Respose to Ariana's Post on Summer Fun!

I think that companies certainly receive a positive return by using promotions to draw in customers attention. It is clear that the strategy works. Take Disney for example, they are always giving out some form of promotion and every time I go to visit that place it is always packed. "Stay up to four nights and get an additional two nights free with a family of four and free complimentary breakfast included if booked before the 25th of each month!" Every taveler wants a deal and especially if you are going to visit amusement parks, it can get pricey. These promotions draw many customers to these businesses. Also locally if we look at Six Flags New England, they are always running some form of promotion as well. With the purchase of two tickets or more get a third ticket free or come stay and play all day and enjoy free lunch curtousy of the park. It gets my attention because lunch could be at least $20 and everyone wants free goods. I would go to a park if it offered me promotions. It is also important that the park have a good reputation to sticking to its promotion and not just offering an unrealistic promotion that they cannot stick to.


Would you go visit an amusement park solely based on the promotion offered?

Response to Ariana's Post Comedy Central Through Twitter

I think that it is very impersonal that everything now takes place on the internet or through cell phone broadcast. It is not fair for those who enjoy actually seeing face to face interaction. It is actually quite disappointing. I find it to be unhelpful when you go in and look at the situation. I want to actually see the routine and what is happening not just watch and read a conversation on the internet. It is shocking actually that this whole festival will just be on Twitter. In the past I have enjoyed viewing Comedy Centrals five day festival and now the only way I can tune in is through Twitter. No thanks, in this case I will pass. Not interested in any of this it is quite disturbing that everything has to be done through social media that now people cannot even have decent conversation if it is not through social media. Sometimes I wish that times were different.

Have you fallen victim to social media and find yourself following it constantly?

State Promotions- Visit California

Ever sit in front of the television a see a commercial advertising tourism for a state? I see commercials such as this one below aired in 2011 about visiting California. These ads run to try and bring in more business to the tourism market in each state. Especially states like California and Florida that rely heavily on the tourism industry it is important to advertise on major television networks for all audiences to see. I remember as a kid growing up and watching commercial pertaining to Disney World and I wanted more than anything to get on that airplane to head to the land where dreams come true. It is hard for one not to; these advertisements make the location looked serene and picture perfect that almost anyone would want to hop in a plane and head there. The tourism alone generated $95.1 billion dollars in California last year alone. This money helps the state invest in it's roads, schools and brings more tourists to the state. This campaign is genius using celebrities and pro athletes to entice consumers to spend their money and get out and enjoy the state of California while seeing and experiencing something new. It is quite a clever campaign if you ask me.




                                                        Misconceptions- Visit California

Have you ever found yourself falling for these commercials? As a result booking a vacation to one of these select locations?

Response to Janelle's Post- Car Advertising

Car advertising is a clever way of portraying a product to the consumer. It is unique in the fact that people actually drive a real life billboard around when they go from point A to point B. I think the first car billboard I saw was in the 90's when soda was the big craze. I remember it was a red Ford truck with Coca-Cola bottles on it. Now more then ever people are using advertising such as by means of cars to try and gain profit from selling a product. Many companies such as Amheiser Busch in Keene use this marketing tactic I have seen a budlight lime vehicle and shocktop vehicle cruising through Keene from time to time giving out promotions and trying to suede consumers towards their products. Most of the time you will see these type of vehicles at events such as ski mountains or programs like the x-games. Many companies sponsor events and when they sponsor the event they distribute their product to the general public and what a better way to advertise then to bring the vehicle right on site and sell the product to the new potential customers.

How do you feel about vehicle advertising? Ever see one before?

Response to Cote's Post on Flavored Cigarettes

First of all, I would never consider cigarettes to be healthy. It is a huge marketing ploy by the tobacco industry to try and draw in new smokers daily. By adding schemes such as "flavored" cigarettes is pure desperation. On average the tobacco industry looses 5 million smokers a year. So in order to regain business they need to draw in new tobacco users, younger smokers. To draw in the young smokers they choose "fun tactics" such as "flavored cigarettes and they attempt to make smoking look cool. What is a huge factor that many need to take into consideration is the media's role on smoking also. Especially in the 80's and 90's smoking was always seen on movies. Who would not want to smoke if their favorite beautiful and good looking celebrity does it? Smoking is glamorous and makes one look cool. That is exactly what the tobacco industry wants new smokers to think but really it is far from it. The serious effects of smoking may not be considered and mostly uneducated consumers are the ones who actually choose to light up and have a smoke. I have never smoked nor do I fall victim to the ads portraying smoking or do I think it is sexy for celebrities to smoke either. Lung cancer, wrinkles and tar in my throat do not seem too appetizing to me, no thank you.


Do you think that smoking is attractive? What about flavored cigarettes? Yummy right?

We Are Boston Strong T-shirt Campaign

      Recently this past week the city of Boston, Massachusetts fell victim to an unexpected terrorist attack. Innocent civilians were killed during the finishing of the world famous Boston Marathon. In wake of the attack many were taking to Facebook and especially twitter with hash tags relating to #BostonStrong. This campagn led to a marketing phenomenon and now shirts are flying off shelves to benefit a good cause.
"The combined efforts of Abby, Kevin, and Alia have led to a campaign to raise money for The One Fund. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to The One Fund Boston, set up by Mayor Menino and Governor Patrick in the wake of Monday's tragic events. The shirt makes a statement- one that many have after this personal attack. It expresses what we feel without saying a word. It's more than just a shirt. It has the capability to create community, to link us together as one. Why not donate to help families affected by the tragic events andup your wardrobe by purchasing our shirt. Our city is only as strong as we are." 
    I watched the Red Sox game yesterday on television and it moved me seeing all the blue and yellow shirts in the stands and everyone representing the wonderful city of Boston. This form of contribution marketing represents a good cause. It also provides awareness to the general public of what happened last Monday and how united we as New England and mainly Boston residents stand as one and come together during tragedy. Many may get confused with the statement BostonStrong and LiveStrong. I even read a few articles that people had the audasity to say that it is a direct rip off of the LiveStrong campaign aimed to help cancer victims. But this is a campaign that was launched through social media and it was so successful that it essentially marketed itself and now Boston Strong is a name and a shirt that people feel proud to wear knowing they are representing a good cause. 

What do you think about the Boston Strong campaign? Would you wear a Boston Strong T?

Respond to Ariana's Post on Justin Bieber Cards

I do not think that it is a smart idea to be instilling in the back of small children's mind that they should get a debit or a credit card just because Justin Bieber is on it. It is supporting over spending and misuse of funds. It is one of the worst ideas I have ever heard of. I feel sorry for parents who actually agree to sign their children up for a debit or a credit card just because Justin Bieber is on it. Are people really that obsessed? I mean I guess we are all different I know for a fact that I would never get that for myself nor ever would I be seen carrying that, EMBARRASSING. I could however see many parents giving their kids anything they wanted and by getting them this card it could get them to hush up for a bit and and teach the wonders of overspending and not budgeting their money or their parents money. This is probably one of the most ridiculous scams I have ever heard of.



If you were a parent would you allow your child to get a Justin Bieber card?