PodBlog

This week’s readings make a point that consumers don’t always check off everything on their money spending agenda. We don’t realize that on top of our hit list of things we want to purchase, there are more products available waiting for us to discover. Online marketing extends the variety of products available on websites ranging from popular demand products to low in demand. Once consumers hit onto a website, they have access to a shopping catalogue that links them onto another pool of catalogues that are customized for them. For example, you may notice links that refer to similar products that you have purchased and that you like “See what other Twilight fans are reading now”. This marketing tactic’s aim is to divert your attention to more products that you may potentially purchase. With Web 2.0, online shopping has become interactive and results in consumers spending extra hours browsing through other items online that you were’nt intially going to look for. For some, it has become an ultimate hobby- virtual shopaholics I must say.
In The Long Tail text, it explained how businesses rely on large market sales from smaller market niches rather than the top hitlist products. Consumers are acquiring new tastes and developing new interests in music, books, and movies that are usually tucked away from the mainstream spotlight.
I admit that I have diverted my interests from mainstream entertainment to underdog artists and writers. First off, its intuitive to check out those extra links on the side and following recommendations don’t hurt. Also, I have become bored of what is offered on the top hit lists. I know at one point my friends and I have become sick of the same radio play and I think alot of people these days also agree that music isn’t what it use to be. In result, we scounge for bands and artist groups that are remotely different than what we usually hear. Youtube does most of the scounging for us as similar videos are posted right next to the one you are currently watching. My friends are now bringing up bands and foreign artists that are not on our daily muchmusic top ten.
I personally do like the fact that these options are available because everyone has different tastes. Even though the general public are attacted to the popular hits (the reason why they are mainstream entertainment) everyone also has unique interests. Fame is almost in everyone’s reach. Take youtube for example. Many people have posted videos that resulted in thousands of viewers and became hot topics of discussion among friends. Local artists are also given a chance through sites such as Myspace where start-up artists and indie bands showcase their talent and attract their own audience and fans. I believe they are effective in a sense to help an artist’s career.
This week I checked into A Marketing Thriller with JC Hutchins, an epsiode of Six Degrees of Separation hosted by Mitch Joel. JC Hutchins is a novelist who started off a deadbeat when he first introduced his thriller Seven Sun. He began to use podcasting and serial audio format to record his story which resulted in newborn fans. Later on, his novel has successfully made into print; something that he thought impossible because of his many failed attempts. The exposure of his story through media brought in a new audience. Relating to my previous comments, a loyal and interested audience is always present. It’s just a matter of finding them and pulling them in. Podcasting plays a role in shedding that light on the different moneymakers out there (whether it be a product or a person).

-Patricia

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 7:16 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.