Here's how e-cigarette vendors promote culture of 'vaping' online

As per a recent study, online e-cigarette vendors engage customers by using popular internet tools.First introduced in the United States in 2007, electronic cigarettes have risen dramatically in part because they are popularly considered safer and more socially acceptable than combustible cigarettes and because there are fewer restrictions on their purchase and use.The University of California study by San Diego School of Medicine researchers points to aggressive online marketing tactics that make purchasing e-cigarettes easy for all ages.First author Tim K. Mackey said that they found e-cigarette vendors were highly engaged in promoting the culture of ‘vaping’ online, including posting images to Instagram, a social media site used by 52 percent of teens.Mackey added that despite the fact that 47 states prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, the results highlight the potential of the Internet to encourage e-cigarette initiation and underage purchasing. This is particularly concerning given that the FDA does not have specific proposed regulations for online e-cigarette sales.Data from the 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey shows that e-cigarette use tripled among middle and high school students from 2013 to 2014.Researchers found that 68 percent of the 57 online e-cigarette vendors they studied displayed one or more health warnings about the devices on their website. However, the notices were often depicted in smaller fonts or placed discretely in the terms and conditions section of a website.One third of the vendors had no detectable age verification process for buyers and of those that did, most required only a simple click to say the buyer was within the legal age limit. Industry analysts estimate that online sales comprise 25 to 30 percent of the $2 billion annual e-cigarette market, which may account for a high presence of vendors on social media, said Mackey, who is also associate director of the joint master’s degree in Health Policy and Law.The study found that online e-cigarette vendors use a variety of sophisticated and aggressive marketing practices, including promotional offers and high social media engagement to promote the sale of their products, said Mackey.Mackey and team reported that 70 percent of the online vendors used more than one of the three most commonly used social media platforms: 63 percent used Twitter, 52 percent posted to Facebook and 42 percent were on Instagram.The researchers said the findings could impact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 2014 proposed regulations of e-cigarette use, sale, marketing and manufacturing to include online monitoring of the laws.The study is published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Here"s how e-cigarette vendors promote culture of "vaping" online

Ten affordable marketing tips to help promote your business

Believe it or not, you don’t have to break the bank to market your business. Of course, professional consultants and flashy TV ads cost money, but if you’re looking for free ways to get your brand known, there are many things you can do.

Chris Surridge from Whitefish Marketing offers ten suggestions to get the ball rolling.

1. Optimise your website

When formulating an online marketing strategy, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) should be at the front of your mind. It’s one of the least expensive yet most effective ways in the long run to improve your online presence and, if done correctly, will help you rank well for specific searches. Coupled with a strong content marketing strategy you can increase your inbound traffic dramatically. 

2. Don’t forget local SEO

With many web-based companies battling for clicks, views and clients, it’s essential to minimise the competition by making yourself relevant to people in your area. By claiming your Google Places for Business page and setting up a Google+ Local page, you’ll give yourself more chance of being seen by people who would benefit from your organisation. Many businesses charge into trying to dominate the nation, yet forget to focus on their immediate geographic audiences. These are “low hanging fruit” which should be picked off first. 

3. Start a blog 

There are many positive reasons to start a blog. Not only is it a free way to engage with customers and clients, but it’s the ideal platform to talk about upcoming products and ideas. Don’t be afraid to reach out to other bloggers and see if they will either accept a guest post or write something for your site as this is a great way to get your company known in reputable or relevant circles. Blogging also helps enhance your SEO, showing Google that your site provides fresh, unique content, on a regular basis.

4. Attend free events

Networking is an important part of business. You never know who you might meet at any given time so represent your company by attending as many free events as possible. Take your business cards with you, get chatting to like-minded people, and you could open up new opportunities. Whether you choose morning breakfast meetings, or after-hours drinks, pick one which works for you.

5. Brand yourself

If you’ve got a load of company t-shirts and jumpers sitting in a storeroom somewhere, pull them out and put them on. Parading your name and logo wherever possible is great for brand awareness as you’ll literally become walking, talking billboards. If you are thinking of branding your vehicle, look for automotive vinyl stickers as they are considerably cheaper than re-sprays.

6. Make the most of social media

For many people, social media is just a place to post photos and gossip with friends. In reality, it’s also a useful marketing platform for businesses, allowing all different kinds of companies to build up and online fan base and attract new customers. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Instagram are just some of the sites out there, so it’s well worth developing your social networking strategy. Plan ahead each week and ensure you have a good social engagement agenda which is interesting and informative. Don’t just talk about yourself and your company all the time. Ensure you are offering something of value for others to read about. 

7. Become a public speaker

If you are passionate about what you do and want to inspire people as well as spread the word about your business, becoming a public speaker could be right up your street. Colleges, universities and schools are always on the lookout for positive individuals with something interesting to say, so do some research and see what you can come up with. Also, speak with your local Chamber of Commerce or look for specialist events related to your industry. 

