A few Hollywood movies aside, the field of mathematics doesn't have much glamour or star quality associated with it. And for most people, it doesn't carry the ring of fun, either. "Math Club" sounds more like a refuge for smart misfits than like a gathering that either kids or adults would be clamoring to join.
Karen Treber of Frostburg, Maryland had these sorts of images in mind when she wanted to help boost math scores at her sons' school. "Coming up with a cute name was half of the battle," says Treber. Since most kids love sports and look up to accomplished athletes, she promoted the math events as "Mathletics."
In keeping with the appealing name, learning activities involved doing things like slicing pizza to understand fractions and measuring the perimeter of the gym with a ruler. Nearly half the student body turned out for the school's first after-hours installment of "Mathletics." Even better, a year later, for the first time, 100% of the school's fourth graders passed the state assessment test in math. The new name had paved the way for a change in image and performance.
If you'd like to transform perceptions of an activity, service or product, first brainstorm the negatives ascribed to it by your target market. Next, brainstorm things that have qualities that would be embraced by your audience. Then look for ways to combine items from the two lists to create a surprising twist or paradox – or a way to bypass the negatives altogether.
For example, tapioca pudding consistently finds its way onto "10 most hated foods" in both the U.K. and the U.S. Probably many people who know only its negative reputation and not its taste could be persuaded to give it a try by renaming it in comparison with something more beloved or more glamorous, such as "vanilla mousse," a "white sundae" or "Thai pudding."
Related Articles
The Increasing Power Of Publicity/Media Exposure -- And How It Can Benefit Your Business.
By: Todd Brabender | 28/05/2007 | Business
The call came into my office and the voice on the other end was very energetic, almost giddy: "I have finalized my marketing budget and need your help launching an advertising campaign for my new product," he breathed. "Congratulations," I replied, "but before we implement an ad campaign, I want...
Making Your Business Communication Count
By: Liane Bate | 03/07/2006 | Communication
Sometimes the only the thing that determines whether or not you make the sale is how well you communicate with your prospects and customers. Communication really is an art that needs to be practiced and refined. You may think you know exactly what to say, but it doesn't take much to turn a person right off.
Ensuring Business Success: 4th Quarter Publicity = 1st Quarter Prosperity
By: Todd Brabender | 30/10/2006 | Marketing
As the year 2007 starts to wind down, many businesses and entrepreneurs are making plans and budgets for the year 2008. Those plans could include anything from setting up goals for new products to preparing marketing, sales and PR/publicity campaigns.
I Can’t Afford a Publicity/Public Relations Campaign -- Can I?
By: Todd Brabender | 08/10/2007 | Business
Many people often over-estimate the cost and under-estimate the benefit of implementing a successful media exposure/PR campaign.
Business/Product Publicity: P.R. Does Not Stand For Press Release
By: Todd Brabender | 12/09/2006 | Business
There's no denying that the Internet is allowing more and more entrepreneurs to start their own businesses and effectively market their new products.
Mastering The Media: How To Make The Most Of Your Publicity/Media Exposure Opportunities?
By: Todd Brabender | 03/04/2007 | Business
As a former TV news reporter/producer and a current PR/publicity professional, I have been on both sides of the media interview game. I like to think I have a good eye for what makes a good interview source, how to conduct an interesting interview, and how to give a compelling...
I Can’t Find His Email Address! Simple Methods of Finding Email Addresses Online
By: Hal G. Warfield | 22/08/2008 | Email
In this day and age, the old maxim is true – it’s not what you know, it’s whom you know. But often times you can use what you know to find someone you need to know. What does this mean?
How to Use Headlines to Generate Maximum Profits From your Ads
By: Claude Whitacre | 29/05/2007 | Advertising
The single biggest reason an ad works (or doesn’t) is the selection of the headline. Nothing comes close.Remember, The purpose of a headline is to “Grab the reader by the face” and make him want to read the rest of the ad. Have you ever read a newspaper without headlines?
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you franchise a llc
By: ipraysupraise | 13-11-2008
can you franchise a llc
Searching records for the desired business contact ...
By: Nick | 13-11-2008
Searching records for the desired business contact is a demanding task. Whenever I search directories, I find them extremely time-consuming, and at the end of it, I have an outdated switch-board phone number which connects me to everyone other than the person I want to speak to. What do I do?
I'm a 35 year old black women .I am just starting ...
By: anita | 12-11-2008
I'm a 35 year old black women .I am just starting a telemarketing buisness.I have no buisness experiance but iam very good at telemarketing and traning people . I have 4 clients already so i have plenty of work but no worker but myself and my partner.I know in order for me to really start doing well i need money in which i dont have. What do i do?
What is B2B trade
By: cdwredesales | 12-11-2008
what is B2B trade
Who is the owner of The Olde Mill Furniture Store ...
By: gardengirl | 12-11-2008
Who is the owner of The Olde Mill Furniture Store in Ashburn, VA?
Marketing fitness programs
By: Judy | 11-11-2008
how to market a fitness class. We want to start a boot camp exercise group. What is the best way to attract people to get this off the ground. Flyers sent out? What is the best way?
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Affiliate Programs Articles
Affiliate Marketing Survival Skill: is Your Product Targeted Enough?
By: Zack Lim | 22/11/2008
There some factors that you will have to consider when you are looking for good affiliate product to promote to your customers. One of the key questions that you will have to ask yourself is whether the affiliate product that you are promoting is targeted enough. Why do you need to ask yourself this question?
