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Simply Zesty, a social media agency, not only assists companies in creating extraordinary marketing campaigns, but it is also the platform for one of internet’s most interesting social media and advertising blogs. Its blog can split into 8 categories in which readers can get a much more detailed look into the posts about social media, Facebook, Google, Technology, etc. Filled with photos and videos, the blog is never dull and text filled, but remains informative and engaging.

For businesses, Simply Zesty is not only an agency, but its blogs allow companies to read about the latest “Do’s and Don’ts” of advertising, and acts as a guide/advice page for businesses who want to learn more about the world of marketing and social media. For regular readers like myself, it is an entertaining blog to read and understand what companies are trying to achieve with its marketing strategies, and enlightens us companies’ successes/failures.

Simply Zesty is, quite frankly, one of my favorite reads on the internet. It’s creativity and entertaining blogs are just the perfect place for readers to benefit, learn and understand the world of marketing and social media.

Watch Simply Zesty’s video here.

After the comm 101 lecture on company and people cultures, the idea captured my attention, and I decided to research the topic in further depth. It turns out that Whole Foods, Google, Southwest Airlines, Facebook, KAYAK, and countless other companies have been implementing such a culture as well.

Ample amounts of advertising, discussion and debate has occurred since Zappos and others began administered such a system in the workplace, and has proven to be successful in the retention of employees; similarly, the effort and drive of employees have immensely increased due to the decision. Employees working in such companies have expressed their gratitude for such an environment, and consumers alike have benefited from these changes.

If this method has proven to be successful and advantageous to companies, why haven’t more businesses began to execute similar changes in its working environment? Clearly, the extent of such cultures can’t always be obtained, as banks cannot simply have shake weight contests in the middle of the working day, but small changes in the direction of company culture can still be developed, no?

Motivation and inspiration lead to an uproar of courage; at least, that’s what We Day is hoping to achieve. With many conferences and events occurring in Vancouver, what makes We Day so special?

Upon reading Andrea Banzon‘s Blog on the topic of We Day, it is evident that We Day creates a lasting impact on young people, especially potential social entrepreneurs. Nowadays, youth are eager to make a difference, and change lives, but are unable to, either due to the lack of motivation, innovation, or determination. With conferences such as We Day, it triggers the spark in individuals to be courageous and push through boundaries, and achieve what he or she is capable of.

As Social Entrepreneurship become more and more popular in the business world, We Day presenters such as Marc and Craig Kielburger and Al Gore push the concepts of giving back to the community and starting organizations that aid others, potential entrepreneurs in the audience are captured by the inspiration. Conferences such as We Day are the perfect motivators to spark the fire within youth, to commence organizations and businesses that ultimately create a lasting legacy on the world and beyond. It may not motivate everyone in the audience, but if it can motivate even one individual to make a change, I believe they’ve been successful. After all, it only takes one, to change the world.

 

Social media – the new platform for social branding.

On November 6th after the election outcomes, Barack Obama tweeted out 3 words – four more years, alongside a photo, and since then, it has become one of the most retweeted tweets in history, almost retweeted 900,000 times and favorites 300,000 times (original tweet). However, As Facebook, Twitter, youtube and such social media sites become the norms of society, social branding has emerged as one of the most advantageous marketing concepts of the new generation. It allows companies to  network and engage with customers on a must “closer” and more accessible scale.

Much like a company, Obama and his team has successfully taken advantage of social branding; by using its powerful platform, Obama  has channeled the emotions and opinions of its readers and fans through a meaningful message, and a capturing photo. It allows supporters to acquire an “insider’s” view of the situation, allowing them to comment, retweet and share this private moment to others. , Using only 3 words, Obama and his team have successfully marketed his character and personality to the entire nation, and beyond.

How does one start a business? Where does funding come from? Do all business owners start off with huge amounts of loans and debts or do they all begin with a wad of cash in their pockets? How is it maintained? As new business students, everyone ponders about simple questions like such, and are confused about the processes of starting a business.

During a comm 101: “Entrepreneurship” lecture, the CEO of Energy Aware and Sauder graduate, Janice Cheam, answered these questions in an interactive presentation of her experience. As she explained her humbling story, it occurred to me that she, several years ago, was no different that all of us in her audience. So what makes her unique? After her presentation, I went home and thought about everything she said, and realized, the difference may simply be determination and courage. As Sauder students, it is evident that we all acquire the potential to be amazing business women/men, and are all intelligent individuals. It is not the skill sets or the intelligence of each individual that sets us apart, but our level of willingness to push through obstacles and desire to think outside the box. Through her experience, I’ve truly began to understand the concept of entrepreneurship, and the purpose of my study at the Sauder School of Business.

