Author Archives: Rod Schwartz

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About Rod Schwartz

Rod Schwartz backed into a lifelong career in radio advertising in 1973 in Springfield, Illinois. He joined the Pullman (Wash.) Radio Group in 1979, where he worked until his retirement at the end of 2022. From 1991 to March 2024, Rod and his family operated Grace Broadcast Sales, providing short-form syndicated radio features to radio and TV stations across the U.S. and Canada. Rod currently operates an independent advertising, marketing, and media consultancy for radio stations, independent business owners and busy professionals, and he continues providing syndicated audio features to radio and TV station clients. More information is available at RodSchwartz.com. An avid photographer, Rod shares some of his favorite images at PalousePics.com and on his Viewbug gallery. See Links for details.

Got Originality?

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Rod Schwartz

Give me a break. “Got Botox?!” Imitation, the Rev. Colton insisted, is the sincerest form of flattery. In the annals of American advertising, no slogan has attracted so many imitations—trite or inane as they may be—as the legendary Got Milk?, … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising (General), Branding, Communication, Got Milk?, Radio Advertising, Radio Commercials, Radio Copywriting, Sales & Marketing, Storytelling | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Original, One and Only

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Rod Schwartz

Uncle Sam—an American original Here is a one-word reason advertisers should give serious consideration to participating in their radio commercials: originality.   Each of us is, in the strict sense of the word, unique. An original, not a clone. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising (General), Branding, Client-voiced commercials, Communication, Radio Advertising, Radio Commercials, Radio Copywriting, Radio Production, Sales & Marketing, Storytelling | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Accentuate the Positives: Client-Voiced Radio Commercials

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Rod Schwartz

I’ll admit there are advertisers who should be discouraged from doing their own radio commercials. (Here I would love to insert a few perfect examples, but let’s be charitable.) Still, my tendency is to err in the direction of giving … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising (General), Client-voiced commercials, Radio Advertising, Radio Commercials, Radio Copywriting, Radio Production, Sales & Marketing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Creating Profitable Radio Advertising: the Advertiser as Expert

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Rod Schwartz

Advertisers who voice their own radio commercials often find it a powerful way to leverage their knowledge and expertise, their accessibility, even their personalities to competitive advantage. After all, as owners their words carry more weight. They are the local … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising (General), Client-voiced commercials, Professional Services Advertising, Radio Advertising, Radio Commercials, Radio Production | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Words and Voices, the Art of Persuasion

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Rod Schwartz

I create radio advertising campaigns for a living. Words are the tools of my trade. Words give wings to ideas and make them soar. Words move people, products, and services. Words turn strangers into customers, and customers into evangelists. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising (General), Casting Talent, Communication, Radio Advertising, Radio Commercials, Radio Copywriting, Radio Production, Sales & Marketing, Voice Acting, Voiceover | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Remember Your Customers’ Birthdays and They’ll Remember You!

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Rod Schwartz

One of the definitions of elegance is simplicity. When it comes to promotions, I’m a big believer in keeping things simple – especially in this age of the 11-second attention span. Here’s a promotion any radio station or advertiser can … Continue reading →

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Ol’ Smudgy Takes a Page from Radio’s Playbook

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Rod Schwartz

You have to admit, this does not look like a typical newspaper ad: This ad has been running recently in The (Spokane, WA) Spokesman-Review — not in the classifieds, as the image above might suggest, but in the first section … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising (General), Radio Advertising, Radio Commercials, Sales & Marketing | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Raiders of the Lost (Radio) Advertising Budget

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Rod Schwartz

Advertising dollars are scarce in the best of times. Competition is always fierce. But in today’s economy, can any businessperson afford to squander his limited advertising budget? You wouldn’t think so. There have never been more places for advertisers to … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising (General), Radio Advertising, Sales & Marketing | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments