[Boomer]

Oh my goodness! -- Interesting thread.

Even though we have no intention of buying in Lake Weir, there are many who might like it there because it is so different from TV. And, that's OK.

Lake Weir is targeting their market. And why not do it on a site that draws attention from people who are looking at TV but are finding some things that will not fit with the retirement lifestyle they have chosen for themselves.

If I were Lake Weir, I would advertise on TOTV. TOTV would be a good place for a fishing expedition to find buyers who can't get their heads around some of the things about TV that just do not work for them.

Maybe we should put our heads together and see if we can help Lake Weir with their marketing approach. Maybe we could think up some more thread titles to help direct the ads to the target market.

For instance --

Want Some Space? Lake Weir Is Your Place

-- or maybe

Need Your Space? Lake Weir Is Your Place

or

The Villages Not For You? Give Lake Weir a Look, too

Any other suggestions out there?

No bashing. Just communicating to the target market. C'mon, let's help.

And, btw, if Lake Weir is reading this and likes any of the titles I suggest, they are here for the sharing. No charge.

Boomer

[Pturner]

The ad probably is effective. It's a typical strategy against #1 in the market. Think Cola Wars.

LWL, Top of the World, etc., first need to convince their prospects to not choose #1. If you can't beat TV at being TV, it makes sense to market yourself as the anti-Villages, the alternative.

One barrier in the competition is ego, the "the smug factor". Windows 7 has caught up to Mac in every way-- except the smug factor. Apple users feel smug! Apple leverages this advantage with it's "Hi I'm a Mac; and I'm a PC," ads.

TOTV is a good advertising medium for LWL. It offers a market of potential buyers, since many TOTVers are interested in TV, haven't moved here yet and still could be swayed to an alternative.

LWL's "Villages, No thanks!" ad on TOTV gives prospects a way to not feel second best, a way even to feel smug even about their choice. Yep, I bet it's effective.

Marketing PT

p.s., LWL, No Way! TV, Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[memason]

Originally Posted by Pturner

One barrier in the competition is ego, the "the smug factor". Windows 7 has caught up to Mac in every way-- except the smug factor. Apple users feel smug! Apple leverages this advantage with it's "Hi I'm a Mac; and I'm a PC," ads.

OUCH..... PTurner...you've hurt my smug feelings.

Sent from my unbelievably fantastic iPad

[Larryandlinda]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

IMHO, this Ad heading was effective. The Lake Weir Developer was able to grab readers' attention and generate discussion about what some people perceive as a "flaw" in The Villages ... small garages and lack of storage area.

Dern tootin they got (y)our attention!
So did the 20 year old college kid with the Portland, Oregon bombing plot.
He continues to get media attention that were it for a legitimate cost, would be maga millions, instead the cost to us is mega millions.
Nuff said, tsk tsk, that could go political!

As far as the LWL campaign, the posting is obviously an ad, (albeit strong) and they could have even slid it in the side door discreetly, like a testimonial. They also coulda been discreet with more of an 'advertorial' but it's a plain ol' ad with lots of ID's.
As intelligent Villagers we can see that and make decisions. So can wannabees.
As bike42 says, it's an easy bicycle ride away.

We've been curious ourselves, with the banner ads over the last year and huge (Turn around NOW!)billboards we were piqued.
Took a pedal thataway one visit and dang, we couldn't find the place.

We are now considering buying a place there to store some of the things we don't use any more to make room in our TV garages for bicycles!
Our classic Chevy panel truck, 35 foot RV, and 4 motorcycles would fit in just dandy, and owning there over the course of the next years is less than renting storage space.

And, guys, don't you sometimes take a walk over to the workshop or garage to visit the things with which you may cuss out and call names, but which never give you an argument back?

Yep, walking among your projects and material possessions can provide a calming breather in the event of even the most distressing domestic spat.

We're kinda thinkin' that in the event of a squabble, Lake Weir could provide a needed (hopefully short) respite and even have a little space to bunk down if it looks like an extended bruhaha.

