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.

Radio Ads Outperform Other Media In Actual R.O.I.

Posted on June 2, 2016 by Rod Schwartz

LONDON: The £592m spent on radio advertising in the UK in 2015 represented a value of £4.6bn to advertisers, according to a new report. British advertisers using radio there enjoyed a return on investment (ROI) of ￡7.70 for every ￡1 … Continue reading →

Posted in Magazine, Newspaper, Radio Advertising, Radio Commercials, Radio Copywriting, Radio Production, Sales, Sales & Marketing, Storytelling, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cremo of the Crop

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Rod Schwartz

Some time ago I heard Michael Savage reading a commercial for a men’s shaving product called Cremo and boy, did he sound excited. Now because I shave regularly and, like most guys, occasionally nick myself, his message caught my attention and the name of … Continue reading →

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Please Text and Drive

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Rod Schwartz

Got your attention, didn’t it? But why did it grab you? Because the message is short and to-the-point. Easy to comprehend. Because the message shocked you, at least a little. If you know of someone who died in an accident … Continue reading →

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“Leaving the Country If Trump’s Elected? Let Me Sell Your Home.”

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Rod Schwartz

Now here’s an example of brilliant Realtor® advertising! This message is bound to have lots of people in her community talking about her and engaging with her, regardless of their politics. As a prospecting and awareness-building ad, this is as … Continue reading →

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Low-cost and no-cost advertising ideas

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Rod Schwartz

A recent Google search on the question “How much should I budget for advertising?” yielded 106 million pages of answers. At the very top of the list was this article from Entrepreneur Magazine, in which the author provides a sensible, … Continue reading →

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Make Your Own Ginger Beer – Homemade Ginger Beer Improved

Posted on January 23, 2016 by Rod Schwartz

(This post, my first of 2016, has nothing to do with advertising or radio. Rather, I’m going to share my recipe for making homemade ginger beer – the non-alcoholic variety – along with some valuable tricks I’ve learned along the … Continue reading →

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Fishy Business: “Stop Running That Ad!”

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Rod Schwartz

The customer was obviously upset. She complained to the supermarket owner: I was listening to news talk 1150 and heard your advertisement for “Fresh Atlantic Salmon”.  I just wanted to let you know you are pushing a product that almost … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising (General), Awards, Branding, Business, Communication, Consumer behavior, Copy, Copywriting, life lessons, Management, Positioning, Radio Advertising, Radio Commercials, Radio Copywriting, Radio Production, Sales & Marketing, Shop Local, Storytelling, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

On Selling Soap (Meet My New Friend, Duke Cannon)

Posted on January 17, 2015 by Rod Schwartz

I made a new friend this past Christmas, thanks to my wife. His name is Duke Cannon. Duke sells soap, about which we’ll talk more in just a bit. Did you know that Soap-selling has a storied history? Andrew Pears (b. … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising (General), Branding, Business, Communication, Consumer behavior, Copy, Copywriting, Internet, Jingles, life lessons, Madison Avenue, Magazine, Newspaper, Positioning, Problem-solving, Productivity, Radio Advertising, Sales, Slogans and taglines, Storytelling, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

“If I don’t go, I don’t get”

Posted on January 2, 2015 by Rod Schwartz

After an extensive Internet search, I’ve concluded that I may be in possession of the only extant copy of the Warner & Swasey Company’s remarkable collection of American Business Ads, published 40 years ago under the title: “1776-1976 What has … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising (General), Branding, Business, Communication, life lessons, Magazine, Management, Newspaper, Positioning, Print, Productivity, Sales, Sales & Marketing, Slogans and taglines, Storytelling, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Make Up Your Mind to Be Happy

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Rod Schwartz

Robert Louis Stevenson, no stranger to pain and suffering, has often been cited as the author of these 12 exhortations on How to Be Happy. Whether his or not, the principles are worth consideration: 1. Make up your mind to … Continue reading →

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