http://www.prnewsonline.com/watercooler/Pinterest-Users-in-a-Buying-Mood_16314.html
PR News published a new article about online shopping preferences and how many online sales are coming in through companies using Pinterest. The article said one in four people have clicked on the sharing sites to make purchasing decisions.
"Pinterest is one of the top 10 most visited social networks and is
growing at a faster rate than Twitter. That could very well lead to a
whole lot of online consumers clicking on images in Pinterest with one
hand, while clutching a credit card in the other," said Janet Helm, chief food & nutrition strategist for Weber Shandwick.
The article gives a few tips on how to gain sales from sites like Pinterest. I found this interesting because I am on Pinterest all the time and I have never actually purchased something I have seen on it product wise. I have made random crafts and such, but I have never used it to make purchases. What do you guys think about it?
Do ya'll/your friends buy things off Pinterest?
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Siri takes a star turn
Apple has shifted its marketing strategy by using a new approach to highlight the iPhone 4S's star feature, Siri. Instead of promoting the personal assistant as a business tool for scheduling appointments and avoiding traffic, Apple is pitching Siri as your friend you can have fun with.
Apple's most recent TV ads feature Zoey Deschanel and Samuel L. Jackson hanging out with Siri and communicating with her as if she were one of their buddies.
I think the shift in Apple's marketing strategy hightlights one of the main reasons Apple remains the leader in its market. Apple is consistently finding new and inventive ways to utilize its products. Apple understands how to keep its target audience interested and entertained while still managing to provide its consumers with useful information. I think that is what sets Apple apart from its competitors.
Many times other smartphone commercials are annoying and get old really fast. The article compares Apple's approach to smartphone marketing with Nokia's advertisement for the Lumia 900 in Russia. Lumia 900's marketing approach uses sex to sell, which in my opinion is a cheap move. I think the iPhone's most recent commercial with Zooey Deschanel and Samuel L. Jackson is quirky, original and effective. To read the article and watch the advertisements go to http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/04/17/siri-takes-a-star-turn/?iid=T_Blogs.
Apple's most recent TV ads feature Zoey Deschanel and Samuel L. Jackson hanging out with Siri and communicating with her as if she were one of their buddies.
I think the shift in Apple's marketing strategy hightlights one of the main reasons Apple remains the leader in its market. Apple is consistently finding new and inventive ways to utilize its products. Apple understands how to keep its target audience interested and entertained while still managing to provide its consumers with useful information. I think that is what sets Apple apart from its competitors.
Many times other smartphone commercials are annoying and get old really fast. The article compares Apple's approach to smartphone marketing with Nokia's advertisement for the Lumia 900 in Russia. Lumia 900's marketing approach uses sex to sell, which in my opinion is a cheap move. I think the iPhone's most recent commercial with Zooey Deschanel and Samuel L. Jackson is quirky, original and effective. To read the article and watch the advertisements go to http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/04/17/siri-takes-a-star-turn/?iid=T_Blogs.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Food Network creates "CityEats" which allows for online dining reservations
The Food Network has recently created a site called "CityEats" which allows customers to make dinner reservations online. There's only one problem-- there's already a company which has done this since 1998 called Open Table, Inc. One thing that the owner of the Food Network, Scripps, thinks is that since the website has the Food Network logo that it will attract more customers.
Many are skeptical that CityEats is facing an uphill battle considering Open Table already houses 17,000 restaurants through their site. The way it works is that the restaurant pays the company a start up fee, monthly fee, as well as paying the company $1 for every reservation that is made through them.
Scripps is trying to lure restaurants to their website by offering lower monthly fees, however, Open Table's senior vice president of marketing seems to not be worried.
Branding is a huge thing and Scripps thinks that by having the Food Network brand on their site, will be the lure to win customers and restaurants over. The reservation website is an effort by Scripps to diversity its TV business, which is facing more competition from online video. They are always looking for e-commerce opportunities.
http://global.factiva.com.libproxy.txstate.edu/ga/default.aspx?imt=2&ao=14&aod=1811879
GE defends its reputation
Last year, General Electric reported earning $14.2 billion in profits and paid $0 in taxes. The company wasn't forced to pay taxes because the bulk of its profits were made offshore. GE launched a campaign to reinforce its altruism and involvement in the communities to ease the minds of angered Americans.
Gary Sheffer, VP of communications and public affairs, said that GE does pay taxes, but getting the company's side of the story out has been extremely difficult because of the complex tax laws. The media has accused GE of not only not having to pay taxes, but laying off employees as well.
