IMC Hawks Blog

Tag: Advertising

  • “He got me yellow roses…?”

    Today is the one day of the year where LOVE IS IN THE AIR, and it’s totally socially acceptable:

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    But before half of you start thinking already, “it’s just a Tuesday, the institution is a sham, love is dumb, I don’t care about Valentine’s Day”, this isn’t about the history of Valentine’s Day.

    It isn’t about what you should get your significant other,

    and it isn’t bashing the holiday either…

    It’s honestly about flowers.

    According to CNN, it is estimated that on Valentine’s Day, nearly 224 million roses are grown for the sole purpose of being cut into long stem bouquets for your honey-bunny. That’s not even including other popular Valentine’s Day gifting flowers like carnations, lilies, and tulips. Those poor angiosperms.

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    But back to the roses, the cliché of them all.

    Our culture deems roses as the unofficial-official flower of February 14th. If any of you have talked to a florist or self-proclaimed flower expert, you know that there appears to be a cultural agreement that a color code system exists for what kind of roses you should get depending on the person or purpose they are for. I have put in some research, and this is the general internet consensus for which color roses mean what:

    Red roses: Love and romance, the perfect way to say “I love you” 

    White roses: New beginnings or purity

    Yellow roses: Friendship

    Pink roses: Admiration and appreciation, the red roses distant cousin

    Orange roses: Enthusiasm and passion

    If you’re reading this hoping to figure out what rose you should give your significant other because you waited until last minute, congratulations, I just did half the work for you. If you’re like me however, and wonder why flowers have meanings to begin with, keep reading.

    Flowers have been used to communicate human emotion and meaning for ages. There are stories dating back to ancient China, Egypt, Greece, and Rome that show flowers to be an integral part of social culture, such as gifting. Our society today identifies gift giving as a way to communicate and express something from gift giver to receiver. Even at less festive occasions like funerals, flowers are given as a way to communicate to the grieving family that you are sorry for their loss.

    Hate it or love it, but I personally think that the fact that we as a culture communicate with each other through flowers, like colored roses, is fascinating. Sure it might all be a sham, it might just be a way to boost rose sales.. but it is also important to think about the implications rose giving says about our culture. We communicate in more ways than verbally speaking, even if it is just giving a flower.

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    So here is a toast to all of you, may the loves of your life get you red roses as an expression of their eternal love for you, and not yellow as a way to say “we need to be just friends”.

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    –Kayla Millie

  • Foxy Roxy

    Life near the beach means seeing surf shops by the dozen.  And what do you think lies inside these surf shops? Brands like Roxy, of course.

    In 1990, Quicksilver began a venture to create Roxy, a swimwear brand that encompassed the female surfer, the first of its kind in a sport dominated by men. The brand grew and was well received by the surf-ette, and Roxy even created the first women’s board short.

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    So what can we learn from Roxy’s brand identity?

    1. Their products are for women.

    2. They target these products to women.

    The logo, two Quicksilver logos reflected against each other to create a go to feminine symbol, a heart, encompasses the brand’s feminine spirit.

     

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    “Daring, confident, naturally beautiful, fun, alive: Roxy“

    Roxy took a plunge into a market dominated by menswear, and came out drenched in success. But Roxy faces a definite challenge-

    How do you advertise an all women’s surf-wear brand, especially swimsuits, without receiving backlash for objectifying women’s bodies?

    The answer? I don’t think Roxy has been able to do it yet.

    Critics were quick to comment on this ad for the Roxy Pro Biarritz competition from 2013 featuring surf pro Stephanie Gilmore.

     

    This is the teaser video that doesn’t reveal Gilmore’s face, but the focus on her body was enough to send consumers into a critique frenzy

    Advertisements seek to sell the product to the consumer, and noise, like a consumer not paying attention, can affect the ads effectiveness. The problem is that women’s bodies, even men’s, are often objectified as a tactic to break the noise that can distract consumers. Sex appeal holds attention, it gets consumers talking.

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    What are some alternatives when advertising a ‘women’s’ brand? Vera Bradley tried last year in 2016 with their #itsgoodtobeagirl  campaign that was supposed to celebrate the everyday woman, and sell the luggage and handbag company’s products of course.

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    @KatMurti

    Consumers were OUTRAGED, calling the campaign sexist and offensive not only to women, but men as well (ouch). The campaign eventually released less abrasive content, and called on a more girl-power type approach by quoting inspiring women.

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    The hashtag #itsgoodtobeagirl is still trendy on Twitter today #PRsave.

     

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    @islasianxjacki

    Gender objectification in advertising is obviously a hot topic to critique, but as everyone knows, sex sells. And when you’re trying to sell a product, you need to sell.

