Marketing Blog # 9

TedTalk--idea worth spreading.

I always watch TedTalk videos. They always have some great speakers like Bill Clinton, Robert Fischell, who will deliver a speech to audience to spread an idea. And idea worth spreading is their slogan. They successfully raised audience's awareness and interests. The inspiring speech also makes audience desire to take action. I think this is how they will market themselves. Also, some of their great ideas really inspired some innovation which develops a great market or discovered a great potential in some products. I also find that they do not have advertisement on their website and videos, unlike NBA or other homepage who has a lot of advertisement. On reason is because they are supported by a nonprofitable organization, the other reason i think is because they position themselves as and idea spreader and highly academic. But they are not totally academic, which means not only professer or phd. can talk about their ideas, i saw they invite children to give a speech or a volunteer firefighter to give a speech. They want to spread the idea that everyone can have an idea and every good idea is worth spreading.

Also, their show is not boring or totally academic. Their video is full of fun and inspiring. Which totally changed the image of knowledge in people's mind. Knowledge is no longer boring and waste of time, it also can be fun and cheering. And thus it makes people like ideas, willing to talk about ideas and automatically spread the ideas, which is the central idea of tedtalk. It is a great marketing example. Maybe other companies is selling products and promoting products. They are promoting some intangible good--idea. And they did a great job because they made everyone willing to think about the idea and spread the idea and come up with new ideas, and this is how tedtalk can last. Boosting new ideas is more important to tedtalk.

Marketing Blog # 8

Advertising for Japan.

Recently there is a earthquake happened in Japan. Japan does not fear earthquake because there are too much earthquake happening in Japan and Japan's buildings are designed to be able to survive the earthquake. But the tsunami caused by the earthquake ruined everything on its way and destroyed a lot of towns in Japan which cause thousands of people homeless and thousands of injuries and death. On the left hand side is a picture showing a man rode a bicycle through an area hit by the earthquake and tsunami in Kesennuma. But is this event related to marketing? Yes! For sure, it is related to marketing because it helps Japan establish its brand and promote Japan to whole world by showing how Japan react to this disaster. People all gather in schools' playground or any open area and women and children are served with priority. They are perfectly organized without any regulation. Even after the tsunami, people still line up to call their family or friends, even the line is 30 meters long.

And another thing is that a nuclear power station is destroyed in the tsunami and its material is leaking outside which spread radiation to the area. The picture below shows that workers are struggling to avert meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. And the picture on the right hand side shows that medical workers screened a woman for possible radiation exposure in Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture, on Wednesday after she was evacuated from an area within about 12 miles of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. She tested negative. Japanese government's quick and efficient reaction helps reduce the loss to the minimum. And this shows the world that Japan is powerful because it has well organized citizen and responsive government. But the result comes out disappointing because the station exploded three times and its really dangerous to cool it down or go rescue victims, Japanese government already forbid any people entering that zone. So no medical care can be delivered and people there will saddly seat there and wait to die. But i believe this is the best solution for all members of the country.

Marketing Blog # 7

I recently realized that i seldom saw apple ads on TV or Internet, but it is already known by millions of people and a lot of people are crazy about it. How can it achieve this magical result? I think it must be from its market positioning. Most high-tech product devalue very quickly, maybe three month later it is only half of its price. But Apple products never become cheap product with time changing. Apple only send its product for free with new products as promotions. This strategy helps differentiate itself as LV or Guggi in the high-tech industry which can be seen as luxury goods. Also, it leads a trend in the high-tech industry. Just as LV or Guggi do not need a lot advertisement, Apple does not too. Apple focus most of its financial support on innovation and personalization its products which helps it lead the trend in this industry. And each of Apple's release will result in a huge wave of purchasing trend.

With comparision to another brand Coca Cola which is also a well-known brand name, Apple spend only a little money on advertising. But Coca invested a huge amount of money in advertising. They are also consider a trend leader in its industry. In a recent survey, Coca is considered as the most well know brand in the world. And different from apple, Coca spent fairly less money on innovation. Even they did, its for market development which focus on develop new market. Such as, they created Zero Coca which focus on develop women's market who fears high sugar amount in the Coca. But Apple's innovation is for product development which is aimed at increasing the purchasing frequency and customer amount in its current target market to ensure its market share.

Marketing Blog #6

With reference to Johnny Zin's blog, he talked about some 3D product which is growing in the market. He raised the issue that people will like 3D technology more than before but the glasses that required by 3D product will be a barrier to the development of 3D product. He feels that people might be annoyed by wearing the glasses. But to me, i think 3D glasses can be an opportunity for developing this technology. One possible way is that this glasses develop into a trend or fashion. Then everyone feels cool by simply wearing it. Or it can replace the huge TV screen. By just wearing the glasses, people can watch 3D movies. Thus 3D movies become portable just like mp3 player or ipod. So if 3D glasses can be innovated, it may help 3D movies develop faster and into a totally new era.

Another blog that i want to comment on is Qi Zhong's blog, which is about the fast food in NYC. The 4food restaurant used huge amount of social media which facilitates the ordering of meals and helps the restaurant spread its fame. The thing that i want to point out is that this may not be a long-term focused customer relationship. Most people come to the resturant to try new things, but the food may not be as tasty, which is the core value of a restaurant. So the vast use of social media may also harm its fame and spread the bad thing about it. Secondly as a fast food restaurant it feeds busy customers who cannot stay for long. And if they use social media, they may spend more time in the restaurant which they cannot afford. Thus it will not be as affective. But this is a good idea which may significantly change how people order food in restaurant later.