Christine's Question: Do you think the directors made this controversial ad to increase recognition and buzz over the premier? Is this an example of marketing gone too far?
On Christine's blog this week, she posted the following link and asked the question listed above.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYVPrP4AXQo
I watched this ad and I don't believe that it is supposed to be reflecting 9/11, as the article stated. This ad does show a man falling, but I don't think it is supposed to be reminiscent of the dark period of the 2000's. I think that Mad Men made the ad in a way that they think will interest their viewers to watch the show, not to become a controversy or insult anyone.
There are plenty of ads that have gone too far with their marketing, but I don't think that this is one of them. I think that this ad just has something to do with the plot of the show, not with the history of the United States.
Can you think of an company/ad that has gone way too far?
Friday, March 9, 2012
Facebook: Is It Sexualizing Young Girls?
In a recent Yahoo! news story, the author, Lylah Alphonse, poses the question, "is Facebook sexualizing young girls?" The article goes on to talk about younger, middle school age girls, Grace, Jordan, and Lily, who talk about how getting "likes" on Facebook mark a person's popularity in their schools. This causes them to only video chat when they look perfect or wearing skimpy outfits while taking pictures for Facebook.
The role models these girls look up to, like Miley Cyrus, have gone from clean and innocent to sexy and skimpy. This makes the girls feel as though they need to look inappropriate in order for people to like them. The more Facebook "likes", they believe, the more people actually like them.
Do you think that Facebook is appropriate for girls in middle school or should it be limited to a certain age?
The role models these girls look up to, like Miley Cyrus, have gone from clean and innocent to sexy and skimpy. This makes the girls feel as though they need to look inappropriate in order for people to like them. The more Facebook "likes", they believe, the more people actually like them.
Do you think that Facebook is appropriate for girls in middle school or should it be limited to a certain age?
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
In Response to Maggie
Maggie's Question: People think that the money they earn is all worth it at the end of the day, but is it really?? Why do people work at jobs they hate??
Maggie posed this question on her blog this week after writing an article about bosses taking advantage of their employees. I have been in the work force for the last six years and I have dealt with many different types of employers. Working is important, especially in our world, where the economy is a roller coaster ride and we never know when it will dip and jobs will be unavailable. I think that people who have a job need to keep that job until they find another one if they want to support themselves. I know that some jobs may make people unhappy, and if you are so unhappy that you are depressed all the time, then by all means, you should quit. But if you are just unhappy as in you don't like doing the menial tasks you do, you should hold onto your job and search for another at the same time.
I think that the economy and the uneasiness about the job market is the reason people stay at the jobs they hate. They need to support themselves or their families and they feel like their unhappiness is worth the money they receive in order to do this.
What do you think people who hate their jobs, but need to keep it, can do to improve their work experience?
Apple's Market Value
Apple is well known for selling iPod's, iPad's and Macs. Recently, they have become well known in the marketing industry when their market value hit the $500 billion mark. Not many companies have ventured towards this mark and those who have reached it tend not to stay in the $500 billion range. Shares for Apple now cost $544.17, which is up 1.6% from its previous price.
Apple is one of only six U.S. companies that has reached this phenomenal milestone, alongside Exxon Mobil, now worth $411 billion, and Microsoft, their biggest competitor, now only worth $267 billion. Apple reached this bar because of their extreme sales and profits, and their worth is 15 times what their profit was last year.
What do you think other companies, such as Microsoft, would need to do in order to compete with Apple?
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/apple-market-value-hits-500-billion-where-few-have-gone-and-none-have-stayed/2012/02/29/gIQABzs8hR_story.html
Apple is one of only six U.S. companies that has reached this phenomenal milestone, alongside Exxon Mobil, now worth $411 billion, and Microsoft, their biggest competitor, now only worth $267 billion. Apple reached this bar because of their extreme sales and profits, and their worth is 15 times what their profit was last year.
What do you think other companies, such as Microsoft, would need to do in order to compete with Apple?
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/apple-market-value-hits-500-billion-where-few-have-gone-and-none-have-stayed/2012/02/29/gIQABzs8hR_story.html
Sunday, February 26, 2012
In Response to Johnson's Post
Questions: Should John smith sell the names? (Be sure to answer the poll to the left of this post.) Also, Does the AMA Statement of Ethics address this issue? Go to the AMA website (American Marketing Association) and look at their Statement of Ethics. What in the Statement relates to John Smith's dilemma?
I do not think that John Smith should sell the names because that is going against the privacy of those who took the survey. The American Marketing Association addresses that companies need to foster trust with their consumers, and avoid discrepancies in the delivery of distribution. This means that if John Smith was to sell the names to the car dealer, he would be breaking the basic code of ethics that each company needs to follow.
Though it will be hard for John Smith to have to lay off employees due to the lack of money, selling the names is not a good way to make money for the firm.
What ways do you think John Smith could raise money to keep his employees?
I do not think that John Smith should sell the names because that is going against the privacy of those who took the survey. The American Marketing Association addresses that companies need to foster trust with their consumers, and avoid discrepancies in the delivery of distribution. This means that if John Smith was to sell the names to the car dealer, he would be breaking the basic code of ethics that each company needs to follow.
Though it will be hard for John Smith to have to lay off employees due to the lack of money, selling the names is not a good way to make money for the firm.
What ways do you think John Smith could raise money to keep his employees?
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
In Response to Lyndzi's Blog
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.
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.
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?
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