Review of The Movie: 300 (2007)

Starring: Gerard Bulter, Rodrigo Santoro, Lena Heady and Dominic West

300 movie based on the graphic novel ‘300’ by Frank Miller & Lynn Varley.

General Bulter is performing King Leonidas’s role that was born in 540 B.C and Sparata Greece was his birth place, while he died in 480 B.C in the battle of Thermopylae fatally wounded by arrows in the battle.

Rodrigo is performing the role of Xerxes, who was born in 519 B.C in Persia and assassinated by political advisor Artabanus.

Immortals by Frank Miller’s are disfigured as Imperial soldiers who fight behind the shiny masks using a martial arts like fighting style. In Persian history Persian rulers were protected by Immortals.

There are few amendments from the original story to fascinate the display, e.g. for Spartans body armor protection tool was very valuable assets but in movie Spartan soldiers are fighting nearly naked without any form of body armor protecting them.

History of 300 Spartans by the historians is that battle took place in 480 B.C and whether it happened in August or Mid-September of that year. 

Spartans were not as ‘good’ as the movie portrays them to be, many of the Greek soldiers who fought with the Spartan elite at the battle of Thermopylae, were forced to fight because they were slaves. They were biggest slaves owners in Greece, but at the same time Sparta women gad an unusual level of rights.

The biggest problem with the movie is that film leaves the audience believing that the Spartans were the only Greek force to lead against the Persian. Similarly, King Xerxes role was exaggerated, he wasn’t a tall man. No, Persian didn’t bring any charging elephant or rhinos to the battle of Thermopylae.

‘The movie depicts a small group of European freedom fighters holding off a large army of Iranian slaves. Although, many draw comparisons to modern day conflicts. . On Sunday, March 11, 2007, two days after the 300’s U.S release, Iran FARS news Agency reported that the Iranian government wasn’t happy with the movie’s depiction of their culture.

Zack Synder the director said that he didn’t intend to create the movie to be a commentary on current events. 

The 4E'S Of Leadership.

we have all heard and read about leadership skills. i am going to be comperhensive and will tell you about the traits of leadersip by Jack Welch .

"The 4 E's of Leadership"
1)Energy - Individuals with energy love to "go, go, go." These people possess boundless energy and get up every day ready to attack the job at hand. High energy people move at 95 miles-per-hour in a 55 mile-per-hour world.
2)Energizers - know how to spark others to perform. They outline a vision and get people to carry it out. Energizers know how to get people excited about a cause or a crusade. They are selfless in giving others the credit when things go right, but quick to accept responsibility when things go awry.
3)Edge - Those with edge are competitive types. They know how to make the really difficult decisions, such as hiring, firing and promoting, never allowing the degree of difficulty to stand in their way.
4)Execute - The key to the entire model. Without measurable results, the other "E's" are of little use. Executers recognize that activity and productivity are not the same and are capable of converting energy and edge into action and results.

These are the 4E's of leadership...i hope by the end of our BSC we will all be excellant leaders.Inshallah.

ADVERTISMENT

First of all its important to know that what is advertising? according to wikipedia the word Advertising mean "Advertising is a form of communication that typically attempts to persuade potential customers to purchase or to consume more of a particular brand of product or service"

Today, we see many advertisings are being made of a single product. And the only purpose is to persude the cutomer and to catch their atttention. Today many means are being used for advertising purpose. so types of advertising are as follows:

1. Media advertising: Commercial advertising media can include wall paintings, billboards, street furniture components, printed flyers and rack cards, radio, cinema and television adverts, web banners, mobile telephone screens, shopping carts, web popups, skywriting, bus stop benches, human billboards, magazines, newspapers, town criers, sides of buses
2. Covert advertising: Covert advertising is when a product or brand is embedded in entertainment and media. For example, in a film, the main character can use an item or other of a definite brand. Tom Cruise's character John Anderton owns a phone with the Nokia logo clearly written in the top corner.
3. Television commercials: The TV commercial is generally considered the most effective mass-market advertising format, as is reflected by the high prices TV networks charge for commercial airtime during popular TV events.
4. Infomercials: Infomercials are also known as direct response television (DRTV) commercials or direct response marketing. The main objective in an infomercial is to create an impulse purchase, so that the consumer sees the presentation and then immediately buys the product through the advertised toll-free telephone number or website.
5. Celebrity advertising: This type of advertising focuses upon using celebrity power, fame, money, popularity to gain recognition for their products and promote specific stores or products.