In an iconic moment where millions sat in front of their computers and watched, live, the jump of the century, Red Bull had planted subconscious seeds of its company into the brains of their audience. Printing a sponsor’s company logo on an athlete/celebrity’s uniform isn’t a new concept, but Red Bull took it to an entire new world, literally. As Felix Baumgartner sky dives from space, millions watched in amazement, and as well, saw Red Bull’s name and logo at every angle.

The success of Red Bull’s ingenious marketing strategy is evident, as this iconic jump has become one of the most discussed topics of the year, and every time this topic is brought up and discussed, Red Bull’s association to this event will forever be imprinted into the minds of millions. Red Bull’s original slogan: “Red Bull Gives You Wings” has caused endless controversy of it being considered “false advertising”, but this jump has rescued the brand and given it a new light. In essence,  Red Bull might have spent millions of dollars on an event as such, but in my opinion, this was definitely a worthwhile investment.

 

The entire story can be viewed here.

Then:

Now:

From typewriters to the iphone 5, much has changed over the years. But, although technological advances have drastically improved, our nation’s narrow-minded views on society haven’t changed much. In fact, it is evident through these advertisements that women still continue to be the focus of sexist advertisements, and businesses continue to market towards the “weak”. Yes, back in the 1950s, those advertisements were more explicit sexist messages, but even now, the subliminal messages continue to leak through each advertisement.  Women, from being “the ones behind the kitchen” and “the ones who do all the chores” have now evolved to become “the ones who need to lose weight” and “the sexual appeal”.

So why is advertising towards children such a controversy, leading to the prohibition of ads directed towards women, but it is considered okay for a company to produce sexists ads that target insecure women? If society discusses greatly of equality, attempting to achieve gender  equivalence in recent decades, why are these advertisements still being made? Are businesses running out of original ideas, and better targets to focus on, that sexism is being resorted to?

View original articles on this topic here and here.

With the new release of Apple’s new iOS6 software update, it has become the new dinner table topic of this week. As with every apple release, debate has become to rise over the pros and cons of the newest product. This time, controversy revolves around Apple’s new navigation system that has replaced the old Google Maps. As well, they have removed Google’s built-in Youtube app, which has now become a stand-alone app.

The reason behind this motion is unclear, but the overall consensus is that Apple has become “the old Microsoft”, where their profits and interests come before their customers’. Slowly, Apple is beginning to monopolize this niche and its market, in an attempt to erase and counteract all of the company’s potential competition.

From researching the potential selfishness of this company, as well as reading Matthew Kan’s blog post about Apple exploiting child labour, their business ethics/values are highly questionable. But will knowing of their unethical behaviour prevent consumers from purchasing their products? What makes Apple so successful to the point where people would choose to turn a blind eye, and purchase merely for the idea of owning an Apple product?

In classmate Tanner Kirkpatricks’s blog post, he speaks of Nestle’s “usage of children as laborers in the production of their cocoa,” where “over 600,000 children are working on cocoa farms for little or no pay in excruciating working conditions.” Child labour has been a problem constantly discussed worldwide, and many large organizations, such as Free the Children, have devoted their entirety in attempting to solve the problem, and spread awareness. It is disappointing, yet unfortunately not a surprise, that large corporations simliar to Nestle have exploited child labour in an attempt to optimize their profits margins. After reading the post, as well as articles on Nestle’s lack of business ethics, I, too, disagree with their corrupt practices.

In our Comm101 class, business ethics was a fundamental lesson taught from the beginning, and was stressed of high importance. It was emphasized that the correct business ethics be imbedded into our minds, so we wouldn’t be lured into following unethical ways by countless temptations in our future endeavours.

So how come a group of young students sitting in a lecture can understand the importance of being ethical, but large corporations cannot? Are the temptations of moneymaking truly that enticing?

THE FACTS:

Everyday, the McDonald’s franchise continues to expand worldwide; recently, the company has proposed the opening of two new franchises in Amritsar and Katra, two of India’s most religious locations. Hindu nationalist group furiously protests that these expansion are an insult to their race/culture, referring to McDonald’s as “an organization associated with cow slaughter,” and still deciding to locate in the land of the sacred cow.

Although both McDonald’s restaurants proposes to have vegetarian menus out of respect for the religious nature of such locations, people firmly protest it as a deliberate insult to their culture.

— View full articles here and here —

THE THOUGHTS:

From a business standpoint, this proposal is a great investment, and could potentially be quite profitable. However, is it necessary to expand the franchise in locations that would potential infuriate a large population? McDonald’s has plenty of other potentially successful business opportunities, so why cause controversy and bad press? Is McDonald’s simply too powerful to even bother with the “minute” problems of these franchises? Although making these restaurants “vegetarian” is commendable, in my opinion, ethics come before money-making, and I believe that religion is a sacred part of life that nobody should tamper with.