Probably even be some neighbors sitting 'round the barbie who'll offer up a steak and a cold can and some motorhead chattin' and chewin' to distract you. And loud engine pipes, while annoying to many, can be a lullaby to some!

Hey, don't assume we're talking men only! Lotsa motormoms here in the sunshine state.

We have visited the LWL site, looked OK. An old rule in business is to go where the Action is, not away from it. We've seen food courts, auto rows, big boxes stacked in a row, shopping centers, no?.

As far as the Negative advertising? A recent NYT story tells it well, only the business the guy is making look negative is his OWN.
This is a fascinating read, all 8 pages.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/28/bu...Wj0hCBI96pTsoA


Hope to see the place when we head down for the Christmas Parade.
Hey, do they have one too?

L and L

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Larryandlinda

Dern tootin they got (y)our attention!
So did the 20 year old college kid with the Portland, Oregon bombing plot.
He continues to get media attention that were it for a legitimate cost, would be maga millions, instead the cost to us is mega millions.
Nuff said, tsk tsk, that could go political!

As far as the LWL campaign, the posting is obviously an ad, (albeit strong) and they could have even slid it in the side door discreetly, like a testimonial. They also coulda been discreet with more of an 'advertorial' but it's a plain ol' ad with lots of ID's.
As intelligent Villagers we can see that and make decisions. So can wannabees.
As bike42 says, it's an easy bicycle ride away.

We've been curious ourselves, with the banner ads over the last year and huge (Turn around NOW!)billboards we were piqued.
Took a pedal thataway one visit and dang, we couldn't find the place.

We are now considering buying a place there to store some of the things we don't use any more to make room in our TV garages for bicycles!
Our classic Chevy panel truck, 35 foot RV, and 4 motorcycles would fit in just dandy, and owning there over the course of the next years is less than renting storage space.

And, guys, don't you sometimes take a walk over to the workshop or garage to visit the things with which you may cuss out and call names, but which never give you an argument back?

Yep, walking among your projects and material possessions can provide a calming breather in the event of even the most distressing domestic spat.

We're kinda thinkin' that in the event of a squabble, Lake Weir could provide a needed (hopefully short) respite and even have a little space to bunk down if it looks like an extended bruhaha.

Probably even be some neighbors sitting 'round the barbie who'll offer up a steak and a cold can and some motorhead chattin' and chewin' to distract you. And loud engine pipes, while annoying to many, can be a lullaby to some!

Hey, don't assume we're talking men only! Lotsa motormoms here in the sunshine state.

We have visited the LWL site, looked OK. An old rule in business is to go where the Action is, not away from it. We've seen food courts, auto rows, big boxes stacked in a row, shopping centers, no?.

As far as the Negative advertising? A recent NYT story tells it well, only the business the guy is making look negative is his OWN.
This is a fascinating read, all 8 pages.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/28/bu...Wj0hCBI96pTsoA


Hope to see the place when we head down for the Christmas Parade.
Hey, do they have one too?

L and L

Sounds like you will fit right in.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by memason

OUCH..... PTurner...you've hurt my smug feelings.

Sent from my unbelievably fantastic iPad

Sent from my unbelievably fantastic iPhone

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Originally Posted by Pturner

Sent from my unbelievably fantastic iPhone

Sent from my two-tin-cans-and-a-string telecom network

Bill

[Larryandlinda]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

An administrator is gonna yell at us. I feel it in my bones. I got yelled at the week before last and it isn't fun.
<snip>

Do we have to wait for the story in the National Enquirer or will you let us know what to avoid saying here?

L and L

[Shirleevee]

Originally Posted by villages07

CJ.... I, too, did not like that thread title ... they are a sponsor, so, can post what they please. I guess they are trying to attract Central Florida wannabees who have issues with TV's covenants....someone who wants a shed, lawn ornaments, able to work outside on their cars, fences, fewer fees, etc. More power to them, but, personally, I think such a thread title will do them more harm than good.

