In my previous post on Mobile Devices, I mentioned about Static IP addresses for all mobile, hand held or electronic devices, talking to each other over wireless networks.
So a question crossed my mind, is there a need for Mobile Information companies like Alexa.com (web information company).
Not just that, in today's world, when there are so many email service providers like ExactTarget, VerticalResponse, SubscriberMail, vTrenz, Bronto, Silverpop, Strongmail and many more...we are headed for mobile mail delivery providers as well as mobile content delivery providers.
In Email delivery, one of the key challenge is ensuring the mail doesn't go to the SPAM box, which depends on a lot of things, most importantly the reputation of the service provider. Websites like http://www.senderscore.org/ provide email vendor's reputation with various ISPs and give a score which says how well recepted a specific IP address of a specific vendor is.
With Mobile Marketing Association getting more and more active in recent times, they have now laid down the guidelines for Mobile marketing in various regions. I see a need for a mobile information companies which will be monitoring the Mobile Carriers and Mobile VAS operators for delivering the content on the mobile phones and will give a credibility rating suggesting if the incoming messages are being blocked by a user.
Well, till now call barring is what I am aware of. However, as we go forward, with more and more marketers tending to leverage mobile media for marketing, there need to be some controlling guidelines put into place. Does this gives rise to Mobile Information Company?
Do share your comments about the same...
Monday, December 31, 2007
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Will Google Android dictate 2008 mobile strategy? 2008 Mobiles from Nokia, Apple, LG, Samsung, Moto, Sony
2008 would be an interesting year for mobile phones as New Generation Phones with ARTistic and Designer instincts seamessly integrated, with WiMAX, 3G and Software driven phones will be taking over the old rut.
1. Google Android
Surprised? The much rumored G-Phone never materialized, but in its place we were given Google Android, not a physical phone, but an operating system to rival heavyweights like Symbian and Windows Mobile. While many were disappointed not to see a shiny new piece of hardware to go face to face with the iPhone, for true mobile lovers Android represents something just as exciting. Seamless integration with Google’s maps, email, search and countless other applications, and an open source platform for developers to create their own mobile software. There’s even a million dollars worth of prize money for the best creations, as Google look to raise the bar once again. It's clear, Software is driving the hardware now.
2. 3G iPhone
The Nokia 8800 series has been one of Nokia’s most successful ranges, comfortably outselling far better equipped phones. Until you get your hands on one its difficult to understand the attraction, but up close it’s a cut above, a fabulously designed and beautifully engineered mobile phone that feels as good to use as it does to look at. The next generation of the series brings us the Nokia 8800 Arte models, and this time there’s a bit of substance behind the style, with a 3 megapixel camera, 3G and 1G of internal memory among other improvements. The Sapphire Arte even boasts a whole sapphire within the d-pad!
4. Samsung Armani phone
Following the arrival of Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Levis and Tag Heuer onto the mobile scene it was surely only a matter of time before Armani followed suit. The Armani phone, designed in partnership with Samsung and also known as the Samsung P520 bears an unmistakable resemblance to the LG Prada phone with its black exterior, square frame and touch-screen interface, but its clearly a classy little number and we can’t wait to get our hands on it
5. Nokia 3110 Evolve
Nokia have been keen to display their green credentials of late, and at the forefront of this comes the Nokia 3110 Evolve, a phone for the environmentally aware. It’s a smart looking phone in silver and black, lightweight and slender, with a 1.4 megapixel camera and EDGE connectivity, but its the materials that have gone into the production of the Evolve that stand it apart from other phones. The casing, dubbed the ‘Bio-cover’ is made from 50% renewable materials, the packaging from 60% recyclable material and Nokia’s most efficient ever charger will make its users glow green with pride!
6. Sony Ericsson W890i
What! Another walkman phone! Surely not. Ok, it might not sound like the most interesting development in the world, but read on, the W890i is sure to turn a few heads. It’s the replacement for the ultra-cool, ultra-thin W880i, and it builds on the success of that handset by adding some mouthwatering features. The W890i is an HSDPA phone and also has a 3 megapixel camera, and is still only 9.9mm thick. Not bad when the iPhone stripped of 3G to shave off a few millimeters!
The Samsung F250 should be with us in early 2008 and looks like being an impressive addition to Samsung’s already extensive list of stylish slider phones. The F250 has a mirror-finish fascia and a brushed-metal keypad that recalls the Ultra range. The features aren’t outstanding, but it looks like being competitively priced.
9. Sony Ericsson P5i
The Sony Ericsson P5i is at this stage just a rumour, but its a good rumour so deserving of its place in this list! If reports are true then we’re looking at a 5 megapixel camera phone with WiFi, GPS and HSUPA connectivity. Mid 2008 release? Watch this space…
1. Google Android
Surprised? The much rumored G-Phone never materialized, but in its place we were given Google Android, not a physical phone, but an operating system to rival heavyweights like Symbian and Windows Mobile. While many were disappointed not to see a shiny new piece of hardware to go face to face with the iPhone, for true mobile lovers Android represents something just as exciting. Seamless integration with Google’s maps, email, search and countless other applications, and an open source platform for developers to create their own mobile software. There’s even a million dollars worth of prize money for the best creations, as Google look to raise the bar once again. It's clear, Software is driving the hardware now.2. 3G iPhone
Despite its enormous hype, the iPhone has been underwhelming in its assault on the UK mobile scene. Perhaps people have been put off by the exorbitant price, maybe its the lack of true USPs, either way, it’s fully expected that a second generation iPhone will be with us sooner rather than later, and this one will be equipped with 3G connectivity. It was a big disappointment not to see 3G on the original model, severely undermining the product’s excellent safari browser and touchscreen interface, but a Mk II iPhone should be enough to appease some doubters. The rumoured price drop might swing a few floating voters as well.
3. Nokia 8800 Arte series
The Nokia 8800 series has been one of Nokia’s most successful ranges, comfortably outselling far better equipped phones. Until you get your hands on one its difficult to understand the attraction, but up close it’s a cut above, a fabulously designed and beautifully engineered mobile phone that feels as good to use as it does to look at. The next generation of the series brings us the Nokia 8800 Arte models, and this time there’s a bit of substance behind the style, with a 3 megapixel camera, 3G and 1G of internal memory among other improvements. The Sapphire Arte even boasts a whole sapphire within the d-pad!4. Samsung Armani phone
Following the arrival of Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Levis and Tag Heuer onto the mobile scene it was surely only a matter of time before Armani followed suit. The Armani phone, designed in partnership with Samsung and also known as the Samsung P520 bears an unmistakable resemblance to the LG Prada phone with its black exterior, square frame and touch-screen interface, but its clearly a classy little number and we can’t wait to get our hands on it5. Nokia 3110 Evolve
Nokia have been keen to display their green credentials of late, and at the forefront of this comes the Nokia 3110 Evolve, a phone for the environmentally aware. It’s a smart looking phone in silver and black, lightweight and slender, with a 1.4 megapixel camera and EDGE connectivity, but its the materials that have gone into the production of the Evolve that stand it apart from other phones. The casing, dubbed the ‘Bio-cover’ is made from 50% renewable materials, the packaging from 60% recyclable material and Nokia’s most efficient ever charger will make its users glow green with pride!6. Sony Ericsson W890i
What! Another walkman phone! Surely not. Ok, it might not sound like the most interesting development in the world, but read on, the W890i is sure to turn a few heads. It’s the replacement for the ultra-cool, ultra-thin W880i, and it builds on the success of that handset by adding some mouthwatering features. The W890i is an HSDPA phone and also has a 3 megapixel camera, and is still only 9.9mm thick. Not bad when the iPhone stripped of 3G to shave off a few millimeters!7. Tag Heuer phone
The Tag phone has been on the cards for a long time now, but an announcement in November suggests a release is imminent. French design house Modelabs are working on the design and the word is that we’ll see a product in the second half of 2008. But is it a watch or it is a phone?!!
8. Samsung F250
The Tag phone has been on the cards for a long time now, but an announcement in November suggests a release is imminent. French design house Modelabs are working on the design and the word is that we’ll see a product in the second half of 2008. But is it a watch or it is a phone?!!8. Samsung F250
The Samsung F250 should be with us in early 2008 and looks like being an impressive addition to Samsung’s already extensive list of stylish slider phones. The F250 has a mirror-finish fascia and a brushed-metal keypad that recalls the Ultra range. The features aren’t outstanding, but it looks like being competitively priced.9. Sony Ericsson P5i
The Sony Ericsson P5i is at this stage just a rumour, but its a good rumour so deserving of its place in this list! If reports are true then we’re looking at a 5 megapixel camera phone with WiFi, GPS and HSUPA connectivity. Mid 2008 release? Watch this space… 10. Motorola and Nokia WiMax phones
It has long been reported that Motorola and Nokia have targeted 2008 as the year to market their first Wimax phones, handsets that would be able to connect to citywide WiFi networks, and potentially to massively bring down the cost of mobile internet surfing for the average user.
It has long been reported that Motorola and Nokia have targeted 2008 as the year to market their first Wimax phones, handsets that would be able to connect to citywide WiFi networks, and potentially to massively bring down the cost of mobile internet surfing for the average user.* content help from ... http://www.dialaphone.co.uk/blog/?p=942
Friday, December 28, 2007
What's the Future Series Part 3 - Mobile Devices
Last week, I was sitting with my ex-colleagues from National Instruments when we started discussing where the world is headed to in terms of new business opportunities in IT and Web technologies and more...
Interestingly hand-held, wireless devices and online portals became the key discussion topics. Though, we discussed more about how computing is moving online and how just a TCP/IP enabled platform will become a single standard for information, computing and sales (this was under the light that IPV6 standards will provide over 300 Billion static IP addresses to any mobile, wireless, wired and electronic instruments). This should be enough to take care of the 6 billion population of the world for coming 50 years, I guess.
During this discussion, I was thinking about how our behaviour changes towards technology and I recollected some memories from my college days. There was a time when I presented 2 techhnical papers on M-Commerce and Holographic storage devices. M-Commerce basically mean purchasing things on mobiles and holographic storage means storing Terra Bytes of data on 3D holograms. 7-years back the audience was more amused and intrigued on my papers. Though they might be buying their next movie ticket on mobiles today. Anyways, I am happy that my thinking 7-years back is tied well with reality today.
Now, the Future of marketing, which I see is definitely going to be Marketing through the Mobile Channel or the “Mobile Marketing”. With Blackberry's becoming more and more common and Nokia standardizing its business phone, E-series, with Mobile content management and Mobile Value Added Services companies growing over 200% annually, with email marketing providers thrusting on the mobile friendly content, it's not going to be long when revenue source for companies start showing "through Mobile" as a constant field in their reporting.
Mobile marketing (MM) consists of a unique, complex, mix of technologies, business skills, and marketing expertise. It is a child born of the Internet revolution, and it is critical that today’s marketers grasp its significance. It is one of the first new channels to arise in over 50 years, and will quickly become a primary means of reaching out to our customers.
The reliance on mobile phones is increasing rapidly, and considering the Indian markets which has shown enormous growth, for consumption of these services, it's obvious that some of the world's largest players are investing heavily in India. In fact, there are now more mobile phone subscribers in the world (2.4 billion)*, than there are landline phones subscribers. The mobile phone is becoming a primary means of communication, not only for voice but also for digital services, email, digital photos, navigation, etc. Worldwide over 350 billion text messages, also known as “SMS Messages,” are exchanged across the world’s mobile networks every month, with over 15% of these messages, according to the Yankee Group, being classified as commercial, or marketing, messages.
