So today I was given the task of helping spread a branded campaign by signing up for a number of social media, video sharing, and blogging websites... 68 to be exact, and in doing so I found one common annoyance --- the verification box. They exist on a ton of websites to make sure that you are in fact a person creating a profile and not a computer program or some alien from outerspace who, according to the people who make these little puzzles, would not be intelligent enough to get around them. These boxes, besides being utterly annoying, are rediculous because in about half of the instances I had to use them, I myself could not even read the letters they put in the box, and while I am not the smartest man on earth, I can most definately read a letter. I even came across a few of them that, in addition to writing the words in the box, had to compute a math problem and give them the correct answer before my account could be 'verified.' I suppose its not a bad thing that people using these sites should at least be able to do basic mathematics, but again, still annoying. And finally, how are these words chosen? Sometimes the words that are put together are just too funny to think they are randomly generated?

These little boxes, however annoying they are, do presents an interesting opportunity for advertisers. Maybe instead of random words, company's could pay to have their brand names inserted instead? Why not? Just another 'arbitrary' thought...

Keith Mantia blog header

"You have the right to remain idle...!!!"

This blog entry relates to the still recent SecondLife social role playing website. This site, which allows you to live as a digital version of yourself through a self created avatar, is getting one step closer to being like the real world. Just like the rest of the world, SecondLife is now being patrolled by a virtual police department, the P.D.S.L. (Police Department SecondLife). They aim is largely to work against "grievers" and prevent any problems from happening. While they cannot use any virtual physical force and do not promote weapon use, they can file "abuse reports" against users with inappropriate or bad actions. These 'officers' even go through a training program to educate them about the job at hand and prepare them for any troubles they might encounter. In hearing this I'm not sure whether I agree with it, or think that its crazy for people to spend their own time patrolling a virtual world for 'grievers.' It is truly amazing how far we have come, to the point where we are living out fictional lives over the internet. This presents some very interesting opportunities for marketers, however. As the SecondLife world continues to take off and more people join, more and more opportunities for online marketing are becoming available; pretty soon advertising businesses will be commonplace on SecondLife. I guess the real question is, even though SecondLife is still growing, will it ever get tot he point where it becomes a seriously powerful marketing channel? In my opinion I would say no, but then again, I would have never guessed that it would be as popular as it is today; so for now I will say it wouldn't surprise me, if we've gotten this far, whats to stop us from going a little further?

DVD's soon to be a thing of the Past? Apple does it again

This entry again comes from the CNN Fortune blog written by Phillip DeWitt about Apple Inc. and in this entry he talks about a new deal that Apple has worked with a number of movie companies. Apple has worked out deals with film makers such as Warner Brothers, 20^th century Fox, Disney, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, Sony Entertainment, LionsGate, among others, to offer new movies through iTunes on the same day they are available in stores on DVD. While iTunes offering movies isn’t new for apple or its customers, the availability of new movies to iTunes customers on the same day of DVD release is completely new and quite threatening to the DVD sales, a market that has been extremely profitable for Hollywood for many years. This means a number of things. This will almost indefinitely cause a decrease in DVD business, both in DVD sales and rentals. Furthermore, companies like Netflix and Blockbuster online will also likely suffer unless they can figure out how to capture a piece of the online market as well (offering movie rentals online.) Netflix actually does offer this service, but only for certain movies and will not become as profitable for them until they can offer new movies like Apple. Overall, this has proven to be a much better (and more profitable) idea for movie companies as the cost of online rental versus physically producing and selling DVDs is much less, and furthermore, people are much more likely to watch a movie on demand than physically rent a DVD because it is more convenient and also likely costs less. I even think that allowing people to download movies in a way that offers customers a way to rent a movie conveniently and at a lower price will give movies more exposure and maybe even, over time, increase overall DVD sales. This also shows the continuing shift of business to the online world. Today it’s TV. shows and movies, but what about tomorrow? What’s next on Apple’s to do list? Only time will tell, and more than likely, it won’t take too long to find out.

Bentley Marketing Student Forum Wiki

Our wiki is a forum for Bentley marketing students who are looking for career guidance. We created it because marketing is a broad field that can sometimes confuse students. This forum gives marketing students a host of resources to further their career goals and also gives career services another platform to help students.

http://bentleymarketing.wetpaint.com/

Web 2.0 to go

Over the past few years, internet users have fallen victim to the Web2.0 revolution; YouTube, Skype, AIM, Facebook, Flikr, etc. But more recently, the Web2.0 revolution has shown signs of change, but before we move into this next ‘generation of web technology,’ where does that leave us as consumers? Nowhere. In fact, it is quickly allowing us to be more mobile. In this CNN Tech blog, it’s believed that the next generation of the Web (or the end stages of Web2.0) is quickly moving to cell phones. Cell phones are no longer just used for calling and even texting anymore, users are being provided with technology that allows them to browse the internet, check out social networking sites, utilize VoIP technology, chat via AIM, and in some countries even video message. The general idea is that we are quickly moving into a mobilized revolution. Consumers don’t just want to be on facebook, check email, and IM their friends, they want to be able to do it on the go, whenever and wherever they want. Worldwide, the number of cell phones exceeds three billion, and with the new technologies being offered, of the next billion people to subscribe, most of them will get their first experience with the internet via their cell phone --- and amazingly enough, there isn’t much of a difference anymore. But with all that said and done, what I wonder is if this is all necessary. As part of a tech generation, me and almost everyone around me is already addicted to the internet and being on the computer, is it really necessary to have access to it everywhere we go? I’ve think it’s interesting that recently I have found myself blissfully happiest during the times when cannot access the internet or use my cell phone, as there is no subconscious/compulsive need/desire to constantly check my email, Facebook page, or constantly check my phone to see if I’ve received a text or missed a call. While I realize having the ability to take these technologies with you is more than convenient and very exciting, and that I will likely want to get the latest and greatest of these technologies as they come out, I think it would be a great relief for most to get a technology break when they’re away from their computers, even if that is only for a short period during the day.