Will this ad cost Nike customers?

On Monday Nike posted this ad on Facebook and Twitter. 

The move has generated a storm of social media reaction.  (Forbes, 2013)

Check out Jen Floyd Engel’s column for Fox Sports and some of the many comments it has generated.

http://msn.foxsports.com/golf/story/new-tiger-woods-ad-shows-nike-has-lost-its-soul-032613

So what do you think?  Will this ad generate more sales than it loses?

Forbes, T. (2013, March 27)  Nike In The Rough Over Tiger Ad.  mediapost.com.  Retrieved March 27, 2013, from http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/196709/nike-in-the-rough-over-tiger-ad.html#axzz2OmPlG0cH

Can ING convince people to start saving for retirement?

On Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal ran yet another in a seemingly endless parade of articles about the fact that Americans are not saving enough money for retirement.  The front page story indicated that 57% of US workers reported less than $25,000 in household savings.  (Greene & Monga, 2013)

This is hardly new news.  But what I have yet to see is any research explaining why.  And without that insight, financial companies continue to struggle to motivate consumers to change their habits.  The newest effort in the category, brought to us by ING, introduces the concept of orange money.   According to Ann Glover, ING US CMO, the campaign is about prioritization, showing how sensibly managing personal finances doesn’t mean you have to give up living. (Irwin, 2013)

 Here’s one of the commercials which will run heavily on March Madness programming. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuXtPE-uBbs

What do you think?  Will it be successful in getting more people to consult with ING and save for retirement?

Greene, K. & Monga, V. (3013, March 19)  Workers Saving Too Little To Retire.  Wall Street Journal p A1

Irwin, T. (2013, March 15)  ING Effort Highlights Saving For Retirement.  mediapost.com.  Retrieved March 20, 2013, from

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/195693/ing-effort-highlights-saving-for-retirement.html?edition=57827#axzz2O6JcnL2O

Will harsh facts reduce teen pregnancies?

A new campaign to reduce teen pregnancies has begun appearing in the NYC subways.  One poster which features a photo of a baby reads: “I’m twice as likely not to graduate high school because you had me as a teen.”  While another, which addresses teenage dads reads: “Dad, you’ll be paying to support me for the next 20 years.” (Dudman, 2013)

Oddly enough Planned Parenthood has expressed disapproval of the effort stating that they “prefer a judgment-free approach.”  Hmm.  What does telling it like it is have to do with making judgments? 

From what I have read they could have gone a step further, and reminded people that the sons of teen moms are nearly three times as likely to serve a prison sentence. (Maynard, 1996)

So what do you think?  Is the approach too harsh to work?  Or will it open some eyes and be a success?

Dudman, G. (2013, March 13) Bloomberg’s teen pregnancy prevention campaign sparks controversy.  Washington Square News.  p3.

Maynard, R. (1996) Kids Having Kids.  Washington D.C.: Urban Institute Press

Which social media do you use? Part 2

The last time I blogged about social media, it was to discuss its increasing fragmentation and the new networks that are springing up that appeal to specific niche targets.  

Here’s the blog in case you missed it.

http://pjlehrer.blogspot.com/2012/08/what-social-media-do-you-use-what.html

This time we have new research from the Pew Research Center about demographics for the more established social networks.  

According to their data:

• Facebook skews older than Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and Tumbler – 35% of users are 65+
• City dwellers are significantly more likely than rural residents to be on Twitter
• Women are five times as likely as men to use Pinterest; and those women are more educated and affluent than average
• Blacks and Hispanics are more likely than whites to use Instagram
• Tumblr appeals most to the younger segment – 18-29 

What do you think?  Are your social media habits consistent with the research?  How about your friends and acquaintances? 

Moses, L. (2013, March 6)  Blacks and Hispanics Are More Likely Than Whites to Use Twitter.  adweek.com.  Retrieved March 6, 2013, from  http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/blacks-and-hispanics-are-more-likely-whites-use-twitter-147666

Duggan, M. and Brenner, J. (2013, February 14)  The Demographics of Social Media Users – 2012.  Pew Research Center.  Retrieved March 6, 2013, from http://pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2013/PIP_SocialMediaUsers.pdf