Youtube Marketing Video and Reflection: Assignment

Students are to form groups of five and develop a video (3 to 4 minutes) on why other students should come to MSVU and take a degree in Business Administration or Tourism and Hospitality Management. Your video must be uploaded to the class Moodle site by the date indicated above.

This is a marketing assignment so ensure you apply the knowledge you have learned from chapters 11 and 12 (e.g. target markets (multiple) and marketing mix (Product, Price, Distribution, and Promotion)). Your video may ultimately be included in the Department’s YouTube channel and the best video from all the class sections will receive a group prize.

In addition to the marketing content, the production value is also an important aspect of the assignment. The production should be effective and designed appropriately to get the message across to the audience.

• Does the video have a variety of scenes and content?

• Is there a smooth transition from one scene to another?

• Have we made use of visual and auditory aids (signage, props, music, etc.)?

• Is the video camera too far from the performers?

• Does the video camera move too quickly or zoom in and out unnecessarily?

• Is the video too short or too long?

• Is the speech too fast or too slow?

• Are the voices and other audio sounds too loud or too soft?

• Does the video have a clear message or is it confusing?

• Is all copyrighted material (images and sound) referenced in the credits at the end of the video?

Every individual in the class, by February 25th, must send to my email account a message listing each team member (including yourself) with a corresponding rating from 1 to 8, indicating the level of contribution to the project.

It is preferred that each member appear in the video, but students can still participate fully by assuming a contributing role in the production. Contributions can include brainstorming ideas, appearing in the video,filming the video, identifying locations, negotiating external individuals to be in the video (other than team members), and helping with technical aspects, etc.

The videos must adhere to normal guidelines such as no sexual content, no inappropriate language or inappropriate discriminatory comments, and no use of copyrighted material without acknowledging the copyright holder. If you are unsure as to the appropriateness of something please discuss with me. Note that students are NOT allowed to interview university administrators for the video.

Before submitting your video

In addition to the team being assigned a grade for the video, each student must draft a two page reflection on what they learned in creating the video. The focus of the reflection should show how the video production demonstrates the key marketing concepts of targeting specific markets and utilizing all aspects of the marketing mix. The paper should also highlight the advantages of team collaboration vs. individual work. The reflection is an individual assignment and is to be completed with 12 pt. font and 1.5 spacing.

What does Heather Rieseman, Justin Trudeau, Mitzie Hunter, Sheryl Sandberg...and well Donald Trump…all have in common? The answer is simple -- they are all excellent at networking or making connections with people that are important to their careers and/or personal development. All four learned very early that the best way to get a job, get promoted and get ahead was to establish relationships with people prior to needing their assistance.

They did this in a variety of ways from introducing themselves at parties, walking into a business and asking for help or picking up the telephone and making cold calls. None of the people mentioned above would have risen to their state of prominence if they didn’t excel at making contacts and asking for advice.

The following assignment is asking you to establish such networks with 3 people in your field of interest and conduct a face to face or telephone interview. For example, if you are interested in accounting then speak to recent accounting graduates, chartered accountants and/or people who work for companies that interest you.

If you are unsure what career path you wish to pursue, speak to people in management, entrepreneurship, marketing and/or finance.

1. Assist you in learning more about your potential career.

2. Make valuable connections with people who can provide advice, guidance and perhaps serve as a role model.

3. See how some of the theories that we learn about in class are applicable to real world situations

Some students feel that this assignment is challenging as they are immediately stuck by two or three negative thoughts such as:

1. I do not know anybody.

2. I do not like bothering people.

3. I am not good at asking for advice.

But -- you will quickly discover that you know more people than you think, that people like to offer advice, and that asking for advice is quite easy.

How do I get started?

1. Family – they cannot be used directly, but they probably know someone you can talk to.

2. Once you complete one interview, ask him or her if they can introduce you to somebody that may be of interest.

3. If people are really stuck for someone to interview then try contacting the MSVU Alumni office. The office would be a good starting place to find out about recent grads who may be working in your field.

Additional places to look for interview candidates on campus include: Career Services, the Centre for Women in Business and your professors.

Anything – you are only limited by your imagination. You should probably start with basic questions and then move to questions that relate course material to the real world. The following are examples of questions that students have used in the past:

1. What do you do on a day-to-day basis?

2. What educational background do you have?

3. What were the most important things you learned in life or school that have assisted you in your field?

4. Is your job enjoyable? 

5. Would you recommend this career to someone? Why or Why not?

6. What advice would you offer students that are thinking about this as a career?

1. When you started your company did you write a business plan? Why or why not?

2. You work in promotions. How has the Internet changed the way you promote products? Has the Internet impacted other aspects of your marketing mix?

3. You work in HR. Has it been difficult to fill positions over the last number of years? What does your company do to remain attractive to potential employees?

You will submit to your professor a one page summary of who you interviewed describing their education, work background and why you decided to interview them. You will then write a 4 – 6 page reflection (12 pt font; 1.5 spacing) describing what you learned and whether you enjoyed the assignment. Good assignments will:

• Compare previous knowledge to new knowledge

• Compare theory from the text and class lectures to what the interviewee said

• Describe what if anything you found surprising

• State if you liked the assignment and the reasons – why or why not