GE has teamed up with Edelman to launch the campaign "GE works," which highlights its involvement in the cities which it facilitates. This campaign uses digital, media outreach and event components. The company is also using new hiring and training initiatives. An interactive program was created to encourage public interaction through sharing stories, images or video description of what's driving American competitiveness. The project will award $10,000 a week to non-profits that support American jobs and skills training.
http://www.prweekus.com/ge-promotes-its-positive-impact-amidst-criticism/article/236780/
Gary Sheffer, VP of communications and public affairs, said that GE does pay taxes, but getting the company's side of the story out has been extremely difficult because of the complex tax laws. The media has accused GE of not only not having to pay taxes, but laying off employees as well.
GE has teamed up with Edelman to launch the campaign "GE works," which highlights its involvement in the cities which it facilitates. This campaign uses digital, media outreach and event components. The company is also using new hiring and training initiatives. An interactive program was created to encourage public interaction through sharing stories, images or video description of what's driving American competitiveness. The project will award $10,000 a week to non-profits that support American jobs and skills training.
http://www.prweekus.com/ge-promotes-its-positive-impact-amidst-criticism/article/236780/
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Race for the Cure faces drastic drop in race registration
Several weeks ago Deena blogged about the Susan G. Komen Foundation and its highly controversial decision, which was quickly reversed, to suspend any funding to Planned Parenthood. Retracting the decision was not enough to mend relations with many of the organizations prior supporters.
The Susan G. Komen Foundation is now seeing the aftermath of this controversy. A race on April 21 in Indianapolis, Indiana currently has 30% fewer participants registered than it did at this point last year and has also had an equal drop in event fund raising. This decline is similar to what many other races have seen across the country.
There may be other factors that have influenced this drastic decline in participation but there is no denying that the Planned Parenthood controversy contributed to such a large drop in participation. These are two organizations that shared many supporters and now it is clear that these supporters are taking sides. Komen’s public relations team has a big job in front of them- to earn back the loyalty of upset supporters and mend relations with the Planned Parenthood community of supporters.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
How Mattel botched the call for Beautiful and Bald Barbie
A Facebook page was created in January encouraging toymaker Mattel to create a special edition, bald Barbie, to help girls with self-esteem issues due to cancer treatments or to help girls cope with their mother's hair loss as a result of chemotherapy. More than 100,000 people world wide liked this page and supported the cause.
Mattel made no statements in response to the Facebook page campaign and they made it seem as if they did not accept ideas from outside sources. Mattel could have also used the bald barbie to supports its Mattel Children's Hospital, but instead they did nothing.
Mattel announced two weeks ago that they would be producing a Bald Friend of Barbie in 2013 that will be distributed to children's hospitals and charities. Mattel announced that they were not creating this Barbie in response to the Facebook page, but it helped them realize how important it was for them to do.
With social media it is important to listen to the community, to help, to respond and to engage. Mattel failed to do any of these things. When Mattel finally responded to the issue, they did not give the community credit for a great idea.
Mattel should have felt the need to respond to this issue right away, instead of three months later. Even if they denied the idea of creating the Barbie, they could have at least addressed the community and thanked them for their support and idea. Since Mattel decided to create a Bald Friend of Barbie, they could have at least given a little credit to the community, but instead they had to take all the credit for themselves. I personally think that could potentially hurt their image because it makes them seem as if they do not want the ideas and support from the community.
http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/11345.aspx
Lindsey O'Neal
Mattel made no statements in response to the Facebook page campaign and they made it seem as if they did not accept ideas from outside sources. Mattel could have also used the bald barbie to supports its Mattel Children's Hospital, but instead they did nothing.
Mattel announced two weeks ago that they would be producing a Bald Friend of Barbie in 2013 that will be distributed to children's hospitals and charities. Mattel announced that they were not creating this Barbie in response to the Facebook page, but it helped them realize how important it was for them to do.
With social media it is important to listen to the community, to help, to respond and to engage. Mattel failed to do any of these things. When Mattel finally responded to the issue, they did not give the community credit for a great idea.
Mattel should have felt the need to respond to this issue right away, instead of three months later. Even if they denied the idea of creating the Barbie, they could have at least addressed the community and thanked them for their support and idea. Since Mattel decided to create a Bald Friend of Barbie, they could have at least given a little credit to the community, but instead they had to take all the credit for themselves. I personally think that could potentially hurt their image because it makes them seem as if they do not want the ideas and support from the community.
http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/11345.aspx
Lindsey O'Neal
Google+, still hangin' in there!
With the recent purchase of Instagram by Facebook, Google+ is still lagging behind in the race to be "the best social media." Google+. Vic Gundotra, a senior VP at Google, wrote in a blog post that Google+ was going to undergo yet another upgrade in an effort to make it "easier to use and nicer to look at, but most importantly, it accelerates efforts to create a simpler, more beautiful Google," but I think everyone knows they just want to be better than Facebook.
The most noticeable changes are the design changes that are supposed to make the pages easier to navigate and organize. As mentioned previously, with the Facebook now owning Instagram, Google+ had to improve the way photos were streamed on their user's pages, again, another war with Facebook. But a new feature that is unlike Facebook is the new Explore page, which allows users to see what is really popular in the Google+ world, not just with your friends. True you could always just google trending topics or find those on Twitter, but I guess the Explore option is kind of cool.
But there is no denying that Google+ has something going on for them that Facebook does, and that is The Hangouts. Businesses and friends are using this feature pretty consistently and Google+ has received mostly positive feedback about The Hangouts.
Gundotra says that these changes are laying the groundwork for further improvement to Google+. So keep a look out for all these changes!
So here's to hoping that Google+ finally gets a break and succeeds one of these days. But lets just FACE it, FACEbook is taking over the internet, only a few competitors really stand a chance of being as popular.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Bayless called out for trumped up high school history
Skip Bayless was called out by Jalen Rose on ESPN
for lying about his high school basketball career. Bayless was criticizing
Oklahoma City’s point guard on Twitter. Bayless was pumping up his own credits
as a high school point guard who finally learned that point guards should think
"pass 12 times before they fire away.”
According to Bayless, he was the starting point guard for his high school team in Oklahoma that made the state finals.
People from The Last Ogle, along with Rose, did
their research and found out that Bayless wasn’t even on the varsity squad
until his senior year, only played 15 out of the 22 games his team played and
no one on his team scored fewer points than Bayless did.Link: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/jalen-rose-calls-skip-bayless-air-trumped-high-214530179.html
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
YouTube Fame Could End Your Life
In recent months, we have all seen videos about the cinnamon challenge and other games of that nature. While the idiotic thought of these types of games may seem funny to the viewer, they have proven to be very dangerous for the individuals that partake in the challenge itself.
The cinnamon challenge in tells one to take a spoon full of sugar and eat it all without being able to wash it down with any water or any other beverage. Challengers usually do not complete the challenge entirely and when they do, the end up choking and coughing vigorously. Sometimes they even throw up. These challengers do not know that those small side effects are just the start of bigger complications that they are causing to their bodies such as lung collapse and pneumonia.
Other dangerous challenges that have been broadcast all over YouTube and have been trending on Twitter are the Gallon Challenge (drink an entire gallon of milk without stopping), Chubby Bunny (how many full sized marshmallows you can fit in your mouth until you can no longer say "chubby bunny"), and the Choking Game (people cut off their oxygen supply in order to get the sensation of feeling high).
I feel that these games are all ridiculous and they need to be stopped. I know that there is no way to stop people from doing things entirely, but I would hate for something tragic to happen before people stop doing things of this nature.
http://news.yahoo.com/dangerous-games-kids-avoid-160523743.html
The cinnamon challenge in tells one to take a spoon full of sugar and eat it all without being able to wash it down with any water or any other beverage. Challengers usually do not complete the challenge entirely and when they do, the end up choking and coughing vigorously. Sometimes they even throw up. These challengers do not know that those small side effects are just the start of bigger complications that they are causing to their bodies such as lung collapse and pneumonia.
Other dangerous challenges that have been broadcast all over YouTube and have been trending on Twitter are the Gallon Challenge (drink an entire gallon of milk without stopping), Chubby Bunny (how many full sized marshmallows you can fit in your mouth until you can no longer say "chubby bunny"), and the Choking Game (people cut off their oxygen supply in order to get the sensation of feeling high).
I feel that these games are all ridiculous and they need to be stopped. I know that there is no way to stop people from doing things entirely, but I would hate for something tragic to happen before people stop doing things of this nature.
http://news.yahoo.com/dangerous-games-kids-avoid-160523743.html
"GCB"
Ok, guys I have a confession..............I am OBESESSED with ABC's newest show "GCB." Based on the "semi-autobiographical" novel Good Christian Bitches by Kim Gatlin, the series centers on a recently widowed woman who moves her family back to the upscale Dallas, Texas neighborhood where she grew up.New to ABC'S primetime lineup, "GCB," series debuted on ABC as a mid-season replacement in the 2011-12 television season, on Sunday, March 4, 2012.
