Sunday

Mike Brown Video, Ferguson Killed For No Reason

***********Warning, Graphic Video*********************

This video also has strong language in the comments section as well as during the video, I did not shoot this video, it was shot by a member of the apartment complex where Mike Brown of Ferguson Lived.

I didn't shoot this cellphone video, someone who lives in the apartment complex where Mike Brown of Fergsuon, Missouri lived shot it. It shows a body later identified as Mike Brown lying in the streets. For 10 minutes you can hear the commentary by the person shooting the video of what the police are alleged to have done on Saturday, August 9, 2014. You can hear what sounds like a relative of Mike Brown, possibly his mother screaming for someone to call the ambulance and to "help her baby." I'm not sure why Mike Brown's body was allowed to lay in the street uncovered. Mike Brown was an 18 year old African American gunned down allegedly by a Fergusn police office named Darren Wilson, a 6 year veteran of the force. Ad a result of the community being in an uprage over the treatment of young African American males by the Ferguson police department resulted in rioting and looting on Sunday, August 10th. Many local stores were looted by people who were later arrested and identified as not being residents of Fergsuon. The day after the looting, police use military style weapons to disperse the crowd of protesters who were chanting, "Hands up, Don't shoot." The last part of that chant, "Don't shoot" was allegedly what Mike Brown cried out to the police officer who killed him. According to the family of Mike Brown, Brown was on his knees with his hands raised in the air saying "Don't shoot."

This is a sad day not just in Ferguson, Missouri but in America as a whole.

***********Warning, Graphic Video*********************

Tuesday

Marketing to Women: Keep it Simple

As a rule women are pretty loyal creatures. We find a product we like and it works well, then we will stick with it. And if that product has an extra bonus feature like saving us money, we will tell oour girlsfriends about it. As a marketer if you are seeking to reach more women, then this should be the cornerstone of your behavioral strategy when marketing to women. We're really simple creatures, we're just misunderstood.

If you're seeking to change the buying behavior of women, you have to start with the most rudimentary thought as it relates to the product you are seeking to sell. I just told you women are simple creatures, we nurture, we protect, we provide, and we will do what it takes to keep ourselves and family stable and secure (sounds like a man doesn't it?) Not really. Have you ever watched one of the animal channels and watched the behavior of female animals when it comes to the young? It's simple, they make sure their babies are fed, are warm, are safe and secure. On the surface these are basic necessities to all living animals. Since this behavior is simplistic in its execution, then your approach to women when marketing to them, should be the same way.

Start small. Think of the woman that decides to go to Dollar General versus Target or KMart. She goes there because.....? Let's use me as an example: if I were making this decision, I'm going to Dollar General because it's smaller, I don't always have time to go into a big store, and walk the majority of the square footage of the building just to pick up a few personal items. I want simple and I want to save time. So I will go to Dollar General because there is never a long line, I can walk right in and walk right back out with what I needed. Plus, I might be able to save a few dollars on the prices of some of the items I'm purchasing. Like I said, simple.

So, if you're Target or KMart, how do you change the direction of my buying decision?

I would take a page from Wal-Mart and change up frequently what is at the front of the store. Bring those sale items right to the front of the store and get rid of those cheap less than $1 stor items you have trhown in a hodepodge of confusion in those front rows. Imagine if Target took that area and placed health and beauty items that were featured in this weeks sales offering right in the ront of the store when you first walk in? It may sound radical, it may even make that big box retailer uncomfortable, but you can't keep doing the same things hoping for a different result. Just a simple change to get a different response.

Successfully marketing to women is simple. It doesn't take a lot to get our attention, but when you get our attention, please have something worth our time.