So these are some of the means of advertisments being used today. Most of the products are not as much useful but because of their good advertisment those products are been successful.

Click-and-mortar business

Click-and-mortar business refers to a company with actual facilities where customers can purchase products or services but that also has an e-commerce store where customers can make purchases online. It is essential that e-commerce stores have an attractive graphic design and an organized website navigation system. These factors and many others are necessary to make the online shopping experience pleasant and hassle-free while simultaneously building the trust that ensures a customer feels confident and secure when providing credit numbers or other banking information

Games that will prepare you for standardized testing

The second semester of each school year often brings together students nationwide in a common foreboding: the knowledge that standardized tests will soon be upon them. For elementary and middle school students, this usually means some type of basic reading and math assessment, and possibly science and social studies assessments, as well. For high school students, this can include a high school graduation exam or for those hoping to further their education, the SAT test.
Just in time for the testing season, Vocabulary.co.il has rolled out two more great vocabulary games at the website. Match It is a test-prep styled game that has you match vocabulary words with the sentence that best fits with the word. This is the type of vocabulary challenge that almost every student confronts on standardized tests. In most state and nationally normed tests, students are asked to match a list of vocabulary words with possible corresponding sentences. Match It mirrors that format, and allows students to choose word lists based on difficulty level, and whether they want alphabetical or random choices.

Truth

"We must not cease from exploration & the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we began & to know the place for the first time".
by T.S. Eliot


I first read this in the introductory pages of Stephen R. Covey's book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Reading this part of I guess for the fourth time(because it is included in my final exam of marketing) I have just had a clear vision of what this observation means.

Use Test Taking Strategy to Gain highest Scores in Final

I have read an article named "Test Taking Strategy" which I have found very useful for our Final exam coming in near future. It focuses on the three types of idol behaviors those are Before Test, During Test and After Test strategies.

So, I want to share this useful instructions with my all class fellows.

Test Taking Strategies

Before:

• Take a practice test the day before with conditions as much like the test as possible.
• Review your summary sheets for an overall view of the material. Recite in your own words
• Get enough sleep. Avoid caffeine which increases anxiety.
• Remember to encourage yourself and STOP critical statements.
• Give yourself time to feel composed and to be on time for the exam. Avoid anxious classmates who are talking about the exam.

During:

• Look over the entire test, READ THE DIRECTIONS, plan your approach, and schedule your time.
• Start with the easiest question first.
• Focus your attention on the test. Don't waste time and energy worrying, thinking about the consequences of not doing well, or wondering what others are doing.
• If you don't know an answer, mark the question.
• Suggest to yourself that you probably studied it and the answer will come to you when you get back to it.
• If you start to feel anxious, practice your relaxation techniques. Use anxiety as a cue to relax. Close your eyes, take three deep breaths and then back to the task.

Essay Exams. Organize your thoughts in a brief outline. Look for key words such as compare, contrast, describe, identify. Start with a short summary or topical sentence and then make your points. Don't ramble. Remember what the professor emphasized.

Objective Exams. Think of your own answer before looking at the choices provided. Eliminate clearly wrong answers and make an educated guess (unless there is a severe penalty for wrong answers). After you have answered those you know, return to those you checked. Think about only one question at a time. After you have answered those you know, return to those you checked.

• If your time is running out, concentrate on those questions you know well and/or have the most weight.
• Use all the time allowed for reviewing your answers, completing ideas. Only change answers if you are sure of yourself.

After:

• Reward yourself for having tried. Don't go over the test questions with others. No matter how the test went, you can learn from the returned exam.

Final Thoughts

• List the resources which are available: free tutors, Reading and Writing Center, etc.
• List at least three specific steps which you can take now to meet your goals. (Check those suggestions you plan to follow).

Google launches ‘Latitude’

NEW YORK: Google has developed a new service called Latitude that will mean mobile phone users will be able to track the movements of their friends and family.

Those using the Latitude tool will be able to see exactly where their contacts are on a detailed map, using their own phone or computer, and then watch as they move along streets.

However, the launch has raised concerns about security.

It is expected that the feature, called Latitude, will prove popular with parents who want to keep tabs on the whereabouts of their children without having to call them, and with groups of friends trying to meet in busy city centers or at musical festivals.

Latitude plots the position of mobile users by finding out which phone masts or wireless Internet hot spots they are close to. This technique, known as triangulation, has long been possible and is used in court cases to place a defendant at the scene of a crime.

The service can even provide directions to help mobile users navigate their way through the streets to meet their friends.

