Nikki Says

Trends, Marketing, Social Media

[nikkinissen]

Rendezwho, meet your match!

There is a new mobile app that has hit the Apple store. Now what is the catch, well it is an app that matches you literally with one person anywhere on the globe. The app literally pairs you with a stranger for life. It is completely random and you truly have no idea who it is. The idea of it is to create a dialogue of open communication and to truly get to know a stranger.

Now I know you may wonder, why would someone create this app? Well the goal of this app is to inspire people to travel. The only way you can meet your mystery match is by literally traveling and meeting up. This is not meant to be a dating app but an app that connects you with a potential life long bestie.

However, one thing to know is you cannot see your match or even talk to them. According to Mashable, “Communication on the app is severely limited. Users are only allowed to "talk" via Giphy or Spotify, and every day the pair is asked a new multiple choice question. Users are able to see their match's answer to the daily question and compare.” It could be with a male, female, old, or youth. The only way to find out more is to pay $4.99. Well to be honest, I personally don’t spend money on my apps. So my person on this app would always be a mystery. But a little mystery is what keeps it intriguing. The match is created by answering several questions and being paired with someone who signed up the same day as you. Matches can take up to 24 hours to be created.

So will you find the urge to track down someone who is also possibly tracking down you who knows. But the concept is there is no rush as you are matched for life. Unless they delete the app of course....which according to Rendezwho developer Candy Baca,  "You really get one person for life,” Baca said. “Users that don’t use the app at least once every 15 days are kicked and banned.” But if you are matched with someone who gets the boot, you will be re-matched with someone more committal.” So will you try this app? I figure if I am bored enough and looking for some entertainment this can be a great time killer and something different to consider.

http://mashable.com/2016/02/10/rendezwho-app/#PMupSaV.9kqB

[nikkinissen]

Barbie’s Diversity: Is it too Late?

Barbie made her first debut in 1959. By 1965, Barbie came with a scale showing her weight at 110 lbs. along with a diet book. Barbie continued to create unrealistic physical standards that many young girls idolized growing up. However, society has noticed in the last decade that these unrealistic expectations could be an issue shaping a youth generation. Society has been gradually embracing a body positivity movement that has trickled down affecting industries such as fashion and lifestyle brands.

To adapt with this movement Mattel has created three new Barbie’s. Petite, Tall and Curvy now join the Original Barbie in the product line. But the question remains, are they just too late? According to Mashable, ““Yes, some people will say we are late to the game,” Evelyn Mazzocco, the head of Barbie brand at Mattell, told Time. “But changes at a huge corporation take time.”

Currently, if you look at the toy industry there are already several options available that have already embraced a more natural approach of a healthy body image size. Several options already exist and project an healthy image to impressionable girls worldwide. One product is Lamilly Dolls created by artist Nickolay Lamm launched in 2014. It was described as the normal barbie featuring realistic proportions and attributes like acne, stretch marks, and cellulite. Lammily dolls are available for a [price tag of $25.

Another option is Lottie Dolls launched in 2012 by Arklu. Lottie dolls are very are appropriate and are commonly known for their interesting stories that accompany their dolls. She comes in several different shades and is very career oriented. The doll was praised as it features dolls working in the science/STEM field in career roles as either coder, astronomer, and rock collector. Lottie dolls only cost between $19.00-$35.00.

The oldest diversity doll was called Mixis and was produced starting in 2005 by YNU Group, Inc. It is a doll that has embraced culture and diversity to its very core. These dolls feature a blending of ethnicities, culture, and backgrounds. According to Mashable, “ Each doll comes with its own heritage (Rosa is Latina/Jewish, Opal is Ghanaian / British, and Emerald is Black American/Native American/Japanese), and their own unique hobbies and interests, including volleyball, singing, reading, and learning new languages”. However, these dolls although diverse come with a higher price of $45.

So will Barbie be able to establish themselves in an already diverse market. The answer is likely yes. Due to her history and the recognizable brand of Barbie I believe she will continue to be a common doll among young children.

However, I am curious why Barbie just doesn’t create a DIY version as an option you can order online. Because if you are going to make diverse products and seek to highlight a new demographic, might as well embrace all. And to be honest from a consumer perspective I would personally pay more to have a custom version of myself as a Barbie Doll. It would not only attract children, parents, but also the generation of adults who grew up playing Barbie.

http://mashable.com/2016/01/30/body-positive-barbies/#jocSpY5HFZqT

[nikkinissen]

The Force Awakens as Fans Criticize the Lack of Rey

Star Wars has become an international success smashing records. The main character known as Rey has become a strong female presence in the Star Wars franchise becoming a role model for young girls worldwide. So when the character Rey played by actress Daisy Ridley was missing in the new Monopoly, the fans took notice. Fans flocked to social media to display their outrage even trending the hashtag #WheresRey. It was rumored that this main female character was excluded due to spoiler reasons and keeping the plot under wraps. However, the character Rey was already being featured on promotional posters before the game release.

The game features only male characters including Luke Skywalker, Kylo Ren, Finn and Darth Vader. Fans response caught the attention of Hasbro who announced that the game shall be released to include the Rey character later this year. Even JJ Abrams the director of Star Wars: The Force Awakens responded with criticism stating ““It seems preposterous and wrong that the main character of the movie is not well-represented in what is clearly a huge piece of the Star Wars world, in terms of merchandising,” Abrams told some reporters on Saturday after a Television Critics Association panel for his new Hulu series 11.22.63.“

What should Hasbro take away from this experience? Recognition of the growth of strong female characters in cinema that challenge traditional roles and a society that slowly is progressing closer to gender neutrality. As the next wave of Star Wars movies Rey not only has the force, but is a force to be reckoned with as a fan favorite and strong female character in a predominately male dominated franchise.

Keep Reading:

http://mashable.com/2016/01/04/rey-monopoly-star-wars/#fcoKJCBIF5qY

http://mashable.com/2016/01/09/jj-abrams-star-wars-monopoly/#Naye7MbZFaqS

[nikkinissen]

The Force of Marketing: Success of Star Wars

Star Wars smashed box office records by earning over $500 million worldwide opening weekend. It also broke records such as “ Biggest domestic opening weekend ever, with an $238.0 million domestically and a total of $517 million worldwide. (It broke the $208.8 million three-day opening weekend set this summer by "Jurassic World".), Biggest opening day ever, with Friday earnings of $120.5 million, First movie in history to earn $100 million in a single day; it also became the fastest movie to gross $100 and $200 million. Biggest December opening of all-time, surpassing the $84.6 million earned by "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" in 2012″ according to MovieFone writer Gary Susman.

But how did Disney manage to make such box office breaking records? Well it was more than just embracing current Star Wars fan, but creating a strategic strategy to create new ones. Disney took focus not just on Star Wars: The Force Awakens but setting up an exciting marketing campaign focused on setting up for a new Star Wars franchise. And most of all it was not cheap, The Star Wars: The Force Awakens cost a reported $200 million, with half of that focused on marketing.

Disney began their marketing campaign by focusing on Star Wars fans and building that connection with core audiences which helped spread word of mouth. Secondly, non-stop marketing played a vital role. The marketing campaign for Star Wars began after their purchase of LucasFilms in 2012. Merchandise of Star Wars and advertisements on fruit definitely caught attention. You could buy BB-8 themed oranges, Yoda grapes, and even Darth Vader apples.

Disney took a strong stance on keeping fans in the dark of the story plot. Trailers were vague and kept the movie a mystery. Trailers featured cast members old and new but kept their roles in the story very minimal. Most fans had theories but ultimately went into seeing the blockbuster with no actual idea of what to movie plot really was. According to MovieFone “There were two other noteworthy elements in the success of the "Force Awakens" debut. One was how well the movie did among women (not generally considered a sizable percentage of "Star Wars" geeks) and children (that is, kids too young to be nostalgic for the original trilogy or even the prequels). Nonetheless, Disney estimated that this weekend's domestic audience for "Star Wars" was 42 percent female and 17 percent aged 16 and under. Hollis attributed their attendance to the "FOMO" factor and noted that the kid number was encouraging considering that only 18 percent of schoolchildren were out of school on Friday.”

http://www.moviefone.com/2015/12/20/star-wars-force-awakens-box-office/

http://www.techinsider.io/star-wars-fruits-and-vegetables-are-not-the-droids-youre-looking-for-2015-12

[nikkinissen]

One of the new phenomenons in this digital age is FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). We are so connected to technology and social media today that even companies are taking notice coming up with social media campaigns to connect this age of users. One example is Royal Caribbean International with their recent #ComeSeekLIVE campaign.

In this campaign Royal Caribbean is live streaming their adventures and travel destinations love sing the application Periscope. These live edited broadcasts are streamed live to digitial billboards in the New York City area. This campaign only lasted a week from November 13th- 20th.

According to Mashable, “The campaign lets you follow adventurous social media influencers such as YouTubers High On Life and Periscoper Dan Moore on 13 live broadcasts as they visit five islands over seven days. The streaming events included the Las Playas natural water slide in Puerto Rico, playing with green monkeys at the Wildlife Reserve in Barbados, riding ATVs in St. Maarten and enjoying beverages made by a robot at Bionic Bar on the cruise ship Anthem of the Seas”.

Using this first person point of view, it is changing the perception of cruises to a younger generation. These types of live streams are displaying music, live entertainment, gorgeous destinations, culture, outdoor adventures, and even ships new features.

Check out their Periscope page at the link below:

https://www.periscope.tv/RoyalCaribbean

http://mashable.com/2015/11/20/royal-caribbean-periscope/#Y5s9mZdc_iqu

[nikkinissen]

Eddie The Terrible!!!! Adoption Campaign

One of the best social media marketing campaigns was definitely about Eddie the Terrible. Eddie was a dog available for adoption through the Humane Society of Silicon Valley. While most animal adoption photos and videos try yo display the sweet loving side of a pet. HSSV took a different approach. They relied on making it real which was a refreshing change. The video shows off Eddie’s quirks, personality, and entertaining side. He’s definitely a bundle of energy that was shared on their blog, Facebook, and YouTube.

Why this worked?? Well it was a refreshing change. We are so used to turning on the T.V. and seeing the common sad humane society videos. We all know when we hear those sad Sarah Mclauchlin song lyrics that it is going to be a heart wrenching video. It makes the general public feel bad in hopes to inspire change. This new approach to animal adoption is lighthearted and heartwarming.

Thankfully, shortly after this video Eddie the Terrible Chichihua found his forever home. And this was due to the out of box thinking on the Humane Society of Silicon Valley. This video managed to go viral being featured on several news sites.

[nikkinissen]

This is may be considered a prank, but what better way to show how real your product looks than to literally have one convinced the images they see are real. Kudos to LG, this actually makes me want to check out the LG Ultra HDTV.

[nikkinissen]

The Great Wall of Stormtroopers!

Disney has been driven and focused on the Chinese market by preparing to open a park in Shanghi, China. But not only that, Disney has embraced historic monuments with the iconic brand of Star Wars. This grabbing the hearts of every inner jedi, stormtrooper, or darth vader fan. Their recent marketing stunt is visually amazing and a rare sight to see.

Disney has brought their marketing game to epic proportions by literally placing 500 stormtroopers on the Great Wall of China. Thus making the most iconic selfie for a marketing campaign I’ve seen all year. Fans swarmed to the location to take photos with the amazing figures and showed off their inner fandom and support for the upcoming Star Wars flick The Force Awakens.

Above is a fan showing off her Jedi fighter pilot helmet.

This photo above gives an idea on how awesome and large this marketing plan truly is. Although Star Wars has a huge following here within the United States, it is still quite new to the Chinese market and lacks more of a cult following. Therefore, the marketing efforts to capture a larger Chinese demographic Disney has definitely stepped up their game through out of the box thinking. It was only this year that all six of the Star Wars films were shown in theater.

Star wars is a new experience for China and Disney is planning to capture the hearts and create a similar cult following comparable to the U.S. According to Mashable, “When the first of the movies was released in 1977, China was still gripped by Mao's Cultural Revolution ideologies, and public cinemas blocked the screening of the U.S. blockbuster. And then there's the sheer size — and growth — of the Chinese movie-going market, which for the first time eclipsed the U.S. in February to become the world's largest. It managed to take in a haul of US$650 million that month, compared with America's US$640 million.”

Will China embrace Star Wars to the extent of Western Culture? It seems only time and unique marketing tactics will tell.

[nikkinissen]

Marketing Trends to Take Over 2016

According to Forbes contributor Jayson DeMers, there are 7 online marketing trends that are expected to dominate this upcoming year. But as technology adapts and changes will marketers manage to keep up with the times.

1. An increase in Video Ads

Well this prediction I absolutely agree with. However, I have already seen the increase already occurring. I’ve noticed increased video ads on YouTube, Facebook, and most websites. I too see this to become a growing trend. But I also anticipate an increase in video advertisements in mobile apps as well.

