Month / February 2019

by graceubben

Is Life Without Plastic Actually a Possibility?

Plastic has taken over our lives. Without thinking about it, we use plastic every single day of our lives. It isn’t until you begin trying to cut out plastic that you realize how difficult it is to live without it. Cloth bags and stainless-steel reusable straws are growing in popularity in an attempt to reduce plastic waste, but what happens when you give plastic up completely?

In the latest edition of The New York Times, reporter, Steven Kurutz, writes about the recent plastic free movement in which many consumers are attempting to completely eliminate plastic from their lifestyle. In her article, “Life Without Plastic Is Possible. It’s Just Very Hard,” Kurutz discusses that while it is honorable to have the goal of living without plastic, cutting out plastic completely may not be possible.

According to Kurutz, the problem is everywhere, and once you are made aware of the plastic problem, you can’t help but see it everywhere you look. Plastic is on everything we consume, from the container of fruits, or bag of vegetables, to the jar of peanut butter and even the tube of toothpaste. Plastic is in the lids of cups at every fast food restaurant and most wrappers or packaging. The largest contributor to the plastic waste problem is these single-use plastics.


“Given that single-use disposable plastics are at the heart of the plastic pollution problem, if you do these simple things, you could potentially reduce your plastic consumption by 80 percent or maybe even more.”

– Jay Sinha, owner of the store Life Without Plastic

Kurutz suggests that consumers avoid single-use plastics by having an “eco-survival kit” that allows them to still maintain their lifestyle without giving in to the consumption of plastic. This would include a stainless-steel cup, bamboo or metal utensils, reusable straw, and a reusable bag.

While many consumers have committed to purging plastic and found success with this lifestyle change, many admit that sometimes there are situations where the use of plastic is simply unavoidable. Regardless of whether or not it is possible to completely eliminate plastic, small steps over time can make an impact and significantly reduce the amount of waste.

For more on this, check out, Steven Kurutz’ “Lose the Plastic,” The New York Times (Feb. 17, 2019): ST1

by drey3113

How Snickers Stole the Superbowl

While many watch the Super Bowl to find out which team will come out on top, others seek to find out which advertisement really wins the game. The advertising world is a ruthless battlefield on game day with each company aiming to make the biggest splash in the consumer market. There must be some secret, some play companies that come out on top make. How does a company like Snickers create one of the longest lasting Super Bowl commercials and win the advertising equivalent of the football trophy? This week’s trade publications in Adweek shed some light on that.

This week in Adweek the Super Bowl is the hot topic with the newest ads, how advertising is evolving and how those in the past were able to succeed in creating a lasting impression. Some say that the ad with the funniest skit or the most emotional story brings home the win, but I’ve discovered that it may not be as simple as making the audience laugh with a boy band singing about the newest chips. Gianfranco Arena and Peter Kain explain how Snickers won the game ten times over in 2010.

Who knew showing an old woman getting tackled would do the trick? Snickers had two main goals for their Super Bowl spot. One was to score high in USA Today’s Ad Meter. The other arguably more important goal was to rejuvenate the brand. They needed something that would not only garner the most attention from the audience but would also establish an identity in the consumer market. While Betty White may not have been the first thing that came to mind when discussing Snickers in 2009, she was able to embody the role of “You’re not you when you’re hungry.” down to a tee. While completely out of her element on the football field being quite a bit far off from the Golden Girls set, she was able to shock the audience by being brought down in typical Super Bowl fashion creating both laughs and a new twist on what hunger really meant.

It was truly enlightening to see how Arena and Kain broke down the methodology of creating the ad. I was amazed discovering how many parts went into creating the Snickers identity other than Betty White getting sacked. It did have a hand in grabbing the attention of the audience though which related to the first step. Starting with a captivating visual moment draws all eyes to the advertisement. From there execution becomes key. The ad may have created a different emotional response had the timing and casting weren’t fleshed out. Also, Arena and Kain emphasized that making the product the hero is essential. Create a problem, in this case hunger, and use the product to solve it by satisfying the need. When a product can satisfy a need while maintaining a unique identity, it is truly successful. The duo said it best. “Just make the most of every second, and you can still be the talk of the game.”

