One goal of the Grand Mesa Business Guild is to help members explode like a glitter bomb on the local scene with their service or product. Real glitter is used unapologetically, along with ribbon-cuttings, regular excuses for gatherings, and the word of mouth magic that keeps all small towns spinning. If you haven’t had someone whip out the signature “I Got A Guy” pouch and hand you a business card, have you even been on enough coffee runs?
While the GMBG monthly meet-ups and workshops are incredibly fun and encouraging, and the perks of being a member are chef’s kiss, It can't be argued that to really make an impact, a business also needs an effective marketing plan. It’s not enough to tack a home-printed flier at the Merc. Hey, no judgment from me. I’ve done this without shame, and I’ll do it again. But even the old-timers know that digital advertising is the single most effective way to get attention.
Thankfully, we’ve got some stellar advertisers in the GMBG. Meet our cherished member, Jim Montoya with Local Focus.
Local Focus Digital TV has been on the western slope of Colorado since 1989. He loves the climate (which thankfully has not changed much since then) and the recreation opportunities (which have changed a lot!) “I remember when you could go hiking at Hanging Lake up in Glenwood Canyon, and it would be like you owned the place. There might be four or five cars with Colorado plates. Now you have to make a reservation! It’s so crowded.”
Another big change Jim has watched over the decades is how the advertising world has rushed to keep up with technology. He’s enjoyed the challenge every step of the way. After a 30 year career in the Yellow Pages, Jeff was ready to make a change in how he helped businesses advertise, so he bought Local Focus Digital Signage in 2010, securing 5 locations.
Since then, he’s expanded into multiple locations on the western slope, including doctors’ offices, gyms, gas stations, and many other hot spots. Local Focus TVs are a common sight, and an extremely effective way for businesses to stay in touch with their target markets.
Cedaredge, with its small-town feel, beckoned Jim to move from Grand Junction, and it now feels like home. The slow pace of life suits him, but he gets his thrills from helping local businesses keep up with a world that moves incredibly fast. “Business owners really appreciate that they have a reliable local channel,” he says. “The competition sometimes has huge media budgets that they just can’t compete with, and our services are affordable for any size.”
Not only are the TVs eye-catching, but Jim’s team takes pride in crafting the best messages to the community to really highlight what each business has to offer. “We like to come up with messages that make you feel good, or really think. We want your potential customers to laugh, or to say, ‘I didn’t know that fact, that was interesting,’ and walk away with your business fresh in their mind.”
Businesses love to host his TVs, also. They offer something for guests to watch while they wait, dine, or play. By hosting a TV, a business has the option to play only ads of their own, or for space to be sold for those of us who want something more attention-grabbing than a paper flier.
Jim works closely with the business based on their objectives, target market, and demographic.
The ads remain novel to frequent customers, changing every ten days to keep folks captivated. Ads are also different at every location, customized with the location in mind. An ad targeted to a gym rat is going to be different from a guest at a donut shop, sparking appeal for a service or product from different angles. There’s a certain level of guesswork involved, which Jim finds to be a fun challenge.
For those who want to also dial in their ads with laser precision, the team at Local Focus is ready with experts to manage social media accounts, Google ads, etc. using ultra-precise geo fencing and tools to quickly reveal who’s seeing the ads and for how long, and what the results are. Algorithms and other digital aspects of advertising can be a little mysterious, so the experts at Local Focus are keen to make sure that ad campaigns are effective and that businesses are not wasting their advertising budget.
To focus your ads on the local community and get the most from your marketing dollars, go ahead and post your paper flier at the Merc. Spend a moment watching the ads on the Local Focus TVs they’ve got showcased there. Then reach out to Jim. He can be reached by phone at (970) 261-4319 or email at jim@localfocusdigitaltv.com.
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