*GSM Association, http://www.gsmworld.com/
An interesting mobile marketing ecosystem has emerged according to MMA, aptly depicted by the image below:-
Interestingly hand-held, wireless devices and online portals became the key discussion topics. Though, we discussed more about how computing is moving online and how just a TCP/IP enabled platform will become a single standard for information, computing and sales (this was under the light that IPV6 standards will provide over 300 Billion static IP addresses to any mobile, wireless, wired and electronic instruments). This should be enough to take care of the 6 billion population of the world for coming 50 years, I guess.
During this discussion, I was thinking about how our behaviour changes towards technology and I recollected some memories from my college days. There was a time when I presented 2 techhnical papers on M-Commerce and Holographic storage devices. M-Commerce basically mean purchasing things on mobiles and holographic storage means storing Terra Bytes of data on 3D holograms. 7-years back the audience was more amused and intrigued on my papers. Though they might be buying their next movie ticket on mobiles today. Anyways, I am happy that my thinking 7-years back is tied well with reality today.
Now, the Future of marketing, which I see is definitely going to be Marketing through the Mobile Channel or the “Mobile Marketing”. With Blackberry's becoming more and more common and Nokia standardizing its business phone, E-series, with Mobile content management and Mobile Value Added Services companies growing over 200% annually, with email marketing providers thrusting on the mobile friendly content, it's not going to be long when revenue source for companies start showing "through Mobile" as a constant field in their reporting.
Mobile marketing (MM) consists of a unique, complex, mix of technologies, business skills, and marketing expertise. It is a child born of the Internet revolution, and it is critical that today’s marketers grasp its significance. It is one of the first new channels to arise in over 50 years, and will quickly become a primary means of reaching out to our customers.
The reliance on mobile phones is increasing rapidly, and considering the Indian markets which has shown enormous growth, for consumption of these services, it's obvious that some of the world's largest players are investing heavily in India. In fact, there are now more mobile phone subscribers in the world (2.4 billion)*, than there are landline phones subscribers. The mobile phone is becoming a primary means of communication, not only for voice but also for digital services, email, digital photos, navigation, etc. Worldwide over 350 billion text messages, also known as “SMS Messages,” are exchanged across the world’s mobile networks every month, with over 15% of these messages, according to the Yankee Group, being classified as commercial, or marketing, messages.
*GSM Association, http://www.gsmworld.com/
An interesting mobile marketing ecosystem has emerged according to MMA, aptly depicted by the image below:-
The Mobile Marketing Ecosystem is comprised of 4 interconnecting strategic spheres–Product & Services (brands, content owners and marketing agencies), Applications (discrete application providers and mobile ASPs), Connection (aggregators and wireless operators), and Media and Retail (media properties, “brick ‘n’ mortar” and virtual retail stores). Various enablers provide the foundation for each particular sphere. Players within these spheres work in concert to deliver a rich experience to consumers. The Mobile Channel Value Chain is the path by which the actual mobile communication and interactivity takes place between the Product & Services Sphere and mobile subscribers (consumers), however, consumer demand must first be established. To create this demand, products, services, events, and content programs are promoted through the Media and Retail Sphere’s various traditional channels.
An interesting report in 2005, Unfolding of the Mobile Marketing Ecosystem: A Growing Strategic Network, by Micheal Becker, CTO, iLoop Mobile explains this ecosystem very well.
Another interesting thing which you might be thinking of is how these SMS campaigns are managed? How companies like Yellow Pages is able to send instant SMSes to you with the information you requested or how while Voting for your popular candidates on a Indian Idol show gets collected by the marketeers? Or may be how your SMSes for Contests on your favourite FM channel makes you win that hamper? Well this is because of the rise of mobile Value Added Service providers eg. On Mobile, IMIMobile, One97 to name a few in India.
With competition starting to take-off in this category, more and more marketeers will be moving to these channels. Also, these VAS providers would need to gear-up for the futue of customer centric services. They will have to look much ahead of a demand to be created and will have to be Agile enough to get such demands fulfilled even before the customers ask for it. So essentially, the strategy would be to create a Think Tank or Pool of Ideas on proactive basis, to keep differentiating the offerings before the competition does.
A WIDE-OPEN eye along with a keen tap on the market movement, will help them to remain ahead in competition. With companies like Reliance, who would want to have the entire ecosystem under their nose, it would only become more and more challenging for these VAS operators to sustain. With sustenance based on VCs, its always a continuous sword on the head, to overperform and post more and more profits. Though innovation and proactive behaviour might ask for diverging away from profits in certain business quarters. Also, this can even spur another consolidation wave where we can see some more mergers and acquisitions.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Yercaud - A perfect weekend getaway!
In search of weekend getaway? - A certain getaway...
Recently I visited Yercaud. It's a hill station approx 30 kms up-hill from Salem city (known for its steel), in Tamil Nadu, India, in the Servarayan range (anglicized as Shevaroys) of hills in the Eastern Ghats. It is at an altitude of 1,500 metres (4,920 feet) MSL. The town gets its name from the lake located at its center - in Tamil "Yeri" means "lake" and "Kaadu" means "forest". Just a 5 hour (220km) drive from busy Bangalore, Yercaud is a definitive Relaxing retreat!. If you are looking for holidays away from Bangalore, resorts outside Bangalore or resorts away from Bangalore, your next weekend getaway from Bangalore, places to visit near Bangalore, places to visit near Chennai, resorts near Chennai etc, this is a must visit place or the right tourist destination near to Bangalore and Chennai.
It's a perfect tourist destination, just 200 km near Bangalore, for people (like me) who are looking for a calm and relaxing holiday or even if someone is looking for some adventure like trekking (in a forest), rock climbing (near kiliyur falls) etc.
How to reach yercaud from Bangalore?
The journey or route to yercaud is something like this…I left Bangalore at 7.30 Am driving towards Hosur road and reached Yercaud around 1 PM. From Bangalore you take the Hosur road, drive on to Hosur (approx 38 kms). The next destination, Krishnagiri Bypass is approx 86 kms from Bangalore. The highway to Krishnagiri is perfect and you can safely speed up to 120-140 kmph. From Krishnagiri you head straight to Dharmapuri (135 Kms) and then to Omalur (186 kms). At the 4 Lane point you have to take the extreme left and you should reach Salem city. You have to take the extreme left again at the 5 lane junction and that road reaches another circle (on right hand side is a petrol pump) from where you again have to take the left turn. You would then be heading towards the ghat section (hilly area of almost 30 kms). You won’t feel alone with groups of monkeys greeting you on your way. A cautious uphill drive will take you 25-40 mins to reach Yercaud.
The interesting Hair Pin Bends, all 20 of them will check your driving skills and keep you busy going uphill. The villagers are helpful, they will guide you in case you feel lost. The town closes at 6 PM. There is not much activity after 7 PM and it gets dark by then too. So you better plan on reaching before 6 PM and try to check into your hotel.
Where to stay?
Where to stay?
Grand Palace gave me almost everything I needed. Very well situated on the top of a hill, over looking the city, this place is a scenic grandeur. It hosts a nice restaurant, Yercaud's best Pub (Cloud 9), nice comfortable rooms, party hall and above all a superb location with a view of the valley on one side and the lake and city on the other. A very prompt staff always ready to help and give the best service to the guests, this place offers a variety of good food. A large, sumptuous breakfast in bed is something which will drive you to revisit and enjoy your stay.
Well, WHY would you want to go to a hill station? Prime reason is to get away from the city's busy life...some peaceful place where you can relax, be close to nature and enjoy your time. (at least mine was this)
A short video of the entrance...
Being relatively new, it has a plush, modern feel about it. Overall you will enjoy its eye-soothing beauty, evening bonfire, comfortable rooms and prompt service, apt location (near lake and falls), good food, exciting pub (Cloud 9), plush lawns, grand front entry, relaxing seats at the back peeping into valley, large windows peeping over the lake and city,and much more. I emphasized so much on the hotel because there is not much else to do in Yercaud, than enjoying your stay at the hotel and visiting the few sight seeing spots around town.
Places to go around:
This small town with a population of less than 5000 people (approx) is like a tourist haven. Some places to visit in Yercaud are The Yercaud Lake, Lady's Seat, Gent's Seat, Children's Seat (scenic view points), A rose and horticulture garden, Pagoda Point, perfume factory, Kiliyur Falls, Rajarajeshwari temple, and of course the general beauty of the place is unmistakable. You can visit some of the other resorts and enjoy the soothing massages or a sauna bath they have to offer.
The approach to Kiliyur falls is a little mystery. You have a clear view of the waterfall from the top. However, when you start trekking and go down the steep and rocky path, you will have to do some rock climbing to actually get near to the falls. A little unsafe if you are not a regular trekker. But its as close to nature as your trip to Yercaud can get.
Lucky Husbands and unmarried Men would want to Visit this place.
It’s a husband’s paradise as there are no shopping avenues available. However women always beat men when it comes to shopping, and the lucky ones will not miss the Shevaroy's Supermarket taking care of all your needs.. Shevaroy's also has a children's game parlor which though a little old now, will keep your children occupied and ensure they have an enjoyable time.
Even women too...
Well, women can look forward to staying in bed and getting served breakast, and the soiled plates getting done automatically. You must visit the quaint little shop in Grange resorts with its host of interesting knick-knacks and the few outlets selling perfumes & oils & spices. And your husband would be too busy sleeping, so you can enjoy time-off without him asking to do anything for him.
Ending note...
During my visit I noticed the life of people there was very relaxed, they were happy and healthy. Also the stark absence of traffic and absence of rush, to get to places, to get things done unlike Bangalore or any other large city, left me wondering why are we running so much and for what?
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
What’s The Future - Series | Part - 2 - PUSH/PULL Marketing is DEAD ? And 4Rs of Marketing
PUSH Marketing is DEAD(?) PULL marketing is Dead too(?)-4Rs of Marketing
According to a recent survey on advertising messages through various media, on an average working day where you travel in the morning to your office, spend a full day in office to the time you go back and sleep after watching your favorite TV channel in the evening, you are most probably going to be targeted by approx. 3000 marketing messages.
Knowingly or not, you get subjected to these messages in forms of Billboards, Radio Jingles, TV ads, Online banners, Emails, etc. These can be friendly, unfriendly, solicited, unsolicited, relevant, irrelevant messages which you would have to go through. Almost all the marketing messages come through well crafted marketing campaigns where a huge amount of time and money is spent.
However, how many of them have the “Engagement Value” perceived for the targeted audience?
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit's survey report, of sales and marketing executives worldwide, more than 80% of the executives believe that they lost the sales because they couldn’t engage their prospect enough to get them interested to buy. While it is challenging to engage prospects in the communication process, marketers are using newer techniques on their websites like, videos and rich media to engage their audience. However, the report says 47% of respondents suggested that it’s really difficult to measure how the engagement mechanism affected the purchase behavior, among the gamut of activities in the engagement process.
If it was 1950, it would have been easier to get someone to endorse the product and broadcast the message to everyone. This PUSHing the message technique worked, when people had no clue about their personal choice of “media” and their choice of “time” to access that media. However, this pushing the message across has created the biggest challenge for the marketers of this age where we have to become over cautious to choose:
- 4 Ws of marketing
• what to market?
