Chapter 10: Digital Marketing and Social Networking 219
ANSWERS TO APPLICATION QUESTIONS
1. Amazon.com is one of the Web’s most recognizable marketers. Visit the company’s website
at www.amazon.com and describe how the company adds value to its customers’ buying
experiences.
Students should have a variety of examples of how Amazon enhances the consumer experience.
2. Social networking has become a popular method of communication not only for individuals
but for businesses as well. Visit the various social networking sites, such as Facebook and
Twitter, and identify how companies are utilizing each of these sites in their marketing
strategies.
Again, students should be able to find several companies using social media to communicate with
3. Some products are better suited than others to electronic marketing activities. For example,
Art.com specializes in selling art prints via its online store. The ability to display a variety
of prints in many different categories gives customers a convenient and efficient way to
search for art. On the other hand, General Electric has a website displaying its appliances,
but customers must visit a retailer to purchase them. Visit www.art.com and
www.geappliances.com and compare how each firm uses the electronic environment of the
Internet to enhance its marketing efforts.
Students will recognize several differences between the products of Art.com and GE. Students
4. Visit the information technology company website www.covisint.com and evaluate the
nature of the business customers attracted. Who is the target audience for this business
marketing site? Describe the types of firms currently doing business through this exchange.
What other types of organizations might be attracted? Is it appropriate to sell any banner
advertising on a site such as this? What other industries might benefit from developing
similar digital media exchange hubs?
Covisint targets several different business customers but features three groups on its homepage:
5. Based on the information provided in the text, identify and map your social habits on social
networking sites for the past week. Did you create content through blogs? Did you rate or
recommend products or companies? Did you post photos of yourself at particular events or
places on Facebook? Rate each of your online social activities according to how much
influence you think they have had upon your friends or followers. Use 0 if you believe a
particular activity had zero influence, 1 for slight influence, 2 for moderate influence, and 3
for significant influence. After you are finished ranking how much of an impact each of
your online activities has had upon your friends and followers, determine whether you are
an influencer of consumption behaviors. Do you think your friends would agree with you ?