— Darian Arriaga

For more information, take a look at Arena and Kain’s article How Snickers Transformed A Basic Biological Need Into Super Bowl Success Adweek volume 60.

by ianmmeredith

A Good Omen for Documentaries and Horror

A new reason to become a fan of the genres if you aren’t already

Get Out (2017), dir. Jordan Peele

When you hear the word “documentary”, your first thoughts aren’t anywhere near the feeling of an adrenaline rush, the suspense that brings you to the edge of your seat, or even remotely black representation. Director Xavier Burgin will hopefully change that with Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror. This documentary, newly released on Shudder, is based on the non-fiction book Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films from the 1980s to the Present.

Writing for the Hollywood Reporter, Richard Newby gives a basic idea of what to expect from the documentary:

“The documentary… brings together some of the most prominent and educated black voices in horror history to discuss how the horror genre’s representation of black people has changed over the years.”

Horror Noire covers the history of black representation in the horror genre all the way up to Jordan Peele’s monumental directorial debut, Get Out (2017); but it only covers history. Newby does the rest of the heavy lifting by addressing the future for black horror in the rest of the article, beginning with a focus on Jordan Peele’s upcoming agenda. His new movie, Us, is set for release in March of this year; Peele and his production company will also provide us with the much-anticipated Twilight Zone reboot and an HBO adaptation of Lovecraft Country, a horror novel about the Jim Crow South.

Newby then moves on from Peele’s seemingly endless contribution to advancements in black horror:

“…audiences can also look forward to the black-led Relive, Sweetheart, and films like Captive State, Doctor Sleep, and the recently released Escape Room that feature black people in prominent roles.”

Thanks to every example of upcoming works that Newby provides, the future for black representation in the horror genre doesn’t look as bleak as the past. Every new instance of proper representation will hold the door open for upcoming black leaders in the horror genre.

For more details about Horror Noire, check out Richard Newby’s “How ‘Horror Noire’ Primes Viewers for a Year of Black Horror,” The Hollywood Reporter, (Feb. 7, 2019).

-Ian

by tayquintin

One Step At a Time

New methods of treatments are among some of the major technological advances occurring within the healthcare world today, and especially this past week. Robots, the Google cloud, and new surgical treatments through technology are among some of the latest innovations on the Health Data Management feed board. With that being said, the abundance of new and exciting ideas and techniques can continue to flood into the healthcare atmosphere, but there are also many downfalls that follow shortly to great innovations. Among these are cyber attacks, million dollar settlements, and other obstacles professionals in the health care field deal with on a day to day basis. The most rewarding aspect of the downfalls is how these minor setbacks help pave the way for future success. The cyberattacks offer many different clues to future threats, which helps healthcare data management officials stay aware and prepared for the times when the attacks occur.

Every day major surgeries occur at local hospitals, the same routines are done by nurses, check the patient’s blood pressure, their heart rate, offer a prediction on the length of stay and recovery time. But one doctor, Timothy Daskivich is completely changing the way nurses and patients everywhere deal with the aftermath of surgery. Rather than keeping a record and monitoring the usual- blood pressure and heart rate, vitals, Daskivich decided to spark a study to explore the relationship between steps and recovery time/length of stay at the hospital. A study of “100 patients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, published in JAMA Network Open, found that for every 100 steps taken by post-operative participants they decreased their length of stay by 4 percent.” Each patient was equipped with a Fitbit device that allows them personally to monitor their steps each day and see the goal and progress over time. But how does this change anything? Not only does the Fitbit device allow for a new method of recording change within patients for doctors, but it also allows patients to see how much progress they have made over time. One aspect that should be attributed as extremely important is the ability to use this data to predict how long patients will have to stay with outpatient services. Within the study of just 100 patients, their duration of stay was decreased by 4%.

