Flash mobs have become less popular today, why do you think that is? Do you think a flash mob is a good marketing technique?
In Lyndzi's blog this week, she asked the question above about flash mobs. Personally, I don't think that flash mobs have become less popular, because they have only been around since 2003 and not many people used them to begin with. Nowadays, flash mobs are trying to become more successful. They have been used in movies such as Friends with Benefits, and there is even a TV show focused on flash mobs, Mobbed.
Mobbed is a show in which people create a once-in-a-lifetime event through a choreographed dance. The people who appear on the show tend to have a secret they want to tell their friends or family, and with host Howie Mendel, they present the secret in a different and unique way.
I think that flash mobs are an awesome marketing tool. My friends and I have always wanted to see a flash mob and I think if I saw one, I would be more inclined to buy whatever they were marketing.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
General Mills
This week in class, we have learned a lot about ethics in companies and what a companies social responsibility is. I decided to look into the most ethical companies in 2011 and found out that every year, a list comes out of the most ethical companies of that year.
General Mills has been on that list for many years, including 2008, 2009 and most recently, 2011. General Mills is in the food/beverage industry, and make food items from cereal to Pillsbury cookies to yogurt to vegetables. They operate brands such as Bisquick, Green Giant and Haagen-Daz. General Mills has thirteen main goals, as outlined in their "Champions Code of Conduct":
http://www.generalmills.com/~/media/Files/COC_English_GMI_site.ashx
They work to make good relationships with consumers, to treat their employees well and help their communities. "For General Mills, high ethical standards are not something new. It is who we are" (Ken Powell, CEO).
What companies can you think of that need to improve their ethical standards?
General Mills has been on that list for many years, including 2008, 2009 and most recently, 2011. General Mills is in the food/beverage industry, and make food items from cereal to Pillsbury cookies to yogurt to vegetables. They operate brands such as Bisquick, Green Giant and Haagen-Daz. General Mills has thirteen main goals, as outlined in their "Champions Code of Conduct":
http://www.generalmills.com/~/media/Files/COC_English_GMI_site.ashx
They work to make good relationships with consumers, to treat their employees well and help their communities. "For General Mills, high ethical standards are not something new. It is who we are" (Ken Powell, CEO).
What companies can you think of that need to improve their ethical standards?
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
In Response to Kristen
In Kristen's blog this week, she talked about the sponsored stories on Facebook and posed this question: Have you noticed these new types of advertising on Facebook? Would you be more likely to react to an advertisement and use a product or go to a place that you know your friends have been to?
The sponsored stories on Facebook can be something your friends have visited or it could be linked to the items you've "liked" or "followed" on Facebook. I notice these ads every time I go on Facebook because it is usually a bright ad that grabs your attention. I almost always get an ad for shoes or a clothing store and I see these ads constantly on my Facebook and any other website I go onto. These ads can be things your friends have liked, which can sometimes sway my opinion to like them as well, but I tend to pay less attention to them, and sometimes I ignore them completely if it is a friend I don't tend to agree with on items.
These ads are helpful for the companies using them because people like to know the opinions of their friends before they purchase something and having an ad that your friend has "liked" helps to sway you to purchase the product.
Do you think that there are other ways for the ads to catch your attention than to have your friends opinions linked to them?
The sponsored stories on Facebook can be something your friends have visited or it could be linked to the items you've "liked" or "followed" on Facebook. I notice these ads every time I go on Facebook because it is usually a bright ad that grabs your attention. I almost always get an ad for shoes or a clothing store and I see these ads constantly on my Facebook and any other website I go onto. These ads can be things your friends have liked, which can sometimes sway my opinion to like them as well, but I tend to pay less attention to them, and sometimes I ignore them completely if it is a friend I don't tend to agree with on items.
These ads are helpful for the companies using them because people like to know the opinions of their friends before they purchase something and having an ad that your friend has "liked" helps to sway you to purchase the product.
Do you think that there are other ways for the ads to catch your attention than to have your friends opinions linked to them?
Sports Illustrated
Every year, Sports Illustrated magazine has a swimsuit edition with a different female model posing on the cover. This year, a 19-year old named Kate Upton got the coveted spot on the cover, wearing a barely-there bikini that didn't seem to fully fit her "assets". There has been much coverage about this cover, including a "Top Ten Reasons Why This Issue is the Best" on David Letterman.
The model who is featured on the cover of the magazine has a chance at skyrocketing in the modeling world and the cover has before boasted the likes of Christie Brinkley, Heidi Klum and Brooklyn Decker. The cover this year has been featured on websites all over the internet and on a giant billboard and is giving Kate Upton a chance to catapult into the modeling world.
