Marketing News

Intel: The Human Element Inside

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:31:32 -0600

Let's be honest - when you think of a computer chip processor, you don't get the touchy feelies. But Intel is trying to change end user perception with its humanizing branding campaign, as well as clearer communication and streamlined offerings.

Happy Halloween From Marketing News!

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:15:49 -0600

We're no longer just award-winning journalists, but award-winning pumpkin carvers! Yes indeed, Marketing News took home the first place prize in the American Marketing Association's 1st Annual Pumpkin Carving Competition. The free candy for judges may have helped, but as managing editor Allison Enright said, "It's not bribery, it's marketing."

From left, back row: Piet Levy, John Frank, Elisabeth Sullivan
From left, front row: Allison Enright, Sally Schmitz

Happy Halloween everybody!

State Farm's Regional Mexican Band Comes to TV

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:12:01 -0600

Earlier this year, Marketing News wrote and blogged about State Farm's Hispanic marketing effort in Los Felinos de la Noche, a regional Mexican band created for the brand. We also hinted at furthur things to come in 2009.

8 Highlights from ESOMAR's Online Research 2009 Conference

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:44:07 -0600

About 230 participants from more than 28 countries flocked to Chicago this week for ESOMAR's fifth Online Research conference. Covering everything from research via online communities to co-creation efforts, from mobile research to maintaining online research quality, there wasn't exactly a dominant lesson except perhaps for this: make the respondents happy.

What Are The Metrics?

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:01:02 -0600

Vovici Corp.'s Roderick Morris breaks down three different metrics used to measure customer satisfaction.

Magid Abraham Awarded the Parlin Award

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:13:04 -0600

On the second morning of the AMA's Marketing Research Conference in Palm Desert, Calif., Dr. Magid Abraham accepted the 2009 Charles Coolidge Parlin Marketing Research Award, a prestigious award granted annually since 1948. Abraham gave a stirring speech about his career in the marketing research profession, and the audience learned about his roots as a "farmer's son" in Lebanon through his current role as president, CEO and co-founder of comScore Inc. Trained at MIT, all his work has followed his view of "automate to dominate," which allows researchers to let technology handle all it can and "save brain cells for insightful analysis." He said, "We are more successful when we simplify."

Summing up on the rewards of operating in the fast-changing marketing research industry: "This is an industry that rewards creativity and entrepreneurship."

Learn more about Magid in his own words by reading a Q&A interview conducted by Staff Writer Piet Levy in the Sept. 30 issue of Marketing News.

AMA's 30th Anniversary Research Conference, Day 1

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:46:21 -0600

AMA has a full-force social media squad present at the 30th anniversary Marketing Research Conference, themed "Making Sense of What's Next." A six-person squad headed up by Mike Brown of Brainzooming is tweeting on Twitter, filming snippets of attendees talking research and posting them on YouTube and live blogging the presentations in the main conference hall. For more on the conference's core themes and copies of select presentations at the conference's own Web site.

Research--to the very end

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:55:28 -0600

The death business is a business like any other. It needs good marketing and research to optimize profit. At lunch today at the AMA’s annual Marketing Research Conference in Palm Desert, Calif., a series of roundtable discussions grabbed attention and gave meaning to the idea of “lunch and learn.” Like many conference attendees, Gayle Lloyd is an expert researcher. Unlike most attendees, however, Lloyd is the head of product research and competitive intelligence at Batesville Casket Co. in Batesville, Ind.

GE Goes For Gold

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:33:19 -0600

Here's a fact you may be shocked to know - 66% of GE's 5,000 marketers have had no formal marketing training, and 66% have had less than five years' experience. That's where the mega-conglomerate's new internal marketing approach comes in.

More Real Than Grey's Anatomy

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:58:07 -0600

Hospital-related TV dramas are nothing new. But one hospital's take - Hollywood-inspired documentaries based on real life patients - made for some innovative marketing, profiled in the latest issue of Marketing News.

Hats off to the French…no really

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:19:15 -0600

We’ve had our differences with the French over the years (remember banning french fries in Congressional cafeterias) but I have to shout Vive La France to a story I read this week in Ad Age that several French legislators have backed a bill that would require magazines to tell readers when photos have been air brushed to make celebrities, models, etc. look better than they are.

The proposed warning would be (as translated in Ad Age): “retouched photograph aimed at changing a person’s physical appearance.” The measure is backed by groups concerned about the impact of picture-perfect models on those with such eating disorders as anorexia.

I’m tired of touched-up photos of all kinds. When I worked for a real estate magazine, for example, the art director would routinely change photos of houses on the cover to conform with whatever image the accompanying story hoped to convey.

I’d like to cast a vote for photo integrity, whether on the editorial or the advertising side. What do you think?

If photo re-touching doesn’t worry you, just watch for what happens to my photo in the Marketing News Halloween issue. That should make you think twice about the joys of Photoshop.

Cooking With A Secret Sauce

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:44:42 -0600

Just as there's something extra special about your Grandma's tomato sauce, some products and services are all the better thanks to a differentiating ingredient.

Concerns about a Recent Marketing News Survey

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:58:30 -0600

By Jim Nelems

The AMA (and Marketing News) needs to be aware of the many differing member firms who rely on the AMA for its many services, and in particular, consciously or not, to not promote one type of member or individual firm over another.

Case in point. As one of many marketing research firms in the U.S. whose business depends on Internet research, it was wrong for the provider of your recent "Marketing News Recession Survey," who competes with every research firm member, to promote, essentially, eliminating the use of marketing research firms and promoting clients doing their own marketing research through their firm. ( I note that the last page of the survey is a full page ad by that firm, for eliminating marketing research firms, although it does not say so in so many words.)

I participated in the survey to provide useful, valid information to the AMA, not hear a sales pitch from a competitor, Apparently they talked you into their doing the survey at no charge in order to make a direct sales pitch from them. I would have no problem with their name on the survey, but it's the last page, a full screen ad so to speak, which goes over the line. Now I wonder if, by participating, I will be on their e-mail list for direct sales presentations.

It is very unlikely I will participate in any more surveys from the AMA or Marketing News, at least without knowing who is sponsoring the survey and if they are likely to be biased in any way.

Jim Nelems,CEO
Marketing Workshop, Inc.
jnelems@mwshop.com

Editor's Note: Marketing News is no longer using the online survey firm involved in the recession survey, but we would like to hear your comments on using free online survey options vs. using established research firms since this is a choice many marketers face in these tough economic times. We thank Jim for his thoughts and for starting this discussion here.

Five Localization Lessons from Millward Brown Leader

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:34:56 -0600

The Aug. 30th issue of Marketing News is the "International Marketing Edition," featuring the Honomichl Global 25, Elisabeth Sullivan's engaging Best in Class featuring Canadian airline Porter, and some features regarding localization in emerging markets.

Marketing for the Greatest Good

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:04:52 -0600

Marketing doesn't just have to be about the benefits for your company and customers. It can also be used to change the world at large for the better.