Go Green, And Then Promote It

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of companies and their practices. Now more than ever consumers are interested in how companies are effecting the environment. Although price is usually the deciding factor, eco-friendly companies are finding that by acting socially responsible and promoting it is actually helping sales.

According to smallbiztrends.com companies should promote whatever community programs or eco-friendly projects or practices that you may have. All eco-friendly activity should be recorded and promoted. No one thing is too small. If you change your company's lightbulbs to more eco-friendly florescent lightbulbs, let people know about it. Little things like this may be the deciding factor for consumers when it comes to the final decision on products or services. 

If you are a local small business, show that you spend the money earned through the business in the community. This helps out other local businesses which in turn may help yours in time. Small businesses should try and work together in order to attract consumers to the area.

Do you guys ever pay more for a product from a company that you know is eco-friendly even if it is more expensive than a product from a company that does not use eco-friendly practices?

In Response to Allison

What are your thoughts on this pay-as-you-go power? Do you think this product would actually work?


I think this is a very interesting concept that Sony has proposed. I have always thought of Sony is an innovative company that is also a marketing powerhouse. This idea however seems a little underdeveloped to me. I believe this could be a great way to charge for power in the future but I do not see enough people complaining with the power grid systems we have now. This would be an extreme undertaking, costing billions of dollars, to change our countries power grids. 

This is a good example of how demand pulls supply. If the demand for this type of "pay as you go" energy was in more demand it would probably already be developed, but since there is not a large demand for new sources of energy (for the most part we are content with the way we pay for our energy), companies simply have not put in the research and development money needed for a project such as this. However I applaud Sony's outside of the box thinking, and encourage them to continue. 

In Response to Rachel

But if you look really close and you pause the video, you’ll read that the phone is only free with a purchase of a 2-year contract. Is this false advertising or just really good marketing? Because technically the actual phone will be free on that day but you have to pay at least $100 for the two year 


For starters I do not believe that this is false advertising. Most if not all mobile phone companies run promotions like this. There would be no reason for them to give you a free phone if you did not sign up for their service, this is common sense. Also, although the print may be small it does specify the deal in the ad. 


I feel like companies do this all the time. Although it's a little different I remember when I bought my macbook it said you could receive a free printer. Well this free printer came with a catch, I had to pay the $150 for the printer up front, and then I would receive a rebate for the full amount six weeks later.  This is just another example of how companies get you interested in their product or service. 


Just remember, if it's too good to be true, it probably is.


Have you guys encountered any "free" deals that are not really free?

Ford Threatens to Sue GM Over Super Bowl Ad

Ford and GM have been competitors for as long as they have been in existence. Both are American auto manufactures that payed millions of dollars to advertise during this past weeks Super Bowl. Now Ford is threatening to sue GM over a GM post-apocolyptic commercial that aired. In the commercial all the men who survived were owners of GM (Chevrolet) pickup trucks. In the end of the commercial they refer to their friend "Dave" who did not make it because he drives a Ford. 

Ford sent a letter to GM prior to the Super Bowl requesting that the ad not be aired due to false comments. GM refused to back down and and aired the ad during the first quarter of the game.

The Chevy Silverado is called the "most dependable, longest lasting full-size pickup truck on the market", according the GM's ad campaign. Fords F150 has been the highest selling full-size pickup truck for 35 years and was called 2011's best selling pickup again. 

Below I've posted a link to the commercial along with the article, do you think that GM was out of line calling out Ford in the ad, or do you think it is completely fair game? At what point does a statement like "most dependable, longest lasting full-size truck on the market" become false advertising?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxFYYP8040A

http://www.torquenews.com/1081/ford-threatens-sue-gm-over-super-bowl-ad

In Response to Lyndzi's Post

Do you think Facebook is a good form of marketing for some businesses?

Yes, I think Facebook is an excellent form of advertising for some businesses. Facebook unlike any other website has the ability to attract users to the site and then have them linger, and stay on the site for a while. Whether it be looking at pictures, updating statuses, or just creeping around on old friends, Facebook grabs you and doesn't let go.

This can be a huge advantage for advertisers, they are able to see what your likes are and cater to them. With the wide range of people on Facebook it's easy to see why companies are trying so hard to advertise on Facebook. You can reach local markets, regional markets, and even global markets through this one of a kind website.

I believe once Facebook goes public there will be even more demand for advertising space. Facebook expects to gain close to 5 billion once they go public. I believe they will use this money to expand and perfect the social network that is Facebook. With this comes more users/consumers.

Super Bowl Ads: Sex Sells

This coming Sunday one of the greatest spectacles in sports will be held in Indianapolis; the Super Bowl. Held only once a year, it is continuously one of the most watched programs year after year. The Super Bowl is not just for football fans, it has a way of bringing Americans together unlike anything else. Whether your team is in it or not, you'll be watching and thats what marketing teams know and depend on.

This year an estimated 100 million people will be watching via television or internet. That means that companies will pay outrageous amounts of money in order to reach the masses. NBC will be airing the game and for the first time ever simulcasting it on the internet. NBC sells 30 and 60 second advertising slots. These can go for as much as $4 million a slot.

Year after year advertisers are becoming more aware that sexy ads will be able get and hold your attention . We as humans are obsessed with sex, and advertisers know there is no better way to push a product. GoDaddy.com did a great job in establishing brand recognition during the 2005 Super Bowl, and have continued placing Super Bowl ads ever since. Before the ads ran GoDaddy controlled 16% of the market and now the hold nearly 50% of the market. This year GoDaddy ads will feature the Pussycat Dolls along with Nascar driver Danica Patrick. GoDaddy hopes paying big bucks to get the time slots desired will pay off in the end with a higher market share.

With the Super Bowl being a family experience do you think the commercials are becoming too sexy/racy? Sex does sell, but at what point does it affect our youth?


Article Used:http://abcnews.go.com/Business/super-bowls-sexy-ads-work/story?id=15490462#.Tywy6pjGK21

In Response to Lyndzi's Post "Can you really learn that much from marketing"

I completely agree with what Lyndzi when she say that marketing courses can be extremely important even if you are not planning on going into marketing. Like she says marketing is all around us so because of this it doesn't hurt to know a little bit about it. The communication skills you learn in the marketing course are equally as important for any business person.

In response to the question Since so much useful information can be learned in a marketing course then do you think it should be a required class to take?" --I believe we have the perfect situation here at Keene State College. Marketing is a required course for at least Management majors but I would highly recommend it for any student who is looking for a little more knowledge about the World around them. With the multiple skills you can learn in a marketing course can be great skills for anyone regardless of his/her profession.