The Fall of the Belo Beauty Empire?

Maybe it's too early to predict this considering this marketing critic is not much of a clairvoyant. But in marketing we're told to make bets on what we think have the highest probabilities in campaign success while minimizing risks. So why not make a case of Belo Medical Clinic's beauty empire?

This personal case against cosmetic doctor Mari Victoria Belo Henares, popularly known as Vicki Belo, on the grounds of her alleged participation (or is it master-minded effort?) on the recent sex scandal between her ex-boyfriend & co-doctor Hayden Kho and numerous women which includes one of her marketing managers - Princess Velasco& top endorser - Katrina Halili, a Brazilian model, his previous girlfriend & model/ actress - Maricar Reyes (excellent performance in the videos by the way) among other women were released to the public - there have been 2 more released (one was said to look like Bianca Araneta - but isn't. If you guys find out be sure to shoot us an email).



The concept of endorsement heavily affects brand positioning. In this rather public sex scandal which granted Belo clinic a lot of free although negative publicity. Katrina Halili and Hayden Kho, whose names were dragged through the mud, as the prominent faces that represent Belo Medical Clinic - consequently dragged the latter down with them.

Credibility is important when it comes to product endorsements. The model/ endorser stands for the brand & represents the product in the eyes of the public, or at the very least presents a brand association that the company would like the market to adapt. Now having your boyfriend cum associate doctor who has been introduced to the public and your key endorser have a sex scandal together is downright tragic.

Having this sex scandal publicly available is also another horrific incident. After which, one thing leads to another and the famous (now infamous) Vicky Belo, among other doctors, is now also part of the accused party in the distribution of said sex tapes. Katrina Halili has pressed charges not only against Hayden Kho for filming their intimate moments but also the Vicky Belo for allegedly being the criminal master-mind of her said humiliation (not that she hasn't bared herself to the public before in several adult rated movies - she was better there too)

The economics of this is rather complicated to be solely favorable to Katrina Halili (the alleged "victim"). Belo employs hundreds of doctors & medical professionals that will lose their jobs if Belo closes down.

Although even if they don't close down, I'm pretty sure the public won't be as attracted by Belo Clinic after this incident. Having the doctor sleep with patients - not really good for business (unless customer is looking for extra services then maybe).

Nevertheless, how will this end? We know the viewing public is eagerly awaiting how the court will judge regarding this case. But for sure, Belo will suffer the consequences business-wise - no matter what the judgment.

Bing Better Than Google?

Microsoft is up to its ears with Google. Here's yet another attempt to topple the search giant.

Microsoft launched Bing - the decision engine. Positioned to get rid of search overload and somehow "simplify" the search for answers.

The ad isn't so bad though:



This marketing critic pretty much used to using Google all the time, but the new features on Bing are quite interesting. I'll use it some more and get back on the differences

Even Oprah's Now on Twitter

This marketing critic is proud to say I joined the bandwagon just a few minutes before Oprah. Just so I could claim I didn't do it to inadvertently be able to stalk celebrities who decide to flaunt themselves online.

Nevertheless, it turns out Twitter is now so big - it has crossed media channels... doesn't it remind you of that other small company that now dominates the worldwide web? Oh yeah, Google!

It's the same simple formula.

1. Start free
2. Offer something people need (Google gave the world the most convenient way to find information online, Twitter is giving the world the most convenient way to share thoughts online)
3. Get everyone to use it (User-generated content is usually the best way to go)
   

Easier said than done but once you reach critical mass as Google & now Twitter, then you've pretty much got the virtual world at the palm of your hands.

The next steps of course involve monetizing - something Facebook has failed to do a lot of times. I think it must be getting better now though. Here's hoping Twitter won't ruin that. There is a way to monetize the site without being "in-your-face."

This marketing critic believes though that Oprah has an ulterior motive to joining Twitter. Not just because it's the latest fad and it has attracted millions of followers, but look at Ashton Kutcher with one million followers beating CNN! Isn't this a chance to yet again rule on another media platform? She's already conquered daytime television, why not online right?

