In Response to Todd

What do you guys think about Lamborghini expanding into an unknown target market? Do you think it will work or should they just stick to what they are good at?

First I think the Lamborghini SUV looks very slick. I think that the shift into a new market is good for Lamborghini. Everyone views the company as just being able to make luxurious sports cars. Yes, they are great at making sports cars, but the company has more to offer. There is already celebrities and people "tweeting" about the SUV on twitter and it wont even be out for a couple more years. Some people would like a luxurious and powerful SUV and this can be the one for them. The market for these cars would only be the upper class because an SUV starting at 150,000+ is ridiculous.
I think that the Lamborghini SUV will work out fine for the company.

Gap

I was reading the NY times and came across an article on Gap. The company that was one of the most popular clothing companies in the 90s to nonexistent today. In the article many current and former executives state they were trying to chase there rivals, they cut quality, and also lost contact with customers. These three things lead to their demise and Gap stores simply had nothing the customer wanted. However today, with a new chief executive and ad campaign called 'Be Bright", they are trying to bring their name back. The article states that the company isn't messing with the clothing and style of clothes like it did in the 90s and early 2000s. They are simply changing their marketing strategies in hopes the brand will once again gain its popularity back.

What do you think led to Gap losing its customer base? Do you think the company will ever be as popular as it once was?

Search Engines

Recently I read an article titles, "Search Engine Use Increases Sharply, Edging Towards Email as the Primary Internet Application". Search engines have become very popular in todays society when it comes to surfing the web. I know personally I like to use Google, but there are many different search engines a person can use. Some search engines include, Google, Bing, and Yahoo to name a few. A few years ago email was the main reason people were going on the computer and still is, however now search engines are becoming popular very fast. The article states that about 60 million American adults use a search engine everyday. Still 52% of Americans send an email on any day, but not for long.
Why do you think search engines are becoming so popular?

In Response to Rebecca Post

If this trend continues, what kinds of things will you do in order to cut back on the money you spend weekly on gas? Do you think that people will change their lifestyles to save money?


There are many things that one can do in order to cut back on gas. We currently go to college and there are many other ways to get around other than driving. For example you could bike, walk, ride a skateboard or longboard, rollerblade, etc. Personally I would start walking to class instead of driving to campus. As far as taking trips, I would take the train. I am from Boston and have taken the train to and from the city my whole life. 
I think that some people will change their lifestyles. Those that can afford to spend money on gas, such as the upper middle class to upper class will continue to spend. Those people who need to watch their spending, such as us college kids will probably be more conservative with our money.

Amazon

I just recently read an article on Amazon. The article was about the success that Amazon has been having.  For the first 3 months of the year they posted $13.18 billion in revenue and the stock is up 13%. Also the article states they will become the fastest retailer to cross $50 billion in sales for the year. They have also added 10,000 employees in the last 3 months. This is kind of a shock to me. Amazon competes with so many companies on a daily basis such as Apple and Google, that I never thought it would be doing this good. Actually, I would have never guessed they would be doing as well if not better than there rivals, Apple and Google. Amazon's technology such as, the Kindle, take a back seat to Apples Ipad and so on. As well as their website is not as popular as Google. This article was shocking to me an opened my eyes that Apple and Google aren't the only companies out there with product such as the Ipad.
When you think about Amazon as a company, would you put them in the same sentence, category, as an Apple or Google? Do you think they could ever be as popular, why or why not?

In Response to Rebecca Post

What are some of the reasons that you think Dominos is so much more successful than Pizza Hut?

In my opinion Dominos is far superior than Pizza Hut. First, the quality of Dominos, in my opinion is greater than that of Pizza Hut. I have never liked Dominos pizza until they recently came out with those commercials saying their going to improve their food, chicken, sauce, cheese, etc. They had people taste their new product while filming commercials. Now I can eat a Dominos pizza without any complaints. Second it seems that Dominos is always having different deals that you can receive. Another reason I like purchasing Dominos is because when you order it online, you are able to see the progress of your order, from when it starts cooking, to the time it is being delivered. These are all reasons why I prefer Dominos and why Dominos is more successful than Pizza Hut.