2. App indexing will lead to a large increase in apps.

This is definitely a trend I see growing as so many companies have adapted mobile versions and apps related to their company to accommodate the generation of  avid mobile users.

3. Mobile will dominate over desktops.

This I still have completely mixed reviews. Yes, I do believe there will be an increase. But one thing I’ve noticed as a mobile consumer is that some mobile websites are poorly constructed or unsuitable for the user. There are specific mobile websites that I have used to try and purchase merchandise that typically has sizing issues, overlapping fonts, unloaded pictures, and generally lacks the thorough information I seek to make a purchase decision. So in all honesty, depending on the mobile site really determines whether I use a desktop or mobile version.

4. Digital assistants will lead to a new brand of optimization.

I do agree that the use of digital assistants will only increase next year. Personally, I’ve never been much of a big digital assistant fan. I find that especially when utilizing voice features to create text messages there typically is a misunderstanding in communication. I have experienced this using Siri and Google Voice.

5. Virtual reality will emerge.

This is absolutely a prediction I can see dominating 2016. Virtual reality in gaming, television, social media, and specific devices is a growing trend I see gaining strength each coming year.

6. Wearable technology will pave new ground.

As a consumer I love seeing the advancement of wearable technology. Personally, I am a fan of the fitbit and other health devices that can assist users in making healthier choices. In a time where we are so stressed, tired, overworked, and busy its these devices that remind us to slow it down and focus on ourselves from time to time. Smart watches are a trend I see growing as it becomes more affordable and readily available.

7. Advertising will become more expensive.

This I feel is completely debatable. I feel that advertising costs may increase, but the way advertising funds are spent will become more diverse. I predict that companies will increase their budgets for social media and video advertisements over other traditional ways of marketing such as print. The reality is that print advertising and publications are becoming more and more obsolete as email marketing, mobile advertisements, and online ads continue to steadily grow to meet the change in technology. I also predict that snap chat will become a stronger platform for companies to build a following and advertise their products.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaysondemers/2015/09/29/the-top-7-online-marketing-trends-that-will-dominate-2016/

[nikkinissen]

Martian Potatoes

Alright so this has to be one of the most unique marketing campaigns for a movie that I have seen in a long time. 20th Century Fox has created a new marketing campaign to promote their new space adventure known as ‘The Martian’. The main character is played by Matt Damon who is an astronaut that gets left behind while on a Mars Mission after an accident. He then must survive on the red planet alone to await a rescue crew. The movie has an amazing cast and visually looks amazing. It hits theaters this Friday October 2nd. If you would like to check out the trailer, I posted it above.

Now to get to the meat and potatoes of this story. Being stranded on Mars with no chance of rescue in a timely manner, Matt Damon’s character astronaut Mark Watney is forced to learn to survive by growing his own food, oxygen, and other trials related to being stuck in space. So what is this awesome new campaign, well it’s mailing a spud potato to a friend or even an enemy. 20th Century Fox is offering free shipping for the first 1,000 spuds purchased using the promo code martian. The company is called mailaspud.com and is a unique way of sending a strange gift, prank, or just a way to really confuse someone.

These promotional potatoes are shipped as is without a box. It features a The Martian themed stamp to help promote the movie. However, due to the shipping of an actual potato it is not advised to be eaten or cooked. This is due for safety and health concerns from the germs and bacteria of being shipped, touched, and well traveled. This is more of a unique gag gift if anything. But hey, kudos to 20th Century Fox because according to Mashable, “Fox's budget for the campaign is not small potatoes. Since each stamp costs around $4 each, that means the studio is coughing up at least $4,000 to offer the privilege.“

This is really a small price to pay for such an attention getting campaign. And honestly it really inspires me to check out the new flick. To mail your own spud, check the link below.

http://www.mailaspud.com/

http://mashable.com/2015/09/29/martian-potatoes/#W24PuMv_kiqm

[nikkinissen]

[nikkinissen]

Travel Apps that Make It Easy

Whether it is for leisure, business, or events, traveling can be stressful and also confusing. As technology has grown throughout the 20th century, new mobile applications have made the experience more bearable. Technology is available at the touch of the finger and accessible almost anywhere one can go. Now we have mobile applications that can not only help us travel, but stay social, informed, and overall entertained.

I have come across several mobile applications that I feel will benefit the avid traveler and adventurer on their journeys. Here below are 4 mobile applications you should try on your next trip.

