It's 2007, do you know where your children are?

In an age where everything we do is online, how careful do we need to be? Many people have begun to upload and share their photos online. Photo sharing started mainly between photographers and teenagers. However, this trend has quickly caught on and now is being used by even the most computer illiterate people. My mother the other day sent me a link to the photos she uploaded. This coming from the woman who needs to call me at school when she is having trouble logging into her email. Everyone has caught on to photo sharing on the Internet and many have used sites such as flickr to do so.

So back to my question, how careful do we have to be? Recently there have been many stories of people, including marketers, taking pictures of children off these sites. Personally, I feel that these people have no right to reuse a photo of a child other than that of there own, but these people are not socially responsible enough to recognize that. The people we are talking about range from marketers all the way to sex offenders, because they don't see the wrong in it, we must take our own action to stop it. That means using security settings to protect our photos against these kind of lurkers on the Internet.

Even on flickr there are settings that allow you to protect the pictures that you post. The strictest setting flickr offers is Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works. This means that people are free to copy, distribute, display, and perform the work as long as they attribute the work and do not use it for commercial purposes or alter, transform, or build upon the work. Although this setting protects against using your photos for commercial purposes, as you can see they can still be used for other things.

My recommendation, post photos on sites that password protect your photos, a site that is by invitation only, or a site that you can change the settings to make restrictions against who views your photos. Facebook even has a setting which members can switch to so that only their friends are allowed to view their pictures. As long as you trust the people you are friends you should have no reason to believe that these photos will be reproduced.

Inspiration for this post from SlackerMama.com

Should publishers "think pink"

The other day I stumbled upon a blog that discussed how some publishers are publishing gender specific books to children. This seems to make a lot of sense from a marketing standpoint. Some books may relate more to a particular sex, so why not market them in that fashion. The books are being published with pinks and purples to attract young girls and primary colors to attract young boys. So what's the problem. Boys will do anything to avoid being associated with the color pink.

Boys are mortified at the thought of holding a pink book or toy, wearing pink clothing. The boys who are not, are picked on by other boys because of it. I have worked with children for a large part of my life and I recall one little boy who came in wearing pink shoes. That day one of the older kids called him a girl and when he said he was a boy, the older boy replied "Boys don't wear pink". To this day I have never seen those same pink shoes on his feet. It is horrible that boys feel that they cannot associate with pink or else they will seem like a girl, however that is a stereotype that exists, that marketers need to recognize.

Currently in the U.K. girls already read more than boys. With boys being mortified by the "girlie" colors it is no wonder they are not picking up as many books. Girls have no problem taking a book marketed towards boys adorned in the primary colors. Boys are judged by their peers based on the color books they choose and girls can choose which everyone they want without an comments.

Marketers need to understand how what they read and how much they read affects them. By producing books that turn boys away from reading them, they are doing these boys a disservice. Understanding issues that boys face when it comes to portraying themselves as masculine, publishers need to reduce the number of books they publish as gender specific. Also parents need to be aware of there boy's phobia of "girlie" colors and provide them with plenty of books which the boys deem acceptable to read.

Information for this post was provided from the Learned on Women Blog

Nickelodeon moving into the Electronics Aisle

Nickelodeon has been around as long as most of us can remember. Along with the multiple channels now owned by the Nickelodeon enterprise, they also sell merchandise based on cartoon characters from their hit television shows. Already strong in the toy industry, Nickelodeon is trying to infiltrate the electronic aisle.

Nickelodeon already currently sells electronics, however, they are now working on an entire line of electronics fit for their young target audience. Their new electronics line include radios, portable media players, flat screen TVs, etc. These electronics will be based off their popular cartoon characters such as a Spongebob Squarepants flat screen TV in the shape of the sponge character resting on two large plastic feet. Dora the Explorer is another character that will be used within the new electronics line.

These electronics differ from Nickelodeons previous electronics lines because they are using more sophisticated technology. Children usually understand technology better than their parents and they want products that reflect this. Flat screen TVs and digital cameras are the technologies that children want and understand.

Nickelodeon is also being careful to make sure that the sophistication is noted when making purchasing decisions in the stores where they will be sold. When the hit the shelves and Walmart and Best Buy they will be placed in the electronics aisle instead of the toy aisle. Most consumers feel that electronics placed among other toys show a weakness in the technology or quality. By placing these products in the electronic aisle parents and children will feel like they are purchasing quality, advanced technology that suits the wants of the children.

Information for this post was found on SpongeBob Pushes Deeper Into Electronics Aisle

Starbucks Adjusting to Younger Market

While picking up your daily coffee at your local Starbucks, you may notice the number of children that are doing the same. Every time I step foot in a Starbucks there is a high school student in the corner working on homework, a mother with her children, etc. The part of this that is amusing is that customers of all sizes get their Starbucks fix. The kids are tagging along behind their moms with Starbucks cups in hand. Starbucks has recognized this and is changing its previous stance on marketing to children.

