What Are You AIMing For?
Turning Local Events Into Legacy Moments
You ever pull into your driveway late at night, windows down, and hear something-a distant cheer, a faint song, laughter echoing across lawns?You turn your head, catch a glimpse of lanterns glowing in a park, kids chasing shadows, folks gathering under strings of lights... and you feel it: a pulse in the city. Every fall, Reno and Sparks hum like this. The air turns crisp, school bleachers creak back into life, trunk‑or‑treats pop up, pumpkins dot front porches, and somewhere an LED truck rolls through a parking lot.
But here's the thing: most of that energy dissolves by Monday morning. The hay bales get stored, the banners are folded, and the memory drifts.
That's what pushed us at AIM / Ads In Motion to ask:
"What are you AIMing for?"
- Are you aiming for clicks, or connection?
- For impressions, or impact?
- For ads that blink, or stories that stick?
Because when your business shows up at a local event-not just to sell, but to serve-that's when an ordinary night becomes a legacy moment.
A Journey from Idea to Impact
I want you to meet "Mike."Mike owns a modest remodeling and handyman business in Reno. He's been grinding for years-hired crew, jumped on every Facebook ad, attended Chamber mixers, handed out flyers-all with little payoff. His phone buzzes occasionally. But deep down, he feels he's screaming into the wind.
One October evening, he's driving through Centennial Park after dusk. He sees trunks lined up for a local fall festival. Kids in costumes. A DJ booth. A few local business logos are projected onto a wall. He stops. He watches. He listens.
He notes small things: the intensity in the mother's eyes as he watches his child swing a candy bag; the way high school teens beam at photo ops; the way elders smile as neighbors walk by.
He thinks: What if I could be more than another sponsor name? What if I could be part of that pulse?
He signs up to co‑sponsor a trunk‑or‑treat night in his own ZIP code. But he doesn't just give money-he brings his LED truck, he prints welcome signs, he gifts free candy, he volunteers staff.
The night comes. The wind is cool. The smell of hot cider drifts from a vendor. Kids race between trunks. The LED screen glows, projecting coupons, local heroes' names, and "Thank you, Reno" messages.
At one point, he steps behind his truck: the hum of the screen, the murmur of parents talking, the clink of candy wrappers. A little girl approaches. "Your light is so bright," he says. Mike's throat tightens. His eyes sting.
That moment flickers in his mind forever.
People remember. In the following weeks, new calls come-some from families who saw his at that night. Some from schools asking, "Will you help this year?" And his business isn't just "another contractor" anymore. It's part of their story.
Mike transformed. He didn't just sponsor an event-he became one.
Takeaway: showing up with authenticity, with more heart than hype, turns ads into affection.
Mini‑Story: When All the Lights Go Out
Imagine this:It's late autumn. The sun has set hours ago. You're inside your small office-faded wood floors, a single fluorescent bulb overhead, dust motes drifting in the beam. You can smell leftover coffee and the stale scent of papers.
You stare at your phone. Crickets. No new leads. The checks clearing this month barely cover payroll. You feel the weight in your chest-like gravity has doubled.
You glance at a framed photo on the desk: your child, smiling, hair windblown, running through leaves. You think: They deserve more.
Your heart says, "You've got one chance left."
You walk outside. The air bites your cheeks. You look at your truck parked in your driveway-its sides blank, dull. You reach out, touch its hood.
"Either I let this die," you whisper, "or I shift everything."
In that moment, your phone buzzes-a text from a neighbor: "Hey, our school's doing a fall festival. Would you consider sponsoring?"
You feel cold. You feel fear. You feel your bones tremble. But your eyes flick to your child's photo again.
You decide: you'll bet on this moment.
Next day, you invest everything-LED wrap on the truck, printing, staffing, lights. You spend weekends canvassing neighborhoods, handing fliers, talking to PTA members. Festival night: the wind kicks. Electricity flickers. Rain threatens. Half your signs blow away. But you stand by your truck, shielded under an awning, watching kids run, parents talk, the LED screen glowing in the dark.
A father comes close. He says, "Your display gave my daughter a reason to smile tonight. We've never felt more seen."
Your heart breaks into pieces-of regret (you didn't do this sooner), of relief (you did it now), of resolve (you won't let this fade).