Stock Exchange

A stock exchange, securities exchange or (in Europe) bourse is a corporation or mutual organization which provides "trading" facilities for stock brokers and traders, to trade stocks and other securities. Stock exchanges also provide facilities for the issue and redemption of securities as well as other financial instruments and capital events including the payment of income and dividends. The securities traded on a stock exchange include: shares issued by companies, unit trusts and other pooled investment products and bonds. To be able to trade a security on a certain stock exchange, it has to be listed there. Usually there is a central location at least for recordkeeping, but trade is less and less linked to such a physical place, as modern markets are electronic networks, which gives them advantages of speed and cost of transactions. Trade on an exchange is by members only. The initial offering of stocks and bonds to investors is by definition done in the primary market and subsequent trading is done in the secondary market. A stock exchange is often the most important component of a stock market. Supply and demand in stock markets is driven by various factors which, as in all free markets, affect the price of stocks (see stock valuation).
There is usually no compulsion to issue stock via the stock exchange itself, nor must stock be subsequently traded on the exchange. Such trading is said to be off exchange or over-the-counter. This is the usual way that bonds are traded. Increasingly, stock exchanges are part of a global market for securities.
The role of stock exchanges
Raising capital for businesses
The Stock Exchange provide companies with the facility to raise capital for expansion through selling shares to the investing public.
Mobilizing savings for investment
When people draw their savings and invest in shares, it leads to a more rational allocation of resources because funds, which could have been consumed, or kept in idle deposits with banks, are mobilized and redirected to promote business activity with benefits for several economic sectors such as agriculture, commerce and industry, resulting in stronger economic growth and higher productivity levels and firms.

Facilitating company growth
Companies view acquisitions as an opportunity to expand product lines, increase distribution channels, hedge against volatility, increase its market share, or acquire other necessary business assets. A takeover bid or a merger agreement through the stock market is one of the simplest and most common ways for a company to grow by acquisition or fusion.

Redistribution of wealth
Stocks exchanges do not exist to redistribute wealth. However, both casual and professional stock investors, through dividends and stock price increases that may result in capital gains, will share in the wealth of profitable businesses.


Creating investment opportunities for small investors
As opposed to other businesses that require huge capital outlay, investing in shares is open to both the large and small stock investors because a person buys the number of shares they can afford. Therefore the Stock Exchange provides the opportunity for small investors to own shares of the same companies as large investors.

Government capital-raising for development projects
Governments at various levels may decide to borrow money in order to finance infrastructure projects such as sewage and water treatment works or housing estates by selling another category of securities known as bonds. These bonds can be raised through the Stock Exchange whereby members of the public buy them, thus loaning money to the government. The issuance of such bonds can obviate the need to directly tax the citizens in order to finance development, although by securing such bonds with the full faith and credit of the government instead of with collateral, the result is that the government must tax the citizens or otherwise raise additional funds to make any regular coupon payments and refund the principal when the bonds mature.

Barometer of the economy
At the stock exchange, share prices rise and fall depending, largely, on market forces. Share prices tend to rise or remain stable when companies and the economy in general show signs of stability and growth. An economic recession, depression, or financial crisis could eventually lead to a stock market crash. Therefore the movement of share prices and in general of the stock indexes can be an indicator of the general trend in the economy.

STRATEGIC PRICING OF NEW PRODUCTS.

skimming pricing:
one strategy is called skimming pricing,in which the initial product price is set high,and short-term profit are reaped on the new product.the initial market will be small,due in part to the high initial price.this pricing approach often is used for unique products,where there are people who "must have it"whatever the price.as the product gains acceptance and its appeal broadens,the price is lowered gradually.eventually the product is pricing is priced in a range that appeals to several kinds of buyers.

penetration pricing:
An alternative initial pricing strategy is called penetration pricing,in which the initial price is set relatively low.by setting a low price for a new product,management hopes to penetrate a new market deeply,quickly gaining a large market share.this pricing approach often is used for products that are of goods quality,but do not stand out as vastly better than competing products.

TYPES OF PRICING.

cost-plus pricing:
such a pricing approach often is called cost-plus pricing,because the price is equal to cost plus a markup.depending on how cost is defined,the markup percentage may differ.

Reture-on-investment pricing:
A common approach to determining the profit margin in cost-plus pricing is to base profit on the firm's target return on investment (ROI).

