Read posts about marketing and market research on Sentient Decision Science’s implicit market research blog.
As a qualitative researcher who has conducted literally hundreds of focus groups, interviews and ethnography studies, I’m used to the aftermath of my job: after spending time with a stranger discussing their emotional attachments, decision-making process, and personal values, I can’t help but feel a letdown when I’ve gotten all the data I need and […]
The Mind of the Market is deeply concerned with the expansive topic of evolution. The evolution of man, markets, social structures, and the intersection of all three. If Michael Shermer’s book were to be inserted into the same theme, it would be at the evolutionary stage of “primordial ooze.” This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; primordial ooze is full of nutrients, activity, and all those good things necessary for life, but it is also chaotic and disorienting, pushing and pulling you in different directions. But where this work falls in terms of utility for a general audience – and specifically one of marketers – is questionable.
It seems that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences just fell into the same trap as the producers of The Bachelorette (See previous blog). According to The New York Times, “The Oscars just got a whole lot bigger.” Instead of the typical five nominees for best picture, the Academy recently announced that it […]
Martin Lindstrom is “one of the world’s most respected marketing gurus;” the jacket of his 2008 release Buyology tells any curious reader in no uncertain terms. This brief fragment of description, if given some vitamins and a tall glass of milk to grow, could easily be ascribed to the work as a whole. With this said, though, Buyology is undeniably a very compelling book. Its narrative reads well, the pacing is smooth, the description and analogies sound. Lindstrom’s dives into thought-provoking and exciting questions like whether there is a significant relationship between how we experience brands and religion. He illustrates how scent and somatic markers (emotional responses tied to specific perceptions) pervade our everyday lives and could help marketers better connect with their consumers.
What do you think? Inspiring? Believable? Long overdue or timely?
As a former contractor for GM, I have good friends and colleagues at all levels of the company, and I want them to do well. I was happy to see the ad, which conveys a realistic sense of how GM needs to be thinking and what they need to do next. Regardless of how long it took them (and yes, I think it took too long; they’ll have a hard time claiming ‘progressive’ as a brand value ever again) – these efforts portray a company that is deeply ingrained in America’s psyche and one that is a vital part of America’s brand. What do you think of the effort?