In response to Shane’s blog: NCAA Advertising

Do you think these cheesy advertisements are needed or is it a spot where maybe the schools can save a bit of money to invest in new and more exciting promotions?

I do not believe these schools need to show those advertisements but they could definitely make better commercials showing what they can offer student athletes or other students.  Those commercials only really point out the smiling people who have all the friends and the great programs.  They could show instead of the big classes and how the NCAA athletes are in those classes as well.  That would show the NCAA name and increase the popularity of student athletes.  

In response to Tim’s post: Google Online Marketing Strategy!

Do you think this marketing challenge is also a marketing strategy?  Do you believe that you would benefit from participating in this challenge?

I do believe that this marketing challenge is also a marketing strategy.  By reaching out to students they are putting their name out there and they are also helping companies either get started or continue to grow.  I believe this is a great thing this company is doing because it helps our economy as well as give students real world experience.  I do believe that in participating in this challenge would benefit me greatly.  We are currently creating a marketing plan for Monadnock Buy Local and with what we create we could send that and might win the challenge.  Because everything they are doing with other companies is exactly what we are starting with ours.  It would give people real world experience and the feeling of gratitude due to the fact that you are helping a company in need.  Also along with helping company, students get prizes and the ability to experience and create online marketing campaigns using Google AdWords and Google+. 

Would you join this challenge? 

The different ways companies create commercials?

There are several techniques which I have found which companies use to sell their products on the TV through their commercials.  These techniques are I have grouped into different kinds.  There are commercials using celebrities, some have a “Mascot”, some have real people with real results, and then there are commercials which use dance songs or annoying animals to make the viewer remember about their company.  I was wondering why companies have to show effects of their products which will never happen or they say you will be the most popular person if u use Ake Gel.  I was wondering which of these techniques works the best.  There is Proactive which uses celebrities but also shows the actual effects, then there is Geiko which has a mascot in their tiny gecko and they have ridiculous commercials with an annoying pig so people remember that annoying animal and they think of them.

Do you think making an annoying commercial which people might remember is the best way to sell your product?

The TV is full of commercials now, more than the actual shows, what do you think will happen with commercials in the future. Will they change to show the true effects of their product or will they keep up with this ridiculous ploy of a huge spectacle instead of showing the actual results?   

In response to Tyler’s blog; Do you think commercials will continue to rely on gimmicks to push their products because the products are not good enough on their own or do you think they have good products and use their gimmick to stick the idea in peoples head?

I do believe commercials are going down the tubes.  I believe the marketing advisors for these products could try to think a little more to come up with informative commercials not just commercials showing gimmicks or false truths to sell their products.  I believe that these companies have gone the easy route, and just have tried to amuse their audience instead of educate them.  I am almost positive that these types of commercials will continue and will most likely envelop the whole commercial industry.  I believe commercials have gotten so bad that I can’t even watch them anymore.

What is your answer to this question, will commercials change or are they going to be just focused on trying to be the next big thing to watch?

Do you think it is reasonable to pay thousands of dollars to get add space during the super bowl?

“Companies paid an average of $3.5 million for a 30-second spot for the right to duke it out Sunday in front of the expected 111 million-plus fans.” (http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2011/story/_/id/7544243/super-bowl-2012-commercials-cost-average-35m)

What actually is happening at Apple Factories?

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/02/apple-targeted-in-dc-rally-over-ethical-manufacturing/

After hearing about the horrible conditions at the Apple Factory in China Mark Shields, a consultant from Washington D.C., launched a petition and started rallying for change.  New information has come out about the poor working conditions, unethical manufacturing practices, immense pressure to meet quotas, and many disputes over unfair wages.  These factories are run by Foxconn, one of Apple’s biggest suppliers.  In addition to these offences workers have tried to attempt suicides due the terrible working conditions.  Once I heard these facts I was horrified.  Apple is going down the same road Nike went down a few years ago.  They were also treating their workers unfairly and it almost bankrupted Nike.  I believe these large corporations should find a new way to make their products which do not include the mistreatment of third world nations.  I think that these large corporations could come up with new strategies to market their products.  They might have to raise their prices but they then could state that they do not use any sweat shops and no body were harmed in the manufacturing of their products.