Making Money Online

Online Article by: Susan Ward

Interested in starting an online business? A successful online business can truly be a dream come true, giving you both an income and the ability to work at home.
But like any other business, starting an online business that will be successful takes planning and effort. The very first step, even before you write your business plan, is to figure out how you're going to make money online. Obviously, you're going to sell products or services, whether they be stuffed toys or nutritional information. But what online business model are you going to use to entice customers to buy what you're selling?
Here are seven different online business models for you to choose from so you can get started making money online.

1) Ecommerce Site
The classic ecommerce site, designed to make money online by selling products, has both an online catalogue and a shopping cart. You can set up your own online store from scratch or choose one of the many complete online store solutions to start an online business.

The great advantage of using a "prefab" online store to make money online is that hosting, Internet merchant accounts and the ability to accept payments online is often included in your online store package.

Tricks to Success: multiple payment options, attractive, easy-to-use catalogue

2) Sales Letter Ecommerce Website
Like the infomercials on TV, these websites make the pitch, focusing on educating potential customers on the benefits of the products or services being sold. Unlike television infomercials, this type of online business model is long on copy and short on pictures.
As a website visitor, you can often recognize this way to make money online at a glance; the copy often begins with a question directed at the potential customer (such as "Would you like to increase your sales by fifty percent?"), and involves a lot of scrolling as benefit after benefit is revealed, usually backed by testimonials from satisfied customers. Time-limited and special Tricks to Success: sincerity, well crafted copy

3) eBay Auction Model
This is a variation of the first online business model. But instead of using an ecommerce site to make money online, you use someone else's. Although eBay Stores are available, you don't actually need one to sell products through eBay - you can sell online by using eBay's auction system.

The eBay auction model is especially attractive to people just starting an online business. People who want to make money online often use the eBay auction system as a cheap and easy way to get started and test demand for the products they want to sell. Then, if things go well, they move on to an online store through eBay or some other provider, or develop one themselves.
Tricks to Success: well crafted copy, good product photos, excellent feedback

4) Stand-Alone Blog
Blogs are popping up all over the 'Net like mushrooms on a damp forest floor. The beauty of blogs is that anyone can self-publish their work online easily and cheaply. While many blogs exist just to get a person's thoughts and ideas out there, others are attempts to make money online.
The standard online business model for blogging is to run ads on the blog pages. Google AdSense, for instance, is a popular choice. There are, however, other ways to make money online through a blog.

Tricks to Success: having an engaging voice, being part of the blog community

5) Service Business Website
The typical service business website, properly done, combines a portfolio with persuasive copy. To make money online, a good service business website has to answer the question "Why should you hire this person to do that?"
Often, what's being sold is the talents and skills of an individual, but these are difficult to show online so the mainstays of service business websites are biographies and testimonials. (Photo) samples of a person's work may be included if possible. If you're starting an online business of this type, soliciting testimonials from satisfied customers as a first step.
It's become almost standard for those seeking to sell their services online to offer prospective customers free content, such as a newsletter, email tips or ebook. These are, of course, great ways to get to collect customer data and stay in touch.
Some service business websites also sell products, typically the books and/or tapes of the individual involved, but sometimes other things.
Tricks to Success: powerful testimonials, personalization and professionalism

6) Info-Site
It is a website that focuses on presenting information, often on a specific topic.

Info-sites are predicated on the theory that enough people will be interested in the information to seek it out, visit the website and support it by clicking on or buying something.
While some info-sites make money online by selling their content, through subscription or syndication, others make money through advertising and/or affiliate programs. Some info-sites also include an ecommerce component, directly selling products related to the information the site provides. A gardening info-site, for example, may also sell gardening tools.
If the info-site business model interests you as a way to make money online, don't be discouraged by the size of some of the sites that I've used as examples. An info-site doesn't have to be huge to be successful.
Tricks to Success: strong, engaging content

7) Brochure Site
The brochure site is basically an online business card. It presents the name of the business, some information about the products or services the business provides and contact information. People interested in learning more are asked to call, visit and/or sometimes to fill out an online form.
The brochure site is the online business model least likely to make money online in and of itself. Such a site is best suited as an adjunct to a business with a strong offline presence. Many small businesses use this kind of website as a Internet billboard for their customers, providing yet another way for their customers to get basic information about their business such as phone numbers or directions to their premises. The website is actually part of the business's customer service rather than a money making venture in itself.
As an online business model, the brochure site does excel as an event registration site. Businesses and government agencies often create separate brochure sites for specific conferences or trade shows.
Tricks to Success: having other sites and/or channels set up to direct traffic to the brochure site

You Don't Need to Stick to Just One Online Business Model
When you're putting your online business plan together, you need to be aware that you don't have to stick to just one online business model at a time - and you may make more money online.

