Reflect: Bye Comm 296
What did you learn about teams, yourself, and marketing?
Whenever I heard the word, “Marketing”, I had a reaction with rejection, saying no way. I do not know the exact reason, but I hated Marketing. When my friends asked about which specialization I will choose in third year, I would say, I am not sure, but definitely not marketing. I always thought myself as NOT creative and think Marketing = Creativity. It was just my stereo type or misconception about marketing. Comm 296 has changed the way I see marketing and I am glad that I have actually learned and changed. As I learn about intro of marketing, I realize that marketing is much more complex than I thought. There are a lot to know about marketing such as different terminologies and concepts. It is just not about being creative. It approaches to me with more interesting and interactive manner. Although this class is just a beginning of knowing marketing, it is a good opportunity for me to think about what I really want to do. It is still awkward for me to deal with marketing as if I meet a new person, but I think I am only one step closer to marketing and I hope in the future, I would be more closer and comfortable with marketing like the way I do to my best friends.
This was the first time I felt the group work was actually working and succeeded in a way that everyone had contributed with harmony and had enjoyed the group projects. Still we had some tough times when we got a not so great mark on the second assignment and when we were producing the video project, but it seemed like we as a group figured out how we should overcome these situations and how we should solve them. Everyone was friendly and I actually enjoyed the group work and felt that I was working on a project with my best friends. It was that comfortable and this was a great opportunity for me to know the awesome friends. Great memory Team! And hope we will work on assignment together in the future with the same member!! 🙂
http://www.hub81.com/bye-bye-marketing/
blogs.ubc.ca/comm296
Reflect on External Blog: Creative Advertising?!
37signals.com
Since we have discussed about creative outdoor advertising in class, I have become fascinated by creative advertising. I have been searching for creative advertising and have been amazed by these innovative ideas. It is just a revolution in advertising! I am so astonished that how people come up with awesome ideas that no one has thought about it. I have visited many different internet sites to look for different advertising and there are enormous amount of creative ideas. None of them are things that I have never imagined. Megan Marrs, the blogger, posts 7 Examples of Awesomely Creative Advertising: Using Your Environment. She talks about how unique method of advertisement stands out to customers. For example, McDonald’s Seed Bombing ad was made by the state’s official flower, which is illegal to destroy. McDonald’s has actually considered future incidents, so they have made the ad with the official flower that people cannot mess their ad up. Smart!
http://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2012/02/08/seven-innovative-ads
The other ad that Megan talks about is FedEx’s truck. FedEx uses their truck as their advertising tool. When you think about FedEx, their brand image is FAST and the truck is white. FedEx has used this trick to show that they are faster than other courier delivery service company. The truck ad definitely emphasizes their brand image and also at the same time attracts people’s attention, and reminds consumers FedEx is ALWAYS FIRST.
http://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2012/02/08/seven-innovative-ads
Megan starts up with Pawngo ad in Boston downtown and comments that although she has not heard about the company before, now she knows their company name and becomes aware of the company. Creative outdoor advertising is a good advertising method when companies try to attract consumer’s attention and make consumers be aware of products that they are advertising. Even not-well-known company can be benefited from creative advertising because this can be a great opportunity to let consumers know about their company and products.
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/70-creative-advertisements-that-makes-you-look-twice/
reubenmiller.typepad.com
37signals.com
YouTube: Domino’s GreenGraffiti
Want to see more creative advertising? Visit http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/70-creative-advertisements-that-makes-you-look-twice/ for more advertisement.
Reflect on Christine Chung’s Blog: New Born of BlackBerry
BlackBerry, used to be Research In Motion (RIM), is back to the Smartphone market with their new BlackBerry 10 Operating System. New launch of the BlackBerry Z10 has reminded consumers that BlackBerry has not done yet, but has confirmed their power in the Smartphone market. BlackBerry has launched its first full touch screen Smartphone, the Z10 and it has been successful in repositioning themselves in the Smartphone market.
http://ca.blackberry.com/
BlackBerry, which holds a great market power amongst corporate consumers, now opens up their target market to non-enterprise consumers. This is proven through BlackBerry’s recent promotion. As Christine mentioned on her blog, BlackBerry put up a new Z10 advertising in Superbowl. The ad explores a message that what BlackBerry 10 CAN’T do. BlackBerry has attracted many consumers by rising curiosity in BlackBerry’s new phone. I agree what Christine said about that the Superbowl ad should have explained some key features of new Z10 so that consumers are aware of what new Z10 will benefit people against other Smartphone such as iPhone 5. However, I believe this Superbowl ad to be successful and innovative. The Superbowl ad was good in a sense that people have become aware of new launch of the BB10 and it has attracted people’s interest and attention to BlackBerry. After the Superbowl, people and even media were talking about the Superbowl ad. The short 30-second ad was effective enough to bring attention to BlackBerry. Even people who were not at Superbowl hear about this ad and watch the ad on YouTube because the current issue was all about BlackBerry’s Superbowl advertisement.
The BlackBerry 10 Operating System is the last hope for BlackBerry to regain its position in the market and I am so excited about the upcoming Q10, which has the same feature as Z10, but has a physical keyboard, the BlackBerry’s trademark.
