Blog

October 7, 2018 by Kirsten Eaton

JohnnyBoards and Designated Drivers Working Together
to END DWI – Looking for Local Pubs and Bars to Partner
Through a Drink Coaster Pilot Project

JohnnyBoards Advertising and Designated Drivers on Demand came up with quite the idea for a partnership lately. We’ve all heard of Uber and Lyft; but have you heard of Designated Drivers on Demand? Many of us know who Clear Channel is but I bet you don’t realize you DO know what JohnnyBoards is too!
JohnnyBoards is a local in facility advertising business, whose signage is routinely seen in restrooms and public common areas above drinking fountains and otherwise in locally owned establishments. Designated Drivers on Demand is a locally owned ride home service for those Albuquerque residents who’ve had enough to drink on a night out on the town.

The two have combined forces for the means of good – to impact and help lessen DWI in Albuquerque. That’s right! JohnnyBoards and Designated Drivers on Demand are 2 local companies teaming up to reduce DWI.
They are asking or any bar, pub, and restaurant that serves alcohol to allow them to drop off coasters to remind customers to use Designated Drivers on Demand to get them or them and their car home. Neat idea right? Find a ride while enjoying a drink – because your drink is sitting on top of the advertisement – pretty smart.
This pilot program will also have effects on other aspects of Albuquerque’s crime problem; it reduces overnight theft rings that target cars left in parking lots overnight and eliminates the hassle of going back the next day to get their car.
Here’s how it works: Give JohnnyBoards and Designated Drivers on Demand your old/unused coasters and they will donate the coasters to nearby middle schools for art projects and a cash donation to help with wrap-around services such as bus passes, jackets and parent background checks so they may participate in student activities. As a trade, you will get the “ride offering” coasters in exchange, and everyone wins. This service is already operational in a number of local businesses – if you’re looking to get on the list, ready to help some kids, end DWI, and encourage responsible drinking, contact them today.

Location JohnnyBoards

August 28, 2018 by Kirsten Eaton

JohnnyBoard’s Top 5s Local Businesses to Support

Albuquerque is a city ripe with opportunities and experiences. At each and every turn locals are blessed with the opportunity to support homegrown businesses. At JohnnyBoards, our work within and in support of the small business community has been increasingly encouraging and rewarding over the years. We have had the pleasure of watching so many businesses start, grow, and thrive in the Duke City.

We wanted to take a second to talk about some “Top 5s.” In fact, when we were thinking about the best of the best, when it comes to Burque “biz,” we figured we’d take it one step further and give you a list of the Top 5 male and Top 5 female-owned businesses in Burque according to JohnnyBoards.

Black Box Fitness – co-owned and operated by Jessica Gentry. Black Box hangs its hat on being a space for everyone. Whether your a CrossFit fanatic, looking for a place to do the next WOD, or you have no idea what WOD means – this is the place for you. With focuses on youth in recovery, adults battling obesity, and athletes looking to find an edge, Black Box is certainly a one box fits all type of space. Try them out, today!

Eaton Media LLC – do you need an effective, attractive, and affordable online presence? From social media to custom websites, Eaton Media is the place to go. Supported by a large group of working partners, Eaton Media is a go-to for locally sourced social media resources and support.

Waxing the City – owned and operated by Jessica Carothers, this amazing small business with locations in the North Valley and North East Heights of Albuquerque provides premier services in the realm of hair removal. If you’re looking for a professional, clean, and comfortable environment for means of removing unwanted body hair – look no further than Waxing the City.

Los Ranchos Bakery – do you like sweet treats? Who doesn’t? Stephanie Lucero at Los Ranchos Bakery has made a career in keeping your sweet tooth satisfied. If you’ve never been there before – it’s time to make it a first time. Pies, cookies, scones, and more – both with and without the presence of Gluten; make a trip to Los Ranchos and make your next get together a hit at the hands of Stephanie and her staff.

Roots Salon – need a new style? Check out this Nob Hill business. Roots Salon, owned and operated by Sara Bassett, is a great idea for your ideas on a new do. Do you! That’s right; head on up the hill to this spot and be listened to, taken care of, and leave with a look you have always wanted. Make Roots your new space for transformation.

