CONSUMER-ORIENTED sales promotional items

An example of a good promotional item is the sample lady/guy at grocery stores. I was at Sams Club last weekend and was impressed by the number and quality of food samples they offered. I did buy some jumbo shrimp because I was able to sample it and the price was reasonable.
A bad idea are those scratch off sweepstakes that car lots send out for their sales. They claim that there is a grand prize cash winner to the ticket with the matching number. The reality was that there was no grand prize winner by design. Customers came in and gave their personal information to register and recieve a vacation package which didn't include much of the vacation. It got people in the doors but they often left upset and feeling ripped off.

TRADE-ORIENTED sales promotional items

An example of a good trade-oriented sales promotoinal item would be a dealer incentive/rebate on new cars. Really they are nothing more than a coupon but they offer them for a variety of reasons like recent college graduates to commercial use for a truck. They bring customers in for sure.
An example of a bad item would be Point-of-purchase displays. A gas station I visit regularly has a variety of items by the register. Usually items that are about to expire and udesireable. The attendant is constantly pushing them on customers and it gets annoying. They are lucky they have good coffee.

Outdoor Advertising

I admit that I thought billboard advertisement was on the decline. After looking into it more I realised that outdoor advertising has improved as technology has. Electronic billboards have made billboards more attractive. With the ability to change, electronic billboards are able to carry more than one ad. This could reduce the cost if several businesses share a particular billboard. I see this becoming more prevelent as time goes on.

Direct Media

I like that Shopko send out coupon /sale booklets. Even though the current resident is incorrect, it's not going to stop me from looking at it. It's a ghood way to get people in the store.

Forbes Feb. 28,2011

Target Audience
Advertising in Forbes magazine is geared towards upperclass business men and women. Readers of this magazine spend a little more on everyday items. An example in this magazine would be advertising for Cadillac instead of Saturn.

27% of magazine space is dedicated to advertising. The magazine has a nice flow to it. Sometimes the ads blend in with the editorials so you have to look carefully.

Half of the advertisements were financial/investment related. Car ads came in second followed by alcahol and recreation. These ads attract rich folks who don't mind spending a little more and who have money to invest.

Editorials include business success stories, economic stories, and stories about future business. I think the ads are well placed fit in nicely with what these readers are interested in. By reading this magazine readers might be influenced on their investments.

Forbes magazine knows the readers have money and have the need to do something from it. Thats why half of the ads were investment related.

Commercials

I have watched ESPN for years and have noticed a trend in their advertising. They mainly advertise their own shows and with athlete endorsed products. In the past they would use humor geared towards men. Now with so many women veiwers, ads have changed to include humoring women even at the man's expense. an example would be the "skinny jeans" Miller Light commercial. Espn has changed with the times. They still use humor with their advertising. Current and ex athletes make make frequent appearnces in ESPNs advertising. ESPN commercials differ from ABC, NBC, and CBS because of the narrwer market. The other networks have a larger variety of show and audiences.

Situational Determinants

Situations determine the use of certain products. Example:Being sick influences a consumer to purchase cold medicines.