The series follows Amanda Vaughn (Leslie Bibb), former high-school "Queen Bitch," a recently widowed mother of two, who returns to her hometown of Highland Park, Texas, an enclave of Dallas. Formerly rich, Amanda lost everything when her husband was exposed as stealing billions of dollars from investors and died in a car crash with his mistress. She meets the former schoolmates she used to mock: Carlene Cockburn the new "Queen Bitch"; Sharon Peacham, who was beautiful in high school and is now heavy and insecure and does the bulk of Carlene's bidding; glamorous gossip queen Cricket Caruth-Reilly, whose husband, Blake, is gay; and Heather Cruz, a powerful Dallas real-estate agent.
Amanda and her teenage children move in with her 50-something mother Gigi Stopper, who tries to influence Amanda's parenting and style choices, and gives her advice about strategic maneuvering among these women. While Amanda has grown considerably since high school and wants to move on with her life, Carlene and the others still resent Amanda. They don't believe she's changed and are out to drive her away.
The storyline follows her pursuit to make right all of her worngs she's accumulated in the past and meanwhile attepting to rebuild her life in the balance. This show is definitely my guiltiest pleasure. As much as I hate it, some Texans act the way they are protrayed in the show, and its HILARIOUS. The show has even become the topic of many controversies surrounding the show's stances on religion and to some extents religious activist have petitioned to get the show removed from the air because, of what they feel, its negative portrayal of people and religion.
If you find time on a Sunday night around 9 p.m. you definitely should check it out, I'm for sure you won't be dissappointed.
The series follows Amanda Vaughn (Leslie Bibb), former high-school "Queen Bitch," a recently widowed mother of two, who returns to her hometown of Highland Park, Texas, an enclave of Dallas. Formerly rich, Amanda lost everything when her husband was exposed as stealing billions of dollars from investors and died in a car crash with his mistress. She meets the former schoolmates she used to mock: Carlene Cockburn the new "Queen Bitch"; Sharon Peacham, who was beautiful in high school and is now heavy and insecure and does the bulk of Carlene's bidding; glamorous gossip queen Cricket Caruth-Reilly, whose husband, Blake, is gay; and Heather Cruz, a powerful Dallas real-estate agent.
Amanda and her teenage children move in with her 50-something mother Gigi Stopper, who tries to influence Amanda's parenting and style choices, and gives her advice about strategic maneuvering among these women. While Amanda has grown considerably since high school and wants to move on with her life, Carlene and the others still resent Amanda. They don't believe she's changed and are out to drive her away.
The storyline follows her pursuit to make right all of her worngs she's accumulated in the past and meanwhile attepting to rebuild her life in the balance. This show is definitely my guiltiest pleasure. As much as I hate it, some Texans act the way they are protrayed in the show, and its HILARIOUS. The show has even become the topic of many controversies surrounding the show's stances on religion and to some extents religious activist have petitioned to get the show removed from the air because, of what they feel, its negative portrayal of people and religion.
Games for Education
Grantoo is a new app that allows students to play brand-sponsored games in order to win money for their education and a charity of their choice.
Students can play for free and are asked to pick a philanthropy to contribute at least 10 percent of their winnings to.
The founders of the app figure that students were playing games as a distraction anyways, so they might as well do it for a beneficial cause. The games include Wordy Bird, Grantoo Hold’em and Quiz Night. Not only students benefit from this, but companies have a great opportunity to build brand image through this application.
For more on this story click here.
Say Goodbye to print version of Yellow Pages
According to an article on CNN, AT&T has made the decision to sell its stake in Yellow Pages due to the rapid advancements in this digital era.
The sell leaves AT&T free from suffering loss on this out-dated print version of locating phone numbers, addresses and other information for company's and private individuals. AT&T will still remain connected to Yellow Pages, as a stake holder, as it moves into the digital business via Cerberus Capital Management; therefore, if the new modern version is a success, AT&T will profit. Although this deal is has not been completely finalized, it is expected to be in mid 2012.
Full article:
http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/09/technology/ATT-sells-yellow-pages/index.htm
Monday, April 9, 2012
RIP Press Release?