• whom to market?
• when to market?
• which media to market through?
not only these Ws, but also how often to market.
In today’s world, consumers are essentially the sellers too. People turn to existing customers to influence their own buying behavior. So pushing the message out is completely DEAD. Is that a conclusion? PUSH marketing is really Dead? YES and NO.
YES – You can’t expect the sales through pushing the message out.
NO – You can still expect the sales through pushing the right message out.
NO contd.: - Right message defined – So, now we know, that people are buying based on other consumer’s opinions, so let’s push the other people’s opinion crafted in the manner we want, to the consumer and help them make that buying decision. The right message is the message which has the engagement value, an existing customer’s voice and a perceived need, buying urgency and a definitive benefit in it.
Is pull marketing Dead? - Yes and NO
Yes - When everyone tries to pull the customers/prospects, then you don't know if your pull worked or not.
No - Definitely the pull marketing is the future however, customer centric behviour with the following 4 Rs approach definitely can be a great marketing strategy of Future!
A complete Paradigm Shift
4Ps --> 4 Rs
Dictating --> Listening
Researching --> Understanding through analytics
Push --> Community opinion building
Broadcasting --> Interest based Targeting
Recently I saw a presentation from Matt Langie on 4 Rs of marketing. The basic idea is as follows:
4Ps of marketing – Product, Price, Place, Promotion used to take prospects from the buying cycle moving from Awareness, Interest, Desire and Action. However, in today’s world of marketing, consumers are interested in listening to the crowds or their closed group while making a buying decision.
This has lead to the New approach of consumer centric marketing or 4 Rs of marketing - Reveal, Reward, Respect and Retain
1. Reveal – Understand your prospects and customers recent traits and past history to come up with a planned, targeted, focused, need based marketing effort.
Various tactics: -
• Monitoring unique visitors
• Online engagements
o Voting
o Surveys
o Referrals
• Referrals from other websites
2. Reward – While you gather valuable information from customers it’s essential to reward them and keep them engaged to buy more, profess more and keep them delighted.
Various Tactics: -
• Reward the customers to engage them more into your brand.
• Ask for their opinions
• Appreciate them on your online forums
• Give out some special coupons
• Give out something which they are definitely looking out for. etc.
3. Respect – A very well crafted, targeted, engaging campaign over time will build respect for your Brand. This gained respect with customers is something which will help you engage with other prospects.
While you are listening to the consumers, you are hearing what they would like just apart from your products and what values do they stand for. This is something which you can leverage to further engage with audience (customers and prospects) to further enhance the adoption.
4. Retain – Stimulate interactions with products through fun and imaginative extensions of the concept.
The basic idea is keep’em engaged.
HALT.
This brings me to a basic communication concept of networking, keeping the conversation on-going and reaping the benefits over and over again. Will talk more about it later.
CONTINUE…
A 360˚ view of the visitors or interactions:
-Listen – Survey, Onsite search, Website
-Learn – Offline Data + CRM
-Act – Email, Direct mail, Behavioral targeting
Question: How customer profiling with this 360 degree approach helps?
Answer: You can build a profile of a customer with demographics; likings etc and leverage that data for targeted marketing.
Tying it back to the Idea - Give the right information to the right audience at the right time, the way the want it and how often they want it.
To be concluded...
According to a recent survey on advertising messages through various media, on an average working day where you travel in the morning to your office, spend a full day in office to the time you go back and sleep after watching your favorite TV channel in the evening, you are most probably going to be targeted by approx. 3000 marketing messages.
Knowingly or not, you get subjected to these messages in forms of Billboards, Radio Jingles, TV ads, Online banners, Emails, etc. These can be friendly, unfriendly, solicited, unsolicited, relevant, irrelevant messages which you would have to go through. Almost all the marketing messages come through well crafted marketing campaigns where a huge amount of time and money is spent.
However, how many of them have the “Engagement Value” perceived for the targeted audience?
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit's survey report, of sales and marketing executives worldwide, more than 80% of the executives believe that they lost the sales because they couldn’t engage their prospect enough to get them interested to buy. While it is challenging to engage prospects in the communication process, marketers are using newer techniques on their websites like, videos and rich media to engage their audience. However, the report says 47% of respondents suggested that it’s really difficult to measure how the engagement mechanism affected the purchase behavior, among the gamut of activities in the engagement process.
If it was 1950, it would have been easier to get someone to endorse the product and broadcast the message to everyone. This PUSHing the message technique worked, when people had no clue about their personal choice of “media” and their choice of “time” to access that media. However, this pushing the message across has created the biggest challenge for the marketers of this age where we have to become over cautious to choose:
• what to market?
• whom to market?
• when to market?
• which media to market through?
not only these Ws, but also how often to market.
In today’s world, consumers are essentially the sellers too. People turn to existing customers to influence their own buying behavior. So pushing the message out is completely DEAD. Is that a conclusion? PUSH marketing is really Dead? YES and NO.
YES – You can’t expect the sales through pushing the message out.
NO – You can still expect the sales through pushing the right message out.
NO contd.: - Right message defined – So, now we know, that people are buying based on other consumer’s opinions, so let’s push the other people’s opinion crafted in the manner we want, to the consumer and help them make that buying decision. The right message is the message which has the engagement value, an existing customer’s voice and a perceived need, buying urgency and a definitive benefit in it.
Is pull marketing Dead? - Yes and NO
Yes - When everyone tries to pull the customers/prospects, then you don't know if your pull worked or not.
No - Definitely the pull marketing is the future however, customer centric behviour with the following 4 Rs approach definitely can be a great marketing strategy of Future!
A complete Paradigm Shift
4Ps --> 4 Rs
Dictating --> Listening
Researching --> Understanding through analytics
Push --> Community opinion building
Broadcasting --> Interest based Targeting
Recently I saw a presentation from Matt Langie on 4 Rs of marketing. The basic idea is as follows:
4Ps of marketing – Product, Price, Place, Promotion used to take prospects from the buying cycle moving from Awareness, Interest, Desire and Action. However, in today’s world of marketing, consumers are interested in listening to the crowds or their closed group while making a buying decision.
This has lead to the New approach of consumer centric marketing or 4 Rs of marketing - Reveal, Reward, Respect and Retain
1. Reveal – Understand your prospects and customers recent traits and past history to come up with a planned, targeted, focused, need based marketing effort.
Various tactics: -
• Monitoring unique visitors
• Online engagements
o Voting
o Surveys
o Referrals
• Referrals from other websites
2. Reward – While you gather valuable information from customers it’s essential to reward them and keep them engaged to buy more, profess more and keep them delighted.
Various Tactics: -
• Reward the customers to engage them more into your brand.
• Ask for their opinions
• Appreciate them on your online forums
• Give out some special coupons
• Give out something which they are definitely looking out for. etc.
3. Respect – A very well crafted, targeted, engaging campaign over time will build respect for your Brand. This gained respect with customers is something which will help you engage with other prospects.
While you are listening to the consumers, you are hearing what they would like just apart from your products and what values do they stand for. This is something which you can leverage to further engage with audience (customers and prospects) to further enhance the adoption.
4. Retain – Stimulate interactions with products through fun and imaginative extensions of the concept.
The basic idea is keep’em engaged.
HALT.
This brings me to a basic communication concept of networking, keeping the conversation on-going and reaping the benefits over and over again. Will talk more about it later.
CONTINUE…
A 360˚ view of the visitors or interactions:
-Listen – Survey, Onsite search, Website
-Learn – Offline Data + CRM
-Act – Email, Direct mail, Behavioral targeting
Question: How customer profiling with this 360 degree approach helps?
Answer: You can build a profile of a customer with demographics; likings etc and leverage that data for targeted marketing.
Tying it back to the Idea - Give the right information to the right audience at the right time, the way the want it and how often they want it.
To be concluded...
Monday, December 17, 2007
Will Middle East CFOs embrace the Strategist’s role in 2008?
Will Middle East CFOs embrace the Strategist’s role in 2008?
3rd – 4th Dec 2007, Dubai, Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel - The end of year 2007 saw a new hope among CFOs in Middle East when naseba, working in strategic partnership with Time Magazine, CNBC Arabiya, Middle East Monitor, Capital, Business Islamica, Business Intelligence Middle East and AME Info, gathered TOP CFOs from diverse industries like Banking, FMCG, Oil and Gas, Real Estate, Construction, hospitality and retail at the CFO Strategies Mid East congress 2007.
A unique congress with it’s agenda, helping to define and grow the role of a New CFO from just being a financial controller to the strategic business partner of the CEO.
Well moderated by Jim Frederick, Senior Editor, TIME Magazine, the congress saw a series of educational presentations. Mr. Sanjay Uppal, group CFO of Emirates NBD, unfolded the new CFO agenda, emphasizing on the evolving role of the CFO as the strategist. The new evolving role was echoed by Mr. Surinder Sarna, CFO, Al Shaya group, where he laid the new CFO-CEO partnership game-plan.
Mr. Dilip Kumar, Financial head of Arab Banking Corp., emphasized on disclosures in his presentation while Mr. Andy Raheja, CFO, Al Barari group, shared his vision on the CFOs role in the boom market, while giving a great analogy on known and unknown of Boom economies quoting Donald Rumsfeld.
The CFO of Jumbo Electronics, Mr. Vipin Aggarwal, aptly representing the FMCG market in Mid East focused on emerging paradigm of risk management and Mr. Deepak Shrivastava CFO, Oman LNG, shared his views on Real Asset management in Mid East region.
While brainstorming in roundtables, CFOs saw increased emphasis on IFRS adoption, BASEL II norms as well as some voices were raised for common standards to be followed by the entire Middle Eastern organizations. While the CFOs discussed the new company economics with direct impact of globalization, diversification of businesses as well as new mergers and acquisitions becoming more prominent in the new economy, they acceded to the fact that a new evolved strategic role for them is now mandatory.
Some of the key solution providers at the congress: Global Strategy and consulting firm, Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH), Financial Markets Intelligence provider and world's foremost provider of independent credit ratings, indices, risk evaluation, Standards and Poors, Investor Services and Credit risk assessing firm, Moody’s Middle East and credit risk management solutions firm, Atradius. During the one-to-one business meetings with CFOs as well as panel discussions gave some key insights in the new Credit rating procedures in Middle East and shared new risk assessing techniques.
CFO of Aggreko International said in his concluding remarks, “A very good concept and forum for networking and building professional relationships and sharing views. I would encourage follow up and building up on this." His thoughts were re-affirmed by CFO, Le Meridien Medina, “CFO ME is a very good first step to improve the roles and responsibilities in the Middle East.”
While commenting at the venue, the congress producer, Prachi Dawar, said, “Looking at the positive outlook of attendees and the value-add the CFOs had form this, we are looking forward to repeat this activity in Middle East in 2008”
naseba
Established in 2002, naseba produces business platforms focused on re-education, networking and most importantly increasing deal-making opportunities for executive clients. With offices strategically located in 7 cities around the world, naseba employs over 250 executives from more than 30 nationalities. naseba group went public on the Paris Stock Exchange on October 5th, 2006.