June 24, 2018 by Kirsten Eaton

#CommunityDialogue: Why Social Media Matters – Some Thoughts & Best Practices

Times are changing. Every day it seems there is a new algorithm, a new social media strategy or platform, something new to read, do, or add to your arsenal when it comes to gaining visibility in the digital realm… It’s crazy.

For small businesses, entrepreneurs, and consultants or entertainment personalities, staying ahead of the curve is key. Social media is the largest driver of attention on the planet. Learning to make your work behind the screen/scenes work for you and your business or image is a vital part of sustaining one’s aim. Thanks to the hard work and community-minded focus of local advertising biz, JohnnyBoards, we are able to provide those of you out there who are hustling, with some important things to consider when diving into the digital world aka social media. This installment of #CommunityDialogue touches on why social media matters thanks to some great information shared with us by Anvil Media and JohnnyBoards.

It seems that gone are the days of the front page – unless that page is a web page. According to Anvil Marketing, there are 3.1 billion internet users around the world. Something equally impressive is that of those users 788 million are mobile-only internet users! We live in a world where one can have a computer in his or her pocket at all times. Meeting consumers where they’re at is the name of the game.

Content marketing in the realm of digital advertising leads the way in the most widely used and purchased form of media. Social media posts, blog posts, video, and more – these elements and the purchasing of them by small and big businesses alike, has consumers aiming to identify with brands and services as part of a “lifestyle.”

If we can see ourselves “in it,” we buy it – content marketing invites the consumer to the “see yourself here,” experience that is often necessary to seal a deal!

Where you find those folks with whom you aim to make a deal, well that’s a different story altogether. Trends lay at the feet of followers – those who join, tweet, poke, and connect, can be found on many a platform. Demographics skew in terms of use. Some platforms are built for the more mature in life and others for the young in age and at heart.

Here’s an example. If you ask Google, 35% of the Twitter user base is 18-29. According to Anvil, 73% of people who use Twitter also have an Instagram account, 90% of them have and use a Facebook account, 95% of them watch YouTube, and 54% use Snapchat.

What’s that say to you? Well, it tells us something… and should prompt a question of your own… Do I, or does my business have a Twitter account? If the answer is no, you might wanna work on that.

A multi-platform approach to advertising can ensure that those aiming to find you, will – and those who didn’t know about you might find you still. Building your brand once followers are identified, takes an organized approach, but can be achieved for often times much less money than what one might consider to be “traditional” modes of advertising ( Newspaper print ads, static billboards, business networking memberships).

The leap into the realm of social media can be intimidating for some. It came on quick and changes even quicker; if you don’t have a handle on what a “handle” is – if a hashtag used to be a pound sign to you, and or if you just can’t seem to figure out what to Tweet about, you might want to hire some help.

From a full-blown branding firm to a solo consultant, there are a number of resourceful people and helpful resources in any community waiting to help you bring brand awareness to the world wide web for you and yours.

Consistency is key. So if you’re doing it yourself or hiring help, Anvil has 6 strategies they think you should key in on.

Build a compelling profile – a good bio/product description, nice/fitting/professional/profession appropriate headshot, or logo, and consistency with your profile names across platforms are all key.
Create content consistently – stay on schedule, don’t be negative or have bursts of negativity on your feed, share other people’s and trending content, and present high-quality content of your own.
Amplify your reach – use well researched and utilized hashtags, include effective keywords, embed links to social profiles, and cross-post quality content across profiles and platforms.
Expand your network – identify and follow relevant influencers, engage influencers and consumers with questions, and monitor industry news.
Be generous – thank you, followers, shout out your partners, share customer/influencer/consumer content, and respond to questions promptly.
Expedite the growth curve – invest in paid options to maximize reach, leverage sponsored and targeted posts/content, include incentives and contests, use polls and surveys, and amplify popular posts.

That’s a lot – and it’s only six things. So we think – if you start there, you’re off to a good start. Keep at it. Social media isn’t figured out overnight, but it can have an impact that quickly. Take it easy and always think twice before pressing post – the rest is all trial and error – hopefully more trial than error.

June 1, 2018 by Ruben Garcia

So You’re Lookin’ to “Advertise” – Here Are Some Thoughts About Questions to Ask and Expect when buying from someone who’s selling.