Read Jonathan Rick's, Levick Strategic Communication director, article on Mashable here.
In this article Rick discusses how the traditional press release has been accurately labeled as a dying bread for the last ten years. This is because digital alternatives are now eclipsing the traditional press release.
He describes how big company names, such as Goggle and Dell have made big announcements via blog posts, or other online mediums in recent years.
He goes on to explain how smaller successful companies have also had success in "blog-centric" communications. The companies listed are Zillow, Patagonia, Innocent and Servint.
The four lessons that can be taken from these 4 companies success with virtual/digital style of breaking news (rather than a press release) are:
1. Keep it human
2. Passion and edginess benefit the message; they do NOT get in the way of it (this ones my favorite)
3. Entertaining customers is as important as informing them
4. Make it personal
I think all of these pointers are great things to note and keep in mind as we enter the field!
In this article Rick discusses how the traditional press release has been accurately labeled as a dying bread for the last ten years. This is because digital alternatives are now eclipsing the traditional press release.
He describes how big company names, such as Goggle and Dell have made big announcements via blog posts, or other online mediums in recent years.
He goes on to explain how smaller successful companies have also had success in "blog-centric" communications. The companies listed are Zillow, Patagonia, Innocent and Servint.
The four lessons that can be taken from these 4 companies success with virtual/digital style of breaking news (rather than a press release) are:
1. Keep it human
2. Passion and edginess benefit the message; they do NOT get in the way of it (this ones my favorite)
3. Entertaining customers is as important as informing them
4. Make it personal
I think all of these pointers are great things to note and keep in mind as we enter the field!
Instagram, Instant Fame
By: Staci De Leon
Facebook seems to be taking over the world, well maybe just the Instagram world. Monday morning Facebook and Instagram status updates revealed that Facebook will be taking over the 13 employee company. Facebook bought the two-year-old company for $1 billion, this comes just after Instagram gained more users by announcing an Android application.
Some users are ready to delete their Instagram accounts calling the company a sell-out. Was it a good move? It will depend on the new "photo sharing" features Facebook decided to make available to its users.
The heat users are giving Instagram can be understandable since Facebook seems to be doing a lot of network sharing; updating Facebook and Twitter at the same time with the same information, adding your Pinterest pins to your Facebook wall, etc.
Personally, the move seems illogical. I got Instagram to upload photos in a picture blog type of way, not to add them to my Facebook photos for all of those friends to see. Although technology and the internet are growing, I feel like having different social network accounts are a personal decision and should be kept separate from each other.
To read the full Huffington Post article click here.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Facebook Timeline receives positive publicity after all
By Rebecca Seay
Today, a CNN article covered the wide range of reactions Facebook's new "Timeline" has brought on. The new Timeline has evoked anger in many Facebook users who don't want the change, fear in those who foresee Facebook forcing the change and then there are those who have embraced the change.
Some users are expressing their creativity through the Facebook Timeline, which allows for a more detailed information, larger photos and more room for design. The CNN article features a gallery of creative timelines Facebook users have made, allowing those hesitant in switching see the benefits Timeline offers.
Timeline is a very interesting way to map out the life of users or even businesses. Take a look at the New York Time's Facebook Timeline; it goes back before the internet even existed.
The Facebook Timeline is very eye catching and creative, but it is a little confusing to navigate and displays very detailed information about the user. Some fear they will be made to switch to the new look, but so far, Facebook has made it optional since December of 2011.
I am one of the fearful Facebook users, who does not want to be forced to switch to a format I am uncomfortable with, so I am hoping this positive publicity does not give Facebook any drastic ideas.
Read the full article by clicking the link below:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/05/tech/social-media/facebook-timeline-ireport/index.html?iphoneemail
Today, a CNN article covered the wide range of reactions Facebook's new "Timeline" has brought on. The new Timeline has evoked anger in many Facebook users who don't want the change, fear in those who foresee Facebook forcing the change and then there are those who have embraced the change.
Some users are expressing their creativity through the Facebook Timeline, which allows for a more detailed information, larger photos and more room for design. The CNN article features a gallery of creative timelines Facebook users have made, allowing those hesitant in switching see the benefits Timeline offers.
Timeline is a very interesting way to map out the life of users or even businesses. Take a look at the New York Time's Facebook Timeline; it goes back before the internet even existed.
The Facebook Timeline is very eye catching and creative, but it is a little confusing to navigate and displays very detailed information about the user. Some fear they will be made to switch to the new look, but so far, Facebook has made it optional since December of 2011.
