More sales organizations use a legacy approach than a modern sales methodology. Some of these sales managers may not be interested enough in studying the various ways to approach the sales conversation. As a sales leader, you need a modern sales methodology that teaches clients why they need to change and how they can make key decisions for their business. We are now in the third decade of the 21st century. We have electric cars, supercomputers that fit in our pockets, artificial intelligence, and business models like those used by Uber, DoorDash, Airbnb, and Netflix. Almost everything we once knew has been reimagined. We live in an AC/DC environment, one of accelerating, constant, disruptive change. Given this reality, it’s surprising how many of our peers are still selling with an approach that’s nearly 60 years old, from an era when people watched black-and-white television.

Few retail sectors have suffered as much from the pandemic as restaurants. It doesn’t just affect the cash register till, but also employment (often teens and younger adults), payroll and sales taxes and tourism. Although some major chains may experience significant revenues losses, and even bankruptcy, it’s the independents and mom-and-pop establishments which are experiencing the brunt of state-mandated closures.

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Consumers plan to spend the same or more this holiday season despite financial pressures, but many feel overwhelmed by promotional noise and are abandoning purchases out of frustration. Generative AI is emerging as a “holiday helper,” giving shoppers curated recommendations and clearer choices—if retailers feed it structured, consistent content. At the same time, physical stores are reclaiming center stage as experiential hubs and omnichannel switchboards, from community-driven formats to BOPIS, returns and in-store events that build confidence and connection. For local media sellers and agencies, the opportunity is to help retailers simplify decisions, turn stores into local events, align AI and in-store promises, and ultimately sell confidence rather than just more clutter.

If your team dreads meetings, it might not be the idea of meetings they hate—it might be the way they’re being run. Many leaders haven’t evolved past the outdated meeting practices of the 1990s. Endless talking, rigid agendas, and one-way communication no longer work. Today’s teams need meetings that are dynamic, inclusive, and productive. If you’re running meetings like it’s still 1995, it’s time to rethink how you bring your people together.

Nearly half (49%) of Gen Z consumers are significantly more likely to pay attention to advertisements that incorporate humor or music they enjoy, presenting a major opportunity for local media sales teams and advertising agencies. Local advertisers have unique advantages in this space because they can tap into hyperlocal references, community inside jokes, and regional musical preferences that create authentic connections with Gen Z audiences. The key to success lies in creating "snackable, scroll-stopping creative" that feels genuine rather than trying too hard, while leveraging local radio stations' music expertise and community knowledge to craft memorable campaigns. With Gen Z's top concern being the economy, local businesses can address these worries through entertaining, music-forward campaigns that position them as accessible solutions while building long-term brand relationships.

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In a rapidly evolving sales landscape, the question remains: Will AI replace human relationships, or will human interaction continue to dominate? We are racing toward a critical decision about technology and human interaction, one that could create a divide between technologists and those who prefer human engagement. It has been said that GPT was released to acclimate us to artificial intelligence.

Much as TV is now part of the larger visual media environment (and still the largest part), radio must also share people’s ears with newer audio choices, such as streaming music services and podcasts. TV may still command the largest amount of the average daily time adults 18+ spend with all the media outlets, according to Nielsen’s Q1 2018 Total Audience Report; however, radio still rules audience reach, at 92% compared to TV’s 88%.

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.

The person you hired wants to be successful, even if they don’t yet know what that means. This new member of your team wants to do good work and succeed. As a sales leader, you must fill in the blanks for the people in your charge. If you don’t set the standards that ensure success, then no one knows what success means, nor will they know what to do and how to win deals.

You are a modern leader, one smart enough to engage your team, improving their plan by allowing others to contribute to their decisions. Some of your team’s contributions are valuable, with many ideas stemming from their different views and experiences. Because you invite them to own and participate in certain decisions, your team is more committed to the plan.

Despite radio rsquo;s strong audience reach and cost-efficiency, major misperceptions among advertisers are causing significant underinvestment in the medium. These challenges mdash;and how the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) is addressing them mdash;offer critical insights for all local media sellers, including newspapers, billboards, TV, magazines, and digital. Like radio, these platforms often face outdated assumptions that affect their share of ad budgets. This article outlines key data, strategies, and messaging that local sellers can adopt to better position their value in today rsquo;s competitive media mix.

Essential Lessons for Today's Local Media Sales and Agency Professionals
From Privileged Child to Scrappy Entrepreneur: The Early Years That Built a Sales Mindset
Ted Turner, born into privilege but shaped by personal tragedy, transformed a small billboard business into a global media empire by pioneering innovations like the superstation WTBS and the 24-hour news network CNN. Despite facing skepticism, industry resistance, and the eventual loss of control over his company, Turner consistently rebounded by pivoting into philanthropy, environmentalism, and global advocacy. His bold decisions—like donating $1 billion to the United Nations and creating Captain Planet—reflected a deep commitment to purpose beyond profit. Turner’s life teaches media professionals the power of vision, resilience, and values-driven leadership. As he famously said, “You should set goals beyond your reach so you always have something to live for.”

AI Overviews are accelerating a shift toward “Google Zero,” where users get answers without clicking through, weakening the value of organic search traffic. That is a warning sign for publishers and marketers, but also an opening for local media sellers and agencies to reposition radio, TV, cable, print, outdoor, and digital as channels that build top-of-mind awareness, trust, and demand before a search ever happens. In a world where discoverability is increasingly controlled by answer engines, advertisers may place greater value on media that makes brands known, remembered, and hard to ignore.