New Social Media Site?

With all the buzz surrounding Facebook and Twitter, is there a new social media site trying to make its name. Pinterest is a new social media website. On Twitter people "tweet" what they are up to and other things, on their page. This page just shows what people are saying, etc. For Facebook people can write on your wall, post photos to your wall, etc. Pinterest I believe is more similar to Facebook.  Pinterest is an online pin board. It allows you to "pin" videos, photos, and other images to your friends pinboards. However unlike Facebook there is no chat.
Personally I don't Pinterest will last. This is because it is very similar to Facebook and I believe that Facebook's popularity in this society will die down soon enough.
Do you think this website will last and why do you think that way?

In Response to Nichole

Yes, I recently made a new purchase. I am a big golfer and have been around the game my whole life. Therefore I know the popular brands, such as Nike, Callaway, Taylor Made, etc. As well as brands less known but same quality, such as Adams, Nickent, Mizuno,etc. I have played the popular brands my whole life until recently. My uncle purchased a pair of Mizuno irons late last year. So early this golf season I took them out for a round. After that round, I needed a pair of these clubs. The quality of these golf clubs was just amazing. So a week later I went out and purchased a pair of Mizuno irons. I am so pleased with the quality of these clubs I would not trade them for any leading brand.

Smoking

Over the last month I have come across some gruesome smoking commercials while watching tv. These commercials depict very graphic details. While smoking cigarettes can cause these outcomes, are the commercials to graphic for television and children to see?

A commercial from the CDC:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEWky9PEroU&feature=related

Do you think this is an effective way of getting people not to smoke cigarettes? Are there any other ways that will get the point across?

In Response to Todd

Temporary tattoos are a neat way for companies to advertise their product. I can see companies using body paint as a way of temporary tattooing. However I don't think this could ever be an effective way of marketing their product.
No, I would never wear a temporary tattoo for any company. I could never imagine someone wanting a Yellow Tail or Nike tattoo.

Testing

I was browsing the web the other day and came across an interesting article. The article was titled, "The Most Important Aspect of Marketing".
(http://www.marketingscoop.com/articles.htm)

The author stated that testing was the most important aspect, and after reviewing the article I agreed. Testing is very important in marketing. In order to be successful in this industry, you have to be able to reach the right people. Whether your advertising over the internet, or interacting with people, in order to know who your market will be you have to test. One effective example of testing is sending mass emails and seeing who opens them or who reply's.
Do you agree/disagree with the article? What do you think is the most important aspect?

Response to Professor Johnson

Should John Smith sell the names? Does the AMA Statement of Ethics address this issue? What in the Statement relates to John Smiths dilemma?

John Smith should not sell the names. Yes, he is on the verge of going bankrupt, however by performing this act, it could potentially hurt the company even more, and even worse his reputation. If a customer cannot trust your company, and feel they are being treated right, then how is that company going to survive?
Some of the rules I think apply to this case are:
1. Do no harm
2. Foster trust in the marketing system
3. Embrace ethical values.
Fairness
Respect

In Response to Nichole

How much affect do you think NASCAR has on its viewers? What other events do you think have some sort of subconscious affect on its consumers?

I agree with Nichole when she says NASCAR is great way for companies to promote their products and services. Having an advertisement on a race car has to be a marketers dream. It is the largest and most popular sport today. Thousands of people go to professional races, and that isn't including even more people who watch it on television. So companies with advertisements on race cars are definitely doing good for themselves.
Personally I cannot stand NASCAR, but I have family in Virginia, who are obsessed with cars. Watching NASCAR to them is like going to church for religious people. My cousin Matt, is obsessed with Dale Earnhardt Jr. I know a couple of years ago he drove a car for AMP energy drink. Matt never used to drink AMP, but as soon as he saw Earnhardt Jr driving for them he had to have one. So I definitely think NASCAR has an affect on its viewers.
I don't know if any other event has such an impact on its viewers as NASCAR.

