Saint Michael's College

During the past few weeks we have all noticed all the tours going around full of high school seniors and there parents, deciding where they want to send their kid to school. Have you noticed any changes on campus during these last few weeks? I definitely have, the maintenance workers are out way more, they spread new mulch, plant new trees, lay seed to spread over low grass areas, even the food seems a little better. I understand our school needs to market itself to attract new students, and to tell you the truth, I think they do a great job. Can anyone think of anything else they have noticed differently in campus since these tours have started?

Free Six Inch Subs

Subway is trying to promote their breakfast sandwich's. The deal is that if you buy a six inch sub before 9am you get another six inch sub of your choice for free. I think this is a great idea because customers can get a breakfast sandwich and then a lunch sandwich for later on in the day. Many people are not aware of subway breakfast sandwich's and I feel this is a great way to get them out there. Who doesn't like a free sub?

Free Burrito's To Promote Earth Day

Earth day has become a hit recently due to all of the concern of the environment and a company has recognized this and jumped on a great marketing strategy. Chipotle is serving free burritos all day on earth day, April 22nd. The burritos will be served in reusable lunch bags. I find this to be a great idea. Chipotle will benefit in two ways from this. The first way benefits business because many people who have never had a Chipotle burrito before will be lining up for free food and they will definitely be coming back due to how delicious they are. The second benefit is the opinion people will have on the company, they are showing that they care with the reusable lunch bags. They are showing consumers that they want to be a part of earth day. I think the free burritos on earth day will be a hit and they will continue to do this every year on earth day.

QR codes are going to be the best marketing tool very soon

I was in Boston last night and as I was approaching a bar that my friends and I were going to I noticed that there were two lines, I figured both were to get into the bar. As I got closer I realized one line was full of people waiting to scan the QR code that was posted outside the bar. I asked a girl that was in line what the big deal was and she said if you scan the code you get a free pitcher of beer so I obviously had to do it. The bar was the most packed I have seen it so obviously QR codes can be great for nightlife marketing.

The Next Best Thing

I recently read an article on QR codes and the benefits they have on a company. I know we have been talking about this same topic in class but I still have my skepticism towards these little codes, and it seems like a lot of others do too. The article explains how QR codes are just extensions of your marketing, and that there are many other efficient ways to do what a QR code can do. Then why are they starting to blow up in the marketing world? The answer simply is that QR codes are addicting, just like Facebook and twitter. Even if someone really is not interested in a company's QR code he or she will still scan it because they are addicted to scanning it, just how Facebook, twitter, and others of our oh so technical new world are. That is what they are the next best thing in the business world.

Golf Cours's vs. Ski Resort's

This winter has been the most mild winter we've had in many years, before we were born even. Although the winter is not over yet, snowfall does not look to promising. A few years ago we had a tough, long winter and the snow kept coming. All the golf course's were struggling while all the ski resort's couldn't be happier. A friend of my family who owns a golf course was even trying to sell it because the amount of money he was losing. Now, with this "early summer like weather"
These effects have changed to the opposite. Golfer's have been golfing all winter (my father went golfing through December all the way to now). He says he can't remember since he's been alive a winter like this one of 2012. How does the owner of a golf course or ski resort deal with weather like this? Many ski resorts are shutting down while the golf industry of the northeast is booming, and many former golf course owners are shooting theirselves in the foot right now wishing they never sold their course a few years back. Weather can make it very hard to make good business decision because who knows what next years winter will bring.

YouTube Ads: Do you actually watch them?

Today I overheard on the news a reporter talking about YouTube ads. He was talking about how thousands of people are sending complaints to YouTube about how the ads that they show before watching the desired clip. He said that only 10% of the time people actually watch them. Even if the viewer is not allowed to skip the ad, he or she will most likely find something else to do in those 30 seconds. Are we just that impatient or are these ads on YouTube pointless? If no one watches them then why are companies spending all this money to get their ads on YouTube?

This Guy Needs a New Billboard

The other day I noticed a billboard and at first I thought it was just going to be a animal shelter billboard or something but I read it and it blew my mind. The billboard was an advertisement for a guys law firm. It had a picture of the guy while he was holding his dogs and to the right of his head it said "Trust Me, I'm A Lawyer!" and then in parenthesis under it where it said "My Dogs Do". Now I don't know if this guy is trying to be funny or open up the first ever dog law firm but he should maybe try targeting humans not dogs. Maybe I'm just not the biggest dog lover and I'm missing the joke but couldn't he have thought of a better idea than that?

Burberry Marketing Idea

I recently read an article about a tweet Burberry sent out before their release of a new fashion line at the London fashion week. What they did is something a luxurious brand has never done before. They released pictures of their new line to their followers a week before the show. Companies like this usually take pride in releasing a new line by not revealing it until a show. By waiting this makes the clothing more exclusive. Releasing pictures early made followers feel like a VIP, which made the followers feel like they have an in with the company. Do you think this was a good idea? What would be the negative effects to this marketing strategy?

iphones are taking over

I recently read an article about iphones. It said that 37 million iphones were sold in the past three months. The article also says that if the iphone keeps going in the direction that it is, about 90% of cellular device owners with have the iphone. What does this do to other cell phone companies? In the future, will the only cell phone be iphones? Apples marketing tactic is quality and thats it. They have the best working/looking products and thats all they need to be the best in the world. They got me! I purchased an iphone today and I can not see myself with another phone for the rest of my life.

Bad Marketing Campaign (New Coke)

I recently came across a youtube video from the 80's about the new Coke formula that Coca-Cola tried out after a century of success. Why did Coke ever try to change its formula after so much success? This may be the worst marketing campaign of all time. People all over the world loved coke just the way it was. They did not get any complaints and business was a good as it could get. I always thought everyone went by the old saying "If its not broke, don't fix it", but I guess not. Coke eventually noticed the drop in sales and quickly went back to the old formula that we know and love today. Does anyone else know of any bad marketing campaigns as bad as Coke's?

Here is the video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRglPEkiwIs

Super Bowl 2012 Commercial's

We all know most of America watches the Super Bowl. Last year 1 in every 3 Americans watched the game. One of the most hyped parts of the Super Bowl are the commercials. For the 2012 Super Bowl it costs $3.5 Million, for a 30 second commercial slot. Yes, It makes sense to do everything you can to get a commercial in during the Super Bowl since most of America is watching but, do some company's take a hit from dropping that kind of money for a commercial? Is it really worth it? Why not save the money and put a commercial in on youtube or something?

The Perfect Elevator Pitch

I recently read a great article on businessweek.com on how an elevator pitch can be one of the most important tools for a company. It talks about how someone involved in a company (especially the owner) should be able to explain to someone in 30 seconds or so, what his or her company does or makes. The article also talks about how ones elevator pitch should always be changing because the company should always be changing. The article stresses that one should always be prepared no matter what one is doing or where one is. Here is the article if anyone wants to check it out before our big day on Monday.

http://www.businessweek.com/careers/content/jun2007/ca20070618_134959.htm