Get on, onto GROUPON!

Finally! An innovative way to say money without needing to purchase the Sunday newspaper for coupons: GROUPON. 


GROUPON is a website that host special store offers that brings benefits both to the consumer and retailers. This site works by offering some type of savings promotion to the consumer. If a certain number of people sign up for the deal offered on this site, then the deal would be offered to all consumers. If the "predetermined minimum" is not reach, the deal doesn't go through. This is so that the retailers do not lose any money by offering a deal that many don't care for, and for the consumer to save some money! No more daily Macy's coupons in the mail.


All my friends and family whom I have invited onto GROUPON, has jumped on board and have continued the GROUPON invite chain to pass the news to their family and friends. After all, who doesn't love to save money!

Businesses' Success Through Using Social Media

Social media has obviously exploded this past year. Some social media sites have become adjectives!! (i.e.: I'll Facebook you) Having a personal page has surpassed just an individual sharing their pictures and status updates, but businesses have joined the social media trend too!

Businesses have extended their reach to current and potential consumers by being exposed on the social media train. A consumer simply clicks the "like" button on the business' Facebook page, and that allows the business to extend its reach to all of that individual's friends that the business would not have been able to reach in the first place. A recent example of social media tactics that has helped a business grow into success is the new night club at the Fontainebleau Resort in Miami Beach named Arkadia. Last month, during the club's grand opening, the club opened a twitter account: ARKADIA Miami. The club had a surprise performance by the number 3 top deejay in the world according to DJ Magazine charts: Tiesto!! The club heavily promoted the surprise performance through its twitter account and had hundreds of people show up, thus making the event extremely successful.

Getting Into the Consumer's Brain

Society has rigorously worked on getting into people's mind and thoughts. Each person's brain functions uniquely, but still exhibits same actions. 

As a marketer, understanding how a consumer's mind thinks is probably like finding gold. Yes, a consumer may express what he or she may want/need, but who knows if that though would truly drive consumer to the purchase point.....

Neuromarketing has possibly become the answer for marketers, business owners, etc. It's a way to finally understand consumers.Neuromarketing is simply the the study of certain stimuli in the human body and their reaction to elements of design in advertising (i.e.: ads, commercials, etc.). This type of study, in return will allow business owners and marketers have a accurate target market.

The United States has reached a time where almost everything is done over the Internet. The people born into the Generation Y are especially pushing the Internet as the main source of communication. This push has affected many companies, such as the automobiles and automobile insurance providers. Connecting with loved ones is as easy as looking through a small camera to speak live from a program such as Skype.

The Generation Y is more involved with the purchase decision-making process. Automobile companies and their insurance providers are currently blaming the Internet for Generation Y's disinterest in purchasing product. These companies must not blame the Internet for decrease in consumer purchases, but rather find a niche that will attract customers.

E-commerce Today

Many people assume that running a business from the comfort of your home is nothing but convenient, cheap and have the tendency to assume that there are an endless flow of consumers. NEGATIVE. Having a successful running business online takes as much time as any other business.... usually, the harder you work, the more the profit revenue.

E-business - also known as e-commerce - is the buying and selling of good on the Internet. With the advancements of technology and the change in communication preferences by consumers, businesses online are more frequently seen. 

People are now using auction sites as a "free" way to sell their products. Well, everything that is said to be free, is never really free. Sites, such as half.com, gain profit revenue through advertisements, for example. When e-commerce is run, it is essential to make sure that the amount of work put into the business, is seen coming out as profit revenue.

The Facebook Celebrities

These days, many people are making their Facebook Web Pages a personal place to promote themselves. Basically, Facebook Web Pages have become an online 'billboard' on this new way to communicate and network. The way to become a billboard is to have more and more friends, people linked to your profile. This is a money-making business. You are as worth as how many friends you have because marketers out there are looking at the potential exposure they can get through your regular postings.

Most people don't even know but, companies are actually paying individuals who have a 'popular' Facebook Web Page to promote their businesses. For example, nightclub owners find their new employees, such as promoters, through Facebook. If a person meets the 'requirements,' they can expect to get offers. So basically, regular people are becoming product endorsers through Facebook. Some clothing stores are sponsoring those so-called Facebook celebrities to post pictures wearing their products.

Those are just two examples of many ways to expose product without using traditional media. The evolution of online communication has helped marketers to increase exposure without spending the big bucks.