Big Bucks, Big Pharma

This movie, http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=224 <-- preview, was shown to me in Brain and Behavior.  It really ties into the whole marketing scheme.  This is an excellent example of marketing at its worse.  A little summary of the movie is that big pharmaceutical corporations are taking over the marketing world and not for a good reason.  These companies make over $550 billion dollars just in marketing the prescriptions.  The content is intended to market to the viewer in a such a way that they will go to their doctors and asked to be prescribed these medications.  Keep in mind these medications are "brand name" and cost nearly quadruple the amount for generic brands that are exactly the same.  The company also markets "new" products to entice the viewer and uses scenes that make you think the pill will provide happiness.  in most cases this is not true.  Doctors and patients are being hypnotized by pharmaceutical corporations into thinking their product will solve all problems.  In reality these drugs can cause serious risks.  Lets take one example form the movie.  we all know what Prozac is.  The company that produced it advertised for another medication when Prozac's patent ran out, this medication is called Sarafem used to treat PMDD (which may not even be a real disease.  Both Prozac and Sarafem are exactly the same in chemical compound.  Yet they were advertised to treat different things.  Do you think this is a good thing for consumers to be marketed this way?  How do YOU feel about being bombarded by these advertisements? Next time when you sit down to watch tv, notice how many commercials there are for prescription drugs.

Christina Bernales: watch it online

Christina bring up a great point, Hulu allows the viewer to select ads that are more relevant to them. I have also see ads that allow the person to click on multiple "scenes" which I think is amazing.  One ad has four different views to "entertain" the viewer during the commercial.  This interaction with the ad is more convenient and is all around better so that you are continuously watching the same ad.

The new facebook allows you to like an ad or dislike on the right hand side.  They attempt to target the consumer in a way that intices them instead of "pregnancy" ads or make up ads, you can dislike them and they will put up different ones like t-shirt company ads.  The whole point of marketing is to get the attention of the consumers and by being able to see ads that interest me makes me want to click an ad and see what is out there.

has anyone else experienced a "new wave" ad that targets them, to the point where you might think about it later??

Valentines Day

The valentines scandals is all around us. Every product has designed ways to promote on valentines day.  Lets take all jewelry stores, they thrive off valentines day, mothers day, christmas and any other present giving day.  But for jewelry stores, valentines day is a hot seller. Commercials are filled with mush-gush propaganda insinuating that if you buy your significant other an expensive piece of jewelry they will love you more.  The ad's show all the glory in expensive gifts and they say thats how to win someones heart.  Well yes the gifts are nice but is that really what valentines day is about? I guess valentines day began with Hallmark as a money making day.  Do you think the jewelry stores jack up their prices during these "money making" days?  Do people always fall for it?

New Technology?

The strengths are the technologies ability to see what men vs women get, young vs old, and in general categories of people that buy particular products.  As in the article, the billboard can see what soda product is bought and by whom.  This helps the company to target those groups of people that are seen buying certain products, it provides them with the information needed to up sales.  Using this as a marketing tool, i think it infringing on privacy, but then again we have surveillance cameras every where. So how different is it really? Healthy? Well it could be good for the companies to provide the products that consumers want, and really consumers always have a problem with new things but if its an up and rising tool for the marketing world eventually consumers wont even care.  I mean the government can already track us at a touch of a button. If this new technology allows a better out come fro companies and consumers then I dont find a problem in it. do you?

Then and Now

In my Economics class my professor presented this ad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtYpnGZr6TA&feature=fvw

It is an ad about the election in 1964 between Goldwater and Johnson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYspqV-nGks

An ad from 2008 election of Barack Obama

Looking from an ad in 1964 to more then 40 years later we can see the differences.  Both include children in their ads.  The first is attacking the opponent by showing an innocent girl and the effects that Goldwater will have if he were to be elected. This uses propaganda which was commonly used in the 60's.  Though it could be true because Goldwater was a communist, Johnsons ad conveys that Goldwater will kill man kind. Obama's ad also uses the interest of the people by adding children in his campaign but his is more of a promotion of what he will accomplish if elected. Can you decipher the major differences between both ads?  Whats your reaction, if Johnson and Obama were against each other who do you think the public would choice if given those two ads?

Four Ps of Marketing

In attempts to sell myself to a future employer, the four P's can help.  First we have product, which is me.  In an interview or resume, I would want to describe my qualities as a whole.  In describing my qualities, I would touch upon my features as an employee and person out side the business.  One thing I might want to offer is a warranty that in the first three months of my employment if I do not meet the above average standards there will be no questions asked of a discharge.  The second P is place or distribution. Depending on the type of job, location is a deciding factor. Being available (coverage) for any time or on call will let the employer know that I am dedicated to work. If there is some type of carpool, I would join in on that as well.  The third P is promotion.  If it was a PR related job, I would have no problem getting out and advertising for the company.  Personal selling would also be included, which would include loyalty of my whole family and friends.  I would be able to deal with publicity because of my out going skills and experience in public service.  The last P is price.  As Prof. Johnson said in class, giving the employer a ultimatum oh say $10, which is $1.00 less than hourly wage assigned for three months and if my work is excellent a raise of $2.00 will be given.  I think this is a good way to sell myself and an offer that might give me leverage. I would also be open to any type of payment periods offered, whether hourly, salary or bi-weekly. In conclusion the four P's are a good way to market ones self and of course a product, idea or service.

marketing, advertising, and propaganda

Marketing- i define marketing as selling, advertising and distributing a good or service that an economy wants or needs. Marketing is the over view of advertising and incorporated much more then simply putting out a good.An example would be Pepsi product and how they come up with new inventions of say Mountain Dew.

Advertising- Usually targets a group of people that are looking for a specific need or want.  Most advertising is done with the media such as tv, movies, newspapers, catalogues, magazines and other varies media sources.  Advertising is a part of marketings goal to bring consumers in for the purchase of the product. Advertisement is used to intrigue people to buy their product. An example would be a kids toy shown on the Disney Channel, they are advertising the the right group of consumers along with where to get the toy so that the child can tell their parents.

Propaganda: I am not entirely sure what this is.  I would assume its a way to bring in consumers with false information.  It could also use an "exciting" "gift" to bring in consumers, such as a $200 gift certificate if you sign up for 5 magazines and pay $29.95 a month. It could also advertise a person as being a huge success that will being success to those who follow, such as in elections.