In light of the election this coming Tuesday, I thought I would take a few minutes today and look into how new media has been affecting the election.
We all know how intense this years Presidential Election has been, with both Democratic and Republican parties vying for votes by any means possible. Over the past months both parties have been on the campaign trail promoting themselves in traditional ways: town hall meetings, rallies, television and radio ads, debates, and the list goes on. While this year’s election season has been full of these more traditional approaches, there has been a heavy shift towards using social media to woo voters as well.
The Democratic campaign has been reaching out to voters through social media tools and mobile marketing techniques thus giving it the nickname the “Social Media Election”. Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace have brought the campaign to new heights in promoting the candidates and engaging voters, especially among younger demographics.
MySpace has been a hot spot for members to communicate about the election, who they’re voting for, and what they believe it. In addition to this, one of the best things MySpace has done for the election is allowing users to watch and participate in the debates as volunteers.
Twitter has also been a great place for people to get information, as it keeps followers updated minute by minute about what is going on in with the candidates. Facebook has been a great place to get involved, as it has created pages, groups, and even various applications which remind people to vote.
The Obama campaign has really taken the use of social media to the next level, having created an application for the overwhelmingly popular iphone that allows you to organize the contacts in your phone by key battleground states, receive updates about what is going on in those states, and helps you find/contact the nearest Obama headquarters to get your friends involved and voting.
The fact that both parties have been using social media so much in their campaigns is a testament to how fast the world of Social Media Marketing is growing and impacting our everyday lives. These social media applications being used by the candidates have no doubt allowed for a much more interesting election, and have also engaged voters in new ways than ever before.
Don’t forget to voice your opinion through the various social media outlets and to vote on Tuesday!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
How DVR is changing Advertising
While catching up on my DVR last night, I started to think about how much this great commercial-skipping device has changed the entire advertising industry as we know it.
Commercial advertising was once considered one of the most effective ways of pitching a product to consumers with creative, eye catching and visually inviting advertisements. However, although commercial are still an extremely popular means of advertising, advertisers are beginning to realize that there are millions of dollars being invested into TV commercials that for the most part are going unwatched.
This new television era of DVR has caused a shift of power from Advertising Agency to viewer, and is affecting commercials of all kinds, including infomercials. Since more viewers are using DVR services fewer commercials are being watched from beginning to end. In fact, there have been studies done which have calculated that no more than four seconds of a commercial are being watched now; a direct result of digital television recording.
With the millions (and rising) of existing DVR users, Boston Advertising Agencies are now being challenged to create new ways to reach to viewers. One of the best examples of this is the increased use of product placements in TV shows and movies. It will be very interesting to see how Boston Advertising Agencies, Boston Public Relations Firms, and also Boston Marketing Agencies are going to adapt to this major industry wide shift, and try to stay ahead of the technological curve.
Commercial advertising was once considered one of the most effective ways of pitching a product to consumers with creative, eye catching and visually inviting advertisements. However, although commercial are still an extremely popular means of advertising, advertisers are beginning to realize that there are millions of dollars being invested into TV commercials that for the most part are going unwatched.
This new television era of DVR has caused a shift of power from Advertising Agency to viewer, and is affecting commercials of all kinds, including infomercials. Since more viewers are using DVR services fewer commercials are being watched from beginning to end. In fact, there have been studies done which have calculated that no more than four seconds of a commercial are being watched now; a direct result of digital television recording.
With the millions (and rising) of existing DVR users, Boston Advertising Agencies are now being challenged to create new ways to reach to viewers. One of the best examples of this is the increased use of product placements in TV shows and movies. It will be very interesting to see how Boston Advertising Agencies, Boston Public Relations Firms, and also Boston Marketing Agencies are going to adapt to this major industry wide shift, and try to stay ahead of the technological curve.
Friday, October 10, 2008
YouTube and Publicity
YouTube is a video sharing website where users can upload, view and share video clips. YouTube was created in February 2005. The free service uses Adobe Flash Video technology to display a wide variety of user-generated video content, including movie clips, TV clips and music videos, as well as amateur content such as videoblogging and short original videos. Youtube's instant and continuously growing large scale popularity has been used as a route for free publicity and high priced advertising. The viewers it reaches are a large network varying by age and interest, so companies know their efforts in reaching the desired demographic (or interest group) will not be futile. In January 2008 alone, nearly 79 million users had made over 3 billion video views.
