Marketing, Advertisting & Communication in Iowa

Our pet supply store has an advertising agent, who doesn’t seem to have a clue how to advertise us (long story). I was wondering what software is best for advertising, meaning what can I use to make flyers, ads, facebook banners, etc. I’m general manager of the store and the only idea I have is with adobe but I’m sure there are other programs out there.
What program for MS Office could I use?

MS Office, Small business edition.

As an example, there was a particular brand of washing powder that Unilever wanted to sell into the Middle East. Not wishing to risk any cultural faux pas, the advertising company came up with a simple campaign. A picture of a dirty shirt, a picture of the washing powder, and then a picture of a clean shirt. They failed to take into account that people in the Middle East read from right to left.

There are numerous example of product names that have unfortunate meanings in foreign languages, like the Vauxhall Nova. A nice little car in its day, but in Spanish no va means doesn’t go (?).

Enjoy these rather more hilarious examples :
http://listverse.com/2008/01/31/another-20-unfortunate-product-names/

The business is located on the border of Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. I am receiving statements from both cities about business tax registration. Do I need to renew my business tax license in both cities? Do I need to provide gross receipts generated to both cities? Do I need to pay business taxes in both Los Angeles and Beverly Hills? Any advice is appreciated.

You can’t be on the border. You are in one or the other. For example I’m told a property tax case happened because the house property had a city line go through the house. The court decided the city that had the main bedroom on their site was due the taxes. I’m not sure of the accuracy of it but only one city has authority on you for sure. Check with the property owner where the business operates on who pays the taxes and to who. I’d say that says where the business is.

The site will just be an e-commerce site

I don’t have much money to start off with so what are the best places to start off advertising.

Is google adwords worth the money?

Learn SEO techniques. Promote your site through social media sites, join forums and do back linking, write blogs, or you can post comments on blogs too.

Yes, Google adwords would be worth your money.

In this case, a company sold merchandise in exchange for advertising (a barter agreement). The merchandise was sold, and the A/R was reversed to prepaid advertising as the ad was to be run at a future date. The vendor has now defaulted, and I wish to write off the prepaid advertisement. To which account should I write it off against?

As the barter agreement was terminated due to non-compliance, the amount for the prepaid advertising would essentially become an accounts receivable. Therefore if the amount has been deemed uncollectable, then you would write it off to bad debt expense.

I am interested in getting into advertising, specifically television and magazines, and I would just like to know what are some of the basic softwares a beginner should familiarize themselves with in order to get started and what do advertising companies look for?

If your thinking of Magazine advertising, then you should be looking at 3D graphics photo editing and Page layout software, you can get all three packages for Free here
3D Graphics
http://blender.org
Photo editing
http://gimp.org
Desktop publishing (magazine Page layout)
http://www.scribus.net/canvas/Scribus

I read somewhere you can get money and free items for advertising your car. I wanna advertise my car and be able to get spinners and stuff like that for my car by applying stickers or whatever.I need a legit company though that will be straight-forward with me. I would appreciate it a lot. Thanks!

If you google paid advertising + "vehicle wraps" you should find all the links you need.
Good luck!

I have to talk about the disadvantages/drawbacks of advertising (for the advertiser and the consumer) but I can only think of a couple (.e.g advertising is expensive to produce and it encourages people to get into debt). What other drawbacks are there?

Yes you are correct, it is indeed expensive, other disadvantages of advertising is/are, less catchy it is less potential customers will come, low budget advertisement are often disregarded by the consumer, consumer is a perfectionist, so if the advertisement is not that perfect no potential customer/s will buy your product or go on what you are advertising. These are examples of the disadvantages of advertising. Hope that I helped!

How is Pepperdine’s Advertising program? Any other schools that have really advertising majors?
Is it look upon as good? Is it hard? Fun? Will it help you in the future for finding jobs? I know I want to go into advertising/marketing but I am not quite sure what section I want to go into? What are some schools that have advertising programs that are looked upon with high regard?

Information is below.

What makes business school so important? I know a ton of small business owners that never went to business school and some that have. When I ask them whether or not I should take business classes before opening my own business they just tell me that I should pick up "Small Business for Dummies", read that and then I’ll be set. They’ve told me that that book is just as good as any business school and cheaper. What are your opinions?

You don’t need a four-year degree to start a business, but it’s very helpful to get the right counseling and some classes could help a lot. In the USA, the federal SCORE office has free counseling and the website is:
http://www.score.org
Also, check into college classes specific to business people where you can just learn what you need. You could take online classes and do business school that way if you want to as you have your business. Business school can help you think bigger and do the corporate world of big business. One thing — in life, it’s important to know God and get your prayers. Knowing God can transform your life. When you know God, your spiritual Father, then pray about your life, God can help you live a better life. As God is love, life is primarily about love and relationships in order to have a rich and full life. Also, you need to know God’s Son, Jesus Christ, in your life as your Lord and Savior as Jesus died on the cross as payment for our sins. Having Him with you will give you God’s blessing and forgiveness, as you live God’s way. We need to know and follow God in this life so we can go to heaven after we die, and so we can get God’s help now. Not following God leads to hell, eternal suffering. Instead, there is an important prayer to pray to become a born again Christian. This prayer should be said with faith in God and a sincere heart:
"Dear God, I know that I am a sinful person and I don’t want to be like this anymore. I know that Jesus Christ died on the cross as payment for our sins, and I want to accept Jesus Christ into my life as my Lord and Savior forever so I can receive God’s forgiveness, guidance, and go to heaven after I die. Thank you, dear God, for your mercy and guidance; in Jesus’ name. Amen."
After saying this prayer, you should check out a Christian church like Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran.
Also, get into their Bible study group so you can learn more about God, Jesus, and God’s will for your life. The Bible is God’s instruction book about how to live a God-honoring life so you can go to heaven after you die. The church can also get you baptized and prayed for. You can pray for yourself daily too. God guide your life.