Originally posted by benjikan I am still using Pentax gear presently. If Pentax wish to get back to me with an offer, I am open to the possibilities. Let's see where all of this goes and wait for the dust to settle.
In my view marketing...effective marketing of a product, is not just running ads on TV and in print media.
Good marketing involves creating a perception among potential customers...that the company, in this case Pentax, make a quality product...which BTW....they do. They just have to get the message out.
To me one of the most effective ways of creating this 'quality' perception is for marketing to do their best, in getting the product in the hands of and used by, professional photographers, particularly those who have a high profile among amateur , advanced photographers.
Many consumers believe that if a pro used a particular camera brand, then that brand must be good...or why else would the pro...whose living depends on top notch equipment...use that particular camera.
Also...we have all seen the amateur photographer who is status conscious and is not content, unless he uses the brand of the professional. These numbers are not insignificant.
We've all seen adverts in magazines where a camera company will focus on the pros who use their equipment. The reason this tack is taken is to get the message across to the customer, that their product should be # 1 in the potential customer's buying priority list.
I think there is an analogy that dates back to the '50's and '60's... Car manufacturers like GM, Ford, Dodge, etc....poured big bucks into supporting NASCAR race teams that ran their model of car. A NASCAR win was and still is...a very big deal among car enthusiasts.
There's an old saying among NASCAR fans, teams and car manufacturers .
"Win on Sunday.....sell on Monday." The saying refers to selling the brand of car whose race replica wins on Sunday.
It must be based on some truth as I notice that Toyota joined the NASCAR fray....a number of years ago.
I think Pentax needs to reconsider their decision about supporting a 'visible' and successful pro photographer.
In the long run what does it cost to provide free equipment to a well established professional....particularly when there aren't many other pro's using Pentax.
The positive associations with this kind of deal are bound to be a win-win situation for Pentax...at less then the cost of an advert or three, in a magazine.
Ben does and has promoted Pentax, as his work brand of choice...for a number of years in a variety of websites. In many ways....promoting a brand through web forums can have more impact then the old way of advertising promotions.
Specialized web forums have a specialized audience...this one and other photography forums cater to amateur photographers.
I think Pentax needs to capitalize on this situation.
Last edited by lesmore49; 09-24-2010 at 10:11 PM.