For me and the vast majority of TOTV posters and readers, The Villages and all it has to offer is our lifestyle of choice.

Right on 07!!!!!!!!! We are extremely happy Villagers too!

[Yoda]

On a positive note.

We looked at LWL when we first came for our life style visit. Guess who won.

Yoda

[Larryandlinda]

Originally Posted by Boomer

Oh my goodness! -- Interesting thread.
<snip>
Maybe we could think up some more thread titles to help direct the ads to the target market.

For instance --

Want Some Space? Lake Weir Is Your Place

-- or maybe

Need Your Space? Lake Weir Is Your Place

or

The Villages Not For You? Give Lake Weir a Look, too

Any other suggestions out there?

No bashing. Just communicating to the target market. C'mon, let's help.

And, btw, if Lake Weir is reading this and likes any of the titles I suggest, they are here for the sharing. No charge.

Boomer

Well, since the garages and storage are key points......
Not Just Another Self-Storage, we can add living quarters! and a Satellite dish too!

In reality, it's in the best interest of most of us in the area to have fewer vacant areas. We all benefit economically and socially.
Before we made the investments in TV we got several tours on several visits to the surrounding areas checking out residential, commercial, and industrial land, and buildings and dwellings within 10 miles.
Though we knew we at least wanted a couple toes in TV, we were looking for some larger space in the event we move more than ourselves and (at the time) a relative here.
Within walking distance of TV walls are some very basic (to put it kindly) properties that for one reason or another, the Developers chose to turn down.

Between TV and LWL are hundreds and hundreds more. There are planned areas on water that never quite made it all the way. One developmentis dotted with homes like TV Designer and Premier style, and the roads are rutted sand.

We found a dream property on 5ac with a modern home, guest home, pool and huge modern two story work barn/garage.

We haggled and were ready with an offer that would have worked.

After several calls and emails and getting through to the right folk, we discovered that all the kings horses, money, and men would never get the roads paved.
Not even graded and graveled.

Hopefully LWL will provide us with good neighbors.

L and L

L and L

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Like L and L stated in an earlier post in this thread, we tried to find the new stuff being touted/developed in LWL while we were down in TV during June................to no avail. We even had a GPS in the car! Tried to follow the signs to find their sales office (or even some new homes/models) in this development and succeeded in getting hopelessly confused. So glad we had a GPS in the car. Otherwise, we'd probably STILL be there, driving around in circles. It literally seemed like we were rats in a maze - an unbelievable number of streets/roads, but it was difficult finding our way out of there once we were in!

Sadly, what we did see wasn't for us. We did see houses - some nice, some o.k., and some looking rather forelorn. I'd guess that the area we saw was 99.9% empty lots and .1% houses that had been built. And it was quite obvious that there were no building restrictions in place...........or if there were some, they weren't being enforced.

Granted, maybe we didn't see some newer part that was being developed or something. But what we did get to see wasn't for us.

We really love TV!

Bill

[BobKat1]

I really appreciate this thread. I've been meaning to start one, to get some information on Lake Weir but never got around to it.

We've never visited there and have been curious about how living there is for those who don't have the "toys" frequently mentioned in the ads.

We wondered about potential noise (motorcycles and ATV's etc.) and storage issues for the aforementioned toys.

[ijusluvit]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

An administrator is gonna yell at us. I feel it in my bones. I got yelled at the week before last and it isn't fun.

I will say it for them. The advertisers are how they can afford to bring us this lovely forum.

Forget Lake Weird, THIS is news!!

Can't imagine what Gracie ever said to get yelled at.

(If it makes you feel better, we recently got the most lovable puppy ever! Her name is Gracie.)

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by ijusluvit

Forget Lake Weird, THIS is news!!

Can't imagine what Gracie ever said to get yelled at.

(If it makes you feel better, we recently got the most lovable puppy ever! Her name is Gracie.)

A puppy??? Named Gracie??? Pictures please.