Myths and realities of teen media trends

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Nielsen is out with a new report on media consumption by teens and the results are counter-intuitive to what we commonly believe to be the norm. According to the How Teens Use Media report (PDF),”teens exhibit media habits that are more similar to the total population than not.”

Source: CNET News

Date: 6/25/2009

Keys: Marketing research, new technologies

Link: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13846_3-10273344-62.html?tag=mncol

Questions for discussion:

  • Are you surprised by any of the items listed in the article that describe behaviours? If so, explain why.
  • Given this marketing information, what advice would you offer the advertising, television, Internet, newspaper and other media related industries that would be interested in this information?

Ballmer Strikes Cynical Tone on the Future of Ad Spending

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Description: Speaking at the Cannes Lions festival yesterday, CEO Steve Ballmer said the company’s spending on annual measured media has climbed from $200 million to $700 million over a four-year period, as the company serves up new campaigns for Bing, Xbox, Windows, Internet Explorer, and other products.

Source: Clickz.com

Date: 6/25/2009

Keys: Advertising, marketing, Internet technology

Link: http://www.clickz.com/3634219

Questions for discussion:

  • Which opinions do you agree with and which do you not agree with that were expressed by Steve Balmer? Explain your thinking.
  • Do you think the PC (Personal Computer) will be replaced by other products such as hand-held devices?
  • How do you see the WWW connecting with various devices?

Business of Green: Sustainability, the environment and success

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T.Boone Pickens: $300 oil. The billionaire former oil man says U.S. must wean itself from dependence on foreign oil.

Source: CNNMoney – video report

Date: 6/16/2009

Keys: Government, economy, technology

Link: http://money.cnn.com

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the arguments presented by Mr. Pickens for change of U.S. consumer usage of energy. Do you agree or disagree with his arguments? Explain your thinking.
  • What should government’s role be in this discussion?
  • How can taxes be used to mitigate consumption and finance new energy sources?

$1 billion ‘cash for clunkers’ passed

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Congress approves a measure to subsidize car purchases – consumers can get as much as $4,500 to trade in old cars. Obama expected to sign bill.

Source: CNNMoney.com

Date: 6/19/2009

Keys: Marketing, promotion, pricing, government

Link: http://money.cnn.com

Questions for discussion:

  • Why might some people consider this government stimulus to the economy a “good” or “bad” idea?
  • Consider what might happen after the program is ended. Consider the impact this policy might have on those who have recently bought a new car but will not benefit from this promotional tool. How might consumers behave in the future?
  • Can you think of a better way to stimulate purchases of cars?

iPhone 3.0 a cut-and-paste win for Twitter

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The ability, with iPhone OS 3.0, to cut and paste content across applications will mean a huge boost in traffic for Twitter.

Source: CNET News

Date: 6/17/2009

Keys: Marketing, new product development, co-marketing

Link: http://news.cnet.com

Questions for discussion:

  • Do you think iPhone customers will be motivated to trade-up to this new model? Explain your thinking.
  • What other collaborative marketing arrangements could help Apple boost sales of iPhone?
  • What other recommendations would make to improve Apple’s overall marketing strategy?
  • Do you think the marketplace for “smart phones” is crowed or will everyone move up to these devices eventually?

Mobile Couponing Brings Mixed Results to an Iowa Jiffy Lube

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A Jiffy Lube manager’s foray into the world of mobile couponing convinced him the practice has potential but it also proved that human nature can be a funny thing.

Source: Clickz.com

Date: 6/19/2009

Keys: Marketing, Internet technology, promotions

Link: http://www.clickz.com/3634148

Questions for discussion:

  • Why do you think the promotion program isn’t working out?
  • Is there something that the company can do to make it work?
  • Would this type of promotional tool work better for another product or service? Explain your thinking in terms of the product and the target customer.

Unfriendly skies for airlines

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Fortune’s Andy Serwer says a combination of higher oil prices and less demand are hurting the air carriers.

Source: CNNMoney – video report

Date: 6/08/2009

Keys: Marketing, economics,

Link: http://money.cnn.com

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize all of the reasons for airline distress starting with the rise in fuel costs. What response could management employ that would help mitigate some of these problems?
  • How else would you suggest the airline industry respond in order to deal with the drop in demand for service?
  • What other businesses are also likely to feel the negative effects of rising fuel costs?
  • Can rising prices be good for anyone? Explain your thinking.

Investors bet on Detroit housing market

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As Detroit home prices crash, sales are heating up. But with all of the plant closings and layoffs, who’s buying? Investors — some of whom are snapping up five and 10 houses at a time.

Source: CNNMoney.com

Date: 6/12/2009

Keys: Economy, prices, real estate, investments

Link: http://money.cnn.com

Questions for discussion:

  • What does this article teach you about supply and demand and the change in real estate prices?
  • Do you think these investors are smart in their thinking?
  • Explain the conditions by which real estate ownership might eventually return to individual owners and residents in this market.
  • Are these investors a negative or positive force in the local economy? Explain your answer.

Tobacco Bill Gives FDA New Power

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A tobacco bill nearly a decade in the making is heading to President Barack Obama’s desk after clearing its final hurdle today on Capitol Hill. The House passed a measure to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the power to regulate tobacco, confirming the Senate’s decision Thursday.

Source: ABC News

Date: 6/12/2009

Keys: Government regulation, marketing

Link: http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/Health/story?id=7823890&page=1

Questions for discussion:

  • Is this a good or bad decision for other businesses that might be considered causing harm to some people – such as candy manufacturers? Explain your answer.
  • Is there a limit to government involvement regulating businesses?
  • What is that limit and explain your decision?

Web Ads’ Contribution to U.S.: $300B and Gobs Of Jobs

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Online advertising contributes $300 billion to the U.S. economy, totaling 2.1 percent of the nation’s total gross domestic product, claims a study conducted by two Harvard Business School professors on behalf of the Interactive Advertising Bureau.

Source: Clickz.com

Date: 6/10/2009

Keys: Economy, marketing, Internet technology

Link: http://www.clickz.com/3634042

Questions for discussion:

  • How has online advertising contributed to the growth of free email services such as Hotmail to social meeting sites such a MySpace and Face Book?
  • Why is online advertising superior to other forms of advertising media such as television and radio?
  • How does online advertising support the growth of content distribution such as music and print content?