Nobody likes change, especially Facebook users. The most recent switch to the new timeline layout prompted groups such as “1 million likes to get rid of FB’s new timeline” and “I Hate Facebook Timeline”. However, if Facebook had listened to all the resistance it faced with every makeover, their interface would long be out of date.

Source: http://cdn.ientry.com/sites/webpronews/article_pics/sophostimelinepoll.jpg

With technology changing at such a rapid pace, Facebook has to continue to innovate in order to stay competitive. But is this innovation at the price of its users’ satisfaction? In a poll of over four thousand people, over 80% of the respondents had some kind of concern with the new layout. In another poll, over 75% said that they wish they could keep the layout the same. These numbers might seem alarming!

Source: http://www.benphoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Facebook-User-Growth-Chart.png

Facebook does not seem concerned at all with this, as they are still constantly tinkering and improving their product. Based on a graph showing the overwhelming growth of Facebook since its inception, it seems that despite dissatisfaction with change, it is not enough to drive users off the website.

Source: http://blog.geeksaresexytech.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/facebook-google.jpg

Due to the nature of social networking, some users, like myself, might feel obligated to stay with Facebook as that is where the majority of the people are. This provides Facebook with a sustainable competitive advantage that its competitors find hard to crack. Even Google’s grand attempt at joining the social networking race failed miserably just because of the simple reason that everyone is on Facebook.

Chalk it up to good timing or just sheer luck, but the fact remains that Facebook capitalized on the recent leaps in technology that revolutionized accessibility of the internet and are now reaping the benefits.

With the rapidly growing obesity rates in North America, a “fat tax” may not be such a bad idea. Similar to the tax imposed on tobacco, which has – in combination with graphic labels – cut down the rate of smoking from over 50 percent in the 1960s to less than 20 percent today, the same can be done with junk food. Society has grown accustomed to the idea of junk food and obesity, vigorous campaigns to change the public perception will be needed.

Source: http://queensparkdental.ca/wp-content/uploads/quitSmoking.gif

One of the major culprits is the simple phrase, “a calorie is a calorie”. It has been scientifically proven that if one consumes more calories than one burns, weight loss will occur. That is fact, and cannot be disputed. However, it fails to take into account all the other factors. Junk food is often calorie dense and do not provide much in terms of satiety. Education on the various factors that play into health can play a huge role in encouraging consumers to make the better, healthier choice.

Source: http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/a66/news/national/article4631242.ece/ALTERNATES/w620/oma.jpg

While adding a graphic warning onto junk food may seem unappealing at first, it has worked for the tobacco industry before. The obesity problem that plagues us today is eerily similar to that of smoking almost half a century ago. However, junk food has not been villainized the way smoking has been, and it is still socially acceptable to be “big”. Consumers need to be educated on what they are putting into their bodies and the detrimental effects it can have down the road. Negative advertising and a “fat tax” on junk food will definitely shape the future for the better.

Source: http://healthdoctrine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/no-junk-food-vending.jpg

In response to:

https://blogs.ubc.ca/benedictachan/2012/10/23/buy-this-pizza-itll-turn-your-liver-black/

Ethics in marketing is an interesting topic. Companies have to find a way to convince consumers to buy their product, as nobody wants to buy run-off-the-mill products. Within legal bounds, these firms are able to mislead their customers, as claims of “natural” or “healthy” products are loosely regulated at best.

Source: http://www.myfriendinfood.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Maple-Leaf-Natural-Selection-Baked-Ham-438×218.jpg

Firms are allowed to market their products as “0 grams of trans fat” as long as they contain less than half a gram of trans fats per serving. Keeping in mind that many packages contain multiple servings, consumers are unwittingly consuming a lot more trans fats than they bargained for

It is almost tongue-in-cheek when a company dares to market pizza pockets as a healthy option. McCain Foods claims its new Pizza Pockets are made with “wholesome ingredients that contain no artificial colours or flavours”, conveniently leaving out the fact that one Pizza Pocket contains more fat than a Boston cream doughnut and more sodium than a large serving of French fries.

Source: http://i-store.walmart.ca/images/WMTCNPE/705/426/705426_Large_1.jpeg

Business is business, and one can’t blame these firms for taking advantage of the loose regulations on marketing claims. The very nature of the environment they compete in forces these firms to exploit every loophole they can find. It falls to the regulatory bodies like the FDA to enforce evidence-based claims.

Source: http://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/sites/nutritionaloutlook.com/files/imagecache/Image_Default/images/Biothera_0.jpg

Otherwise, companies can easily continue to mislead their customers into thinking that they are paying for value that is only a technicality. Of course, a packet of Praeventia cookies a day keeps the doctor away, right?

In response to the growing concern for personal well-being, new segments of health conscious consumers are popping up demanding greener, healthier products. Vega’s new SaviSeeds is an example of such a product. Recently as I was doing my grocery shopping, I came across a couple of these bags hanging at the end of the aisle. Its sleek packaging instantly caught my eye, and I had to stop to take a look.

