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Maximize Your Underwriting Revenue by Managing Your Inventory. Kirk Nelson, CRMC Vice President, Sales & Marketing. Inventory Behaving Badly. I always have tons of inventory… I have plenty of inventory, but Morning Edition is always sold out…
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Maximize Your Underwriting Revenue by Managing Your Inventory Kirk Nelson, CRMC Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Inventory Behaving Badly • I always have tons of inventory… • I have plenty of inventory, but Morning Edition is always sold out… • Our rates in morning and afternoon drive are FANTASTIC, and we still have tons of inventory left to sell…
Inventory Behaving Badly • My drive time inventory is sold out, but I’ve got tons in midday, evenings and weekends… • There are certain shows on the weekend where inventory always seems to be sold out, like Car Talk, but nobody seems to want to buy the other programs… • We are sold out for the next six weeks…
Inventory Behaving Badly • I’m only selling about 60% of my stations drive times, and only 25% of all the other dayparts… • I’m doing a great job selling out my stations inventory, but I still haven’t made budget. I need more inventory…! • So what’s the point ?
Question:IS YOUR INVENTORY A DIRECT REFLECTION OF HOW YOU ARE SELLING UNDERWRITING?
Inventory Management Path • Set Up Reports • Look for Stories • Create a Sales Strategy • Monitor Sales Behavior • Evaluate Results
Traffic Report Set-Up • Avails Report • Average Unit Rate report • Billing History - Scheduled • Billing Projection – Contracted • Category Report – Conflict Codes • Aged Receivables
Look For Stories • The obvious: • Tons of inventory? • Disproportionate use of drive times? • Weak selling periods? • Sold out for next 8 weeks? • Some weekend shows sold out? • Selling Morning Edition as daypart?
Not so Obvious: • Rate averaging over schedule? • Soft major categories? • Categories our revenue comes from? • Too much billing from too few accounts? • Too many small underwriters? • Not attaching revenue to inventory?
Create A Sales Strategy Four Guiding Principles • Grid Theory • Locomotive Theory • Belief System • Pricing Philosophy
Pricing Philosophy • Rate Card • Rate Card Guidelines • Standard Packages
Create a Sales Strategy Three Common Themes • Tons of extra inventory - December & January • Business soft during Summer • Disproportionate use of drive times
Strategy Number One Situation: lack of demand Dec/Jan Solution:“Thank You” • December 5 - Research inventory • Available late December – Early January • Sales offering • Prior year underwriters only • Make it physical • Track daily
Strategy Number Two Situation: Soft Summer – Rep Introduction Solution: Summer offering • Tiered discounts • Plans limited to 13 weeks • Provided incentives
Strategy Number Three Situation: buying only Morning Edition Solution: Retailers Kit Four marketing legs • Web page • Station promos • Underwriting credits • Static window sticker
Monitor Sales Behavior • Weekly Behavior • Order Entry • Schedule inventory expectations • Rates assigned to inventory • Rate alignment with expected standards • Proper coding • Presentations • Amount of ask (share or rate) • Negotiation outside of standards • Pending Business
Monitor Sales Behavior • Monthly Behavior • Projections • Pacing • Average unit rate by daypart • Percent of inventory sold by daypart • Expected growth by rep experience • Entry level • Experienced • Seasoned
Evaluate Results • Based on your sales strategy • Met or exceed budget expectations • Collections pacing with revenue • Average AR report • Increase sell of spread • +/- AUR • Increase unit count per month • Average spending by account • Revenue growth by rep
Added Value Let you pricing structure work for you • Specific program purchase • Long term discounts • Contract length • Non-profit rate • Priority codes • Packages promote rate or spread • Exceptions