We have all heard about the Great Resignation. The notion that many people are leaving their job or not returning to work has been a persistent theme of 2021 and 2022. There are any number of theories as to the cause of this trend: Pay scales were too low. Government benefits were too high creating a disincentive to work. People were fearful of getting sick and/or bringing the virus home to members of their family.

Most advertising gets skipped or avoided, but the Super Bowl flips the dynamic by making ads genuinely entertaining—and that reveals an economic truth: creativity multiplies the return on media spend. Research from groups like System1/Effie and Nielsen suggests creative quality is a major driver of profit and sales lift, not a “nice-to-have.” Beyond paid reach, culturally resonant creative generates earned attention—conversation, sharing, and search behavior—that extends impact well past the media buy. For local media sellers and agencies, the practical move is to sell “creative + distribution + simple proof,” building campaigns designed to be remembered and talked about, not merely delivered.

From Charity Clothes to Global Influence: The Foundation Years
Brian Tracy transformed himself from a poverty-stricken high school dropout in Prince Edward Island into one of the world's leading success and sales authorities through systematic self-education and disciplined study of masters like Napoleon Hill and Dale Carnegie. He developed practical systems like the ABCDE priority method, the 10-goal system, and consultative selling techniques by treating real-world sales interactions as scientific experiments to refine his approach. His influence has reached millions across 58 countries through books, seminars, and audio programs that prove success comes from systematic daily habits and continuous learning rather than natural talent. Tracy's enduring legacy demonstrates that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary results by consistently applying his learnable systems for time management, goal-setting, and sales psychology.

An expected $10 billion in 2026 political ad spending is rapidly shifting toward connected TV, forcing local media and agencies to repackage their traditional strengths—reach, trust, and local context—into more data-rich, addressable offerings. How are firms like Fyllo, forged in highly regulated categories like cannabis and financial services, using contextual and CTV tools to give campaigns precise, privacy-safe targeting in swing districts. The story explores the growing importance of sports as “safe reach” inventory, the rise of contextual platforms such as Proteus, and the ongoing challenges of fragmented CTV measurement. It includes a practical playbook for local sellers and agencies to own their CTV story, leverage sports and local news as high-value targeting environments, and turn regulatory and privacy complexity into a competitive advantage.

Follow Sarah, a fictional seasoned local media sales rep, as she explores how AI can help her work smarter and sell more effectively. Through tools like Mailchimp, HubSpot, and Drift, she automates routine tasks, prioritizes high-value leads, and personalizes her outreach. AI also helps her optimize ad performance, manage social media, and generate compelling proposals—freeing up time for strategic selling. Sarah’s journey illustrates how any sales rep can start small with AI, build confidence, and gain a competitive edge in today’s fast-paced media landscape.

It has been written that culture eats strategy for breakfast and that culture is a great differentiator among companies. If you query Google on “What is a good company culture?” you will get billions of results (6,250,000,000!) and if you click on the links of the results on the first page you will have a list of over 100 different keys to culture. Purpose, values, mission, respect, freedom, quality of leadership, great compensation, high growth, flexibility, diversity, multi-stakeholder capitalism and on and on the list goes.

Clipping mdash; the practice of sharing short video segments from longer content across social platforms mdash; is emerging as a stealthy but effective advertising strategy. Initially driven by influencers, this tactic is now attracting major brand dollars, offering new revenue opportunities for local media outlets. While still flying under the radar of regulatory oversight, clipping offers a model of snackable, high-engagement content that local newspapers, magazines, TV stations, and digital sellers can learn from or even leverage. Local media sellers must consider how to integrate or compete with this trend as advertisers look for fast, viral exposure over traditional placements.

The competition is fierce for you and your station – and your prospects and clients. With consumer confidence very high, a strong economy and people’s personal financial situation continuing to improve rapidly, you have many opportunities during summer 2018 to make a big splash in your local market. Consumer confidence increased from 123.1 during December 2017 to 125.4 for January 2018, according to The Confidence Board Consumer Confidence

Oprah Winfrey's journey from poverty to becoming a media powerhouse is a testament to resilience, authenticity, and visionary leadership. Despite a traumatic childhood, she built a media empire through her company, Harpo Productions, and revolutionized television with The Oprah Winfrey Show. Her unique characteristics—such as empathy, service, and continuous growth—have been pivotal to her success. Oprah's story offers valuable lessons for media sellers and agency leaders, emphasizing the importance of owning your platform, leading with empathy, and being purpose-driven.

Q5—late December through mid- to late January—is a rare local advertising window when many advertisers go dark but consumers keep scrolling, spending gift cards, and shopping for “reset” purchases. With less competition, local brands can often generate calls, appointments, and qualified leads more efficiently, especially in categories tied to renewal, home upgrades, auto service, and wellness. The winners pair seasonally reframed creative (“self-gift” and “new year, new you”) with fast follow-up systems—speed-to-lead, automation, and basic measurement like call tracking and booking links. For local media and agencies, the best play is to treat Q5 as a bridge into Q1: run a focused offer, optimize quickly, and use early proof to convert a January test into a 90-day or annual commitment.

A “no” isn’t the end—it’s part of the journey toward a stronger “yes.”
At Marketing Insights, we understand that overcoming objections requires more than tactics—it demands resilience, emotional intelligence, and perspective.

Handling rejection with grace turns challenges into learning moments and resistance into new possibilities. This collection of quotes highlights how mindset and empathy transform pushback into progress, reminding us that every obstacle carries the seeds of opportunity.

This collection highlights:
✨ The power of perseverance and positivity in the face of “no”
✨ How learning from objections sharpens your approach
✨ The mindset shifts that turn rejection into growth

A new survey from the Local Media Consortium finds that 83% of local media professionals expect digital revenue to grow or remain steady in 2025, with gains driven by video, subscriptions, and newsletters. While some challenges persist—particularly around digital ad revenue and staffing—AI adoption, cross-platform content strategies, and audience engagement are gaining ground. These trends provide a strong foundation for media sellers to deliver smarter, more tailored solutions to local advertisers. The data underscores the continued relevance and revenue potential of trusted local media in a fragmented digital landscape.

Humans have invented and embraced technologies for millennia. Whether they were fire, the light bulb or the computer, all have been valued for improving our lives, making us safer, extending life expectancy, allowing us to be more productive and enjoying more of life. Now, we live in a time of transformational disruptions – primarily digital disruptions –

Political ad spending is projected to reach $10.8 billion in 2026, making it the most expensive midterm cycle in U.S. history. Broadcast TV will still capture nearly half of this spending, but Connected TV (CTV) will surge to $2.5 billion, reshaping campaign strategies and demanding integrated media solutions. Swing states like California, Michigan, Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina will see the heaviest demand, with inventory scarcity and premium pricing affecting both political and non-political advertisers. Early buying is already breaking records, meaning agencies and local reps must help clients secure placements well in advance. For local media and agencies, the opportunity lies in balancing short-term political windfalls with long-term client relationships through cross-platform strategies and consultative selling.

Frustrated with failed sales strategies? You put together a robust sales strategy—a strategy that you worked extremely hard on and believed to be near flawless—only to see it fail in the long run. Frustrating, right? In my years of consulting, I have rarely (and I mean rarely!) come across a seriously flawed sales strategy. However, I have come across many (and I mean many!) sales strategies which ultimately fail.