BRAND MARKETING

Social gaming

2011-08-16T00:56:00.000-07:00

Social gaming is where brands can really engage with customers and consumers, its a mix of all the digital media you have from facebook,twitter to create a micro site! the brand is the hero and your game should engage and be fun for the users. Pay attention to your target market and you will see clear results.

One important thing is the KPI for the social gaming, and you should create a road map against what you think is the rite way barriers vs rewards of the game.

research online as well and you will see how other brands are doing it.

Muslim consumer

2011-05-06T00:43:00.000-07:00

Muslim consumers want to be treated with respect and want brands and companies who actually understand them, show in their communicaiton and insight is based on their particular needs not just copy paste from London! the biggest thing is they are all young therefore an opportunity exists for companies to focus on them. Gain their particular insights in terms of technology,life and fashion etc.

BRAND IDEA

2011-04-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

What is a brand Idea?

Its the concept or the ethos which brand stands for! its not a tag like its the idea that is developed from the insights and the product opportunity your company has in the market.

A brand idea is also not an advertising idea, your advertising and communication will be based on your strategy and particular campaigns. A brand idea is the reason a company exists for ! It does not have to be fancy magic of words , and the most important thing is the relevance it needs with the brand.

E.G Apple's brand idea is fueling creative minds! but the tag like is THINK DIFFERENT!so apple stands for the creative mind and its tag like its whole communication stands behind that one idea.

Burger king for example says its Brand Idea is choice in your food, tag line is HAVE IT YOUR WAY!

So again brand idea is what you stand for and exist for!

Muslim Consumer Insight

2011-03-30T00:36:00.000-07:00

We all know companies use insight to gain market share, win brand loyalty! but how much do companies know about muslim consumers? their insight and really act upon it? The problem is companies dont dig deeper into the reasons muslim consumers use certain products and how to actually use the data and insight in creating long term brand share.

Muslim consumers like any consumers are loyal to what they use for years, beverages for example. Juices vs the colas! there is a problem with not really doing analaysis on brand by brand level, on flavors and on functionality of each. Why do certain flavors sell better then others and how can you create brand awareness and likeness for others? using the inherent brand value proposition build on them, use them and have the people use them with proper SKU! thats highly important. Muslim consumers tend to be loyal to the companies which pay attention to the small things! national identities and certain historical things tied in with their own history!

further to come

Branding for Muslims

2010-11-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Its Interesting to see how a worldwide company has acknowledged the power of branding and marketing for Muslims. They make 1.2 billion consumers the world across, and not understanding them as customers and consumers is definitely a wrong idea! its not easy branding to them but they are loyal customers who value family, traditions and of course the religion.

5 TIPS FOR GETING THE JOB DONE!

2010-06-10T07:57:00.000-07:00

5 Client Pitch Tips That Score Contracts

Guys This is the article you def should read if you want to get the job done and get business during a Pitch....

1. Talk Like You Mean Business, Not an Amateur

Your client needs to know you’re an old hat at sales and that you know your product and service inside out. Prove this to them by:

* Speaking slowly and be brief
* Asking the right questions that identify the client’s needs
* Listening more than you talk.

2. Don’t Act Like It’s an Audition – Act Like You’ve Inked the Deal

Your clients are busy people who’ve got businesses to run. Acting like a thought partner will get you ahead of the ‘audition’ phase and straight to planning strategy, and execution, which then leads to the physical signing of your contract or proposal. I stress that isn’t the actual signature that’s important, but rather the psychological buy-in that you must establish in the early phases of engagement.
3. Identify What They Need to Know

You’ve got an arsenal of charts, stats, practiced responses to every objection a client can throw at you and more – Why would you spill the beans if you don’t need to? Don’t talk to your prospect about every client success, or the structure of your team, or even how you go about delivering the service if you don’t need to.
4. You’re Solving Not Selling

Everyone likes to buy but no one likes to be sold. As a consultant, aim to solve the client’s problems rather than selling them.
5. Listen, Learn and Revise

Proposals aren’t set in stone when you first pitch them to a client. Mine go through several revisions before one gets signed, not because of alterations to price, but rather due to changes in deliverables, goals, and campaign focus. It’s important to listen to what the client is exactly asking for, and answering them with a solution that fits both worlds.

Tip: Don’t budge on price without adjusting deliverables, as then you’re setting the precedent of discounting the value of your services.

AIRPORT BRANDING

2010-01-31T05:11:00.000-08:00

Airports are an amazing place, people spend a lot of time mentally and physically at the airports. Branding at airports is a beautiful thing if done properly. The different levels of branding and advertising can be divided from the point of entrance to the point where people board their plane, or are there to drop or pick someone up!