Affiliate Marketing Survival Skill: Checking the Sales Conversions of the Merchant Website
By: Zack Lim | 22/11/2008
Are you convinced to buying the products after you have read through the sales letter? This is a very important question that you will have to ask yourself when you are looking for affiliate products to promote. Why the merchant’s website sale conversion is so important to your business?
Affiliate Marketing Survival Skill: is the Commission and Incentive Attractive for You?
By: Zack Lim | 22/11/2008
Understanding the affiliate program that you are promoting is a very important step as you will want to know the benefits that you can get from the Affiliate program. One of the things that you will want to know is the commission and the incentive that the merchant is offering. There are 2 questions that you will have to ask yourself.
Affiliate Marketing Survival Skill: Checking the Payout Schedule and Limit
By: Zack Lim | 22/11/2008
When you are doing your affiliate marketing business, you will be spending a lot of your time and effort to promote the affiliate product. You will be expected to be rewarded with the commission from the merchant. It is thus important for you to know the payment system that the merchant has in paying their affiliates.
Affiliate Marketing Survival Skill: Checking the Merchant’s Term of Service
By: Zack Lim | 22/11/2008
There are many things that you will have to consider when you are choosing the affiliate program that you want to join. It is important that you join a good affiliate program so that you will not be taken advantaged by the merchant. One of the things that you will have to check is the merchant’s term of service.
Affiliate Marketing Survival Skill: Checking the Merchant’s Support and Contact
By: Zack Lim | 22/11/2008
It is true that you do not have to do any customer supports if the customer purchased the product from the merchant and the merchant should be in charge of giving the support. You will be thinking that your role is to just continue referring customers to the merchant’s website so that you will be credited with the commission if the customer purchases the product. Do you know that your business will be affected by the responsiveness of the merchant’s customer support?
Affiliate Marketing Survival Skill: Do You Want a Long Term Business?
By: Zack Lim | 22/11/2008
Before you even started your business, you will have to decide on the kind of business that you want to have. If you are not clear, you will not know the things that you will have to do to start your business. So what are the things that you need to know if you want to start your own long term business?
Affiliate Marketing Survival Skill: Checking the Quality of the Affiliate Products
By: Zack Lim | 22/11/2008
There are many affiliates who are only interested in earning quick money and they will just promote any products hoping that the customers will buy. It is true that one of your business goals is to earn money but it is also important that you make your customer happy. One of the things that you will need to do is to check the quality of the affiliate products that you are promoting to your customer. Why is it important?
More from Marcia Yudkin
Infomarketers: Consider the "Semi-Live" Course
By: Marcia Yudkin | 09/11/2008 | Marketing
The most successful information products offer a perfect combination of profitability and perceived value. Recently I realized that the crown belongs to a type of course only a few information marketers offer - what I've dubbed the "semi-live" course. Since this is a hybrid format, let me define it after...
Ecommerce: Are You Making These Deadly Mistakes in Your Shopping Cart?
By: Marcia Yudkin | 12/09/2008 | Internet
The other day after listening to a recorded teleseminar, I was ready to buy. I typed the URL given in the audio file I was listening to, read the copy describing the product being promoted and decided the price was more than reasonable. The verbal and written presentation motivated me...
How to Successfully Pitch a Reporter to Get Interviewed and Obtain Media Coverage
By: Marcia Yudkin | 18/06/2008 | Business
When I was up against a book deadline and needed a couple of people to interview who had achieved business results from podcasting, I put out a call through a service called Help a Reporter Out (www.helpareporter.com). This free service functions very much like paid reporter lead services such as...
Preview Teleseminars: Avoid These Off-Putting Mistakes
By: Marcia Yudkin | 25/05/2008 | Marketing
When you have a new product or an upcoming event, a free preview teleseminar can do a great job of drumming up excitement about it. In one scenario, you announce a teleseminar session about the topic to loyal fans and followers, they sign up for the call to hear your...
Interviewing An Expert For A Teleseminar? Avoid These Six Mistakes
By: Marcia Yudkin | 25/05/2008 | Marketing
Recording an interviewing an expert on a topic that has value for a group of listeners is one of the quickest and easiest ways to create a saleable product. This sort of teleseminar can also help drum up interest in an upcoming event as a free preview call.
However, as someone...
In 2008 Video Rules... Right?
By: Marcia Yudkin | 09/02/2008 | Internet
Too bad you couldn't hear my exasperation when I read the following by a veteran Internet marketer:
"You should convey your information in the least amount of space through the medium most of us respond to best: video. Everyone naturally gravitates toward video."
I see three serious problems with this statement.
First, it's...
Avoid Overwhelming Your Marketing Clients
By: Marcia Yudkin | 26/01/2008 | Marketing
Business owners and marketing directors hire marketing consultants, publicists and copywriters either because they don't know how to attract new customers or because they don't have time to do the work. It's essential to keep this in mind in dealing with new clients to avoid getting started on the wrong...
Convert Your Article Archive Into Press Releases For Increased Web Traffic
By: Marcia Yudkin | 25/01/2008 | Internet
The old "billboard in the basement" dilemma continues to dog many individuals and organizations: Put up a web site with great content and appealing offers, and you still have to work hard at getting visitors to come have a look. If you have an archive of articles, though, you can...
Internet 
