iGive in! November 17, 2009

I am the person who says they can live without a cell phone! I didn’t even have one until I went to college which is very late for my generation. Having a cell phone means you should be available at all times. It is your life line to the rest of the world, but I think it would be nice to turn it off and have no disturbance for a while! Now, the cell phone has turned into more than just a phone. We all basically have mini computers in our pockets that can do much more than just make a phone call.

This weekend I made a cell-phone upgrade and joined the iPhone club. For someone who says they could live without a cell phone, I seem like a hypocrite by going out and getting the holy grail of phones! The reason why I gave in because it simply a good deal on a good phone but now I’m completely addicted.

Before being an owner of the iPhone I didn’t realize the impact this little gadget had on emerging media. There are so many opportunities to advertise and market a brand, service or product on this phone. The applications or “apps” are a major source of marketing and advertising. There are so many different brands and companies that have apps that are either free or available for purchase. Some examples are ESPN, Amazon, Fandango, Gap, Walmart, Disney and so much more. There are also apps for musicians and television shows like Britney Spears and Family Guy. These little programs do everything from make your shopping list to giving you up to date information on your favorite celebrity. Each of these applications are not just for convenience of the user, but for marketing and advertising purposes.

Another marketing trick I have come across on this phone is advertising on Pandora, an internet radio application. When listening to songs, Pandora can pick up your location, and advertisements for local businesses come up on the screen. There are also products that sponsor different stations.

I feel like I have been in a bubble when it comes to emerging media. After only  a weekend I have seen so many different marketing tactics on this tiny little gadget. It goes to show that there are so many opportunities out there to get your brand known besides forms of traditional media. I blame my marketing background on why I’m addicted to this phone now!

 

Research is “Emerging” November 9, 2009

I was doing research for an assignment which required me to look at different websites for different companies, brands and products. I probably visited around 50 websites in my research. Sometimes when you visit a website you may encounter a pop-up ad that is actually asking you to fill out a survey about that website, brand or product. During my trips to certain websites today, I said “No Thank You” to at least 10 pop-up surveys.

It seems that emerging media isn’t just for advertising, marketing and public relations. It is benefiting research as well. Pop-up surveys are very beneficial to marketing research and feedback on products and websites. This type of emerging media is really a great way to take random surveys and get results.

Pop-ups aren’t the only type of emerging media research aids. You can really get good feedback from blogs, webcasts (YouTube) and others. These types of new media allow consumers to respond to postings which can be very beneficial to any market researcher. It is more likely that you will get a better response from your target market because those are the people who would be more than likely looking at the material.

This is just an example of how new/emerging media is effecting the whole industry which includes research!

Blog is the new Black! November 4, 2009

Blogging is one of the most popular types of new/emerging media outlets. I believe the word is now even in the dictionary! Wikipedia describes a blog as “a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video.” The word blog is also a contraction of the phrase “web log.”

I think blogs can be very beneficial to any company that is marketing a product or service. It is very easy to give information to consumers as well as get feedback from them. It really works both ways for the company; they can get their message out there at the same time understanding the view of the consumer.

Blogs are not only used for marketing purposes. There are so many different blogs out there on every subject for so many different purposes. Also, many people have become famous from their blogs. Some blogs can get hundreds of thousands of hits a day and hundreds more comments on each posting made. This is where public relations comes into play. If these famous bloggers mention people or companies or products, they are really getting the name out there and getting tons of exposure. Even if the posts are negative, they are getting attention and publicity

My favorite blogger has made a name for himself and a career out of blogging. Perez Hilton has one of the most famous blogs that gets millions of viewers. His content can be controversial and sometimes just ridiculous, but the numbers prove that people are paying attention. His blog is so popular that getting a mention can mean some major publicity. Whether he talks about a celebrity’s designer handbag, a new musician or a favorite new movie the subject matter is getting attention. Even if Perez is a little bit crazy with his blogging, he is a true example of how this type of emerging media is really making an impact.

Visit www.perezhilton.com for some guilty pleasure!!