What do you think about this debate?

Of course after this statement and rally’s took place the Nike Corporation came out and denied these allegations, but the American people know that to make the big money; these large companies have gone overseas to find workers which will work for a lot less than Americans.  Also in these third world countries there laws about working are relaxed.  Children and whole families are working for these companies with endless hours.  They try to gain some respect and rights but when people stand up against the power; they are just fired and replaced.

How do you think these large companies like Nike, Apple, and Disney could change their manufacturing and marketing strategies, so they did not have to go overseas to find workers?

In Response to Chris's blog: Pepsi May Increase Advertisement Budget

http://adage.com/article/news/pepsi-pours-fortune-marketing-drinks-indulgent-snacks/232405/

I have just read an article that agrees with what you have found.  Pepsi is trying to catch up with coke.  They are focusing more on long-term brand loyalty and less on short-term solutions.  In a recent article, I read, in the next one to two weeks “Pepsi will outline its plans for increased marketing investment, particularly in beverages, answering critics who charge it’s an area neglected for too long.” They are stating that this new plan of marketing will cost Pepsi up to $400 to $500 million.  Pepsi have tried to go into the health food market, but since they change their focus from their cash cows of Pepsi and Mountain Dew, they are still falling behind Coke.  Lots of investments will be evident soon and will focus on mostly North American beverages.  This article states that along with these large marking moves Pepsi will create significant cost-cutting to fund the investment, through mostly layoffs.

Do you like Pepsi or Coke better?

I like Pepsi better but if they have to lay off people to become more competitive with Coke I do not believe that is the way they should go about it.  I would try to gain an advantage in another market instead of trying to force the competition over and over.

Do you think Pepsi should be spending more on advertising to catch up with coke?

I believe that Pepsi will do anything that can to be competitive with Coke.  The age old question of Coke or Pepsi has been going on for a long time and until they start attacking each other there will still be a conflict.  I have seen the new Pepsi commercial with the Polar Bears and it is the start I believe of Pepsi attacking Coke to gain the upper hand.

What market do you think The Pepsi Company should go into?

Do you think they will more violently attack each other’s products in their commercials?

Should Pepsi get a mascot like The Coke Polar bears?

Creating an Economy That’s 'Built to Last'

http://www.businessweek.com/innovation/creating-an-economy-thats-built-to-last-01262012.html

In a recent article Obama stated that he wants America to get back to the business of making things. “This means developing skilled workers at home while taking a global view.  President Obama is right: America’s long-term success hinges on its ability to invent technology the world wants. It seems simple, but getting America back in the business of making things isn’t. It’s a global process.”  This idea is an attempt to stimulate our economy and increase the capable workforce. 

Since our manufacturing is far beyond the assembly line, we are now able to research, test, and experiment with new ideas and technology.  This creates more jobs which are focused on Research and Development.  As an example of this, “ the National Science Foundation (NSF) reports that more companies are taking research and development—and 85 percent of the new jobs it creates—overseas. “  After they push their Research and development teams overseas some companies are considering moving parts of their manufacturing operations back to the U.S.  This article states that we need to get more engineers and scientist in our country. 

China one of our competitors is gaining on us due to the fact it graduates much more engineers and scientist than us.  It is a fact that less than 4 percent of the degrees in the US are engineering while over 56 percent of the degrees in Asia are focused in the sciences, like engineering and biology.  This article also states that Obama feels that we should send some of our people over to Asia to learn from their schools.  This would create more trained brilliant minds.  After these people gain the knowledge overseas he feels that they will come back and create new jobs and start new businesses.

Do you agree with this statement?  That since most of our college graduates is not engineers and scientist that more people should be given the opportunity to go overseas to Asia because their engineering programs and schools are well beyond our own. Or do you have a better way of creating more jobs and new businesses in order to stimulate the economy to get our country out of the recession?