First, the Basics

Research Question:

What method of advertising is the most profitable for a local coffee shop: social networking and other web presence or community outreach via local publishing?

Evidence to Assist:

Many have tried very inventive ways of reaching out through the community (Cowsultants). Many studies have found this more cost effective and better at attracting customers than web ads (McCabe, Forbes).

Many have attempted social networking and have found mixed results depending on the business; some business have found it effective in getting more business and connecting with customers on a more personal level, and some have found that the amount of people who like/follow you on social network sites does not correlate with business success (Pradiptarini).

Argument:

I hope to establish that the most cost effective method of advertising for this particular kind of business is a balance between web presence and community outreach.

Counterargument:

One or the other is best depending on the business. A balance of both will waste either money or time, or both. Some businesses, usually small and local business or one-person businesses thrive on the web, whereas larger businesses with a wider consumer demographic thrive on community outreach.

Response:

This project will allow me to discover the effectiveness of both strategies with a small local business that has a large consumer demographic.

Bias:

For me, art has always been about catching people’s interest. Why do people like some art and not others? Why are connotations of certain colors and images different than others? And why did those loud, obnoxious nickelodeon commercials always mesmerize me when I was a little girl? I’m interested in understanding both the psychology of the human to understand the “why” and the formation of the art to understand the “what.” I found that advertising would be a great field to get into in order to become an expert in both “why” and “what” while always being enthralled with the ever-changing answers.