Advertising What Really Matters

How is McDonald’s staying on top?  By advertising that they accept the lifestyle of their customers.  What better way to accommodate customers than to provide them with free internet?  Also, what better way to attract attention to themselves than to advertise this?  Consumers everywhere have become so attached to their technology that free Wi-fi at public places is essential in deciding where they splurge.  Why would someone eat at a fast-food restaurant that does not have free Wi-fi over a fast food restaurant that does provide free Wi-fi?  Much of fast food chains’ customers during their busy lunch hours are business workers who are looking to grab something fast and tasty during their lunch hour.  Advertising that McDonald’s provides free Wi-fi is great because these business professionals will be more inclined to eat there because they can eat quick and also squeeze in some work on their laptops. 

I love everything about this advertisement!  Making the burger box a laptop is very clever and advertises two things at once.  McDonalds is advertising for their free Wi-fi while still managing to advertise for their food.  Genius!

McDonald’s has already built such a strong brand on their very tasty food that it is ingenious that they start advertising services they offer to maintain and reach out to a larger target.  Customers can also, now, better identify with McDonald’s because McDonald’s supports their lifestyle.  They get the fast paced world they are positioned in and are embracing the ways technology can bring in customers.  Technology is the key for business today.  They need to embrace what their target customers are accustomed to and accommodate them accordingly. 

Interact With Advertisements!

             Microsoft is trying to stay on their toes with their new advertising idea for XBOX Kinect.  Microsoft has come up with “NUads” that will allow Kinect users to interact with advertisements!  Their interactions use voice activation so users can tell the console to tweet or send reminders to their phones for a T.V. show or maps.  Microsoft is hopeful that these new advertisements and capabilities will allow game users to fully interact with the advertisements instead of texting during them.  Please feel free to read the attached article for further information.

            This is absolutely amazing!  I am not familiar with XBOX Kinect or the regular advertisements that run during games, but this sounds amazing.  The idea that people can interact with advertisements instead of normally watching them on T.V. is great.  This is will better engage consumers and allow companies to further reach their targets.  Imagine the possibilities!

            Although this idea sounds great, who knows if it will work.  To start with, these advertisements are limited to XBOX Kinect users.  Then, it is unpredictable if these interactions will actually take place.  How many people are going to tweet about an advertisement that they see during their video game?  Keeping in mind that these will be teens who are focused on their games.  Microsoft is really excited because with traditional television advertisements viewers usually text during them or are on their laptops, and they think this new potential for interaction will deter them from that behavior.  Do you think this will really be true?  Just because there is potential for interaction does not mean that this interaction will actually take place.  I suspect that users will still text during advertisements simply because people usually do not want to be bothered with advertisements.  If this new system in fact does make users more engaged with advertisements, then that is simply amazing and probably the best invention!  It might give Microsoft the push they need to keep up with their competitors.  I know from personal experience that I find advertisements that run during my television shows to be a bother, so a way to make them engaging and fun would be great.  I guess we will have to wait and see if this idea makes it off the drawing board and can make an impact.  I suspect it will be cool when it first comes out, but it will lose its luster and users will not interact as imagined.

XBOX Advertisements

Loyalty Can Come Free!

An interesting promotion happened at Chick-fil-A for its first opening in Chicago this week.  The first one hundred people in line were given 52 certificates for free meals at Chick-fil-A.  That’s free food for one year!  This promotion is awesome for a few reasons.  First, it brought the attention needed from Chicagoans to Chick-fil-A.  Chick-fil-A is a fast food restaurant that started in the South and has been expanding all over the nation.  This is the first location in Chicago, so most Chicago residents may not have even heard of it before.  It was crucial that the marketers and advertisers think of something big to draw in a lot of attention to get Chicago residents introduced to the chain.  Giving away free meals is certainly the way to do it!  Especially while the economy is still down and people are still hurting financially.  Second, this promotion is a great way to acquire loyal customers.  If people have certificates for free meals for one year, they are definitely going to be eating those free meals for one year without wasting them!  If people eat somewhere for one year, chances are they will continue eating there even after their free meal certificates have run out, given that they like the products at reasonable prices.  They will probably even give up or cut back on the other fast food chains they enjoy.  As easily as that Chick-fil-A has just acquired one hundred loyal customers!  Even though one hundred loyal customers is probably not enough to keep a franchise up and running, it is still a good start that is needed when a restaurant is completely new in a location.  Promotions featuring free items resonate really well with customers, especially in today’s economy.  Chick-fil-A’s team seems to be doing a great job.  If they wanted to win over Chicago, free meals are definitely the way to go!      

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/show-me-chicago/2011/06/chick-fil-a-chicago-offering-free-chicken-for-the-year-to-100-lucky-people.html

Controversy Works!