Not only is data management important regarding health care, but patient care is largely at the forefront of today’s technological advances and innovations. It is important for both the patient and the doctor to be aware of the new innovations taking place each day, with hopes that health care as a whole will improve worldwide. It is also worth noting the importance of allowing patients to witness their own success. Through doing this the patient has the ability to be well aware of the progress they have made, as well as the future predictions for recovery time- which is something we all need at times of need; reassurance.

For more info, check out Greg Slabodkin’s “Activity monitors measure step counts for surgery patients” on Health Data Management, (February 6, 2019).

https://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/activity-monitors-measure-daily-postoperative-step-counts-for-patients?feed=00000152-0d5e-df23-add6-5f5f05f30000
by hannahjdavidson

Unruly Surveys Rank Microsoft and Google Super Bowl Ads the Most Effective

Data from the video marketplace highlights the effects of emotional impact

PRESS RELEASE UPDATED: FEB 7, 2019

Researchers say that emotional appeal as a branding strategy is even more effective than content information. Studies prove it is the best way to create a connection with consumers to give people the intent to make brand decisions.

In the latest addition of Adweek, creative strategist and author, Erik Oster, writes about how the 2019 Super Bowl ads express the importance of a brand’s emotional awareness in his article, “Microsoft and Google Were the Two Most Effective Super Bowl Ads, According to These Stats.” Unruly’s survey results reinforced this claim and ranked Microsoft and Google the top two brands to yield the greatest impact.

According to Oster, Unruly’s survey contains EQ score statistics that “are derived from composite metrics comprised of emotional impact, authenticity and purchase intent.” The ads to win top spots created feelings of pride, inspiration, and happiness for viewers, which further increased consumer engagement.

The Microsoft ad “We All Win” took first place with an Unruly EQ score of 7.5. The tech brand aimed to connect with potential consumers by showing how disabled children can enjoy gaming with the Microsoft Xbox Adaptive Controller while advertising the brands “Reindeer Games” holiday spot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YISTzpLXCY

Google’s ad “100 Billion Words,” followed with an Unruly EQ score of 6.7. The commercial created a feeling of unity and connection by showcasing how words can bring people from different backgrounds together. High marks were earned for the ad’s credibility and authenticity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXfJc8up6cM

Based on the research done on the feedback of these commercials, it is apparent that emotional advertising can be very successful. Advertisers have become increasingly more emotionally aware because of the connection these types of ads elicit with the consumer. Overall, an emphasis on emotion and authenticity leads to higher audience engagement.

For more information, check out Eric Oster’s “Microsoft and Google Were the Two Most Effective Super Bowl Ads, According to These Stats,” ErikDOster. (2019, February 07).

https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/microsoft-and-google-were-the-two-most-effective-super-bowl-ads-according-to-these-stats/

 
https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/microsoft-and-google-were-the-two-most-effective-super-bowl-ads-according-to-these-stats/
by lindseyrykard

Secrets to Running a Booming Dermatology Practice

Are bedside manners better than advertising?

Press Release UPDATED February 10, 2019

Image result for dermatology
Photo Courtesy Dr. Allison Hoffman, MD, FAAD
Mill City Dermatology, PA

Gainesville, Fla., February 10, 2019 (Dermatology News)—

What are key qualities to a booming dermatology practice?

You may think advertising but actually that is at the bottom of the list in creating a busy dermatology practice. Bedside manners are of the upmost importance.

If your patient leaves and does not feel like you genuinely care for their wellbeing, you have failed at your job as a physician. Patients are your top priority and word of mouth overpowers advertisements any day.

Exactly how do you create this great relationship between you and your patients?

Firstly, give patients your personal phone number. Tell them to call you if any problems arise. This will surprise them with how accessible you are. Nothing makes a patient feel more loved than a personal phone number.

Secondly, have your assistant call the patient on the first post-treatment day. “Care and concern for the patients you’ve treated are very important, so that the patients feel comfortable in coming back to see you,” said Dr. Weinkle.

