As an advertiser with many social media platforms we have been advised that AI (artificial intelligence) will be taking over the ticket selling industry and for that matter all industry and commerce worldwide.
This means that social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Google and eCommerce sites like Amazon, Alibaba, eBay, your insurance company, ETC are now partnering up with everyone including your various payment options such as credit and debit cards, Bank, PayPal, Google Pay, Apple pay and many others are sharing your social and buying habits with each other to offer you tickets and everything you buy that are in-line with your social media, lifestyle and buying habits. This means that you may not be getting the best deals in the market place since those of us whom are offering the biggest selection and lowest prices will not be shown to you because in order for anyone to participate in this new sector of business they must partner up with these platforms thus raising the cost to you the end user.
Now some might say that partnering up with these companies will increase our volume so a lower profit margin is acceptable but just take a look at the history of these things. Has Amazon, Wal-Mart and Alibaba improved your selection of services? Most say yes since its costing them less to purchase but please note that once these markets have taken hold they dictate to the suppliers what sells, at what price and once they run the whole market, control the major manufactures, whom are you going to buy from? They also control the employee market pool and use State and Federal tax deductions to subsidize their employees’ wages and their industries as they wipe out the mom and pop shops and small businesses nationwide.
We know from studies that you will click on something that is right in front of you on-line if you believe it’s the best place or way to do this but if you are never offered any other options why would you do that.
Studies show clients do that because of what is called FOMO (fear of missing out) and the herd mentality which has become an important form of marketing in recent years. This along with what is called influencer marking has taken over most industries. Need an example? In our industry Stubhub, Ticketmaster and Live Nation are the choice of most to buy tickets but we in the industry know that all of these companies are at least 30% higher than most ticket brokers on-line or by buying directly from the box office which these companies have made almost impossible. In fact most of the inventory listed on these sites comes from small ticket brokers like us. This proves that most persons buy what they believe to be the best place to buy because it’s always in their faces via advertising ETC not because of service and price.
How does this work? We know from years of experience, just ask anyone, that no one wants to look at ads and everyone thinks that their buying decisions are made by them with no outside influences at all right? WRONG. Every decision you make is based on factors in your life that you are not aware of. Example: You and family are going on a vacation in Disneyland in Los Angeles. You Google flights, hotels and Disneyland ticket prices. Now you make a buy with your credit card. Now we have all the information we need to market you this trip and other services you’re going to need. All of a sudden everything you see online is slanted towards this. But wait what if in addition to what you see online you now see things relating to this trip on your TV, Desktop, Phone, Mail and oh in your car coming over the music choices you select during the trip, on your dashboard screen on newer cars ETC. How about interactive billboards that change to what you’re interested in as your driving down the road, walking thru the mall with pop-up’s on your smart phone with offers to come in now and save ETC. Now you Google map the trip and guess what more influence as to what you need or should get coming over your GPS as you’re driving, stopping for gas or food.
How about while you’re watching your favorite weekly sitcom and all of a sudden the story takes a direction which is customized to your upcoming trip? Don’t think that is possible? Product placement during the broadcast within the show is based on AI (artificial intelligence) telling them what the general audience wants in real time based on all of this information. Soon you will see various story lines changing in real time to fit the individual viewers wants and needs so you will not know you’re being marketing to but that’s what’s here now and coming soon at an intensity never seen prior to AI (artificial intelligence) and what is called data mining.
Data mining is the new big thing for all business and you have been giving all of this information to them for free and in most cases paid them at the same time by purchasing something. Google, banks, insurance companies, Facebook and Amazon alone know who you are, what your buying habits are, your income range, your health, your education, your political choices, lifestyle choice, family, car, gas, food and everything you do in life.
Influencers are everywhere from the Kardashians to Dr Oz. From your doctor, banker, store clerk, family member, friends on social media ETC you get the picture. Don’t think you’re immune to this because I have been in meetings with influencers, physiologist, science professionals and that was just with Facebook. All companies are now hiring hundreds if not thousands of data mining experts to give them profiles on everyone and are using that information and your brain to influence your choices. Once they have most of that info the AI computers will take over and sort thru this information and spit out what your brain is telling you that you need or in most cases really want with no human intervention. Once that starts the idea of making a choice will be gone.
There was a time not that long ago that marketing required knowing your customer which took a lot of time, money and work. Now automated programs just ask some questions about what and whom our client profile is assuming it does not already have that info and we just plug in the info, set up the budget and click go. Some vendors have database info that will tell the advertiser what their price will have to be to be listed since at some point in the near future they will not even show your offer if it’s not in line with what the AI (artificial intelligence) computer says is the best, but what about service, trust and dependability? Based on Wal-Marts success it seems that those things don’t matter anymore to most.
I understand that you want better products, better prices and better service but don’t forget to check out the small business family before you make that choice. They are the ones whom have built this country and if everyone keeps consolidating their buying to just a few big boys what are you going to do when they are the only choices you have and now they are controlling everything in your life. Do you remember when Russia owned everything and tried to control all their citizens’ lives? China is also starting to feel this pain.
Need proof just take a look at property values in areas that Wal-Mart has taken over and put all the mom and pops out of business and pay their employees such a low salary they must teach them how to take advantage of the tax payer funded city, state and federal services available to low income people. How do you like subsidizing Wal-Mart employees with your tax dollar while the Walmart family lives their life style and puts mom and pop out of business?
Wake up and take a good look at what you voting for with your pocketbook because if you want change now you must understand that where you spend your money is the biggest influence on how things will go into the future.
Think about your descendants and how they are going to manage all of this.
David A Boitano
Founder TICKETFINDER.com Since 1990
Marketing Expert, Influencer, Futurist, Live Music and Auto Fan
