Game Recap: #5 Ohio State vs. Maryland

For the second straight week, Buckeye fans enjoyed another impressive performance by both the Ohio State offense and defense. The 8-1 and now ranked #5 Buckeyes headed to College Park to face the 5-4 Maryland Terrapins, a team that had just received a drubbing at the hands of the Michigan Wolverines. Unfortunately for the Terrapins, their matchup against the Buckeyes didn't go any better.

Getting the ball first to start the game, QB J.T. Barrett led his team down the field and handed it to star running back Curtis Samuel to finish off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown rush to get the Buckeyes on the board. After Maryland's first drive went backwards, the Buckeyes added a Tyler Durbin field goal on their next drive. A couple drives later Maryland finally got on the board with a field goal of their own but that was quickly answered by a J.T. Barrett 36 yard strikes to Curtis Samuel to give the Buckeyes a 21-3 lead at the end of the first.

If Maryland fans thought the first quarter was bad, they were in for a rude awakening in the second. The Buckeyes opened up the second quarter much like they opened up the first, with an impressive touchdown drive. J.T. Barrett took it in from just a yard out to score the second of four touchdowns he would account for. On the next drive Curtis Samuel found the end zone yet again to extend the lead to 35-3. The Buckeyes needed just 50 seconds to score another touchdown and added a field goal as well. At halftime the Buckeyes took a dominating 45-3 lead into the locker room.

Even as early as the middle of the third quarter, Urban Meyer had become to clear his bench and get experience for players that didn't normally see much game action. A few minutes after another Tyler Durbin field goal, the Buckeyes scored yet another touchdown. This time backup Demario McCall ran it in the end zone from 3 yards away after a 11 play, 81 yard drive. While the offense got a lot of the attention, the defense too played very well, holding Maryland to just 10 first downs and only 172 total yards on the afternoon.

For the second straight game, backup QB Joe Burrow got to see extended playing time and made the most of it, connecting with Binjimen Victor from 25 yards away to give Ohio State their last score of the day. The "silver bullet" defense forced 3 punts to end the game and when the clock hit zeros the Buckeyes celebrated another dominating 62-3 victory in back-to-back weeks. After grabbing their ninth win of the season, the Buckeyes will return home for their last home game of the year against Michigan State.

Week 10 Reaction Blog

In this week's blog, Sam Kusinitz provides six examples of companies using various triggered emails to reach out to their respective customers. Triggered emails, when used correctly, can not only save marketers tons of time but it can also better engage the target audience. Kusinitz lists six different types of triggered emails: welcome, re-engagement, date/time trigger, thank-you, confirmation, and unsubscribe.

There were two of these email types that stuck out to me in particular. First, the welcome e-mail, in my opinion is the most important triggered emails a customer can get because it sets the first impression for the company. Also, the welcome email in particular offers the client important information about the company. For instance, in the example given by Kusinitz, Uber's welcome e-mail provides the customer with a step-by-step process on how to use the company's service.

Secondly, I found the date/time email to be a very intriguing marketing tool. Sometimes customers can get annoyed with blatant, in your face, "come back to our website" styles of advertising. The use of a date/time e-mail provides the marketer with a way to advertise in a much more subtle way. In many situations, the date email is sent on a customer's birthday which often includes a coupon or a similar offer. Not only does this email make the customer feel valued but through the use of the coupon the customer will have a reason to return to the business' website.

While all six types of triggered emails are very important and can be very useful if used in the correct way, I believe that a welcome email and a date/time email can be the most useful for a marketer. Triggered emails are vital to a business not only because it saves the marketer lots of time but it can also be a great way to reach out to customers, engaging them in a way that makes them feel valuable.

Game Recap: #6 Ohio State vs. #10 Nebraska

Ahead of Saturday night's top 10 showdown with Nebraska, Ohio State fans were a bit wary and perhaps even nervous, and with good reason. The #10 and 7-1 Nebraska Cornhuskers entered Columbus having just lost their very first game of the season to the Wisconsin Badgers, a team that the Buckeyes needed overtime to defeat. For Ohio State, the last two weeks had proven quite frustrating and disappointing for player and fan alike. Two weeks ago, the Buckeyes were dealt their first loss by a tough Penn State team and on the following week squeaked out a win at home against a feisty Northwestern team. This week, however, the Buckeyes put on a show that finally put the Ohio State faithful at ease.

