Tony Brewer

I don’t think it’s a big secret that networking is a large contributor to the success of many business propositions.  One of the ways that the Internet is impacting the networking process is through the use of social media marketing.  In social media marketing, companies are utilizing bloggers to help them get the word out about their products.

In order to be the most effective, the target market for the service or product being promoted does not even realize that a service or product IS being promoted.  Almost the way you might see a bottle of Pepsi being displayed on the kitchen counter of a soap opera character.  It is a more subliminal technique, yet very effective.

According to an article in time.com, there is a big controversy surrounding a tourism campaign that was intended to attract tourists to South Carolina from London. The controversy is that the advertising company put up posters in the “gay” district of London touting South Carolina as a great place for gay people to vacation, proclaiming that South Carolina is “so gay.” The ads mention gay beaches, among other non-specific tourist attractions.

This has upset a lot of people, most notable those conservative government official type people who are upset that $5000 of the taxpayers money went to pay for those ads. So now charges of homophobia are being slung around. I’m sure glad I don’t work for one of those companies involved in that mess!