3rd – 4th Dec 2007, Dubai, Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel - The end of year 2007 saw a new hope among CFOs in Middle East when naseba, working in strategic partnership with Time Magazine, CNBC Arabiya, Middle East Monitor, Capital, Business Islamica, Business Intelligence Middle East and AME Info, gathered TOP CFOs from diverse industries like Banking, FMCG, Oil and Gas, Real Estate, Construction, hospitality and retail at the CFO Strategies Mid East congress 2007.
A unique congress with it’s agenda, helping to define and grow the role of a New CFO from just being a financial controller to the strategic business partner of the CEO.
Well moderated by Jim Frederick, Senior Editor, TIME Magazine, the congress saw a series of educational presentations. Mr. Sanjay Uppal, group CFO of Emirates NBD, unfolded the new CFO agenda, emphasizing on the evolving role of the CFO as the strategist. The new evolving role was echoed by Mr. Surinder Sarna, CFO, Al Shaya group, where he laid the new CFO-CEO partnership game-plan.
Mr. Dilip Kumar, Financial head of Arab Banking Corp., emphasized on disclosures in his presentation while Mr. Andy Raheja, CFO, Al Barari group, shared his vision on the CFOs role in the boom market, while giving a great analogy on known and unknown of Boom economies quoting Donald Rumsfeld.
The CFO of Jumbo Electronics, Mr. Vipin Aggarwal, aptly representing the FMCG market in Mid East focused on emerging paradigm of risk management and Mr. Deepak Shrivastava CFO, Oman LNG, shared his views on Real Asset management in Mid East region.
While brainstorming in roundtables, CFOs saw increased emphasis on IFRS adoption, BASEL II norms as well as some voices were raised for common standards to be followed by the entire Middle Eastern organizations. While the CFOs discussed the new company economics with direct impact of globalization, diversification of businesses as well as new mergers and acquisitions becoming more prominent in the new economy, they acceded to the fact that a new evolved strategic role for them is now mandatory.
Some of the key solution providers at the congress: Global Strategy and consulting firm, Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH), Financial Markets Intelligence provider and world's foremost provider of independent credit ratings, indices, risk evaluation, Standards and Poors, Investor Services and Credit risk assessing firm, Moody’s Middle East and credit risk management solutions firm, Atradius. During the one-to-one business meetings with CFOs as well as panel discussions gave some key insights in the new Credit rating procedures in Middle East and shared new risk assessing techniques.
CFO of Aggreko International said in his concluding remarks, “A very good concept and forum for networking and building professional relationships and sharing views. I would encourage follow up and building up on this." His thoughts were re-affirmed by CFO, Le Meridien Medina, “CFO ME is a very good first step to improve the roles and responsibilities in the Middle East.”
While commenting at the venue, the congress producer, Prachi Dawar, said, “Looking at the positive outlook of attendees and the value-add the CFOs had form this, we are looking forward to repeat this activity in Middle East in 2008”
naseba
Established in 2002, naseba produces business platforms focused on re-education, networking and most importantly increasing deal-making opportunities for executive clients. With offices strategically located in 7 cities around the world, naseba employs over 250 executives from more than 30 nationalities. naseba group went public on the Paris Stock Exchange on October 5th, 2006.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Ironic Dubai - On verge of a Bubble Burst?
Ironic Dubai
One of the culturally progressive places in the Middle East is Dubai. The most happening business destination of today's Fortune 500 companies. For it's obvious reasons of great business opportunities like oil, retail, shipping, as well as Dubai offers progressive culture, Tax Holidays, rapid adoption of technology and a strong buying power.
Strangely, the majority population of Dubai is expatriates. The ones who are staying for long now, have been able to settle themselves, well, however, still a large working population finds it difficult to sustain in Dubai because of rising inflation rates which has led to increased living costs in all quarters of life.
Very ironic to the Country's image {rich people} a majority {expatriate} is not rich as well as they are finding it increasingly difficult with each passing day to sustain in dubai. With ever increasing traffic and living costs...makes me ponder...is Dubai on a verge of Bubble Burst?
The bubble of growth has been building....and quite a few companies in Dubai have grown over 200% annually within past 5-7 years. This constitutes a minority companies, which are service providers, auxillary products and some mainstream product companies. A rapid growth is always appreciated with worldwide investment if it's sustenance is substantiated by credit rating agencies. However, how can you trust an agency in a region where they themselves are new and there has been no system of keeping financial records and it has been primarily private, single ownership businesses.
So does this bring us to ask questions like: Is A Growth Bubble Building up in Dubai? And is this Bubble on verge of Bursting?
Is this is Myth? - With an overall economic slowdown in American markets and other surrounding regions, Middle East still offers great economic spending power?
If this is true then why is inflation affecting Dubai? And if this is a myth then my question gets more important than ever...Is Dubai really on verge of a Bubble Burst?
Not sure about the answers to my questions, though Dubai reminds me of Mumbai...a Very Cleaner and well organized version of Mumbai. The people are busy in their daily lives, running around all over the place to earn their bread and butter. And they have the same bindas spirit. Just a twist that the place is very clean. People have driving sense and they enjoy their weekends at malls, shopping, trying out new eating joints and more...
During my recent visit to Dubai, i though of getting a couple of pictures clicked in one of the busy malls...its almost like another city inside a mall...phew..enough of my rambles...and questions for the day and my dubai visit... will be back soon...
One of the culturally progressive places in the Middle East is Dubai. The most happening business destination of today's Fortune 500 companies. For it's obvious reasons of great business opportunities like oil, retail, shipping, as well as Dubai offers progressive culture, Tax Holidays, rapid adoption of technology and a strong buying power.
Strangely, the majority population of Dubai is expatriates. The ones who are staying for long now, have been able to settle themselves, well, however, still a large working population finds it difficult to sustain in Dubai because of rising inflation rates which has led to increased living costs in all quarters of life.
Very ironic to the Country's image {rich people} a majority {expatriate} is not rich as well as they are finding it increasingly difficult with each passing day to sustain in dubai. With ever increasing traffic and living costs...makes me ponder...is Dubai on a verge of Bubble Burst?
The bubble of growth has been building....and quite a few companies in Dubai have grown over 200% annually within past 5-7 years. This constitutes a minority companies, which are service providers, auxillary products and some mainstream product companies. A rapid growth is always appreciated with worldwide investment if it's sustenance is substantiated by credit rating agencies. However, how can you trust an agency in a region where they themselves are new and there has been no system of keeping financial records and it has been primarily private, single ownership businesses.
So does this bring us to ask questions like: Is A Growth Bubble Building up in Dubai? And is this Bubble on verge of Bursting?
Is this is Myth? - With an overall economic slowdown in American markets and other surrounding regions, Middle East still offers great economic spending power?
If this is true then why is inflation affecting Dubai? And if this is a myth then my question gets more important than ever...Is Dubai really on verge of a Bubble Burst?
Not sure about the answers to my questions, though Dubai reminds me of Mumbai...a Very Cleaner and well organized version of Mumbai. The people are busy in their daily lives, running around all over the place to earn their bread and butter. And they have the same bindas spirit. Just a twist that the place is very clean. People have driving sense and they enjoy their weekends at malls, shopping, trying out new eating joints and more...
During my recent visit to Dubai, i though of getting a couple of pictures clicked in one of the busy malls...its almost like another city inside a mall...phew..enough of my rambles...and questions for the day and my dubai visit... will be back soon...
Thursday, November 29, 2007
naseba conducts Airport Expansion India Congress 2007
The Airport Expansion Indian Congress (AEIC) 2007, a two-day event that was organized by naseba, held at the Hyatt Regency in Mumbai from November 25, 2007, saw aviation experts from all over India, stressing on the need to upgrade India's airport infrastructure to match international standards. Each of them presented their case-studies on the subject. "India's aviation industry is soaring high and there is a need to put the infrastructure in place," said Andrew Harrison, Chief Operating Officer, Delhi International Airport Ltd. (DIAL), who gave a presentation on 'Shaping the Design for the Future - Vision 2010'.
Development of airports on the basis of Public Private Partnership (PPP) module was also highlighted. "Today, India is the second fastest growing passenger market in the world and there is an urgent need to refurbish airports. Although this poses as a great challenge, it also has the potential to create opportunities at large," stated Gordon Griffiths, Assistant Director (Airport Development - Asia Pacific), International Air Transport Association (IATA), while presenting a case study on 'Opportunities and Challenges of Indian Aviation.'
KN Shrivastava, Joint Secretary General, Ministry of Civil Aviation, spoke on the 'Current State and Future of Indian Airports', while Jeh Wadia, Managing Director, GoAir gave an insight on 'Airlines' perspective on Airport Development in India.' The event was attended by officials from the Airport Authority of India; Mumbai International Airport Ltd.; Delhi International Airport Ltd.; Cochin International Airport Ltd.; Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad; Bangalore International Airport Ltd.; Federation of Indian Airlines, SITA, IATA; GoAir; Malaysia Airports Holdings; Ernst And Young; Munich International Airport and Australia-based Aconex.
The event, organised by Monaco-based Naseba, a global business information company, is held in different countries every year and came to India for the first time. Speaking about the event, Prachi Dawar, Airport Excpansion Congress, Event Producer, Naseba, said, "The idea was to have a platform that focuses on knowledge expansion, networking and most importantly, maximising business opportunities. With the immense response that the AEIC received, we are considering making it an annual feature."
Development of airports on the basis of Public Private Partnership (PPP) module was also highlighted. "Today, India is the second fastest growing passenger market in the world and there is an urgent need to refurbish airports. Although this poses as a great challenge, it also has the potential to create opportunities at large," stated Gordon Griffiths, Assistant Director (Airport Development - Asia Pacific), International Air Transport Association (IATA), while presenting a case study on 'Opportunities and Challenges of Indian Aviation.'
KN Shrivastava, Joint Secretary General, Ministry of Civil Aviation, spoke on the 'Current State and Future of Indian Airports', while Jeh Wadia, Managing Director, GoAir gave an insight on 'Airlines' perspective on Airport Development in India.' The event was attended by officials from the Airport Authority of India; Mumbai International Airport Ltd.; Delhi International Airport Ltd.; Cochin International Airport Ltd.; Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad; Bangalore International Airport Ltd.; Federation of Indian Airlines, SITA, IATA; GoAir; Malaysia Airports Holdings; Ernst And Young; Munich International Airport and Australia-based Aconex.
The event, organised by Monaco-based Naseba, a global business information company, is held in different countries every year and came to India for the first time. Speaking about the event, Prachi Dawar, Airport Excpansion Congress, Event Producer, Naseba, said, "The idea was to have a platform that focuses on knowledge expansion, networking and most importantly, maximising business opportunities. With the immense response that the AEIC received, we are considering making it an annual feature."
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Marketing Communication Primer – What’s The Future? - Series
Marketing Communication – What’s The Future? - Series
Today I am starting this new series on my blog on Marketing communication, What’s the future?
Premise:-
With the B-Schools still teaching 4 Ps of marketing to MBA students while preparing them for businesses, the students face a stark reality when they sit for Interviews. They realize within 2 minutes of interview, that this is not what the companies are looking for.
Wow! “I worked my ass off to learn so much about marketing in my B-School and you are telling me this is not what you are looking for?” – This could be a reality check question running in mind of any B-School passout. Well the cruel answer is “YES”.
Do we blame the education for this mismatch? “No”. Then what do we do?
This series of Marketing Communication primer is going to help all fresh graduates, Marcom professionals, Strategic Marketing Professionals and Hiring Managers to see the difference in various levels of marketing, as well as, what’s the NEXT big things in Marketing to look for.
