KnowThis.com: Posting from Paul.Christ

Visual Comparison Ad Has Leading Wireless Companies Battling

Paul Christ — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:26:34 +0100

AT&T to Verizon: There’s a Lawsuit For That (MSNBC)
What do you do when a competitor produces a comparative advertisement that really hammers you hard? Well, one thing you may be able to do is take the problem to court. And that is what AT&T is doing because they are not very happy with new television ads being run by Verizon (see ad at YouTube). The ads claim to compare the 3G coverage (i.e., primarily high-speed data access) in the U.S. for both providerRead More...

Another Attempt to Solve the Micro-Payments Puzzle

Paul Christ — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:24:55 +0100

Making Micro-Payment Models Work Online (E-Commerce Times)
Some may think that nearly any product can be sold over the Internet. But in reality low-priced products, and in particular low-priced physical goods, have generally not been a viable selling option particularly when purchased in small quantities. The problems tend to center on two key cost issues: 1) the fees retailers must pay to financial institutions for accepting credit cards (the main payment option for InternetRead More...

Understanding the Importance of Branding

Paul Christ — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:46:29 +0100

The Keys to Brand Success (Millward Brown)
For the last few years the guys at Millward Brown have been producing insightful marketing content and this story (in PDF format) continues the good work. It covers the factors that set brands apart and hopefully make them distinctive such as the brand name, logo, packaging design, etc. But not only does the story cover the factors important to branding, it also looks at the psychology behind these factors and how these affect Read More...

Using Cookies to Track Customers

Paul Christ — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:55:31 +0100

Cookies Sound Sweet but They Can Be Risky (USA Today)
More than likely a large majority of people who browse the Internet know they are being watched or at least their computer is being watched . They know, for instance, that websites can follow where they go on a site, though users may not fully understand what type of information is being gathered. But while people know they are being monitored, few know what methods websites use to get their information. This story Read More...

Research Report Has Cereal Marketers Playing Defense

Paul Christ — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:26:19 +0100

Kids' Cereals Pour on the Sugar and Sodium (USA Today)
Here is a scathing research report that has some marketers in the U.S. scurrying for cover. Not only is it produced by a credible research center, it also has the resources to be well publicized (it was picked up by many media outlets). The report titled Evaluating the Nutrition Quality and Marketing of Children’s Cereal by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University challenges the marketing actiRead More...

More on Marketing Through Mobile Devices

Paul Christ — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:39:58 +0100

Marketers Salivating Over Smartphone Potential (USA Today)
We posted last week about how marketers are finally seeing the light when it comes to mobile commerce, well here is another story addressing the same issues. Except this story gets more specific on how users are shifting from computers to mobile devices for accessing social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. While marketers may be salivating, there are still many questions remaining on the real potential Read More...

Example of External Factors Affecting Marketing Decisions

Paul Christ — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:53:15 +0100

Flu Worries Pump Up Sales Of Hand Sanitizer (NPR)
Many marketers spend most of their time worrying about factors they control, such as product and pricing decisions. But an area of marketing often receiving less attention but whose influence can be significant is the external environment in which a product and company operates. These environments tend not to be controllable by the marketer. Here is a good example. In this case an external factor (a health issue) Read More...

Social Network Sites Begin to See Different Segments Forming

Paul Christ — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:49:27 +0100

Facebook, MySpace Divide Along Social Lines (NPR)
While many over the age of 30 may view Facebook and MySpace as being essentially the same thing, the main users of these websites have a different view. It appears that different segments are forming between the two that may one day clearly separate who these sites attract.

"No one uses MySpace," says 17-year-old Halie Pacheco, a student at The Urban School. She likes Facebook. "It's safer and more high class," she explains.

Wal-Mart Sends Message With More Price Cuts

Paul Christ — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:46:19 +0100

Wal-Mart Announces Price Cuts for Holidays (MSNBC)
As we discussed in our recent post on Wal-Mart’s pricing of books, it was likely their price cutting was not finished and that turns out to be the case. They have expanded price cuts across many product groups and this is almost certainly going to impact many other retailers and should make for a hotly contested holiday season.

Wal-Mart has frequently used its buying power to undercut rivals. It sells enough products in eRead More...

The Old Layaway Plan is Back

Paul Christ — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:21:29 +0100

Toys R Us Adds Layaway For Big-Ticket Items (MSNBC)
A staple of retail promotions from the mid-1900s is making a comeback thanks to a down economy. The layaway payment plan is really a pricing strategy retailers use to lock a customers into a product even if the customer currently does not have the cash or sufficient credit to buy right away. In some promotions the retailer allows the customer to pay a small amount over time (i.e., installments) before picking up the product Read More...