The How-Tos of Marketing
For those who are accustomed to this blog, this section might seem strange but this is directly related to my Electronic Marketing (MKTG 349) class plus will help to market this blog (pun intended.)
Take Away (December 10, 2018)
Even with having a previous blog, I have learned tremendously about being a better blogger especially this section covers marketing in social media. The subject is not completely unrelated but was a stretch from what was normally posted. This being one of my points in how I improved with going outside the norm of what is comfortable for me. A noticeable improvement was how I still wrote about marketing but through the lens of someone focused on fashion. I believe this is important because of the brand I am creating with what its foundations are. Throughout this experience, my blog has improved in posting content more frequently. In this lesson about how posts should be regular in posting at least two times a week, I wanted to pursue this goal. Perfection is not always present, but there is a noticeable improvement on frequency. One key point I noticed that I find embarrassing is not having the font size for text to be ridiculously tiny. The decision in why I needed to change it was because of being graded on what I posted which is a natural action for a class. This needed to be regular a long time before this section of marketing started, but this section pushed me to take my blog more seriously.
Even with improvements, there are certainly weaknesses I need to fix. One that is an apparent problem is the lack of research that has become usual in my posts. This section encouraged me to look at other articles more, but research needs to be taken more frequently especially with the writing field I want to professionally work. Another weakness comes from not showing exciting enough content to where people would want to read. I constantly hear about the subject of "clickbait" being mentioned in today's social media sphere, and I struggle with diving into that specific area. The formula is creating a hook that captures readers and then explaining, yet this is difficult to accomplish. In not following on what is standard for blogging, I also have difficulties in not being updated on other bloggers. I appreciate how through certain blogging assignments I have observed what other bloggers have done and what they post. In looking at these influencers who honestly carry much more merit than I do, I can learn to make this created brand for myself grow rapidly.
In publishing blog posts which are assignments for the electronic marketing class, it has helped me to delve further into committing more to writing for my own blog. I do not know and will never know how I would have executed my own blog without this class, but it has significantly changed my work process for the better. Before the class, I never realized how there are trends which occur in social media that are advisable to undertake and apply. The lesson lies in them being good to incorporate only if it goes with my brand. Incorporating new methods is good, but only if they would bring valuable benefits. This can be depressing, but a primary lesson is there is always more to learn on the subject. It is when I think I know all that there is that I have failed. This principle does not only apply to blogging related to social media, but at the rate on which social media changes there is always more information.
Demise of Dolce and Gabbana (November 26, 2018)
potentially losing crucial target market
Many stores and customers had opposing actions towards the recent findings. Stores deciding to pull back all Dolce and Gabbana products, and many Chinese celebrities vowed to not ever wear Dolce and Gabbana products anymore. Although, there exists another belief about how people are beyond heated at the blatant racism but will calm down with no change being permanent. There was a comment made about how the anger has come from people who would not plan to buy the products. As entitled as this sounds, there could be truth in the fact of the customers deciding what will happen.
For the Business of Fashion, the article by Casey Hall and Zoe Suen, "Can Dolce & Gabbana Weather Its Chinese Social Media Storm?," mentioned the Italian fashion brand being accused of racism. The always controversial designers behind the label planned to stage a grand show in Shanghai, China on November 21. Two days before, the company posted a video marketing the event with it showing a Chinese model experiencing difficulty in eating Italian food with chopsticks. The video was removed within hours of the Chinese blogging site, Weibo, but more drama ensued through what was found about one of the designers. Unflattering opinions about China were discovered and were highlighted by the fashion tabloid giant of Instagram, Diet Prada. Yet, the company states those their accounts were hacked. Who knows? The plans for the show were immediately cancelled.
Social media has produced positive advances for marketing. Yet, in brands engaging in it, they must be almost perfect in not to become scandalized. With social media giving speed to users in communication, users were able to send the gossip insanely quick, and these users cannot forget what they read especially if the news were alarming. Their case illustrates the use of social media marketing in an unremarkable light with how it can be damaging if not prepared well. The idea could have been thought in a shabbily way in not thinking of anything more attention-worthy to engage people to come to the show. Debate is in question of all publicity being good publicity. The founders may think the drama will die, and they will be more profitable than ever. Yet, in this era when information like company ethics is instantly available, people will most likely act on their beliefs of right and wrong.
