week 13 type a entry

 The online streaming music service Spotify has recently partnered up with the coca cola corporation in what is called a marketing partnership. No money was exchanged as part of the agreement, but both parties seemed to think that the marketing partnership will be invaluable in helping each other market their respective products. Spotify is a Sweedish based company that offers both a free and a pay version of a music streaming service. The free version is only available on computers and contains many ads. The pay version is available on tablets, computers, and smartphones and features no advertising. With a global marketing giant like coca cola on their side, I would be surprised if Spotify expierences anything but improvements. Link to article here: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2012/04/spotify-forges-marketing-partnership-with-coca-cola.html

week 12 type b entry

I was reading Tim Bollinger's blog recently and came across a post titled "President Obama soldiers on despite heavy opposition to solar investment". The President is apparently facing heavy opposition against his support of development of solar power. The president defended his stance by pointing out that the existing solar developments have not only provided power to thousands of households, but also created thousands of jobs as well as conserving valuable energy. I do think that an investment in solar energy would be beneficial in many ways. 

Week 12 type a entry

Mike and Ike candy has been a staple on convenience store candy shelves all across the nation for more than 70 years. Now the classic candy is launching a new marketing campaign, one that sees the two characters for which the candy is named, Mike and Ike, call it quits. Why would Just Born Inc., the company that makes Mike and Ike, try such an idea for a marketing scheme? The packaging now shows either "mike" or "Ike" scribbled off, as to just show half of the classic sugary duo(see picture below). The marketing campaign will utilize billboard, television, and radio broadcasting. The company is investing 15 million dollars in the campaign and hopes for a smashing success. Do you think that the marketing scheme Mike and Ike is using will be successful?

week 11 type b entry

 I recently read Michael Thompson's blog and saw a post titled "yahoo lays off 2k workers". Mike mentions in the post that he hasn't heard much of Yahoo in years, I definitely feel the same way with Yahoo clearly on the decline with the emergence of Google as the leading web browser, it really is no surprise to me that they had to lay two thousand workers. I think that Yahoo has to step up its marketing efforts and try to compete better with Google and microsoft's relatively new search engine, Bing. I think that Yahoo should open their checkbooks and buy out some workers at Google. Google seems to be leading the way across the board when it comes to search engines, people that have been a part of such a dominant organization would help bring much needed life and energy into Yahoo.

Week 11 type a entry

 Atlantic City, New Jersey is a historic American tourist destination. In recent years however, Atlantic City has lost some of its former glory and appeal. To try to combat the fate of a fading image, the city has decided to invest 20 million dollars into a tourism marketing campaign. The Group The Atlantic City Alliance is launching the campaign on April 16th. The marketing campaign is hoping to help in the rebranding process of Atlantic City, hoping to make transition as a city from its current crime ridden, run down state back to its popular tourist destination charm of old. What do you think Atlantic City should do to improve its image? Is 20 million dollars even enough to make the difference the alliance is hoping for?
Link to article: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/atlantic-city-alliance-launches-20-million-tourism-marketing-campaign-on-april-16-2012-04-13

Week 10 type b entry

I recently read an article on Tyler Mcwhirk's blog titled: "Is it fair to use behavioral characteristics to market to people". I found the post very interesting, as it contained much food for thought. It is an interesting concept that companies have started to market to people based on their behavioral characteristics. To answer the questions tyler posed, I am not sure how fair it really is to market to people by aiming at the potential customers primal wants and or needs. On the other hand, It does seem very clever that companies are choosing basic human characteristics to use in their respective marketing strategies. I think being subtle in the messages is very important when using this type of marketing strategy, as to not offend.

Week 10 type A entry

 Major League Baseball opened its season this last Wednesday with the Seattle Mariners playing the Oakland Athletics. The game was held in Tokyo, Japan, a site that has been hosting opening day major league baseball games for the last few years. Having the games played in Tokyo is a marketing scheme by Major League Baseball to help expand the already mass appeal of its product. The Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics by a score of 3 to 1. The game was the first in a two game set, the second game was played Thursday. The games in Tokyo were heavily attended, which is a very good sign for the league. Baseball has done a lot in recent years to expand its global appeal, including the World Baseball Classic, which is played every two years and is basically a baseball world cup. Major League baseball has made some wise marketing moves to allow them to compete in today's global economy, and show no signs of slowing down. There is a good article in a recent issue of the Baltimore Sun that covers the topic (http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-03-27/sports/sc-spt-0328-4corners-20120327_1_japan-time-change-ichiro-suzuki).