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?