Technologically Challenged? So what! November 2, 2009

I am probably the only person on this planet (besides maybe our grandparents) who hasn’t used an iPod. I don’t necessarily think that I am technically challenged, I just really have had no use for an iPod. I listen to music, but I really don’t need a play list with me at all times, I prefer my car radio, and when I have free mental time to pay attention to something like that, I am usually watching what I DVR’ed or reading a good book.

I mention this because our world right now is so technically advanced that I feel a little bit intimidated sometimes. I still do not really even know what Bluetooth is except for the little device I see people wearing who by the way most of the time look like they are talking to themselves. It is to the point that  a Blackberry or an iPhone can replace an entire office for some people. There is no need to sit at your desk when your iPhone has an app that can take care of just about anything you need.

All of this emerging media is very important to someone like me. I will be graduating in May with a Master’s Degree in Integrated Marketing Communications and I am looking for a job in my field that I can call a career. I may have a great education and some helpful experience, but if I am not up-to-date on all of this emerging media and technology that is taking over, someone else is going to get the job.

I have the answer to my problem of now being tech-savvy…. It is simple, do my homework! There are so many marketing campaigns out there that are not traditional. A lot of campaigns now-a-days that integrated new media into the traditional versions, but there are also some campaigns that are solely based on emerging media. I think someone in my situation would benefit from knowing what is working and what isn’t. Just because this is my first time using a blog, and don’t own an iPod doesn’t mean I can’t be well informed on these new types of media. Because when it comes down to it, my iPod playlist isn’t going to impress a future employer but my ideas about how their company could benefit from new media might!

It’s Facebook’s fault! November 2, 2009

Facebook used to be a site that I posted pictures of my college experiences and shared them with friends and fellow classmates. It was really a social network. I got invited to different events around campus and invited to join groups that supported candidates for Homecoming Queen. My roommates and I used Facebook to read up on potential dates and also their ex-girlfriends. This was nearly 6 years ago. Facebook has grown into much more than a portal for my personal info and college pictures. First, my parents signed up then my employers. Next thing I know I see television commercials for products and services encouraging viewers to visit their Facebook page.

Facebook is very much a part of the phenomenon of emerging media. Blogs, Pop-up Ads, Email Blasts and podcasts are all a part of this new group of media outlets but Facebook is the most universally excepted form of new media. Companies are now running major marketing campaigns through Facebook, and even the Presidents of those companies have set up a page. My former employer, Michael Kors recently started a Facebook page in order to promote the launch of their newest fragrance, Very Hollywood. Within a week of the company starting a page, they had 10,000 fans. Now potentially 10,000 people were exposed to this page and the new fragrance which helped the product have a successful launch. Special events, the different products and information about the fragrance was available on this page and they also received feedback from people who were already using the fragrance. This is truly an example of how emerging media is starting to take-over.

Seeing the transformation of Facebook is really a great example of emerging media. Companies and products are thinking outside of the box now when it comes to advertising and marketing in order to really connect with their audience. Emerging media is not only for the large corporation and popular products, it is really helpful when it comes to niche markets as well. YouTube can be very helpful for this as well as pod-casts. Niche markets can be targeted more easily through the use of social networking and also through email. The marketing and advertising can be more defined now it doesn’t necessarily have to appeal to a national audience.

Emerging media is really taking over whether we like it or not, so we can either hop on the bandwagon or stay in the dark!

Here is a link that is off of Facebook on how to integrate emerging media into your marketing plan! Interesting to read!

http://af-za.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=124097862229

 

Hello world! November 2, 2009

Hello World is right! I am very new to the blogging world so bare with me!!! I think I am the perfect candidate to talk about emerging/new media right now because it is just that “new” to me!

Blogging along with the rest of the new media outlets are something that need to be learned in order to keep up with the rest of the world, but they can be very challenging to learn and to understand. For me, being a 25 year old student, I can catch on fairly easy, but for older generations who are set in their ways, it may be more difficult to convince them that these new media practices will help their business in the long run.

Although I don’t know what I am doing I am very excited to learn about the “blogging” world and also about new media in general. I think this subject is vital to anyone that is starting a new job or trying to get into a new career because it gives them an edge over many people who continue to ignore the subject. Overall, emerging media is sticking around so we all might as well get used to it, and even better, become experts in it!