1. TripIt

TripIt Planner is a mobile application used to compile and consolidate your travel itinerary. Depending on the duration and location of your trip, itinerary can be slightly overwhelming at times. The stress of remembering dates, times, and locations can be a difficult task to keep track of. However, TripIt allows you to store your events, times, and calendar in an easy to use mobile application.

2. Hopper

Hopper is an application that searches for the best possible lowest rate for your next flight. It scans tons of flight options and shows you what is available and for what price point. This is just another mobile application that can help you save more money on your upcoming flight. It shows you the price range which is shown in color. On the calendar shows the average pricing rates so you may see which day is best to get a cheaper airfare.

3. LoungeBuddy

LoungeBuddy is a mobile application that helps making your airport stay more comfortable. LoungeBuddy shows travelers where the nearest airport lounge is for those long layovers. It shows travelers where they can rest up, make a phone call, send that last email. or even catch a drink.

4. TrakDot

TrakDot is a gps device that is placed within your luggage. It costs $49.99 and is a small device that allows you to track and know the location of the baggage it is placed within. This allows for you to make sure your luggage is on the right flight, in the right city, and to accurately know which baggage claim to go to. This little travel gadget is a handy must-have for the frequent traveler.

5. Localeur

Localeur is a mobile application to help you explore your new destination from the perspective of locals. This application is used by both travelers and locals to help recommend places to eat, sites to see, events, and local nightlife. This app is a refreshing change as some of the recommendations are little known hidden gems of the city well known by those whom live there. This application can allow you to take in the culture, see interesting new sites, and explore the community.

http://mashable.com/2015/09/01/travel-technology-brandspeak/

Check out the link above to read about these and other travel applications to make your next journey an easier experience.

[nikkinissen]

Blab Away

Video Streaming is the new trend with apps like Periscope and Meerkat on the mobile market. However, a new app has joined the trend and it’s called Blab. It is similar to other video streaming apps but has one distinction. It had the ability to video chat simultaneously with up to four others. Like Meerkat and Periscope others can tune in, watch, listen, and comment.

The app works by creating a four square panel and showing up to four video feeds that communicate together. According to Mashable, “When a new video chatter attempts to join the four-person chat, the creator of a Blab can choose to accept or deny entry. And as the video chat plays out, the moderator can let the live chat disappear into the ether when it's over, or hit record to save the chat for others to view later.”

Although similar to Periscope and Meerkat, Blab is more focused on groups. It is an easy way to meet new people, connect with current friends, and communicate globally. Blab has also added a feature to mute specific chatters if necessary. So an example would be if you are interviewing a single person. You can mute the interviewers and just listen to the responses if desired.

Reason I think this app may be so beneficial is although it’s primary purpose is video streaming and chatting. I can see this application being used for job interviews and a easy way to group chat on a mobile phone. It also has created a new way to show events, concerts, and sporting events, This can allow users to view an experience from different perspectives which really gives an in-depth view of the event. some users have taken to Blab to do collaborations on songs and network. This allows musical influences across the globe to combine creating a unique one of a kind musical song.

“Additionally, because the app has tied itself so closely to Twitter, it's extremely easy to share links on Twitter to a particularly popular Blab video chat, thus increasing the potential virality of any high-profile Blab video chat,” according to Mashable.  Ultimately, Blab is a video streaming app with a major focus on social media and connecting with the world around us.

http://mashable.com/2015/08/05/blab-video-chatting/

[nikkinissen]

[nikkinissen]

Did you know the Minds?

Lately, I’ve heard rumors of an up and coming social media network. However, it took some research to actually discover what it was. The app is called Minds and was crafted by the Founder and CEO Bill Ottman. To be honest, I was quite surprised by this new application known as Minds.

But how did it get it’s start? Well Minds humble beginnings began as a blog platform reaching a total of only 30,000 uses. However, it was redone and relaunched currently having over 1 million account holders and growing. They have managed to differentiate themselves through the use of virtual currency and makes privacy a top priority. Privacy is clearly protected through a strong foundation of encryption and using an open source code.

Alexander Howard the author with Huffington Posts writes “When people use the Minds mobile app to upload content, vote, refer people, post or comment, they earn points -- which can then be used to boost their own or other people's updates on the network.“ An example of currency is posted below.

Their boosts are essentially promoted posts but not through currency, but rather earned through posting content, voting, and referring people. Since the applications relaunch an astonishing 1.5 million boosts since the June relaunch.