Thirdly, be known as an expert in your local community. Dr. Hexsel said, “Something that I think helped a lot to improve my practice was to give interviews for the media.” Three to four interviews a week may be annoying; however, vital for a thriving dermatology business. “Spending a lot of time traveling to medical meetings is necessary to become known among your peers,” said Dr. Grablowitz.

Fourthly, be involved in research. This way patients can trust you that you are aware of the latest technology. Dr. Baumann asserted, “A great way to build a practice is to do research projects…Patients realize you are cutting edge when you perform the clinical trials that lead to FDA approval.”

Lastly, make sure office staff are all on board with all of the cosmetic procedures. “It’s very important that the staff and doctors are giving out the same information to the patients, because the patients ask everybody in the office,” said Dr. Baumann. Patients come in very knowledgeable about their procedure but still ask office staff about their opinions in search of affirmation.

Use these tips to create a bustling dermatology practice.

For more on this, check out, John R. Bell, “Marketing Secrets of Top Dermatologists Revealed,” Dermatology News (August 2007)

Contact:

Lindsey Rykard

lindseyrykard@gmail.com

by lydiarykard

Promoting Laser Business Without Investing Money on Advertising Campaigns

The Trick to Increasing Laser Customer Base Quickly

PRESS RELEASE UPDATED: FEB 7, 2019

Image result for laser cosmetic
Photo Courtesy to Dr. Koreen

Gainesville, Fla., February 8, 2019 (Dermatologytimes.com) – For all the cosmetic dermatologists that perform laser treatments, there are three simple techniques to promote laser customer base. According to Dermatology Times, the trick for cosmetic dermatologists to increase their laser customer base without investing money is by marketing to patients and staff, utilizing referral sources, and marketing for the long-term.

Internal marketing is critical at the beginning of the process. To grow the business, all the staff and existing patients should be aware of the procedures that the firm offers. According to Dr. Keaney, having staff that knows the steps of the treatment and the expected results helps spread the word to the existing patients. It lets the existing patients know that they don’t have to go elsewhere for these procedures. Not only is the staff a great advocate for the existing patients, but also keeping the waiting room filled with brochures and TV monitors about the procedures helps entice the existing patients. For example, Dr. Gold’s strategy is as he said, “not only to inform but also to entice the patients.”

Taking advantage of referral sources is another key marketing strategy to promote the laser industry. For example, Dr. Alster, explained how educating other doctors about the procedures the practice offers contributes to an increase in customer base involved in laser treatments. Doctors refer patients to other doctors all the time and it is one of the many tricks to increasing business. Laser treatment is known to help get rid of the bad scars other surgeries caused, therefore having connections with other doctors and being recommend to their patients is key to growing the laser business. It is important to make as many people aware of the services offered by the laser firm as possible. People always go to doctors that their friends or other physicians recommend. People rarely visit a physician that they don’t know much about.

Lastly, marketing for the long-term is a trick to increasing customer base. Staying up to date with the current trends can promote the business. Such as knowing what’s in currently and advertising your expertise on that procedure. Having a good platform to advertise on such as Facebook helps keep potential new customers and existing patients aware of the new laser services offered.

Interested in promoting laser procedures? Then try out these marketing techniques.

For more on this, check out, DermatologyTimes, “3 Fast Marketing Tactics for Laser,” dermatologytimes, (Oct 19, 2015)

-Lydia

by cassidymizell1

Did Tom Brady Deflate Your Diet?

Photo Courtesy of Julio Cortez via AP

The Super Bowl is one of the biggest days of eating in America. In fact, a conservative estimate suggests that people eat, on average, 2,400 calories from start to finish. Super Bowl spreads are saturated with pizza, wings, dips, and everything for the “big game”. However, research suggest that, for some people, the binging does not end on Sunday.

This week in The Salt, Maria Godoy explores a study by Rachel Herz of Brown University that suggests that the team people root for affects how they eat the day after the game.

