Wednesday, January 30, 2008

HOW TO GET YOUR CUSTOMERS BACK



(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) “In tough economic times too many companies stop advertising their business, or they cut their marketing budget because its easier than cutting people,” says Carl M. Dameron, founder and Creative Director of Dameron Communications, (www.DameronCommunications.com) a leading Southern California public relations and advertising agency.

Hear Carl in person on Friday February 2 at the First Fridays in Ontario at the Jazz Café starting at 6:30 p.m. The Jazz Café is at 1133 W 6th Street Ontario, CA 91762 for directions call (909) 391-9119.

“The problem is when you stop asking for business you stop getting business. When sales fall because new customers aren’t coming in the door companies have to cut more expenses. They often reduce the marketing budget and then spiral into business failure. That puts more people out of work than if they had just found a new way to ask for more business.”

“We must never lose sight of the fact we are all products, and keep selling ourselves and our companies’ products,” says Dameron, adding, “However, a great campaign does not stop there. It takes hard work, knowledge and creativity to bridge the gap between the vision of success and actual profit.”

A new free brochure from Dameron Communications, Effective Advertising & Public Relations, outlines a step-by-step program to effectively reach a company’s target market, create a positive image of the business and entice their target market to use their products and services.

According to Dameron the solution to increasing business in a changing economy is to change your advertising strategy. “When people had lots of money from constant home refinancing, they bought lots of things they wanted but didn’t need,” he notes. “Now the re-fi money is gone. People also feel poorer because their home values are declining and their mortgage payments are up. Many consumers are recovering from the hangover of big spending. Buyers are redefining their purchases based on what they need, not just want."

Dameron says the solution is to change your approach. “Car dealers understand this. They increase advertising in slow times. They are often the first to notice a change in buyer attitudes and adjust their message to consumers.

“One strategy is to lower prices and offer zero down and low interest rates to increase traffic and sales. There are also other ways. Why? Because there are always buyers, if properly motivated to buy. As the Creative Director of Dameron Communications, my job is find the new way to motivate customers to buy,” he says.

Dameron offers more solutions to energize or create and implement an Effective Advertising & Public Relations strategy.

The program consists of four major components:
Research. The first step in an effective advertising campaign is research. A company must know how much they should invest in their marketing campaign, who the target market is, what media those consumers use and what they want!

Ad Development. The creativity of an ad campaign is spurred during ad development. Generally, the information obtained through research will be used to generate a campaign theme that will grab the target market’s attention and increase traffic.

Media Planning and Placement. Selective media placement ensures the target market knows about the company’s products and services. It is imperative that follow-up research is done to fine tune the media, to maximize budget effectiveness and capture the largest audience.

While a successful campaign fulfills all four components, a combination of effective planning and consistency is also required to be effective.

Additionally, Dameron’s guide gives information on developing effective Public Relations, Government Relations and Community Relations strategies.

Dameron goes one step further. “If your business needs help sorting out your media options or creating a new message, we will provide you a free one-hour consultation on your advertising, public relations, crisis communications, government relations and/or community relations issues,” says Dameron.

For a free copy of Effective Advertising & Public Relations e-mail your request to Info@DameronCommunications.com or call Carl Dameron at (909) 888-0321.

Since 1989 Dameron Communications has creatively met the needs of its clients locally, regionally and nationally. They are an award-winning communications agency that creates integrated marketing solutions to increase sales and profits, win elections, inform the public or gain acceptance of potentially controversial issues. They use advertising, public relations, government relations and community relations to advance their clients’ objectives. The web site is www.DameronCommunications.com.
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Photo caption: Carl Dameron Creative Director and Jim Crockett Agency Director from Dameron Communciations. Carl delvers a one hour talk and gives a free brochure on how to get your customers back this Friday at the Jazz Café in Ontario.

--
Carl M. Dameron, Agency Director
Dameron Communications

255 North “D” Street, Suite 210
San Bernardino, CA 92410
(909) 888-0017 office
(909) 888-2331 fax
Carl@DameronCommunications.com

260 Newport Center Drive, Suite 100
Newport Beach, CA 90660
(949) 999-0811 office
Carl@DameronCommunications.com

Let us create an advertising and public relations plan for success.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

ONLY THE BEST CAN SLICE, DICE AND CHOP THEIR WAY TO "BEST TEEN CHEF"

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) -- For high school seniors who can stand the heat of the kitchen, there’s no better place to show off their culinary know-how than at The Art Institutes Best Teen Chef Competition 2008.

Now in its ninth year, the Best Teen Chef Competition awards more than $250,000 in tuition scholarships to attend The Art Institutes schools, to high school seniors in the U.S. and Canada interested in pursuing a career in the fast growing culinary industry.

