In response to Bruce Wichland post...

Is this his road to recovery? Why is Tiger’s image suffering so much? Is it because he is in a different sport (as opposed to the NFL and NBA)? Do you agree that Tiger’s image should have been pulled off the market and do you agree that he should have lost his endorsements? Will he ever have the same appeal?

Tiger Woods speaking on his behalf about the incident on national television could be the beginning of the road to recovery for him. Since the incidents that occurred with Tiger Woods it was clear right away that it would hurt his image. The primary reason why I believe his image is suffering so much is because the companies Tiger represents are presenting him as a role model. For these marketers it would be hard to keep Tiger in their company and market him as a role model when he made unethical mistakes. These companies he represents probability believe it wouldn't be socially responsible to continue marketing him. I don't believe that him being a professional golfer, opposed to a professional basketball player, is the reason why his image is suffering so much. I believe for the time being Tiger Woods should be pulled off the market from what he did. For me personally, if I were marketing some kind of celebrity, they would have to only promote my product or service positively. If there were any negative issues coming along with this celebrity that could hurt the product i'm marketing, they would indeed be fired. I believe Tiger could eventually get the same appeal to the public that he once had. Everyone makes mistakes, his mistakes are just posted for the world to see because of his fame. With this short time period since the incident passed, I believe so many people already forgot about it. With that I come to the concusion that his reputation will be restored to what it once was. Do you believe that Tiger Woods' affair increased the profits for gossip programs such as "E!"?

Marketing Research

The marketing research process used to maintain control over company and collect the most accurate information possible. To go through the marketing research process there are a series of stops marketers should follow. According to Marketing Express the five steps include "(1) locating and defining issues on problems, (2) designing the search project, (3) collecting data, (4) interpreting research findings, (5) reporting research findings." (Pride,118). When a company is designing the research project, it is crucial for marketers to know all of the different types of research. The four types of research are exploratory research, conclusive research, descriptive research and experimental research. Exploratory research is when marketers require the need for more information about a problem to come up with a hypothesis. Conclusive research is used to verify their research through a procedure to help the marketers make decisions. Descriptive research is used to clarify specific phenomena to help solve the problem. Experimental research is used to help make relationships when figuring out a problem. All of these research practices for marketers are ideal to your firm. There are different types of ways marketers should figure out problems in the marketing industry. Lastly, marketers must know which information is reliable and valid. Most people don't believe there is a difference between the two but there is a clear line. If something is valid, your research method is measuring what it is supposed to measure. When something is reliable, it gives you the same information every time, whether it is accurate or not. (Pride, 121) If marketers didn't use The Marketing Research Process, do you believe it would take longer to figure out marketing problems?

In response to Mallory Beam's post...

Do you feel as if marketers are going to become more ethically and socially responsible in the future or stay focused on strictly making money?

Marketing is all about getting your product or service out there and creating a way to attract their target customers. With marketing I believe it is very important to be focused on making money. If that wasn't the case many companies wouldn't spend so much money on their marketing department to get little or no return. At the same time marketers should be conducting in ethical and socially responsible behavior. Not everyone has the same prospective to socially responsible behavior. For example, some people believe it is not socially responsible to be a CEO of a cigarette company because the health risks associated in that industry towards their customers. But at the same time, some people may believe that his position an job industry is ethical. There are so many dimensions to ethics and social responsibility that it's hard to say if marketers will take the money and run or car about their customers. In my personal opinion I think within the laws and regulations in a company, it may force them to practice in a more ethical manor. A thing to think about with laws and regulations are the loop holes. I truly believe marketers can be ethical/socially responsible and still want a high return in profits. No matter what the unethical marketers will always be in our society unfortunately. Do you think marketers are always trying to find the loop holes to act socially irresponsible or, do you think they follow the laws and regulations of the firm to a T?

E-Marketing

Electronic marketing is increasingly becoming more and more popular over the years. The advancement in technology has helped the marketing industry greatly. According to Marketing Express, the percentage of U.S adults who use e-mail and search engines is 91%. Not only is almost everyone connected to the internet by the basics, but also for other miscellaneous reasons. A high percentage of U.S adults also use the internet to check the weather or even get directions off a website. (Pride, 72) Since people all over the world use the computer everyday, a door is opened up for electronic marketing. There are some things within the marketing mix that needs to be addressed with electronic marketing.

Place is an important aspect if one is going to take part in E-Marketing. Things that need to be taken into consideration when E-marketing is the target market. You must ask yourself where the product or service you are selling should be placed. This is important because you wouldn't want to market a product to someone who isn't interested. For example, if I were to market diapers, I wouldn't place my advertisement or marketing plan on a website for young kids. E-Marketing is more convenient than other types of marketing, and can be seen by millions of people. For example if there is an advertisement for a bank in Keene, N.H, someone in California definitely wouldn't see the advertisement. Also, E-marketing touches upon the price aspect of the marketing mix. The price to market online could possibly be less expensive than to market on a commercial or billboard.