The Buckeye defense had been solid all season even throughout the ups and downs of the year. The "silver bullet" defense started the game out fast, returning an interception for a touchdown just a minute and 34 seconds into the game. Nebraska was able to add a field goal, but towards the end of the first quarter, the Buckeye offense got on the board with a 7-yard TD pass for quarterback J.T. Barrett to extend the Ohio State lead to 14-3.

Ohio State added another touchdown to open the second quarter thanks to Mike Weber's TD dash from 23 yards out. Tyler Durbin added his third extra point of the game and then just a few minutes later booted a 28 yard field goal through the uprights. The field goal was set up by great defense and a poor punt and the Buckeye defense continued to frustrated the Cornhuskers. When it seemed like nothing could go worse for Nebraska, it suddenly did.

Nebraska senior QB Tommy Armstrong Jr. scrambled for a first down on the Cornhusker's next drive. As he was running out of bounds, Armstrong was hit and fell head first on the turf and did not get up. Armstrong was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Fortunately, he was able to return to Ohio Stadium to watch his team finish the game after being diagnosed with a concussion. Ohio State engineered a beautiful touchdown drive to end the half to extend their lead to 31-3.

The second half didn't go much better for Nebraska. On the very first play of the second half, Curtis Samuel caught a 75-yard TD pass from J.T. Barrett and just like that any chance Nebraska had of a comeback had totally vanished. Another touchdown pass and a field goal later and Buckeye fans everywhere were thrilled with their team and the 48-3 lead they possessed. Malik Hooker returned yet another interception for a touchdown to end the third quarter, and after putting up an impressive 24 points in the third, the Buckeyes enjoyed a commanding 55-3 lead heading into the final stanza.

At this point, head coach Urban Meyer was able to play mostly backups on both sides of the ball. Backup QB Joe Burrow got some game experience and even ran 12 yards for a touchdown which would prove to be the last score of the game. Ohio State rolled to a 62-3 victory, much to the delight of the 108,750 in attendance. The win gave the Buckeyes a very respectable 8-1 record and more than anything perhaps it boosted the confidence of the young Ohio State squad.

Week 9 Reaction Blog

In his article "Why Timely Data Trumps Big Data in Email & Mobile Marketing," Steve Dille points out that while e-mail service providers produce tons of data, often the real-time access to that data is lacking. I personally was quite surprised to learn how few providers offer real-time data access, especially considering how important this feature could be to a business. Dille provides a bit more insight into just how meaningful real-time data can truly be.

Steve Dille first points out that marketers in business don't have a problem collecting data. In fact, the amount of data all around us is rapidly increasing and there's no sign that trend will slow down anytime soon. Rather, the challenge marketers face is accessing that data quickly, especially in regards to analytics.

Dille breaks down five different types of data: bounce codes, feedback loops, opens and clicks, mobile data, and analytics. While all of these data types are important, in my opinion, analytics is the most vital for the success of a business. Essentially, analytics provide the means to best improve marketing. However, if the analytics are not up to date the information they provide is not nearly as useful as real-time data.

I found that two ideas posed by Dille were very effective in determining whether the real-time data service is effective enough for a business. First, for analytics to be effective, the analytics reports need to be coming in just as quickly as all other data is coming in. Secondly, ask yourself, "do you have the ability to easily filter the relevant data elements for easy root cause analysis and corrective action?" In other words, Dille is basically asking, can you use the analytics you are receiving to make changes in your marketing strategy to improve it and to better reach more customers?

I believe Dille sums up this topic quite nicely when he states, "For marketers to effectively drive customer experience and engagement for their organizations, they need all relevant data from all messaging channels -- and in a timely manner."

Game Recap: #6 Ohio State vs. Northwestern

Buckeye fans were hoping to see a great bounce back game from Ohio State after their devastating upset loss at Penn State last week. However, those fans were left a little disappointed. After the Nittany Lions handed the Buckeyes their first loss of the season, OSU fell to #6 in the rankings (and Penn State joined the top 25). After playing the last two games on the road, the 6-1 Buckeyes returned home to face the Northwestern Wildcats, a team that had struggled in the early part of the season but had been playing much better the last few weeks.