People who cheered for the losing team are more likely to continue eating unhealthily the following day.  Herz says that the negative emotions people have after a team loses causes them to turn towards foods that trigger endorphins. “Foods that are high fat and high carbohydrate give you dopamine and endorphins and serotonin. And it’s dopamine, in particular, that’s the reward-and-pleasure neurotransmitter. And endorphins actually soothe our pain, both physically and mentally. The higher in fat the food is, the more endorphins you’re going to experience with that.”

Inversely, people whose favorite team won actually make healthier choices on the Monday after the Super Bowl. These people tend to have an adrenaline rush that keeps them from feeling hungry. In Herz words, “It’s akin to when you’re really excited — like when you’re in love, or you’re so excited about what’s going on you sort of forget to eat. From a neuro-chemical perspective, your body is actually feeling the sort of high that you feel like you don’t even need food, so your appetite is reduced.”

So if you blew your diet this week, you can always blame Tom Brady.

-CEM

For more information, check Maria Godoy’s article, “Game Brain Science: How Your Super Bowl Team Plays Can Sway What You Eat”.

For more in food news, check The Salt by NPR.

by sarajamhour21

How Companies are Dealing with PR Disasters

As long as there are companies communicating with the public in an attempt to get their money, there will be PR disasters that will undoubtedly occur. Every year companies get hit with a PR disaster and need to deal with it immediately. How exactly these companies are dealing with said disasters is a popular topic among PR trade publications. Click here to read more.

The article I’m discussing today is “Top 10 PR Blunders of the Year- So Far” by Russell Working and published by Ragan Communications. Here, the author discusses how various well-known companies all underwent a very public PR disaster and how the leads of these companies dealt with the consequences and tried to remedy them in the public face, like in the case of rats at Burger King.

“Want to go viral? Rats in fast-food joints will do it every time. This video garnered almost 1 million views, 24,000 shares as well as national and international pickup from outlets such as The Daily Mail, Men’s Health, FoxNews.com, CBSNews.com and Yahoo News, Donahoe notes,” (Working, 2018).

After reading over these many, MANY PR blunders, it is apparent that there are countless ways for a company to mess up and hurt its reputation, especially concerning racial insensitivity. The more well-known a company is, the harder it falls when it makes a mistake. However, it’s important that they respond immediately and placate the public and its consumers by fixing the problem, addressing it, apologizing, and improving upon its business and communication models.

Screen Shot 2019-02-11 at 1.00.16 AM

Image Courtesy of Twitter

by Oriana

Women Are Embracing a Different Type of Love on Valentine’s Day

Image courtesy of NBC

Are you tired of spending Valentine’s Day alone every year? Galentine’s Day allows for the celebration of friendships instead.

Originally created by the NBC show Parks and Recreation in 2010, Galentine’s Day is an ode to female friendships and self-love. This made-up holiday is usually celebrated on February 13th and is more prominent this year than it ever has been. Stores such as Walmart and Party City are taking advantage of this opportunity and have created an entire line of Galentine’s Day products that range from napkins to balloons.

Only 51% of Americans plan to celebrate Valentines Day this year, which is a huge decrease from its all-time high of 63% in 2007. Galentine’s Day means more people going out on the days that surround Valentines Day, which is extremely beneficial for restaurants. The Wall Street Journal quotes Amber Cote, a restaurant owner, “Why not have an event that enhances business on these ‘shoulder dates’ that wouldn’t otherwise be incredibly busy.”

Clearly, many restaurants and retailers have been benefitting from this holiday, but Galentine’s Day is also a huge part of the feminist movement. It opens up the concept of female empowerment, and is especially important in the midst of the #metoo movement. There is a reason as to why the term was coined in 2010 but has not emerged until recently. It is proving that women do not have to wait for men to being them flowers, and is encouraging them to find love in other places.

For more on this, check out, Anne Marie Chaker’s “Nobody Likes Valentine’s Day Anymore,” The Wall Street Journal , (Feb 9, 2019).