While browsing on the internet, I came across a very interesting advertisement that really caught my eye.  The advertisement was for Avitae Caffeinated Water, which sells exactly what they sound like…caffeinated water!  Avitae is an Ohio based company.  The advertisement features Lebron James  and says, “Lebron James has Sucralose Energy Sheets, Ohio has Avitae Caffeinated Water” accompanied by “Ohio vs. Lebron”.  This advertisement struck me for two different reasons.  First, I have never heard of caffeinated water before!  This sounds like a really dangerous product to me because caffeine is not good for the body and should not be consumed like water!  This company is bringing together two very different products: water which is a necessity for life, and caffeine which damages the body.  After getting over the initial shock of the product being advertised, this advertisement seems controversial to me because I do not like the way this product is being positioned in this advertisement, but I do like the advertising pitch.  First, I do not like that Avitae is advertising their caffeinated water as a sports drink.  To me, caffeinated water sounds like an energy drink.  When I think of a sports drink, I think of Gatorade, which tries to replenish the body.  Gatorade is designed for people who are engaging in physical activity.  I think of caffeine more with energy drinks, like for students who are up late studying, which I do not like to begin with because of their unhealthiness.  Featuring this caffeinated water with athletes and sports settings, I think, is inappropriate for this product.  Second, I really like the whole idea of this advertisement, excluding the product.  The play on Lebron James and the fans he lost in Ohio when he moved to Miami is very funny.  This advertisement came up during the NBA playoffs which makes it even better.  While Lebron is trying to focus on playing well and winning a championship, he had to deal with an advertisement that put more pressure on him and reminded him of his hometown that dislikes him.  This idea is priceless!  Moreover, the photo featured in the advertisement is hilarious.  It definitely makes it look like Lebron is losing in the rematch against Ohio. 

This advertisement is probably also very controversial for Ohio citizens.  Many people from Ohio have been loyal Lebron fans since he started playing.  His move to Miami definitely lost a lot of fans from his Ohio base, but for those Ohio people who remained loyal to Lebron, this advertisement has to be one of their least favorites!  More importantly, the whole nation of sports fans watched that day that Lebron decided to move to Miami.  That was very controversial while also stirring up a lot of excitement.  The fact that this advertisement plays on this idea has to call a lot of attention to it!  Sometimes being controversial and getting your audience thinking about your company, not necessarily if they like the product or not is key!  Getting the company name out there is crucial and must be done in a way that sticks out in people’s minds.  Bravo to Avitae!

A Fresh New Look

I came across an advertisement for Evian on the internet the other day that really caught my attention!  I wanted to find out and see more about this campaign so I researched on google recent advertisements that had come out for Evian and this is what I found...

I think this ad is absolutely great and hilarious!  First, I really enjoy the whole idea behind the ad.  The idea that Evian water nourishes the body and creates youth is very important when people today are obsessed with youth and feeling young.  The advertisement really has an energetic vibe that I think really reaches out and inspires viewers and consumers.  Second, I really appreciate the diversity.  It includes old people, young people, men, women, people of different ethnicities.  This ad covers just about every target possible besides kids, which makes sense because everyone needs water and it is the adults who do the shopping, and does a really nice job of it.  I don't know if this advertisement really inspired me to run out and buy Evian water, but it certainly has made this advertisement stick in my head.  I will now associate Evian with a younger, youthful feeling.  I love their approach and technique!  Getting consumers to associate a certain image or emotion with a product is a great way to reach out to new consumers and create loyalty.  This ad has really showed me the affect of this technique because of its impact it has had on me.  One of my favorite commercials of the year!  These advertisements are also available in print ads which I also find to be just as powerful. 

What Brand Am I?

                                       

Cheerios is a powerful brand that closely resonates with my characteristics in their ability to evolve, maintain strong ties with their target families, and focus themselves in a positive light.  Cheerios is a cereal brand from the company General Mills.  Although originally CheeriOats in 1941, Cheerios has evolved today to include many different flavors.  Although different Cheerios flavors have different targets, in general, their target is children and families.  Their target is achieved by positioning themselves as a hearty, healthy cereal to start the day off right. 

            The first way that I am similar to Cheerios is in our abilities to evolve.  Cheerios has evolved in two ways.  First, they have made an internal change to become healthier by making all flavors cholesterol free.  The Original and Honey Nut flavors also help to lower cholesterol with extra fibers.  Just as Cheerios has changed their ingredients over time, I too have evolved and changed internally over time.  All change in a person starts internally.  I find that there are things that I wish to work on with myself and the change for that too starts internally.  In some areas that need change I have been successful, for example trying to be more optimistic.  I am constantly trying to make myself a better person starting with internal change, just like Cheerios.  Second, Cheerios has also evolved externally by creating more flavors.  Cheerios knew that they wanted to expand their success and consumers and did so by creating more flavors.  Just as Cheerios has adapted to their goals, so have I.  I have a dream of becoming a public accountant and have taken steps to do so by pursuing an accounting degree, internships, and networking.  Cheerios and I evolve to fit our goals and try for success.

            The second way that I am similar to Cheerios is in our value for family.  Cheerios sticks out in many consumers’ minds as being a family brand.  They position themselves to be a family cereal.  Many of their advertisements feature a mother and child.  Similar to this, family is one of my most important values.  I tend to be more family-oriented than friends-oriented.  My family members are some of my best friends and role models.  This is the exact thing that Cheerios targets!