Top prize winners in the competition can win a full-tuition scholarship toward an associate’s degree, certificate or diploma program, to study culinary arts at any of the 30 participating locations including The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire.

In addition to a full-tuition scholarship and the title of Best Teen Chef 2008, the first-place winner in the national competition, in partnership with television's Food Network, will also be an “Intern for a Day” at the Food Network Kitchens in New York City and will receive a tour of the Food Network Studios, dinner for two at a Food Network chef’s restaurant and a library of Food Network Kitchens cookbooks.

According to Academic Director for Culinary Arts, Chef Joseph Eyad, “Each year we see the interest in this competition grow. Teenagers still in high school are demonstrating the determination, focus and drive needed to have a career in the challenging field of culinary arts.”

To be eligible to participate in the competition, you must first send a complete Entry & Release form download PDF ] to The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire or fill out an online application at http://www.artinstitutes.edu/Competitions/BestTeenChefRegistration.aspx?cid=BTC_0907_001_wb by February 8, 2008. Deadline for entries to be received into the competition is February 29, 2008. Local Best Teen Chef Competitions will be held at The Art Institutes participating locations on April 12, 2008.

The National Best Teen Chef Competition will be Saturday, May 17, 2008 at The Art Institute of Las Vegas.

For complete details, please see the official rules [download PDF ].

[Download a Best Teen Chef Competition 2008 Brochure]

[Download the Best Teen Chef Competition Official Rules]

[Download a Best Teen Chef Competition 2008 Standardized Recipe Format]

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire is one of The Art Institutes (
www.artinstitutes.edu
), a system of over 35 locations throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals. For more information call (909) 915-2100


###

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO FIND THE RIGHT COLLEGE FOR YOU

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) “February is the perfect time for high school
seniors to start considering college choices and scholarships,” said Monica
Jeffs, director of admissions at The Art Institute of California-Inland
Empire.

Students and parents will get a chance to do both at the Art Institute’s
High School Open House scheduled for 10 a.m. On Saturday February 23. Check
in is at the student entrance at 9:30 a.m., with orientation starting at 10
a.m.

“Right now is the time for high school seniors to be looking at universities
and the programs they offer,” Jeffs said. “ For example, we are the only
Culinary Arts and Interior Design college in the Inland Empire.”

The High School Open House features a wealth of information for prospective
students and parents such as tours of the campus, workshops on each of the
courses the university offers, scholarship sessions, Cal Grant workshops and
a Question and Answer time for parents.

It’s not too late to attend The Art Institute. Spring Quarter begins March
31 with classes offered in the day, evening and on weekends for new and
reentry students. For details, or a tour of the campus, call (909) 915-2100,
or go on line to www.artinstitutes.edu/inlandempire
.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire is one of The Art Institutes
(www.artinstitutes.edu ), with 40 educational
institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source
of design, media arts, fashion and culinary professionals.


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Photo caption: Four-time Emmy winner Michael Swanigan is just one of the
award winning instructors at The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire.
Find out if a creative career is right for you at the Art Institute’s High
School Open House scheduled for 10 a.m. On Saturday February 23 in San
Bernardino.

THE ART INSTITUTE SET TO HOST OPEN HOUSE

(SAN BERNARDINO-, Calif.) – Do you have an eye for interior design, a talent for the media arts, a taste for the culinary arts or are you fashion savvy? An Art Institutes education may be just what you are looking for.

An Open House to explore a creative arts education is being held at The Art Institute of California - Inland Empire on February 2, 2008. Check in is at the student entrance at 9:30 a.m., with orientation starting at 10 a.m. at 630 East Brier Drive, San Bernardino.

Attendees will be invited to learn more about the school’s programs, discuss educational goals, tour the facilities, learn about tuition scholarship opportunities and gain a first-hand look at how an Art Institutes creative education can be the preparation for an exciting career.

“The Art Institute of California - Inland Empire is inviting those interested in a creative arts education to learn more about our school and what it has to offer,” said Byron Chung, president of The Art Institute of California - Inland Empire.

“Right now is the time for high school seniors to be looking at universities and the programs they offer,” Chung said. “For example, we are the only Culinary Arts and Interior Design College in the Inland Empire.”

It’s not too late to attend The Art Institute. Spring Quarter begins March 31 with classes offered in the day, evening and on weekends for new and reentry students. To learn more about The Art Institute of California - Inland Empire’s Open House event, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/Admissions/OpenHouse.aspx?prid=OH_0208_001_pr or For details, or a tour of the campus, call (909) 915-2100.

The Art Institute of California - Inland Empire is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), a system of over 40 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.
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