In Response to Erica Murray

Do you think the taller and skinnier can is contributing to a negative portrayal of body image?

I do not see this new type of can changing any thoughts about body image. If you think about it, the can itself does not look like a person. The fact that we relate an inanimate object or a product to a human being seems kind of wrong in the first place. I think the question is, do we relate ourselves to the products because Pepsi is marketing products in this way, because we feel that we have a personal connection with a product (that seems somewhat destructive), or because the National Eating Disorders Association is telling us that it is a person?

I wondering if we can really consider who is to blame for the relationship between a can of soda and a person, and where it started? Is it a bad thing to market a product as if it were a person? For example, is it bad to represent a phone as a person? ( ex: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKG4B7wFJUo )

In Response to Ashley Guidi

I ask you, how many times do you question a news story when it is published in national papers or viewed on TV? Do you put your faith into the integrity of others?

I took a class here at Keene that taught me a lot about the intricacies of marketing, called Persuasion with Dr. Nigel Malcolm (Communications class). It definitely opened my eyes to the possibility that not everything I hear on TV is true, but it was not the first time I felt this way. I guess I always try to cut out the biases myself, but who knows if that really works?

Honestly, I don't understand why Taco Bell would actually substantiate the story and therefore tell a lie. It seems like a silly PR-stunt that might have big payoffs, but might also tarnish the reputation of the company. It also might stir up feelings of anger from people who are very "pro-USA," who don't want national monuments to be caught up in the money-making stunts of big corporations, who might even be considered partially responsible for this recent economic crisis.

As far as listening to the media, I think that it's important for people to ask a few questions of the stories that they are skeptical of: "Why is this story on TV? Is it there to advertise a company or inform me about something important? Does this story really change anything? What might be the bias of the network? Why does this matter to me?"

What questions do you ask yourself when you watch TV? Or do you?

Writing as an Entrepreneur

I'm going off the M-blog post about entrepreneurs and other businesspeople enjoying marketing success as a result of writing books. (This)

As the daughter of two successful entrepreneurs - my parents own a candy store, and the granddaughter of entrepreneurs, I have to admit that the stuff is in my blood, and marketing is a constant struggle today.

Knowing how much time my parents spend keeping the website up to date ( www.chocolatedelicacy.com ), keeping facebook in check, and creating monthly advertising packages to send to papers, websites, etc., I certainly see marketing as a challenge. If you consider the difference between a published author/entrepreneur and a regular businessperson, it is very easy to assume that one is more credible than the other. Also, in reference to the psychiatrist, what better marketing can you have than the Today Show?

My question is, what lengths would you go to in order to market yourself as an expert or your business? Would you ever consider publishing a book or is the process too daunting for entrepreneurs with limited time?

Supply and Demand... Cruises to Egypt

The focus of my blog will be about the following article: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2011/02/18/travel-agency-marketing-history-making-egypt-cruise/

To sum up the article, the cruise line Azmara Club Cruises was asked by customers if they could make a cruise to Egypt so that the customers could "see history in the making." First of all, how is it really ethical to direct a cruise to a place where there is political turmoil? Second, how ethical is it to market that someone can watch history happen? Apparently because of the zero-supply of cruises (since they were all rerouted to protect the safety of their passengers), the demand has shot up and people want a part of the action.

I have two friends from high school in Egypt right now. Both of them chose to stay because it was exciting and different. I understand that when you've committed to a semester abroad, it's not easy to just go back to school in the states and cancel your plans. However, doesn't it just seem so American to want to butt into the political issues in other countries? Why is it that we feel so safe being a part of riots in another country? Would we be safe in a violent protest stateside? I doubt it.

My concern is the fact that marketing for this cruise is based on an idea that is most likely very limited. I suppose that they would be making history in that the cruise-liner would be the first back after the Egyptian revolution that just took place. How else is a person watching history in the making during this cruise? I have no idea, and I think that the marketing seems "off" to me. I also have a feeling that if things are not settled by the embarking date (November), then it's probably a bad idea to head over there on a cruise.

My question is this: why would someone want to go somewhere that is politically out of whack and how can you market something like this, ethically?