August 10, 2009 • 10:15 pm 1
A nice presentation created by Matt Dickman, and posted on his slideshare page.
Filed under: 2.0, Advertising, Branding, Business, Customer Experience, Design, Influence, Strategy, Twitter, Web, Web2.0, ideas, marketing, technology, web 2.0, word of mouth
April 22, 2009 • 10:25 am 1
Filed under: 2.0, Business, Media, Web, Web2.0, technology, web 2.0 , Did you know?, Jeff Brenman, Karl Fisch, Scott McLeod
March 23, 2009 • 10:55 pm 1
The Royal Mail (the national postal service of the United Kingdom) has to be part privatised by 2010, and in the run up to this date there is no doubt in my mind that the company is trying to raise its game. (Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turns operates the brands Royal Mail (UK letters), Parcelforce Worldwide (UK parcels) and General Logistics Systems. The Post Office Ltd., which provides counter services, is a wholly owned subsidiary).
One innovation I have spotted (and like) is the MMC – The Mail Media Centre. The Royal Mail’s vision is to be “demonstrably the best and most trusted postal services company in the world” and in this regard they seem to be on a big ‘win the hearts and minds’ mission.
And the MMC is a big step in the right direction. Its a cool resource for all direct marketers to immerse themselves in. By showcasing compelling creative and offering expert advice, it is clear they want to inspire excellence in direct mail.
Key contributors include Rory Sutherland, vice-chairman of Ogilvy Group UK, London, Patrick Collister, editor of Xtreme Directory and Amanda Phillips. They also feature expert content from Chris Arnold, strategic & creative director of Symple, Darren Burnett, head of data planning, Elvis, Mike Colling, managing director of Mike Colling & Company, Steven Day, director of UK Changes, Tim Dunn, head of marketing services at Mobile Interactive Group (MIG), Caroline Kimber, head of data planning at Stephens Francis Whitson, Jane Pritchard, head of strategic planning at Tullo Marshall Warren, Clare Taylor of Clare Taylor Consulting UK, coupon company Valassis, and Chris Whitson, planning director of Stephen Francis Whitson. Plus, they have made available selected content from an award-winning Redwood Publishing title - Contact magazine.
That’s some team sheet!
Yes the devoted online marketer will no doubt shout me down (“if you’re not with me, you’re my enemy” lol), and yes there is lots going on in online media that is down right impressive; but when used appropriately traditional direct mail still has a role to play in the marketing mix.
Don’t discount traditional direct mail just yet. It can still be very innovative and very effective when used well.
If you are going to take a peek at the MMC, if I were you I’d head straight to the Creative Showreel. Then take a look at their Knowledge Centre, Case Studies, Research, Facts & Figures, and the other Useful Tools.
Enjoy!
Filed under: Business, Design, Direct Mail, Media, Planning, Research, Strategy, ideas, marketing , Best practice, case studies, Direct Marketing, DM, Facts, Figures, MMC, Research, The Royal Mail
March 2, 2009 • 9:01 am 1
The 100 Best Business Books of All Time has been on sale for over three weeks now. I haven’t read it yet (or bought a copy) but it sounds very good.
The 100 books covered covered are listed here.
Filed under: Books, Branding, Business, Entrepreneur, Ideas and Riffs, Media, Planning, Strategy, ideas, marketing , 100 Best Business Books, 800ceoread, Jack Covert, Todd Sattersten
February 25, 2009 • 9:35 am 0
Futurelab is a marketing strategy consultancy with a focus on customer-centricity and innovation. They help:
Now I have never worked with Futurelab, nor can I say with any authority whatsoever, that they are good at what they do. But I was delighted when they emailed me with a nice report offer.
As a result of Futurelabs belief that something is “seriously broken in the land of marketing”, they have decided to encourage debate and thinking by producing and distributing two reports.
The reports analyse the disconnect that currently exists between brands and the agencies that service them – with the aim to encourage a global conversation on the renaissance of marketing as a profession that drives profit, innovation and customer-centricity.
Here is what they cover;
For each disconnect (between Brands and Agencies) they offer suggestions and tips brand leaders can apply to get their agencies to better deliver what they need.
Great stuff.
Filed under: Advertising, Branding, Business, Media, Planning, Strategy, ideas, marketing, technology , marketing, innovation, Branding, investment, Futurelab, customer, disconnect, brands, profit, Reconsidering the Advertising Industry, Bridging the Brand Divide, agencies
January 29, 2009 • 8:16 pm 0
On 17 October 2008, Lord Carter, the minister for communications, technology and broadcasting, began work on a report dubbed “Digital Britain”. The idea was to create an action plan that would secure the UK’s place ‘at the head’ of the new media age. There is more about this action plan here and here.
