Now this isn’t a problem, as I know that wvu.edu is the web site for West Virginia University, but what if I’m Christmas shopping and looking for Hannah Montana paraphernalia? If I get over one million results, rest assured, I’m not going to look through all of them. Several companies, who pay money to the search engine site, will be listed at the top of the results. Those are the ones I’m going to look through, not number 649,278 on the list. But what if the results at the top of the page do not have the best selections or the best deals? Is it fair to me to put a company at the top of the list which is not offering the best? Often the companies at the top of the results list are affiliated with the search engine company (same parent group). Is this fair or objective?

Now if consumers are aware of this practice, then I see very little issue, but 60% of Americans are surfing the web with no knowledge of this? Is that ethical? If not, who is being unethical, the search engine company or the advertising company? Are they both to blame? Please let me know how which side of this argument you fall on.

This site allows you to choose which product for which you want instructions and then links you to an extensive instruction manual. The manual still didn’t give me clear instructions, but after playing around for awhile (about 2 hours) I finally have it up an running. I think the lack of instructions included in the iPod itself is part of a marketing plan to drive users to the Apple site and make additional purchases.

I have an extensive CD collection and doubt that I will end up making many purchases from iTunes, but you never know what I may find as I continue emerging into the field of new media. I’m still a virgin to many forms of media, but I’m exploring…and learning!

She informed me that although her parents had immigrated to the U.S. in hopes of living the “American Dream,” they made the decision for her mother to stay home and raise their 4 children. Because Mrs. Olivero had never worked outside the home, she had never learned to speak English. In their home, Spanish was the spoken language, although Mr. Olivero and his children spoke English fluently at work and school. Until recently, I never even thought of how this would have affected Mrs. Olivero.

In many ways, Mrs. Olivero was a typical soccer (well actually volleyball) mom who lived in the suburbs outside Boston. They lived in a highly Spanish speaking suburb, but they were in the U.S.! How did Mrs. Olivero make decisions regarding which items to purchase at the grocery store? How did Mrs. Olivero decide which mini-van was best for her family? How did Mrs. Olivero know which pharmacy would best accommodate the needs of her family? Many of these decisions were probably made by marketing efforts put forth by various companies. I’m sure many of the places Mrs. Olivero did/does business has put effort into marketing to Hispanic speaking minorities. While the majority of the businesses in their area probably offers services which the Olivero family would find valuable, what Mrs. Olivero probably values most is the ability to be able to communicate. 

A pharmacist being able to speak Spanish would be invaluable in the time of a medical crisis. The peace of mind offered to a mother when she knows she is giving her child the correct medication, dosage, etc. is irreplaceable. Many companies are insuring this happens. Whether it’s a pharmacy, a cell phone company, or a hardware store, many companies realize that in order to expand and reach all the potential consumers who may be interested in their products, they have to reach out to minorities. This means more than simply translating information, but actually focusing on things which are important to various cultures.

Here are links to some company web sites which I feel do a great job marketing to minority consumers.

Fed Ex

Target

The Disney Channel

I’m sure as I’ve surfed the web over the last few weeks, someone has attached a cookie to my computer as I now get several junk e-mails each day from people/businesses I do not recognize. I usually just junk these e-mails and block the sender from future e-mails. But an e-mail from myself? Is this an invasion of my privacy? Should someone be able to send me an e-mail using my own address, just to get me to open it? This idea really bothers me, but I am too busy to bother with it right now. If this continues, I WILL check into it in the future.

Is marketing to children ethical? This is a common debate among marketing professionals. While children are often not the purchasers in their households, they do greatly influence their parents purchasing decisions. So how do marketers decide when to market to children and when to market to their parents? Without commercials on children’s channels, how would children know what toys are available? I guess parents could take children to the toy store, but what fun is that? I personally hate toy stores, so I would almost never go without my daughter requesting to go look for something she saw advertised on television. But television and catalogs are not the only ways marketers are targeting children. The Internet is full of advertising for children. Video games also have ads placed within them. So how do parents keep their children form being bombarded with ads? As a parent, I feel that it is my responsibility to monitor my daughter’s screen time.

So as a marketer, what are my responsibilities? Is my responsibility to market products or protect children? What about when marketing products such as fast food or sodas? Is this ethical? McDonald’s has started to market apples and milk in their Happy Meals instead of fries and soda. Does this make marketing to children ethical, or should McDonald’s forgo marketing of Happy Meals altogether? The very name, “Happy” Meal is a marketing tool. My daughter thinks my husband and I get “Sad” Meals, because we don’t get toys when we go to McDonald’s.

How do marketers walk the fine line of ethics when it comes to children? Do you think it’s ethical to market to children? If not, how do marketers of childrens’ products go about marketing effectively to parents? If it is ethical to market to children, should there be guidelines? What sort of things should be avoided? Let me know what you think.

I’ve heard people talking while in the public restroom stall! HOW DISGUSTING! My mom works in a bank and complains about the tellers (her co-workers) talking on the phone while waiting on customers at the drive-thru window! How RUDE! I used to work retail and would be appalled at the customers who would never even speak to me because they were on their cell phones the whole time I was ringing up their transactions! The other evening, my husband and I went out to dinner. At the table next to us, another couple ate their entire meal while on the phone with other people! I’m not sure they even spoke to each other.

I learned in my class on Emerging Media that as technology advances and marketing goes mobile to mobile, more and more people are concerned about their privacy being invaded? REALLY!?!?! I can’t imagine the lady I heard discussing her medical test results is concerned about privacy…and the man I heard cursing at his child’s teacher? He allowed his privacy rights to be invaded in the middle of a crowded office!

Texting is another etiquette issue when carrying a cell phone. If you’re with other people, but spending more time texting someone not in the room, you’re being rude. At least excuse yourself! And do the same when making a phone call, not everyone wants to hear your business.

I think some people believe using a cell phone in a crowd makes them look important. Others just seem to have no consideration for others. While cell phones are a convenience, it’s impolite to burden others with your cell phone usage. I know I’m not the only one who believes that cell phone users are often rude! How about you? Have you been in similar situations? Tell me about them. Maybe we can educate others and develop some cell phone etiquette.