Monday, April 29, 2013

Media: From Radio to TV

Interruptive advertising is all around us, online, on TV, and on the Radio.  There are a lot of values that we can pull from these interruptions as well as an impact whether it is negative or positive.


Pro: conversation starting, information at your finger tips, current events as it happens, random facts that could be helpful later, good ideas for rainy days, offers jobs, entertaining,

Example:
Ads like this entertain us and make us want to watch the commercial over and over, although they might not drive sales as easily due to controversy, they still become a part of our lives and make us smile.

Con: distracting, potential viruses, annoying as fuck, off sets the mood of whatever you are listening to or watching, jingles get stuck in your head,
Repetitive,

Example:
The jingle just gets stuck in your head, and when its time to get something cleaned, you know where you'll go.  These type of ads have catchy jingles that can be negative for us (they won't go away!) or positive for them (because they won't go away!).

Other Example:
Public service announcements also fight into this area, pulling awareness to serious events, although usually these are boring and only informative, they still are part of the spectrum and shouldn't be avoided.

Environmental Campaign



Environmental campaigns have caught on to social media as a plausible source of acquiring more supporters as well as an easy way to get their cause and message out in mass form.

Some aspects of their social campaign includes:

Keeping and creating a community that is connected all around the world
Locations of events are posted on website as well as how many events/ campaigns are going on.
All ages are encouraged to be proactive and gives ways that anyone can get involved in an easy way.
Bogs/ video blogs make the message more personable
Directly relating to their audience
Spreads the word faster
Cost less
Reaches multiple people at once
Tells people why the should care w/ lecturing people.
Constant Feed on twitter
Updating as it happens
Uses all forms of media: technology, videos, apparel.....

Discussion: Dorittos, Sterotyping in ads

In class, we discussed ethnic and racial stereotyping and had a discussion about how using ethnic stereotyping can have possible negative effects.

The above video doesn't show a good spectrum of ethnic diversity and even focuses on a stereotype that is being hugely construed.

There can be inherit items that are wrong with this type of stereotyping in this kind of advertising.  They start with creating a forced or false image that isn't even a real item of the culture or is only a small percentage but is being used to portray the whole.  This twist of culture turns the image of a Mexican mariachi into a symbol of partying, but they are still shown as entertaining other people that are mostly white. This shows them as lower than the people shown or as still being subservient.

Discussion: Racial Sterotyping

In groups we were given the task of choosing 2 stereotypical profiles and defining them in words.

The first profile our group chose was a Tourist.

We defined a tourist as:
Camera on or around the neck
Has a Map
Safari Hat
Hawaiian T-shirt
Long white socks
Sun Block
Sun Burnt
Fanny Pack
Backpack
Lots of bags
Lost and confused look
Over-excited about little everyday things
Peace signs / posing for pictures
Different Language
Over dressed
Under dressed


The second profile we chose was that of a gangster.

We defined a gangster as:
Has tattoos
Chains
Grills
Sagging
22 inch rims
Chrystler
Cadilac
Guns
Teardrop Tattoos
Scars
Capped
Minorities
Wife beater shirts
Drugs
Prostitution
Wads of cash
Intercity / Urban

Workshop: Typewriter


In class we were given a prompt in order to make an old technology like a typewriter appeal in modern day, below are some of the key points that we found.



Type writer:

Target group: hipsters or the emerging adults to this generation

- retro is the new fashion forward in thinking why not apply it to academic/ working life
- unplug from technology and regress into old inspiration, go back to roots
- make it personal,
- bring uniform and decrease the miscommunications between generations.
- put yourself in your parents shoes,
- empowerment, power of words, short to the point
- create a new statement. -
- glamorous, sophisticated, poise, creative
- find your special place
-precious moments

Harley Davidson Case Study


Brand communities like the example of Harley Davidson can result in a much greater involvement with the band.  By creating this community they turn consumers into active advocates of the brand as well as a community of people that are ready and willing to defend the brand if the need arises.  Because this experience tends to bring groups of friends into the fold, it creates a way for them to interact in a positive light within the brand.

The elements of the Posse Ride that enhances the meaning of the brand is the message that is constant throughout.  Harley Davidson has touched on the point that they are not just selling a motorcycle but more over they are selling the lifestyle that goes with it.  Through the posse ride they are re-enforcing and even contributing to the lifestyle that they are selling; The freedom to ride the open road.

By just conducting the ride, Harley Davidson is involved just enough, leaving the participants to fill in the rest and live within the community that is participating within.  As long as they build the experience, they will come. 

Harley Davidson could engage this community further through bike shows, conventions, ways to show off your Harley and tell your experience or lifestyle that you live through simply owning one.

Consumer Behavior: Nostalgia

What are some of the major advantages and disadvantages of nostalgia marketing?

Brings back memories of times when you used a product, video game, or event, that can be brought back to a persons childhood, or past.  Advantages of this can be instant good feelings and an overall positive viewpoint of the brand or message being portrayed.  A negative can be negative feelings or ideals that can be associated with the experience.

Are there some products or brands for which this strategy may not be successful? Why not?

New items that don't have a nostalgic background or history would not be able to tap into this.  Also companies that have a negative history or are tied into negative events would not do well to run off of nostalgia.