I am one of the fearful Facebook users, who does not want to be forced to switch to a format I am uncomfortable with, so I am hoping this positive publicity does not give Facebook any drastic ideas.
Read the full article by clicking the link below:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/05/tech/social-media/facebook-timeline-ireport/index.html?iphoneemail
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Gamers Start Creative Grassroots Campaign
Cupcakes!
A month ago, Bioware released the final installment to their space opera trilogy Mass Effect. Much to their surprise, the game's ending caused a massive uproar among fans. Within 48 hours of the game's release, RetakeME3 was created on Facebook and Twitter. The group not only provided a place for thousands of gamers to discuss their disappointment (understatement), but also began the protest for a new ending.
In an effort to break the "whiny, entitled, basement-dweller" persona, the group began a charity drive for Child's Play, an organization focused on raising money to provide entertainment for children hospitals. The group quickly raised $80,000, but the drive was cut short when the organization pulled out. Their movement doesn't stop there. They quickly raised $1,000 to send 400 cupcakes to Bioware to illustrate their disappointment in the endings. If this isn't pleasantly persistent, I'm not sure what is. Cleverly, Bioware used the cupcakes to create good will when they donated them to a children's home. The movement continues to come up with creative ways to spread the word and let Bioware know they aren't going anywhere.
A month ago, Bioware released the final installment to their space opera trilogy Mass Effect. Much to their surprise, the game's ending caused a massive uproar among fans. Within 48 hours of the game's release, RetakeME3 was created on Facebook and Twitter. The group not only provided a place for thousands of gamers to discuss their disappointment (understatement), but also began the protest for a new ending.
In an effort to break the "whiny, entitled, basement-dweller" persona, the group began a charity drive for Child's Play, an organization focused on raising money to provide entertainment for children hospitals. The group quickly raised $80,000, but the drive was cut short when the organization pulled out. Their movement doesn't stop there. They quickly raised $1,000 to send 400 cupcakes to Bioware to illustrate their disappointment in the endings. If this isn't pleasantly persistent, I'm not sure what is. Cleverly, Bioware used the cupcakes to create good will when they donated them to a children's home. The movement continues to come up with creative ways to spread the word and let Bioware know they aren't going anywhere.
Ryan Seacrest going to London Olympics for NBC
Ryan Seacrest is the host of American Idol, a co-host on E! News, runs a production company and a Top 40 radio show and also hosts a New Year's Eve show. Of course his next big thing would be to help NBC cover the 2012 Olympics.
The 37-year-old "American Idol" host sat down with Matt Lauer on Wednesday's show to announce that he'll be taking part in NBC's coverage of the Summer Olympics.
It will be the first of "a lot of fun things" he expects to be doing at the network, Seacrest said.
I know there are mixed feelings about Seacrest, but I don't have a problem with him. I also happen to love watching the Olympics. So I'm ready to see how this all pans out. I'm sure Seacrest won't be leaving his sense of humor behind just because he's covering the Olympics.
Click here for story
The 37-year-old "American Idol" host sat down with Matt Lauer on Wednesday's show to announce that he'll be taking part in NBC's coverage of the Summer Olympics.
It will be the first of "a lot of fun things" he expects to be doing at the network, Seacrest said.
I know there are mixed feelings about Seacrest, but I don't have a problem with him. I also happen to love watching the Olympics. So I'm ready to see how this all pans out. I'm sure Seacrest won't be leaving his sense of humor behind just because he's covering the Olympics.
Click here for story
Whitney Houston final autopsy
Whitney Houston drowned face down in a tub of "extremely hot water" about 12 inches deep, the final autopsy report on the singers death said.
The Los Angeles County coroner ruled that Houston's February 11 death was an accidental drowning with the "effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use" as contributing factors. An empty bottle of the Xanax was found in her room, but the level of the sedative found in her blood was low, he said. Empty beer bottles were also found, but alcohol was not detected in her body. The coroner's report note that Houston suffered several small scald burns on her face at the time of her death. Toxicology testing measured .58 micrograms of cocaine per milliliter of blood drawn from a vein in her leg during the autopsy, which Pinsky called a moderate level.
Investigators found "a small spoon with a white crystal like substance in it and a rolled up piece of white paper" in the bathroom where Houston drowned, coroner's investigator Kristy McCracken wrote. Along with cocaine, the toxicology tests found other drugs in her body, including marijuana, the anti-anxiety drug Xanax, the muscle relaxant Flexeril and the allergy medicine Benadryl, the report said.