            The most important way that Cheerios is similar to me is the way they position themselves in relation to their competition.  Many brands make themselves stand out by pointing out the negative amongst their competitors.  Cheerios has never done this.  Instead, they really focus on their strengths and sell themselves.  I am similar in this way because I try to focus on my strengths and being the best I can instead of negativities in myself and others.  When things are not turning out in my favor, I try not to be upset with others and bad mouth them because in the end, that does not help me, just as Cheerios talking poorly about other brands does not help their sales.

Get acquainted with Cheerios:

http://www.cheerios.com/

www.facebook.com/Cheerios

                                                             

A Look At Dr.Pepper

When thinking about the soft drink industry, the big names like Coca-Cola and Pepsi immediately stand out in every ones’ minds.  Dr.Pepper is usually not first to jump out at consumers, and if they want to change this Dr. Pepper is going to have to step up their advertising game.  Their newest commercials feature Paul Sr. from the T.V. show American Chopper. 

 I do not think this was a good move for a few reasons.  First, Dr.Pepper really limited their ability to affect consumers with this commercial.  The main idea of the commercial is to define what Dr.Pepper tastes like, and ultimately they decide that it has a one-of-a-kind flavor and there is nothing quite like it.  I actually really like their main message in this commercial because they are setting themselves apart from their competition (Pepsi and Coca-Cola).  I do not agree with their actor choice for this commercial.  Paul Sr. is only going to be recognizable to viewers who watch American Chopper.  This is limited to mainly older men.  That is okay if that is the group that Dr.Pepper wants to target, but it gets worse.  Not only is their target audience very small, but there has been much controversy over the cast of American Chopper after Paul Sr. has stopped working with this son Paul Jr., and instead, now competes with him.  This has probably greatly divided fans of the show making the audience that likes Paul Sr. even smaller.  Other recent Dr.Pepper commercials for Dr.Pepper Cherry have featured Fergie. 

In my opinion, this is the better way to go.  First, she is a big star who everyone can recognize.  She also appeals to both genders; obviously to girls who look up to her, and to boys sexually.  This commercial has a much larger capability to reach a greater audience than the commercial with Paul Sr.  If Dr.Pepper really wants to be competitive with Pepsi and Coca-Cola, they are going to have to go back to the drawing board and come out with a consistent campaign that reaches a larger share of new consumers.

The Best Way to Reach The Targeted Teens

Many companies are continually thinking of new ways to get a hold of the ever changing consumers that always seem to be one step ahead of marketers and advertisers: my generation.  Recently, many companies have entered social media groups creating facebook pages and tweeting to their loyal consumers.  Is this really helping them to acquire new consumers and keep their old ones?  It is very difficult for these executives to get inside their targets’ heads and appeal to them.

 I find the companies on facebook to be rather annoying as I spend my time on facebook chatting with friends and not looking at company pages.

 

One of the best forms of advertising that I think has the best chance to impact consumers are advertisements on Pandora.  Pandora is a music website that is very popular with teenagers and especially college students.  Many students listen to the website daily while studying or relaxing.  Listening to advertisements is a mandatory part of listening to the music.  Students usually get the same ad or a small variety repeated over and over throughout their music listening experience.  This repetition is crucial and works.  I find myself humming the tune of the advertisements for a large part of the day after I have stopped listening to the station.  It seems that more companies should be investing here instead of being one step behind, on facebook.

How long will coupons last?

TLC’s new hit show “Extreme Couponing” is taking the country by storm, but is this show to the advantage of consumers?  At first, yes; but after the publicity it has received, it seems not.  This show has opened a whole new world to millions of consumers and inspired them to pay less for groceries.  I have to admit, I too was intrigued by the idea of getting grocery items for free and have even started couponing myself.  But inspiring consumers to coupon is not the problem.  It appears that since consumers are figuring out the value of coupons and the impact they can have on their finances, stores and manufacturers are going to become stingier with their coupons.

 Is this really fair? 

Stores receive the full value of the product from the manufacturers plus about 8 cents for every coupon that is used.  It really appears that manufacturers are the ones who are losing out as they seem to be practically giving away their products for free to these extreme couponers. 

While in the grocery store the other day, the cashier and I started discussing the new rage of coupons and she said, “but you know, things are about to change with coupons”, meaning that there would be more strict rules and most likely less coupons in circulation.  Although this show has been great because it has brought attention to an advertising method that most of the population overlooks every day, it seems to take advantage of this method that was not foreseen by advertisers.  It is not the intention for the coupons to get entire purchases free.  If you’ve noticed, most coupons require a consumer to buy multiple items to receive the discount.  By stacking coupons, it seems that consumers have outsmarted the marketing departments of many companies.  It is a shame if the idea and uses of coupons change forever because they are now more useful than initially imagined.  My advice, use as many coupons as possible before these companies and grocery stores change their policies.