The ads and branding has to be unified and the 1 thing I find over and over again is that its boring! the same old sign, billboard or a banner. Companies need to change the game on how they do , customers always rememeber a brand which is fun, take the example of VIRGIN...their ads are crazy, there website is absolutely against all the laws of branding yet people love the brand

Change your logo in recession

2010-01-21T10:39:00.002-08:00

Hi,

We all know what a good logo can do for business,brand loyalty and awareness. Most companies even knowing these basics still miss the point in looking at their logo. Recession is like a break ...everything slows down but you can use it for your benefit

Start with revamping your logo, why ? because businesses slow down some do close too but the ones who are open become leaner and look for partners who share that business motivation with them.

Look into your logo and your corporate identity and revamp it! another reason to do this is the ability to reconnect with your customers and partners and show them you mean business with a new style and brand reenginerring!

study before you do change your logo or identity and look at the latest trends...also see looking at your business ...do gorilla marketing and create that buzz you and your business is looking for....

some points you can look into

1 create a new identity
2 create a website with links to your work and portfolio
3 Do gorilla marketing but dont destroy your business identity doing it
4 Train your employees specially sales people ask your self when was the last time you did that?
5 Call and visit each client , clients love companies which show care and mean it!
6 if you are the boss or the owner of a business do PR activity, sponsor something or appear for a cause....

all this will reinforce your identity and give you an edge over your customers
2

Employee branding

2009-08-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

The definition of employee branding :

When an employee is willing to jump off the window for his company (well not really)

I think employee branding is as important as setting up your business correctly, most major companies forget that no matter how good their brands are, their employees are interacting with the customer, in a recent survey done at best buy in mystery shopping, 90% yes 90% employees did not ask a question when inquired about a product, rest asked just one question,

Q-so how can best buy claim to have superior customer service?

airlines are again another example where procedural training is intensively done but are the employees who are the touch points with the customer ever told

Q-what the mission statement is?

There are millions of examples that can be given , the difference which companies need to realize is that there are 2 sets of training for any employee.

1 The admin and procedural training, equipment handling, data etc

2 The 2nd is the training related with the goals and the mission of the company, this is where things are behind in most organizations,specially if there is a rebrand is going on.

Most companies think they are the champions of customer service if they have people standing at store floors or counters and smiling, well thats the first step!! if randomly any employee is questioned on what do you think is in it for you while you are here helping customers they will be like what?

Employee branding is done in few stages.

I think branding for employees is as important as the product it self, most of the companies who champion them selves as customer service oriented and how good they are fall short of real service, creating great retail spaces is not enough if you have teenagers working at the floor unable to full provide information, guess what which directly affats your brand.

There is a difference between training

1 procedural, use of equipment and admin training which companies provide

2 Brand training, being a brand ambassador, its like being a police, they always act as police officers on duty or off duty, so if police was a brand by lets say PNG, they definitly will have a amazing brand ambassador program.

3 Internal branding should also have more enhanced employee training program, one reason VIRGIN is so successful in all its brand offerings is the interest of its senior managers and top management being involved , giving such a cult like feel to the whole company.

4 Training at different levels and also exchanging employees lets say for a day within different departments can create a further understanding within employees how company functions, finance doing sales and sales sitting in operations.

5 Companies also need to do a more creative employee appreciation plan, like Google does, they have picnic chairs at the meeting room, free lunches, and things which make a employee die for its company. Ok may be not all companies can provide free lunches but they can definitely be a little more creative in terms of employee involvement with the company

6 six monthly internal research...conducted on employees and to understand their needs and how they perceive the brand,

7 The latest brand initiative and strategy which I have seen is companies using social media with employees to create further brand talk. Employees should be given a special incentive to talk about the company and the brand of course in the positive manner, unlike virgin who fired 13 employees for talking crap about its brand on Facebook.

more to follow!

BRAND GOAL: Marketing to Muslims in Ramadan

2009-08-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

BRAND GOAL: Marketing to Muslims in Ramadan

Marketing to Muslims in Ramadan

2009-08-21T12:03:00.000-07:00

First of all : Ramadan is the holy month during which we fast from sun up till sun down, its a spiritual time to be close to God as well as abstain from all the worldly things, I am a Muslim and proud of it,

I also am a marketing professional and love it. I think its a very good time to brand and do marketing because people spend a lot of time on buying food, drinks and do grocery almost every few days. Most companies I have noticed forget that they can use this special time to create a bigger brand engagement with the people. especially companies in EU and US, Muslims in general are very brand loyal people, they easily trust and if there was a research done on

1 worth of mouth marketing in Muslims, you will see its very very high, specially when it comes to food items because they tend to listen to their Muslim peers and friends more than they will ever listen to the TV,

2 branding should be done to celebrate ramadan with them,become a friend , do pre ramadan research and evaluate that are you ready for marketing to the Muslim masses, because

3 They make up more than 1 Billion customers for you! waiting to hear and listen and spend their money so what is your brand doing during this month??

