Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Attracting the distracted generation

 
By John McGory

A long-held principle is the Law of Attraction. It is simply like attracts like.  If you are negative, then you will attract negative.  If you are positive, then you’ll attract positive.   

The law’s basic logic makes sense in many ways.  People feel much more comfortable being with people like themselves.  That is why clubs, organizations and gangs are popular.  It is people hanging with others who think and act alike.  It makes life comforting whether it is the Goths, the Crips or the PTA.

Let’s take this concept and turn it toward the business world. What emotion does your brand send out?  Who does your message attract when you send them out via advertising, public relations, social media or branding? 

Keeping the concept of like attracts like in mind is crucial when developing your attraction messages. 

Now let’s take another piece of information from a University of Texas study.  It said that people read, hear, see and do things every day.  Thirty days later they will remember 10% of what they read today, 20% of what they heard and 30% of what they saw. 

But people will remember 90% of what they DID.

So if like attracts like and you mostly advertise via written materials such as post cards or emails, then you attract readers.  The chance that they will remember your ad in 30 days is 10 percent.  Radio spot listeners recall ads 20 percent of the time after a month and television or video ads bump it up to 30 percent.

If you attract customers through doing things such as events, then your chances of being remembered skyrockets to 90 percent. 

Remembering anything today in the blur of information we all face is a challenge.  We live in the Distracted Generation.  The distracted are everywhere.  At the mall, at the movies and at restaurants, texting, gaming and watching videos while carrying on conversations and watching a football game on the big screen.   The distracted keep each other busy even while ignoring who is right in front of them.

But the distracted do like to do things.  That is their problem. They like to do numerous things at one time.    Businesses best chance at attracting the distracted is by giving them things to do.  Events, the crazier the better, have a much better chance at attracting the distracted.  That is your best shot. 

Plus, if they are amused, they are guaranteed to distract others with your message.  That would be attraction by distraction.  So maybe the principle should change to the Law of Distraction where like distracts like.

We’ll talk more about this in coming blogs.  And, I just want to say, I only checked my email three times and sent a couple of texts during the writing of this blog.  Not bad.

John McGory is the founder of FYF Events, a central Ohio promotions/event company that attracts the distracted.  We create, partner, organize and manage events for business and pleasure. Contact us at FYFEvents@gmail.com.  Check soon for our website at www.fyfevents.com or on Twitter @FYFEvents. 

Monday, January 14, 2013

Fear, craving and death...Columbus style

By John McGory, FYF Events 


“Eventing Life…” is a new blog that aims to end the fear that you’ll die in Columbus.  Yes, it’s a given you probably will.  The fear creeps in when you consider what you are doing till that time comes.
You should be very afraid if you relate to any of these situations:
Do you feel like you need to be dusted once a week? 
Have you given a name to your television remote control?
Do you crave an HBO mini-series?
Are all your friends four legged?
Do you search for cute sayings to post on Facebook?
Do the words twitter and tweet confuse you?
Now the cold-blooded would say you should just put yourself out of your misery and get Direct TV, some stretch pants and put a mini fridge next to your BarcaLounger.  I say no! There is still hope.
There is no written rule that says once you are over the age of 35 that you can’t yearn for something or someone who will add true meaning, genuine fun and great physical and mental stimulation in your life.
How do you get started?  First, turn off all your brainwashing devices including televisions, iPads, computers and cell phones and get up off that couch or from behind that desk.  Disconnect Twitter and Facebook for awhile (they were developed for people who actually do something anyway).
Then, do something.  Reach out to others.  Here are some simple ideas…
Buy a puzzle and a pizza and invite your neighbor over to help put it together
Get your fellow employees together and organize a fundraiser
Throw a toga party
Learn how to make sushi in your kitchen.  Invite friends to help
Hold a weekly yoga class in your living room
Start a book club that specializes in erotic novels
Anything you do can be an event.  Whether it is for business or pleasure, there are thousands of ways to event life.  You just have to do it.  What suggestions do you have for a fun event?  What’s stopping you?
“Eventing Life….” will provide weekly ideas on making Columbus life a little more fun.  Come back and visit us.  Here is some stuff to do this week:
Blondes versus Brunettes in Powderpuff Football, January 15, 6 pm till 7:30 pm at the Park Street Cantina.  Proceeds help the Alzheimer’s Association.
Salsa dancing on Friday night at 8 pm at LaFogata’s 790 N. High  Street
Want to be a star?  America’s Got Talent Auditions are January 19 and 20 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.  Go to http://www.americasgottalentauditions.com/audition-cities/columbus/ to sign up.
FYF is a company that creates the unique for business, fundraising, social and music events. If you need to create some excitement for business or pleasure then send us a note at foreveryoungandfunco@gmail.com.  Watch for our website at fyfevents.com coming soon.