that circulation beats storage of money. Keep it circulating.

OK, all that philosophy aside, more tech savvy people could be providing simple solutions, like the discussions on GOOGLE MAPS and walk in 360 views which by the way, old Warrior Don Alm did almost a decade ago.

Or simple landing pages. Or bar codes. Or push messaging to nearby phones. Anything that produces an ongoing monthly fee, which makes it easier for the business or professional to say YES to, would be good areas to focus on to help these people out.

TOO many great options. I'm going to keep it simple.

No haggle, no sales for me...just a here is what I'm doing, you want in or not? And focus on the FASTEST yes I can find in each category. Co-op advertising has a long history of success, and results can be measured, so there is minimum risk to the business.

And the important thing for me is, other people are going to be doing the fulfillment, the back ends, the design, the mailing (if needed)...all I have to do is talk to people, which I'm pretty good at, especially when I don't really care what they say or how they respond, because I KNOW one of their competitors will and I use that as leverage for the next time around.

I think recent WF discussions have presented many an opportunity for those who can help small businesses get more customers or keep the ones they have.

GordonJ