(By Alec Drake) The holy grail of inventory and yield management is to reach sellout at preferred prices when demand is extinguished. This pursuit of maximum revenues is a core responsibility for sales managers selling their OTA inventory. When demand is not there to drive inventory pressure and revenue, we should intensify our focus on unsold inventory (Spoilage).

Part 1 of this two-part Special Report focused on the current data and insights on consumers’ behaviors, perceptions and attitudes. Brands and retailers can’t develop, implement and manage strategies and tactics to “reach, attract, capture and retain” consumers until they understand how consumers think about the buying process and the path they choose for each unique purchase journey.

Fuel your week with these can’t-miss co-op deals!
• Polaris Factory Authorized Clearance Event! — Ride into savings with top-quality Polaris vehicles at unbeatable prices.
• Clopay Fall Rebate Event! — Upgrade your garage with amazing rebates on Clopay doors.
• Firestone Ag Harvest Ready Savings! — Keep your farm running smoothly with essential tires and equipment deals.
• Larson Fall Sale! — Protect your home with top-notch doors and entryways at great prices.
• Spartan Mowers Summer Sales Event! — Make yard work easier with powerful mowers on sale this week.

With the reality of change fatigue, mental health issues, collaboration overload and the demands of leading in a hybrid environment, today’s leader needs strategies to renew energy and avoid burnout. Here are four simple steps with strategies to take immediately. Before age 61 adults need a minimum of 7 hours sleep each night. Not getting enough sleep has been compared to alcohol impairment, with 24 hours wakefulness to be compared to a blood alcohol level at 0.10%.

AI is delivering speed for local media reps and agency teams—but it’s also quietly raising expectations, widening job scope, and bleeding work into breaks and after-hours. The risk isn’t just burnout; it’s weaker judgment, lower-quality output, and clients overwhelmed by too many “options” instead of clear recommendations. The winning edge in 2026 won’t be who prompts best—it’ll be who builds smart guardrails so AI accelerates the work without consuming the people doing it.

Behind every great outcome is a team that chose to build together.
At Marketing Insights, we believe collaboration isn’t just a strategy—it’s the foundation of meaningful progress.

In marketing, sales, and beyond, no one achieves greatness alone. Real success happens when people bring their strengths together, align around shared goals, and lift each other toward something bigger than any one person could create. These quotes celebrate the magic of teamwork and the power of collective energy.

This collection of quotes highlights:
✨ The strength of shared vision and aligned effort
✨ The value of diverse perspectives and mutual trust
✨ How great teams don’t just work together—they grow together

Sales professionals in the media industry face unique challenges. With a constantly evolving landscape of digital platforms, content marketing strategies, and client needs, mastering the art of the sale requires more than just product knowledge and industry insight. To stand out, media sales professionals must hone their communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills. One of the most effective ways to do this? Role-playing.

Retail therapy—the act of shopping to improve mood—is a scientifically supported behavior that offers emotional relief by restoring a sense of control, especially during times of sadness or stress. Research shows that the process of choosing and browsing, not just purchasing, triggers dopamine and serotonin, making consumers more receptive to emotionally resonant advertising. Local businesses, with their in-person experiences and human touch, are uniquely positioned to benefit from this behavior, especially when their ads emphasize comfort, self-care, and personal connection. For media sales reps, this presents a strategic opportunity to guide clients toward emotionally intelligent messaging and contextual ad placements. When done responsibly, advertising that aligns with retail therapy can drive results while supporting consumer well-being.

As an executive leadership coach, I’ve witnessed the profound impact of mindset on leadership. Your mindset, whether it’s a growth mindset or a fixed mindset, plays a pivotal role in determining your effectiveness as a leader. In this blog post, we’ll explore the concept of mindset, its influence on leadership, and how you can harness the power of a growth mindset to enhance your leadership capabilities.

Change is the one universal constant most challenging for humans. Our adaptability, however, allows us to change, although many resist. Typically, those who adjust to change in their personal and professional lives are more successful. Until recently, B2B sales seemed to be locked into a decades-old, legacy process. Many companies and sales teams have yet to embrace fully the new era of B2B sales, but they are courting disaster if they don’t do so quickly.

In most movie and TV scripts, the last direction at the bottom of the last page is typically “fade to black.” Whether legacy (or linear or traditional) TV ever reaches that last page is still to be determined, but it isn’t happening anytime soon. The set is fully illuminated, the cameras are rolling and the actors are in position for another take, another scene – and the American public, as well viewers globally,

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.

Trust isn’t given—it’s earned, moment by moment.
At Marketing Insights, we know that authentic relationships are the foundation of lasting success.

Whether it’s with clients, colleagues, or communities, trust grows from integrity, empathy, and consistency. Building strong connections is more than business—it’s about nurturing a culture where people feel seen, valued, and understood. This collection of quotes shines a light on the power of genuine relationships to fuel loyalty, reputation, and growth.

This collection highlights:
✨ The role of honesty and empathy in building trust
✨ How consistent actions shape meaningful connections
✨ The impact of personal and organizational integrity on reputation

A new report shows that 55% of Americans say their online search habits have shifted significantly over the past five years—and they're increasingly discovering products through ads, editorial content, and apps rather than traditional search engines. This evolution marks a major opportunity for local media sellers: consumers trust ads across multiple platforms and make quick purchasing decisions when they discover products via native, embedded content. For local sales teams, the key takeaway is clear—you don’t have to be Google to win in the search-driven economy. You just need to help advertisers show up in the right context, across trusted platforms.

America’s mall sector is no longer one story but two: a small group of high-end, experience-driven centers is thriving, while many lower-tier malls continue to struggle. For local media sellers and ad agencies, that means retail should be approached more selectively, with stronger malls and lifestyle centers pitched as destination brands that need image-building, traffic-driving and event-focused campaigns across radio, TV, cable, print, outdoor and digital. The bigger lesson is that winning retail properties are succeeding through curation, experience and audience focus—exactly the kind of strategy local media companies should mirror in the way they package and sell advertising.