Promotion is also important when it comes to E-Marketing. The company promoting the product must find a way to catch the attention of potential customers. This can be done in various ways over the internet. A company could even attach a game to an advertisement temping the viewer to click on it, then being brought to the product or service. Promoting your product online can actually be easier than any other way and can be seen by so many more people. A company could offer special offers and send their customers e-mail alerts about these special offers. Then the customer can buy the product or service at the click of a button.

All in all Electronic marketing did help the marketing world. There are some risks for the customers when it comes to electronic marketing. These risks would include something that seems something that it's not. For example my computer was infested with spyware. The program that infected me with the spyware was the program telling me to buy some type of anti-virus software. This is unfair for the customer, but the company can scam people into buying their product to rid what they in fact gave them. Do you believe these scams companies do to their customers is socially responsible marketing?

This is in response to Laura Beisswanger's post: Environmentalism & Marketing

Laura, you have come up with some great points presenting environmentalism as a threat to marketers. I didn't really consider all the research, time and money to create more "eco-friendly" products. But at the same time, I feel businesses will still be highly profitable after they come out with their "eco-friendly" products. Like you stated people like to feel better about themselves by purchasing more "eco-friendly" products. This gives the company an upper hand when customers are purchasing their products. In my opinion, companies who are taking steps to go "green" are creating many more opportunities rather than threats in the marketing industry. For an example, when the new poland springs water bottles came out they were a big hit. Many of us students were buying this specific water bottle. Since poland springs ideas about the water bottles was a success, almost all of their competitors copied their ideas. I completely agree with your viewpoint about companies not going completely green. But, they are taking steps in creating a "greener" product in which they can market, creating a larger target market. Your question at the end of your blog is an interesting one. I believe the reason why it took businesses so long to take the initiative to help preserve the environment is because the current issues with global warming. As time goes on, more and more people are understanding the effects of greenhouse gasses on our environment, thus opening the door for marketing strategies for greener products. Do you believe companies are making "greener" products solely for the environment or to create more income?

Opportunity or Threat?

"Is environmentalism more of an opportunity or threat for marketers?" Try to find an instance where environmentalism either helped or hurt marketing efforts. Take a stand one way or the other on this question and support your conclusion.

Environmentalism has been an increasingly talked about topic around the world. In the marketing industry people may believe this can be a threat to their company or maybe even an opportunity. I believe environmentalism is more of an opportunity than a threat for marketers. Environmentalism can even open some doors for marketers. For example, creating "eco-friendly" products could bring more customers to your business. People who want environmentally safe products may even pay more for the product if is truly what they believe. In this day in age, more an more people are becoming aware of global warming and are trying to buy things that use less cardboard, plastic and use more items that can be recycled.

This can also be a benefit to a company if the company practices "green" traits. This can include simply recycling in the warehouse, reducing greenhouse gas emission and even use energy efficient printers. Customers becoming aware that your company is going "green" can be a great benefit. For example, when I was a freshman in college (a couple years ago), poland springs water company came out with a new water bottle that used 1/3 less plastic. Many of my friends, including myself bought these "eco-friendly" bottles rather than their competitors. Within months of poland springs coming out with the "eco-friendly" bottles, their competitors followed in the same direction. In this case it proved that environmentalism can be a great opportunity and possibly have higher target market. If other competitors of poland springs didn't come out with the same "eco-friendly" bottles, do you think people would still buy from the other companies?

This is in response to Jackie Higgins' post: The Four P's

The marketing mix does play a huge role in achieving a job. You touched upon many great points using the four P's when finding a job. "Place" as you stated is an important aspect to consider. As you said, one must figure out how far the job is from your home and what the cost from getting from point A to point B would be. Like you said, transportation is a factor depending on the location of the job. If you job is in New York City or Boston, it may be required to park on the outskirts of the town and take a train into the city. Not only would one have to worry about gas prices, but also the cost of the train as well. You stated a good point about promotion. If someone is shy and withdrawn, it may hinder their ability to get the job over someone else who is equal to you in qualifications. "Promotion" should be the time when the individual "sells" them self to the company that are trying to be apart of. Whether that be selling them self in a job interview or even on a resume. The last P to the marketing mix is price. I completely agree with your idea on "price". It is hard to talk about your salary with a potential employer but it must be talked about. Like you said, you do not want to work for nothing but at the same time, you don't want to seem greedy. I personally think salary should be talked about at the second interview with an employer. When do you think salary rate should be talked about with a potential employer?