Do you think that this is a smart way for Sport's Illustrated to market their magazine? Do you think they should have more than one swimsuit edition per year to boost sales?
The model who is featured on the cover of the magazine has a chance at skyrocketing in the modeling world and the cover has before boasted the likes of Christie Brinkley, Heidi Klum and Brooklyn Decker. The cover this year has been featured on websites all over the internet and on a giant billboard and is giving Kate Upton a chance to catapult into the modeling world.
Do you think that this is a smart way for Sport's Illustrated to market their magazine? Do you think they should have more than one swimsuit edition per year to boost sales?
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
In Response to Rachel Marra's Post
In Rachel's post, she referred to the following commercial made by T-Mobile for Valentine's Day and asked this question about their promise for a free phone (not advertised that you need to buy a two-year contract): Is this false advertising or just really good marketing?
I think that T-Mobile, like many phone companies use the same promise that they will give you a free phone frequently throughout the year. This, in my opinion, is just really good marketing because there is always a disclaimer at the bottom of the screen or an asterisk following with the "catch". I think that this makes it good marketing instead of false advertising because they do show the consumer what is needed in order to get the good deals.
Though I believe this is really good marketing, I don't think companies should be allowed to keep their "catches" that small on the screen so it is near impossible to read. All phone companies, in my opinion, need to give all the information about their phones outright on commercials, like telling the viewer that they need to buy a two-year contract to get the deals they are promising.
Do you think that all phone commercials should have to better advertise the "catch" involved with their sales?
Chrysler Superbowl Commercial: Was it Political?
Superbowl Sunday is a big day for marketers, because this game is very highly watched and the commercials that play tend to be funny commercials that the watchers actually pay attention to. This is a great chance for marketers to get their advertisements out to consumers and for consumers to get a chance to see what is offered. This Superbowl Sunday, there was one commercial that seemed to advertise more than just the product.
Chrysler made a commercial about their cars, including a statement that seemed to be trying to persuade viewers to re-elect Barack Obama. Chrysler chief marketing officer, Olivier Francois said, “There were absolutely no political intentions,” Francois said in Chicago today. “The politicians can see political messages wherever they want, but we are not politicians.”
This commercial became the third most watched commercial on USA Today's Admeter and has received millions of hits on Youtube.
Do you think this commercial was political? If so, do you think it should have been allowed to be aired during the Superbowl?
Chrysler made a commercial about their cars, including a statement that seemed to be trying to persuade viewers to re-elect Barack Obama. Chrysler chief marketing officer, Olivier Francois said, “There were absolutely no political intentions,” Francois said in Chicago today. “The politicians can see political messages wherever they want, but we are not politicians.”
This commercial became the third most watched commercial on USA Today's Admeter and has received millions of hits on Youtube.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
In Response to Emma
In Emma's blog, she asked the following question: Can you think of the last product or service you really enjoyed and may have told your friends about? Do you think marketing by word of mouth has a big impact on sales?
The last product I really enjoyed was the iPod I bought. I would tell all of my friends about it because it has the new camera and it has so many apps, including the Nook app by Barnes and Noble, which was important to me because I love to read. I told my friends all about the advantages of getting it, like the touch screen, the Face Time application, where you can talk to people face-to-face on your iPod, and all the other hundreds of applications Apple offers.
I think word of mouth is one of the most important things for a company in order to sell their product. Their ads can be amazing, but most people want to know what their friends, family, or coworkers have to say about a product. They want to make sure they are getting the most quality for their money and they want to ask people they know that have it and get their opinions rather than looking at online or on TV testimonials. Word of mouth can really help a company or really hurt them. If they have a good product, then word of mouth would help them to get more customers, but if the customers don't like their product and they tell people they don't like it, it can be detrimental to a company's profits.
Are there any goods or services you would advise your friends not to buy? If so, why?
The last product I really enjoyed was the iPod I bought. I would tell all of my friends about it because it has the new camera and it has so many apps, including the Nook app by Barnes and Noble, which was important to me because I love to read. I told my friends all about the advantages of getting it, like the touch screen, the Face Time application, where you can talk to people face-to-face on your iPod, and all the other hundreds of applications Apple offers.
I think word of mouth is one of the most important things for a company in order to sell their product. Their ads can be amazing, but most people want to know what their friends, family, or coworkers have to say about a product. They want to make sure they are getting the most quality for their money and they want to ask people they know that have it and get their opinions rather than looking at online or on TV testimonials. Word of mouth can really help a company or really hurt them. If they have a good product, then word of mouth would help them to get more customers, but if the customers don't like their product and they tell people they don't like it, it can be detrimental to a company's profits.
Are there any goods or services you would advise your friends not to buy? If so, why?
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