If you are reading this Downunder – Welcome to Spring!
Whether Spring or Autumn/Fall, a new season is the perfect time to evaluate your marketing activity!
We call it an audit – a thorough and systematic assessment of your marketing activities, investment and results; which then assists to further refine your marketing strategies.
Read more here: Marketing Audit
The following posts detail the benefits of a marketing audit in an organisation’s marketing strategy:
Spring Clean Your Marketing Let’s Audit
More on Auditing – I Love A Good Audit
So if you haven’t audited your marketing activity in the last twelve months – now is the time to do so!
Happy Auditing!
Image Credit: Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Grateful Dead applied many marketing techniques championed in business today. Best selling authors David Meerman Scott and Brian Halligan have documented these in their new book ‘Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead’.
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The pre election launch of several books written by either political journalists or authors with a political connection served as a good reminder about the importance of timing and seizing opportunities in business and marketing strategy.
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The term “guru” is much used in business today. Formal definitions include: “Hindu or Sikh religious teacher” and “leader or adviser of a movement”. For me, a “guru” is a leader in what they do; an influential expert; someone with great knowledge. If you are seeking a “guru” or just professional assistance – here are five tips to help vet your quest.
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As we explore the digital realms, for business and marketing there are important implications of remembering history. However businesses just need to focus on their customers and identify what they are doing to fully leverage this opportunity.
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Small business owners tend to be passionate. With our businesses forming such a significant part of our lives, it wasn’t surprising that passion was a recurring theme at last week’s National Small Business Summit held in Brisbane.
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It’s Seth Godin’s birthday, but he doesn’t want any hoopla. So he has given his birthday to MyCharity:Water. We can make a difference. Happy Birthday Seth!
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Our response to a recent article about social media was published in BRW this week and judged ‘Letter of the Week’.
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Written on
June 27, 2010 by
Anne in
Business,
Business Communication,
Business Growth,
Business To Business Marketing,
Management,
Marketing,
Marketing Strategy,
Social Media,
Uncategorized,
Weblogs

For businesses, blogging is a means of engaging customers, sharing information and feedback, and most importantly, building relationships. Blogs can also be a great source of information and inspiration useful to your business. I recently asked several colleagues to name their favourite blogs. Their responses with my own favourites are listed below.
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Written on
June 20, 2010 by
Anne in
Business,
Business Growth,
Business To Business Marketing,
Management,
Marketing,
Marketing Strategy,
Social Media,
Uncategorized,
Web/Tech,
Weblogs

If likened to musical styles, some may think of accounting firms more as Barry Manilow than the Grateful Dead. However I recently heard about the social media activity of Deloitte Australia, a member of the global Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu network and one of the big four accounting firms.It is a remarkable story – and if you’re a larger organisation, it may just get you rockin’ toward social media.
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Choosing the right promotional mix to achieve business growth is complex. Understanding of the market, the product or service and customers will ensure selection of the most suitable promotional tools. However, the modern day marketing catch cry: ‘Stop Interrupting’ is proving key. A recent study supports the move away from traditional media methods. The new style of marketing via customer engagement has significant benefits for both the brand and the business.
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Great product design delights customers. It also renders significant benefits to business by differentiating a product in a competitive market, enhancing the brand, generating customer loyalty and reducing the marketing budget. The best (most successful) products are designed to suit the customer. They are shaped from a commitment to understand customer needs, behaviour and enhance their overall experience.
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Seth Godin’s new book Linchpin again makes us think whilst also providing inspiration. Seth talks of ‘lizard brain’ – that which prevents us from being ‘artists’. Art, Godin says is about creativity and boldness to challenge the status quo.
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I was asked recently about the value to business of blogging. In this era of interactive technology enabled by Web 2.0, blogs or web logs have become increasingly popular. Three of many benefits cited are customers, communication and SEO.
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Great marketing does not have to be expensive. Today’s technology has made cost effective marketing strategy even easier to achieve. The next few blog posts will feature tips to cost effective marketing.
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Cost effective marketing strategy is important for all businesses, large and small. Resources are always limited, requiring that expenditure is allocated where it will provide the greatest return. A great first step in creating cost effective marketing strategies is to undertake a Marketing Audit. We call it ‘The Marketing Health Check’.
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Values, vision and mission are the foundations of a business, and a reference for alignment of business activity with the desired organizational direction. Avoiding activities which are not in accord with the agreed direction of the business results in a focused business and cost effective marketing strategy.
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Many Winter Olympics athletes have stayed true to their vision, despite enduring previous serious injuries. For businesses, returning to values and vision during difficult times renews strength, focus and commitment to business goals and results in cost effect business and marketing strategies.
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Many businesses are yet to embrace today’s technology and shape their marketing strategies to suit their customers’ behaviour. In Australia, despite increasing internet usage, approximately 50% of small businesses still do not have a website.
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Written on
March 11, 2010 by
Anne in
Business,
Business Growth,
Business To Business Marketing,
Current Affairs,
Marketing,
Marketing Strategy,
Social Media,
Uncategorized,
Web/Tech,
Weblogs

