The Pink Stuff Chronicles

‎"because the companies that make this trying to trick the girls into buying the pink stuff instead of the stuff that boys want to buy, right?!" 

When i browse through YouTube the other day, i came across this, and what amused me is, i completely 100% in utter shock to hear what she has to say about a mere things like "pink stuff" and "superheroes". In near the end of the video, she even said: "why do girls have to buy some princesses?!some girls like superheroes, some girls like princesses; some boy like superheroes, some boy like princesses. So why girls have to buy pink stuff and boys buy different color stuff?"

WOW.

even a five year-old girl can tell...

what a smart cutie :)

baby, all i want for christmas is NOT you...

Despite the recent baby-mama controversy surrounding the mega popstar Justin Bieber, he making headlines with his recent collaborations with Mariah Carey on "All I Want For Christmas Is You"; a newer version of Carey's megahit which was in the Bieber's newly-released "Under The Mistletoe" holiday album. 

The music video has show first Mariah Carey's post-pregnancy body in sexy santa claus outfit, while Justin Bieber and his friends shop for holiday gifts like Nintendo DS in Macys. Not just it is an obvious GIMMICK of Macys and Nintendo's marketing strategy but... i kinda found this video a little OFF. 


Throughout the end of the video, Mariah Carey (41) and Justin Bieber (17) share more than a few Flirty looks, and some parents are not please (look at these pro-cons comments)

It's not that i against Justin Bieber nor the idea of marketing strategy put up by Macys and Nintendo DS. but if i were these brands, i might want to carefully analyze the script and reviewing the music video before it was launched to the public. As i don't think it will be appropriate for brand such Macys and Nintendo DS to be associated with a teenage boy flirting with a much older women. 

Regardless the off-ness of the video, i guess Macys did a terrific job with the whole idea of incorporating the brand into Justin Bieber's latest video, though i have to say it is too marketing gimmicky. And sometimes, too gimmicky marketing strategy could put the brand's image to be seen as insincere......but, you can always blame the music video's director. 

What do you think? Is the video is too marketing strategy gimmick from Macys?

just so you know...

Courtesy of: Andre Rangel via 9GAG

you know you're not the first...

"You know you're not the first,

but do you really care?"

This ad by BMW Greece that are supposedly for their premium used car, are such a......i don't know, can't really found an exact word to describe it.

Maybe the message that they are trying to say is, BMW premium car are so beautiful, and it does not matter if it is an used car or you are not the first person to drive it...but, doesn't it sending a totally different message? 

Well, i have to be honest i did not get the right message straight away.. i thought they are trying to sending off a completely different message (something have to do with "used women = used car?")

This sort of sexy alluring ad may have attracted most of the male population, but it might also alienating the potential BMW female consumers at the same time. Not just that, they are provoking a certain perception of female which may  find this offensive. Sex, women, luxury and car industry may have diddling each other for decades, but do they really have to go this path?

So, i guess wouldn't it be better if you run through it to many (more) different audience before you officially launch it to the public, BMW? 

What do you think?

Toyota gets social with "Social Snapshot" application

Recently Toyota has launched a new features on their website called “Social Snap Shot” that was developed by Glueisobar, that allows the user to select a maximum of ten off the user’s facebook friends, and it allows you to get a video summary of your friends updates depending on the updates time period you would like to receive (usually: daily, weekly, and monthly).

I must say, I am impressed by the idea of developing “social snap shot”, however, I don’t see how it relevant to the total brand image of Toyota Yaris. Yes, they might want to be perceived as youthful, upbeat, and exciting brand, but do you have to go to that extend and develop your ‘own facebook’? I don’t personally see how it relevant in developing a social updates summary of your friend with a car brand.

That is what I feel with some of the facebook or the ‘so-called-social media’ tools that has been used by numerous brands these days. Somehow they don’t seem to fully understand how to engage with customers through the help of social media while being relevant to their brand message or image at the same time; and merely seen as a ‘social media trend follower’.

What do you think?is this "Social snapshot" idea are relevant to their product? 

Leave you comments below, and tell me what you think! :)

cracking the "QR Code"

How often did you see a rectangular matrix at the bottom of an advertisement?at the back of a business card? product tags and packaging? It may seem unusual at first, but more and more business and advertisers are utilizing such matrix or codes to provide their audience more informations about the business. Let me first start off by explaining what is QR Codes.

QR Codes is rectangular-shaped and two-dimensional bar codes that often contains URL which able to direct users to access informations provided within that code; which often known as ‘mobile tagging’.   The trend of having QR Codes placed on every print advertisement was initially started in Japan, their escalating popularity reach the United States and Europe along with the immense popularity of Smartphone and 3G networks.