Wow I had no idea Whitney was such an addict. It's so sad to see such major talent go to waste. I knew she died from overdosing, but had no idea about everything else in her system.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/04/showbiz/whitney-houston-toxicology/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
The Los Angeles County coroner ruled that Houston's February 11 death was an accidental drowning with the "effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use" as contributing factors. An empty bottle of the Xanax was found in her room, but the level of the sedative found in her blood was low, he said. Empty beer bottles were also found, but alcohol was not detected in her body. The coroner's report note that Houston suffered several small scald burns on her face at the time of her death. Toxicology testing measured .58 micrograms of cocaine per milliliter of blood drawn from a vein in her leg during the autopsy, which Pinsky called a moderate level.
Investigators found "a small spoon with a white crystal like substance in it and a rolled up piece of white paper" in the bathroom where Houston drowned, coroner's investigator Kristy McCracken wrote. Along with cocaine, the toxicology tests found other drugs in her body, including marijuana, the anti-anxiety drug Xanax, the muscle relaxant Flexeril and the allergy medicine Benadryl, the report said.
Wow I had no idea Whitney was such an addict. It's so sad to see such major talent go to waste. I knew she died from overdosing, but had no idea about everything else in her system.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/04/showbiz/whitney-houston-toxicology/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
Pink Slime
The prevailing corporate crisis response wisdom these days is for PR to state at the outset of a crisis, “We’re are investigating the situation and are working toward a satisfactory resolution,” or words to that effect.
Not so in the case of Beef Products Inc., the maker of “pink slime,” as it has become widely known by the public, or “lean, finely textured beef” as it is called by the company itself. On Monday, March 26, the company was in a fighting mood during a news conference that announced the temporary closing of several of its plants due to the public outcry about the product.
Not so in the case of Beef Products Inc., the maker of “pink slime,” as it has become widely known by the public, or “lean, finely textured beef” as it is called by the company itself. On Monday, March 26, the company was in a fighting mood during a news conference that announced the temporary closing of several of its plants due to the public outcry about the product.
The nation's second-largest hamburger chain is the latest company to join the public relations war over so-called "pink slime" -- an ammonia-treated beef filler product that the meat industry calls "finely textured beef" -- that is at the center of one of the biggest U.S. food fights in recent history.
Wendy's ran an ad in eight major daily newspapers around the US.
The Wendy's ad -- which appeared in USA Today, the Chicago Tribune and other newspapers -- plays on the chain's popular catch phrase from the 1980s, reading: "Where's The Pure Beef? At Wendy's, that's where!"
"We have never used lean finely textured beef (pink slime) because it doesn't meet our high quality standards," Wendy's spokesman Bob Bertini told Reuters.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
How To Be Popular At Work
Geoffrey James of Inc.com says that if you want to be appreciated at work, make sure everyone else feels welcome.Whenever people gather in any social setting, there is always one person who becomes the primary center of attention. People want to be around that person, and unconsciously seek his or her approval. Building rapport with people immediately after meeting them is a good way to become the popular person among your colleagues. While rapport building comes naturally to some, however, it is a mistake to believe that its something that can’t be consciously developed. Rapport building, like all human relationship skills, can be learned and taught. Sharing common experiences is not always so clear cut. For instance, having a conversation with somebody about sports is simple yet not always effective, because first of all they may not even like sports, and even if they do it's a conversation they can have with mostly anybody. According to Taylor, it's far more effective, when you meet somebody for the first time, to visualize that person as an honored guest in your home. If you’re like most people, when you welcome guests into your home, you are glad to see them and want them feel welcome and at ease. the best thing to do when meeting somebody or engaging in conversation is to appear genuinely interested in whatever they are talking about, this makes them feel welcome and comfortable, as well as ensures they have a positive view of you.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Duke University's "Cameron Campout" Campaign
In a recent case study over Duke University's campaign put on by students of the college in the fall of 2011, a group of the school's Fuqua School of Business students increased student and alumni participation in the life of the school, educated alumni on the school's strategies and programs, and provided a platform for students and alumni from different generations to interact: Duke men's basketball.
The student organization created a "Cameron Campout" event, named after the legendary Cameron indoor stadium and home of the "Cameron Crazies," held in the parking lot of the stadium. Students and alumni were given the chance to wait around for the opportunity to enter a lottery contest to win season tickets for the 2011-2012 men's basketball season.