https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/assessing-the-damage-after-the-dolce-gabbana-uproar-racism-china
former D&G enthusiast, Li Bingbing
Gabbana, accused of racism
most impact of 2017
#goals
LeAndra Medine, the founder lookin' for cereal in flares (basic human need)
There could plenty of qualities that are excellent to mention for The Man Repeller such as the engaging appearance of the blog. In observing the website, there emerges a commanding presence with the boldness of how articles are presented and especially looking at the boldness of the logo. I noticed there is no trendy grays that I am basic for embracing, but the blog is starkly black and white with highlights of Crayola colors. Everywhere on the pages are interesting aspects like the title of “How It Feels to Propose, According to 8 Women Who Did” and sharing Instagram photos celebrating the genuine use of personal style. The Man Repeller’s format is boldly direct giving the impression of confidence and for functional reasons helps readers to easily navigate the site. My favorite part about the blog could be at the very top right-corner delineating the different categories as being fashion, everything else, and lookbook. How refreshingly straightforward! Then, in the same area is the link to the page named, “What is Man Repeller?” My heartfelt affinity for this is because of the blog having its own identity. For a blog to work well, it needs to have a strong, individualistic voice.
Deciding on improvements is difficult considering it is exactly want I want to produce for myself, but I would give input on showcasing different types of styles with not having many outfits be a statement coat with trousers. The feminist approach does not have to be presented in that way every time. Then, at first glance, the blog looks organized with square images aligning with topics, yet the order of the posts seem to not make sense. By applying what Medine has produced for The Man Repeller, I plan to give content that caters towards a market that is lacking and which is requesting for a voice to be fulfilled. Mine would be catered more towards men in defining what being a man could be with a weighty portion looking towards style. I also am encouraged by The Man Repeller to include controversial topics which are key to getting people interested but not to the level of protestors starting riots outside of my future dream office.
Goals in Life (November 12, 2018)
Since I am male, I should say this is a fanboy moment, but I get to rail on one of my favorite blogs being the non-society approving and always fashionable, The Man Repeller. I am aware that the name reads as a black widow character for DC Comics, but The Man Repeller has been a mainstay of the fashion industry for ten plus years and has defined not only fashion trends but a culture for this millennium. The soul of the blog centers on a women empowerment approach to not letting men nor society dictate on lifestyle. LeAndra Medine started this blog on the basis for wanting to publish content that related to the fashion world but not in a commercial way which everyone else favored. She wanted the blog to concentrate not on what happens that is generally decided by the typical man’s point of view. Her primary goal was to feature the more elite fashion industry which carries the stereotype of being unrelatable to a variety of individuals and then translate it in a humorous language which transforms it as not being super pretentious.
I admire this blog solely based on it being a business I would love to achieve for myself. Medine’s passion for the fashion industry is reflected in the written material by referencing key fashion designers and topics which fashion enthusiasts like myself love. I give respect towards the blog for the relatability in incorporating key movies and pop culture references for people on the outskirts of fashion to feel included. These references are spoken with interesting viewpoints such as taking notes from Denise Huxtable’s wardrobe for fall and not understanding winter outerwear that Cameron Diaz’s character packs for a trip in “The Holiday.” The whole blog takes on a quirky demeanor which helped to establish that as being decent back in the late 2000s with humorous illustrations and images. It matches and inspires my own demeanor with what I aspire as a writer.
Overalls not only having to be for country folk!
2018 Golden Globes
Social Media As A Social Platform (October 22, 2018)
With marketing, social media has become the norm in advertising products and even ideas since screen time has become nicotine. One of the most popular social media campaigns recently has not actually endorsed a certain company but is a message that is deep and has impacted people for real change.
The #metoo movement started in October of last year following the march for women's rights in January of that year with the hashtag referring to those who have suffered sexual assault. With this hashtag, lots of women spoke about their traumas in public, and the real endorsement came from celebrities who openly described their experiences and emotions. #metoo went so far as in affecting the dress code at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards where all of the women wore black to commemorate those who have survived.
In analyzing the success of how this worked, the movement gained momentum from arriving at the right time for society to readily accept it from the plethora of accusations that were made about famous men tantalizing females who finally spoke the hidden truths. What had happened is a perfect example of the modern-day protest of advocating for someone's rights. It brought light to a neglected topic for years before, and will probably be referred to as prominent history with social media.
https://joseangelostudios.com/the-10-best-social-media-campaigns-of-2018/
wearing Valentino red
Example of the fashion influencer (October 8, 2018)
With my attempts in relating marketing posts back to fashion, I observed the fashion influencer, Chiara Ferragni. The Italian powerhouse is know for her fashion blog, The Blonde Salad, and also as being the fashion designer of her self-titled brand. She currently has 15.2 million followers on Instagram and 390,000 on Twitter.
Upon seeing her in extravagant clothes and being absolutely stunning located at high-profile fashion shows and such events like the Met Gala she would be the type of person to book for a fashion campaign. She actually has collaborated with esteemed Italian leather goods company Tod's in creating accessories, and on another budget level, she teamed up with Converse on specifically making sneakers that are particularly glittery. The list of collaborations she established with other companies is enormous and all reputable with them including fashion brands Dior, Ermenegildo Zegna, and Mango to the online luxury site Luisa-Via-Roma to being the European spokesperson for the Amazon Fashion business. It would make complete sense to collaborate with other fashion brands since that is a primary focus with The Blonde Salad and promoting her own brand to achieve even more credibility than she already has.