Causes for aberration:-
The prime reason why people get confused or are not well prepared for what they are looking for in their role in marketing is the lack of understanding about the two levels of Marketing.
Two Broad Levels of Marketing:
1. Strategic Marketing attempts to determine how an organization competes against its competitors in a market place. In particular, it aims at generating a competitive advantage relative to its competitors.
2. Operational Marketing executes marketing functions to attract and keep customers and to maximize the value derived for them, as well as to satisfy the customer with prompt services and meeting the customer expectations. Operational Marketing includes the determination of the marketing mix.
It’s very important for people to understand that Strategic Marketing is a function of a Sr. Marketing Professionals where the person in charge has very well mastered the Operational Marketing.
Demystifying Strategic Marketing:- In simple words it’s the Visioning Strategy linked with the execution planning. This would require the below mentioned functions:
a) Understanding Business Objectives / Goals
-Annual X % increase in revenue of a product line
-Retention and growth of Y accounts in Z geography.
-A % market share for this service / product.
-C no of competitor accounts to be captured etc.
These are some examples of wider business goals that a CEO would have in his mind.
b) Converting these business goals into plans like:- Annual / Bi-Annual / 5 Yearly, is what a senior Marketing Professional (marketing and sales director/VP/SVP) would look at and come up with a strategic plan to support the larger business objectives.
-Identifying milestones in the plan.
-Broad annual metrics to be achieved based on sales data from past or industry averages etc. these are few examples to illustrate.
c) Execution Strategy: - This is is one of the most neglected portion from a strategic perspective. Ram Charan, Author of book, Execution, stresses on this point in his book and calls execution as an essential part of strategy.
Without a clearly defined execution strategy all this is just a Bird’s Eye-view approach to say things. A very clearly defined execution strategy and plan is something which can really make these things happen. The execution strategy might look at various activities which can support the annual plans in the previous step.
-Resources required – Hiring/Training etc
-Commission and incentive buffers / Employee benefits
-Media strategy
-IT Infrastructure
-Strategic Alliances and partnerships etc.
-Tactical challenges and solutions
d) Handover of Plans:- Communicating the plans company wide to ensure effective information dissemination etc. Continuous follow-up etc.
Demystifying Operational Marketing:- In simple words, leveraging various channels / media, to generate demand and achieve organizational objectives.
4 Ps of marketing:
In popular usage, "marketing" is the promotion of products, especially advertising and branding. However, in professional usage the term has a wider meaning which recognizes that marketing is customer centered. Products are often developed to meet the desires of groups of customers or even, in some cases, for specific customers. E. Jerome McCarthy divided marketing into four general sets of activities. His typology has become so universally recognized that his four activity sets, the Four Ps, have passed into the language.
The four Ps are:
-Product: The product aspects of marketing deal with the specifications of the actual goods or services, and how it relates to the end-user's needs and wants. The scope of a product generally includes supporting elements such as warranties, guarantees, and support.
-Pricing: This refers to the process of setting a price for a product, including discounts. The price need not be monetary - it can simply be what is exchanged for the product or services, e.g. time, energy, psychology or attention.
-Promotion: This includes advertising, sales promotion, publicity, and personal selling, and refers to the various methods of promoting the product, brand, or company.
-Placement or distribution refers to how the product gets to the customer; for example, point of sale placement or retailing. This fourth P has also sometimes been called Place, referring to the channel by which a product or services is sold (e.g. online vs. retail), which geographic region or industry, to which segment (young adults, families, business people), etc.
I am not going to focus on these 4 Ps of marketing, however, I would keep them in mind as well as showcase the Future of Marketing Communication to all.
Closing Remarks:- In my coming postings: while these 4 Ps might be the basis for operational marketing I will introduce the
-5th P of Marketing.
-4 “A”s of Marketing
-Web and Internet as Business Models of Future marketing
-Newer and Exciting Channels and Media of marketing
-New strategies for Business Development
-Strategic Advances in positioning
And more…Please share your comments to help me improve my postings.
Today I am starting this new series on my blog on Marketing communication, What’s the future?
Premise:-
With the B-Schools still teaching 4 Ps of marketing to MBA students while preparing them for businesses, the students face a stark reality when they sit for Interviews. They realize within 2 minutes of interview, that this is not what the companies are looking for.
Wow! “I worked my ass off to learn so much about marketing in my B-School and you are telling me this is not what you are looking for?” – This could be a reality check question running in mind of any B-School passout. Well the cruel answer is “YES”.
Do we blame the education for this mismatch? “No”. Then what do we do?
This series of Marketing Communication primer is going to help all fresh graduates, Marcom professionals, Strategic Marketing Professionals and Hiring Managers to see the difference in various levels of marketing, as well as, what’s the NEXT big things in Marketing to look for.
Causes for aberration:-
The prime reason why people get confused or are not well prepared for what they are looking for in their role in marketing is the lack of understanding about the two levels of Marketing.
Two Broad Levels of Marketing:
1. Strategic Marketing attempts to determine how an organization competes against its competitors in a market place. In particular, it aims at generating a competitive advantage relative to its competitors.
2. Operational Marketing executes marketing functions to attract and keep customers and to maximize the value derived for them, as well as to satisfy the customer with prompt services and meeting the customer expectations. Operational Marketing includes the determination of the marketing mix.
It’s very important for people to understand that Strategic Marketing is a function of a Sr. Marketing Professionals where the person in charge has very well mastered the Operational Marketing.
Demystifying Strategic Marketing:- In simple words it’s the Visioning Strategy linked with the execution planning. This would require the below mentioned functions:
a) Understanding Business Objectives / Goals
-Annual X % increase in revenue of a product line
-Retention and growth of Y accounts in Z geography.
-A % market share for this service / product.
-C no of competitor accounts to be captured etc.
These are some examples of wider business goals that a CEO would have in his mind.
b) Converting these business goals into plans like:- Annual / Bi-Annual / 5 Yearly, is what a senior Marketing Professional (marketing and sales director/VP/SVP) would look at and come up with a strategic plan to support the larger business objectives.
-Identifying milestones in the plan.
-Broad annual metrics to be achieved based on sales data from past or industry averages etc. these are few examples to illustrate.
c) Execution Strategy: - This is is one of the most neglected portion from a strategic perspective. Ram Charan, Author of book, Execution, stresses on this point in his book and calls execution as an essential part of strategy.
Without a clearly defined execution strategy all this is just a Bird’s Eye-view approach to say things. A very clearly defined execution strategy and plan is something which can really make these things happen. The execution strategy might look at various activities which can support the annual plans in the previous step.
-Resources required – Hiring/Training etc
-Commission and incentive buffers / Employee benefits
-Media strategy
-IT Infrastructure
-Strategic Alliances and partnerships etc.
-Tactical challenges and solutions
d) Handover of Plans:- Communicating the plans company wide to ensure effective information dissemination etc. Continuous follow-up etc.
Demystifying Operational Marketing:- In simple words, leveraging various channels / media, to generate demand and achieve organizational objectives.
4 Ps of marketing:
In popular usage, "marketing" is the promotion of products, especially advertising and branding. However, in professional usage the term has a wider meaning which recognizes that marketing is customer centered. Products are often developed to meet the desires of groups of customers or even, in some cases, for specific customers. E. Jerome McCarthy divided marketing into four general sets of activities. His typology has become so universally recognized that his four activity sets, the Four Ps, have passed into the language.
The four Ps are:
-Product: The product aspects of marketing deal with the specifications of the actual goods or services, and how it relates to the end-user's needs and wants. The scope of a product generally includes supporting elements such as warranties, guarantees, and support.
-Pricing: This refers to the process of setting a price for a product, including discounts. The price need not be monetary - it can simply be what is exchanged for the product or services, e.g. time, energy, psychology or attention.
-Promotion: This includes advertising, sales promotion, publicity, and personal selling, and refers to the various methods of promoting the product, brand, or company.
-Placement or distribution refers to how the product gets to the customer; for example, point of sale placement or retailing. This fourth P has also sometimes been called Place, referring to the channel by which a product or services is sold (e.g. online vs. retail), which geographic region or industry, to which segment (young adults, families, business people), etc.
I am not going to focus on these 4 Ps of marketing, however, I would keep them in mind as well as showcase the Future of Marketing Communication to all.
Closing Remarks:- In my coming postings: while these 4 Ps might be the basis for operational marketing I will introduce the
-5th P of Marketing.
-4 “A”s of Marketing
-Web and Internet as Business Models of Future marketing
-Newer and Exciting Channels and Media of marketing
-New strategies for Business Development
-Strategic Advances in positioning
And more…Please share your comments to help me improve my postings.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
What should I do to marry a rich guy?
A young and pretty lady posted this on a popular forum:
Title: What should I do to marry a rich guy?
I’m going to be honest of what I’m going to say here. I’m 25 this year. I’m very pretty, have style and good taste. I wish to marry a guy with $500k annual salary or above. You might say that I’m greedy, but an annual salary of $1M is considered only as middle class in New York . My requirement is not high. Is there anyone in this forum who has an income of $500k annual salary? Are you all married? I wanted to ask: what should I do to marry rich persons like you? Among those I’ve dated, the richest is $250k annual income, and it seems that this is my upper limit. If someone is going to move into high cost residential area on the west of New York City Garden , $250k annual income is not enough.
I’m here humbly to ask a few questions:1) Where do most rich bachelors hang out? (Please list down the names and addresses of bars, restaurant, gym)2) Which age group should I target?3) Why most wives of the riches is only average-looking? I’ve met a few girls who doesn’t have looks and are not interesting, but they are able to marry rich guys4) How do you decide who can be your wife, and who can only be your girlfriend? (my target now is to get married)
Ms. Pretty
Here’s a reply from a Wall Street Financial guy:
Dear Ms. Pretty,
I have read your post with great interest. Guess there are lots of girls out there who have similar questions like yours. Please allow me to analyze your situation as a professional investor. My annual income is more than $500k, which meets your requirement, so I hope everyone believes that I’m not wasting time here.
From the standpoint of a business person, it is a bad decision to marry you. The answer is very simple, so let me explain. Put the details aside, what you’re trying to do is an exchange of beauty and money: Person A provides beauty, and Person B pays for it, fair and square. However, there’s a deadly problem here, your beauty will fade, but my money will not be gone without any good reason. The fact is, my income might increase from year to year, but you can’t be prettier year after year. Hence from the viewpoint of economics, I am an appreciation asset, and you are a depreciation asset. It’s not just normal depreciation, but exponential depreciation. If that is your only asset, your value will be much worried 10 years later.
By the terms we use in Wall Street, every trading has a position, dating with you is also a trading position. If the trade value dropped we will sell it and it is not a good idea to keep it for long term same goes with the marriage that you wanted. It might be cruel to say this, but in order to make a wiser decision any assets with great depreciation value will be sold or leased. Anyone with over $500k annual income is not a fool; we would only date you, but will not marry you. I would advice that you forget looking for any clues to marry a rich guy. And by the way, you could make yourself to become a rich person with $500k annual income. This has better chance than finding a rich fool.
Hope this reply helps. If you are interested in leasing services, do contact me.
Signed,
J.P. Morgan
Title: What should I do to marry a rich guy?
