Category Archives: Growth Marketing & Advertising

“Worst” companies need to improve their websites: Fortune Most Admired Companies

Tonight those companies which made it to the top spots in each Fortune best category are churning out PR news releases , justly proud of their accomplishments. Those who appear in the “worst” list would be hiding or don’t even know it,I guess.For starters, those companies judged as “worst” should get their websites better organized. When I went to one such “worst” company’s website I was totally surprised to encounter all kinds of slow flash introductions, random pop ups and even a spam video!

[Note: This post is from March 3, 2011 and was updated for formatting on May 19, 2021]

Getting the customer through the door by cell phone text message

 AT&T wireless  is teaming up  with retailers (March 2010) via Placecast to text messages of shopping alerts of  deals when you are near a store. The cell phone company knows where you are and if you are willing to sign up you’ll get  a text message for that last minute holiday gift or regular groceryContinue reading “Getting the customer through the door by cell phone text message”

“Customer first Technology next” is the message from Yale Conference

The Yale Consumer Insights Conference  on “Marketing and Innovation in a Shrinking World” was  today. Dean Sharon Oster opened the conference with a reference to the momentous people’s  movement  in the Middle East and the enabling power of the Internet and social media which was echoed, in the marketing context, by several other speakers. AContinue reading ““Customer first Technology next” is the message from Yale Conference”

Google vs. Facebook is about competition vs. co-operation

Google in 2011 (February 17, 2011)is getting weaker than Facebook according to Fortune. At the crux of this phenomenon is competition vs, co-operation. Because “organizing the world’s information” essentially is about an Internet searching individual’s ( a competitive trait) ability to now share that search’s most relevant results with her/his friends via Facebook that appeals to the searcher’s co-operative spirit.

[Note: This post from February 17, 2011] is updated May 22, 2021 for formatting issues]

Better days for auto sales ahead – Toyota brake report and Volkswagen Superbowl Ad

Today’s  release of the NASA study of Toyota’s braking problems is heartening to the auto industry. That the braking problems were caused due to mechanical problems and not some unknown electronic unreliability is comforting to  Toyota  owners and overall auto customers alike. Because, with the auto supply chain being pretty common across auto companies-one wouldContinue reading “Better days for auto sales ahead – Toyota brake report and Volkswagen Superbowl Ad”

Why are Tata Nano sales down in India? Re-positioning needed as lower middle class do not want to be seen as “Cheapskates”

// <![CDATA[ // &lt;![CDATA[ // &amp;lt;![CDATA[ var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push([&amp;#39;_setAccount&amp;#39;, &amp;#39;UA-857684-6&amp;#39;]); _gaq.push([&amp;#39;_trackPageview&amp;#39;]); (function() { var ga = document.createElement(&amp;#39;script&amp;#39;); ga.type = &amp;#39;text/javascript&amp;#39;; ga.async = true; ga.src = (&amp;#39;https:&amp;#39; == document.location.protocol ? &amp;#39;https://ssl&amp;#39; : &amp;#39;http://www&amp;#39;) + &amp;#39;.google-analytics.com/ga.js&amp;#39;; var s = document.getElementsByTagName(&amp;#39;script&amp;#39;)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); // ]]&amp;gt; // ]]&gt; // ]]> Tata Nano initial salesContinue reading “Why are Tata Nano sales down in India? Re-positioning needed as lower middle class do not want to be seen as “Cheapskates””

Internet “do not track” FTC policy is great for consumers and great for marketing

As  this blog reported earlier (this post from December 2010)- it is spooky when ads follow you around on the Internet. Imagine  if you changed TV channels and ads followed you around the channels! Seen in  this context the FTC ‘do not track” proposal is really welcome. The consumer privacy at stake here is justContinue reading “Internet “do not track” FTC policy is great for consumers and great for marketing”

Thanksgiving holiday travel expected to rise by 11 % as consumer spending takes economy to stable ground

The American automobile association (AAA) is reporting that holiday travel (November 2010) will improve by 11% over last year as Americans travel at least 50 miles during the Thanksgiving break. The big spike will be in driving which is expected to go up over 12% while air travel is likely to increase by a moreContinue reading “Thanksgiving holiday travel expected to rise by 11 % as consumer spending takes economy to stable ground”

Amazon sales up 40% as Kindle and e-book sales soar -implications for business

// <![CDATA[ // &lt;![CDATA[ var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-857684-6']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl&#039; : 'http://www&#039;) + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); // ]]&gt; // ]]> Amazon sales are up by 40% and analystsContinue reading “Amazon sales up 40% as Kindle and e-book sales soar -implications for business”

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it ” does not apply to Infrastructure renewal policy for gas pipes, bridges

// <![CDATA[ // &lt;![CDATA[ // &amp;lt;![CDATA[ var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push([&amp;#39;_setAccount&amp;#39;, &amp;#39;UA-857684-6&amp;#39;]); _gaq.push([&amp;#39;_trackPageview&amp;#39;]); (function() { var ga = document.createElement(&amp;#39;script&amp;#39;); ga.type = &amp;#39;text/javascript&amp;#39;; ga.async = true; ga.src = (&amp;#39;https:&amp;#39; == document.location.protocol ? &amp;#39;https://ssl&amp;#39; : &amp;#39;http://www&amp;#39;) + &amp;#39;.google-analytics.com/ga.js&amp;#39;; var s = document.getElementsByTagName(&amp;#39;script&amp;#39;)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); // ]]&amp;gt; // ]]&gt; // ]]> We are all carefulContinue reading ““If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it ” does not apply to Infrastructure renewal policy for gas pipes, bridges”