The innovation of QR Codes has literally diminished the term “boundaries”, which it allows unlimited sharing of informations.  When people are passing through informations on the Internet, they are indirectly building a community on their own, for example QR Codes that direct the users to their facebook fan page. Not just building a community on their own, but they also stimulating a different mindset and acts as ‘call of action’ tool. In recent studies by Baltimore advertising agency MGH, they have found numerous reason why people use QR Codes, such as: 

• ·      Secure a coupon, deal or discount (53%),
• ·      Access additional information (52%);
• ·      Enter a sweepstakes (33%);
• ·      Sign up to receive more information (26%);
• ·      Access video (24%)

But the remaining question is, HOW EFFECTIVE THE QR CODE IS?

In the studies by Baltimore advertising agency MGH also found that approximately 72% of smart phone users have the tendency to recall an ad with QR Codes; how cool is that?! This study indicates that people are getting more and more interested and willing to participate in the interactions with ‘QR Coded’ advertisements that signal other additional benefits like deals, coupons, and social media interactions. (further studies: MGH,Inc QR Codes survey results)

It may seem as a potential powerful tool for marketers, but bear in mind that not everyone is aware of QR Codes, quite heartbreaking actually, ... It is such a great technology innovation.

Have you ever try QR Codes? What do you think? Does it have the potential to survive or will it eventually be dead?

Leave your comments below, and share your experience with QR Codes!

Social Media breakthrough for Disney "Toy Story 3"

I have recently developed a video about: How The Walt Disney Company utilize Social Media. And i have to be honest, i am totally impressed with their initiatives and efforts in utilizing every media platform out there to delivering their message for Disney fans around the world. And particularly in this video, i analyze how they utilizing social media like: Myspace, Twitter, Youtube, and Facebook in promoting Toy Story 3.

There are two innovative methods that they implement within the period of promotion. 

1. Promoted Trending Topic on Twitter.

     While i was researching about their means of promotions during the release of Toy Story 3, i found that The Walt Disney Company has utilize every single possible way of promotions in the internet. And they are not just utilizing them, but they also innovating new platforms, like the sponsored trending topic. They are the FIRST company that ever sponsored a trending topic on twitter.

2. 'Disney Tickets Together' on Facebook.

    Just how aggressive they are in finding new and interesting methods for promoting their movie release, Disney launched Disney Tickets Together. An  application that allows users to purchase tickets without having to leave facebook site, and allow them to see of which their friends have purchased tickets of the film or inviting their friends along when purchasing tickets. Talking about innovations ...

Looking at these efforts that Disney Company had given for the success of Toy Story 3 had made me realize that The Walt Disney Company are continuing to be innovative and always give their best for their fans around the world. It may seem like a business gimmick for some people, but i personally think it is their effort to continually be relevant and delivering the best innovations.

What do you think?is it only just a business gimmick from Disney?

Let me know what you think, and enjoy the video! :)

Should Louis Vuitton get Social Media friendly?

While I was sitting in the lecture theatre at Building B, Monash University Caufield campus, listening to Wagstaff’s amusement at Coca Cola’s recent “Share a Coke” campaign (total marketing gimmick!); it got me thinking that there’s plenty other brands that does this sort of personalization gimmick too! Not to mention Heinz canned soup, Build-A-Bear, Personalized storybook, and the list goes on. These campaigns are turned out to be gimmicky genius! But will it work to a more high-end brand like Louis Vuitton?

I recently dropped by Louis Vuitton’s facebook page, and surprisingly, it is well managed and well thought, unlike any other high-end fashion brands facebook page. And to be honest, I was amazed by how Louis Vuitton designs their facebook page. It may be still in the standard facebook layout, but the features included were beyond my expectation. There are two features that stand out the most, which are their ‘Fashion Show’ and ‘MonMonogram app’.

The ‘Fashion Show’ feature showcase the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2012 Collection fashion show, allowing all Louis Vuitton fans or fashionista around the world to have the chance to experience the full show.

And the most interesting on the LV’s facebook fan page was the ‘Mon Monogram app’ where it allows the users to personalize Louis Vuitton bags with stripes, colors and initials through facebook application. After the bag has been personalized, then the users are able to send it to their friends on Facebook, or inviting them to join the application. The payment method could also be done through the application or simply go to the Louis Vuitton website.