Source: http://myvega.com/sites/myvega.com/files/shared/Saviseed-Grouping.jpg

The packaging included many keywords that health nuts love to hear: Omega-3s, antioxidants, protein, fiber, and – of course with Djokovic’s meteoric rise to the top of the tennis world after eliminating gluten from his diet – gluten-free. I did not end up buying the product, mostly because there were no free samples and impulse buys have never worked out for me. It did, however, peak my curiosity and lead me to their website where I learnt much more about SaviSeeds, Vega’s other products and the company as a whole.

Source: http://myvega.com/sites/myvega.com/files/u1/Bars-Family-Object.jpg

Vega offers added value to its products by making sure that its operations are as “green” as possible. As consumers become increasingly time-poor, Vega capitalizes on this by positioning themselves as healthy “on-the-go” meal replacements. The rising popularity of yoga and its accompanying lifestyle has also led consumers to become more health conscious.

As a student with a finite amount of time, especially around midterm season, I will definitely be picking up a packet for myself the next time I go to the grocery store.

Sources:

http://myvega.com/products/vega-saviseed/features-benefits

Tiger Woods was once described as “the world’s most bankable athlete”, a family man and role model. He was on top of his game, widely considered to be one of the greatest golfers to ever step onto the course. There was little doubt in anyone’s mind that he would break Jack Nicklaus’ record 18 major wins until disaster struck..

At the end of 2009, Tiger Woods found himself amidst one of the largest scandals in recent history. One by one, women with whom he had had affairs with were coming out to the media. On December 11th, Tiger announced that he would be taking an indefinite break from golf to save his marriage. In light of recent events, many of his sponsors began cutting their ties with him. Nike stood by Tiger despite the overwhelmingly negative press and fast-forward four months, they announced his comeback to the game with this ad:

The ad is simple, a thirty-second shot of Tiger Woods looking as “contrite as can be” and a posthumous voiceover from his father, Earl Woods. The commercial was viewed by over three and a half million people and wildly controversial, almost split 50/50 on YouTube’s “Likes/Dislikes” meter. Some viewers are appalled by the fact that Earl’s words were taken out of context and spliced together, others are struck by the simplicity of the ad.

I personally found the commercial to be brilliant for two reasons. First, Nike and Tiger acknowledged the fact that there were transgressions on Tiger’s part, but more critically showed his remorse and guilt as his father, “the only person on earth whose opinion ever seemed to matter to him”, chastises him. Second, the ad evokes sympathy for Tiger who not only lost his father, but also his “best friend” when Earl Woods passed away. It leads viewers to wonder if perhaps the loss of his father “fundamentally affected” him and led him astray.

Of course, a thirty-second clip cannot completely restore Tiger’s image, but it is a huge step in the right direction.

Sources:

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/tiger-woods-ad-ripped-audio-2004-documentary/story?id=10323878#.UGulPJiUM24

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/chronology-of-the-tiger-woods-scandal/article4313560/?page=all

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1231857/Tiger-Woods-crash-mystery-deepens-revelations-BOTH-passenger-windows-car-smashed-in.html

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1978986,00.html

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2010/04/whats-really-wrong-with-the-tiger-woods-nike-ad/38677/

Take a look around, how many logos do you see? The familiar swoosh of Nike, the ubiquitous “bitten” Apple, and the ever-changing Google doodles. Consumers are bombarded with thousands of logos everyday, and inevitably some are forgotten while others are remembered.

Is it a coincidence that the most popular fast-food chains use the most red in their logos?

This begs the question: Can a logo affect business? It is not a coincidence that many of the major fast-food chains (eg. McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King) are very generous with red in their logos. Red has been suggested to make consumers hungrier by raising their metabolism. However, a well thought-out product or service can still do well despite a dreadful logo. One such company is Amazon. It is a globally recognized, well-run company that provides a great service but yet still has one of the most uninspired logos of any major company out there. The arrow running from A to Z to form a smile feels so forced it is almost as if it was added on as an afterthought.

Can anyone see the smiley face?!

In contrast, one of my personal favourite logos belongs to FedEx. At first glance, it just looks like a clean, no frills logo but upon closer inspection one can see the shape of an arrow to signify speed and precision, both attributes FedEx would like to communicate to their consumers. The great allure of this sublime message is simply that – as its creator Mr. Lindon Leader puts it – it is a “hidden bonus” and not essential to the impact of the logo.

Can you see the arrow between the E and the X?

Many years have gone by since I learnt of the arrow but I am still eager to share it with anyone who will listen and that, I’m sure, can do nothing but help business.

In response to:

http://themarketingspot.com/2007/10/importance-of-logo-branding.html

Sources:

http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/000273.php

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Hidden-Secret-on-Logo-Colors,-and-How-They-Affect-Your-Customers&id=124569

http://www.toxel.com/design/2010/06/09/24-cool-logos-with-hidden-symbols/

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