WOW!
How fantastic it was to attend the inaugural TEDx Brisbane event on Saturday. I knew something of TED, but had no expectations except that the day was sure to be interesting.
Interesting it was. Also: Inspirational. Thought provoking. Exciting. Emotional
With the theme ‘All you need is’ ..’ ..to see’ ..’, to listen’.., ‘to [...]
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Seth Godin’s books brim in both inspirational marketing ideas and motivation. Linchpin is no exception.
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I’m sure someone far more notable than me said that!
It has been going around in my head a lot over the last few days, particularly as I spy the growing pile of books by the side of my bed and the increasing number that have been downloaded digitally on the Kindle!
For me, it’s exciting to [...]
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In marketing strategy, thank yous are powerful in customer relationship management and particularly customers’ post purchase behaviour.
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Simplicity in business communication is vital for sound marketing strategy. We need to understand our customers’ needs, the media they are exposed and the language they use, before we can convey how our products/services can assist them.
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To blog or not to blog? That is the question. If Shakespeare was alive today, would he agree with Tom Peters and believe a blog to be his best marketing tool? Wethinks yes.
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In our recent post about simplicity in business communication we spoke of David Meerman Scott’s investigation into gobbledygook – those frequently used by meaningless, nonsensical words. Help is at hand – with the Gobbledygook Grader!
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So much is written about branding. Kevin Roberts’ Lovemarks takes the branding concept so much further.
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Seth Godin’s Linchpin became a NY Times bestseller within a week of release without paid advertising. Instead, Seth harnessed the passion of his many fans to spread the word, via blogs and interviews, sampling and cause related marketing. The Linchpin buzz continues.
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This week we dedicated our enewsletter, StratEgy, to YouTube which turned five in May! Established as a site where anyone can upload and share their videos with the world,YouTube today is a thriving community, attracting more than two billion views daily. A useful communications channel and a fantastic resource for businesses, here are some of our favourite YouTube vid’s.
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So many books .. so little time!
With 2010 nearly half way over, this week we feature some of our favourite books read so far this year.Providing a great mix of management, marketing and inspiration to apply in your business, they are all highly recommended!
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Written on
June 7, 2010 by
Anne in
Branding,
Business,
Business Communication,
Business Growth,
Business To Business Marketing,
Marketing,
Marketing Strategy,
Social Media,
Uncategorized,
Weblogs

In developing marketing strategies to grow their business, owners often have many questions. Here are five marketing questions we’re frequently asked. We hope you find the responses useful in development of your marketing strategy.
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Today is Linchpin Raise The Flag Day! Following the success of Seth Godin’s book Linchpin, today more than 5,600 people in 90 countries will attend one of 791 meet ups. It’s a way of Seth fans to meet and connect in person and to ‘talk, challenge and inspire’. Features five of our favourite Seth Godin blog posts.
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