I personally don’t think that it is such a great idea to have the ‘Mon Monogram’ facebook application for a high-end brand such Louis Vuitton. I have to say that their online presence was great, the whole personalized bag was brilliant and the personalization done through their website are fantastic; but through facebook application? Well, I guess it is just me, but I do think it is kind of risky step to be taken by an established high-end brand such Louis Vuitton which this initiative have the potential of tarnishing the brand image; I guess facebook should really develop facebook business (a world of online store) afterall...

What I admire the most from Louis Vuitton are their effort to engage and establish relationship with their customers, through their initiative of ‘Fashion Show’ feature on their facebook page, as well as their twitter account (@LouisVuitton_HQ).

But I somehow still feel doesn’t quite right, maybe i'm being pessimistic of this idea... Should luxury brand go social media without risking their brand image?

Leave your comments below, and tell me what you think! :)

URL Bar Ads first love?

When you think about online advertising, what is the first thing that came out in your mind? Banner ad? Pop-up banners in every websites? 

Well, it seems that McCann Erikson Israel, one of world's largest advertising agency has developed a brilliant idea for a new platform to advertise and conduct their online promotional activities. It is through creating messages that is placed besides the site's URL.

“♥♥♥ I told my friend: “For Her, I would swim across the ocean” ♥♥♥

“♥♥♥ Cellcom Presents: First Love, Season 2. Press enter to watch ♥♥♥”

It was first developed for Cellcom, an Israel-based telecommunications company to promote their recent ‘First Love’ campaign which mainly focused on young adults and teenage first love experience. Which i think is rather an innovative and creative idea that i think it is something new to the advertising industry. Will it work effectively to attract attention? i must say, they certainly grab mine.

What do you guys think? Is this just another attempt to innovating a new ad space, or it is rather seen as a breath of fresh air to online advertising?

Sound off below, and tell me what you think! :)

Follow me 24/7?

It is undeniable that there is an exponential growth in trends of business turning to social media as their communication platform to the wider society. But the main question is, how far they could utilize this medium?

I have recently read “Socialnomics” by Eric Qualman (as mentioned by Peter Wagstaff in his first lecture of the semester), and he point out a couple of example how business utilize social media like twitter as their customer service “hotline”. He mentioned a pretty interesting example of @Jetblue case with a number of their customers that felt being “followed” on twitter. And in response to the customers that felt being “followed”, Jet Blue are sending them a message, that says:

“…… its merely me and my team keeping our ears to the ground and listening to our customers talk in open forums so we can improve our service. Its not marketing, its trying to engage on a level other than mass broadcast, something I personally believe more companies should try to do.” and apparently it was sent by their Corporate Communications manager.

This case shows that even though social media is engaging, monstrous communication platform, but they still have to be carefully implemented and monitor. Slight mistakes in social media could bring a massive fatal impact, as it is instant sharing of information, worldwide. The one point that capture my attention in the response letter sent by Jetblue is how they stated, “Its not marketing, it’s trying to engage on a level other than mass broadcast”.Should they even say that? Is it just another marketing gimmick or they sincerely want to engage and establishing relationship with their customers?

Well, I personally think that its just another marketing gimmick that intends to construct a brand images that customer-friendly. And it shows that they fully acknowledge that as an airline company, its rather critical to maintain and improve their customer service to maintain their competitive edge in the industry. Also, it seems that they are following the trend of social media, and utilize this so called most influential tool like twitter to keep their brand relevant to today’s society, and yet they might not properly utilize it.

I am not against the idea of using twitter as part of customer service; however there are some other way to utilize it. A good example of how to properly utilize twitter is displayed by Comcast, where they assigned representatives (@comcaststeve, @comcastmichael,etc) to immediately respond to the enquiries and feedback from public. It is like a call operator but in twitter version. It’s interesting to see the overflowing number of company or brands twitter account that try to engage with the public and yet only a few of them that utilize it properly.

So, what do you guys think? ? Is it just another marketing gimmick or they sincerely want to engage and establishing relationship with their customers?

Sound off below and tell me what you think! :)

ps: go check “Socialnomics” by Eric Qualman, it's such an inspiring book!

Tha!

The Power of KerrBloom Pow!

Attention to all Melbourn-ians, some of you may wonder what’s with all the commotion at David Jones last Wednesday (10^th August) at 1pm-ish. I tell you why, the infamous supermodel Miranda Kerr was spotted in David Jones Bourke Street Mall, attending David Jones Spring/Summer fashion preview. And fortunately, I was there to capture this event.