I’m going to be honest of what I’m going to say here. I’m 25 this year. I’m very pretty, have style and good taste. I wish to marry a guy with $500k annual salary or above. You might say that I’m greedy, but an annual salary of $1M is considered only as middle class in New York . My requirement is not high. Is there anyone in this forum who has an income of $500k annual salary? Are you all married? I wanted to ask: what should I do to marry rich persons like you? Among those I’ve dated, the richest is $250k annual income, and it seems that this is my upper limit. If someone is going to move into high cost residential area on the west of New York City Garden , $250k annual income is not enough.
I’m here humbly to ask a few questions:1) Where do most rich bachelors hang out? (Please list down the names and addresses of bars, restaurant, gym)2) Which age group should I target?3) Why most wives of the riches is only average-looking? I’ve met a few girls who doesn’t have looks and are not interesting, but they are able to marry rich guys4) How do you decide who can be your wife, and who can only be your girlfriend? (my target now is to get married)
Ms. Pretty
Here’s a reply from a Wall Street Financial guy:
Dear Ms. Pretty,
I have read your post with great interest. Guess there are lots of girls out there who have similar questions like yours. Please allow me to analyze your situation as a professional investor. My annual income is more than $500k, which meets your requirement, so I hope everyone believes that I’m not wasting time here.
From the standpoint of a business person, it is a bad decision to marry you. The answer is very simple, so let me explain. Put the details aside, what you’re trying to do is an exchange of beauty and money: Person A provides beauty, and Person B pays for it, fair and square. However, there’s a deadly problem here, your beauty will fade, but my money will not be gone without any good reason. The fact is, my income might increase from year to year, but you can’t be prettier year after year. Hence from the viewpoint of economics, I am an appreciation asset, and you are a depreciation asset. It’s not just normal depreciation, but exponential depreciation. If that is your only asset, your value will be much worried 10 years later.
By the terms we use in Wall Street, every trading has a position, dating with you is also a trading position. If the trade value dropped we will sell it and it is not a good idea to keep it for long term same goes with the marriage that you wanted. It might be cruel to say this, but in order to make a wiser decision any assets with great depreciation value will be sold or leased. Anyone with over $500k annual income is not a fool; we would only date you, but will not marry you. I would advice that you forget looking for any clues to marry a rich guy. And by the way, you could make yourself to become a rich person with $500k annual income. This has better chance than finding a rich fool.
Hope this reply helps. If you are interested in leasing services, do contact me.
Signed,
J.P. Morgan
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Bangalored – Not Anymore? – Real Estate giving jitters – Companies moving out of Bangalore
Bangalored – Not Anymore? – Real Estate giving jitters – Companies moving out of Bangalore
With the real estate prices skyrocketing in the main business centers within Bangalore city limits, the city is set to see companies moving out of Bangalore.
The term Bangalored meant people in other parts of world loosing their jobs to people in Bangalore. However, Are bangalorians set to see terms like Cochined? Hosured? Mysored? Chandigarhed? Or probably Eastern Europed? Or Czeched?
Premise:
Not just the living cost but the costs have gone up in all respects in Bangalore. Whether it is salaries, cost of living, daily groceries, house rents, office space rents, taxes and expectations…almost everything has gone sky looking.
So if you were a 50 – 150 employee organization running in a busy business centre or a focal business area in Bangalore, you would be paying anywhere between, Rs. 70 – 150 / Sq ft of office space cost. With these things in mind, we are talking about almost a 100% increase in rents since past 3 years. Resulting in increased operating costs and decreased margins. Eventually cuts in company expenditures leading to options like either looking for a cheaper space outside Bangalore or doing employee cut.
Considering most of the companies face a 10-20% attrition rate and they would want to keep the hiring and training costs low, employee layoff is the most risky proposition. So companies are looking out for various ways to cut their op-ex.
Reasons:
If you were thinking organized retail is the best thing which is happening to Bangalore with over 20 shopping centers and retail malls opening within past 3 years, Bangalore is getting modernized and seeking high paced positive growth.
Here is a realty check. Considering the revenue a retail shopping mall / food complex is going to make on a monthly basis would be much higher as compared to any company paying as a rent. The malls, retail chains and similar sorts are ready to shell out almost 200% more than what the regular companies / young entrepreneurs can give as rents. So obviously the land lords would want more moolah and boom, the deals get signed with the highest bidding retailers.
Large office spaces like Whitefield/ITPL/Electronic City are anyways facing issues of long traveling hours for employees, unsatisfied employees, increased travel costs, higher stress levels, increased residential real estate prices putting pressures of increased salaries, higher expectations and more…Companies like Wipro, infosys and many more are even adopting policies like allowing employees to work from home, stay in their home cities and moving their bases to 2nd rung cities already.
Bangalore not an entrepreneurial heaven any more.
Not just retail, companies are these days being pushed to revise the rent agreements signed long back. This again, is giving jitters to companies working for long in same places. The entrepreneurs are seeking it difficult to get a reasonable office space at a cost that they can afford and which is aborting a lot of ventures which could have burgeoned into tomorrow’s infosys’.
What’s Government doing?
After year’s of resistance and so many court cases, Delhi government decided to shut down commercial establishments in residential areas. This lead to shops moving into malls and shopping centres authorized for the same. In turn led to people moving to move out of expensive places in Central Delhi to Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and more. The city saw a rental price correction and more organized businesses.
What is Karnataka government thinking? Are they going to keep allowing commercial shopping centers in residential and office areas? Is their any policy to control this? When are they going to wake up? Is their going to be some regulation on the rentals? Or will the government just bother about who is taking the Seat in Assembly?
Strangely while all this is happening, the CM and rest are busy in their new mid term election games. Pathetic situation of city’s infrastructure doesn’t bother them. It is painful when they cut 33% of my salary as a tax and I do not see infrastructure in front of me. And then I see my money is being wasted for an unwanted state elections.
Closing thoughts:
With the distanced attitude of the government, poor infrastructure, no means to control prices. The “Bangalorians” are all set to see job cuts, jobs moving out of Bangalore, consolidation in salary hikes, surrounding cities taking over, or you never know, Bangalore loosing it’s image as silicon valley to a realty stone valley.
With the real estate prices skyrocketing in the main business centers within Bangalore city limits, the city is set to see companies moving out of Bangalore.
The term Bangalored meant people in other parts of world loosing their jobs to people in Bangalore. However, Are bangalorians set to see terms like Cochined? Hosured? Mysored? Chandigarhed? Or probably Eastern Europed? Or Czeched?
Premise:
Not just the living cost but the costs have gone up in all respects in Bangalore. Whether it is salaries, cost of living, daily groceries, house rents, office space rents, taxes and expectations…almost everything has gone sky looking.
So if you were a 50 – 150 employee organization running in a busy business centre or a focal business area in Bangalore, you would be paying anywhere between, Rs. 70 – 150 / Sq ft of office space cost. With these things in mind, we are talking about almost a 100% increase in rents since past 3 years. Resulting in increased operating costs and decreased margins. Eventually cuts in company expenditures leading to options like either looking for a cheaper space outside Bangalore or doing employee cut.
Considering most of the companies face a 10-20% attrition rate and they would want to keep the hiring and training costs low, employee layoff is the most risky proposition. So companies are looking out for various ways to cut their op-ex.
Reasons:
If you were thinking organized retail is the best thing which is happening to Bangalore with over 20 shopping centers and retail malls opening within past 3 years, Bangalore is getting modernized and seeking high paced positive growth.
Here is a realty check. Considering the revenue a retail shopping mall / food complex is going to make on a monthly basis would be much higher as compared to any company paying as a rent. The malls, retail chains and similar sorts are ready to shell out almost 200% more than what the regular companies / young entrepreneurs can give as rents. So obviously the land lords would want more moolah and boom, the deals get signed with the highest bidding retailers.
Large office spaces like Whitefield/ITPL/Electronic City are anyways facing issues of long traveling hours for employees, unsatisfied employees, increased travel costs, higher stress levels, increased residential real estate prices putting pressures of increased salaries, higher expectations and more…Companies like Wipro, infosys and many more are even adopting policies like allowing employees to work from home, stay in their home cities and moving their bases to 2nd rung cities already.
Bangalore not an entrepreneurial heaven any more.
Not just retail, companies are these days being pushed to revise the rent agreements signed long back. This again, is giving jitters to companies working for long in same places. The entrepreneurs are seeking it difficult to get a reasonable office space at a cost that they can afford and which is aborting a lot of ventures which could have burgeoned into tomorrow’s infosys’.
What’s Government doing?
After year’s of resistance and so many court cases, Delhi government decided to shut down commercial establishments in residential areas. This lead to shops moving into malls and shopping centres authorized for the same. In turn led to people moving to move out of expensive places in Central Delhi to Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and more. The city saw a rental price correction and more organized businesses.
What is Karnataka government thinking? Are they going to keep allowing commercial shopping centers in residential and office areas? Is their any policy to control this? When are they going to wake up? Is their going to be some regulation on the rentals? Or will the government just bother about who is taking the Seat in Assembly?
Strangely while all this is happening, the CM and rest are busy in their new mid term election games. Pathetic situation of city’s infrastructure doesn’t bother them. It is painful when they cut 33% of my salary as a tax and I do not see infrastructure in front of me. And then I see my money is being wasted for an unwanted state elections.
Closing thoughts:
With the distanced attitude of the government, poor infrastructure, no means to control prices. The “Bangalorians” are all set to see job cuts, jobs moving out of Bangalore, consolidation in salary hikes, surrounding cities taking over, or you never know, Bangalore loosing it’s image as silicon valley to a realty stone valley.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Festival of Lights-Joy-Fun- Diwali 2007 Well Enjoyed
This is a little late though, a great Diwali festival celebration in the heart of India, Delhi. Wow what a great fun festivals are in India.
A full entertaining day it was, this diwali. And it's amazing to watch how Delhi celebrates Diwali, it's an episode in itself. With all the markets full of glitter, lights, people eating, shopping and more.... you can see the women folk enjoying to get their hands decorated with some elaborate mehndi designs in local market roadside sitting arrangements.
And yes the day rocked for me coz of many other reasons:
All this and more makes India and Indians to enjoy their lives and lead with those happy hearts. As I get to talk to people all over the world I have realized, indians are by far the happiest lot of people. With their own ways of facing the difficulties and still keeping that smile on face and acually getting satisfied and still craving for more and always ready for that extra mile to make things happen. I am proud being an Indian!
A full entertaining day it was, this diwali. And it's amazing to watch how Delhi celebrates Diwali, it's an episode in itself. With all the markets full of glitter, lights, people eating, shopping and more.... you can see the women folk enjoying to get their hands decorated with some elaborate mehndi designs in local market roadside sitting arrangements.
And yes the day rocked for me coz of many other reasons:Watched Om Shanti Om - SRK and Deepika starrer movie. Full entertainment and fun movie. Enjoyed SRK's performance as always, though he looks a little old now even with his 6-pac abs. And deepika is a pure stunner. She looks amazing and a very fair acting performance for a movie debutant.
And offcourse how can you forget the home decoration and fire crackers and all that lighting...this all lights up your home, surroundings and you feel esctatic.
All this and more makes India and Indians to enjoy their lives and lead with those happy hearts. As I get to talk to people all over the world I have realized, indians are by far the happiest lot of people. With their own ways of facing the difficulties and still keeping that smile on face and acually getting satisfied and still craving for more and always ready for that extra mile to make things happen. I am proud being an Indian!
