Experiencing ADvertising: Baby Edition

Baby Laila

          On Janurary 30, 2011, I was blessed with the arrival of my niece, Lalia Rene'e Moore, at 19 1/2 inches and 6.2 lbs, she was truly the most adorable thing I'd ever seen and I was so proud. To bring you guys up to speed, Laila's the first baby in the family in over 14 years, and its truly baby bliss for most of the family. Everyone is so excited to have a new baby in the family.  

She's like a little celebrity. There's a new outfit and photo shoot every day, twice a day; and no one knows what to expect next. She doesn't even know her name, yet she's got more Facebook photos than I do. It seems like there's a new presents or gifts, and visitors everyday. Truly, everyone wants a piece of little Laila. Which got me thinking, do our desires of wanting the best for our children, give consumers the opportunity to take advantage of us? Are our desires to make sure our children have the best, giving consumerist the upper hand?

For instance, I'm sure you've been in the supermarket one day and there was that toddler in the middle of the store having a complete meltdown over a newly advertised toy, or even the new package of M&M's; and it makes you wonder. Just how is it possible that that particular mother/child duo came into that predicament? Are children really smart enough to understand what we, as adults, are saying to the world around us when we allow our children to exert this type of behavior? OR are marketers and consumerist banking on these types of instances to sell their products.

Pester Power

Today's kids have much more decision-making power than any previous generation, so it's only plausible that they're more vocal about what they want. "Pester power" refers to a child's ability to nag, in some cases scream, their parents into purchasing those things they wouldn't normally buy. Marketing to children is all about creating those instance, because advertisers know how powerful it can truly be. Parents fall prey to wanting to provide the best for their children, and wind up with a recurring problem, otherwise known as the "supermarket tantrum."

Branding for Babies

  Fast food, toy and clothing companies have been cultivating brand recognition in children for years. Marketers are using child psychologist and planting the seeds of brand recognition in children at very young ages. According to the Center for a New Dream, babies as young as six months of age can form metal image of corporate logos and mascots, and companies are implementing children into their equations, in the hopes to grow long-lasting relationships. Brand loyalties can be establishes as early as age two, and by the time children are off to school most of them can recognize hundreds of brand logos. 

Funny enough, marketers and consumerist are banking on our children's "supermarket tantrums".  Kids today represent a very important demographic to marketers. They have their own purchasing powers, and they're influencing their parents' buying decisions maybe more than even the parents themselves realize. They understand perfectly that we want the best for our children, even if it does take a little more out of our pockets, and they alter their advertising efforts accordingly.

Every parent, or grandparent, wants the best for their child. The problem only arises when we allow those thoughts to subliminally motivate us to give advertisers the advantage.

XOXO,

J. Kel

Hope you guys enjoyed it!

Justin Bieber: Behind the Brand

  
As many of you know, the 16 year old  male version of Hanna Montana, Justin Bieber, created a lot of buzz this past year. Discovered by Island recording artist, Usher, Bieber's been on top of the music game since he danced his way onto the scene.

   It would be the understatement of the millennial to say Bieber has become just another pop-star: He's now an icon, and Justin Bieber's only getting bigger. I'm no investment banker, but if he were publicly traded, I'd be pouring out my piggy bank to hop on board. It's one thing to be a star, but Bieber has become a brand and a lifestyle. In my personal opinion, it's isn't his undeniable talent that strikes gold in the hearts of fans across the globe, the Canadian singer lures us in with uncanny PR skills that seem to be putting him right over the edge.

1. Blazing the Media. Whether you're a tween keeping up with tour dates on the web, or a working mom catching you morning news before work, you'd have to be living under a rock on Mars, or practically half died not to catch a dose of Bieber in some form. He's posing for sexy shoots with Kim K on your newsstands, rocking the stage of the Grammy's with Usher, and showing up to liked on your Facebook page. All the while, still finding time to soar to the Billboard Top 100 charts. Bieber is simply owning every media outlet out there and working the PRess.

     

     2. Mingling with the Public. Following Justin Bieber on Twitter can be quite interesting to say the least. I love that he speaks directly to and with his fans; and you never know what he's going to say next. (Ie. the Raven-Symone tid-bit) He takes the time to keep fans updated on his shows and appearances, and seems to be all about transparency. However, it's the time he spends tweeting his fans that strikes me. Bieber truly becoming a lifestyle for his fans, who obviously can't get enough of him.

  3. Captivating His Niche.  Bar none. Justin Bieber appeals to all demographics. His audiences love that he's the lovable guy next door. Bieber has succeeded in carving out his own niche and is consistent in his image,  message, and his "shawty" like swagger. There are definitely many tween heart throbs out there, but there will never be another Justin Bieber. 

 On any given day, Justin Bieber still has the capacity to become an unrelenting trending topic on my beloved timeline. Teen girls love him,  moms adore him, and college girls sit back wonder "If only he was about 5 years older..."  I don't know whose running the business side of his empire, but they're clearly utilizing every inch of the Successful Strategies of PR. 

Until Next Time, 

Remember: Life's a Catwalk. 

                                            J. KeL

PRessing Ain't Easy

   First of all let me say thank you guys for checking out my blog. I'm so excited to be blogging and to have you guys on board supporting my blog. I hope that I don't disappoint, but just in case I do, I left you guys room in the comment box to comment as you see fit. Writing is something I've been doing for a while, and I'm just happy to be able to share that with you guys. I was a little fearful of blogging in the beginning, because I wondered what I could possibly say that would be of interest to someone. But then again, what could you say that wouldn't interest at least one person?

The idea of reaching that one person was my motivation to start this blog. If one person gets inspired to follow their dream, or finds something meaningful here on my blog,  then why shouldn't I share my love of writing with you guys.  I'm not looking to focus on anything in particular. I'll give you anything from: Current Events to Fashion tips, right up to Politics and Public Relations. I'm going to give it to you guys just as I see it, and I'm hoping you guys do the same. 

 I'll start off by telling you guys a little about J KeL. First of all, my name is JaKeshia. I've been going by Kel for so long, I don't even know if anyone still calls me by my first name anymore, with an exception to my my mom.  I'm currently a Senior Marketing Communications double major with emphasis in both Public Relations and Reputation Management  and Broadcast Management at the University of Mississippi. I'm your Saucy Southern Belle with Bloomberg twist and a Baptist background. I enjoy the comfort of a good book in my spare time and SEC football. Well now that we've got that out the way, I hope you guys enjoy my blog. I'd love to hear from you guys. Tell me what you guys think of my first post, and tell me little bit about you guys.

XOXO,

                             J. KeL