Category: Marketing in everyday life

What a waste of a communication opportunity

On the occasion of my birthday, I received this message from an optometrist I used to go to: "Dear Ana, Just a quick note to wish you a very happy birthday! Kindest regards, [name of company] team.”   So far, so normal and predictable.   However, the message was accompanied by this photo: Can anyone … Continue reading What a waste of a communication opportunity

The real reason behind the spread of fake news

The journal Science recently published a paper exploring how and why fake news spread. You can access it here, or you can listen to this episode of Chips with Everything (a Guardian podcast that I recommended, previously).   The paper is authored by MIT researchers Soroush Vosoughi, Deb Roy and Sinan Aral. The researchers collected around 126,000 rumour stories on … Continue reading The real reason behind the spread of fake news

Examples of applications of Artificial Intelligence

The term “artificial intelligence” has definitely jumped from the realms of science fiction or something that ‘happens’ in robotics’ labs, to mass media and something that affects every aspect of our lives.   Not sure how ubiquitous Artificial Intelligence is, already? Then check Deepindex, a resource which collates examples of application of artificial intelligence in … Continue reading Examples of applications of Artificial Intelligence

Your Facebook data

I recently found out that you could check what data Facebook has on you. Well, the data that they let you know about, at least.   You can see what you shared online, which messages you exchanged with your friends and so on. You can also see which applications have access to your Facebook information, … Continue reading Your Facebook data

Phones in restaurants. Yay or Nay?

A pub in the Welsh town of Wrexham is offering 25% off the food bill to customers who lock their phones away, during their meal. The move, it is argued, is an attempt to get customers to “concentrate solely on one another and the fun night out they are having", according to the article on … Continue reading Phones in restaurants. Yay or Nay?

What UK teenagers spend their money on

The Office for National Statistics has published some information on children’s spending (i.e., where children spend their money, and how much), here and here.   The data reveals that teenage girls (13 to 15 years old) spend an average of £20.20 a week, whereas teenage boys spend an average of £17.30 a week. That’s nearly … Continue reading What UK teenagers spend their money on

Why is Unilever having second thoughts about advertising on Facebook?

Unilever’s chief marketing officer, Keith Weed, has said that the company might stop advertising on Facebook and other online platforms. This announcement goes against the trend in advertisement spend, as more and more companies are looking at online platforms as a cost-effective way of communicating with their customers. Online social networks (OSNs) – like Facebook … Continue reading Why is Unilever having second thoughts about advertising on Facebook?

Three essential podcasts for marketers in a hurry (and really busy marketing students)

I am a big fan of podcasts. They are a great way of learning about a broad range of topics or, conversely, of staying informed about a particular topic. And they are perfect for those of us who want to learn more, but feel that they are already spending too much time in front of … Continue reading Three essential podcasts for marketers in a hurry (and really busy marketing students)

When the firm’s customer is the public’s enemy

Sometimes, good customers do bad things. I mean, they do things that are good for the business, but which may have negative consequences for the wider public. In those cases, the government may intervene and demand that the firm acts in a way that meet the government’s goals (regarding the public good) but which runs contrary … Continue reading When the firm’s customer is the public’s enemy