Released today, the interim report outlines 22 specific actions, and in so doing commits the government too. These are based on a range of topics including: Universal Connectivity, Original UK Content, Digital Content, Digital Radio, Digital TV, Mobile Wireless, and Next Generation Networks.
The Culture Secretary, Andy Burnham, outlines the report’s interim findings here (why are the parlimentary benches so empty?) and the BBC editorial team reports on some of the key points taken from the report here.
It seems feedback is mixed with the announcement of Broadband ‘in every home by 2012′ being called a ‘damp squib’ no less. Potentially a tad party political perhaps, but IT industry analyst firm Ovum said the report was well-intended but “severely lacking in the detail.” Ouch.
As the final version is due in June, one can only assume this will be even meatier – but for the keenest digerati the complete interim report is here (open’s 2MB .pdf) in its 81 page glory. Enjoy.
Filed under: Business, Computing, Media, Online, WIFI, digital, technology, wi-fi , BBC, Broadband Britain, Digital Britain, Interim Report, Ovum
January 28, 2009 • 4:38 pm 0
The best complaint letter ever. Sent to Richard Branson @ Virgin
Filed under: Business, Fun , compliant letter, virgin
January 25, 2009 • 10:21 pm 0
In a rare UK presentation Seth Godin will present on how marketers must go beyond attracting eyeballs to tightening the interconnection and deepening commitment with their clients and staff alike. You can read more about it here and buy tickets here.
In addition to his presentation, as usual Seth will lead a dynamic Q and A session giving audience members the opportunity to ask direct questions relevant to their own situations and receive answers from the leading marketing mind of today.
If you have not heard him speak before, here are a few tidbits.
Filed under: Business, Entrepreneur, Events, Ideas and Riffs, Strategy, ideas, marketing
December 21, 2008 • 10:05 pm 1
I wanted to draw you attention to a FREE resource for those of you who want to benefit from a community of the world’s digital marketing and ecommerce professionals. Econsultancy exists to help its members “sharpen their strategy, source suppliers, get quick answers, compare notes, help each other out and discover how to do everything better online.” I have to say that it is a great source of independent advice and insight on digital marketing and ecommerce.
imho there’s no shortage of marketing opinion online, but being ten years and with 71,000 marketers Econsultancy is pretty special. Bronze membership is FREE and there is more info here.
These are complimentary reports you get for free upon joining (there’s another 20+ too!). Great, er, value!
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Online PR Industry Benchmarking Report
By Michelle Goodall and Aliya Zaidi, December 2008
Overview Authors: Michelle Goodall and Aliya Zaidi Pages: 35 Features: Survey-based research about the Online PR Industry, with expert input from respected industry commentators.
By Econsultancy, December 2008
This report, produced in association with Lemon Digital Production, is aimed at agencies who are interested in the business case and challenges associated with outsourcing digital work.
November 2008
By Econsultancy, November 2008
The third annual Online Customer Engagement Report has been produced in partnership with cScape. This research is based on a survey of 1,300 respondents carried out in September and October 2008.
By Econsultancy, November 2008
This free, 12-page briefing contains a write-up of an E-consultancy roundtable on Email Marketing held in autumn 2008.
By Econsultancy, October 2008
This DoubleClick-sponsored research is based on a survey of retailers and agencies carried out in August and September 2008, with the aim of understanding more about the use of comparison shopping.
By Econsultancy, October 2008
This free, 12-page briefing contains a write-up of an E-consultancy roundtable on Paid Search.
By Econsultancy, October 2008
This free, 11-page briefing contains a write-up of an E-consultancy roundtable on Affiliate Marketing.
By Econsultancy, September 2008
This free, 12-page briefing contains a write-up of an E-consultancy roundtable on Measurement, Analytics and Optimisation.
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The Services Econsultancy Provide:
Reports: Econsultancy is an award-winning online publisher of reports covering best practice, user experience benchmarking, market data, supplier selection, template files, trends and innovation aimed at internet professionals who want practical advice on all aspects of e-business.
Training, Learning & Development: Econsultancy operates a highly popular training division, used by the world’s leading brands for staff education, both in-house and via public courses. We provide training across all areas of digital marketing and ecommerce and at all levels from accredited one day courses to formal qualifications including diplomas and a Masters in Digital Marketing.
Events: Econsultancy hosts over 100 events a year, including conferences such as the Online Marketing Masterclasses, Future of Digital Marketing and Digital Cream as well as regular Supplier Showcases, Roundtables, the annual Innovation Awards and a range of social events.
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Free memberships of marketing clubs, and online resources are ten a penny. You just have to surf, or browse LinkedIn groups to see that. But Econsultancy is very different. I’d highly recommend you join if you are an internet professional who wants practical advice on all aspects of e-business.
