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 Insider Tips - 21 We have done a number of Insider Tips focusing on the need for marketing plans and research. It is important to continue with the tried-and-true methods we have previously discussed such as attending trade shows and conferences; reading industry newsletters and magazines; as well as staying on top of the news of the days via radio, television and newspapers, however, it never hurts to take a look at some alternate methods. This week we thought we'd take a look at a few of the methods currently being used by some very hip companies (or perhaps that's companies that want to be hip). 1. Cool Hunters. This is a relatively new designation in the marketing world and refers to people hired by companies, usually youth-based enterprises, to go out into the street and talk to teens and young adults about what is in, what is out and what seems to be on the trend horizon. What's great about it is that anyone can do it. If you have the time and patience to observe your fellow citizens as they wander the downtown streets on a Saturday afternoon, you can glean a lot of useful information about the current trends in food, clothing, reading material and more. 2. A number of companies have set up really cool sites designed to attract teenage girls and boys. They post questionnaires such as "The Coolest Present You Got For Christmas" and "Who's Your Teen Heartthrob". Teenagers, rarely at a loss for words, gladly give their opinions on everything from the coolest jeans to their favourite breakfast cereal…and the researchers on the other end of these Web sites don't pay a cent for this vital information! Check out www.smartgirl.com as a prime example of "passive market research". 3. And while we're on the topic of other peoples' Web sites, why not make use of the sites that have been set up by those who already know the coolest Internet lingo. Try www.jaderiver.com/glossary.htm, the Marketing Manager's Plain English Internet or www.netlingo.com, where you can research any Internet term or symbol. Very useful for anyone who wants to understand what the "spam" and "eyeballs" all have in common. Sending my mother to the NetLingo site stopped her from nagging me about my eating habits every time I talked about "cookies".
Know of any sites you'd like to share? We're always interested in checking the latest. Contact Davidson Communications. |
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