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REAL Mag.May 2012.indd 1 5/7/12 8:44 PM

M A G A Z I N E

Building a Brand is Bigger than a Logo

David Rooks

M A G A Z I N E

Building a Brand is Bigger than a Logo

David Rooks

26 | REAL Magazine | www.the-real-magazine.com

Rooks Advertising: Strategy. Success.Since its launch in 2007, Rooks Advertising has accomplished the unthinkable: emerging intact and flourishing during an economic firestorm.

A cornerstone of the company’s success, says founder David Rooks, is its comprehensive approach to business. “We offer services beyond traditional marketing and advertising,” he explains. “At Rooks Advertising we pride ourselves on achieving results.”

David Rooks

By Lalaena Gonzalez-FigueroaPhotography by Giovanni Lunardi

David with Freedom Boat Club’s CEO, John Giglio, panning a site for Freedom’s next TV commercial.

Launching an advertising agency at the precipice of an economic firestorm should have spelled certain disaster but Rooks Advertising has accomplished the unthinkable: not only emerging intact but flourishing. A cornerstone of the company’s success, says founder David Rooks, is its comprehensive approach to business. “You must adapt and overcome. We offer services beyond traditional marketing and advertising,” he explains. “At Rooks Advertising we pride ourselves on achieving results for our clients.” That is not to say that

the agency didn’t face its share of challenges but Rooks says that his faith and family motivated him to continue to push forward in the face of adversity. “You have to have a larger vision, a greater purpose,” says Rooks, “that’s what keeps you going in tough times.”

Maintaining a pace with the startling speed of technology is no easy feat; the industry can be unpredictable and its path largely undefined. Charting a strategic course for each company’s unique needs has been a winning methodology

for Rooks Advertising, which employs a wholistic approach to its work. In addition to its diverse array of advertising and marketing competencies, the company also offers real-time feedback and statistical tracking on its efforts. Utilizing a myriad of diagnostic tools the agency consistently monitors and analyzes the results that the efforts deliver, with a single goal in mind, maximum efficiency of marketing dollars. “Information is key,” says Rooks, “Plan, Execute, Monitor, Adapt! That is the best way to create a success cycle.”

28 | REAL Magazine | www.the-real-magazine.com

A charismatic entrepreneur, David Rooks discovered early in life the power of creating your own brand. As a young man launching a sales career he realized that he was no longer relegated to the introverted persona that had limited him during his youth. “A brand,” he explains, “is not a logo, or a tagline, it is who you decide to be in this world, whether in business or in your personal life. We all have that choice to build our brand.” That simple distinction completely changed the direction of Rooks’ life. He made the conscious decision to build his own personal brand. His early understanding of people and business earned him the nickname, Doogie, after the TV series child prodigy Doogie Howser M.D. His drive and attitude had him managing his first automotive dealership at the age of 21 and set the tone for his professional future.

Rooks relocated to the Gulf Coast and in 1997 and became the operating partner at the Gettel Automotive Group in 1999 where he continued to explore creative options to increase sales. His marketing acumen was on point; within three years sales increased by over 50%. His dynamic on-camera personality combined with a variety of creative campaigns and memorable tagline of “Gettel’s Got It!” helped make Gettel Automotive a household name. As the face of the company he quickly became known as “The Gettel Guy” and seven years later is still recognized. Despite his success, Rooks knew he hadn’t found his niche. “I wanted to build my own business,” he reveals.

Fast forward to 2007, when he launched Rooks Advertising as a small business operating from a

home office. He was undaunted by challenges, returning to the foundation established by his beloved father. “He instilled so many things in me,” reflects David. “Most importantly, my dad taught me that if it can be done, I can do it.” That simple affirmation has driven him beyond obstacles and expectations, allowing him to expand into an award winning, fully integrated advertising and web agency.

“Rooks Advertising operates around a core philosophy,” asserts Rooks. “Our primary purpose is to assist our clients explode their profitability by increasing their lead flow.” This, he adds, is achieved through the efforts of a talented and skilled group of professionals with exceptional industry knowledge. Balancing his creative vision is

The office is always humming; coffee and messages, reviewing creative, inspirational brainstorming with some of the Rooks’ team mem-bers and timing a script for a voice over.

Rooks’ business expertise. He notes, “We’re not just putting together nice-looking ads for our clients, we strategize to accomplish measurable business growth.”

A/C Warehouse owner Duane Burns appreciates Rooks’ focus on maximizing his exposure within an established budget. “David and his team have consistently worked with me to ensure that I’m getting the most ‘bang for my buck,’” Burns asserts. “Not only are they able to adhere to my budget, but they are constantly working to improve the effectiveness and appeal of my advertising.” He adds, “It’s working. This year will be one of my best years in a long time, and I attribute much of that to the detail and diligence of the team at Rooks Advertising.”

Rooks Advertising tailors multimedia campaigns to each client’s unique audience. A visit to RooksAds.com shows the depth of their marketing expertise. With proficiencies in graphic design, electronic media, web development, search engine optimization, social media and more.

30 | REAL Magazine | www.the-real-magazine.com

Left: A/C Warehouse owner Duane Burns approving another, soon to be, successful campaign.

Right: David, deep in thought looking forward.

Rooks Ads is capable of delivering a fully integrated marketing solution. The process is complex, incorporating brand association, client retention and relationship-driven marketing. “We want to identify methods that work and ones that aren’t as effective,” explains Rooks. “One of our primary questions is, does the message match the media? There are so many venues for advertising and promotion, and we examine the ones that maximize results.”

John Giglio of Freedom Boat Club discovered the merits of a comprehensive advertising and marketing approach when he chose Rooks Advertising. “We realized that we didn’t have a consistent, consolidated brand running throughout our franchises,” he says. “Rooks Advertising worked with

us not only to create congruency in our image, but to form a platform of support for our franchise owners across the country. Their efforts in relationship management have helped increase member satisfaction and therefore retention. None of this would be in place without Rooks Advertising.”

Rooks is expanding his in-house services to offer marketing webinars and seminars, to help small businesses grow and to develop their own opportunities through strategic tactics. When all is said and done though, Rooks Advertising knows that it must continually improve its brand and consistently create more value than anyone else in the industry.

Rooks Advertising offers branding; print campaigns; video, audio

and animation production; an array of web-based services including software engineering, web design, hosting and mobile applications; tracking; analytics and experiential-based market research. The team’s high-energy approach to business comes at no additional charge.

David RooksRooks Advertising

6771 Professional Parkway West, Suite 201

Sarasota, FL 34240(941) 747.2021

DavidRooks@RooksAds.comwww.RooksAds.com