It seems that this week a certain topic keeps popping up in conversations with classmates, professors, and friends. The topic is technology, and more distinctly- cell phones.
Not too many years ago, a cell phone was just a cell phone. It was used to make phone calls, receive phone calls, and...make phone calls and receive phone calls. Today, a cell phone becomes a person's livelihood. We must be attached to this piece of electronic godliness, or we will most certainly face unbearable consequences. I wish that I was exaggerating here...
The whole idea of a cell phone today does not revolve around making phone calls. Sure, actually talking someone ON the phone is a bonus, but definitely not the reason for cell phone use. Instead, it is our tool to connect to the whole world through a web of various applications and tools. If you have a smartphone, then you must can access to your email, your facebook, your online textbook, your calendar, videos of your favorite t.v. show, and much MUCH more.
One amazing ability of cell phones, is the ability to download applications. Want to count your calories? Want to choose a restaurant in the area? Want to look for adoptable pets in your area? There is an "app" for that. So, if you haven't figured out the direction I'm headed....
There's a wine app for that too!
Having technology at your fingertips means having access to anything and everything you want to know. So, if you are a wine expert, a wine novice, or anything in between, there is most certainly an app for you.
You can keep track of the wines that you enjoy, and then refer back to that list once you get to the package store and can only remember what the label looks like (happens to us all!)
Check out Drync Wine Pro, the very savvy wine application. You can use this wine app to write down your own reviews (hm..tastes like currant and smoke..) or purchase your favorite bottle. If you aren't sure what type of wine you'd like to try, that also have a research option. It was rated highly in both MacWorld online magazine, and VinTank wine magazine. The only thing the app doesn't do (besides make you dinner) is help to pair wines and food together. I think this is quite a downfall, considering food and wine go together like...food and wine. Perfectly!
Another great vino application for your smart phone is Hello Vino Free* which is one of the few apps that offers the food/wine pairing tool. Hello Vino integrates both Facebook and Twitter into the application, so your friends can all share in your favorite wine choices. I always find it helpful to look into what styles of wine go best with certain foods, this way the meal seems to taste better and so does the wine!
So what are the implications for the wine public relations? The answer is obvious. Wine is becoming integrated more and more into our society, through more than just the conventional channels of communication. Integrated Marketing Communication incorporates a "marketing mix" is the coordination and integration of all marketing communication tools, functions and sources within an organization into a seamless program that maximizes the impact on consumers at a minimal cost. So, download a free wine application, and you will undoubtedly be providing information to the IMC which also allows for great wine public relations! For instance, if you download or read enough articles and reviews for Pinot Noir, then the IMC will begin to pinpoint your individual interests and buying habits. Soon enough, this technology will finish your sentences for you! (okay, let's hope not..but you get the point)
And, once again this all comes back to research. These wine applications are not just created for fun. They are based on careful research, through qualitative and quantitative analysis of various factors, and all brought back around. Next time you download an app in 30 seconds, think about all the time that went into it... and have fun!
(Benzinger wines has their own app!)
No comments:
Post a Comment