The greatest increase in CMO spending over the next 12 months will be on new product and service introductions, according to The CMO Survey released this month. Investments in social media will grow too, as CMOs try to better integrate the online medium into their corporate strategies. [Read more…] about CMOs Increasing Product Introduction and Social Media Spending
Market Research
Email and Social Media Form a Tighter Union in 2011
Making predictions at the start of a new year has become an American tradition. The marketing community has been busy at it! There have been plenty of articles, blog posts and tweets predicting what will happen in the marketing realm over the next 12 months.
I’ve noticed, though, that most of the prognostications have been on the future of social media. A word to the wise; don’t overlook the power of email marketing in 2011.
[Read more…] about Email and Social Media Form a Tighter Union in 2011
Baby Boomers and Apps
Apps are on their way to becoming mainstream for the baby boomer market. What is the telltale sign? AARP, this nation’s largest membership organization for people over 50, just launched apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The AARP aap provides access to AARP articles, videos and membership benefit information.
No one has ever accused AARP of being a cutting-edge organization. AARP is heavily market research driven. If AARP has found that its members want smart phone apps, then the widespread adoption of apps on mobile devices by boomers is on its way. [Read more…] about Baby Boomers and Apps
Mind the Gap Logo – Part I
Have you heard? Last week Gap Inc. quietly debuted a new logo for its leading store brand. But these days, with the internet bully pulpit available to all, changes as significant as that one don’t stay quiet for long. Gap customers took a look and the resulting outcry echoed across Facebook, Twitter and beyond.
The posts on Gap’s Facebook page make it clear that people did not like the “updated” interpretation of the Gap logo. A classic, international icon had been desecrated and the public let management know it.
What happened next? Close to end of business today, the Gap did an about face and announced that it is keeping its 20+ year old iconic brand, as is. The customer spoke loudly and the company listened. Bravo to the Gap for being responsive to its customers. Some people accused Gap of engineering a publicity stunt. We’re assuming that what transpired was a gaffe and not ploy. So, what could have been done to avoid this episode, which is all too reminiscent of the New Coke debacle? [Read more…] about Mind the Gap Logo — Part I
Older Adults Taking to Social Media
Klein Consulting works with businesses that sell products and services to Baby Boomers and seniors. So it was with great interest, but not much surprise, that I read the results of the just released Pew Internet study titled “Older Adults and Social Media.”
The study found that in the US, “half (47%) of internet users ages 50-64 and one in four (26%) users age 65 and older now use social networking sites.” These findings represent an increase in usage of 88% by 50-64 year olds and 100% by people 65+ in just one year! Impressive!