Search Engine Optimization

With so many sites on the Internet, it is important to make sure your site appears in search engines. This will allow your users to easily find your site. In the last couple of years, companies have made their own business out of optimizing a companies for search engines, giving them that desired position on Googles first page. Prime Visibility is just one of the companies doing this. Watch the video below to find out more.

Using the Internet to Market to kids

Companies are not just targeting teenagers and adults through the Internet, they are targeting kids! Many companies have created interactive, fun sites for children to play on, creating an experience with their brand. We all have heard how kids have a huge influence on what their parents buy. Frosted Mini Wheats is juts one example of this trend. I think this site will get some hits that will leave a mark :)

GEICO GloveBox Application

Today, a growing number of Americans are using cell phones as their primary line and dropping their landlines. Companies have started to find ways to profit off of this new media trend by directly marketing to their consumers through cell phones and other mobile devices.

GEICO has created a GloveBox application for IPhone and ITouch users. This application offers many convenient services to both GIECO policyholders and non policyholders and can be downloaded for free from their website or the Apple ITunes store. By branding this application with their name, logo, and well known Gecko spokesperson (which is consistent with their current brand message), they are able to successfully market to their consumers.


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This application offers policyholders the ability to pay their bills through their phone. All the other features are useful for any user, not just policyholders. Users can use the Accident Helper. This feature allows you to type in and save contact information as well as the ability to take pictures of the scene. The Roadside Service feature allows you to find nearby tow services and gas stations by using your phones GPS system or entering in your location manually. The Taxi/Rental Car feature allows you to find a nearby taxi if you need to get home from a repair shop, or even after a night of partying! It also offers contact information to contact GEICO or watch videos of the Caveman and Gecko.

The last feature, that I think is the coolest, is the Auto How To's. This feature offers users step-by-step instructions for different things like how to change a flat tire, jump start a car, or check your tire pressure.

GEICO is not the only insurance company offering this type of application. Statefarm and Nationwide also offer similar applications. All these companies are targeting a younger demographic, especially GEICO. This application is designed specifically for the IPhone or ITouch. Apple's core users are a younger demographic, and they target a younger audience in all their media outreaches. By creating this specifically for these devices, GEICO is targeting this audience. The Auto How To's is also an application that is clearly marketed to this audience. New drivers and young adults often don't know what to do in a new situation, such as a flat tire. If they call their parents, they are going to have to listen to them yell. This application allows them to figure out how to fix the problem without ever calling mom and dad. And the best part is they can then go home, explain to them what happened and say they handled it all on their own!

The GloveBox also has a secondary audience of technology savvy adults and business women/men. These people are also using these types of devices and would greatly benefit from a lot of the applications features. And hey, although they may not want to admit it, a lot of adults may also not know exactly what to do in an accident.

I think this is a very effective marketing strategy and that GEICO certainly made a "hit that will leave a mark". GEICO found a way to successfully use this medium to their advantage. I think it is also very smart for them to allow anyone to use this application, not just policyholders. This allows them to consistently market to the users, keeping their brand top of mind. Then, when they start to look for their insurance providers, they will first think of GEICO. GEICO also uses traditional media outlets to advertise their new application such as TV commercials. This makes sure that people are aware of the application they have. The commercials for the application are also consistent with their overall marketing campaign, making sure they are still delivering one consistent message to their audience. Below is an example of their commercial from YouTube.

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IPAD!!!

IPad! Once again, Apple has done it! They are a marketing geniuses! Whenever Apple releases a new product, they set a date to release what it is, then wait a few months before they actually sell the product. What does this do? It builds up a lot of hype around the product! Watch this one youtube video below where a girl treats the Ipad like a celebrity. This video alone has nearly 1.5 million views! Free publicity? I think those video hits will leave a mark :)



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