Filed under: Affiliate Marketing, Analyst, Analytics, Blogging, Branding, Business, Buzz, CRM, Customer Experience, Design, Direct Mail, Email, Events, Media, Mobile, Online, Planning, Research, SEO, SEO / SEM, Search Engine Optimisation, Social Media, Strategy, Usability, User Generated Content, Viral, Web, Web2.0, digital, marketing, technology, web 2.0 , development, ecommerce, Econsultancy, Events, Free, learning, reports, Strategy, training
December 15, 2008 • 11:31 pm 1
You’ve probably heard it a thousand times.
“You’re call may be recorded and used for training purposes.”
I no longer believe it when I hear it. And if I don’t believe it, I’d expect many others don’t either.
By all means record calls, make improvements: call centre representatives are a very important bridge to a brand. But keeping these types of disclaimers on ALL of the time is not the right thing to do. Far from it. It’s a lazy and fake way of pretending that you care about customers – and it has a negative effect now.
Could a company be more insincere? If a company wants to try they might want to throw up a library shot of beautiful call centre representatives as a starter!
Filed under: Branding, Business, CRM, Customer Experience, Customer service, ideas, marketing , Branding, call recording, Customer service, training
December 12, 2008 • 2:53 pm 0
Oh dear. Buzzword use is on the rise. And like a deadly virus ‘buffling’ (business waffling) is believed to be mutating such that it is on the rise even outside the work place. Yikes!
You can picture the scene at home right? No? Here you go.
Nearly half of you us (as indicated by 46% of respondents in a yougov survey commissioned by Ramada Encore) believe that Buffling is on the rise. Shame on you us.
….and don’t think for a moment this is restricted to the home either.
Filed under: Business, Entertainment, Fun, marketing , buffling, Business, buzzwords, Ramada Encore
November 12, 2008 • 9:20 am 1
David Jackson, the MD of Clicktools has posted about a conference on customer experience organised by the Henley Centre for Customer Management. Quoting David directly;
Henley’s research into the perfect customer experience identified the top three attributes that drive satisfaction for both B2B and B2C.
For B2C the three are:
- How helpful the organisation (ie its people) is.
- How the organisation minimises the time consumers have to spend on a transaction.
- The organisation’s ability to recognise the customer – i.e. knows about them.
For B2B , what matters is:
- The extent of personal contact
- Flexibility in dealing with the customer
- Demonstrating an implicit understanding of their needs
In summary; you can have all the technology you need, but when push comes to shove, it’s still people that make the difference.
This is great stuff.
I wasn’t there, but I wonder if I may add a spin to David’s summary – just to be clear this isn’t an either/or situation:
You can have all the technology you need, but when push comes to shove, it must be integrated with people, business processes, systems and solutions to really enhance customer experiences. Truly integrated customer experiences, across channels, are a pre-requisite for solving customer problems.
David’s blog home on e-consultancy is here.
Filed under: B2B, BBC, Business, Customer Experience, Customer service, IT, IT Planning, Software, Strategy, Web, marketing, technology , B2B, B2C, Clicktools, Customer Experience, David Jakson, Henley Centre for Customer Management, People, systems integration, technology
November 10, 2008 • 6:25 pm 0
There is a new resource for UK technology news and views that you should not miss if you are a marketer working in the UK Software and Services market, or indeed if your company operates in the UK. It is provided by esteemed analysts Richard Holway and Anthony Miller.
TechMarketView’s flagship product is UKHotViews, a source of informed opinion and comment on the events, issues and players that really matter.
The feed is here or you can subscribe to get a daily email by clicking here. Just head to the top right and inserting your email address.
This is one of those rare resources that you should read every day, without fail.
Filed under: Analyst, Business, Computer, Computing, IT, News, Research, Strategy, technology , Analyst, Anthony Miller, AR, IT, IT services, News and Views, Research, Richard Holway, Software, technology, UK, UK Hot Views
November 7, 2008 • 10:48 pm 2
Nicholas Carr states that;
Technorati has identified 133 million blogs since it started indexing them in 2002. But at least 94 percent of them have gone dormant, the company reports in its most recent “state of the blogosphere” study. Only 7.4 million blogs had any postings in the last 120 days, and only 1.5 million had any postings in the last seven days.
Wow. I’m amazed. 1.5 million blogs (not bloggers), globally.
A sizeable crowd are saying blogging is mainstream. And dead. And yet there are only 1.5 million regularly updated blogs. Strikes me that the problem is not ‘blogging being mainstream’, but finding the good stuff between the professional blogs and the drivel.
26/11/08 Update: This is a good perspective too.
Filed under: Blogging, Business, Ideas and Riffs, Measurement, Media, Web, blogs, ideas, technology , Blogging, mainstream, nicholas carr, state of the blogosphere, Technorati
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