During the past 70 years, Cable TV has evolved from its original purpose – providing isolated rural areas and those with poor TV reception access to the closest broadcast channels – to expanded viewing options for urban and suburban audiences. The number of channels quickly increased to hundreds, and with more content than even a couch potato could watch. The cost of subscriptions has increased and new streaming services attract more viewers.

A study by Horizon Media reveals that Millennial parents and their Gen Alpha children are exhibiting new consumption behaviors, emphasizing multi-platform, interest-driven engagement. Traditional top-down influence models are becoming obsolete, with peer and community-driven influence gaining importance. The study highlights the shift from hyper-personalization to community-driven discovery and the importance of content relevance over creator popularity. These insights are crucial for local media salespeople, helping them adapt their strategies to resonate with today's dynamic audience.

Are your cold calls falling flat because you’re making simple mistakes? The salesperson called me, but I couldn’t talk at that moment. I was busy focused on something and was unwilling to stop, although I usually take cold calls. If you make cold calls, you should take them because you may learn from different approaches.

Fuel your week with these can’t-miss co-op deals!
• Altoz Think Green Sales Event! — Keep your lawn looking its best while saving big with Altoz’s eco-friendly mowers and equipment.
• Unbeatable Cruise Savings From Princess Cruises! — Set sail on your dream vacation with incredible deals on unforgettable Princess Cruises.
• Lincoln Changing Seasons Call for Changing Tires! — Get ready for the road ahead with seasonal tire deals that keep you safe and confident.
• BMW Motorrad Motober-Fest! — Ride into fall with style and performance—exclusive savings on BMW Motorrad bikes and gear.
• Save Big on Next Summer’s Adventures With Sea-Doo! — Plan ahead for fun on the water with discounts on Sea-Doo watercraft and accessories.
• Fall Comfort Starts With Big Savings From Lennox! — Keep your home cozy and efficient this season with Lennox heating and cooling deals.
• Fall-ing Into Savings With the Outdoor GreatRoom Company! — Upgrade your outdoor space and enjoy fall in comfort with exceptional savings on GreatRoom products.

Sales trainer Amy Franko shares highlights from a webinar she presented recently for SMM Connect on the most important metrics for sales managers to monitor. Before we dive into that, I speak with Amy about her shift from B2B sales in the tech world to starting her own sales consultancy. She talks about how she goes to market and how companies can be smarter buyers of sales training.

Once upon a time, there was “health,” well understood by most Americans. “Wellness,” however, was a somewhat vague term not fully understood and seemed to be limited to health spas and retreats and various New Age philosophies and questionable treatments. The pandemic has changed that relationship, elevating wellness on par with health and creating an equal partnership in the minds of millions more Americans and people across the globe. Make no mistake, health wellness is a global trend, almost a phenomenon.

I’ve seen a series of posts offering tricks and techniques to eliminating objections. Every day, we see experts commenting on objections, “how to overcome them, how to handle them, how to eliminate them.” Objections are often positioned as a battle between sellers and the customer, with our objective to prevail, defeating the customers’ objections

Over the last few weeks, I’ve developed three top-tier, comprehensive courses. These aren’t the typical courses you see that skim the surface. These are thorough, deep-dive, results-driven courses designed to drive sales performance. And while we put the finishing touches on these, I’m crafting a fourth course that’s built around a powerhouse collection of templates I use in my own business. This one will take time, but when it’s ready, it will be the ultimate playbook for sales leaders, equipping them to empower their teams to hit ambitious targets.

As an executive leadership coach, I’ve had the privilege of working with leaders from various backgrounds and industries. One thing I’ve consistently observed is that exceptional leaders share a common practice – they regularly ask themselves thought-provoking questions. These questions serve as a compass, guiding them through the complexities of leadership.

Regular exercise is a game-changer for local salespeople, enhancing productivity, mental resilience, and overall well-being. Physical activity improves cognitive function, boosts energy levels, and reduces stress, leading to better performance in sales tasks. By incorporating fitness into your daily routine, sales professionals can manage time more effectively and build confidence. This story explores the profound impact of regular exercise on sales productivity, backed by research and expert insights.

Urban One, founded by Cathy Hughes in 1980, has grown from a single AM radio station into the largest African-American-owned multimedia company in the U.S., dedicated to amplifying Black voices across radio, television, digital, and integrated marketing. With the strategic leadership of her son, Alfred Liggins III, the company expanded into TV One, iOne Digital, and Reach Media, becoming a trusted cultural and commercial force. Their mission—“Information is Power”—has guided their programming and community engagement, making them a vital voice during pivotal moments in Black American history. Urban One’s story offers powerful lessons in authenticity, audience connection, and adaptability for advertisers and media professionals alike.

We know that individuals with Drive make great salespeople, but there are a number of other traits that complement Drive and are important to consider when looking to hire top-producing salespeople. These are sales traits that you just cannot identify from an interview alone. That is why it is critical to start out with an assessment that measures Drive, because coaching salespeople after hiring isn’t always the best way to find success.

Great conversations don’t just happen—they’re sparked by intention.
At Marketing Insights, we know that effective prospecting is where strategy meets connection.

Smart outreach isn’t about volume—it’s about value. It’s being prepared, purposeful, and personal from the very first touchpoint. Whether you're identifying new opportunities or reaching out to potential clients, how you begin sets the tone for everything that follows.

This collection of quotes highlights:
✨ The importance of doing your homework before you reach out
✨ How thoughtful outreach builds credibility and curiosity
✨ The art of turning first impressions into lasting relationships

I am never without a book, whether it’s a hardcover or an audiobook. If I’m doing anything that allows me to listen to a book, you’ll find me with an audiobook. I used to buy books for my clients, only to see them collect dust, unopened and unread. Right now, the One-Up Book Club is on its second round. The first five books include Nate Silver’s On the Edge, How Migration Works by Hein de Haas, Overruled by Neil Gorsuch and Janie Nitze, Minds Wide Shut by Garry Saul Morson and Morton Schapiro, and Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari.