Art Hyde and Co.

01/19/2026

Since advertising began businesses and other entities have used trickery to gain the interest and cause the public (And targeted groups) to buy products, services and more. These deceptions are continually used to alter the perception and benefits of products and services to make them more appealing. Some advertisers have and still use text and imagery that conveys a better price and properties a product has that competitive products and service may not. Currently, ads in all mediums, social media and AI technology use schemes and double-talk to entice shoppers to buy. QUESTION: When will this end? Is the general public so use to these antics they have become blind to them? I think not. So, why do advertisers continue to use them? I believe they have not come to the reality of SMARTER SHOPPERS WHO SEE PASSED THESE DISSIMULATIONS. Why not present products and service for what they are without trickery? Our world is presently so full of lies and untruths shoppers might just find it refreshingly stimulating and begin to choose advertisers who are straightforward and honest. Ads don't have to highlight the negatives but simply tell the truth. Perhaps the future of advertising will not include: the biggest, best, grows hair, least expensive, longest lasting, most satisfying, most loved, best taste and so many other statements that, at best, excite younger and first time shoppers. Perhaps extremely small disclaimers will disappear that reveal the truth yet can hardly be read or seen. I'm just saying.

10/30/2025

An observation about social media. Some may disagree but I am convinced that social media will totally change the business of advertising - forever. A large part of effective advertising has been dependent on a degree of trust. e.g., When an ad made a claim about a product or service there was at least some truth to what the ad promoted. Now, with social media filled with exaggerations and downright lies the targets of most advertisers will become reluctant to believe what is shown on TV, OTT, streaming radio, newspapers, digital ads and of course social media. To make matters worse A.I. will increasingly cause consumer distrust in what is seen, read and heard. It won't matter if humor is used or customer testimonials, the ads will be ineffective. Will this happen tomorrow? No, it will not happen tomorrow but if changes are not made related to social media content it will happen gradually - over the next 5 to 7 years in my opinion. My recommendation to ad writers and creative directors is to demonstrate customer opinions, reactions and displays of positives or negative recorded in real time without gimmicks, funny plots and claims that cannot be substantiated. Ads should present the truths about products and services as straightforward stats and compelling arguments as to their veracity. One of the most recent social media post I have seen that comes close to this is the series of two Englishmen never having tasted American foods like fried chicken and New Orleans gumbo. These posts present product appeal using truthful reactions as to how good they like the taste of the different foods along with shots of the food as it is pulled apart and eaten. If you haven't seen these posts you should. The selling is done without any of the traditional market techniques and strategies. Makes me want to leave now and drive to the restaurants used to conduct the taste test. DELICIOUS PLUS!!
I'm just saying.

10/16/2025

Hodgepodge Marketers. I've dealt with them my entire career. These are the clients I have had that refuse to create a marketing plan. They, instead awake each morning with new and inspirational ideas related to how to achieve success for their businesses. I'm not sure what creates these marketers. (Perhaps the love of creating their own marketing and advertising strategies, though only for a day or two). These have been clients who based their decisions related to marketing and advertising on their managers' affirmations of their ideas and creative concepts. The problem with Hodgepodge Marketers is they never reach their true potential. They constantly look for answers as to how to gain new customers and more profit but never succeed. Instead, they most often look to reduce spending to show a bottom line that is merely a manufactured number that is diminished in time. These are small picture marketers. They see only their present monthly or annual success, not the long term benefits that grow their business. They don't set goals, don't agree on company customer and employee philosophies, geographic marketing regions or strategies that will create new customers, increase business from existing customers and have a plan that will cover changes in their business category.

One of the clients from my past left decisions to his managers and employees as to how to market. He would tell them what he wanted to do and then ask for their opinions. Guess what the outcomes were - always his ideas of course. It didn't matter if there was comprehensive research, time taken to thoroughly think how his target audience would respond to his ideas.(Fast-made strategies and tactics).

Another past client created a marketing plan but not one that addressed specific and measurable goals, objectives. His market plan was based on one that copied his competitor's plan.

Remember, the best of marketing plans can only create compelling customer expectations. The fulfillment of these expectations has to happen operationally. This is where the lack of planning, absence of teamwork and promotion of uninspired and less talented managers and employees causes failure.

There are but three things that can create an increase in sales. 1. New customers. 2. More business from existing customers. 3. Increasing prices. Cutting operational costs, advertising dollars and reducing unneeded staff is always good business as long it does not diminish customer service, image and customer count. True increases in sales come from planning and developing new products and services. Increases in gross and net profit come from BIG thinking as to what competitive advantages your business has, and effectively marketing them. Real dollar increases come from knowing how to market/advertising cost-effectively, building an image that causes targeted customers to fall in love with your business and what you have to offer.

Let's not forget one of the most important components of successful marketing - Consistency. No business will succeed long-term without consistency. No matter the business, customers want, even expect consistency. They frequent businesses that provide them with the same high quality products and impeccable service EVERY TIME.

I hope you are not a Hodgepodge Marketer. If you are stop now and take the time to gather your business managers and employee to develop a detailed marketing plan that addresses:
Company philosophies
Who your target or targets are
Your competitive advantages
A defined marketing and service region(S)
Set goals
Set objectives
Create marketing strategies based on your goals and objectives
Create marketing tactics based on your set strategies
Create a budget that will support your marketing plan (in detail and by month)
Create a way to measure your success. Success via sales, customer satisfaction based on quality, service and overall experience. Specifically measure sales generated from new products. See if they are good enough to continue or if they score poorly, causing negative customer feedback or detract from service, quality.

(If you don't have secret shopper program, start one)

And, as for a MISSION STATEMENT? Let your managers and employees create it. They will be the ones who will implement it.

Call now to connect with business.

08/11/2025

I have managed the marketing for hundreds of businesses over the years. Here are 8 things all had in common that caused them to never fully reach their goals and true potential.
1. Poor communication among management and staff, and staff to staff.
2. Failure to identify and maintain a consistent image. One they wanted their business to have in respect to what potential and existing customers believed about their company or business.
3. A lack of importance placed on employees who answer the telephone and interact with customers (All mediums, all departments)
4. Spend thousands, and often millions, on advertising without determining competitive advantages - compelling reasons buyers/shopper should choose their products and or services - and marketing them with the right media weight and mediums. Effectively targeting audiences cost-effectively. And conduct ongoing measurement of success along with the development of a comprehensive/objective customer survey program.
And, comprehensively identifying geographic sales regions that can be effectively covered to match their marketing budget.
5. Learning how to effectively manage meetings to minimize wasted time and employee morale.
6. A truly shared vision with all employees beyond a written mission or vision statement.
7. A lack to identify talent within their organization and delegate authority to maintain the highest level of customer service and quality.
8. Developing a well-thought-out marketing plan and budget.

Call now to connect with business.

12/03/2024

As the business community continues to get caught up in the digital world of marketing/advertising many have forgotten that there is so much more to effectively communicate the facts and reasons why consumers should try the business of ABC. Digital may seem more cost-effective but it more often than not does not present the color, sounds, emotions, sizzle, call-to-action, geography, and compelling expectations needed to successfully convince target audiences they should choose business ABC over all other competitive businesses. Digital advertising should be an important part of your marketing plan but not the sole medium used. A synergy of mediums will create greater effectiveness in implementing your marketing objectives. Most of the digital posts and ads, whether video or otherwise lack the primary reason consumers respond to advertising creative. Digital is not the focus of the online visitor. It is not even the secondary focus. It is a mostly annoying side-by message too often unseen or heard. Yes, it is inexpensive but effective in selling? Look at the numbers of sales associated with it over a 6 months or annual period of time used to market. They traditionally are small compared to all other mediums used together to market (same budget or slightly more than digital alone). How can digital create or enhance brand loyalty or reach into the many places consumers live, work, study, drive, be entertained and so much more? (Note, that almost 25% of consumers do not use mediums that include digital ads). So, what should company ABC be using to market their business successfully? Answer: A synergy of digital, traditional broadcast, print, outdoor, live event ads and signage, and community relationship building that is implemented more broadly than other mediums to establish emotional ties, loyalty, and geographic continuity with the people associated with the products and or services of ABC business.

If you look closely at most successful businesses you will see this synergy. These marketers know, using common sense and sales reviews, demonstrate that consumers are extremely diverse in the way they think, believe, shop, retain information and allocate their time during a busy day, week, and month. Good marketers want to create powerful messages that communicate specifically to the wants and needs of their targets and do so using a mix of mediums that touch consumers in a way that seems genuine and safe.

So, think outside the box. Don't be a bean counter that is so focused on saving money that you loose sight of the tactics that create the most sales, and long term relationships with your customers who come back, again and again.

And, don't separate business operations from marketing. They go together like hand and glove. Remember, marketing/advertising performed correctly creates compelling expectations that targets positively react to. Operations performed to fulfill the created expectations completes the cycle and builds a customer base that increases gross profit exponentially.

08/27/2024

Bring the kids and your Jeep, Bronco or 4X4. Gonna be a blast!

Here's our vendor list as of now! Our special for a booth at $100 ends on Sept 1st! After September 1st, it'll be $150 for a booth Midwest LiftFest 2024

www.MidwestLiftFest.com // Guthrie, Oklahoma // Sept 28th

KICKER
John Vance Auto Group
Guthrie VFW Sooner Post 4578 & Auxiliary
Helping Community Paws and Claws Inc.

06/20/2024

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 2024

Art Hyde & Co Receives 2024 Best of Edmond and Hall of Fame Induction

EDMOND – For the third consecutive year Art Hyde & Co has been selected for Best of Edmond Award in the Advertising Agencies category by the Edmond Award Program. Art Hyde & Co. was selected in 2022, 2023 and now for 2024. In addition to this award Art Hyde & Co. has been inducted into the Edmond Award Hall of Fame.

Art Hyde, president of Art Hyde & Co. began his career in marketing, advertising, and public relations over 4 decades ago. His agency currently serves as agency of record for multiple hospitals and healthcare companies operating in Oklahoma, Tennessee and Virginia, and Vance Auto Group headquartered in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

“I am extremely pleased to be awarded a third time, and especially given the honor of induction into the Edmond Award Hall of Fame,” said Art.

Each year, the Edmond Award Program identifies companies we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Edmond area a great place to live, work and play.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The Edmond Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Edmond Award Program and data provided by third parties.

About Edmond Award Program
The Edmond Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Edmond area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

The Edmond Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.

SOURCE: Edmond Award Program
A. Johnston, EAP

Contact: Art Hyde
(405) 715-0116 office/landline
(405) 823-6867 cell/text

03/18/2024

How important is your creative message when advertising?
What you communicate to your target(s) audience when advertising should represent the meat of your ad campaign. Your creative message is an invitation to shop your business, online or at a physical location, providing that invitation has something worthwhile to say. It’s the KEY to bringing a shopper to your business rather than your competition’s business. Creative copy and visuals engage readers/viewers. A good advertisement contains a call to action that influences people to act by speaking to them emotionally or physiologically. Creativity can have a monumental impact. A creative message can leave a lasting impression with your audience that can translate to sales now and or in the future.

Therefore, advertise with motivating content that creates an expectation that is irresistible. Ask yourself, “What can my business offer shoppers my competition does not? All retailers and manufacturers work daily to win over consumers who want or need what they sell. Your business must develop creative advertising strategies that persuade consumers to act on your behalf. Historically, these strategies have been more effective in increasing traffic and gross profit when preceded by top-of-mind awareness that includes a focus on your businesses' positive attributes, such as trust, honesty, friendliness, lowest price, positive customer satisfaction ratings, and the on-going fulfillment of the expectations your advertising promises. Don't forget to spend time defining your geographic service area so you can add to your strategies the convenience your location provides relative to where your targets live and work. (In many cases this is important even if your advertising digitally only )

Remember, a powerful creative message that is memorable and loaded with TRUE incentives will provide better results even when advertising with fewer posts, spots or ads and less geographic reach - than a weak creative message with few to no incentives and a much more reach and frequency. WHAT YOU SAY TO YOUR TARGETS SHOULD CREATE CALL TO ACTION. IF NOT, WHY SPEND THE MONEY TO ADVERTISE THE SAME MESSAGE EVER OTHER BUSINESS LIKE YOURS IS ADVERTISING.
Make sure your website has synergy with your advertising message. Be sure links are present that give site visitors EASY access to the offers and incentive your other ads brings to your website.

02/19/2024

Are consumers still fooled
by advertising tactics?

The first advertisement was found in the ruins of Thebes, Egypt. It was written on a papyrus in 3000 BC. The writer/advertiser was a slave-owner attempting to find a runaway slave. The ad also promoted the slave-owner’s weaving business.

In the 16th–19th centuries advertising began to take shape with the advent of newspapers and magazines. The first of these appeared in Venice in the early 16th-century. From there, the concept of a weekly publication spread to Italy, Germany, and Holland.

A lot has taken place since the beginning of advertising. New mediums have provided ways for effectively reaching millions more consumers than ever before. Radio, as the first mass media medium other than the printed word, signs and billboards began in the United States with KDKA, Pittsburg’s Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company’s transmission of the first scheduled broadcast on Nov. 2, 1920. After this broadcast, new radio stations began to pop-up across America, regularly airing music, news, and more into people’s homes and businesses. (Imagine hearing someone talk or sing for the first time, breaking the outside source silence that had existed since the beginning of time, while you sat comfortably in your home). In no time at all, radio station owners and operators began to sell ads to advertisers who paid to reach any and every potential consumer who could afford a radio. It was soon discovered that these live voices could entice consumers more effectively than any printed publication. Included with these radio ads was the greatly enhanced trickery used to sell products and service to consumers whether they needed them or not.

