Fashion Takes Social Media By Storm

Through the evolution of the internet, we have seen a lot of fashion and merchandise retail industries explode with growth.  While many of these industries maintain customer contact through both retail and online, such as Nordstrom, Forever 21, and Victoria’s Secret, many companies have successfully grown solely online.  In order to claim a portion of the market, these online companies have to do something to separate themselves from their competitors.  Advertising through social media accesses these companies exact target markets while effectively conveying their brand.

Several companies do a great job of actively promoting and marketing through their social media accounts.  Tobi, Lulu’s, and ShoeDazzle are solely online companies that rely heavily on social media to increase their buzz and branding.

Lulu’s does an exceptional job of maintaining their brand in several different media venues.

Lulu’s Pinterest account stood out with its exceptional beauty, organization, professionalism and attractiveness.  Their boards are exquisite and designed to attract the customer in every possible way.  Additionally, they incorporate traditional boards, such as food and hair styles, in with their marketing based boards.     It’s almost like a magazine in the way they have their boards separated by what’s new from editor’s picks and trending colors, but then they also pay homage to the nature of the site by illustrating the same values and ideals as all those other Pinterest lovers out there.  This unique strategy shows that Lulu’s really knows their customers, and especially the medium of Pinterest.  Also, it puts their brand out there without being too blatantly obvious all the time.  Even with their boards about shoes or the home, they represent their name and by association, viewers make the positive connection between the brand and the image.  Lulu’s plays by the rules and ends up creating a fashionable image reflective of their brand.

Lulu’s also maintains a Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, and a blog.  Because these businesses are online and targeting the younger, technology savvy generation, it only makes sense that they market through those mediums as well.  Additionally, these spaces are FREE! It costs them nothing to go in and make an account.  We live in a society where social media has exploded to the extent that companies can rely solely the internet.  Check out what this article has to say on Fashion and social media technology!

The Food Network Masters Media

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I figured it would be most appropriate to honor the valentine that has never failed to disappoint: food.  The Food Network is an empire that focuses its efforts on educating the general public of different foods from across the world.  In order to achieve this goal, The Food Network employs various forms of media to reach different target markets.

For starters, The Food Network website is well padded with media outlets and interactive features, keeping the guest involved and entertained.

1. Recipe clips and full episodes are readily available for viewing. These videos are separated by show as well as available in a whole database.
2. Top trending blog.  Their blog remixes traditional classics, shares new innovative techniques, or just something unique in the food industry.  The articles are actually pretty interesting and appeal to your most experienced chef to just the average home cook.
3. MapQuest feature for restaurants.  This unique page allows the viewer to type in their location, just as you would on a normal MapQuest, and recommended restaurants in your area appear.  You can also search based on your favorite chef’s restaurants.

The Food Network website also features a link that provides access to all their social media.

1. Twitter.  The Food Network really does a great job managing their Twitter account.  In many of their tweets, they feature a compelling headline like a tip or a recipe and then a corresponding link to an article.  They also promote conversation by tweeting out questions with a hash tag that people can respond to.  The Food Network really does a great job keeping their tweets concise and compelling.
2. Facebook.  The Food Network chooses to arm their Facebook page with an advertisement for the premiere of their new season of Worst Cooks In America.  This is a smart decision as avid followers will see this as a reminder of what’s new on The Food Network.  Their actual posts are similar to their tweets but formatted differently, as they should be.  They post links to recipes and articles but the main highlight is the corresponding picture.  They clearly know how to play to their strengths because posting these indulging pictures really brings the reader in.
3. Pinterest.  Promoting Pinterest on their actual Food Network webpage lets people know that they’re out there in that media space.  Again they have the recipes and the tips, but they format to each space in a suitable manner, showing that they really know how to access their target market.

The key to the food network is using their key points and strengths to their advantage.  They change up the formatting so it fits best with each space.  The Food Network really knows what they’re doing when it comes to social media marketing.

M&M’s Stick to a Super Bowl Routine

As we all know, the Super Bowl features prime space for companies to present their best ad campaigns of the year.  Many people, including myself, only watch the Super Bowl to see what our great nation has deemed the best of the best ads for the year.

Because the Super Bowl happens every year, I thought it would be interesting to track a brand that has continuously put forth Super Bowl worthy ads and see what similarities the brand maintains year after year.

M&M’s have been a vibrant and growing brand for years.  These M&M ads are captured from the 2009, 2012, and 2013 Super Bowl campaigns.

These three ads clearly hold a lot of common attributes.  Firstly, they all integrate some sort of humor.  The M&M characters all have a certain personality that shines through in each of the scenarios.  In the 2009 ad, we see the red M&M running down the checkout.  Additionally, at the end, the viewer sees the yellow M&M point out how they’re invited to the party, but instead they’re on the menu.  The 2012 ad features a naked dancing M&M, which is pretty funny all on its own.  The 2013 ad puts the humor in with the serenading and as well with the irony of how he’d do anything for love, except let her eat him.  M&M’s clearly use humor as a way to entice their viewer and give them something light and funny to connect with their brand name.

All three ads are also more targeted at adults, which may be kind of surprising for some of us. According to CNNMoney, M&M’s were never marketed to kids in the first place.  You would think that because they’re these small bite size chocolates in bright colors that they would be all over that demographic, but I think that because they already have that kind of kid-friendly appeal, there’s no need to market them that way.  Instead, they go for a more young adult audience.  The advertisers’ appeal M&M’s almost as the youth that’s still inside of us.  In all three ads, a party is implied in some way.  The 2009 ad features someone purchasing the necessary supplies to throw a party. The 2012 ad is literally taking place at an upscale bar or lounge of some type, implying etiquette and class with the use of their product.  Lastly, the 2013 ad is less obvious, but the signals include the actress taking a bath, getting ready, baking a cake, and hanging out with her friends while watching a movie.  In this instance, the implied image is more relaxed because it’s just her hanging out with her friends, yet it still targets the young adult demographic because of the age of the actress.

Advance Your Professional Profile Online

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our society has moved to online shopping, online classes, and plenty of forums for online chatting.  It only makes sense that the job market would move to be based online as well.  With its recent return from the crash, it only makes sense that people would take full advantage of the resources available.

Colleges are providing resources to their students that help them create an online profile dressed to impress.  Aside from workshops that help students filter the content on their Facebook, Ohio State University maintains multiple websites where employers can upload internship and job opportunities.  These websites hold information for the specific students they apply to.  For example, my major is Strategic Communications under the College of Arts and Science.  Therefore, I log on to Futurelink, the career services page for that college, and search for internships that fall under my specific major and interests.   Students can access opportunities unavailable to general public.  This kind of technology did not exist 20 years ago and is exactly the resource that puts these younger generations above the rest.

Another new technology that has really advanced the professional industry is LinkedIn.  The website is similar to Facebook in the way you connect to other people, but rather this site encourages professional relationships instead of personal ones.  By uploading your skills and professional experiences, you can build a profile that sets you apart from the crowd.

Some people decide to take social media and further their online professional profile by creating a blog about themselves.   A professional blog typically takes on the same information as a résumé, but slightly more in depth and in a creative format.  Often people attach a page with samples of their writing, a feature that is impossible to include on a résumé.   Typically, the people who create these blogs are applying for more creative or communications based positions.  Therefore, having this skill really demonstrates your skill sets, versus just talking about them on a plain piece of paper.

Looking for more information on how LinkedIn claimed it’s success? Check out this article!

Chipotle succeeds through non-traditional marketing

As we creep into an age where technology drives marketing to the next level, we see companies begin to heavily implement strategies that encourage personal interaction with the customers.  By directly engaging their customers, companies can ensure a personal service that is both high-quality and reliable.  Through the use of Twitter, Facebook, and other online spaces, companies are able to put a face to their company name.

One company that has really changed the direction of their marketing strategies is Chipotle.  While Chipotle’s products change and develop with their customers, so does their marketing plan.  Chipotle’s target market is mostly young teenagers and college age students but they also hit a good portion of the young professional market.   For this reason, targeting their customers through social media is ideal because their market is extremely acquainted to technology.

Here are three of chipotle’s online features that really put them above the competition.

1.  Address customers directly through Twitter-  Whether customers are raving about the products or complaining about the service, or even just trying to create conversation, @ChipotleTweets will respond to you at your direct handle with an individualized response.  Looking through past tweets, most of the comments are insignificant, but the point is that Chipotle is taking the time to address you personally.  That’s some quality customer service right there.
2. Secret menu items online- Through a fiery curiosity and a few simple Google searches, I discovered a couple websites exposing Chipotle’s secret menu items.  From nachos to quesadillas, chipotle offers a wide range of secret menu items.  In fact, Chipotle maintains a policy that if they have the ingredients, they will make you whatever you want.  This offers the customer an exceptionally customizable product.
3. Updated Facebook page- Chipotle recognizes the value of social media, but more importantly, they recognize the different values of Facebook and Twitter.  While the two may overlap in some areas, each source is used for presenting information in a way that is optimal to the medium.   While the twitter provides more of an instant feedback, the Facebook page provides more news related information, as well as promotions and advertising.  The Facebook page is essentially the face of the company.

Check this out for another look on Chipotle’s successful social media marketing!