As part of a community outreach service, KFC decided to offer five cities the opportunity to get their potholes filled. The plan consists in filling every pothole and then stamping a message with a non-permanent chalk over it. The message would read the words, "Re-freshed by KFC."
One side of the spectrum considers this as a cool and creative approach to market the KFC brand. It creates buzz and makes the fast-food chain look good in the public's eyes. KFC proudly emphasizes how it can market itself while helping local governments and everyday Americans all over the country.
The other side is not to happy with the publicity stunt stating they should perhaps "fix their menu first." Obviously, KFC isn't one of the healthiest fast-food chains in the nation and this has caused some buzz.
The point is this is a really cool idea that, regardless of how it's percieved, helps cities and their people. I think the idea itself is "refreshing."
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Music executives call iTunes higher prices a "PR nightmare"
In a highly questionable move, Apple executives have announced that the company will be increasing their iTunes song prices by 30 percent.
At a time when people are trying to cut back on expenses this plan, which blatantly asks customers to pay more for the same product, seems nonsensical and risky from a public relations aspect.
Starting April 7, iTunes will charge $1.29 for many of their popular songs and 64 cents for older or less popular songs. Apple executives hope that altering the prices will promote the sale of package deals instead of individual song purchasing.
Music labels have been urging iTunes to raise their prices, but this was a move that Steve Jobs had thus resisted because of potential harm it could do to sales. However, Apple’s decision to go through with this now seems like terrible timing.
Another issue is the fact that iTunes is penalizing the already shrinking market of people who are willing to pay for music and squeezing them for more cash. If this plan back fires it could end up alienating their customers and sending them away to the multitude of music piracy sites, therefore hurting iTunes’ sales and worsening the situation for the record labels.
If you want to improve your business model you’ve got to follow the trends and be aware of your competition. Raising prices when your biggest competition is offering the same thing for free doesn’t do either one of those things.
Either way, I hope iTunes has their army of pr people ready because after April 7, there will be a reaction and it may not be the one that Apple was hoping for.
At a time when people are trying to cut back on expenses this plan, which blatantly asks customers to pay more for the same product, seems nonsensical and risky from a public relations aspect.
Starting April 7, iTunes will charge $1.29 for many of their popular songs and 64 cents for older or less popular songs. Apple executives hope that altering the prices will promote the sale of package deals instead of individual song purchasing.
Music labels have been urging iTunes to raise their prices, but this was a move that Steve Jobs had thus resisted because of potential harm it could do to sales. However, Apple’s decision to go through with this now seems like terrible timing.
Another issue is the fact that iTunes is penalizing the already shrinking market of people who are willing to pay for music and squeezing them for more cash. If this plan back fires it could end up alienating their customers and sending them away to the multitude of music piracy sites, therefore hurting iTunes’ sales and worsening the situation for the record labels.
If you want to improve your business model you’ve got to follow the trends and be aware of your competition. Raising prices when your biggest competition is offering the same thing for free doesn’t do either one of those things.
Either way, I hope iTunes has their army of pr people ready because after April 7, there will be a reaction and it may not be the one that Apple was hoping for.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Lifetime Networks launches popular website for women
Lifetime Networks has created a casual gaming site for women to play "dress up" called Roiworld.com. According to PR newswire, since its debut Feb.11, there have been 1.3 million unique visitors and 43 million page views, and has registered more than 100,000 new members. This website offers people the chance to engage in user-generated content, social networking and casual virtual world experiences. There are over 1,000 free games offering users a chance to act as fashion designers and make up artists to celebrities. "With Lifetime being the leading entertainment company for women, we knew that casual gaming and specifically 'dress up' fashion games would be an asset to our already comprehensive digital efforts. We are pleased with the positive reaction Roiworld.com has received in just over a month," said Dan Surett, the Executive Vice President of Digital Media and Business Development.
I think it's a really cool concept to give women the chance to play around with fashion and make up virtually with their favorite celebrities. I must say, embarrassed to admit, I checked it out and thought about joining the site. I still might. I think females of all ages could indulge in this and have fun with it. And with those traffic figures, such as 1.3 million visitors, it's obviously doing a good job attracting people.
I think it's a really cool concept to give women the chance to play around with fashion and make up virtually with their favorite celebrities. I must say, embarrassed to admit, I checked it out and thought about joining the site. I still might. I think females of all ages could indulge in this and have fun with it. And with those traffic figures, such as 1.3 million visitors, it's obviously doing a good job attracting people.
T.I's Road to Redemption
I have to say T.I's Road to Redemption is the biggest PR scheme i have ever seen. This dumb little rapper who bought over 25 firearms, including MACHINE GUNS and SILENCERS, is now trying to say "Oh I am so sorry, i learned my lesson, let me teach the youth that i was wrong." The basis of the show is he meets guys who are drug deelers, gangsters, etc and trys to teach them how they will end up in jail or dead by living this life.