Advertising is tricky. Should you do online? Should you buy print advertising? What is reach? Who is my demographic? What is a brand promise? Questions upon questions – and we haven’t even got to the “real” questions yet…

Let’s do that. Here’s a quick reference to some questions you might ask when sitting across from someone selling you a bit of advertising. And – we’ve also included some questions said seller might have for you in return/conversation.

You might wanna ask:
What were some of the best ads you’ve seen and results?
Given your media – what are some of the wost ads you’ve seen as well?
These questions will quickly decide if the chosen type of media is right for you – does it fit your product, service, or clientele? Or is it just too much of a stretch…

Do you have contract limits and terms? If so, what are they?
Are there competitors of mine who buy advertising from you on this same form of media?
If so, who and what do they normally spend?

These might seem like questions that are “out of bounds,” or “off limits,” the reality of the situation is, you’re about to buy something with hard earned money from a business you are attempting to continue to build – that goal and aim deserves and requires well researched, considered, and informed decisions.

Any agency selling you a quality service will be happy to answer these questions – in fact, it should lend to their credibility and effectiveness to show you such data.

As part of the conversation the seller may ask you some questions as well. Many folks need to determine if you are in fact the “decision maker,” or if the “deal,” is going to require another meeting and more time.

They may ask:

What does your “media mix” include?
This is in reference to all the avenues you use to reach your current clientele/customer base. It may include but not be limited to referrals, promotional products, radio ads, outdoor ad placement, indoor billboards, websites, social media and more.

The questions above will often be accompanied by questions like:
How long have you’ve been operating?
What does your budget as an entire operation? And or does it currently include advertising? Being honest with your answers to these questions will allow a good salesperson to determine if his or her service can meet your needs and help you to grow your business. Questions about your “number” – the people you need to reach to consider an effort successful, are often tied to budget, but buying big, doesn’t always guarantee big numbers in return. When considering buying advertising it is important to take your time and make a sound decision.

In taking time on both sides – the seller might ask how long her or she should wait before circling back for an answer, and you have every right to ask how long their current offer is good for. It is a game, that should feel more like the beginning of a relationship/friendship, than something purely transactional.

When you’ve found this “media match,” you’ll know – and sometimes it takes time and trial and error. Note the helpful questions to ask and expect. Plan your budget now, and include a line item for advertising if your business doesn’t already have one. You’ll sure be glad you did.

October 17, 2016 by Ruben Garcia

JohnnyBoard’s Winning Video!

Ruben Garcia, JohnnyBoards indoor advertising and Javier Palomarez, the President and CEO of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC),

JohnnyBoard’s Winning Video earned a spot at The United States Hispanic Annual National Convention (USHCC), the largest gathering of Hispanic business leaders in America. Held from October 9-11 in Miami Beach, FL, at the Fontainebleau Hotel, the 37th Annual Convention is the country’s largest networking venue for Hispanic business and Fortune 1000 corporations interested in the Hispanic market. Over two-days, the National Convention affords Hispanic vendors and corporate buyers the opportunity to establish partnerships where business opportunities can flourish.

JohnnyBoards, Indoor Advertising, won a place at the table with a video about the value of Indoor advertising using bathrooms or washrooms as a great space for advertising corporate clients and social marketing clients. The USHCC actively promotes the economic growth, development and interests of more than 4.1 million Hispanic-owned businesses, that combined, contribute over $661 billion to the American economy every year. It also advocates on behalf of 259 major American corporations and serves as the umbrella organization for more than 200 local chambers and business associations nationwide. JohnnyBoards was proud to be giving the opportunity to present it’s video on Indoor advertising for corporate and social marketing in during the Tuesday Luncheon.

JohnnyBoards is a leader in Albuquerque’s Indoor advertising, providing local and national advertising services to small businesses.

JohnnyBoards would like to thank Thomas Fite and Michael Guastaferro with Inspire Studio Marketing, for producing JohnnyBoard’s Winning Video.

November 11, 2014 by Ruben Garcia

Please join me at today’s veterans ceremony. My father and brother were both veterans and I attend this event every year. Thanks for your service : Jesse Garcia Sr. , Jessie Garcia Jr.

http://www.cabq.gov/mayor/veterans-affairs/events/veterans-day-ceremony/