That is the pivot. That is the night you either let your business die a whisper-or birth it a legacy.
Up to Date Local Plans
Here are some upcoming events / developments in Reno/Sparks and why they matter to you (business owner, legacy builder):- Downtown Event Series 2025: The City of Reno is deploying more concerts, movies, and food truck nights downtown as part of revitalization efforts. (https://www.reno.gov/Home/Components/News/News/21343/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Why it matters: More foot traffic, more opportunity to "be seen" in the heart of town. Showing up in downtown activation gives you belonging, not just banner space. - Sparks Water Lantern Festival (Sept 20, 2025): Families, neighbors, strangers come together to light lanterns on the water, sing, eat, celebrate. (https://www.newtoreno.com/events-reno-september-2025.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Why it matters: Emotional, visual. Your brand beside that glow is etched in memory-not just in someone's feed. - Reno Riverwalk Wine Walk: Local merchants and wine vendors host a walk along Truckee River, third Saturday each month. (https://www.newtoreno.com/events-reno-september-2025.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Why it matters: Movement, traffic, structured path. Perfect place for an LED message or branded "pause moment." - ARPA‑funded Events & Revitalization: Reno is using funds to activate downtown corridors with events and public art. (https://www.reno.gov/Home/Components/News/News/21343/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Why it matters: The city is investing in gathering. If you align your brand to those investments, your exposure is bootstrapped by public trust.
Self‑Assessment
Ask yourself these 5 deep questions to see whether you're ready to turn events into legacy:- When was the last time your business appeared live at a local event, in front of real faces-not just online?
- What's stopping you from showing up in person (logistics, cost, fear, uncertainty)?
- If you keep relying only on digital ads, what will your brand be known for? (A fleeting click, or a forgotten name?)
- If you lean in and show up meaningfully, what might be different - in leads, in trust, in local word‑of‑mouth?
- What is the smallest first step you can take this month to put your brand into a local gathering (LED truck, table, signage, presence)? Write down your answers. Let them speak to your heart.
What the Experts Would Do
If top marketers were advising a business owner in Reno/Sparks on turning local events into legacy moments, here's what they'd push:- Leverage local energy: Tap into already built events (city festivals, school nights, farmers' markets) instead of trying to build your own from scratch.
- Partner, don't just sponsor: Actively collaborate (co‑produce, volunteer, co‑host) with community groups to earn presence, not just space.
- Layer multiple touchpoints: Use LED trucks, physical signage, posters, social promo, and post‑event content to multiply impact.
- Create belonging, not broadcast: Use your presence to uplift others (students, nonprofits, local heroes) - your brand becomes part of the story, not the interruptor.
- Measure emotion, not just clicks: Track how many people stopped by, how many commented on your booth, how many asked "Who are you?" - these are your legacy metrics.
What Would Marketing Experts Say?
Alex Hormozi:> "Most people treat marketing as a line item. The real leverage is in presence + delivery. If you show up in the real world with authenticity, your competition can't compete because they don't have you there."
- He'd treat event presence like a product launch: build hype, pre‑announce, gather email/phone leads before the event, then convert afterward with urgency.
- He'd test versions: one event with just brand + message, another with a free value giveaway (kids' goodie bag, small repair voucher), and measure which builds stronger follow-up.
- He'd design a "legacy funnel": attract at event → capture info → deliver a surprise "thank you" in the weeks after → escalate with exclusive invite to your business's next activation.
Sabri Suby: - He'd tell you to film the event-but not just generic footage. Create a hook: "What happened when we brought an LED surprise to a school in Reno..."
- He'd urge you to capture emotion in the video-kids, parents, faces lighting up. Use that piece to fuel follow-up content.
- He'd suggest leveraging local story angles: tie in a local school's cause, a local hero, a neighbor's story, such that your activation isn't about your brand-it's about their story, and your brand becomes the vehicle for that story.
✅ Final Thoughts & Call to Action
If you walk away from this, walk away with this: You don't need more ad impressions. You need more emotional impressions.You need to show up where hearts already gather. You need to be more than a logo-you need to be a moment that lingers.
👉 Book a strategy session: https://calendly.com/elisantos-aim/30min
Let's dream up how your next local event can become your legacy night in Reno.