He is doing this, so the public thinks hes doing so well and should not have to go to prison.
He is a convicted felon, who admitted to being arrested around 32 times. If he had TRULY learned his lesson, he would have stopped at the tenth time..maybe. No, hes "learned his lesson" because MTV decided they needed another reality show and paid him money to follow him around. I think it is disgusting that MTV would make him a star after his arrest. What are we teaching our kids? Sure go get arrested 32 times, make a few million dollars by singing about it, and hey if you get arrested again, call up MTV and youll be gold!
I am disgusted by this and I hope people who have common sense can see its all a PR stunt and they convict him to jail for a long time where he belongs.
http://www.rwdmag.com/articles/6263/TI-To-Go-To-Prison.html
Monday, March 23, 2009
New Celebrity Tequila
Well it seems like the fashion, movie and music industry is not enough for current celebrities. Apparently they are now attempting to break into the alcohol industry. Justin Timberlake is launching a new brand of tequila named 901, people.com reports. The name comes from the idea that 9:01 is when your evening is ending, but your night is just beginning.
The bottle has been in development for more than two years, and will hit the stores in May, People.com reports. The first few cities to sell the tequila will be New York, L.A., Las Vegas and St. Louis.
The bottle has been in development for more than two years, and will hit the stores in May, People.com reports. The first few cities to sell the tequila will be New York, L.A., Las Vegas and St. Louis.
Bands at SXSW Take Adavantage of Social Networking Opportunities
This past week Austin was home to the one and only SXSW festival. Comprised of three parts (interactive, film and music) it’s no wonder all the geeks and hipsters more or less shut down service to iphones and all other AT&T customers in the downtown area.
What were they doing on their phones: Connecting with their fans through countless venues of social networking sites.
A lot of the attendees of the festival are the most connected, blog savvy individuals one could ever find. They are constantly updating their Twitter accounts, posting photos to Facebook and uploading last night’s show to YouTube.
PR professionals like Ariel Hyatt say this is a brilliant way for fans to interact with bands. The accessibility, she says turns a “listener into a fanatic”.
Ultra connected bands like Choo Choo even did a tweet up with two fellow Texas State students at the convention center for a quick interview, which I caught with a picture and uploaded to TwitPic from my phone, of course. But there are bands that still prefer to stay private and disconnected, no matter how much success being social media savvy means.
It brings up an interesting point: How accessible is too accessible and when do you just become over-exposed?
I love being able to connect with my favorite artists and professionals I admire, but I don’t need to know when they’re using the restroom. It kills the mysterious appeal that made them cool and follow worthy to begin with.
There’s a fine line bands and others will have to learn to define so as not to be overly connected and accessible.
What were they doing on their phones: Connecting with their fans through countless venues of social networking sites.
A lot of the attendees of the festival are the most connected, blog savvy individuals one could ever find. They are constantly updating their Twitter accounts, posting photos to Facebook and uploading last night’s show to YouTube.
PR professionals like Ariel Hyatt say this is a brilliant way for fans to interact with bands. The accessibility, she says turns a “listener into a fanatic”.
Ultra connected bands like Choo Choo even did a tweet up with two fellow Texas State students at the convention center for a quick interview, which I caught with a picture and uploaded to TwitPic from my phone, of course. But there are bands that still prefer to stay private and disconnected, no matter how much success being social media savvy means.
It brings up an interesting point: How accessible is too accessible and when do you just become over-exposed?
I love being able to connect with my favorite artists and professionals I admire, but I don’t need to know when they’re using the restroom. It kills the mysterious appeal that made them cool and follow worthy to begin with.
There’s a fine line bands and others will have to learn to define so as not to be overly connected and accessible.
FARMERS' TRANS FAT SOLUTION EFFORTS PRESERVE $700 MILLION MARKET
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration madated that trans fat to appear on product's Nutrition Facts label and companies rushed to comply with the new regualtion by reformulating their products. With a tough economy that we face some might have thought this would affect farmers in a negative light. But this isn't the case, the nation's soybean farmers are reaping the rewards of a long-term strategy that lets the market and consumers be aware of a soybean with healthier oils called low-linolenic soybeans.
Companies now can use this new, healthier soybean oil in their products such as light fry, sauces, rolls and pizza dough. Companies are also testing the new oil for margarine, baked goods and shortenings. This new alternative to a healthier lifestyle has generated a supply of $1.495 billion average annual return over twenty years.
Companies now can use this new, healthier soybean oil in their products such as light fry, sauces, rolls and pizza dough. Companies are also testing the new oil for margarine, baked goods and shortenings. This new alternative to a healthier lifestyle has generated a supply of $1.495 billion average annual return over twenty years.
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