iCloud and Record Labels

Posted on August 9, 2011 by katlynsatterfield

There has been a lot of buzz over the upcoming iCloud, Apple’s new cloud service. Best of all, it will be offered (mostly) free to iOS 5 and Lion users, with a transition process in the works for current MobileMe users. The only known cost is an annual fee of $24.99 for iTunes Match.

iTunes Match will allow users to not only access music from their iTunes library, but music they’ve ripped from CDs or purchased from another source. It will match the items from your collection to 18+ million songs in the iTunes Store (even upgrading yours to a higher quality version if available). Music lovers out there will no longer have to start their music collections from scratch every time a new technology emerges or just have separate collections for each, but instead can finally merge them all into one.

While iCloud may not be the first of the cloud technologies, it has something to offer it’s competitors do not. Unlike Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, Apple was able to strike a deal allowing them to launch their product with licenses from the major record labels and publishers. This itself was no easy task though. According to the New York Post, Apple spent between $100-150 million in advanced payments to get the four major labels on board, on top the promise of a 70% cut of the revenue.

With this change in the music world approaching, record labels will need to alter their marketing according. Since none of the other cloud services are offering a cut, the record labels will want to promote the use of iCloud. With the younger generations more likely to take advantage of this service, the record labels will need to find a way to reach this audience. Labels will have to rely more on internet marketing, especially social media sites, to get their message out there.

Keep an eye out for iCloud- it’s coming out sometime this fall!

Why internet marketing is important

Posted on July 12, 2011 by amyreid

Let’s face it, the internet is here to stay. Many businesses, even some locally, are closing their doors because they weren’t able to adapt digitally.

Internet marketing is eco-friendly and cost efficient. If you compare the cost of marketing online to the possible audience, it’s really quite a steal. Not only can it reach a large audience, but it can reach them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The internet can be accessed from so many different avenues, not just from a computer anymore but laptops, ipads, and phones.

Not only is the price right, but the sky is (almost) the limit. Not only can you take advantage of texts and sound, there can be motion, video, or even be interactive. Just be sure you take full advantage of what internet marketing has to offer. You may have the best website, but if it is hard to find and no one ever sees it, what difference does it make?

United Airlines Ground Zero Ad Blunder

Posted on May 20, 2011 by admin

For 10 years, United Airlines has tried to lose the image of being the “airline of choice” that 2 of the 3 hijacked planes on 9/11 came from. Granted, it could have been any airline that the hijackers chose, but nevertheless they have been burdened with this reality since the tragedy.

Over the last week or so, United Airlines have made two big PR “oopsies.” First of all, it was reported that during the transition period of the acquisition of Continental, they accidentally started using flight numbers 93 and 175 again, which are the two flight numbers used from 9/11 that were retired. They realized their error, stopped using the flight numbers and quickly apologized.

Today, it was reported that an ad next to Ground Zero in New York City (see picture above) was pulled after people complained about its content. The ad read “You’re going to like where we land.” Another honest mistake (I hope), but another “ugh” feeling from a United Airlines blunder.

Now, I’m pretty confident that neither of these mistakes were done on purpose. However, the ad mistake it is an important lesson to learn regarding awareness. For advertising and marketing professionals, it is important not only to create a tasteful ad or marketing campaign, but you have to understand other elements such as purpose, timing and placement.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but thinking about marketing and advertising from all angles can do nothing but help you in the long run.

Microsoft Buys Skype

Posted on May 10, 2011 by admin

And for a ton of money. After much speculation, it’s been confirmed that Microsoft has bought Skype for $8.5 billion dollars. That’s a huge figure, indeed, but Microsoft wouldn’t have made it one of it’s most expensive purchases ever if it didn’t see big potential for the future.

What this allows Microsoft to do is become a lot more competitive and challenging to its rival, Google, on the voice communication and mobile phone front. Google has been ahead of the pack when it comes to these technologies and services, but Microsoft can step up its efforts with the power of Skype now at their disposal. Microsoft also plans to

integrate Skype into many of its existing products like Xbox Live, Windows smartphones, and Office Suite software.

There’s already polls online asking whether Microsoft payed a little too much. What do you think? Is this a smart acquisition for Microsoft? Will this put them at an edge over competitors like Google or will the deal prove to be a dud in the long run?

Farewell, Empire Carpet Man

Posted on April 28, 2011 by admin

Yesterday, we said goodbye to one of the most iconic figures in advertising within the past few decades. Elmer Lynn Hauldren, more famously known as the Empire Carpet Man, passed away at the age of 89. Hauldren appeared in numerous commercials for the Chicago area carpet company and created a jingle that stuck with us for years to come. You remember it, don’t you? “5-8-8, 2-300, Empire!”

The long lasting impression the Empire commercials have made are a great example of how a company effectively built a brand for itself. With the help of the Empire Man and a really catchy jingle, Empire Today skyrocketed itself and its product to popularity not just around Chicago, but all over the country.

It started with a simple idea (from Hauldren’s son, actually) to be different from the competition; Have a more soft-spoken character in the commercials compared to competing ads that, at the time, were just too loud and in-your-face. Needless to say, the strategy worked and viewers were soon able to enthusiastically recite the ubiquitous jingle off the top of their head.

Yellow Pages Vs. Internet Marketing

Posted on April 5, 2011 by admin

When was the last time you actually opened up the Yellow Pages to find something? It’s probably safe to assume you might not even remember or it must’ve been ages ago. Makes you wonder why you continue to see that big, bulky book hanging out by your doorstep each year when you know it almost feels obsolete.

Sure, the Yellow Pages were useful at one time, but nowadays if we need to know something (anything, really) we’ll just Google it. The internet has become our primary information source, so why not use it to get your business noticed?

Not only are the Yellow Pages becoming a thing of the past, but if you want to advertise with them, it could cost you a lot of money. Why not invest that money into something more worthwhile and more visible to your audience like internet marketing. Think about it. You’re putting out everything anyone needs to know about your business and making it available for millions of people to view, not just local consumers. The greater internet presence that your business has, the greater of an advantage you have over your competition that isn’t using the internet to its fullest potential.

GROW 2011-Naperville

Posted on March 17, 2011 by admin

Join us next week on Tuesday, March 22nd for our GROW 2011 seminar at the NIU Conference Center in Naperville, IL. We’ll be discussing internet marketing, web design, and the importance of both in making your business more noticeable and competitive in today’s market.

Listen to RMO Creative’s Creative Director, Tom Rainer and Marketing Director, Chris Bacon as they help your business find ways to distinguish itself from the competition and explore the effective techniques and strategies to do just that. The event will be emceed by John Collier, RMO Creative’s Account Representative that has 20 years of experience helping businesses improve their overall marketing efforts.

We’re really excited for this event and can’t wait to meet with you all. The seminar is FREE and refreshments will be provided, but make sure to register with us online at www.rmo-creative.com/grow or by phone at (866) 635-8738 by March 21st to ensure your seat.

Info:
Where: NIU Conference Center
1120 East Diehl Road
Naperville, IL 60563

When: March 22, 2011 5:00pm – 7:00pm

Admission: FREE, Refreshments provided