Fuel your week with these can’t-miss co-op deals!

• Cadillac Certified Service Winter Ready Service Event! — Keep your Cadillac performing at its best! Take advantage of this service event and stay winter-ready all season long.
• Simmons Beautyrest Presidents Day Sale! — Sleep better, save bigger! Enjoy exclusive savings on Simmons Beautyrest mattresses and upgrade your rest for less.
• January Special Offers From Buick! — Start the year in style! Explore special offers on Buick models this month and drive away with exceptional value.
• G3 Boats Boat Show Season to Save! — Make waves without breaking the bank! Take advantage of boat show deals on G3 Boats and get ready for a summer on the water.
• Get a Year of Great Grass With Scotts! — Lawn care made easy! Grab special offers from Scotts and keep your yard lush, green, and picture-perfect all year.
• Polaris Start the Year Off Road Sales Event! — Adventure awaits! Gear up with exclusive savings on Polaris off-road vehicles and make every ride epic.
• The Ferris Thaw Event! — Spring into action! Save on Ferris mowers this week and keep your lawn looking pristine, no matter the season.

From the Streets of Detroit to the Guinness Book of World Records
Joe Girard, born to Sicilian immigrants in Detroit's impoverished east side, overcame an abusive childhood to become the world's greatest salesman, selling more retail cars than anyone in history for 12 consecutive years. Influenced by Dale Carnegie, Vince Lombardi, and Napoleon Hill, Girard built his success on relentless personalization, fanatical follow-up that generated 65% of sales from referrals, an unmatched work ethic, and deep empathy that focused on solving customer needs rather than pushing products. His methods—including the 250 Rule and systematic relationship building—translate perfectly to modern media sales, where success still depends on human connection over digital metrics. His legacy proves that in an age of automation, the fundamentals of genuine care, consistent follow-up, and serving others remain the true differentiators for extraordinary sales results.

Weekly Newsletter March 9, 2026

Kick off the week strong with these must-run co-op campaigns your customers will be excited to promote!
• Cub Cadet Ultimate Steering Wheel Event! — Take control of your yard this spring with unbeatable deals on Cub Cadet equipment.
• Good Times Start With Great Deals From Kawasaki! — Power up your adventures with savings that keep the fun rolling.
• Mitsubishi Motors Spring Sales Event! — Hit the road with spring-ready deals on dependable vehicles.
• Gravely Mow the Distance Sales Event! — Get the job done with performance mowers built to go the extra mile.
• Firestone Ag Spring Savings! — Reliable tires and spring specials that keep your equipment moving.
• Great Plains Spring Sales Event! — Equip your farm for success with offers on top-performing implements.
• Valspar Spring Rebate Event! — Freshen up your space with color and savings that brighten the season.

Executive Summary A study by Critical Mass Insights reveals that radio listeners are significantly more likely to engage with social media ads for products they’ve heard advertised on the radio. The survey, conducted among 1,000 U.S. consumers aged 18-64, found that 55% of listeners are more likely to click on social media ads after hearing a radio ad, with this likelihood rising to 64% among adults aged 25-44. Additionally, 72% of consumers are more likely to notice social media ads for products they’ve heard about on the radio, and 7 in 10 are more likely to read and try new products advertised on social media after hearing about them on the radio. This study highlights the powerful synergy between legacy media, specifically radio advertising and social media engagement, making it a valuable strategy for local media outlets.

It’s long been a tradition and badge of honor among journalists to accept their role as the targets of the slings and arrows of the public, politicians and the business community. Journalists have willingly crashed the gates of propriety and power to reveal the facts we all deserve to know and to shine a light of truth on those who would mislead or use their position to exploit or to seek gain unfairly, unethically and/or illegally.

Small businesses are entering 2026 confident but not carefree—80% say they’re confident over the next year and 79% expect revenue growth, yet the mood is shaped by inflation, tariffs, and regulatory uncertainty. For local media sellers and agencies, the takeaway is that optimism won’t automatically convert into bigger ad budgets, but it does create a receptive moment for plans that feel practical, measurable, and easy to execute. The “confidence hotspots” (South; tech, healthcare; 10+ employee firms) double as a prospecting map, while more cautious categories call for shorter commitments, tighter offers, and clearer ROI proof. The most actionable signal is that capex is back (57% planning spending, averaging $109K), which often triggers immediate marketing needs—new capacity, locations, services, and hiring—especially as rate cuts nudge owners toward controlled, calculated investment.

Major ad agency, Publicis Groupe’s claim that 86% of its first-quarter 2026 revenue was tied to AI-powered capabilities signals that artificial intelligence is no longer an experimental side project in advertising. For local ad agencies and media sellers, the message is clear: AI will increasingly shape planning, targeting, creative, optimization and reporting, but human judgment will still determine whether campaigns actually work. Radio, TV, cable, print, outdoor and digital sellers should use AI to become faster, smarter and more consultative—without surrendering the local knowledge and trust that remain their competitive advantage.

Despite the lingering impact of the COVID-19 virus, a substantial increase in inflation and the war in Ukraine and other world and national events, American consumers plow ahead, continuing their decades-long role as the drivers of the US economy. Although negative news often receives almost all the headlines, it’s important to emphasize the March 2022 unemployment rate was 3.6%, the lowest since February 2020, and March 2022 retail sales increased 8.4% YOY and 18% from March 2020.

Increasingly, you hear the argument being made that CEOs need to allow their employees to do more — that is to say, to take part in the leadership process. The upshot? As the senior leader, it’s no longer about asking your team to blindly execute a job description or tasks you feed to them and judge them by, then wonder why they seem less than engaged.

This glossary provides definitions of key concepts, technologies, and methodologies in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). It covers foundational terms from machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and ethical AI practices. It is your quick reference to demystify Al jargon and help understanding and informed discussions in AI-related projects.

The Association of National Advertiser’s latest report reveals that over $26.8 billion in programmatic ad spend is wasted due to inefficiencies like inflated metrics, bot traffic, and low-quality ad placements. Despite promises of automation and scale, programmatic advertising continues to struggle with transparency and performance, especially on MFA and AI-generated “slop sites.” In contrast, local media offers verified reach, trusted environments, and community relevance, making it a more reliable and impactful choice for advertisers. Emerging trends like email monetization and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) further highlight the need for direct, human-centered communication. For advertisers seeking real results, local media backed by audited data is not just a safe bet—it’s a strategic advantage.

Sales trainer Amy Franko shares highlights from a webinar she presented recently for SMM Connect on the most important metrics for sales managers to monitor. Before we dive into that, I speak with Amy about her shift from B2B sales in the tech world to starting her own sales consultancy. She talks about how she goes to market and how companies can be smarter buyers of sales training.

With Christmas over, many small businesses go quiet—but January can reward the advertisers who stay visible across digital, radio, TV, and print because competition often drops faster than consumer intent. As holiday campaigns shut off, media markets typically loosen, creating better efficiency (often lower CPM/CPC) and more negotiable avails and added value in traditional channels. Consumers still buy in January, but with a “reset” mindset—practical, purposeful purchases—so messaging that leans into New Year goals can outperform leftover holiday creative. For local media reps and agencies, the play is a simple “January Reset” plan: maintain presence, shift the offer, use trusted local environments (news, print, familiar audio voices), and measure outcomes like calls, appointments, and store traffic.

In our rush to stereotype and pigeonhole living, breathing humans for a variety of reasons, members of Generation X have been designated with the birth years of 1965–1980, or 41 to 56 years of age as of 2021. There may be fewer members of Generation X than other generations, but they are a very valuable consumer group because of their career status, above-average income and a focus on family life, among other characteristics.