Advertising Advocacy

Most of what I’ve blogged about AAF-Suncoast was our local ADDY Awards, but this week I was asked to support the American Advertising Federation on another level. What kind of support are we talking about and at what level?

We’re talking about advertising advocacy which is AdFed’s primary reason for being, and we’re talking about the national level which means doing our part to make sure the federal government doesn’t start taxing our industry.

On Tuesday morning a few of our members and I will attend The Advertising Coalition’s meeting with Representative Vern Buchannan. Our objective is to present a unified voice for keeping the cost of advertising tax deductible as a necessary and recurring business expense.

For many people the field of advertising has innate sex appeal. Just look at the wild success of Mad Men, one of the most popular shows on television.

The advertising industry also happens to support 20 million jobs (15 percent of all jobs in the country) and is a major economic engine driving growth in the U.S. economy. Advertising expenditures account for $5.8 trillion of U.S. economic output which is 20 percent of the total national economic output.

The point is people are paying attention; and our industry – because the stakes are so high – is no stranger to controversy. Whether it’s regulating what you can and can’t advertise (like liquor ads on television) or how you market your products (remember Joe Camel?) someone is always trying to change the rules.

And since our economy was in the crapper for so long, and because the federal government is always looking for more revenue, we must remain diligent in our fight to keep advertising tax-free. Hence The Advertising Coalition, a national group including AAF, and this week’s meeting with Congressman Buchannan.

With any luck we’ll gain Vern’s support and leadership on this important issue affecting businesses located in the 13^th Congressional District of Florida, throughout our state, and across the nation.

Until next week,

Matthew Anderson, President
Milestone Marketing Associates, Inc.