Previous to the announcement that they are reevaluating marketing to children, they insisted that they would never market to children. As with many other companies they are recognizing the potential of this market. They are already reaching the children without marketing to them, which is causing some to already accuse them of targeting children. Now they are beginning to develop a way to market to children with drinks and sizes more suitable to their stature.

Their menu now includes chocolate milk and steamed milk that are already favorites of the youngsters. Starbucks is planning on building on to their kid friendly menu and giving them more options. Along with adjusting their drink line to fit into this younger market, they are also looking into merchandise that would be appealing to kids. Preliminary ideas would be to sell teddy bears specific to the brand.

While Starbucks will be changing their position from previously not marketing to children, they still do not want to target children directly. Their goal is to make sure that the parents make the ultimate purchasing decision. They plan on doing this by keeping merchandise directed towards children at the parents level. Allowing parents to bring their children to Starbucks, without having to hear their children beg for the new stuffed animal Starbucks is selling.

Information for this post was found on Starbucks Aim Menu Changes At Young Customers

Fast food giants retargeting children.

The other day I stumbled upon a blog that talked about Burger King taking steps to market healthy kids meals to children. The post I read commented on how Burger King was going to be serving up flame broiled chicken and apple slices cut like the french fries that normally come with their kids meal. The kids meals are going to have 560 calories or less.

The blog then proceeded to express their views on this approach. The blog says that parents should already assume that when they go to McDonald's or Burger King that the meals that eat will be unhealthy. I would agree with this comment a couple of years ago, but with the health kick that the entire nation has embarked fast food restaurants, including the leaders, are adjusting their menus. Most fast food restaurants have already changed or are beginning to change their menus to include healthy options. People who have become concerned about their health are now hearing that the places where they used to practice their unhealthy eating habits are changing their attitudes too. This shows people that they can get a healthy and affordable meal from the fast food restaurants they know and love.

The blog also mentioned that McDonald's was too embarrassed to change their menus to include healthier options because of the Super Size Me documentary. Apparently this blogger has not been watching their television or visiting their local McDonald's lately. McDonald's changed their happy meals for children years ago to include healthier options. Also their latest advertisements focus on a healthy lifestyle which includes exercise and eating healthier.

Recently the Big Mac of the fast food industry has begun to market their healthy choice options to children. McDonald's rolled out an entirely new advertising campaign to be aired on children's channels. These advertisements emphasize the healthy choices that can now be found in McDonald's restaurants. McDonald's restaurants are now serving up fruits and veggies as a substitution for their infamous french fries. Not only do they stress healthy eating, but they are also trying to encourage an overall healthy lifestyle.

This advertising campaign sprung up after McDonald's was receiving criticism about previous commercials that targeted children with their normal greasy options. It has been said that children actually prefer foods that are wrapped in a McDonald's wrappers. The influence the media has on children within the fast food market is apparent. Advertising new food options to children with the McDonald's name is a way of encouraging children to choose these healthy options, while also driving their traffic. Also for parents to see the McDonald's taking steps to improve their options causes them to want to test out these changes.

Comments made on the article expressed the idea that McDonald's intentions are not as they seem. The comments suggest that they are not concerned with the children's health, they are only concerned with making a profit. Personally, I feel that their main concern is making profit, but they chose to include social concerns as one of their marketing tools. For McDonald's this was a good ethical decision and also a great business decision, by showing that they have chosen to sacrifice what has worked in the past for a healthy alternative.

McDonald's not only changed their advertisements but if you go to their website they have an entire section on Food, Nutrition, and Fitness. The section shows parents and children that McDonald's can be applied to a healthy and fit lifestyle.

The articles discussed in this blog can be found at these sites:

The BK to Introduce Fast Foods to Kids

McDonald's Launches Healthy Eating Children's Ads

Marketing to Children

Despite all of my previous posts, this blogs main intention is to discuss marketing to kids. I feel that this is an important topic because of how easily influenced children are by the world around them. I work at an elementary school and I see on a daily basis how they are manipulated by their environment. One day a student walks in with a pair of Heelys shoes or a brand new tamagotchi and the next day every student has one. Marketers understand the potential of this market, however, I don't always feel that they are as sensitive as they should be when dealing with children.

Marketing to children is a $15 billion market, and continually growing. Marketers understand the size of this group and the rewards they can get from targeting them. That is why 80% of global brands employ a "tween strategy" to reach this market. This is an important market for advertisers because they understand that if they can make their product the "it" product, then it will fly off the shelves. Children are constantly helping marketers by using word of mouth to promote their product. If marketers can get children talking about their product then they are likely to see sales increase shortly after that.