In previous weeks the Buckeye offense had struggled on early game possessions; just last week they got shutout in the first quarter. However, against Northwestern, Ohio State jumped out to an early lead. On their first drive they put together an impressive 9 play, 94 yard touchdown drive capped off by a Mike Weber 1-yard plunge into the end zone. The Buckeyes added a Tyler Durbin field goal and after the first quarter the lead remained 10-0 Ohio State.

Northwestern could have easily rolled over and given in to a much more athletic and talented Ohio State team, but the Wildcats just kept fighting. The Northwestern offense responded with an impressive drive of their own that lasted 6:45 and Wildcat QB Clayton Thorson put his team on the board with a 1-yard touchdown run. The Buckeyes then answered back with a drive that lasted 8:34, over half of the second quarter! Mike Weber found the end zone again from 23 yards out to put the Buckeyes up by 10 again once more.

While the Wildcats could not come up with a touchdown at the end of the half, they did piece together a 12 play, 82 yard that led to a field goal. The young Buckeyes took a 17-10 lead into the locker room, perhaps lacking some confidence. Their confidence did not receive a boost in the third quarter. The Buckeyes offense sputtered in the third quarter, punting on all three of their offensive possessions. Northwestern, meanwhile, scored a game-tying touchdown with 3:41 left in the third to push the score to 17-17 to end the third quarter.

While a very anxious 100,000 in Ohio Stadium nervously watched, Buckeye QB J.T. Barrett engineered a crucial touchdown drive, as running back Curtis Samuel found the end zone. Northwestern responded with a promising drive but the Buckeye defense stepped up and held Northwestern to a field goal. With a 24-20 score, the Wildcats kicked off to the Buckeyes with 3:31 left in the game.

The Buckeyes, wanted to avoid any late-game drama, took matters into their own hands, picking up critical first downs, burning Northwestern's timeouts, and ultimately running out the clock for the close victory. It certainly wasn't pretty, but the Buckeyes got the job done in the end. Surprisingly, the Wildcat offense hung with the Buckeye offense, as both teams finished with around 400 total yards and just over 20 first downs. The Buckeyes will face another tough test next week as the Nebraska Cornhuskers come to town.

Week 8 Reaction Blog

The percentage of ad money being spent on mobile ads has dramatically increased over the last few years. In fact, by 2017 an estimated 59% of all ad money will be spent on mobile ads. Because of this rise in mobile ads, mobile marketing is becoming increasingly important for business large and small. Drew Hendricks offers "5 Tips for Perfecting Mobile Marketing" in this week's blog.

Hendricks' first key is to "get responsive." By this, he means a responsive website is key. Because individuals are using their phones to access the internet and to shop more than ever before (in fact, 80% consumers participate in mobile shopping), a responsive website that is mobile friendly is absolutely vital. Hendricks provides a statistic that shows just how important a mobile friendly website is: 85% of smartphone users say a mobile site should be just as good if not better than a normal desktop site.

Secondly, a "click to call" button on a mobile website is a great way for consumers to easily get in contact with the company. Businesses that provide easy, convenient ways for their customers to contact them will attract more customers. Hendricks points out that perhaps the best way to achieve this is through a "click to call" button that would appear on a website. I found it very interesting that Hendricks even pointed out the most ideal size of the button. It makes sense, if a button is too small, it would be too hard to touch on a touch screen of a mobile device, but too big and the button might get pressed accidentally when the user was not intending to press it.

Finally, along the same line of thinking, it's extremely important that e-mails are optimized for mobile devices. Amazingly, Hendricks shows that while nearly half of all e-mails are opened on a mobile device, just 11% of all marketing e-mails are actually optimized for mobile. A better mobile experience will reach more customers. Businesses can get a "leg up" on the competition by optimizing their e-mails for mobile, simply because very few business have done just that.

Game Recap: #2 Ohio State vs. Penn State

After a dramatic road victory against Wisconsin last week, the undefeated and #2 ranked Buckeyes hit the road again for another tough test against a determined rival, Penn State. If someone had no idea of the outcome of the game and saw just the statistics, they probably thought that Ohio State won fairly easily. The Buckeyes led in total yards 413-276. The Ohio State offense held the ball for 15 minutes longer than Penn State and had 6 more first downs as well. However, the statistics don't tell the true story.

