Christina's Online Television

I am a huge fan of hulu but it seems like every year they add more and more commercials.  It is good for both you and the advertiser that you get to pick what kind of commercials that pop up during your shows.  This way advertisements arent wasted on people who have no interest in the products.  It would be like showing a product that only girls would use on my tv.  The company still had to pay to show me that ad, but it didn't get them another sale. 

Jingle Time

Some companies will add a catch phrase or a jingle in their commercials to keep a product in your mind.  As soon as most people hear Subway, they start to think "5 dollar foot long".  I'm sure many people have checked their credit report at freecreditreport.com, only because it is so popular because of its advertisement.  They are usually quick commercials that are meant to be funny and put something to stay in your head.  If they make a song so catchy and popular, people will start to think of that company more when they need that product.  Its almost like they get free advertising when people discuss the commercial in private conversations or start to sing it on their own. 
Have you ever had a jingle stuck in your head or talked about a funny commercial that you've seen?

In response to Christina's Marketing Blog: Advertising v. Marketing v. Propaganda

In today's hyperpartisan society, how can politicians and their parties manage the fine line between advertising and propaganda?

 

I think you had the right idea by saying advertising only focuses on the visual part of the product in order to make it sell and that marketing is more the business side of production.  I agree about propoganda and the negative ideas instantly put in our heads when we hear the word.  You made a good point to say that it shows a one sided version of the idea being discussed.  Advertising and propoganda needs to be separated by showing both sides of the story and proving why one idea is better instead of just showing one side and bashing the other.  Advertising in politics is almost showing a fantasy and an unrealistic dream.  Looking back on many of the politicians ads, most all of the ideas in their ads fell through and never made it into any laws.

Using Celebrities To Sell

Bret Favre wears wrangler and Michael Jordan wears Hanes.  Hugh Hefner drinks gin and P Diddy drinks vodka.  Many companies are paying top dollar to have celebrities endorse their products and services.  This relates to my last post in the way that this is an unnecessary expense for companies.  Many people do not even like certain sports stars, never mind paying extra to wear the same product as them.  If I had a choice I would like to pay less for the product and see less advertising.  Instead of millions spent on commercials, make a quality product that will sell itself.  Advertising costs could be converted into money spent on giving away free samples.  If the product is good, after getting it for free once, you will hopefully have made a loyal customer. 

Is this method of using celebrities really selling the product?

Marketing Alcohol

I feel that most people who are above drinking age have decided what types of beer or alcohol that they would like to consume.  Certain companies are spending millions of dollars a month in advertising that is mostly just for comedy and tv entertainment.  Bud Light and Coors Light have commercials in every commercial break during every sports game.  This extra cost is probably driving up the sales price, when if they chose not to advertise, or to cut back some, they might sell even more of their beer with the lower cost.

Marketing Mix Yourself

While applying for a job you could think of yourself as trying to sell your work using the marketing mix.  Think of it as promoting your own brand name, or your own name.  You should take pride in your product and be able to list the features that you can provide to a company to help them improve.  You might even be able to save a company money or make them enough extra revenue to cover the cost of your salary.  To promote yourself you should give a list of references that would tell what kind of a worker you are.  The salary you make, or the price you cost a company, should be able to be justified.  All of the work and improvements that you are going to do within the company should easily outweigh the costs.

What is the difference?

Marketing is the process of how a company ships, advertises, and sells their product.  Wal-Mart is known for its efficient marketing and low costs as a result of this.  Advertising is any poster, commercial, or billboard to make people think about and want to try out a product.  Although companies like Coca-Cola would have to truck their product anyways, putting a billboard on the side of the truck is like free advertising to anyone who drives past it.  Propaganda is the intentional spreading of false information or rumors in order to hurt a persons cause or reputation.  Some companies will use false statistics in order to influence a person away from another company in order to get them to buy their product that may not even be as good.