With RCS’s line of radio products, we can take you from GSelector’s music log, to Zetta’s powerful radio automation, incorporate commercial and digital traffic with Aquira and stream live with Revma. During this week’s RCS Live, we were joined by Dawn Newberry, our Aquira specialist, to showcase how to create new contracts, as well as offering a couple Aquira tips and tricks from an experienced Traffic Manager’s perspective.
First, Dawn demonstrated how to create a new contract, including some of the advanced Aquira features. We highly encourage users to customize their Contract view by adjusting columns, inserting desired fields, and creating daily workflows as shortcuts throughout Aquira. Users can use alphanumeric Contract IDs, quickly select an Advertiser and Rate Card, define their own Contract Discounts and add the appropriate Sales Representative. Traffic Managers can also add their own scheduling attributes and Client Notes to help them throughout the Aquira workflow.
As we move onto the Spotlines and scheduling details, users can set their Start and End Dates, classify their orders, assign stations and begin to populate their contract schedule. Aquira is sophisticated enough to offer visual highlights in which users can hover over to see any potential conflicts, like self-imposed queries or sold out inventory. Traffic Managers can override or balance out their contract schedule, as well as add overrides for Rates and percentage rate differences.
For budget purposes, Aquira is also equipped with a Cost tab to deduct any possible costs that would take away from the overall budget. For example, if there was a Talent Remote and $100 would go to the talent or other expenses, Traffic Managers could add a detailed cost to identify and remove the $100 from the overall budget and include those deductions within their weekly or monthly reports.
Did you know that Aquira isn’t only radio sales, but it also can integrate with Google Ad Manager? Aquira’s Web tab allows users to adjust your CPM impressions to incorporate any online digital ads into one weekly report. Set your Unit Rate and the amount booked, Aquira will automatically set your rates and simply assign a pre-configured station for delivery.
Aquira also features its own Aquira2GO, in which multiple users can continue to work remotely from any device that has an Internet connection and proper VPN security access. Traffic Managers can add Media, upload copy and digital ads so that the Sales Representative can take the same information on the road for clients to preview and sign off on any contracts.
After we reviewed Aquira’s F1 Dynamic Help Guide, Dawn offered her personal tip that she feels not enough Aquira users incorporate into their daily workflows. Direct Reports, not the same as regular reports, but in Contract, Direct Reports can be assigned so that Sales Representatives can quickly and efficiently see their upcoming flight schedules, without having to reach out to their local Traffic Manager.
Of course, due to the financial significance of commercial radio traffic, RCS is always here to help you. As part of the Aquira onboarding process, Dawn and her team will convert your data beforehand, making sure that your monthly totals are in sync as we continue to train you and your staff how to properly maximize your Aquira experience. We usually meet with your staff on site and after the on-site training and subsequent follow up training is over, don’t forget that RCS Support is also here to help answer any questions you may have.
As you can see, Aquira is a very power traffic solution for both radio and online digital sales with Google Ad Manager integration. If you’re looking for more Aquira tips and tricks, don’t forget to check out our RCS Live Archive or reach out to your local RCS Sales Representative, RCS Support or through our social media to get more information.