In Response to Jason Rury's Post

Will scanning bar codes and taking pictures out of magazines be a new fad/trend practiced by consumers?


I believe that it will become somewhat of a hit with people that have the technology and money to do it. I don't see if becoming a huge trend because there are so many people around the globe with regular cell phones, and not smart phones. If they come up with a different way so that all phones can do it, or start to make cheaper smart phones and not charge an extra $30 a month, then I could see it getting big. But with our rapid advancement in technology, we really never know whats next. If you were or currently are a smart phone owner, could you see yourself actually taking part of this new tech fad and get your coupons and advertisements through your phone?

Questions from Readings

1)What are some of the benefits of direct mail compared to electronic means of marketing?
2)Bar codes seem so promising, but what are some of the possible concerns with their use?
3)Do you think e-marketing techniques will replace traditional forms of marketing?
4)Besides the types of business and examples that are mentioned in the article, what are some other companies who would benefit from direct mail efforts? How would they benefit?


When comparing direct mail to electronic mail, it is easy to see the negatives and positives. I think the most beneficial thing about direct mail is that it gives the consumer a personal connection with your company. Also I believe people delete emails within seconds by just reading the subject line. If they actually get something in the mail that’s tangible, more often than not they will at least look at it. Although direct mail is more time consuming and costly, it could be worth it in the end. When reading the article about bar code advertising, I was very intrigued because I haven’t heard of such a thing. I believe that a huge concern is that not everyone has the phone capabilities to access these advertisements. And I am skeptical that for the ones that do have correct phones, how many will take the time to download the software and actually use it when reading a magazine. It is neat to think that they are trying to combine magazines advertisements with the internets. To think that one day e-marketing will take over the more traditional forms of marketing just shows you how much we have advanced with technology. I believe that one day it could become the only form of marketing because of the technology we have, but I don’t believe that will happen anytime soon. Everyone is so used to the traditional ways, that it would be hard to totally eliminate all of them, as some companies are so called “old school” and won’t ever switch to e-marketing. I believe companies such as fast food chains, supermarkets, and small business would benefit from direct mail. Everyone enjoys coupons along with an advertisement, and these typed of companies have been doing this for years. People are more likely to just clip coupons out while reading the paper or magazine, rather than log onto the internet to print out coupons. It would greatly benefit them because although it might cost a bit more then e-marketing, the proof is in the pudding that traditional ways of marketing really are worth the cost. Do you often get emails for sales or discounts, and actually act on them and use them? Out of all the ways to market a product, which way do you think makes the most sense?

In Response to Liz's Post

Do you think that by Nike continuing to sponsor Tiger Woods they are making a statement that they approve of what he did?


I don't believe just because Nike is continuing its sponsorship with Tiger that they approve his actions. I believe that they are in it for the business aspect and are willing to give Tiger a second chance, to return to the role model he once was. It will take a lot of time for some people to get over what he did, but in reality its none of anyone's business besides Tiger and his wife Elin. Nike knows what he is capable of when he returns, and they don't want to look him. They are paying him 18 million a year to endorse their products, and it is by far worth every penny. Even though he isn't even playing golf right now, Nike is still making money off his clothing, although sales could currently be down. What do you think Tiger should do in the upcoming months? During his live apology Friday morning, he never gave a straight answer to when he would return to golf. Do you believe it is in Tiger's best interest to come back to golf asap? Perhaps for the Masters?

E-Marketing: Pricing Online

When reviewing several web sites for our HW, I came across several product catalogs that were available to view right there on their site. But when I came to the Sherwin Williams product browser all it had was the products name. It didn't really give a good description of the item, nor did it have a price. I was surprised, but then got to thinking that maybe they did this as a way to get customers to come into the store. Because most likely if you can't find it online, you will be able to take the trip to the store to find out, which Sherwin Williams believes will increase sales. I tend to think that if they added pricing and even an option to order on their site, then go to the store to pick it up, would also be a valuable option. What do you think of ordering products over the internet? Do you expect to see prices online when looking through a product catalog?

Best Superbowl Commercial

This past Sunday was a big day for some companies that could afford it. Superbowl commercial ads are the most expensive television ads, but it is because it will be viewed by so many people. Year after year their are always ads that stick out, and that you will remember for a long time. I believe that this is because of the great marketing team that that company has. Most of the commercials that make the cut, are only 30 to 60 seconds long, but if put together well, millions of people will remember your product. This past year had a good turn out, although the country is still in a recession. The Superbowl this year brought in an average of 106.5 million viewers. This is the quickest and most expensive way to get your product out there. I thought this year the two company's that stood out were Doritos and Bud Light. Although it might be because they had more than just one commercial, but the ads themselves were quite funny and were attention grabbers. If you were the CEO of a company that had the money to get an ad spot for the Superbowl, would you do it? And also, what was your favorite commercial this year.

Is Environmentalism a Threat or Opportunity?

I believe that it is a huge opportunity for most all businesses. You can see many companies nowadays trying to be more "green" with mostly everything they do. From their actual products, their buildings, and even their company vehicles. If your company is seen as a being environment friendly, I believe their is a great opportunity because your company will get more "buzz" in the media. I had the chance to visit a company in Vermont that was the prime example of going "green" and they have gotten so much publicity, that they even do tours of their building. The company is called NRG Systems and is located in Hinesburg, VT. They are manufactures of wind turbines and their entire facility is environmentally friendly, and they get tons of publicity.It is a great site to see if you ever are in the area, but they are the prime example of a business seeing environmentalism as an opportunity. You can visit their site at .

What things do you think a company could do to seize the opportunity of environmentalism?

In Response to Elizabeth VanWyck's Post

Do you think if you do not promote yourself well that an employer would hire you based on qualifications alone?


I believe that you have to look the part for the job you are applying for. I believe you should dress appropriately, to show the person who is interviewing that you are serious and really interested in working there. You have to impress them, so that you can stick out when they are reviewing all the candidates. But in turn I believe some jobs are so specialized that in some cases as long as you have the qualifications,you most likely have a job no matter how bad you promoted yourself. Whats the best way to promote yourself, so that you will stand out to employers?