Welcome, MGT 551 students!

Here are some relevant breaking news:

1) E-Commerce is up 25% compared t0 2005 (to learn more, click here)

2) CBS launches YouTube promotion

3) CISCO sues Apple over iPhone trademark

Comments on the NYTimes.com Site Redesign

http://news.com.com/2061-11199_3-6058288.html?part=rss&tag=6058288&subj=news

The Next E-Music Revolution

lala.com is a start-up that's been getting a lot of press recently. Their service - to facilitate the trade of old CD's at $1 a piece. Could this revolutionize the way we purchase music or is this destined for failure?

http://www.lala.com/

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2006-03-07-lala-site_x.htm

http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=musicNews&storyID=2006-03-10T075922Z_01_N10346452_RTRIDST_0_MUSIC-LALA-MUSIC-DC.XML

http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/001571.html

Viral Marketing Campaign - The Simpsons

"A video that recreates the introduction to "The Simpsons" with live actors is spreading across the Internet faster than Homer can say "D'oh" -- part of a viral marketing campaign by satellite broadcaster BSkyB. . . ."

The rest of the story is here; and the video is here.
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Geared Up - WOM Measurement

We spoke yesterday about WOM measurement, and though it's a few days old, a nice mainstream story is still hanging around CNN.com about Brandimensions and their announcement of the "Consumer Voice Awards" for cars at this month's Chicago Auto Show. Interested in the general public's view of this year's crop of new cars (as opposed to journalists'), the market research company searched for mentions of cars and trucks on blogs and web sites, analyzed them for positive content, and ranked them for likeability. Though its not exactly clear how they did their analysis (manually or with some sort of intelligent logic) the results are pretty interesting.

The article also mentions another clever measurement technique that auto manufacturers are taking advantage of - they release early photos of new models, embedded with code, and can track where those images end up on the web, and if they are reaching their desired audience.

Come to think of it, Brandimensions is probably going to track mentions of Brandimensions that the CNN article generated, and our nice little MGT 551 blog will be a nice positive tick on thier radar...

Word-of-Mouth Marketing

As I am preparing Monday's lecture, I decided to surf the Web a bit to see what is the latest in the Word-of-Mouth (WOM) world. Here is an overview of the exciting events brought to you by yours truly:

1) Steve Rubel has been hired by the big-time PR firm Edelman. According to Media Post, "Rubel's hire is part of a shift in Edelman's strategy--from a centralized, company-controlled message to a more two-way conversation with the public." Rubel has a pretty interesting marketing blog. Apprently, Edelman seems to be specializing in the blog practice.

2) What is the latest on BzzAgent? Well, they have not been doing too badly. First, in January they raised $13+ mil of venture capital. Then, a few days ago they announced a change in their business model. Whereas before they basically managed each campaign on their own, an advertiser will now be able to purchase access to their hive volunteers.

3) On the measurement side, BuzzMetrics was recently bought out by VNU. The new company is Nielsen BuzzMetrics.

4) We talked about BMW films in both of my classes. The newest thing that BMW is doing is soliciting writers to include BMW in their stories which will later be released as podcasts.

5) P& G is launching a new WOM effort targeting Moms, similar to their teen-oriented Tremor division.

6) Check out womma.org for more news, info, stories.

7) Check out the Onion for a spoof of viral marketing.

Opting-In?

Curious to see how Avon’s rival, Mary Kay, handled the issue with its sales representatives when it went online, I went to its website to go through the process of buying a product.

Trying to buy eye gel on the Mary Kay site, I added “Indulge Soothing Eye Gel” to my shopping bag. As soon as I did this, I was redirected to a page where I could either enter the name of an Independent Beauty Consultant or have the system find one closest to me. Either way (and in contrast to avon.com), I was unable to proceed to checkout without going through this step. Once a rep was found, I was able to checkout, but not without registering on the site. This is where I stopped, as I assumed that the email address I entered would be used by the IBC to contact me. The options it gave me at the bottom of the screen Yes! I want to receive Beaut-e News, the Mary Kay monthly beauty newsletter. and Yes! I want to receive e-card. made it clear that opting out of being contacted by an IBC was not a possibility.

This week’s reading explains that the “Yes!” choices above are examples of a trust-based marketing opt-in email program. What strikes me about the opt-in choices given to me by Mary Kay is that the boxes were already checked. And when I really got to thinking about it, it occurred to me that I am almost always opting out of e-newsletters, unchecking boxes that automatically presume my interest.

If I go too fast and do not notice my opt-out options, I start receiving emails I do not want; and, I would argue, that I did not give the company permission to send me. Isn’t that spam?

Clearly, there are still some serious definitional issues here.

oxytoccin for dating

Online dating sites go from the plain vanilla (Yahoo peronals) - post a profile, read a profile, write to a profile and hope you get a match - to the fancier, meet people based on a patent pending personality matching model that measures an individual on 29 key dimensions (Eharmony.com or Date.com). This last incidentally is making a lot of money for the owners.
Do you think there's room for one that will include dopamine and oxytoccin levels amongst other factors? Think i'm nuts? Check out this review of a national geographich show, "Naked Science, What's sexy?"

"From Lust to Attachment"

Radha