National Brands

When I was online the other day, I came across an article titled, "Americans Continue to be Loyal to National Brands".
(http://marketingtoday.com/research/roperstarch/americans_loyal_to_nat_brands.htm)
This article was very interesting. It stated that almost half of Americans are indeed loyal to National Brands. National brands can include everything from food, drugs, beauty care, etc... Brands such as Kraft, Old Spice, Gillette, and so on. It also says that National Brand Buyers are more likely to recommend the brands they use, movies they have seen, cars, television shows, etc.
At first I couldn't believe that half of the country bought National items. Then after thinking about the article it was more believable. I know personally when I go to the grocery store I always buy the same brand of ice cream, deodorant, shaving cream and razors, etc. This is just because I am more comfortable when using these products vs. other products.  I don't even think about trying a new product, I just grab what I need and the brand I use. After looking at what my roommates purchased at the store, one of them was the same as me, with the same razors, deodorant, etc. while the other two just bought whatever was on sale that week.
After reviewing this article, I think many people just get so familiar with the products they use it is almost second nature to continue buying the same products.
Are you a National Brand Buyer, or Local Brand Buyer? Why?

Response to Allison

What are your thoughts on this pay as you go power? Do you think this product would actually work?

This idea is very interesting. Sony is such a huge company that I am not surprised they came up with an idea like this but I don't know how far this idea could take them. In the future this could be brilliant, but as for right now I'm not to sure. People value their energy and sources of energy tremendously. We pay a certain price for unlimited amounts of energy a month. Therefore to pay as you go, seems a little to complicated for something that seems to have no issues right now. Also the idea does not seem fully developed. However in the future this could be a great alternative for people who use the internet, television, etc.. every so often.

"How to Write a Good Advertisement"

Writing an advertisement that appeals to everyone is very hard in today's world. Most companies will try and make their product stick out to certain groups of consumers.

Recently I was online and came across an article that supposedly gave you seven ideas on how to write a successful advertisement. They stated these idea were based on studies of appealing advertisements that proved successful in the marketplace.
( http://marketingtoday.com/marcom/writeads.htm)

The seven steps are:
1. Put a benefit in the headline.
2. Ask a provocative question.
3. Be direct.
4. Give the reader useful information.
5. Offer a free booklet, brochure, or information kit.
6. Use a coupon.
7. Use a headline with multiple parts.

These are all very good useful ideas to include in an advertisement. However do you think some of these ideas are more important than others? If so which ones?

In Response to Todd

Do you think GM was out of line calling out Ford in the ad, or do you think it is completely fair game? At what point does a statement like "most dependable, longest lasting full size truck on the market" become false advertising?

Yes, I think GM was totally out of line calling out Ford motors in the commercial, and believe they will lose money because of it. I remember watching the Super Bowl and seeing this advertisement. Immediately my roommates and I were talking about the commercial, and we all came to an agreement that GM was out of line and would probably get sued.

I think that the statement itself is false advertisement. Right after the commercial was aired, my roommate and I got into the argument, which truck was better. He is a Chevy guy, and I have driven both trucks. Personally I think their both good, dependable trucks, but he hates Ford trucks. Everyone has their own opinions so obviously many people love driving a Chevy truck, but their is just as many people who dislike Chevy trucks.

Social vs. Email

 Marketing is becoming so popular in today's society that it is literally everywhere. With technology changing so fast, marketers are having trouble figuring out where to spend most of their money. I was recently reading an article that posed this question:

Mobile and social vs. email: Where should marketers spend their limited dollars this year?

Personally I think that marketers should spend their money on mobile and social. This is because the use of mobile and social devices is larger than ever before and expanding. Yes, millions of people have email, but this is used for so many other things besides marketing your product. I believe the use of social and mobile devices is far greater than email and that is where they should spend their money.
Where do you think marketers should spend their limited dollars?

In Response to Emma...

Can you think about 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?