Credits:

http://sbinfocanada.about.com/od/onlinebusiness/a/onlinebizmodels_2.htm

HOW TO PREPARE FOR EXAMS

Deal with your anxiety:
Try to determine the source of your test anxiety. If it stems from a lack of preparation on your part, your anxiety is considered a rational response. However, if you believe that you are prepared for the test, but are still panicking or overreacting, this may be an irrational response. Either way, it can be very helpful to know how to work with their effects.

Prepare for those tests and assignments:
This is the best way to minimize anxiety. Here are a few tips for preparing for an exam:

• Avoid cramming for a test. Cramming can produce high levels of anxiety and is not helpful in trying to learn a large amount of material.

• Instead of trying to memorize all of the intricate details from an entire semester’s worth of notes and readings, try combining everything and learning the larger, main concepts first.

• When studying, try to create questions that could possibly be asked on the test. Try integrating ideas from lectures, notes, books and other readings.

• If it is impossible for you to cover all of the material for the test, choose one portion that you know you will be able to cover and present well.

Change your attitude:
It can help to change the way you think about taking tests. A test will not predict your future success or determine your self worth. Changing your attitude can actually help you enjoy studying and learning. Here are some ways you can work on changing your attitude:

• Remind yourself that it is only a test and there will be others. 

• Reward yourself when the test is over.

• Think of yourself in a positive way. Think of all the hard work you have done already or think of what you do know. 

• Plan ways to improve next semester

Don’t forget the basics:
Don’t forget about yourself and what you need. This means thinking of yourself as a total person, not just as a test taker.

• Maintain proper nutrition and exercise, and continue some of your social or recreational activities. It is ok to take a break once in a while.

• Make sure you get plenty of sleep. You can’t function at your best if you are tired.

• Do something relaxing when you feel adequately prepared.

Again, try to do something relaxing before the test. Cramming minutes before can produce anxiety. Get to the test early. This way, you can pick out your seat away from anxiety-ridden classmates and other distractions. Now, you’re ready to take the test…Good luck!

INNOVATION

The term innovation means a new way of doing something. It may refer to incremental, radical, and revolutionary changes in thinking, products, processes, or organizations. A distinction is typically made between Invention, an idea made manifest, and innovation, ideas applied successfully. In many fields, something new must be substantially different to be innovative, not an insignificant change, e.g., in the arts, economics, business and government policy. In economics the change must increase value, customer value, or producer value. The goal of innovation is positive change, to make someone or something better.

Innovation is an important topic in the study of economics, business, technology, sociology, and engineering. The word "innovation" is often synonymous with the output of the process. However, economists tend to focus on the process itself, from the origination of an idea to its transformation into something useful, to its implementation; and on the system within which the process of innovation unfolds. Since innovation is also considered a major driver of the economy, especially when it leads to increasing productivity, the factors that lead to innovation are also considered to be critical to policy makers.

Individualism & collectivism

Balance
There is a widespread misconception about individualism is that it can somehow be mixed with or tempered by collectivism. In this view, neither ``extreme'' individualism nor ``extreme'' collectivism are correct. Rather, wisdom and truth lie somewhere in the middle.
Individualism and collectivism are contradictory positions---there is no middle ground between them. Collectivism maintains that the group is an entity in its own right, a thing that can act upon people. Individualism denies this. Collectivism sees us being influenced by the group; individualism sees us being influenced by other individuals. Collectivism sees us cooperating with the team; individualism, with other people. Collectivism sees us building on the ideas and achievements of society; individualism, on the ideas and achievements of individuals. These are contradictory positions; it's either-or.
To accept the ``balance'' point of view is to accept collectivism. No collectivist has ever said that every single need of every individual must be frustrated for the sake of the society---if so, there wouldn't be any society left to serve. Collectivism is the balance point of view; it is a matter of fine-tuning here and there, constraining individuals when their interests get out of line with the ``good of society.''
Indeed, the main debate between the ``left'' and the ``right'' today is not a debate over collectivism and individualism---its a debate over two forms of collectivism. The ``left'' holds that the needs of society lie in the materialistic realm, so they are into regulating that aspect of individual affairs. The ``right'' holds that the needs of society lie in the spiritual realm, so they are into regulating the spiritual aspect of individual affairs.
Collectivism is, by its nature, an act of balancing the need of the individual against the need of ``society.'' Individualism denies that society has any needs, so the issue of balance is not relevant to it.

