by admin | Feb 28, 2014 | Communication strategy
Everyone knows that particular feeling of dread that accompanies a lull in conversation at a party, networking event, or even a job interview. You’ve already covered the usual small talk and then, oof, you hit a dead end. What now? Even the most extroverted among us know that being a good conversationalist doesn’t always come easy–but there are some experts who have had more practice than the rest of us. Writers, journalists and others who interview sources regularly have developed tried and true techniques that help them connect deeply with people. Not only can interviews with thought leaders in your field provide a great source of content for your blog or website, the skills honed while interviewing are useful in many types of communication. Read all 6 communication tips right here in this...
by admin | Feb 28, 2014 | Brand strategy
People’s values have shifted dramatically over the last couple of years, changing their needs and expectations from brands. Mark Artus, CEO at global brand agency 1HQ explains how brands need to adapt to stay relevant. 1. Go long on your brand Building a successful brand has never come easy. It takes insight into consumers, creating products and services they love and investing in your reputation. The current market environment makes it tempting to profit at the expense of your brand – say by reducing quality or discounting – but these actions can quickly erode the competitive advantage and customer goodwill that takes years to build. More than ever it’s important to invest in and manage your brand with a long-term mindset. Find out about the remaining nine tips that will allow you to make sure your brand stands the test of...
by admin | Feb 27, 2014 | Concept development
Most business units are required to respond to competitive pressure by maintaining or increasing market share and enhancing profitability; launching new products or services is often a key strategy behind achieving these market share and profitability goals. Marketers are most often on the front line of this battle, continually trying to develop line extensions or new offerings to satisfy the organizational demands of share and profit while meeting the desires of an often fickle marketplace. The need to develop high quality, winning “concepts” for these new products or services becomes glaringly apparent. Find out more about concept development and key concept development pitfalls...
by admin | Feb 27, 2014 | Brand targeting & positioning
Ever wondered how brand savvy your organization is? Whether your marketing was as strong and sophisticated as it should be? Here’s your chance to find out. Take this quiz — 20 simple yes/no questions — and keep track of your answers. There’s a scoring system you can use to grade yourself below. If you are ready to start the strategic marketing self-assessment, click...
by admin | Feb 27, 2014 | Brand targeting & positioning
Last week, Missouri football sensation Michael Sams publicly came out as gay, but what truly made recent news headlines was the social media marketing campaign that fans created in order to support the player, particularly against the inevitable efforts of homophobes. This was not the only case of social media marketing blocking anti-gay protests and attacks. Find out more by reading this...