Now, using this internet service as a mode of publicity has proven quite successful. Especially in the music industry. For example, Soulja boy, a young Hip Hop artist who's musical ventures and creations started-and continue- as Youtube video posts. Now the young artist has been signed to a label and continues to perform and produce his music around the world. He used sites like Youtube and MySpace to link back to his own official site and build a fan base. Boston Public Relations firms can use and learn from this example as it is a very relevant viral marketing tactic. Many Boston Marketing Agencies and Boston Public Relations Firms have used this technique by posting commercials and ads on the Youtube site free of charge and then tagging the appropriate client keywords.
One of the biggest benefits from using services like Youtube is increased returns to scale. That is the power that lies within Youtube. So, now that Boston Public Relations Firms have realized this valuable publicity tool, they have begun to exploit. Take into account the increasing costs of advertising, free publicity in the form of viral web is the way to go if a company is not trying to spend on TV ads but still reach the same target audience.
Now, using this internet service as a mode of publicity has proven quite successful. Especially in the music industry. For example, Soulja boy, a young Hip Hop artist who's musical ventures and creations started-and continue- as Youtube video posts. Now the young artist has been signed to a label and continues to perform and produce his music around the world. He used sites like Youtube and MySpace to link back to his own official site and build a fan base. Boston Public Relations firms can use and learn from this example as it is a very relevant viral marketing tactic. Many Boston Marketing Agencies and Boston Public Relations Firms have used this technique by posting commercials and ads on the Youtube site free of charge and then tagging the appropriate client keywords.
One of the biggest benefits from using services like Youtube is increased returns to scale. That is the power that lies within Youtube. So, now that Boston Public Relations Firms have realized this valuable publicity tool, they have begun to exploit. Take into account the increasing costs of advertising, free publicity in the form of viral web is the way to go if a company is not trying to spend on TV ads but still reach the same target audience.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Mobile Marketing
In addition to Viral Marketing gaining popularity in the Interactive Marketing world, Mobile Marketing had become quite a hit as well.
Mobile Marketing via SMS and MMS are taking over and redefining the very meaning of marketing. SMS is becoming a notorious technique for improving customer engagement by almost 100%. One of the most popular ways that Boston Advertising Agencies promote brands though the use SMS along with MMS is to engage customers in competitions where prizes or discounted products are awarded.
In addition to generating high customer engagement, one of the greatest benefits of Mobile Marketing is that is allows very detailed demographic information about an individual to be collected, which results in highly targeted campaigns. When you effectively reach the right audience your chances of them investing money, buying your product, recommending your product, and returning as a satisfied customer increase drastically.
Mobile Marketing is one of the greatest tools available to Interactive Marketing Agencies today, and the highly specialized targeting makes it one of the most effective.
Mobile Marketing via SMS and MMS are taking over and redefining the very meaning of marketing. SMS is becoming a notorious technique for improving customer engagement by almost 100%. One of the most popular ways that Boston Advertising Agencies promote brands though the use SMS along with MMS is to engage customers in competitions where prizes or discounted products are awarded.
In addition to generating high customer engagement, one of the greatest benefits of Mobile Marketing is that is allows very detailed demographic information about an individual to be collected, which results in highly targeted campaigns. When you effectively reach the right audience your chances of them investing money, buying your product, recommending your product, and returning as a satisfied customer increase drastically.
Mobile Marketing is one of the greatest tools available to Interactive Marketing Agencies today, and the highly specialized targeting makes it one of the most effective.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Viral Marketing
Viral Marketing is a term used by Boston Marketing Firms and Boston Advertising Agencies to identify a technique of marketing that utilizes social networking sites to produce an increase in brand awareness or other marketing objectives through a self-replicating viral process.
The best way to think of Viral Marketing is “word-of-mouth” enhanced by the technologies available on the web. What Viral Marketing does is encourage people to pass along a marketing message voluntarily, through spreading videos, flash games, ebooks, brandable software, etc…. “Word-of-mouth” marketing is arguably one of the most effective means of marketing to date, now just imagine that combined with the power and reach of the Internet.
Concurrently, viral Video Marketing has become a staple to many Boston Marketing Firms and Boston Advertising Agencies when it comes to getting their message out. Using the same concept of Viral Marketing, Online Video Marketing provides a cheap and easy way for companies to spread the word about what they do. Videos have proven to be very effective, and also serve as a differentiating factor for many companies across many industries.
The reach of these two techniques is amazing, as is the effectiveness. Boston Marketing Firms and Boston Advertising Agencies that offer these services, or who are embracing them, will certainly stand very far ahead of the competition.
The best way to think of Viral Marketing is “word-of-mouth” enhanced by the technologies available on the web. What Viral Marketing does is encourage people to pass along a marketing message voluntarily, through spreading videos, flash games, ebooks, brandable software, etc…. “Word-of-mouth” marketing is arguably one of the most effective means of marketing to date, now just imagine that combined with the power and reach of the Internet.
