Posts Tagged ‘media’

The Jersey Shore Phenomenon

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, there is no question that you’ve seen, heard about or become enthralled with the phenomenon that is ‘Jersey Shore.’ The season two premiere episode raked in 5.3 MILLION viewers – nearly a 300% increase from the premiere of season one, and 10% more viewers than the first season’s grand finale. Ranked MTV’s best season premiere rating in more than seven years, you can’t deny that ‘Jersey Shore’ has become some sort of a national obsession. What is it about this TV show that helps it score stellar ratings every week?

There’s no doubt that ‘Jersey Shore’ has rounded up a cast of characters who have such distinctive and all-encompassing personalities that it rivals any crew ‘The Real World’ has ever produced. There is Snooki, the five-foot tall, bouffant-boasting guidette; “The Situation,” a self-absorbed, unrealistically tan macho-man; Pauly-D, an aspiring DJ who spends more time on his hair than getting a good night’s sleep. Each of these individuals is such a stretch on the normal people we interact with every day, that it’s a thrill just to see how such a personality operates. Separately, they are all complete train wrecks. And when they come together as a whole, it is an explosion of catastrophes that no one could ever predict.

Part of the reason we love reality-TV so much is, in part, because it is so FAR from reality for 95% of America. How many people do you know who live in a world in which gym-tan-laundry is a daily activity? Watching the outrageousness of the events in these people’s lives and asking ourselves, “are these real, living human beings?” is what keeps us coming back for more. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle in which there are a handful of missing pieces but you keep coming back to try and figure out how to complete it, anyway. No matter how hard you try, it is impossible to find a way for everything to logically come together. And unlike the traditional reality television show, which is primarily drama-based, ‘Jersey Shore’ has turned out to be more of a comedy. The encounters, interactions and relationships are truly more hysterical than they are realistic.

This real-life look into the lives of eight ridiculously blinged-out young adults has turned into a media phenomenon, regardless of whether you watch the show for a laugh, a self-esteem boost, or just to keep up on lunch-time gossip.

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To iPad or Not?

Friday, April 9th, 2010

This week, the long-awaited iPad was introduced to stores and met with crowds of people who couldn’t wait to test out the device we’ve heard so much about over the past few months. While everyone wants to be the first kid on the block with the latest and greatest toy, is it reasonable to jump up and buy the iPad in its baby stages? And what are the considerations to keep in mind?

· iPad versus Netbook

iPadThe majority of consumers who have purchased the iPad thus far seem to be early adopters, tech/media geeks (we admit, we at Perks been called this name ourselves) or Apple fanatics who can’t wait to get their hands on this shiny gadget. Functionally, the iPad has big competition with other mobile notebooks and netbooks already on the market. The iPad is great for jotting down quick blog posts, emails and updating your Twitter status, but would you be comfortable sitting down and writing a client proposal on your iPad? Of course, it’s possible to use the iPad with a normal keyboard, but you will have to carry around a separate dock. Right now, the iPad is more of a fun, exploratory technology than a “must-have” item, especially for those looking to use this mobile device for purely functional reasons.

· Mobile carriers

While the 3G version of the iPad won’t come out until the end of April, there are questions as to why Apple selected AT&T to be its carrier of choice after all the complaints iPhone users have issued. Many people see this as a deal-breaker, mainly because service on the AT&T network (especially in New York) is average, at best. On the other hand, the iPad is mainly going to be used for consuming content on the web and mobile applications instead of for important business calls. So if connection does fail, iPad users will only be left with a half-open browser page rather than a dead phone line. Still, the poor relationship that many have experienced with AT&T and the iPhone leads us to question if it was the best decision for Apple to stick with this carrier.

· Multiple devices

Do you really need an iPad if you already own a Macbook and an iPhone? There is no camera, hence no video-conferencing available on the iPad, and you can’t make phone calls from the device either.** If you are planning to use the iPad for business purposes then you will probably want to shell out the additional $100 for a keyboard and a dock. You will also be paying AT&T another $15 a month for 3G service in addition to your monthly iPhone service bills. Plus, the iPad won’t be getting multitasking capabilities until the fall with the launch of OS 4.0, while this is already built in to your Macbook.

The excitement built around the impressive new iPad is a kind that only Apple can create with its dramatic new product launches. The iPad holds a world of possibility for the future of mobile capabilities, advertising, and consumer engagement. But, before you run out and stand in line to take one home, we encourage you to keep these considerations in mind.

Do you have an iPad and want to share your thoughts? Shoot us a tweet @PerksConsulting.

**You are able to make a phone call on the iPad if you install a Skype or similar application, but this capability is not organically built into the device.

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Posted in media | 3 Comments »

Marketing Plan Makeover

Monday, June 15th, 2009

splash-marketing1

Every business needs a marketing plan. Plain and simple. But, what makes a good marketing plan? What do you need to know to get your product or services in the right hands?

Here are a few quick tips to get you started on creating a marketing plan or to help you give your marketing plan a makeover.

1. Be simple.

No need to confuse everyone with an overly complex marketing plan.  Regardless of how large or small your business may be, your marketing plan should stick to the basics. Use a format that is easy to maintain and doesn’t cause any headaches.  If your Marketing Plan is simple and to the point it will make everyone’s lives easier.

2. Be specific.

To keep your marketing on point, your marketing plan needs to be as specific as possible.  Include information such as:

  • Launch Dates
  • Preparation
  • Responsible Staff
  • Type  and Frequency of Marketing

Since your Marketing Plan is essentially your “Marketing To Do List,” make sure that everything on there is prioritized and organized like you would for your personal “To Do List”

3.  Understand your audience.

Having a solid grasp on your target demographic and competition is essential when creating an effective marketing plan. Ask yourself:

  • Who will be using my product?
  • What other products are they using?
  • Where does my target consumer go to receive information?
  • When does my target consumer use my product?
  • How can I reach my target consumer?

Asking yourself these questions will help you understand how to effectively market your product and what channels of media are best for your needs.

images-114. Understand your value proposition.

Don’t take a single marketing step without ensuring that all involved completely understand your value proposition. Your value proposition is the WHY. Why does your target consumer want your product or service? Why can’t they live without it? Why should they choose your product or service over that of your competitors?

Need help figuring out what your value proposition is? Stay tuned!

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Posted in Management, Marketing | 1 Comment »