8. Revamp your reception

People will form an opinion of your business as soon as they set foot in reception. So why not use this space to your advantage by ensuring it’s on brand in terms of colour scheme and charisma? Leave informative things for them to read, play short video clips that are relevant to your company, and ensure visitors are not twiddling their thumbs as they wait for an interview or client meeting. 

9. Public Relations

Consider all the events that your company is involved in. Whether it is giving something back to the community, a volunteering project, a run for charity, right through to product launches, new members of staff, or even awards and accolades achieved, all of these events are newsworthy and offer a great opportunity for PR. Speak with your local press news desks to and propose your story. Building up the relationship will be key over the months and years ahead, but it’s worth it. Likewise, ensure you utilise digital PR distribution as well for added exposure.

10. Add important information to your website

If your website is already up and running, check it has all the important information displayed clearly such as your telephone number, email address, business address, and social media links. You might be surprised as “ghosts in the machine” will sometimes throw up annoying bugs and glitches. If anything is missing it could cost you a customer, so it’s certainly worth carrying out a content review. Put yourself in the eyes of your customers and be vigilant with your checks.

Effective marketing is about getting a good return for your budget, and here at Whitefish Marketing, we believe that “Performance Comes First”. Until you are ready to adopt a professional digital agency to formulate your marketing activity, these ten tips will help your business succeed without costing the earth.

Ten affordable marketing tips to help promote your business

Tourism NZ enlists YouTube stars to promote NZ

Tourism New Zealand has hosted some of the biggest stars on social media as part of a digital campaign to promote the country overseas.

One of those was YouTube star Louis Cole.

His YouTube channel attracts millions of views, and right now those viewers are hearing about our country.

It’s part of the changing face of marketing New Zealand to the world.

As part of Tourism New Zealand’s online marketing strategy, New Zealand recently hosted a group of video bloggers from around the world.

They’re called influencers, people who have gained a following on social media.

One of those influencers is Cole, known online as Fun for Louis.

“I think it’s a genuine way for people to see things,” he says. “It’s not a high production video. It’s like people are there with me.”

For social influencers like Cole, their daily life consists of travelling the world and documenting their adventures. And it’s not just a lifestyle, it’s their job.

“The whole thing started out as a passion and a hobby, and now that is what is essentially my career I guess, and I’m making money from it. I don’t take that for granted for a second.”

Cole says the Milford Sound was the most beautiful place he’s ever visited, and when he says that he’s saying it to his fan base of more than 1 million people.

“When I endorse something or travel somewhere and tell people about it they are going to listen to me a lot more than a random that pops up.”

While Tourism New Zealand covered Cole’s costs and made sure he experienced the best the country has to offer, he can still say exactly what he likes or doesn’t like about New Zealand.

“The numbers are quite large when you look at what he’s posting, and that’s what we look at,” says Tourism New Zealand’s Andrew Fraser. “We look at their credibility – how many people they are reaching and whom they are reaching.”

More than 400,000 visitors arrived in New Zealand in December last year. That makes it the busiest month ever recorded.

For Cole and other social media stars, that means they’re likely to visit New Zealand a few more times and they’ll be bringing their millions of followers with them.

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Tourism NZ enlists YouTube stars to promote NZ

Professional marketing rep. hired to promote new pier designs and process

To avoid a calamitous repeat of what happened last time the city tried to build a new pier, they’ve gone and hired a marketing consultant for $60,000 a year. When the city chose the Lens as its final design to replace the inverted pyramid officials were met with a smathering of criticism from people saying the process left out the common Joe, was filled with misinformation and included components that, simply put, just wouldn’t be built under the city’s then $50 million budget.

Those critics won that battle and the budget for new design teams to build a new pier is down to $46 million. Kristin Brett, a former Tampa Bay Times marketing services manager, will draw her salary from that budget.

The city had originally intended to hire outside consultants to run marketing and outreach efforts, but decided a temporary, full-time, in-house person was a better fit to ensure emersion in the issue.

The Tampa Bay Times reports, Brett began the new gig in December and is potentially in place on the city’s payroll until the pier is completed in 2018(ish). The marketing professional has already begun making rounds at the Saturday morning market where she told the Times she shocked at how many people don’t know what’s going on with the process.

Brett will also run outreach events throughout the community during neighborhood and other meetings where residents turn out as well as man booths and distribute materials at the Saturday Morning Market and the Midtown Market.

Police officers will also be handing out pamphlets.

The city is involving the public as much as possible this time around. A non-binding vote is open for residents online from February 23-March 6 on the city’s website. Participants can choose their top three picks. After that, Mayor Rick Kriseman’s Pier selection committee will rank finalists. Sometime after that, city council will vote on a winner.

Prior to online voting, the selection committee will eliminate any of the eight current designs that are considered unfeasible. That will happen on January 23. On February 11 and 12, the design teams will present their ideas at 9 a.m. at the Coliseum. The public will be allowed to comment following the presentations.

Residents who do not have a computer are encouraged to vote for their favorite designs at any public library in the city.

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Professional marketing rep. hired to promote new pier designs and process