Both teams struggled offensively in the first quarter and after one the game was scoreless. In the second quarter the Buckeyes were able to break the scoreless tie, thanks to a J.T. Barrett TD pass and two Tyler Durbin field goals. However, on the touchdown, Durbin missed the extra point, and special teams would prove to be the achilles' heel for the Buckeyes in this matchup. Penn State added a touchdown of their own with 9 seconds left in the second quarter to to cut the Ohio State lead to 12-7 at halftime.

After a slow start to the first half, Ohio State jumped ahead in the second half after Curtis Samuel broke off a 74-yard touchdown run. After a bad snap on a Penn State punt traveled all the way to the end zone, the Buckeyes added a safety, extending their lead to 21-7. Unfortunately for Buckeye fans, that was the last time Ohio State would score. OSU carried their 21-7 into the fourth quarter, but it was quickly clear that Penn State would not go away without a fight.

On the first drive of the fourth quarter, Nittany Lion QB Trace McSorley punched in a touchdown on the ground from two yards out after an impressive 90 yard drive that took just 5 plays. On the next Penn State drive, they added three more points on the leg of kicker Tyler Davis to cut the OSU lead to  21-17.

On the next drive, Ohio State engineered an 11 point drive that took an impressive 5:06 off the clock. The drive finally stalled on the Nittany Lion 28 yard line, and Tyler Durbin took the field to attempt a 45-yard field goal which would make a Penn State comeback much more difficult. Instead of extending the lead to 24-17, Buckeye fans everywhere stared in disbelief as Durbin's kick was blocked at the line of scrimmage and returned 60 yards by Penn State defender Grant Haley for a touchdown.

Now, Penn State possessed a 24-21 lead, their first of the game. Ohio State had the ball and a chance to take the lead back with 4:27 left in the game, but the Nittany Lion defense stood strong. After 10 plays led to only 12 yards, a J.T. Barrett sack on fourth down with 1:02 remaining sealed Ohio State's fate. After three knees taken, Penn State and the fans that rushed the field enjoyed the program's first win over Ohio State since 2012 and perhaps their biggest win over the last decade.

For Ohio State, the loss doesn't eliminate their playoff hopes, but it certainly doesn't help them. The Buckeyes no longer control their own destiny in their own conference and will need Penn State to lose twice in the Big Ten to jump them again in the standings.

Week 7 Reaction Blog

In his article "The Conversion Imperative," John Lovett discusses investing in optimization and the positive effects that it can have on a business' website of social media page. Lovett defines optimization of a website as the process that includes both measuring and influencing each visitor’s progress toward an outcome that strengthens their relationship with your organization. Businesses which do not actively pursue optimization are at a high risk for bad online experiences from customers. Lovett lists three main ways to make the best use of optimization.

First, a business website that is properly optimized should be attracting lots of consumers. Those designing and optimizing the website can best achieve this by understanding that the customer is the most important person. Paying attention to these customers and providing them with a personalized experience on the website is a great way to enhance their overall experience with the company. Often, news travels by word of mouth (sometimes in the form of social media). Providing customers with great experiences should increase those talking about the business and therefore increase the overall amount of individuals who will be exposed to the company.

Once a website is attracting lots of customers, the next step of the optimization process is to engage those customers. Lovett points out three key ways to engage the target audience: make it personal, be accessible, and build trust. Creating a personalized experience for the customer is not only important for attracting an audience but also for keeping their interest. Lovett believes that one way to be accessible as a business is to offer multiple "touchpoints." Essentially, having a presence across multiple platforms (website, mobile, social media, etc.) is a major factor in engaging customers. Having an honest business plan and showing genuine concern for customers will build their trust and increase the likelihood that they stay with the company for a long time.

Along those same lines, the final step of optimization is to foster commitment. While this can certainly be achieved by building their trust, perhaps the biggest way to foster commitment is by simply listening to them. Customers will feel important if they feel like they are really being listened to. Far too often businesses push any concerns of their customers aside. Instead, if companies truly care for and listen to their clients they could build a long-lasting relationship that could become very beneficial for the business.

Week 6 Podcast

Here is my podcast for week 6 of class discussing Ohio State and the college football playoff!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTcqNUWhyqw