SMS vs Social Media & Email Marketing

Text Your Customers, They'll Actually Read Your Message

SlickText.com released this infographic to the right shows that text messages are checked more frequently than tweets, posts, and emails. Not only are they checked more frequently, but text messages are also typically read within 5 minutes of receiving them whereas emails might not be opened for a day or two.

Think of all the promotions you receive/read/are exposed to from different companies you like...how do most of those promotions reach you? In my case, and I assume most other people's as well, I get almost all promotions and information about stores and brands I like from emails and one by text message. If only 20% of emails are opened and 98% of text messages are read, why don't more businesses use SMS? More people would receive them, not to mention the promotions would actually be opened AND read and also be read within minutes of being sent. If you go to a company's website, there is more than likely a subscription button to enter you email and buttons to take you to the company's Twitter, Facebook, and other social media...but very rarely is there ever a place to enter your cellphone number for SMS updates on sales, new items, or VIP discounts.

Why don't more businesses offer the SMS option to connect with consumers? Wouldn't this be a more effective way?

Dunkin Donuts

Dunkin Donuts Straying Away from Doughnuts...?

Dunkin Donuts has began a new focus on foods other than doughnuts and beverages. They have released many new kinds of sandwiches, coffee, tea, and frozen drinks. There have also been limited time offers like spring and summer specials. Paul Carbone, Dunkin's CFO, announced March 14th that Dunkin Donuts will be shifting their focus to beverages and breakfast sandwiches. I believe they will still sell doughnuts but they will rarely ever be advertised. Carbone said "beverages are the holy grail of profitability" and that there will be a time when no one will want doughnuts anymore.

How do you think this will effect doughnut customers? Will they still think of Dunkin Donuts when looking to find a doughnut if DD's isn't marketing towards doughnut eaters anymore? How will this effect Dunkin Donuts?

Response to Brooke Callaway

Do you think K-mart has a clever way of keeping viewers interested in what they are trying to sell? 

I think that this is a very clever commercial. I agree with Brooke 100% that it is a great commercial and an big attention-getter. Sometimes at home I have the TV on just for background noise while I'm cooking, doing housework, homework, or just home alone and I rarely ever even pay attention. I remember when I first saw this commercial. I was engaged in something else but the commercial got my attention immediately because I thought the guy said something else that sounds similar to "ship my pants". K-Mart has found a clever, humorous, and memorable way to inform consumers that they offer free shipping in their stores.


What is your opinion on this advertisement? Is it humorous and clever or inappropriate? 


Brooke's post can be found here.

Response to Will Ferguson

What is your favorite convenience product and why?

My favorite convenience product is gum. I used to be addicted to gum and would always buy a pack when I was in line at the grocery store, or a convenience store, or paying for gasoline. I'm not a gum brand person but every brand is usually about the same price as everywhere else so you don't really need to think about another place that would sell it for less. There is also a wide variety of brands and flavors so I can buy whatever flavor or brand I'm in the mood for that day. 

How do you feel about having such a wide selection of brands and flavors right at your fingertips? Do you think this excessive amount of choices causes subconscious brand loyalty by consumers always choosing the same brand and flavor without thinking about or taking into consider the other brands since there are just so many?

Will's post can be found here.

Marketing Yourself

Self Marketing

If you are a college student or unemployed you should become a sales person and learn how to sell yourself. There are many ways to approach this. I think that expanding your self online is the best way. You should become more active with social media like Twitter and Facebook (in a professional manner) as well as LinkedIn. Having these accounts allows you to network with people and express yourself. Keep in mind that the reason you are doing this is to attract potential employers.

In addition to Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn another great idea is to maintain a blog and develop a fan-base (followers and subscribers.) This shows potential employers your style of writing as well as your personal and professional interests.

The last thing, and I believe this to be the most important, is having your own personal website. Your website should be yourName - .com, .net, .me, etc. You should include pages like "About", "Resume", "Course Work", "Activities", "Contact", and links to your Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and blog(s). You do not necessarily even need the basic knowledge of HTML and CSS, Wordpress, or Drupal to make a website. There are many websites that allow you to visually build your website as opposed to writing it with HTML and other languages. It is similar to a template you and just insert images and content. The next step would be purchasing a domain name and web hosting. The most popular place to do this is GoDaddy.com. After your website goes live, you can include the URL in your resume.

With these few things you can get yourself out there and attract more employers.

What are some other ways you can market yourself? Do you have a personal website? If so, what kinds of things do you include?