"We're trying to advertise for our users," said Ottman. "We want want our users to monetize their channels, build reach and ultimately earn revenue as well. People want to be independent online." Ultimately this application is definitely worth checking out and exploring. Just be aware their are slight differences with the computer web and mobile sites.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/29/minds-social-network_n_7690028.html?utm_hp_ref=social-media

[nikkinissen]

Pink: Social Media Analysis of a Pop Star

Background:

Alecia Beth Moore or better known as Pink is an American pop star best known for her outgoing rock star style. She is a singer, songwriter and actress featuring hits like Try, Get the Party Started, Stupid Girls, Glitter in the Air, Raise Your Glass and many more. Pink has sold 130 million records worldwide with her five albums. Just within the United States Pink has sold over 16 million albums. Pink most recent music endeavor is working as a duo. Pink has teamed up with Canadian musician Dallas Green to form the band You + Me. 

Pink’s most recent tour The Truth About Love Tour, made $184,061,847. The previous Funhouse tour raked in $149,900,000. Her I’m Not Dead tour grossed only $22,963,111. And Pink’s other previous tours had only moderate success. Despite her music and concert sales, Pink makes sales from her concert merchandise acting, and even endorsements like Cover Girl. 

Social Media Use:

Pink is very active on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. She once embraced the use of Instagram. However, when Instagram changed their member policies that allow your photos to be used potentially as ads, she closed her account. This left her 12 million plus Instagram followers pondering if they should follow suite. Pink has never recreated her Instagram account and only focuses on her Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Website. 

Pink’s Facebook page has over 32 M likes since 2008. Her activity on Facebook is 2-4 posts a week featuring fan engagement posts. On Twitter, Pink has 26.4 million followers and is active with 5,572 tweets since April 2009. She tweets and retweets posts from inspirational people/org. she supports. Pink’s Vevo YouTube channel features her music videos and lyric videos. She has 4.8 Million subscribers and her channel has had 1.7 billion views since its creation on May 11th 2009. This is pretty impressive given the channel features approximately 60 music videos. 

Summary of Strategic Analysis:

Pink has definitely defined herself as a musician challenging the perception of beauty and fostering women empowerment. On both Facebook and Twitter, Pink embodies feminism and challenges societal beauty standards. She uses powerful messages whether it’s through photography, her lyrics, or the causes she advocates to present a strong and powerful female image that inspires her fans worldwide. She has turned her personality, style, and overall edgy persona into a marketable brand that seeks to embrace individuality, women’s rights, and provide positive sentiment to her millions of fans. She is an animal rights activist that is very active with the PETA organization. She is very active in the support of LBGT rights and supports gay marriage. She is also involved with organizations like Human Rights Campaign, Save the Children, UNICEF, Take Back the Night, and Autism Speaks. She has established a reputation seen as edgy rocker tomboy with a big heart. Social media is used to upkeep and spread awareness of her reputation, activism, brand awareness, and feminism attitude. 

Pink has used her social media platforms for sales by advertising her music, merchandise, and concert tours. She has many posts that link back to her merchandise store and official website. She has promoted her music and merchandise with discounts, promotional events, and even contests. Her social media Facebook and Twitter is very involved in fan engagement and providing calls to action. Pink’s social media presence seeks to create a sense of community by posting sharable content and her official websites forum. It is common to see posts asking opinions of hairstyles, what song are these lyrics from, sharing fan artwork, and general fans questions that seek to further understand the current fan base. Her YouTube channel is strictly meant for sharing music videos and has little engagement of any kind. 

It is based upon these observations I feel that Pink’s social media strategy is to build brand awareness for organizations/causes she supports, establish an edgy reputation that is unique within the pop-rock music industry, increase sales of music, merchandise, and concerts through the use of social media linking to official website, and to keep customer/fan retention through active engagement on social media through sharable content, call to actions, and fan communication. 

Tactical Analysis: Twitter:

• Body Positivity and Promote Self Confidence

Pink recently took to Twitter to focus on body positivity. She recently attended an event with her husband Carey Hart. Social media has taken notice to her recent weight gain. She took to Twitter to explain that she is happy and doesn’t care about what her haters say about her. She seeks to spread body positivity and this message has inspired other mothers struggling with weight to feel more confident about their bodies.

• Challenging Beauty Standards

Pink took to twitter to address her recent body shamers that have publicly critiqued the singer about a weight gain. Her response was pretty epic. She discussed the cancer event she attended that honored a friend that is focused on cancer research should be more important than her weight. She states that she loved her dress and felt pretty. She told her followers not to worry as she is taking much needed time off and loves her cheesecake. This shows her rebellion against stereotypical beauty standards.