Market Research

Market research is generally either primary or secondary.
In secondary research, the company uses information compiled from other sources that appears applicable to a new or existing product. The advantages of secondary research are that it is relatively cheap and easily accessible.
Disadvantages of secondary research are that it is often not specific to your area of research and the data used can be biased and is difficult to validate. Primary market research involves testing such as focus groups, surveys, field tests, interviews or observation, conducted or tailored specifically to that product. Primary research which is also called field research or original research is useful for finding new information and getting customers views on products.
Advantages are that it provides up to date, relevant and specific information to your product. The disadvantages are that it's expensive to collect, time consuming and needs a large sample size to be accurate.

Direct marketing

Direct marketing is a sub-discipline and type of marketing. There are two main definitional characteristics which distinguish it from other types of marketing.
The first is that it attempts to send its messages directly to consumers, without the use of intervening media.
This involves commercial communication (direct mail, e-mail, telemarketing) with consumers or businesses, usually unsolicited.
The second characteristic is that it is focused on driving purchases that can be attributed to a specific "call-to-action."
This aspect of direct marketing involves an emphasis on trackable, measurable positive (but not negative) responses from consumers (known simply as "response" in the industry) regardless of medium.
If the advertisement asks the prospect to take a specific action, for instance call a free phone number or visit a website, then the effort is considered to be direct response advertising.

Market Segmentation

It means dividing the market in to smaller groups so that effective services can be provided on the basis of needs, characteristics and behaviour.

It includes several steps.
>target marketing: means selecting one of the segment nad working on that.

>differentiate:creating a value for customer by making difference

>positioning:make the product to occupy a desireable place in the minds of customers.segmentation is on following basis:

>geographical(country,city ,region)

>behaviour(price,loyalty)

>Demographic(age,gender,income)

>pyscographic(values and attitudes)

market segmentation - demographic segmentation

Demographic segmentation consists of dividing the market into groups based on variables such as age, gender family size, income, occupation, education, religion, race and nationality.

Age:
Consumer needs and wants change with age although they may still wish to consumer the same types of product. So Marketers design, package and promote products differently to meet the wants of different age groups. Good examples include the marketing of toothpaste (contrast the branding of toothpaste for children and adults) and toys (with many age-based segments).

Life-cycle stage:
A consumer stage in the life-cycle is an important variable - particularly in markets such as leisure and tourism. For example, contrast the product and promotional approach of Club 18-30 holidays with the slightly more refined and sedate approach adopted by Saga Holidays.

Gender:
Gender segmentation is widely used in consumer marketing. The best examples include clothing, hairdressing, magazines and toiletries and cosmetics.
Income:
Another popular basis for segmentation. Many companies target affluent consumers with luxury goods and convenience services. Good examples include Coutts bank; Moet & Chandon champagne and Elegant Resorts - an up-market travel company. By contrast, many companies focus on marketing products that appeal directly to consumers with relatively low incomes. Examples include Aldi (a discount food retailer), Airtours holidays, and discount clothing

retailers such as TK Maxx.

Social class:
Many Marketers believe that a consumers "perceived" social class influences their preferences for cars, clothes, home furnishings, leisure activities and other products & services. There is a clear link here with income-based segmentation.
Lifestyle:
Marketers are increasingly interested in the effect of consumer "lifestyles" on demand. Unfortunately, there are many different lifestyle categorisation systems, many of them designed by advertising and marketing agencies as a way of winning new marketing clients and campaigns!

integrated marketing communications

A management concept that is designed to make all aspects of marketing communication such as advertising, sales promotion, public relations, and direct marketing work together as a unified force, rather than permitting each to work in isolation.

Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), according to The American Marketing Association is “a planning process designed to assure that all brand contacts received by a customer or prospect for a product, service, or organization are relevant to that person and consistent over time.” (Marketing Power Dictionary)
Integrated Marketing Communications uses a holistic approach to promote buying and selling in the digital economy. This concept includes online and offline marketing channels. Online marketing channels include any e-marketing campaigns or programs, from search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click, affiliate, email, banner to latest web related channels for webinar, blog, RSS, podcast, and Internet TV. Offline marketing channels are traditional print (newspaper, magazine), mail order, public relations, industry relations, billboard, radio, and television. A company develops its integrated marketing communication programme using all the elements of the marketing mix (price, place, product, and promotion).