Concurrently, viral Video Marketing has become a staple to many Boston Marketing Firms and Boston Advertising Agencies when it comes to getting their message out. Using the same concept of Viral Marketing, Online Video Marketing provides a cheap and easy way for companies to spread the word about what they do. Videos have proven to be very effective, and also serve as a differentiating factor for many companies across many industries.
The reach of these two techniques is amazing, as is the effectiveness. Boston Marketing Firms and Boston Advertising Agencies that offer these services, or who are embracing them, will certainly stand very far ahead of the competition.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Video Game Advertising
With all this talk so far about New Media, PR 2.0, SEO, etc… I thought I would post today about a direct result of these emerging industries: video game advertising.
Video game advertising is simply using computer and video games as a medium to deliver advertising. What’s so great about it is that it allows Boston Advertising Agencies to reach a typically difficult to reach demographic: young affluent males ages 18-34. Video games have the 4th highest reach for teens and heavy gamers (following TV, internet and radio), and an article published by cnn.com this week stated that 97% of
What this all means for Boston Advertising Agencies is huge market potential. The video game industry itself is booming, with global sales rising from $6.6 billion last year to %14.4 billion by 2012. There is just so much opportunity here, it’s amazing.
New forms of in game advertising allow Boston Advertising Agencies to tailor their message to geographic location, and to time zone, allowing for the delivery of time sensitive messages (like a movie launch). Information can also be sent back to the agency from the player’s machine to help evaluate how effective the advertisement placement is for the viewer.
Video game advertising has actually been around for quite a while; the first example appeared in 1978, believe it or not. The market is growing at an unprecedented rate, and is presenting a huge amount of opportunity to be taken advantage of by Boston Advertising Agencies. The potential here is amazing, and it will not be long before agencies start popping up that specialize in solely this form of advertising. It is definitely an industry that should be watched and paid very close attention to, and taken advantage of sooner rather than later.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Web 2.0 and New Media
Web 2.0 is revolutionizing the way we as people interact with each other, and also with the media. Social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn have been changing the face of communications for the past few years, since they have been launched in 2003 and 2004. Users create accounts and profiles displaying their videos, pictures, and information regarding interests, hobbies, favorite books, music, etc….
Since their launch, these sites have been used as a method of networking and activism among users of all ages. Facebook, geared towards a college-aged audience, has helped promote and generate press about all kinds of issues. LinkedIn, geared towards business professionals, has aided companies in networking and developing partnerships. MySapce was originally created for the music industry, but has evolved to encompass almost every aspect of social networking.
These social networking sites can play a vital role in the effort of Boston Marketing Firms and Boston Public Relations Firms through the use of New Media. People are now easier than ever to contact and reach though blogs, message boards and groups. These applications have allowed for the open communication and conversation between companies and their consumers. By making the jump to incorporate social networking, a company can easily distinguish itself from their competition.
Other new media involving Web 2.0 includes sites like YouTube and Flickr, both free websites where users can watch videos online, or on their phones. Sites like these have made it easier than ever to promote a cause, a company, an event, you name it.
Through all these new media sources we can quickly get a very good idea about what people think of something, what they’d like improved, or what seems to be missing. They also let us know what is being talked about, and what people would like to see from the companies the trust. Most importantly, they help facilitate the conversation between business and consumer which allows for networking, idea sharing, communication, and increased marketability and profitability for both Boston Marketing Firms and Boston Public Relations Firms.
Since their launch, these sites have been used as a method of networking and activism among users of all ages. Facebook, geared towards a college-aged audience, has helped promote and generate press about all kinds of issues. LinkedIn, geared towards business professionals, has aided companies in networking and developing partnerships. MySapce was originally created for the music industry, but has evolved to encompass almost every aspect of social networking.
These social networking sites can play a vital role in the effort of Boston Marketing Firms and Boston Public Relations Firms through the use of New Media. People are now easier than ever to contact and reach though blogs, message boards and groups. These applications have allowed for the open communication and conversation between companies and their consumers. By making the jump to incorporate social networking, a company can easily distinguish itself from their competition.
Other new media involving Web 2.0 includes sites like YouTube and Flickr, both free websites where users can watch videos online, or on their phones. Sites like these have made it easier than ever to promote a cause, a company, an event, you name it.
Through all these new media sources we can quickly get a very good idea about what people think of something, what they’d like improved, or what seems to be missing. They also let us know what is being talked about, and what people would like to see from the companies the trust. Most importantly, they help facilitate the conversation between business and consumer which allows for networking, idea sharing, communication, and increased marketability and profitability for both Boston Marketing Firms and Boston Public Relations Firms.
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