APE APE October 2019 | Page 12

MARKETING MATTERS Video Video is one technology everyone’s familiar with. It's been around forever and is becom- ing more and more accessible for the average business owner to utilize. Video production software is available for all kinds of devices in a huge range of prices and options. Cam- eras and drones are easier than ever to use and more affordable as well. Drone footage is increasingly popular in construction — it tells an amazing story, one that’s difficult to capture from the ground. A video isn’t really marketing until you show it to people, and the available place- ments are endless. You can put it on your website, use it in your ads, place it on You- Tube, or play it on a digital display at a trade show. Digital Display Digital display is replacing print in so many places: digital billboards, menus, schedules, heck, even in the aisles at Walmart. Digital display offers a level of flexibility print just can't accommodate. They can be adjusted seasonally, for events, or to rotate different messages continually, so your mar- keting real estate isn’t locked into just one message FOREVER. Apps When people think of apps, they usual- ly think of something they download on their phone. But applications are actually far broader than that. An app can be in a web- site, phone, kiosk, or computer. Regardless of where your audience uses an app, the goal is an interaction between your customer and the information they want or need. Apps can educate and train or allow peo- ple to purchase products. We create website apps for our clients to streamline events and employment application processes, or to es- timate prices and materials. For example, one of my clients sells mulch, and on their website there's an app allowing visitors to calculate how much mulch they’ll need for a project. After estimating, cus- tomers can use the shopping app to place their order online instead of calling it in. Virtual Reality Techies love to talk about virtual reality, and from a marketing perspective, it’s quite powerful. Virtual reality gives participants a unique experience with your product or ser- vice. While video tells a story, virtual reality allows participants to be a part of the story and feel it. Don’t just tell them what it would be like working through the night on a paving crew - show them. Cars zooming by, lights flashing. Let them feel their heart beat faster as they ex- perience the situation through virtual reality. Augmented Reality Augmented reality allows people to see what something could be like. For example, many furniture companies offer apps that let you augment reality so you can see what their furniture would look like in your house before you buy it. What could you show people to help close the deal? How their home would look with a new color of siding or a refinished driveway might support and speed up your sales process. Continued on page 16 Two Thicknesses ® The Standard in Pro-Grade Paint Stencils for over 40 Years! 1/16” (Duro-Last) 1/8” (Maxi-Last) We Manufacture Professional-Grade Paint Stencils To Match DOT Standard Road And Parking Lot Markings. www.STENCIL.store (877) 275-7550 For More Information On This Advertiser Please Visit www.CallAPE.com/e-inquiry www.callape.com [12] 1.800.210.5923