• Fighting for a Cause

This is an image retweeted by Pink to her followers from the PETA organization on Twitter. She uses her social media platforms to spread awareness of animal cruelty and maintain the reputation of being a strong supportive animal advocate. She also posts tweets from other organizations such as Autism Speaks and No Kid Hungry.

• Fan Engagement; Asking Opinions

On the lighter side, Pink also uses Twitter to engage her fans and ask their opinions on her constantly changing hairstyles. She posts throwback Thursday photos of some of her crazy looks over the years.

• Inspirational Images & Images

She even shares empowering photos like the ones posted below. This is an example of fan engagement and a call to action to support fan retention.

Facebook

• Promoting Music Albums

Pink uses her Facebook page to promote her music. Her latest music endeavor has been creating tunes in a band called You + Me with Canadian artist Dallas Green. Their current album Rose Avenue is widely advertised on her Facebook page that facilitates purchase both through her official website and ITunes. An example of this is posted below.

• Giving a Voice to Cause

Pink has been a strong voiced female in the PETA campaign movement that fights industries with animal fur and animal cruelty. Pink did a photoshoot campaign in correlation with PETA to encourage her fans to support the movement of not wearing fur. The campaign below she posed naked to show her stance in this cause. She utilizes her Facebook to bring awareness to causes and organizations she supports.

• Selling Merchandise (books, shirts, accessories, music, etc.) 

• Promotional Ads to Increase Sales

Pink also sells her merchandise off her official website through linking to her Facebook and Twitter platforms. She sells books, clothing, accessories, cd’s, mp3’s, chocolate, and even gift certificates. She even features a variety of sales and promo codes to increase sales. Promotional sales ads are advertised on Facebook and Twitter.  

• Fan Recognition through Artwork

Pink is also very engaging with fans and loves when artwork is submitted by her fans. She gives recognition by posting their artwork on her website that brings a sense of community, beauty, and creativity to her unique social media outlets. 

Recommendations: Pink’s use of social media is very rich with positive messages, female empowerment images, emotional lyrics, great social causes, and an extensive amount of sharable content. However, what lacks is her YouTube channel. Yes, it may feature music videos to her songs, but it fails to really embrace the same image or persona that is so clearly displayed on her Facebook and Twitter pages. I recommend a sense of consistency. I would love to see behind the scene footage on her photoshoots, see her interviews, and I believe it is a missed opportunity to further spread brand awareness with the causes she is so passionate about. I believe her fans would love to see small commercials of her personal endorsements of her charitable organizations she works with. 

Pink has the least amount of subscribers on her YouTube channel in comparison with the amount of Facebook and Twitter supporters. I believe that she should increase her subscribers by sharing her videos on Facebook and Twitter. She should create sharable content or videos that are consistent and sharable with her fan base. Simply by advertising her YouTube channel on her Facebook and Twitter once a week, I would anticipate a 20% increase in subscribers for 2015. Adding the consistency can further increase the number. Increasing YouTube channel views by 50% can be achieved by a cohesive effort and promotion through Twitter and Facebook. 

Taking these simple steps by making the most use of YouTube can increase Pink’s overall brand awareness. The channel can be used to further share her pop rock edgy persona while bringing awareness to new music, animal rights, child hunger, Autism, and many more causes she supports already through her Facebook and Twitter accounts. Posting new content videos can also bring in a new fan base. She is known for her crazy hairstyles, unique style, and outgoing personality. Pink can gather new fans by opening herself up to her fans through videos and sharing messages. She can share her style tips and share hairstyle thoughts. This can bring in fans that are more interested in fashion and beauty. Her recent endorsement as the new Cover Girl can strengthen this. She can share make-up tips or tutorials that can help her fans find their edginess and individuality.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_concert_tours http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27m_Not_Dead_Tour http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_%28singer%29

[nikkinissen]

Ideas for Periscope Improvement

Summary:

Periscope is a mobile application owned by Twitter Inc. This mobile application allows one to see through others perspectives and have a glimpse into their lives. It is the best way to share and watch video broadcasted from a mobile device. As you posts videos there is a button to notify your followers of new content. It creates a sense of close connection as the videos are posted live and in the moment. While as a viewer you feel as if you have stepped into their story and can interact through messages. You can also follow different companies and brands that post video content. Overall this application rocks because it allows you to chat and talk to users around the globe. It’s actually a very cool application, but there is room for improvement.