I think that marketing by word of mouth is very influential. Personally I would value my friends opinion on a product or service more than anyone else because they know who I am.
The last product or service I thoroughly enjoyed was Bud Light Platinum. This new beer has more alcohol, 6% than the regular Bud Light and a different taste. The first time I heard about this beer was two weeks ago. My brother asked me to pick him up some Bud Light Platinum's on my way home from work. Since I had never heard of them, I decided to get myself some and greatly enjoyed them. When I returned back to school my roommates and I decided to grab some one night and they all enjoyed them as well.

I think marketing by word of mouth has some impact on sales. After you tell someone/are told by someone about a product, it is up to you as to whether you want to buy that product or service. Some people just brush off what you have just told them about a particular product or service, while others will value that opinion and buy into it.

Superbowl

On Sunday the football season will come to an end. The Patriots and Giants will play to see who will be world champions. This television event is one of the most watched programs of the year and every company wishes to have one of their advertisements aired during the game. However only the companies that can afford to pay for their air time will have their advertisements played. In previous Super Bowl commercials many companies will tarnish their rivals, show false advertising, others use beautiful women or men to try and sell their products, some use humor, and some are just normal. 
One of my favorite Super Bowl commercials from the 2011 game was from Doritos...

 

This commercial is clearly showing the wrong message here portraying that Doritos could be used as great dog food. This commercial is clearly false but was a favorite among viewers.

What are some of your favorite commercials from past Super Bowls and why do you like them?

In Response to Todd..

Do you guys think companies completely influence our wants? Or do we already have an idea before we see an add?

This is a very interesting question. I think people have an idea of something they want. Example, if  someone needs a new computer, then after doing their research, they have an idea of the price range and brand in which they want to purchase. However I also think companies do influence our wants to an extent. If we see a commercial for a nice pair of sneakers or shoes, our desire to buy them could increase. An example from my personal life could be when I was in high school, I played lacrosse. Before I even started the season, I knew what brand of stick I wanted and needed. Therefore I had an idea before I even began seeing adds for the kind of Brine stick I used. I was also planning on buying a pair of Brine cleats for that season. However after seeing adds for different brands of cleats, I ended up buying a pair of Nike cleats. Nike did not completely influence my idea to buy the cleats, the comfort was a reason.
Does anyone feel that some companies advertisements turn us away from their products?

Why Would a Course in Marketing be Helpful?

Why would a course in marketing be helpful even if you don't pursue marketing as a career?

Marketing is used everywhere in today's society and is a main aspect in running or working for a successful business. Literally everywhere you look, on the t.v., computer, magazines, billboards, etc. there is some form of marketing. Therefore, I personally think that a course in marketing would be very helpful to anyone even if they don't pursue marketing as a career. Many other majors for college students today also teach ways to market a product. I work at a landscaping company over the summer. The owner never graduated from college, but has one of the most successful businesses around. However he does very good work and has to make sure that he continues to do quality work so that he can keep his customers coming back. In another course that I'm taking, called Management Information Systems we have a student who is trying to come up with a product for all terrain vehicles and dirt bikes. He wants to have two products, a high end and low end product. In order to make this product of his be successful, he will have to market his products at different shows and hope to attract clients.
Do you think someone starting a business with no marketing knowledge could be successful? Should there be more marketing classes available to students?

Marketing, advertising, and propaganda are similar in the fact that they deal with business and how businesses run.

I believe that Marketing is the term used to create a product or service. Once a company has an idea for a product or service then their next step in marketing is to make that product or service.

 My definition of Advertising is the active selling of a product or service. In other words convincing people to buy your product. Marketing is similar to advertising but is different because marketing is when you have a desired product for the customers. Advertising is then selling that product.
An example of an advertisement would be something like this:

This advertisement is by the snowboard company Forum. Here they are advertising one of their new bindings and in particular the "the good vibes" you feel when wearing these bindings.

 Propaganda, I believe is the biased opinion used to promote something. An example of this could be the political elections.

Does anyone else think marketing and advertising go together? Do you have similar definitions?