For more information about the BB10, visit http://ca.blackberry.com/
OVERPACKAGING???
Overpackaging is a controversial issue over a long period of time. I bet many people have raised a question regarding this issue. Packaging is one of marketing strategies that how company portrays its products to consumers. It also encloses or protects products from external environment such as when transporting and when storing. A question that I want to ask is that to what extend should consumer accept packaging as of protection? Not only purpose of protecting its product, but packaging is used to make products as fancy and big as possible, so consumers are attracted and think that it is worth to pay this amount for this product. Consumers like me are fooled by packaging, assuming that the contents inside would be as big or as much as it appears, but the fact is that we are buying a package and contents come along with it. Consumers buy contents inside the package, but overpackaging makes consumers to think that they are paying for a big box (package) and inside object is extra bonus for buying the package.
http://www.overpackaging.com/Pictures.htm
http://tttk4.tistory.com/54?srchid=BR1http://tttk4.tistory.com/54
The big concern for overpackaging is an environmental issue. Companies or manufactures love to dress their products with unnecessary fancy package, which sometimes does not relate to its product at all. Millions and millions of items that are wastefully wrapped, and scores of large, almost-empty boxes that consume valuable shipping space, all translate into an enormous waste of materials and energy. And it’s not just about litter and landfills; it’s also about deforestation, air quality, and global warming. If companies think about their social responsibilities and concerns about environmental issues, they should redesign their package and change its packaging methods. It will save company’s money and the Earth! If the actual content is good, people will buy it whether it appears to be bigger and fancier or smaller and normal.
http://www.overpackaging.com/Pictures.htm
For more overpackaging picture, visit http://www.overpackaging.com/Pictures.htm
Starbucks’ Approach to the New Breakfast Menu
http://www.starbucks.ca/promo/breakfast-sandwiches
I read Metro newspaper everyday in the morning on the way to school. Recently, one advertisement on the newspaper has drawn my attention, which is Starbucks’ breakfast special offer advertisement. I am a big fan of Starbucks coffee and when I first saw the image of Starbucks’ breakfast sandwich, I triggered my taste bud and thought that I should definitely try the new sandwich from Starbucks. Starbucks offers a hot breakfast only for $2 when purchase any beverage between February 4 to 10, 2013. This advertisement targets people like me who does not have a time to cook in the morning and people who go to Starbucks in the morning to grab some coffee. Starting last week, I saw this advertisement every single morning and I felt like I must try this Starbucks breakfast. At first, I was like maybe, but as I kept see this advertisement everywhere, my mind was crammed with this special offer, so every morning or even whenever I see Starbucks, it reminded me of that advertisement. It was just a simple small advertisement in the newspaper and unconsciously it kept reminded me of the offer. On my way to school this morning, I finally went to Starbucks and ordered a caramel macchiato with the breakfast for $2. I think this was a true marketing. Starbucks’ marketing of this promotion was successful if they intended this result. The breakfast deal will definitely lead the targeted customers to the store and whether people like the new menu or not, the first step is still successful because it lets people to try it and if people like it, they will buy it later even if it is not on the promotion anymore.
For more information, visit, http://www.starbucks.ca/promo/breakfast-sandwiches
I was looking for an article and found an advertisement from The Vancouver Sun Website.
http://www.vancouversun.com/index.html
Is It Ethical for Organizations Use Sexism in Advertising?
http://seeker401.wordpress.com/
Organizations have been realized the notion to sexism in society, but why do they keep using sexism as their key tools for advertising? Media has shaped the images and roles of typical women. It has guided women to behave in a way that it is portrayed on advertisement. In 20th century, media first aired commercials on television. Since then, media has taken charge of portraying the roles of gender and reflecting typical characteristic of women. There are shifts in trends of women’s roles and characteristics in commercials from 20th century to 21st century. However, the problem of emphasizing sexuality of women is still remained these days. Organizations have used sexuality concepts as their marketing tool to advertise and sell their products. Women are portrayed as mere sexually traceable objects. Presence of women’s image has no connection or relation to product itself, but it is used to attract people’s attention.
Media takes the greatest portion of people’s lives and it is influential, but crucial way that can alter the society’s norms and values. Since people are exposed to media everyday 24 hours in everywhere, it affects our thoughts, perspectives, and our ways of life. Many commercials portray the images of skinny, thin women as the standard of beauty. It brings up another societal problem of stereotype. Many people tend to judge individuals based on the standard of beauty that media set and discriminate them based on their appearances. Since everyone is subject to those advertisements, organizations should consider and be responsible for what they present to audiences.
http://www.smosh.com/smosh-pit/photos/22-sexist-modern-ads
The link below is a YouTube video that compares the sexism in 20th century and nowadays. This is quite interesting video that explains the improvements on women’s roles in old days and today while explicitly keep using sexuality of women as organization’s marketing communications.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=klgeo37QES0&NR=1
http://www.smosh.com/smosh-pit/photos/22-sexist-modern-ads
http://pinterest.com/ivysays/sexist-ads/