Blog1 - Krista Craft

1. Knit Picks (www.knitpicks.com)

Knit Picks is one of my favorite brands because it offers good yarn, knitting needles, patterns, and knitting accessories at a good price with great service. Their selection of products is huge and shipping is fast.

Question 1 – Knit Picks’ key message is “Passionately committed to affordable luxury knitting.” This message is Superlative because Knit Picks shows that they are indeed committed to good products and great customer service. It is Important because any knitter will tell you that yarn, needles, and other accessories can be very expensive. Knit Picks’ prices are very affordable while keeping the quality of the products excellent. The message is Believable because Knit Picks delivers what it promises – affordable and high-quality products for knitters.

Question 2 – If you were to replace Knit Picks’ name with another online yarn retailer, the experience would not be quite the same. Knit Picks has a huge selection of yarn and is the only one to offer their unique colorful wood knitting needles (http://www.knitpicks.com/kpimages/groups/STNHarmonysets.jpg).

Question 3 – The product is the star of Knit Picks ads. Their communication is memorable for the right reasons. Their key message is at the top of every page of their website and their phone number is always clearly visible.

2. Apple (www.apple.com)

Apple is another one of my favorite brands because it offers quality computers. Even though they are pricier than most computers of its kind, you get what you pay for. They offer good machines and software and good customer service.

Question 1 – Apple’s key message is that their computers are easy to use. It is Superlative because their products are easy to use, and intuitive to learn. The message is Important because for many people, computers can be a hassle and they want a computer that is easy to use and maintain. It is also Believable because almost anybody who has used an Apple computer can say that it was easy to use. And even if users need a little extra help, Apple’s website offers tutorials on almost every aspect of using their computers.

Question 2 – I do not think that Apple’s name could be replaced with any other company. They are the only company that can make the claim that their computers are as easy to use as they say they are.

Question 3 – I believe the product is the star of their advertising. Their commercials are memorable because they are honest, to-the-point, and amusing.

3. Nintendo Wii (http://us.wii.com/)

Nintendo Wii is one of my favorite brands because of its unique approach to gaming. It offers a family-friendly game experience in a brand-new way.

Question 1 – Nintendo’s key message is all about a new gaming experience based on motion-sensing technology. It is Superlative because at present, it is the only game console to use motion-sensing technology in a gaming environment for the everyday user. It is Important because when it first came out, it was a brand-new gaming experience for people. Their message is Believable because Wii offers what they advertise, a unique gaming experience that anybody can enjoy.

Question 2 – No other company can be substituted for the Nintendo Wii, since they are the only company right now with this technology available to the public.

Question 3 – I don’t know if I’ve seen very many ads for the Wii itself recently, but a lot of their advertising is from word-of-mouth. It is memorable, and the product is the star of their advertising.

4. Dr. Pepper (http://www.drpepper.com/)

Dr. Pepper is one of my favorite brands because it’s one of my favorite soft drinks. I don’t drink soda very much, but when I do, it’s usually Dr. Pepper.

Question 1 – Dr. Pepper advertises itself as being made up of 23 unique flavors. Whether this claim is true or not, no other company advertises the number of ingredients used. It’s Important as far as the market goes because it is a unique selling point, but this may not be the most important thing for some people when they are choosing a drink. It’s Believable because Dr. Pepper does have a unique flavor.

Question 2 – If you took out the Dr. Pepper name and put in another soda’s name it would not work because of the certain flavor that Dr. Pepper has. Unless the name is Mr. Pibb, I suppose, because I doubt too many people can really tell the difference between the two.

Question 3 – In advertising the product is usually the star, although on the Dr. Pepper Website, the first thing on the screen is an advertisement for the Academy of Country Music awards party in Las Vegas, and the next page after that is urging customers to put in codes for an EA Games contest.