So yet again, this is another... marketing initiative

Talent Comes in Different Packages

Know that passe saying "don't judge a book, by it's cover"? Susan Boyle is the epitome of that. A theory in psychology mentions how people establish a "halo" effect on more attractive people. So even if we complain how some people can have it all - take Ashton Kutcher for instance... good looks, hot wife (Demi Moore), and one million followers on Twitter (that's more than CNN), and even if we are a bit green... we sort of accept it as a fact of life

But here's this 47-year-old woman from a village in Britain. People laughed at her during her introduction. She has taken their breath away with her performance.

Unfortunately embedding has been disabled for all Susan Boyle/ Britain's Got Talent youtube videos, but here's the link for you to appreciate. Even Simon Cowell (American Idol judge) was blown away - that by itself is a major success (aside from the standing ovation)

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Major Turn off!


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The Fad of Texting To The Crime of Sexting

It starts out with teens and/or adults harmlessly exchanging text messages. This is becoming quite a fad and very common these days. When I was a lot younger, we had "eye-balls" where you actually meet the person with whom you were having the text conversation. It wasn't always what you would expect but for awhile it was fun I guess.

I easily got tired of it because I was more the WYSIWYG kind of girl ("what you see is what you get"). I'm pretty straight forward.



More recently though I was aghast by the news of the new fad which is quite illegal called "sexting." I looked it up and found varied definitions in the Urban dictionary

1. The act of text messaging someone in the hopes of having a sexual encounter with them later; initially casual, transitioning into highly suggestive and even sexually explicit
2. When a guy and a girl send dirty text messages back and forth to eachother. Pictures may also be included, but only if you're lucky.
3. The act of sending sexy text messages
4. Term created by the media referring to sending sexually explicit text messages. the term is used by adults who are out of the loop, and not by the individuals actually sending the messages.
5. A word that the media made up after some Greensburg Salem school district's principals invaded the students privacy by taking their phone and then felt the need to go through the students messages and then reported it to the police.
6. The act of sending a sext - a sexy text. Sexting occurs when you have sex over text messaging.

So I guess you get my point now.

Sexting is portmanteau of "sex" and "texting". It is a practice of transferring sexually explicit images electronically, mainly via cell phones, and it is a crime! It's a dangerous new trend growing among teens.

According to a recent study, one out of five teens have done it. The study also shows that teen girls are not the only ones sharing sexually explicit content. Almost one in five teen boys said they have sent or posted nude/semi nude images of themselves. One-third of young adults -- 36% of women and 31% of men ages 20-26—say they have sent or posted such images.

You can be served with child pornography charges particularly if the counterpart is a minor. People should learn to take a page from the lessons celebrities have to take the hard way when sex tapes of them go around on the internet

Why incriminate yourself by sending racy photos in whatever medium? Whether it's online or through phone it's just ridiculous. You're just asking to get caught - unless of course that's exactly what you want

More and more kids in the US are being taken to court/ juvenile prison. Although lawmakers are debating penalties, some have already been passed - the lighter penalties being from a felony to a misdemeanor, for sexting. But then you'll be registered as a sex offender! A 19-year-old recently got 25 years because he sent nude pictures of his girlfriend to other teens.

People call this a danger presented to juveniles by modern communications technology well this marketing critic think that's just wrong! Why in the world would you blame the phone if people decide to stick it up their ass?

The problem is social and not criminal in nature. Although this marketing critic does agree that penalties will have to be institutionalized because some kids/ teens or adults just need such a policy to know that it's wrong. But overall if parenting became a more hands-on and interactive activity and children/ teens were made aware the "real" and "practical" use instead of letting them get creative by themselves

I guess kids will be kids and if they think that sending racy photos is acceptable (Thanks a lot Vanessa Hudgens & Miley Cyrus), then there's no reason they won't do it... unless of course, the right principles are internalized and understood and kids are raised to know that this is conduct unbecoming so to speak. That intimate photos are meant for intimate moments then maybe there's still hope for our children?