4 specially Food and Drink brands, restaurants, Hotels and fast food chains have to come up with heavy advertising, do ramadan road shows, product knowledge shows,

5 people since are not eating will notice your effort because they are hungry, entice them in trying your new menu but make it funny...that we know u are fasting during ramadan but hey who is stopping you from trying our new whopper meal after you break your fast :)

6 Invent catchy lines, and ads for this month

7 giveaways and prizes are always a good thing

8 do pre ramadan research and ask people what they would like to see your brand doing during ramadan

more to follow :)

What do I think of Coke back to Basics

2009-08-19T19:31:00.000-07:00

well, Turner Duckworth and their work on coke is just amazing, I think the future of a brand is where it mixes a culture into the brand, like embedding it. The new identity just stripped away all the clutter and thats something I am Huge fan off...brand needs to be simple, able to connect and sooth the customers, with all the wars,natural disasters and stress around us do you really think you can still have the mind share with a clutter, and coke has been successful in a way to embed that simplicity into the design, its warm something people can relate to yet is modern and connected to the soul of a brand concept, so the engagement is amazing. Pepsi compared to this is also following the model but in a way thats diminishing the feel of the brand, first they changed colors from that classic white can into a blue one and now its getting even more complex with colors which are crossing the brand identity,

Pepsi if you are lisning to me please pay attention to your design....ask the consumers what they want for a change and trust me you will be amazed yourself!

Marketing in a Downturn do the opposite

2009-08-16T21:09:00.000-07:00

I am seeing companies going bust left and rite and the remaining ones are scared to death to spend any money these days, but you know what in a downturn thats the worst thing you can do, since during good times you work on sales and during bad ones you build you brand, or market share. A downturn does not mean customers have moved to mars they are just clinging to the dollars a little more. I think this is the best time to create further brand awareness,create strategies to have customers come back to you as soon as economy revives. Its like preparing for the Olympics, you prepare your best, Jog, swim, High jump and get to the point where you know you can compete with the top athletes, even though you know they happen only once 4 years! do you wait till the last moment ofcourse not, thats how preparing yourself and your brand should be during an economic downturn,do low budget branding activities, create buzz by doing something people dont expect,since everyone specially the customers love surprises,send a thank you note for being your patron over the years, do a event,a road show , something crazy because when the times roll back you will be first in line to hear the dollars coming out.

Microsoft Retail stores

2009-08-02T11:51:00.000-07:00

Well well well, finaly the cat is out of the bag and we know MS is coming up with thier own stores, There is definitly nothing wrong with that and I am excited because I kind of got sick of seeing Ipod and Iphone invasion all over. I worked at Sony and I know retail is highly important to reach your customers, products can be touched,tested,played with and microsoft has every rite to do that as well. The things which I would like to see besides a snazzy store is

excellent customer service not just smiles.

products being shown on a live demo style

mini product road shows with user participation and product parties

They should also create a member club for people who are really serious buyers so they feel more connected and also since they are the real buyers they get first hand look at products and other stuff

create every store with a theme but do not and I mean do not Clutter the store with advertising and products pictures.

One of the most important thing is to do Live marketing research at the store level and understand what customers think on a continuous basis to create the best store and product experience

Good Luck guys

Brand your card crazy

2009-07-30T15:39:00.000-07:00

your business card is you and speaks a volume, we are so used to those little pieces of paper that I thinks its boring. Think about it are you still not giving cards the way your grandfather did? so what are you doing thats different, in the age of social media and all the facebooking should'nt the cards be unique as well. try giving something besides that card which people can keep on their Desk. like a gift item a bobble head may be , a small shirt which they can hang some where with ur details on it, your logo should still be there but imagine people looking and saying hey wow who gave u that? thats free PR which you can generate! go ahead and try it! be creative and see how you create brand buzz for your self.

Brand Clutter at the Malls

2009-07-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

Brand Clutter at the mall is I personally think one of the worst kinds, Unless brands are uniform across the board, very heavily advertise in magazines, billboards , social media and create this on going buzz the chances are slowly and gradually they will loose market share because out of sight is out of mind. Malls I have noticed are not doing any thing special in terms of creating an in house branding effort, they are boring and dull just the way they used to be.

Internal branding action is needed it can be with visual, sound or use of some other concept to gain further vision and engagement of the customer who is lost in the clutter of brands.

again simplicity is the key word in winning these customers! look into your logo work, merchandising, staff training and see how they all are playing together like an orchestra to deliver that across the board branding.

Brand clutter

2009-07-28T22:15:00.000-07:00

Brand clutter is a concept just like the word says clutter, when you enter into wall mart and get lost in the ailes confused between 10 different brands of cereals or tylenol. Brands have lost the power to control the vision even and thats the worst part of being a brand these days and part of a clutter.

Small business brand management

2008-06-09T04:05:00.001-07:00

Thinking how small business branding is suffering because of big boys! what can be done and what are some of methods that can revamp small stores and businesses. any ideas? post back