SAINT MKT301 MODULE 7 AND MODULE 8 DISCUSSIONS

Our ad went viral!

Have you ever “liked” a company or product on Facebook? Participated in a company’s blog or posted pictures on their website? Do you and your friends have the next great commercial for Doritos? The snack food firm has turned user generated content into an advertising phenomenon. Their customer created ads are frequently among the most popular during the Super Bowl, and in many cases, have gone viral. User generated content is exactly what it sounds like, content such as blogs, videos, pictures, and tweets (among many other types) that are created and shared by ordinary customers.

Conduct a web search for examples of firms that have successfully employed user generated content; there are lots of great ones to choose from. If they can do it, so can you! How would you employ user generated content to promote, brand, and sell the product you are using in your marketing plan? Is mommy blogging for you? Photo contests? How will you create the “buzz” you need to launch your product? Describe your user generated content plan and why you selected one type of content over another. How will you get your customers to participate? What’s in it for them? Be specific and share at least one example of a firm that has used a similar strategy.

MODULE 8

Module 8 Discussion

Jumping in the shark tank

Unless you happen to have a rich uncle or get very lucky and find an “angel” investor, you’ll have to compete for a start-up investment with dozens of other firms also trying to get off the ground. You and your classmates have worked the entire term on your marketing plans, and you now have the opportunity to review their plans and to get some feedback on yours. You’ll be playing the role of a rich investor looking for the next great company. Review a few of your fellow classmates’ Marketing Plans. Taking in account the grading rubric for this assignment, post a substantive review to at least two other classmates’ Marketing Plans.Be certain to review someone’s who hasn’t been reviewed yet.In your review:

1. What questions do you have for the entrepreneur asking you to invest?

2. Does their SWOT make sense? Do you think they missed any important opportunities or threats?

3. Did they pick the right targets in their segmentation? Will those consumers really buy their product?

4. How about the IMC plan; did they pick the right message and medium?

5. Finally, Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down? Will you invest in the product and why or why not?

Feel free to set conditions such as a different ad campaign or changes to the product. After all, it’s your money! By the way, we’re much nicer than those guys on TV so make sure your feedback is friendly and constructive.