Email  Print

Fear is a Scary Thing

Dollars On The Driveway

With nearly a quarter century of selling newspaper advertising behind me, I am thrilled to be the current Classified Sales Manager at The Sonoma Index-Tribune and SonomaNews.com. Or, as I refer to myself, the Leading Classified Super Hero and Special Section Specialist. I've worked in most aspects of newspaper advertising, from the large daily to the smaller community paper. Starting with legal advertising, my experience includes paid obituaries, classified ads, retail print and digital sales and even an insert or two. My favorite part of my career is partnering with local businesses and watching them succeed.

My five year old nephew is notorious for his creative excuses when it comes to getting out of bed after bedtime. He goes beyond the typical "I'm thirsty", "I need another kiss", "I forgot to tell you something". The other night he got up and, looking behind him with suspicion, claimed he was "afraid of his shadow". Excellent reason to get out of bed, if you ask me. Sadly, it didn't work and he was sent back to his room.

However, that got me thinking about fear. We are all scared of something. Sometimes those things are huge and debilitating. I know a person who is so afraid of mice she can't stand the word "mouse". That makes it difficult for customer service reps to assist her with software program malfunctions. "Ma'am, just locate the icon by moving your mou..." "Eeeeeek! No, no, don't say the word!!" She uses pen and paper a lot.

Fear is real. One of the fears I run into with my customers all the time is one of spending money and not getting results. Understandable! Who wants to do that? I sure don't.

I hear a lot of, "Will anyone see my ad?" "How do I know people are reading it?" "When, exactly, did you redecorate your office?" Okay, that last one doesn't apply.

Fortunately, The Sonoma Index-Tribune and its products have real ways of calming your fears so that you can be successful in your advertising with us. How do we do it? Partly our super powers, naturally. Also, and perhaps more importantly, we have the largest local audience offered by any local media in Sonoma Valley.

It's true.

When you combine our twice-weekly print edition with our digital versions, SonomaNews.com and Sonoma Daily eNews, we have a monthly readership of 219,300 readers.

So what are you afraid of? Come on in and place an ad. We've got you covered.

Now excuse me while I go protect my newphew from his menacing shadow.