If you see in the picture, there are people sitting beside the runway, and FYI: its not limited to RSVP; Its just ordinary people that have been queuing since morning, to be able to sit there. It reminds me about the recent statement from Russel Howcroft in Gruen Transfer. He basically said that having a celebrity endorsement is about getting the communication and interaction with the public. And having Miranda Kerr seems the perfect fit to represent David Jones. Not just the fact that she is a world renown supermodel, yet also a businesswoman with her skin care line KORA, and also a wife to Hollywood’s heartthrob, Orlando Bloom. It is allowing the public to relate to her in so many different ways.

Oh, and don’t forget the power of internet.

credits to: TheVine.com, PopSugar.com, JustJared.buzznet.com, CentralWesternDaily.com, FadedYouth.com, and HeraldSun.com

It is not just giving David Jones a full Nationwide attention, and yet, it giving them a WORLDWIDE attention. Even JustJared.buzznet.com is a USA-based entertainment blog that have estimately 1 million viewers each months, reported her attendance in David Jones. Talking about worldwide attention, don’t forget the power of social media.

Take me as an example of the public point of view, I was terribly excited to see her there, and I (the Facebook and Twitter junkie) immediately tweet and upload photos of her to my Facebook. Imagine all the people there are tweeting and uploading photos of her to their Facebook… thousands of exposure for David Jones, and immediate word-of –mouth promotion.

I must say, David Jones done brilliantly on this celebrity endorsement strategy.

Talking about David Jones, I recently spotted this about Myer Spring/Summer event that held at the same day in Eveleigh. Hmmm…this is getting interesting.

credits to TheAge.com

Well peeps, what do you think? Do you agree with Russel Howcroft? is having a celebrity endorsement always the best options for a company to communicate to the public? or it is merely a gimmick?

Leave a comment and tell me what you think! :)

Cheers!

Google Apps vs Office 365 - Which one would you rather choose?

credits to: DaPicsProductions via YouTube

"His ads are unsolicited based on what you type, Makes you wanna ditch Gmail and go Office 365."

It is just part of the lyrics in the recent spoofs video made by Microsoft that was leaked to the web. The video was shown in the Microsoft’s annual Global Exchange Sales conference in July 2011, in front of 15,000 Microsoft’s employees; does it really leaked on to the Internet? Or is it a just gimmick to hype the Office 365?

Regardless of it, this video pointed out some inevitable fact about Google Apps (service provided that includes Google Docs,Talks, groups, Calendar, Sites,and Gmail), especially Gmail. They pointed out how Google are capable to detect some of the keywords from our mails and display ads that they thought are relevant and something that you will be interested on. What makes this Google system very attractive is that they allows businesses and marketers to target the exact market with the right offers that caters their preferences, at the right time. Also, they are seen as the future of the Marketing industry, as it caters small business to promote their business with relatively small amount of money, as they only pay for Cost-per-Click.

In contrast with Google Apps, in June 2011, Microsoft launch the Office 365 that is a software plus services which includes the Microsoft Office suite of desktop applications and hosted versions of Microsoft's Server products that are able to be accessed and shared through the Internet (in short: Its just Microsoft’s version of Google Apps). And their competitive advantage over Google Apps are Ads-free service. But, my question is, does it really matter? How often do you pay attention to these ads? Does it really effective? Not to mention the invasion of privacy conducted by Google to detect all the users preferences.

So, which one would you rather choose – turn into Office 365 or  stay true to Google Apps?

Tell me what you think, and leave some comments below! 

Gimmick More: Need not Need?

Welcome to "Gimmick More : Need not Need?" by Feliciana Natali W.


Let me first introduce myself, I am an undergraduate student in Monash University, studying Marketing and Behavioral Studies. It has been a while that i want to start a Marketing blog, but never really found a chance to. And thanks to eMarketing unit, i can finally start my marketing blog, Gimmick More : Need not Need?


The name 'Gimmick More' came after countless personal experience of buying some things that purely because of the advertisements, and some of them turned out to be disappointing; from there on, i think of Advertisements = Gimmick. 
Along the way, as a marketer myself, sometimes Gimmick is all you need to get the maximum exposure. And nowadays, it just happen through numerous different channels and the fastest one is Internet!


Therefore, this blog will discuss anything that is related to marketing, mainly focusing on Electronic Marketing.
It will mainly cover popular aspects, like:

• Popular marketing practices,
• Social Media and businesses,
• eMarketing breakthrough,
• Digital Marketing campaigns and advertisements,
• anything that is DIGITALIZED! 

so, STAY TUNE and feel free to drop some comments!






Catch'ya!