Many of these ads of trickery included ways to manipulate and confuse the public to create call-to-action resulting in millions of dollars of sales, of which much was derived using false claims and other non-ethical tactics .

The Fear Tactic:
In this tactic, the advertiser tries to present a 'problem' to the consumer they did not know about, then scare them into addressing the problem with their product. The objective is to impart fear into the consumer and get them to make a purchase.

The Exploitative Tactic:
Exploitative advertising refers to the practice of using deceptive or unethical tactics to take advantage of consumers or participants in a marketing scheme. This tactic is often used by creating text and voice-overs that imply one thing but mean something different. Example (1): A new car dealer advertised that all credit applications would be accepted. To many who heard or read this it implied all persons applying for credit would be able to buy a new car via the loan process. Example (2): A casino advertised 2024 new Ford Broncos will be given away this year. This can be read as 2024, the year or 2024 vehicles given away during a 12-month period. This might seem ridiculous, but I saw this one.

The Deceptive Tactic:
Companies often make false claims about their products, such as “lose weight in just 10 days” or “look 10 years younger.” These claims are often unsupported by scientific evidence and can be misleading to consumers.

The Consumer Confusion tactic:
Advertising confuses rather than helps because similar claims are made by advertisers of many products, which makes it difficult for consumers to make the right choice.

The Manipulative Tactic:
Companies use manipulative tactics in ads to mislead consumers' cognitive biases and emotional vulnerabilities. By doing so, they can influence consumers' purchasing decisions in their favor. Some common techniques include emotional appeals, persuasive language fearmongering, and false claims.

The Coercive Tactic:
A coercive influence tactic is a means of communication that applies direct pressure on the target to perform a specific behavior or set of behaviors with adverse consequences of noncompliance stressed or implied and mediated by the source.

The Greedy Tactic:
To cause people to buy more things than they need to increase the profits of the company. To frustrate people by showing ads and interrupting them from doing what they are doing. To increase the volume during the advertisement. To brainwash (propagandize) people into buying something they don't want by airing the same commercial accessibly.”

Word-of-mouth Tactic: Word-of-mouth advertising is considered the most effective form of advertising. Satisfied customers are your best advertisements. This tactic is also one of the slowest forms of advertising. Those who use this tactic are good planners and patient, often enhancing word-of-mouth by clever use of strategies that cause consumers to talk and review businesses through encouragement, positive consumer accoladed and benefits. In most cases consumers are unaware these strategies and tactics are taking place.

What is the least effective form of advertising?
• Pop-up ads: These intrusive ads can be incredibly annoying for users, often causing them to leave the site altogether. ...
• Forced pre-roll ads: These are the ads that play before a video that you're trying to watch.
• Slow loading time.
• Covers what you are trying to see.
• Moves content around.
• Occupies most of the page.
• Automatically plays sound.

You would think that nearly none of these tactics would be effective after all the years they have been used to trick and confuse consumers who listened, read, or saw them presented via advertising mediums. But as P.T. Barnum said, “A fool is born every minute.” I guess I have been one of these fools at times in my life. Cause: Many but not all advertisements are created with much thought and calculation so they can result in maximum gross profit for advertisers. If this were not the case advertising would have become non-existent many years ago.

With the increase in fake and wrongly enhanced social media posts consumers are getting smarter at recognizing tactics that are intended to mislead and confuse. This type of advertising has leaped into politics and other types of indoctrination. Perhaps now, more than ever, it would be wise to advertise, truthfully thinking of the big picture and long-term success, rather than an immediate increase and profit.

02/06/2024

Advertising - It means many things to many people. The term is mostly misunderstood. It is especially misunderstood by most of the people who pay for it. Firstlly, advertising is not marketing. Too many people who advertise believe advertising is marketing. It can be used as part of a marketing plan but without the plan it is mostly ineffective. Advertising is a tactic that can be used to reach a specific market in order to communicate something advantageous to persons living within that market. From the business perspective it can be used to entice, excite, and motivate a consumer to review, shop and or purchase products or services. Secondly, advertising has little impact when used without a specific objective. These objectives may include but are not limited to: call-to-action, competitive advantages, image building to highlight reasons to choose business A rather than business B and C, education for the purposes of communicating consumer needs with business offerings, reach employees for hire with relative information and positive reasons to engage business H.R. via presentation of advantageous image and exceptional work environment reputation, and to effectively convey business positives to overcome negative consumer perceptions.

Advertising is most effective when used to create irresistible expectations that are perfectly fulfilled by the advertiser once the consumer is ready to purchase. It is imperative that the business honestly presents the offering and maintains a continuance of all included in the advertised PROMISE/expectations.