Consumers are probably influenced by her to some extent on how she looks and puts herself together since her ties are strongly fashion-related which correlate strongly with appearances. Then, there is also the quality of her content with the photography and the high-fashion clothing along with having other topics of interest in her blog such as travelling and beauty. Even in Instagram posts, she shows versatility with photos of her and her family marketing towards mothers. She has ticked so many of the right boxes that it would give ample reasoning as to why she has progressed as a major influencer.
head-to-toe Burberry
What fast
fashion is
This isn't a 90s Puff Daddy moment. Get rid of the fur.
Getting Inside Gen Z's Mind (October 1, 2018)
Sabina Samek wrote about how Generation Z approaches the realms of social media, enacting sustainable practices, and how sustainability affects fashion. With fashion acting as the primary component of this blog, I will start there with mentioning about the award show, “Challenge The Fabric,” and the panel discussion, “Slow Fashion to Save Minds,” which completely focused on sustainability. The show awarded the best ecological fashion design. The panel discussion involved the subject of favoring the slower fashion process instead of controversial fast fashion. In this being related to sustainability, slower fashion is seen by Generation Z as essential because of the priority of taking care of the Earth. For social media, the sustainable group sees it as more of a work tool than as a source of constant satisfaction. For Generation Z, social media often produces anxiety with having to always know the latest news. It is considered as a platform for establishing connections, and less preferable to social interaction which seems contrary to what is preached everywhere else.
The environmentalism for fashion has been noticeably much more prevalent throughout the past few years. I read that for London Fashion Week from two weeks ago that real fur was never used. The shows were for Spring, but that is still an impressive improvement. Then, the remarks on how social media is used for work speaks so personally towards myself in that approach because that is exactly how I think. I force myself to post interesting content. My Instagram is relatively updated, but my Facebook account is not because of the audience nowadays. Overall, I appreciated how Generation Z was represented as not being technological-obsessed maniacs that most people think we are, but that we possess views that can easily be respected and admired.
https://wersm.com/fashion-sustainability-and-instagram-what-does-gen-z-think-and-should-you-care/
Brands Investing in Social Currency (September 17, 2018)
With current consumers becoming more obsessed with social media as a major decision maker for almost every facet of their life, brands have taken notice of this for years now and have tried to target them on that specific level which makes sense given the amount of time that is generated by the average person on a smartphone.
One brand that has taken this approach extremely well is American Eagle Outfitters. Like with many retail organizations, they carry a membership account for consumers to join and with this comes information in the way of emails. The form of this connections starts at the segment of AEO/connected where perks are vastly insinuated in joining membership. With the perks that the user would be receiving would be the discount of buying five pairs of jeans for one free, 15% birthday coupon, and even an IOS sticker pack. In a virtual setting, I do not personally see the appeal of stickers, but it would pull other people to join in having the sense of decoration and identity.
Probably my favorite aspect of their social currency is using customers who showcase the merchandise on their own social media pages being Instagram and Twitter. This contributes more to the idea of the inclusion of being more personable to the customers and letting others know that the people wearing the clothes are not being bought into doing so. They are actual people who enthuse the brand. In this effort and others, American Eagle Outfitters has participated in social currency for building relationships with the consumer as well as showing some authenticity by using real people which has become its own trend in business as well.
Information Overload
going to the people
Social Media Growth and Not Realizing It (September 7, 2018)
In an article by Jayson DeMers for Forbes titled "7 Social Media Trends That Will Dominate 2018," certain predictions are made as to what will happen in how businesses will probably use social media in gaining revenue especially the social media platforms. This is interesting to be aware because of the thought of "what's next" in terms of business and delving into how social media is changing which has seemed unlikely but only because of not deeply looking into its' progress at the moment.
One of these trends that held me in interest was the continued fact of using live streaming to engage more from an audience than by only using written content such as blogs. In working with SHE Magazine USA, I learned from the editor about how people are seeking constant satisfaction like with using video. People are not taking time to read through several layers of content through writing to gain knowledge but look towards videos that express vision in littler time with it also serving the purpose of entertainment.
I remember a YouTuber whom I follow, Cassey Ho, streamed a video live about her new exercise program on the emphasis of interval training with fellow friends, and this marked a hit for her company, Blogilates. It felt very interactive and more personal than her other videos which can also go back to another trend being about local and personal experiences. This trend of live streaming along with having close experiences with customers go together in seeking to interact more with customers and forming a relationship that seems genuine to where the customers feels attached to the company in buying their products and/or services.