Improvement #1: Creating an Account

Periscope currently only has one way to create an account and this is through Twitter and synching the two accounts. So for users that are not active on twitter or have a twitter account they are unable to use the application.  Therefore, it is isolating a demographic of users. To expand the user base they should create other options to link accounts. 

Facebook is a large social media network which has over 1.44 billion users. Allowing users to use this method of connection can increase use of the Periscope application. This can help bring recognition of the application through word of mouth marketing. Users can also review the application and share their opinions on their social media platforms. Another method to join could be simply registering or creating an account with the use of an email address. This is often the preferred method for users who are not extremely active on social media. This is an ideal method for users that do not sink to link all of their social media accounts. 

Instagram is a growing application that has a similar video share option, however it is not live. Allowing Periscope to sync to Instagram can increase the registration rate. It can further be expanded by the use of linking to LinkedIn which can give employers an in-depth perspective on potential job candidates and applicants. It can also be used for companies to share job openings, company announcements, interview tips, and create an engagement/open dialogue with users.

Improvement #2: View by Geographic Location

Currently, Periscope has a global icon. This allows users to vie and video share content on a large worldwide scale. When clicking on the video it does show a geographic location on the map. However, this application can be improved by allowing users to see video content based on who is near them, by city, state, and country. I would as a user, be very interested to connect and meet Periscope users near me and see video content of places near me. Allowing an option to search by city, state, and country allows users to choose where the content is located that they are viewing. Why would a user want this? Well for example in areas of an event, natural disaster, or celebration many users have a desire to see interesting content. An example being I always wanted to go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Allowing myself to search content in that region would allow me to see what type of celebration and atmosphere is there. 

Another use would be to study and see natural weather occurrences and events. If a user is a college student studying geology they typically would have an interest of seeing video content based in certain areas of the world or national parks. A meteorologist would have a desire to check out weather occurrences globally. This can help users and viewers discover the globe and sites based upon geographic regions and areas.

Improvement #3: View by Category 

Creating an option to view video content by category allows users to view videos they want to see specifically. Periscope has the potential to become a live broadcast version of YouTube. The categories can range from music, food, fitness, gaming, sports, news, events, animals, celebrations, nature, beach, art, travel, medical and much more. It can allow users to broadcast videos based on categories. 

An artist can do a live broadcast of a painting, an adventurer can show their travels and give tips, sports teams can share their practice/games, users can post videos of nature, and can share cute videos of their pets. This just opens the door for others to share their interests with users who are looking to relate to those with similar interests. Broadcasters can share their insight of their world to not just general users but targeted specific demographics. This can increase overall satisfaction with the Periscope mobile application. 

As a user I feel categories would allow me to see the video content I want to see rather than click on random videos to be entertained. If I wanted to check out new music I can click on that category and see live music being broadcasted. This can allow the potential for musicians, bands, and entertainers to grow their viewer base. It also has the potential to attract celebrities, and popular music artists to become active users. 

Periscope by having a medical section can have broadcasts by doctors, nurses, medical staff, and specialists to share their advice, tips for a better lifestyle, and discuss medical proceedures. Through the fitness category you can watch work out and training sessions with fitness enthusiasts, trainers, body builders, and a variety of athletes. They can share diet, workout tips, safety tips for working out, and share a variety of exercises. This can help increase the users while creating a healthier society on a global scale. Cooking enthusiasts can have the ability to share and learn recipes from other cooks worldwide. It can create an open line of communication of sharing cooking tips and recipes. Thus indulging new cultural foods and cooking ideas. Video game enthusiasts can communicate gaming tips, advice, game play, and network for online gaming together. The idea of categories for Periscope opens up a world of possibilities creating closer connections and communication with likeminded individuals worldwide.

Improvement #4: Share Video Content

Periscope can be improved by allowing options to share content or a live link to the broadcast. This can help the application grow in the development of podcasts and live discussions. Links of live broadcasts should be able to be shared on most social media platforms like Tumblr, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snap Chat, Google +, and much more. This can increase the amount of users and expand word of mouth. Opening up the ability to share live links to live broadcasts will increase the amount of application users, attract new broadcasters, and bring in viewers. This can allow the chance for Periscope to become in competition with other video sharing social platforms like Vine, YouTube, and Instagram.