The campaign was so successful mostly because the legendary Cameron gymnasium is so small and the Duke fans in the town of Durham are so passionate about the team and coach Mike Krzyzewski's work with the student athletes that a large crowd developed three days before the scheduled date of the drawing.
However, the student organization did create an online quiz contestants could take to win additional prizes in order to reach its student and alumni involvement in the school's events, the ultimate goal of the campaign.
This case was very interesting to me, being a huge fan of college basketball and the Duke vs. North Carolina rivalry in general. The few friends I know that have had the chance to witness the madness first hand at Cameron indoor stadium have described it as just that: madness; apparently a madness worth waiting 3 days for a small chance to win season tickets.
-Blake Brittain
Lululemon uses eavesdropping strategy
Lululemon Athletica, high-end yoga attire, strays from the traditional branding techniques that drive businesses today. While many companies rely on their websites or social media to receive complaints and feedback, Lulu has a different way of doing things... eavesdropping.
With a market value of $10.4 billion and sales of $712 million last year, Lulu is doing something right. The company doesn't rely on collecting costumer data, driving sales through discounts or building new stores around the country to increase sales. Instead, it stays in close contact with its customers and uses a sense of scarcity.
That's right... whether you think it's creepy or not, the staff of Lululemon are told to stand outside of dressing rooms and fold clothes in the store, rather than in the back, to eavesdrop and hear complaints first hand. They then create customer-employee relationships and use complaints to tweak the store.
Lululemon also focuses on the scarcity of its items. New colors and seasonal items usually get three, six or 12-week life cycles to encourage customers not to wait. For example, "Paris Pink" clothing items were supposed to have a two month cycle, but sold out after the first week.
Lulu's branding tactics of creating in-store relationships with the customers, along with short life cycles of clothing items are what has driven the success of the company. I think that society is relying too much on social media and not enough on personal relationships. Although I think social media is beneficial to branding, businesses should not forget the importance of in-person interactions.
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052702303812904577295882632723066-lMyQjAxMTAyMDIwMjEyNDIyWj.html?mod=wsj_share_email
With a market value of $10.4 billion and sales of $712 million last year, Lulu is doing something right. The company doesn't rely on collecting costumer data, driving sales through discounts or building new stores around the country to increase sales. Instead, it stays in close contact with its customers and uses a sense of scarcity.
That's right... whether you think it's creepy or not, the staff of Lululemon are told to stand outside of dressing rooms and fold clothes in the store, rather than in the back, to eavesdrop and hear complaints first hand. They then create customer-employee relationships and use complaints to tweak the store.
Lululemon also focuses on the scarcity of its items. New colors and seasonal items usually get three, six or 12-week life cycles to encourage customers not to wait. For example, "Paris Pink" clothing items were supposed to have a two month cycle, but sold out after the first week.
Lulu's branding tactics of creating in-store relationships with the customers, along with short life cycles of clothing items are what has driven the success of the company. I think that society is relying too much on social media and not enough on personal relationships. Although I think social media is beneficial to branding, businesses should not forget the importance of in-person interactions.
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052702303812904577295882632723066-lMyQjAxMTAyMDIwMjEyNDIyWj.html?mod=wsj_share_email
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Mega Millions
The Mega Millions lottery drew attention all over the country last week when Friday’s jackpot reached a record-breaking $656 million. The jackpot sparked more and more interest as it continued to grow over a nine week period. By Friday, Americans had spent nearly $1.5 billion on Mega Millions tickets and people all over the country logged on to Facebook and Twitter to comment on the lotto.
The huge jackpot gained national attention and coverage without Mega Millions having to lift a finger. The prospect of winning $656 million generated plenty of buzz on its own.
However, this may also have a negative impact on Mega Millions. Economists suggest that a “negative hangover effect” sometimes exists when people come hyped about a lottery but then do not come out on top. This probably will not occur in this case because the people who always buy tickets will likely continue their regular play patterns.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-04-01/mega-millions-lottery/53932490/1?csp=34news
The huge jackpot gained national attention and coverage without Mega Millions having to lift a finger. The prospect of winning $656 million generated plenty of buzz on its own.
However, this may also have a negative impact on Mega Millions. Economists suggest that a “negative hangover effect” sometimes exists when people come hyped about a lottery but then do not come out on top. This probably will not occur in this case because the people who always buy tickets will likely continue their regular play patterns.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-04-01/mega-millions-lottery/53932490/1?csp=34news
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