Kellogg seeking tweets

I really enjoy reading articles about how companies employ non-traditional means of promotion. In a recent article (see the article here), I read that Kellogg is giving away bags of their new chips for customers visit one of their temp stores and make a tweet about the chips. Word of mouth (customer to customer) communication is the most effective, most trusted, and longest lasting form of promotion a company can get. Why not encourage the customers with some free chips to help spread the word of mouth. This could also be seen as a form of stealth marketing (basically undercover marketing), which has been found to be extremely effective. Many companies could take some advice from Kellogg's strategy.

Westin and New Balance ad... what are they thinking?

 

Take a look at this recent ad by Westin. If you took off the copy at the top and the bottom of the ad, what would you think it is for? Probably the New Balance shoes because that is what stands out most with their red color on the background of everything else white. The only connection to Westin is the fact that Westin is offering you to rent out New Balance shoes and clothing when you stay at a Westin hotel to make you have to pack less. 

Though do you really think higher class individuals that would be staying at Westin hotels would be wanting to rent clothes and shoes? Think about how you feel when you go to the bowling alley and have to put on those rather smelly, old bowling shoes that you know hundreds of other people have worn. Not sure how well this one is going to work for Westin...

Best Buy moving on campus

When we think of marketing and advertising, we often think of traditional bricks (physical) or clicks (online) stores or traditional advertising in the form of print ads, video commercials, or radio ads. It's when a company breaks out of the clutter of tradition that marketing can be extremely effective.

I saw just that today walking around a university campus where students were preparing to start back up with fall term classes. Best Buy had set up a large tent near campus that allowed students to actually purchase Best Buy products on campus - computers, TVs, all sorts of connection cords, even soda making machines. Everything to "pimp" out that new dorm room or to pick up a last minute essential. Instead of advertising store sales and trying to draw customers to the store, Best Buy simply brought the store to the customer. Genius. I'm sure Best Buy had to pay a pretty penny to get that position on campus, but I am also sure it was worth all their money. Even if a student or parent did not buy anything from the on campus make shift Best Buy store, the giant tents act as a huge piece of reminder advertising. Good going Best Buy.

Chobani social marketing

Interesting article just came out about Chobani and the company's social marketing efforts. Read about it here: http://m.entrepreneur.com/article/223999. There are some key points to pull out of this. First, notice the active and immediate engagement with posters. Second, notice that not all posts are directly related to the product. Think about things related to the consumer's lifestyle rather than constant hard selling of your product. And third, note the integration of social media platforms. Nice job, Chobani.

Product packaging - new Starbucks fruit beverage

Some of the most interesting marketing illustrations come from experiences in everyday life. I was drinking the new starbucks refresher drink that is a mixture of sparkling fruit drink and green coffee bean extract. I was given the bottle from a friend but probably never would have purchased it in the first place.

I am not a coffee lover, and the label on the front of the can states it contains green coffee bean extract. Nowhere on the front does it tell you that the drink will taste only like fruit and not at all like coffee. That is a huge deterrent and mistake for starbucks as they try to attract a new audience with this beverage. Remember, advertising is only one component of a complete marketing package.

Transit advertising - the Chicago airport

I find non-traditional advertising particularly interesting. Toss together transit advertising (anything displayed in places of transit - e.g., airport, bus station, etc.) with the olympics and you've got an interesting combination. The Chicago airport has consistent messages across all united terminals saying that they are the carrier of US olympians. These ads are found hanging from the airport ceiling, on active billboards throughout the airport, on the sides of moving walkways, and in many other locations as well. Quite interesting given the fact that the olympics ended now several weeks ago.

Transit advertising can be very effective when you have a captive, interested audience. However, companies should be cautious about a variety of things including timing. After a major event is over, take out the ads and start a new campaign.