    There has GOT to be a way in advertising that can celebrate and use the human body without objectifying it.

    Since the Roxy Pro Biarritz scandal, Roxy has laid pretty low in terms of video advertisements.

    The question is this, if you were Roxy, how would you continue to advertise your all women’s apparel and surf wear? Keep in mind surfing isn’t done in hoodies and sweatpants; it is done in swimwear, boardshorts, and wetsuits.  So…would you use sex appeal, or pull a Vera Bradley and try something risky and innovative (even if it could possibly fail at first)?

     

    –Kayla Millie

     

  • TGIT: Thank God It’s Thursday

    TGIT: “Thank God It’s Thursday” is a phrase usually associated with Friday. However, Shonda Rhimes has changed the game, making Thursday nights the most exciting night on television. For those of you who do not take part in this excitement, ABC premieres Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away with Murder starting at 8 p.m. All social media sites including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are bombarded with posts about TGIT, especially before the shows air. This not only allows for consumer interaction, but also free publicity for the shows every week. 

    A quick tip… stay off social media on Thursdays if you watch these shows the next day. 

    Fans are not the only ones who tweet during Thursday’s shows. Live tweeting happens from cast members, and even the women behind #TGIT, Shonda Rhimes.

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    If you are new to the phenomenon of Scandal, Olivia Pope is the main character, who is known for eating popcorn and drinking red wine. One Scandal fan, Jennifer Chao tweeted, “Hey guys, I really need some popcorn to go with my wine. #scandal.” Shonda Rhimes uses social media and hashtags to create an active audience during her shows

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    Shonda Rhimes and ABC have redefined what Thursdays mean. These two miracle workers have made Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away with Murder a whole event and something to look forward to throughout the week. If you watch one of these shows, you are bound to watch the others. This idea of a nightly event allows more viewers and interaction between fans, cast members, and Shonda Rhimes.

    Now that How to Get Away with Murder is sadly over for the season, Shonda Rhimes and ABC made sure to add a new show, The Catch to the best night on television, TGIT.

    Do you watch #TGIT? Are you a fan of live tweeting during tv shows? Let us know your thoughts below!

    -Caitlin R, Megan S, Erin F, & Sarah G

     

  • Spring Break Destinations

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    Are you looking for some peace and quiet this coming spring break?  Here are ten places you may want to avoid. These destinations have been named the ten most popular college spring break spots! This can mean loud noise and hundreds of 20 year olds taking the week off from college. You can read more about these spring break hotspots at http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/10-best-spring-break-party-destinations/story?id=23010485.

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    1. Panama City
    2. Cancun
    3. Dominican Republic
    4. Las Vegas
    5. Jamaica
    6. Miami
    7. A Cruise
    8. Bahamas
    9. South Padre Island
    10. Puerto Rico

    Traveling anywhere on Spring Break can be hectic and exhausting, but here are a few steps to keep your trip fun and easy!

    Downloading your airline’s App is a great start. This will give you automatic and fast updates on your flight departure and arrival.delta.png

    Keeping large amounts of cash is unsafe no matter where you are, but make sure to be extra careful during spring break. ATMs are everywhere and always notify the bank when leaving the country!

    Most importantly, if you are leaving the country, always have a backup form of identification.

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    Have fun and enjoy your Spring Break!

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    Where are you going on Spring Break? Comment below!

    -Caitlin R, Megan S, Erin F, & Sarah G

  • The New and Improved Facebook “Like”

    We did not think social media could get any better, did you? Facebook added new reactions for the users including: “love,” “haha,” ,“wow,” “sad,” and “angry” on February 24th. Originally “yay” was in the running, but unfortunately it did not make the cut.

    These new features make it easier for users to express how they feel about a picture,status update, meme, etc., rather than just posting below. Instead of commenting “love” or “haha” you can now hover over the “Like” button and view the other options and click the emoji that fits best. This is Facebook’s way of making their website more user friendly to the public.

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    Although users wanted Facebook to add a “Dislike” button, this was the alternative that was decided. However, are we as users naive to believe that this is the full story? These buttons serve not only to its users but it helps Facebook gather more data based on clicks. Facebook is swarming with advertisements that pop up on the screen in some way, shape, or form. However, those advertisements are not just random companies, but ones geared specifically towards the brands users have viewed and shown interest on Facebook. These newly added features will help Facebook gather further data on its users, by the click of a button.

    It’s up to us to decide whether or not is it worth our time to use Facebook’s reaction feature. What do you think about the new emoji buttons? If you love them, let us know which one is your favorite. If not, let us know why!

    -Erin Fouhy, Sarah Garner, Caitlin Rodermund, and Megan Suggs.