Business advertisers should ask themselves the following before spending money to advertise:
1. Do I have a marketing plan that includes a definement of target audience?
2. Do I know my geographic market specifically? (D.M.A. Designated Marketing Area)
3. What are my goals and objectives - marketing plan?
4. What strategies will be needed to bring my goals and objectives to fruition?
5. Will advertising be needed to fulfill my strategies?
6. If so, what advertising mediums will be most cost-effective?
7. Am I prepared to market, advertise and promote my business and business offerings in order to be successful in fulfilling my goals and objective?
a. Is the presentation of offering to my target audience enticing and competitive within my DMA?
b. Is my house in order so to invite my target audience to come, shop, buy - conclude with exceptional consumer satisfaction ratings after purchase?
c. Do I have a method for reaching the consumers who shopped/purchased from my business in order to survey them. The survey should include: Why did you choose my business? Did we fulfill your expectations? Tell us what we did right. Tell us what we did wrong. How do you think we could improve? Will you recommend our business to others? Follow-up with all shopper surveys with personal phone call or thank you card mailed not emailed or text messaged.

Advertising mediums should be selected based on their cost-effectiveness relative to what they costs per thousand targeted persons, There are other ways to measure this but cost per thousand is very effective. The ad mediums you choose should also be ones that reach targets relative to your type of business. e.g., If your targets are ones that will be required to drive a relatively short distance to your business or if they can purchase from any distance via the Internet or other mediums. Your ad campaign will need a specific timeline with a starting date and finish.

Example: ABC Business located in Kansas City, Kansas. A manufacturer of restaurant supplies. Privately owned and operated.
Target audience: Restaurant owners and operators who are decision makers relative to the purchase of restaurant supplies. Restaurants that are classified as upscale with diners who spend an average of $100 per meal.

Geographic service area or DMA: Central United States for the cost-effectiveness of company truck delivery and after the sale service and repair. States include Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa.

Goal: To become the leader in high quality restaurant supplies sold to upscale restaurants operating within my DMA.
Objectives: 1. Increase sales by 9% over last year's sale year to date. Sales this year: $2,345,987.23 to $2,557,125.23 Increase service contract sales by 5%. Year to date.
3. Improve top-of-mind awareness of ABC business from # 8 to #6 by this time next year. Year to date.
4. Add lifetime product guarantee for purchase with product @8% additional costs over $15,000 per unit order
5. To improve the quality of our staff in respect to training and product knowledge.
6. Increase service staff by two members

Strategies:
1. Develop a communication piece that can effectively reach restaurant decision makers in our DMA on a regular basis, to communicate that we sell, quality of products and contract service.
2. To find partners within the banking and finance community that specialize in loans to new upscale restaurants. Offer incentive to these partners and develop personal relationships with CEO, CFO, COOs.
3. Write a comprehensive marketing plan.
4 Select cost-effective marketing/advertising mediums to reach target audiences) within out DMA.
5.. Develop high quality creative pieces to be use in marketing via a marketing /creative company that has restaurant expertise and a track record of creating award-winning marketing campaigns
6. Contract with an experienced public relations firm to manage news releases, stories in restaurant industry publications and target customers and marketing within our DMA.
7. Develop an annual Award to be presented to an upscale restaurant located in our DMA that has shown exceptional customer ratings relative to quality, service and restaurant environment. Conduct an awards ceremony that winner and runner-ups can come, be entertained, dine, presented with awards and PR afterwards per our new PR agency.

Tactics:
1. Write/print a newsletter that will include news about ABC business and what it can do and has done for customers. Include special features about exceptional restaurants operating within the DMA. Include ads and specials offered for our products and services. Print and mail approximately 7,500 of these every other month.
2. Mail personal letters to finance decision makers and banks outlining our incentive program, followed up by phone calls and personal one-on-one meetings when possible.
3. Use Art Hyde and Company to write a comprehensive marketing plan for our company with one-year, 3-year and 5-year objectives. Set meetings with agency account executives, writers and our key staff members to conduct Q and A.
4. utilize approved marketing and advertising tactics per targeted social media sites, online videos, enhanced website pages features, and ads in Restaurant News and other industry publications - per our products and service programs
5. Have Art Hyde and company create high quality creative for social media, digital ads, 3-minute video, 1/4 and 18th page ads for industry publications and work with ABC website developers for input of marketing pieces, stories and information.
6. At this point you should understand how to make this work.

Budget:

Timeline:

Method of measurement:

If you have questions call me, Art Hyde 405-715-0116 [email protected]