Loyalty and Employee Attrition Rate
In recent times I have been reading about "Employee Loyalty" and "Employee Attrition Rate". A lot of organizations worldwide face this challenge of employee attrition, where they hire the best and the brightest in the industry. However, after 2-3 years of stay in the company and learning things people think they know everything and they decide to move on.
Well I do not agree to this behaviour, however, reflecting on my previous job hops it's strange that unknowingly I myself have done the same. "Unknowingly" yes, unknowingly...when today I reflect upon my previous 5 years I see having changed 3 companies already. Which essentially means 1.5 yrs on an average is what I stayed with those companies and I didn't realize till now until I think about it...that, I too moved on thinking I know everything. Strange but true. Well then just a month back I was thinking after a review meeting and hearing something very important from my Boss..."I have to think long term and what I was demanding is a very short sighted demand."
I felt a little disheartened and unsatisfied. However, I then went back to home and started talking to my wife about it and she said...hold on....come out of your present thinking and look at it objectively. Yes, I realized, I was unpractical for a moment and unreasonable too and that's when I decided, ok, let me introspect. Well I don't know it all. I need to learn a lot. And this is the right place and is in the right time over here. So let me re-look at the way I am looking at things.
Hey, I just moved out of the feeling of "disloyalty" which was developing in me...and yes it helped me grow as a person.
Question: What is "loyalty" anyways?
Dictionary: The act of binding yourself (intellectually or emotionally) to a course of action
Answer: Infosys CEO Narayan Murthy once said:” Love Your Job But Never Fall In Love With Your Company, Because You Never Know When It Stops Loving You."
Well, I am not sure in what context he said that, however, an interesting statement from a company's CEO who runs a company of over 60,000 employees.
So does that mean you should be loyal to your work and nothing else?
Well, I feel if I am loyal to my work, I am loyal to the people who assigned me the work. I am loyal to the people who thought I would be the right fit to do that job. I am loyal to the company who decided to hire me to do that job. I am loyal to my family to whom I promised I will earn and give them a good life.
So does that mean I should be loyal to my work and my company and my family always? Well answer is YES. However, I have 2 questions to ask readers...
What about my company being Loyal to me?
Where does this disloyalty actually arise?
Is it a One-Way-Street? That I keep being loyal to my employer and my employer can take a decision to let me go whenever they want to? Isn’t that disloyalty to the employee that you decide to let some one go and don't even bother to inform him about it, if, any corrective action can be taken?
There were days in my country, India, when people use to join one company and retire from the same company in there entire career. Why doesn't it happen again? Well, it's a 2-way street now. Both employers and employees are disloyal to each other OR is it that we don't communicate enough? Is it that, if we have our issues, we do not communicate them well in advance, to find a solution? I am not sure...what are the reasons...but I feel it can be corrected.
As I always say, communication is the KEY to success. If people communicate with each other about their feelings, about their opinions and what they think is right and wrong, these "Disloyal" situations can be avoided.
However, I have another question:
Question:Have we become so impatient and eccentric that we don't have the time and patience to talk and be honest?
Answer: May be yes. We do not have patience to help people. We are bothered about our own growth. We are bothered about "what's in it for me?” So essentially, it's neither the employer being disloyal to the employee, nor the employee being disloyal to the company. It comes down to Individuals. We as individuals are responsible for our actions and our decisions. And if we are taking these decisions based on our attitudes towards looking at things, as self centered people, we are more or less bound to take irrational decisions.
There are so many companies out there, which have survived for over 100 years. Have they had people taking decisions based on there attitudes and self centered behavior, today, those companies would have died, because, the success of companies is due to the people who work there.
So what does this all mean? - Loyalty is nothing but an individual's decision based on his attitude? Yes, I feel so, and if that is the case, I, as a person should spend most of the time on keeping my attitude the best and I can make most of the work done well, and I can be "Loyal" to my work, my company, my family. I need to communicate and help others communicate about any issues. I need to keep the channel open and try to keep my attitude positive and healthy always.
I can always sit and talk about it instead I will take action and work on my attitude and communicate whenever required.
Lastly, a healthy positive communicative attitude from an employer and employee can help solve these attrition / loyalty / disloyalty issues easily. Nobody should wait, instead start acting on this.
Leave a comment and let me know what you think about it.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Gujarat riots - Shame, Disgrace,Genocide or Dictatorship
Recent sting operation by Tehelka exposing the Gujarat government's machinery's involvement in fuelling the riots, as well as the brutal involvement of Hindu fundamentalist groups in executing the same is a sheer shame, disgrace and a clear case of genocide.
Having said that it makes me wonder is it what i just mentioned or is it the clear case of Dictatorship in a Democratic country? Is it the same India which calls itself Secular? Are we the same Indians who call ourselves proudly as Secular and Democaratic?
Strangely I don't know whether people would want to continue to stay in a state where the people can't trust the government, police, and other agencies.
The real shame is that after 4 years of actual riots we get to know about the truth and still the government is in power and no one seems to take any action on it?
So it's like we are secular and democratic country but just for one incident please excuse us ,as it was a public outrage. Wow what a logic which came from the government...
I feel sad about such incidents, the only hope is that there are agencies which are still working to expose such henious crimes. I thought if not anything else I should voice my opinion through this medium.
Having said that it makes me wonder is it what i just mentioned or is it the clear case of Dictatorship in a Democratic country? Is it the same India which calls itself Secular? Are we the same Indians who call ourselves proudly as Secular and Democaratic?
Strangely I don't know whether people would want to continue to stay in a state where the people can't trust the government, police, and other agencies.
The real shame is that after 4 years of actual riots we get to know about the truth and still the government is in power and no one seems to take any action on it?
So it's like we are secular and democratic country but just for one incident please excuse us ,as it was a public outrage. Wow what a logic which came from the government...
I feel sad about such incidents, the only hope is that there are agencies which are still working to expose such henious crimes. I thought if not anything else I should voice my opinion through this medium.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Top 100 CEO Blogs | Sales Motivation Capsule
"Inspiration" "Motivation" Growth path ... yes this all is what you would get while you go thorugh my CEOs blog.
I would consider my CEOs blog among the TOP 100 CEO Blogs in the world. A must read for all Sales guys and keep themselves motivated Each Day, Every Day. Scott is one of those people who can be called epitome of "Doing things as much as saying" and as he says "if it was easy" ... anybody could have done it ... not everyone can make it happen.
A few people in this world actually "Make It Happen" and Scott is my inspiration and my motivation for making it happen.
Scott's passion for adventure sports made him cross the deserts in a marathon race marathon-des-sables-southern-morocco ... while I was reading this entry, I was just getting more passionate about what I do and it motivated me to "DO" more...
Oh by the way if you were wondering what made me get a new look ... you know now my motivation now...
Will be back soon.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
CIO Strategies India 2007
www.ciostrategiesin.com 10th - 11th December 2007 • The Leela Palace, Bangalore
"CIO-led workshops make CIO Strategies India stand out from the rest"
Is India Inc losing the IT outsourcing edge? Is Innovation the only answer? How secure is your Information? Discuss these and other challenges with Fortune 500 CIOs at CIO Strategies India 2007 – the ultimate networking forum designed for CIOs by CIOs. Discover how your present IT strategy fits in the global scenario with over 100 CIOs at the same platform.
The CIO Strategies Forum
CIO Strategies India is not an expo or a conference - it is the industry's best strategic business platform focused on re-education and problem solving.
Educational Workshops
Solve real life Fortune 500 case studies on hot topics like SOA implementation, IT alignment with business, new IT innovations in India.
Cutting-Edge Presentations
Learn about the latest IT challenges from renowned industry experts from Shopper's Stop, Mahindra and Mahindra, Bajaj, Kuoni, and more.
Ultimate Networking Functions
The forum is designed to maximize networking opportunities. Take advantage of exclusive leisure activities, luncheons and cocktail receptions in a luxurious 5-star environment.
Here what others have to say...
"Sincere congratulations to organizers. A very fine and professional event organized in a glamorous place ideal to exchange ideas and identify the future of IT."
CIO, ALRO
"naseba has done a great job in getting together fellow CIOs with whom exchange of experiences is precious!"
ICT Director, Endemol Holdings
"Most events are too marketing driven, this event provided the ROI we expect and the level of delegates we want."
Director North American Corp Marketing, Hyperion
More Testimonials.... [http://www.ciostrategiesin.com/index.html?pagecode=testimonials]
Quick Links
•Event website [http://www.ciostrategiesin.com/]
•Event WhitePaper [http://whitepaper.cxostrategies.com/]
•Apply to Attend [http://www.ciostrategiesin.com/index.html?pagecode=contact]
Top Speakers Include
•Arun Gupta,Chief Technology Officer,Shopper's Stop
•Dhiren Savla,Chief Information Officer,Kuoni India
•JB Bhaskar,Chief Information Officer,Bajaj Allianz
More Speakers... [http://www.ciostrategiesin.com/index.html?pagecode=speakers]
CIO led Workshops inlcude
•Changing Role of the CIO
•IT Outsourcing -Destinations
•Innovation
•Information Security
•Complete Open Source Implementation
More topics... [http://www.ciostrategiesin.com/index.html?pagecode=speakers]
Event Partners...[http://www.ciostrategiesin.com/index.html?pagecode=partners]
For more information, please contact: Charan Varghese, Project Director
email: charanv@naseba.com Tel: +91 80 30280562 - fax: + 91 80 30280555
"CIO-led workshops make CIO Strategies India stand out from the rest"
Is India Inc losing the IT outsourcing edge? Is Innovation the only answer? How secure is your Information? Discuss these and other challenges with Fortune 500 CIOs at CIO Strategies India 2007 – the ultimate networking forum designed for CIOs by CIOs. Discover how your present IT strategy fits in the global scenario with over 100 CIOs at the same platform.
The CIO Strategies Forum
CIO Strategies India is not an expo or a conference - it is the industry's best strategic business platform focused on re-education and problem solving.
Educational Workshops
Solve real life Fortune 500 case studies on hot topics like SOA implementation, IT alignment with business, new IT innovations in India.
Cutting-Edge Presentations
Learn about the latest IT challenges from renowned industry experts from Shopper's Stop, Mahindra and Mahindra, Bajaj, Kuoni, and more.
Ultimate Networking Functions
The forum is designed to maximize networking opportunities. Take advantage of exclusive leisure activities, luncheons and cocktail receptions in a luxurious 5-star environment.
Here what others have to say...
"Sincere congratulations to organizers. A very fine and professional event organized in a glamorous place ideal to exchange ideas and identify the future of IT."
CIO, ALRO
"naseba has done a great job in getting together fellow CIOs with whom exchange of experiences is precious!"
ICT Director, Endemol Holdings
"Most events are too marketing driven, this event provided the ROI we expect and the level of delegates we want."