     

  • #DamnDaniel

    Have you heard “Damn Daniel” yet? If you haven’t, hop on any social media platform and experience the video that has captivated readers and brands. The hilarious 30 second video made its appearance on many social media outlets and has taken Twitter by storm. The video starring Daniel Lara with a voiceover repeating “Damn, Daniel” and “Back at it again with the white vans” has been made into memes, brand advertisements, remix, and re-makes throughout social media. The 30 second video was uploaded on February 15th and has been retweeted more than 120,000 times and liked more than 145,000 times.

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    Many people are saying the “Damn Daniel” video is the new version of the “What Are Thoooose” video. This is a trend that we see as consumers throughout social media. We can all remember the picture of the dress. People could not agree if it was blue and black or white and gold. I’m sure everyone remembers the Target worker Alex that someone uploaded onto Twitter. #AlexfromTarget became viral and he appeared on the Ellen Degeneres Show. These videos go viral due to their humorous content and amount of viewers that watch on Vine, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. However once famous, marketers use these videos to capitalize on the popularity of the product.

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    As shown above, Zappos was quick to use #DamnDaniel as an advertisement shown on Twitter. Other brands such as DSW, AXE, Clorox, Denny’s, and even Liverpool FC all took part of the #DamnDaniel meme. The one brand that should have stood out on social media was Vans. But, other advertisements were more effective. Clorox and AXE seemed to capitalize on #DamnDavid showing more creative approaches with the meme.

    Screen Shot 2016-02-22 at 11.26.40 PMThis is why it’s important for companies to stay relevant on all social media accounts. These videos are outlets where companies can reach a younger audience simply through social media. It is important to reply quick, be relevant and humorous. This is where brands can either make or break how consumers view them on social media platforms. It is important for companies to embrace these opportunities the right way.    

    What is your opinion on videos and memes and how they over take our social media accounts? What is your view on the situations? Do you think Vans advertisement was good or did other brands beat them with creativity?

    Feel free to comment below with your take on the world of memes!

    -Erin Fouhy, Sarah Garner, Caitlin Rodermund, and Megan Suggs.

     

  • 5 Helpful Internship Tips

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    Do you want to be the best intern possible? Check out the list below for some helpful tips!

    Be the best dressed intern: As stressful as interviews may be, the first impression is crucial to how the rest of the interview may go. If you present yourself in an appropriate, clean, and classy way, the interviewer will view you as a respectable advocate for the position you are applying for. After researching the atmosphere of the company, choose whether business professional or business casual is the right choice when dressing for your interview. 

    If the answer is business professional consider this:

    Ladies: Black or navy suit (either skirt or pant suit), closed-toed black or navy heels/flats (depending on color of suit), solid color dress shirt underneath, hair styled, and clean nails.

    Men- black or navy suit, tie, dark dress shoes, white dress shirt, and clean shaven.

    If the answer is business casual consider this:

    Ladies- black/navy dress pants or skirt, dress (appropriate length), flowy top (avoid too much skin showing), and heels or flats.

    Men- Black or khaki pants, dress shirt, sports coat, and dark shoes.

    Have a good attitude: Even if the work you’re doing is not exactly what you want to do, you want your employers to think that you’re loving every second of this opportunity. Also, displaying a happy attitude makes people more likely to want to work with you! Always have a smile and be willing to take on any task given to you.

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    Network whenever possible: The goal when you intern with a company is to start networking. Internships open the door to countless events, employees, or companies that are in the area. It is a smart idea to network in order to get your name out there. The more people see you and recognize your name, the more you will be considered for a position you might want. I know from personal experience, speaking to employees I met and making good impressions helped me network later. Of course, do not socialize with fellow professionals how you would with your friends. Make sure you think about what you are saying. Network whenever you can because you never know who it may be.  

    Be Flexible: Every organization works differently. One of the best ways to make the most out of your internship is to be flexible. The idea of flexibility is to be able to do projects differently than you normally do. This specifically applies to students that have not had an internship before. If you are use to classes and schooling, starting an internship can be a new transition. It is important to be open minded and adapt to how the organization works.

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    Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Up: As an intern it can be scary to speak up if you have ideas or questions. However, an internship is supposed to be a learning experience. It is important to ask questions regarding the project you’re working on. If you have a creative idea or input, speak up! The company liked you enough to hire you as an intern, you should feel comfortable to speak and give good insight. You never know, they may like the idea and how great would that feel? Don’t be afraid and let your voice be heard.

    Do you have an internship this semester? Are you going to complete an internship before graduating? Let us know below!

    -Erin Fouhy, Sarah Garner, Caitlin Rodermund, and Megan Suggs.