marketing

Will 'Low Prices' Woo Shoppers Back to Walmart?

A few years ago, Walmart reinvented itself with fewer items on the shelves, neater stores and less focus on price. It didn't work. The retail giant has seen seven straight quarters of falling sales. So Walmart is returning to its roots -- the old variety of products, and "low prices, every day."

Easing Ronald McDonald Out of a Job

He's becoming notably absent these days. Fighting back against more upscale chains, McDonald's is more focused now on selling profitable coffee drinks and salads -- and downplaying its namesake clown, who's more associated with Big Macs and Happy Meals.

Bidding for Authors: When Books Sell at Auction

To those outside the publishing industry, the deals that get covered in the press might give the impression that book auctions are as rare as solar eclipses. In fact, they happen with remarkable regularity. But that doesn't mean they're any less nerve-wracking for authors.

Food Fight: KFC and Franchisees Disagree on Ad Strategy

A judge in Louisville, Ky., has ruled that KFC must cooperate with franchisees on advertising, but that it can nix campaigns that it believes could hurt the brand. Disagreement over whether KFC should emphasize its fried or grilled chicken sparked the dispute.

ComScore: More Advertising Coming to Online Videos

Research firm ComScore projects that spending on online-video advertising will more than triple between 2010 and 2015. But that doesn't mean you'll necessarily see more commercials per video. Spending will continue to lag behind the huge growth in online videos, according to ComScore.

Jersey Shore, the Book?

MTV's Jersey Shore may bring in big numbers on TV. But recent attempts by the program's stars to become best-selling authors have met with, at best, modest success. And the same goes for other Jersey Shore-related books.

How to Succeed in Boosting Exports: 10 Easy Lessons

President Obama has set a goal for the nation -- doubling U.S. exports in the next five years -- and helping smaller businesses is a big part of his plan. But for advice from the trenches, we've interviewed five executives at global export leaders and gleaned 10 tips you can apply to your own company.

Oprah's OWN Delivers a Strong Debut for Advertisers

Oprah Winfrey's new cable network is commanding some of the highest ad prices on cable, and it justified those rates with its heavily watched debut. Now, OWN will have to prove it can maintain its viewership levels throughout the year.

Forget Facebook: Email's a Stronger Marketing Tool

As more shoppers spend their money online, retailers are deciding where to put their e-marketing. According to a new ForeSee study, promotional emails were still far more effective at driving traffic to retail sites than social networks like Facebook this holiday season.

Pepsi: Polishing Its Image with Community Grants

Companies donate millions to charities, museums and educational programs, but many struggle to recoup any benefits from their giving. Here's how Pepsi succeeded in building brand loyalty with a new generation of buyers by using a clever strategy for community grants.