Blogging

In answering the question what is the value of going through the process of blogging I have to be totally honest... it's not my favorite. I think I might prefer blogging if I felt like I really had something to say or that I was truly passionate about. That is not to say that blogging is not valuable and I truly prefer reading others blogs over writing one myself. Thus far however, I have not attached myself to any professional blogs which I love but do enjoy them when I am searching for individuals opinions on certain topics.

I do think that the process have proved valuable. I really enjoyed looking into technologies that I was not aware of and reading my peers blogs and seeing what they came up with. Even though I may not become a blogger myself I know now that I will constantly tune into others blogs so that I can be on top of the changes in my industry. The most important thing I have learned is that technology is ever changing and something I really need to focus upon. Because it is quick to change, it is absolutely necessary to without fail understand how and why things are changing and be prepared to revolutionize my work with the best technology available that applies.

The two coolest technologies I have come to understand throughout the semester are Twitter and Digg. I look forward to using Twitter in my events as I enter the industry and indulging myself in news tailored to my liking in Digg.

Thanks for a great semester!

Pathable

As someone who is probably the most critical of our industry and social networking I decided to look into Pathable which we briefly discussed last week. Throughout the semester we have considered several social networking sites including facebook, linkedin and iMeet but pathable is the newest and again specifically designed for the events industry.

Pathable is unlike these other social networking sites as it is intended specifically for certain a certain conference. A planner has the opportunity to build their own personal networking site for their conference using this service, quotes are not available online. The homepage for your event will have pictures of your most recent RSVP's, statistics regarding who is attending, the opportunity to converse on a wall page and to follow attendees facebook and twitter accounts.

Okay so here is where the "creepy" or "stalker" action comes into play... you can search people interests learn more about them, find links to their twitter, facebook, linkedin pages, message them or check out the matches the page suggests you meet online or at the conference. To me, not so creepy, I think its a really cool idea like a facebook just for your conference!

You can also manage the schedule, event marketin, profile of speakers and a chatroom for attendees to talk before the conference. Of course, the service may also be used on cell phones. This is similar to SpotMe where you can check out the schedule, search the event, look up attendees names and photos however it only works with an iphone apparently. But if you dont have one you can print this info before the meeting, not very green.

Overall, I think the service is a great idea and something that planners are more than likely to invest in. First of all I would like to have an idea of exaclty how expensive the service is and how many attendees it can manage at a time. Also, if it only works with the iphone that is a serious problem at least for some groups. In knowing your group this service may not be the best if they are traditional business with blackberry's or not very technology forward at all. The industry is seriously in need for such a tool and I look forward to watching it launch.

i-Meet

It seems that John Pino, founder of StarCite, has heard our classes prayers for a social networking site targeted specifically toward meeting professionals.  In the article "StarCite Founder Launches Social Networking for Meeting, Event Planners" on MiMega Site Pino talked about the need for industry specific networking and the impact that it can have on the industry as a whole. Having just recently left the beta phase, and initially debuting in August, the site has already attracted 2,000 members. The article does not specify how many of these partifipants are suppliers vs. planners. 

The site allows you to network online much like facebook in that you create your own circle of friends and who can and cannot see you. Like LinkedIn the site allows you to contact "the world" with any questions regarding the industry which any member can access. The cool feature of this site unlike other social networking sites is the opportunity to rate and discuss experiences with a specific supplier. This will provide a platform for planners to connect regarding pros and cons about suppliers, properties and  experiences. Interestingly, the site profits by attracting suppliers in which to market themselves toward meeting professionals. This direct marketing approach will allow for suppliers to reach out to planners directly rather than using other more traditional means of marketing. 

As you know I feel strongly about the opportunity to job search through social networking sites which this one does not yet supply a forum for. I have signed up for the free service and look forward to watching it grow and adding a follow up blog of my opinions on the site. 

Google 411

Are you totally tired of being the only person without internet service on your phone (and are you totally grateful that you JUST got text messaging)? Without the internet or a phone book how do you figure out the phone number of a restaurant, museum, store or whatever your looking for... well 411 of course! So when using this service it used to cost $1.25 to be connected to the business you are trying to reach. More recently 411 created free 411 where you were forced to listen to about a million advertisements before you were given the phone number and disconnected. 

But Google who seems to perfect everything has launched their own free 411 service 1(800)GOOG-411. The feature has all of the same elements of the original 411 in addition to the opportunity to have the information texted to you and work with the matching feature of any mobile phone to map the location. In terms of advertising, Google has not yet incorporated advertising (and I hope that they don't) of course without advertising it is difficult to make money on a free product. Finally, it is simple to block your calling information so that Google and businesses you connect to do not receive your phone and personal information. 

As an events professional this is really beneficial. When away at an event you have to be resourceful and sometimes your own little CVB. With the resource of your cell phone your have the opportunity to figure out resources within the city just by calling Googles 411. If you don't know the business you are attempting to call you can request "French Food" or "Zoo" and receive a listing of all such businesses in the area. 

What will they think of next? 

GUESTROOM 2010

GUESTROOM 2010 is an innovative and intriguing twist on the traditional hotel experience. 2010 was conceived by an organization HITEC and continues to be constantly updated and perfected. 

Living Space 

In designing the perfect guest experience HITEC has considered every every aspect of a guests wants and desires during a hotel stay. Within the living space of a 2010 guest room is a desk with laptop, a unique efficient SONY OLED television, Wii system including a Wii fit and an intercom system rather than a phone. 

Each of these elements are to satisfy a guests needs in considering the fact that hotels are often a home away from home or a home office for a period of time. By incorporating both technology guests are accustomed to having and are unique will truly enhance the guest experience according to HITEC. The reason for doing without the in room phone is two fold,  first of all, each guest will have their own a cell phone. 2010 hotel rooms will have keyless door entry using ones cell phone in conjunction with IBM's VingCard technology. Secondly, individuals who one cell phones are less likely to use in room phones which end up as a cost for a hotel rather than a revenue generator. Instead 2010 rooms will feature an intercom which is connected directly to the front desk and eliminates the need for an in room phone. 

Sleeping 

I know that when I stay at a hotel the first thing I do it jump in bed and turn on the TV. 2010 rooms will allow guests to control their stay from the TV. From the TV guests can control in room amenities like temperature and lighting in addition to hotel services like ordering room service. (I know for me this would be REALLY exciting). Additionally the bed in these rooms is the extremely unique 21st Century Bed Technology. The beds are made up of thousands of pieces  which are supposed to contour to the precise needs of an individuals body. This makes the home away from home experience much easier. 

Impact   

There are numerous other elements of technology included in these rooms including Amazon Kindle, LUX ART & DESIGN, infrared Minibars' and many more. The room as mentioned is designed solely to increase guest experience. I think a hotel which adopts GUESTROOM 2010 will certainly have a place in the hotel industry. Information that has to be considered is the amount of money required to produce and stay in such a property. Additionally each of these technologies is very innovative however, as we know, technology is ever changing and technology which wows us today will not do so tomorrow. Thus, how can a property afford to keep up with current technology and continue to wow and please guests. Also, I admit some of the technology is really cool and sounds fun but do we really need it? How much will a guest use all of the conveniences provided to them in such a room?  It will be interesting to see if and when a property chooses to adopt the GUESTROOM 2010. 

Technology Updates - Boomers vs. Millennial's

As most of you are aware I am always interested in different generations and their relationship with technology, in particular the technologies we have been studying throughout the semester. As a side not this blog is not fact based but instead based solely upon recent experiences with my family, friends and coworkers. 

LinkedIn & Facebook

Last evening at dinner a family friend asked me to explain LinkedIn because he was sent a friend/network request. I explained the social networking capabilities including building an online professional network. The network I told him allows you to keep in touch with business professionals and enables you to network with people you have always wanted to meet or maybe would not have met without the service. I asked him if he was considering joining and he said absolutely not. He explained to me that his method of networking is much more about personal face to face relationships and went on to tell me that he rarely uses his e-mail for business and when he cannot meet his clients has a phone based relationship with them. 

As I mentioned in a previous blog, I myself registered for LinkedIn and have yet to find it very fulfilling. As much as it is about social networking it is not a fun website to visit where you are keeping in touch with people you are friendly with. I think what Facebook has done right, and why so many people have joined, is that it has become a portal for professional life and personal life where you look forward to signing in and checking out what friends and colleagues are up to. 

Recently my entire team at my internship have signed up for Facebook. It has made the office dynamic very interesting firstly because if you are friends with your coworkers the material you have on the website must be appropriate and secondly because what we do on Facebook tends to consume our conversations with one another. When I asked my coworkers why they joined they said so that they could stay in touch with high school friends and former coworkers. They told me that upon joining they were amazed by how many of their friends were already on the site and the applications it provided. 

This made me wonder, is it that social networking websites are generational or that some are just way better than others. My next study is to see if my mom or dad will sign up for the service and see what they think... 

Politics and Facebook

Facebook has become the premiere social networking website and has played a significant role in this years presidential election. I have noticed, as I am sure many of us users have, that our friends have constantly updated their status, page, groups, photos, videos and events to include politically charged information. Facebook has really set out to encourage Millennial voters to become engaged with politics and really take a stance on this years campaign. 

Today, the site has created a special "Today is Election Day" page. Upon signing into the site the page is automatically advertised and shows how many users have stated they voted today currently it is at 368,802. The page also also allows you to take a stance by choosing a gift supporting Obama or McCain, helps users identify their polling place using Google Maps and notifies individuals that it is still possible to register to vote today in several different states (Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Wyoming). Also, users can update their status stating that they have voted or "donate" their status to encourage users to vote for a specific candidate. 

According to the NDN blog, millenials are going to play an integral role in this years election and if they do in fact get out and vote will provide a great advantage for Obama. "I was on Facebook (for work purposes of course), and noticed that more than half a million people have signed now up to have their status automatically updated to display a GOTV message. Users can choose whether the message says to get out the vote for Obama, McCain, or just to get out the vote, and then pass the word on to up to 40 friends at a time." According to NDN's findings 69% of the people who signed up for the GOTV message choose to support Obama while 16% supports McCain, and 9% of just get out the vote messages. 

It will be interesting to see the impact my generation actually has when today is over. I am particularly curious about the findings facebook users update versus how many people actually vote.  

Technology and the NYC Marathon

As many of you know this Sunday I ran my first marathon. I have run in many New York Road Runners races throughout the past two years and have always been interested in the technology involved in managing these races. But the marathon and its 26.2 miles include significantly more technology then the average Road Runners race. 

Each runner is presented with a chip about the size of a quarter which we have to secure to our shoes. The chip is inactive unless it is stimulated by another type of technology, therefore it only collects data at specific areas on the course. The ChampionChip, made by a Dutch company, is used in almost every premiere marathon and ironman throughout the world. Two sets of mats are placed on the ground so that when participants run over them they can record the exact time a runner was there. The course had these check points set up at every 5k (of which there are 8) and every mile after mile 16. 

Road Runners and other organizations have adopted the ChampionChip technology for several reasons. First of all it deters people from cheating because they are required to pass through every check point before finishing. According to an article in the NY Times a runner in the Boston Marathon and NYC Marathon in the late 70's took the subway in both races and won the race before they were caught. This technology was introduced so that this would be impossible even for non elite runner.  Secondly, the technology makes it easy to be tracked by family and friends interested in your position in the race. My family signed up for "athlete tracker" which instantaneously e-mailed their cell phones when I passed a check point. This made it easy for my parents at the finish line to figure out when I would be finishing and for my other family members following me from burrough to burrough to figure out exactly where I would be when. 

In the article Bits, Bytes and Blisters: Tracking Runners From Start to Finish in the NY Times Road Runners mentioned that the technology is not flawless and that they are looking into GPS technology to provide even more accurate race results and further deter cheating. All in all it was a fantastic race and the technology helped marathoners, organizers and spectators alike. 

Google Groups

Google Groups is a tool created by Googly in order to create personal social networking sites. As defined by Wikipedia Good Groups is "a free service from Google where groups of people have discussions about common interests." The service can be used to bring together a social network and have the ability to stay in constant contact with them via e-mail and discussion forums. Each group has the opportunity to create a customized page and to (59) privatly invite or accept users.

Groups can be used for a number of different organizations however I think that they have the opportunity to be very effective in the meetings and events industry. Already MeCo, also known as the Meeting Community has already created a group. They describe themselves as "an online home where vibrant and dedicated meeting professionals converge to learn, job search, network and exchange ideas about our industry." Such a forum allows for like individuals to discuss what is happening in the industry, seek advice, network and job search. Currently my membership to the group is pending but I am interested to see exactly what content is offered.

I think that this type of social networking where marketing and spam is highley discoureged is significant to the industry and allows for professionals to be in constant contact with one another discussing trends, issues and other events related material.

FoneKey "Reinventing Hospitality"

FoneKey (http://www.fonekey.net) is a very cool tool invented for a guest to manage their own hotel stay. Essentially FoneKey allows for guests to use their mobile phone as the key to their guest room. Using SMS technology "the mobile phone and the door lock communicate with each other." Upon check in a guests phone will be configured with a unique code specifically for their room, additionally the guest will create their own password to work in conjunction with the SMS code to ensure security. In order to open the room door, the guest will have to hold their phone in the direction of the lock and simultaneously type in their password. The unique pass code and password will be erased upon check out so that the phone would require reconfiguration to return to the room.

After FoneKey configuration guests have the ability to customize and control their entire hotel stay. Guests have the opportunity to set room temperature and lighting as well as, order food and beverage directly from their phone. Also, guests have the ability to post their privacy settings allowing house keepers to know when they can and cannot enter the room. Additionally, guests can request any special needs and notify hotel staff regarding any lat minute changes or requirements. FoneKey also allows guests to review and pay their bill using their mobile device.

I think this is a very unique invention which has the potential for a great impact on the hospitality industry if hotels choose to adopt the technology. What will likely be the company’s greatest barrier to entry is guests perceived lack of security. In today’s world we are constantly taught that what happens on our cell phones is not necessarily private and like the internet we should be wary of how we use it. However, if FoneKey can overcome this barrier I think they offer a great product which has the potential to reduce a traveler (specifically a business persons) hotel stay. I also think that for the luxury or vacation traveler this technology may not be suitable. When on a vacation many individuals like the ability to disconnect from their world for a period of time and therefore, may want a traditional card key so as to extend their vacationing pleasure and not having to be burdened by bringing their cell phone to the pool. If I were working on the marketing and positioning of FoneKey I would strongly suggest that the technology be targeted toward traditionally business oriented facilities.

Spotme

After last weeks class I wanted to look further into technology intended to manage an attendees collection of business cards. In my search I discovered Spotme. Spotme uses RFID technology in order to capture and retain information. This hand held device allows attendees to capture information regarding people they meet at the event by scanning the individuals name badge. Each attendee has the ability to design their own "business card web page" which allows for a photo and contact information. After receiving the desired information attendees are able to fill in any information they wish about their new contact which gets uploaded into their "briefcase" which is easily transferable to Outlook and other Customer Relationship Management programs.

The great thing about Spotme is its additional social networking features. First of all, the feature "are you near me now?" is super cool. The Spotme device can recognize attendees near you, which gives you the option to search their "briefcase" pages, look at their photos, and provide the tool for networking to be a bit less awkward (especially when you should really remember someones name). Additionally you can set the Spotme to locate specific individuals and when they come close to you your device will vibrate, show you their picture and let you know that they are nearby. Another social network aspect is the ability to message other attendees so that participants can communicate with one another throughout the conference. 

Not only is Spotme especially great for social networking but it also has a ton of great tools for conference and event planners. Because going green is a current hot issue, Spotme can be programmed to contain the conference agenda, maps, exhibitor/sponsor information and feedback forms. Instead of passing out tons of paper attendees will have all necessary conference information at their finger tips. I believe this technology goes above and beyond what I discussed last week (the MeetingMetrics evaluation program). Instead of the need to have computers and personal phones for filling out conference feedback Spotme, in the hands of ever attendee, ensures that it is more likely for people to give feedback about each event they attend. 

 Spotme has a lot of cool features but my personal favorite is the ability to track attendees. Using the RFID technology it is possible to track which attendees are in what session and how long they stayed for. I think this feature, if used properly, could be very beneficial to a planner. It makes it simple to recognize what sessions attendees thought were significant and interesting, real time information regarding break out session size, and who rsvp'd to events versus who did not. 

The Spotme service sounds phenomenal and I would like to see it used in practice. I think it encompasses many of the necessary and upcoming technology features we have been discussing throughout the semester. I think this particular service is beneficial considering it leaves the social networking, feedback, agenda, attendance and badge maintenance in the hands of one organization rather than several. 

Realtime Questionnaire Results

For over 20 years MeetingMetrics, and parent company GuideStar, has been involved in the meetings and events industry. Their mission is to "become an essential resource of information about meeting content and meeting communications strategies. (www.meetingmetrics.com)" Recently PCMA and MeetingMetrics announced a new web-based system to give planners realtime results on meeting questionnaires as well as reduce the use of paper during events. 

The system is entirely web based, which does not require individuals to download any information, which makes it simple for attendees to fill out survey's from their personal computers, cell phones or computers provided at the event. The survey would be previously organized by the planner and can be used solely for responses regarding the overall event, break out sessions, the general session, or any other feedback a planner may require. 

The article "New Session Evaluation Tool (www.migegasite)" discusses the benefits of this program and its ability to reduce paper waste at an event. I think that this is a valid marketing tool for the product but instead i think that it makes collection and follow through of a survey more realistic. During a session if attendees are encouraged to use their cell phones or computers provided during the event attendees will be more likely to give their feedback on the spot. Additionally it simplifies the collection or surveys, often once a survey is filled out it is easy to use it as scrap paper or throw it away. Instead this online system manages all of the surveys and allows the planners instant gratification. 

An important feature of this new program is the ability to print reports and transfer them into Word, Excel or PowerPoint easily. This reduces the need for a planner to build their own system or database to analyze results and streamlines attendee responses for easy analysis. 

I think the idea of this type of questionnaire is fantastic however, I feel that often times attendees do not fill out surveys unless they feel very strongly about an experience at an event. I do not think that the process will encourage the average attendee to respond and that planners will have to take that into consideration creating incentives for attendees to respond. Additionally, I think the streamlined process and easy analysis of the system is very important, this allows the planner to understand what is positive and negative about their program instantaneously and may even provide them the opportunity to perfect things as the event continues.  

LinkedIn

This week at work I was discussing my fears of graduating and the job search. She recommended I check out the website LinkedIn and said "Steph you really won't regret it, everyone is there." At first I was bit hesitant as I always am with new websites and networking tools but after reading mimegasite's article "HSMAI Debuts Event Technology Expo at Annual Tradeshow" I decided to get LinkedIn. The article focused upon HSMAI's annual Affordable Meetings Nation tradeshow and its newest addition to the show, a technology expo. Allen Blue, LinkedIn's co-founder was the keynote speaker at the event and "discussed the benefits of marketing events online via social networking sites..." As of this year the professional networking services has over 24 million registered users across 150 different industries.

The driving idea of the website is to organize a contact list of people in your business circle whom you know or would like to network with. The profile page is essentially a resume detailing your current professional position other work experience, education, honors and awards and interests. Once you have made a profile you can build "connections" with other professional individuals. Not only does the site allow you to build a strong professional network but also includes an area for job searching and "answers". The job search tool is essential, where companies can post positions allowing other users the ability to apply within the network. The "answers" feature is also very interesting; it allows people to post business related questions in hopes to survey a wide variety of professionals. One of the questions just posted is "Id like to know how people in the event industry have used social networking and viral marketing to increase their business..."

I think that this website could certainly hit it off in the event's industry and be used as a portal to connect individuals. I think that the "answers" section is a great idea if people are willing to participate; it is a convenient way to survey a target audience and get feedback immediately. Additionally, one of the best features is that you can see everyone who has been to your page. I appreciate that it is professionally targeted and does not include any of the applications other social site like facebook and myspace use, leaving it uncluttered and user friendly. I would like to continue using the site in order to see how I feel about its ability to connect people with third party individuals.

mimegasite article
http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003852866

Twitter

After last weeks class I became fascinated with the Twitter service and wanted to learn more about it. Twitter was launched in 2006 and in two years has over 2,200,000 accounts registered. The idea of micro blogging is something we are all familiar with socially as the service is similar to the status updates on facebook or myspace. Twitter, although used socially, is also well positioned to be a successful marketing tool for the tech savvy consumer. For instance, Whole Foods, whose "tweets" I have subscribed to receive, update at least three times a day with different promotions. An earlier posting this week was "Bring your pooch to the Northridge Whole Foods for the Dog Days of Summer," or " Craving some Shellfish? Try this great recipe for Mediterranean Mussels (with a recipe link attached)." I think from a marketing standpoint Twitter can be very useful. Constantly updating promotions, ideas while building customer loyalty. 

I believe that Twitter certainly has a place in the meetings and events industry. This past week, fashion week in Manhattan, twitter was used by several different companies. Vogue for example, updated what runway show was happening and the location hoping to get those linked in to travel from show to show.  I feel like Twitter would work even on a smaller event scale like a trade show.  Exhibitors could update talks, speaker spots, even cocktail receptions  reminding attendees what events are available and making an event paperless. 

I do not see myself using this service for personal updates or to follow the updates of my friends but I am going to continue watching Whole Foods, NASA ad BBC. 

Google Chrome

For the majority of individuals in the professional meetings and event field a web browser may seem unnecessary to their everyday work. However, the fact of the matter is that a browser is the program used for all of out work on the internet. According to Wikipedia a web browser is “a software application which enables a user to display and a interact with text, images, videos, music and other information typically located on a Web page at a website on the World Wide Web or a local area network.” Google recognized the need for a new browser in order to cooperate with and evolve for new and upcoming technologies.

Google Chrome has been designed to be faster, more user friendly, ability to cooperate with many different web browsers, an “incognito” tab, and many other unique features. The feature of Google Chrome which will most significantly effect professionals in the meeting industry is speed. People are constantly looking to work and correspond more efficiently, in addition Chrome will make it simpler and less confusing for the individual multi-tasking to organize their work.

As far as future application of the browser the industry as a whole is moving in a direction to accept and incorporate technology into every aspect of an event. Chrome will make it more user friendly for individuals to sync different technologies and therefore enhance user capability. I think it will be a slow process for people who love Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari to switch to a new browser. However, because many individuals love their Google search tools, iGoogle, Google Reader, etc. they will be more likely to change due to loyalty.

Jack Nadel - Earth Day

I am currently employed at a municipal bonds company, today one of the vendors I work very close with send an earth day gift bag. Jack Nadel is a company who makes and designs corporate promotional items. The goody bag, intended to remind individuals about earth day, consisted of a mini tote bag made from 100% recycled paper, pens and pencils from recycled waste, an organic t-shirt, a recycled note pad designed for the pages to be reused on both sides, a travel mug, and a book entitled “356 Ways to Live Green.” Each component of the gift came with a small badge that presented different information for instance the travel mug’s tag said “In 2006, Americans drank about 167 bottles of water each, but only recycled an average of 23 percent. That leaves 38 billion water bottles in landfills. Reuse this travel mug instead of adding to the billions of water bottles in our landfills.” The most unique part of the goody bag was a 60 watt fluorescent light bulb, its box said “The brightest ideas are taking on a new shape,” and included questions to test your IQ on going green and carbon foot printing.
Jack Nadel put together a phenomenal marketing campaign; it was successful for many reasons. First of all corporate social responsibility is an ever growing trend in business. If organizations can show they care about a cause individuals are more likely to buy into their product. Secondly, the earth day bag was a fantastic treat and a great way to thank lucrative business partners. Finally, the company was able to show case their products and the many creative ways to do so.

Pinkberry

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and Americans embracing Asian culture are two trends growing rapidly in New York City. Also growing rapidly is the newest frozen yogurt chain which embodies both of these trends, Pinkberry. The chains concept is “swirly goodness. It’s frozen yogurt reinvented to create an experience that indulged the senses.” Within the last year three Pinkberry franchises have opened within walking distance of the New York University community including St. Marks, Gramercy, Spring Street, Greenwich Village and Chelsea. The chain first was introduced in Korean town where it was incredibly successful and quickly infiltrated several different areas of Manhattan.

Aside from WOM (word of mouth) the company has been successful in being promoted by American Express for being one of the first small businesses to receive a plumb card. Their most successful campaign however is a small postcard at each of their locations. The card is simple made from a heavy stock and very glossy, it has a tiny picture of the product, store hours and website. The postcard reads “present this coupon for one free topping.” I think this is a clever campaign because if people enjoy the product they will return for a second try or even pass the coupon among friends creating further word of mouth. Because the product is so simple and easily duplicated I believe it is important for them to build customer loyalty and incentives for consumers to enjoy the product time and again.

Races

As a runner I participate in New York Road Runners organized races weekly. At each of these events there is a massive amount of marketing not only for NYRR but for event sponsors and partners. In a recent race however, a new and unusual marketing campaign was used. A man running in only briefs, tube socks and sneakers on a 35 degree misty day was participating in the race. Painted all over his body was his website thenakedauthor.com. Author Jason W. Mitchiner is trying to publicize his first novel “Full Moon Rising.” Other public stunts Mitchiner has pulled include sky diving and creating a reality television show of himself online. His running the race was clearly successful because not only did I check out his site as soon as I returned home but because each runner he started near began a conversation about why he was doing what he was doing and wouldn’t he freeze before the race begun. Although I did not purchase his book I have spread the word about the bizarre marketing stunt and generated traffic to his personal website.

Wall*E

Walt Disney and Pixar have teamed up again to produce another animated film. Their most recent venture Wall*E is about a robot designed to perform a specific task in a garbage dump after many years he falls in love with another robot. Disney/Pixar’s advertising campaign was ingenious because it cross marketed several of their different products. The first advertisement aired during the super bowl with Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story sitting in front of a TV discussing the newest character, the ad then proceeded to a clip of Wall*E and further commentary from the Toy Story Characters.

Disney is well known for cross marketing in all mediums possible. I found that this campaign however was not as obvious. Buzz and Woody represent the first very successful film produced by Disney/Pixar and having two familiar and loveable characters introduce a new character is very clever. Further marketing campaigns feature only Wall*E and has created a significant amount of buzz.

Gene Simmons

Just off of New York Universities campus on Lafayette and West 4^th streets is a massive billboard of Gene Simmons that reads “1,800 Women Vote Yes or No.” The ad campaign is for the second season of Gene Simmons Family Jewels featured on A&E. The billboard featured two digital tickers that calculated how many people believe Gene Simmons truly did sleep with that many women or not, the billboard provided two text message phone numbers, for yes and no, so people could vote on their opinion. Due to the fact that the billboard was interactive I found that it was very successful. For weeks walking up to campus I would pass the billboard and take note of the differences between daily voting percentages.

Jameson

Subway advertisements are an incredibly great way to advertise because you have a captive audience who often need something to entertain them as they travel from point a to point b. The most recent noteworthy campaign is the Jameson Wiskey advertisements. This is a campaign series, each ad having the same line in common, “Maybe its just the taste.” Each ad has a different quote which suggests why people like Jameson and it is concluded by the aforementioned statement. The following is an example of the advertisements:

“Maybe because ‘Next round on me’ is easier to understand than ‘stanclearclosindoor.’”“Maybe people like Jameson because the ads give you something to stare at when you don’t know where to look.”“Maybe because whiskey is the nectar of the gods. Right after wine and milk and maybe honey.”

The ad’s give something for riders to look at and enjoy reading each of the different catch phrases. Furthermore the campaign is amusing, often I overhear conversations and laughter created by the campaign.

Sex and the City

HBO’s unbelievably successful series Sex and the City has recently been made into a film after being off of the air for several years. New Line Cinema’s has been releasing information about the film in short tid bits in order to increase word of mouth and excitement for the film release. It seemed that almost overnight advertisements for the Sex and the City film were plastered on and around New York City streets in telephone booths, construction sites and subways. Each ad contained a photograph of character Carrie Bradshaw in different stunning hot pink dresses with the tag line “Get Carried Away.” A play on words given the main characters name and the ever-changing fast paced culture of Manhattan.

Shortly following the street teams advertising a film trailer was posted on You Tube and the Sex and the City films official website. This trailer stirred a significant amount of buzz because it suggests a wedding, break up, and funeral. In my opinion New Line has done a phenomenal job in marketing the project because it has mostly been based upon creating anticipation among the many Sex and the City fanatics. The organization is spending very little money on marketing but it sure to have an outrageous opening party and be a huge hit in the box office.

Fashion Week – Modem

Fashion week in New York City generates a significant amount of tourism every year whether they are local or international. An organization known as Modem Fashion*Design organizes “key professional information about fashion brands, multi-labels showrooms, tradeshows, press offices, and fashion services” organized a 50 page agenda for both the New York and Los Angels fashion weeks. The book includes a listing of times and locations for each fashion event including shows, press contacts, trade shows, multi label press rooms, commercial show rooms, fashion services, shopping guides, restaurants, bars, clubs, and places to stay.

The booklet was passed out during fashion week events for free. Modem Fashion*Design clearly made a return on investment by selling advertisements to the many different segments of fashion week including Mercedes-Benz, Dior, D&A, and Tranoi Femme to name a few. I thought the design of this booklet was genius. Not only did it provide all of the information for each of the events in one place but it also served as a great marketing tool for Modem as they are a new start up company. The booklet reached s massive audience as it was presented at the countries two most prestigious fashion events of the year.

How Design Conference

Print magazine, a design publication intended for young graphic design enthusiast’s features articles about popular graphic design as they appear in commercial and non commercial work. The magazine included a full poster advertising the 2008 How Design conference being held May 18-21^st at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. One side of the poster is graphic art that features Boston landmarks and culture with the word Discover printed in the center. The reverse side of the incredibly designed poster has information about the event, the daily agenda, keynote speakers, sponsors, travel information, how to register, a psychographic and demographic survey as well as, a list of reasons why attending the event would be beneficial to the graphic design enthusiast. The event markets spent a significant amount of money on this advertising campaign but positioned it very creatively. Individuals who would by Print magazine are clearly interested in learning about new design strategies and would likely attend an event of this nature for further growth and experience.

Tylenol PM

For spring break I found myself in Chicago Illinois. After doing some site seeing I was walking around the downtown loop and spotted a huge black tent. I crossed the street to find out what was going on and found myself in a launch for Tylenol PM. Outside of the tent were several volunteers handing out samples of Tylenol PM and inviting people into the tent. Inside was a serene bedroom setting with a screen with tips projected on how to have a better nights sleep. Upon leaving the tent you were provided with a booklet of 40 tips to a better nights sleep.

Although the inside of the tent was boring it defiantly got passerby interested. Tylenol PM seemed to be competing with products such as NyQuil and putting on a show to generate word of mouth. By providing people with samples the next time they are having trouble sleeping they will likely test the product after remembering the interesting marketing technique. I think they could have generated more traffic if there was an extension of the tent where people could participate in the campaign maybe receiving free massages, or simple spa treatments.

New York Travel Show - Grand Lido

I attended this year’s travel show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in hopes to design a fun and different spring break because of all of the unique deals offered at the show. One particular booth that caught my attention was Grand Lido Resorts and Spas. The company had three distinct marketing campaigns that I found extremely interesting one for honeymooners entitled “Beautiful Beginnings” one for unmarried or already married couples entitled “Where Dreams Become Memories” and one targeted to families with the catch phrase “Family Style.” Each campaign was clearly positioned differently even in a way where it was difficult to distinguish that they were part of the same parent company.
I wonder if they find this segmentation tactic to be beneficial or not. It is obvious that they do not want the couples campaigns to be confused or associated with the family resorts and vice versa positioning themselves in a manner to appeal to different market segmentations. Furthermore, after visiting the Grand Lido’s website I still found that each segment was treated as a separate entity and that travelers are directed to different sites given the nature of their travel plans. I would be curious to find out, if in the long term this market segmentation is successful or not.

Super Bowl

2.6 million dollars bought companies exactly a 30 second commercial during the super bowl this year. I was blown away by how many .com companies had advertised given the the cost of just airing the commercial, not even the production.

This year it seemed that the commercials had been toned down significantly, making them more family friendly. An article published by the San Francisco Chronicle noted that not only were the commercials family friendly but also nostalgic. "Thriller", "A Night at the Roxbury" and "More More More" were each the commercial theme for major companies. There also seemed to be more animal commercials than in the past, again family friendly that every age can enjoy.

I personally appreciated that the commercials didnt seem to be centered around alcahol, sex and cigarettes as it has in previous years and that the audience was considered in the making of commercials this year.

Breil

The designer brand Breil Milano has recently taken over NOHO and SOHO with advertisements of their newest male and female watch designs. The most recent advertisement not only is modeled by Charlize Theron, read "Touch, Feel, Breil." I found that these ads were extremely intriguing. First and foremost I noticed Charlize and recognized that she has been doing quite a bit of modeling this season, also for J'adore Dior perfume. Then I was caught by the catch phrase. I thought this was really clever, if you cannot touch it and feel it than you cannot truly appreciate it. Furthermore, the advertisements are designed to look as if they have texture themselfs continuing on the theme of being physically involved with the product your going to buy.
The previous advertisment read don't touch my breil. I thought maybe this catch phrase was unseccesful as they changed it completely. They even changed types of models, exact opposites, from a brunette to a blonde. I would be curious to find out if sales have increased or changed since the start of this marketing strategy.