Response to Kendra's post: Places and the Products Being Sold

I think businesses would be more profitable if they changed their prices and or products because of the facts that Kendra brought up.  The economy has changed the population her town see's during the summer time which consisted of more people in the past.  Stores would see this coming and jack up their prices, knowing it would all work out because people would be there to buy their products.  Kendra brings up a good point that the stores aren't thinking about the locals and the people that have been there as long as they have, and some even longer than them.  Selling the product is only one concern, as the right place, price, and time are just as important to a product selling and selling successfully.  These stores in her town should realize they will improve their income and profits if they lower their pricing and help out the people who are buying their products year round, not just in the summer time.  I don't think it is good for a town to only rely on tourists to earn profit because it is too much of a risk and is just setting you up for a problem if the number of tourists aren't exactly where you want/need it to be.

What would be the best move for these businesses to improve their sales?

Marketing Techniques

What's the best way to sell a product? How do you separate yourself from the rest of the field? I have always been curious what marketing teams focus on and the different approaches they take to market their product or service so that it appears to be the best option out there to the consumers. You can have the greatest new product or service in the world, but if no one knows about it, who cares? When cash is tight, marketing budgets suffer. A lot of different factors come into play and after doing some research online, I came up with a couple ideas.  Spicing up your message and making the consumer laugh is a good marketing technique.  It is showing that you are not afraid to try something different and take chances.  Personally, if a marketing ad or commercial makes me laugh then it is more likely I remember it which leads to buying the product.  Whether you sell real estate or fix teeth, you know a whole lot more about your business than your customers do. Attract attention by sharing that expertise.  People buy things because it makes them feel better about themselves when their using that product and it is the marketing teams in businesses that are responsible with getting that message out to its customers.  Using social media to your advantage is also a great way to get your name/brand or product out there.  Working the press is important because mentions in the news media offer what traditional marketing and advertising can't, which is exposure with implied credibility.

Which option that I just brought up do you think marketing teams focus the most attention on, and why?

In response to Kendra's post Companies Pairing up...

I believe companies pairing up to create new products is smart and is a good idea.  The main reason I think it's a good idea is because of the point Kendra brought up how she uses both products which then makes her more attracted to buy the product combined.  That is exactly what the companies have in mind when creating products with another company.  I think the time one company benefits more than the other is when one of the company's is more popular than the other.  Also, the example Kendra gave where Venus and Olay paired up and Olay has a moisture bar on Venus's razors for a more comfortable shave.  I believe in this case Venus would benefit more than Olay because the core product belongs to Venus while Olay has just added something to it.  This is a good way of marketing and I believe we will see more of as the years go on.

If you could combine two of your favorite companies products together, what would it be?

Marketing Strategies for the Future

Marketing is done in so many different ways and by so many different people or businesses, so how does one get the edge?  Having marketing teams in your company help because it allows more than one head to brainstorm ideas and come up with the best one to attract your consumers.  The old situation where businesses produced, marketers talked, consumers listened and sales followed ­ has given way to an economy where customers co-create, marketing involves two-way interactions, and customized product offerings move into the marketplace via channels unheard of even a few years ago.  Marketers can't resist change or they will pretty much be giving up as it is proven change will happen as time goes by.  Consumers are hard to read these days because of the struggling economy so marketers aren't necessarily going in blind, but don't have as much to go on these days which means bigger risks are occurring.  Businesses need to focus on consumers interests by really addressing what customers love about their business and what they don't like.  Going out on a limb, taking chances, is also very important in these days if done right.  Change happens when you view and tackle problems from new perspectives.  The big question that needs to be answered is, will it work and most likely will happen if you positively alter customer experiences, opinions and behaviors which is what marketing is all about.

What is the biggest edge one business has over the other in marketing?