Despite the potential marketers see in marketing to children, they must also be aware of how easily influenced children are by their advertisements. Issues marketers are currently facing are child obesity, depression, sexual issues, etc. A marketers worst nightmare would be to see reports that their product or advertisement has attributed to one of these issues. Being attributed to exploiting on of these issues will quickly change parents opinions on purchasing the product for their children. Marketers must constantly think about these issues and be aware how their product and advertisements come across to their markets. Marketers also can use these issues to capitalize on their product. If they sell healthy food alternatives for children then they can exploit products that don't or simply sell their products based on being healthier for children.

When marketing to children advertisers must combine a sense of responsibility while accomplishing their goals, to reach that audience. It is important to make their product look appealing, while being ethical in this process. Children are very vulnerable and can be persuaded very easily, however the parents make the final decision on whether the children receive the product. Taking all of this into consideration, it is important for advertisers to make their product appealing to children while making sure parents feel comfortable making the purchase for their children.

Information for this post came from Facts About Marketing To Children

The Problem with Men...

The second article I read for my Audience Research course was titled "Targeting Young Males" from Media. This article basically described how difficult it has become to target young men and how marketers are developing new methods of reaching them. Young males are not watching as much television as they used to. Instead they are spending most of their time playing video games. Many companies are trying to reach young males through alternative marketing because television ads are becoming less effective for this audience. Advertisers are placing their product in video games now to hopeful reach young males in that manner. The most difficult part about advertising in video games is making the product fit in and seem natural. Gamers don't mind it when the product fits in with the environment but otherwise it becomes a nuisance.

The article discussed two products in which the brands made an effort to reach this audience in unique ways. The first product they discussed was the Toyota Scion. Scion has developed alternative ways to get the attention of young males such as setting up test drive stations outside of music stores, traveling art shows, etc. The marketing objective was to target customers who hadn't previously owned a Toyota.

I found this kind of ironic since over the summer my 25 year old brother purchased a Scion. When I called him after reading this article he disappointed me by telling me that he had seen a television ad. He went on to tell me that he bought the Scion because he had the ability to customize the car. The car has tons of different options that make this car appealing to young males for example fog lights, spoilers, ground effects.

The other product the article discussed was Axe. Axe was one company that was featured in video games. Axe also sponsored celebrity events and parties to create brand awareness.

Reaching the Tween Audience

For my Audience Research class I was assigned two articles to read and analysize. The first article I read was called "Buzz Focus: Cracking the Fickle Tween Code" from OMMA. This article was very concise and to the point. It did not touch on how to reach tweens through every medium, but it did clearly point out the key ways to reach that target market. The article made four distinct points on the best ways to market to the tween audience. The first point is that tweens do like advertisements, especially for introducing new products. Tweens also like to see a celebrity using a product on their own, rather then endorse it. Email is not an ideal medium to reach tweens. Email is a way to connect to friends for tweens. Finally tweens like to try products before they buy them. They love to get samples.

I really felt like I could relate to this article. As a 20 year old, I can still remember how I made my purchasing decisions in my "tween" years. I agree with this article that tweens are not fooled by sponorships. The example the article gives is that Jessica Simpson has probably created more of a buzz about True Religion jeans than she did when as the spokesperson for Proactiv. I know that I did not base my buying decisions of how advertisers used in their commercials. Instead I read my gossip magazines which snapped pictures of my favorite celebrities and usually commented on what brands they were wearing.

Podcasts

For my first blog entry I was told to write about a couple of podcasts I listened to as an assignment for a class. The podcasts I watched were Marketing Edge by Albert Maruggi and Across the Sound by Joseph Jaffe.

After listening to both of the podcast, I would probably only recommend the Marketing Edge to other people. I think the biggest downfall for Across the Sound was that it was over an hour long. I do not have the time our patience to become a regular listener of an hour long podcast. Marketing Edge was under fifteen minutes which meant that the podcast was more concise and to the point. Also Marketing Edge was much more structured. Maruggi definitely planned out his podcast which kept the podcast more focused. As Jaffe says in his Across the Sound podcast he was discussing whatever came into his mind, which made it less structured and harder to pay attention.

I personally do not prefer this medium. I feel that I would appreciate the idea more if there was something visual to go along with it. I tend to be a visual learner along with the majority of this country and would follow along better even if the video to go with it was just the host of the podcast speaking. Without a visual to follow along with, I would prefer to just read this information, rather then listening to it. I had trouble paying attention during both of them and found myself constantly backtracking because I missed something.

Stacy