Calvin's Blog

Has there ever been a time when you were sitting at home enjoying a quiet weekend afternoon without having to worry about the stresses of the week when suddenly the phone rings and who is on the other line but an annoying telemarketer wondering if you have time to listen to a new promotion and answer a couple of questions about a particular product or service. My question is, is this an effective way of marketing your company or brand? Personally I find telemarketers annoying and every time they call I answer their request with a blunt “I am not interested” before quickly hanging up the phone. I have yet to meet one person who enjoys having a conversation with these particular individuals. The duty of a telemarketer is a difficult one, having to put up with the constant feeling of rejection not to mention the barrage of rude remarks from callers that may accompany it. So is it worth it to subject innocent people to the pain and humiliation of having to ask someone over the telephone for their opinion only to be turned down and have to face the embarrassment of the call tone. Does telemarketing actually do a company good in terms of gathering new clients and expanding their network? To me, telemarketers are wasting their time trying to convert people to their brand and should instead opt for a more face to face interaction with potential customers.

Here is a clip about the trials and tribulations of a telemarketer

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In yesterday’s lecture Tamar discussed an unconventional marketing tactic that taps into dissasociative social influencing. When people are against a particular group or individual, they will instinctively try their best to make sure that they are nothing like the things they despise, which includes turning away from the brands that these social groups represent and support. Such is the case with the cast of MTV’s hit reality show, Jersey Shore. As the character Snooki was regularly seen wearing a particular Coach bag, Coach felt that this would hurt its sales more than help so what did they decide to do? They sent free bags and purses from a competing brand in order to have this negative public image of their products shift over to other designers. Personally I find this strategy to be very innovative and in theory it makes a lot of sense. But what about all those people, however few, that actually like Snooki and Jersey Shore and want look and be just like the cast. Are companies hoping that those who are not in support of their activity will overtake the people who do support them, resulting in an overall effect of consumers straying away from brands that companies such as coach use as a tool to only increase their own benefit.

Read more about this phenomenon at http://hairpoof.wordpress.com/category/snooki/

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So the other day as I was in SUB washroom after downing a bottle of water and as I stood  at a urinal in a moment of relief, I couldn’t help but notice the advertisement on the wall in front of me. I’ve been in that very bathroom at least 2-3 times a day but that time was probably the first time I realized what an effective marketing strategy it was. There has to be countless people that enter this washroom everyday and with the timing of one’s “business” varying, people will almost instinctively look up at an ad as the time goes by. The ad i saw was for Roger’s student cell phone plans and in that 30 second interval, i have to admit, it made me feel like upgrading my own cell phone plan. In my opinion companies that promote themselves within the confines of a public bathroom make effective strides to communicate with consumers. And with many bathroom experiences just downright awkward at times, these ads, if nothing else, give people something to focus on while in the midst of answering nature’s call.

No limit to advertising power in the washroom

Check out these blogs for more insight into the world of marketing

The Value of Conflict (first post for comm 296)

wrong fit

http://www.canadianmarketingblog.com/

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