Director North American Corp Marketing, Hyperion
More Testimonials.... [http://www.ciostrategiesin.com/index.html?pagecode=testimonials]
Quick Links
•Event website [http://www.ciostrategiesin.com/]
•Event WhitePaper [http://whitepaper.cxostrategies.com/]
•Apply to Attend [http://www.ciostrategiesin.com/index.html?pagecode=contact]
Top Speakers Include
•Arun Gupta,Chief Technology Officer,Shopper's Stop
•Dhiren Savla,Chief Information Officer,Kuoni India
•JB Bhaskar,Chief Information Officer,Bajaj Allianz
More Speakers... [http://www.ciostrategiesin.com/index.html?pagecode=speakers]
CIO led Workshops inlcude
•Changing Role of the CIO
•IT Outsourcing -Destinations
•Innovation
•Information Security
•Complete Open Source Implementation
More topics... [http://www.ciostrategiesin.com/index.html?pagecode=speakers]
Event Partners...[http://www.ciostrategiesin.com/index.html?pagecode=partners]
For more information, please contact: Charan Varghese, Project Director
email: charanv@naseba.com Tel: +91 80 30280562 - fax: + 91 80 30280555
Human Assets Expansion Congress 2007
www.humanassetsindia.com 19th - 20th November 2007 MUMBAI
Leading Business Information Company, www.naseba.com, is holding Human Assets Expansion Congress in India.
Innovative strategies in retention, attrition management, training and development, HR MIS systems, Performance and leadership management and more...complete Human Asset management is all what the Congress discusses.
Human Assets Expansion India is a C-level, strategic executive congress, which provides the opportunity for HR directors to meet with global industry suppliers and industry experts in a true business-to-business environment. With prescheduled one-to-one business meetings and educational sessions that are strictly limited to upper-level executives providing them a Real-Life Case Study Format with Ultimate Networking Opportunities.
Key Discussion Topics
• Innovation in Talent Retention, Development and Growth
• Back to Basics: Human Asset Management
• Defining and installing new values, attitudes and behavior within an organization
• Challenges of handling changing aspirational management of the new generation
• Leadership Challenges
Quick Links
• Event website
http://www.humanassetsindia.com
• Complete Agenda
http://www.humanassetsindia.com/index.html?pagecode=agenda
• Complete list of speakers
http://www.humanassetsindia.com/index.html?pagecode=speakers
• Event Testimonials
http://www.humanassetsindia.com/index.html?pagecode=testimonials
• Registration page
http://register.humanassetsindia.com
• Contact page
http://www.humanassetsindia.com/index.html?pagecode=contact
Key Speakers 2007
• JN Amrolia, Executive Director, Ashok Leyland
• Dr Anadi S Pande,VP of Corporate Planning & Strategy,Hero Honda Motors
• Muralidhar Rao, President & ChiefOperating Officer,NIS Sparta
• Sudheesh Venkatesh, Head of HR,Tesco
• Dr. Chandra Mauli Dwivedi,Group President Human Resources,Financial Technology Group
• Joji S Gill, Head of HR,Microsoft
What previous year's attendees said…
"Very impressed. I would be more than happy to present at any of
naseba's event functions."
HR Director, Honeywell
"This event is the perfect way for direct communication between
solution providers and those seeking development within their
companies."
HR Director, Gulf Air
"Great platform for knowledge and best practice sharing on the
available HR tools to streamline processes and make HR more
effective."
HR Director, Siemens
For any queries contact Charan Varghese - Project Director
email: charanv@naseba.com
tel: +91 80 30280562 - fax: + 91 80 30280555 http://www.naseba.com
____________________________________________________________
Leading Business Information Company, www.naseba.com, is holding Human Assets Expansion Congress in India.
Innovative strategies in retention, attrition management, training and development, HR MIS systems, Performance and leadership management and more...complete Human Asset management is all what the Congress discusses.
Human Assets Expansion India is a C-level, strategic executive congress, which provides the opportunity for HR directors to meet with global industry suppliers and industry experts in a true business-to-business environment. With prescheduled one-to-one business meetings and educational sessions that are strictly limited to upper-level executives providing them a Real-Life Case Study Format with Ultimate Networking Opportunities.
Key Discussion Topics
• Innovation in Talent Retention, Development and Growth
• Back to Basics: Human Asset Management
• Defining and installing new values, attitudes and behavior within an organization
• Challenges of handling changing aspirational management of the new generation
• Leadership Challenges
Quick Links
• Event website
http://www.humanassetsindia.com
• Complete Agenda
http://www.humanassetsindia.com/index.html?pagecode=agenda
• Complete list of speakers
http://www.humanassetsindia.com/index.html?pagecode=speakers
• Event Testimonials
http://www.humanassetsindia.com/index.html?pagecode=testimonials
• Registration page
http://register.humanassetsindia.com
• Contact page
http://www.humanassetsindia.com/index.html?pagecode=contact
Key Speakers 2007
• JN Amrolia, Executive Director, Ashok Leyland
• Dr Anadi S Pande,VP of Corporate Planning & Strategy,Hero Honda Motors
• Muralidhar Rao, President & ChiefOperating Officer,NIS Sparta
• Sudheesh Venkatesh, Head of HR,Tesco
• Dr. Chandra Mauli Dwivedi,Group President Human Resources,Financial Technology Group
• Joji S Gill, Head of HR,Microsoft
What previous year's attendees said…
"Very impressed. I would be more than happy to present at any of
naseba's event functions."
HR Director, Honeywell
"This event is the perfect way for direct communication between
solution providers and those seeking development within their
companies."
HR Director, Gulf Air
"Great platform for knowledge and best practice sharing on the
available HR tools to streamline processes and make HR more
effective."
HR Director, Siemens
For any queries contact Charan Varghese - Project Director
email: charanv@naseba.com
tel: +91 80 30280562 - fax: + 91 80 30280555 http://www.naseba.com
____________________________________________________________
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Targeted Marketing - Top 5 ways for Online Marketing
Targeted Marketing:- 5 most popular ways to target online:
· Contextual targeting: Ads are targeted to related content being viewed by consumers; content usually matches the advertiser's business. For example, ICICI Prudential may run its ads in the mutual fund section of a personal finance site or Hyundai Santro would run its ads in the family section of an automotive site.
o Advantages: There's an implied interest in this content and an assumption that a prospect is in market.
o Challenges: Content has a premium value and tends to be cluttered with competitive ads. In addition, advertisers rely on a small window to reach prospects.
· Demographic targeting: Ads are targeted to content that has a high composition of a specific market segment (regardless if there's a contextual fit). Demographic information may include professions, industry, company size, gender, age, and household income. For example, an advertiser who wants to reach baby boomers may advertise on a site like ThirdAge.
o Advantages: Demographic targeting provides an opportunity for advertisers to increase their reach and avoid highly competitive and cluttered contextual placements.
o Challenges: Just because someone fits a market segment, doesn't mean she's in market for a product. Demographic targeting is better suited for branding campaigns.
· Geographic targeting: Ads are targeted to specific geographical areas based on a user's IP address, Zip Code, or the local content he's viewing. An automotive dealer in New Jersey can advertise local lease offers on NJ.com or target consumers via their IP addresses on USAToday.com
o Advantages: Marketers can target consumers with relative, local-interest creative.
o Challenges: This targeting can be hard to manage since technology can be imperfect. In addition, local-interest creative isn't always available.
· Registration targeting: Ads are targeted to consumers based on the information they provided during registration. If ZDNET wants to reach independent software testers, it could exclusively target people who are regular downloaders of softwares registered as such.
o Advantages: It allows marketers to target hard-to-reach segments without wasting impressions.
o Challenges: Registration information can be outdated or inaccurate.
· Behavioral targeting: Ads are targeted to consumers based on previous activity (past content, purchase, or search history). For example, Orbitz can retarget a consumer on Yahoo who just configured a trip but didn't purchase.
o Advantages: It provides an opportunity to create a dialogue with consumers and reach them beyond contextual environments.
o Challenges: If not handled properly, it could have an adverse affect.
· Contextual targeting: Ads are targeted to related content being viewed by consumers; content usually matches the advertiser's business. For example, ICICI Prudential may run its ads in the mutual fund section of a personal finance site or Hyundai Santro would run its ads in the family section of an automotive site.
o Advantages: There's an implied interest in this content and an assumption that a prospect is in market.
o Challenges: Content has a premium value and tends to be cluttered with competitive ads. In addition, advertisers rely on a small window to reach prospects.
· Demographic targeting: Ads are targeted to content that has a high composition of a specific market segment (regardless if there's a contextual fit). Demographic information may include professions, industry, company size, gender, age, and household income. For example, an advertiser who wants to reach baby boomers may advertise on a site like ThirdAge.
o Advantages: Demographic targeting provides an opportunity for advertisers to increase their reach and avoid highly competitive and cluttered contextual placements.
o Challenges: Just because someone fits a market segment, doesn't mean she's in market for a product. Demographic targeting is better suited for branding campaigns.
· Geographic targeting: Ads are targeted to specific geographical areas based on a user's IP address, Zip Code, or the local content he's viewing. An automotive dealer in New Jersey can advertise local lease offers on NJ.com or target consumers via their IP addresses on USAToday.com
o Advantages: Marketers can target consumers with relative, local-interest creative.
o Challenges: This targeting can be hard to manage since technology can be imperfect. In addition, local-interest creative isn't always available.
· Registration targeting: Ads are targeted to consumers based on the information they provided during registration. If ZDNET wants to reach independent software testers, it could exclusively target people who are regular downloaders of softwares registered as such.
o Advantages: It allows marketers to target hard-to-reach segments without wasting impressions.
o Challenges: Registration information can be outdated or inaccurate.
· Behavioral targeting: Ads are targeted to consumers based on previous activity (past content, purchase, or search history). For example, Orbitz can retarget a consumer on Yahoo who just configured a trip but didn't purchase.
o Advantages: It provides an opportunity to create a dialogue with consumers and reach them beyond contextual environments.
o Challenges: If not handled properly, it could have an adverse affect.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Day Occasions
Friendship Day (I call it another Day Occasion) celebrations take place on the first Sunday of August every year. The tradition of dedicating a day in honor of friends began in US in 1935. Gradually the festival gained popularity and today Friendship Day is celebrated in large number of countries including India. On this day people spend time with their friends and express love for them. Exchange of Friendship Day Gifts like flowers, cards and wrist bands is a popular tradition of this occasion.
Though I am not a great follower of all these days, still I don't mind remembering my friends and colleagues on this day. I anyways keep in touch wth them and I believe in the spirit of friendship which should kindle always! However such days give you another opportunity to do so. I feel all the marketeers would feel happy on such "Day Occasions", as they get an opportunity to sell more. Fair enough, sympathy, empathy, emotions and more always are well exploited by marketeers and they would love to take on such occasions.
Anyways, no more story....My celebration Idea:
"Send a SMS or Email to all your friends and let them know that they are special to me. Friends are the relatives I have made by choice! And may be a quick meet-up."
To all my friend's, lets keep in touch!
Though I am not a great follower of all these days, still I don't mind remembering my friends and colleagues on this day. I anyways keep in touch wth them and I believe in the spirit of friendship which should kindle always! However such days give you another opportunity to do so. I feel all the marketeers would feel happy on such "Day Occasions", as they get an opportunity to sell more. Fair enough, sympathy, empathy, emotions and more always are well exploited by marketeers and they would love to take on such occasions.
Anyways, no more story....My celebration Idea:
"Send a SMS or Email to all your friends and let them know that they are special to me. Friends are the relatives I have made by choice! And may be a quick meet-up."
To all my friend's, lets keep in touch!
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Behavioral Marketing
New and emerging Idea of “Behavioral Marketing” is gripping the websites and advertisers are getting more keener on it. This basically talks about customization of Ads based on predictions on what you are going to buy next. This is like one-on-one marketing based on individual data. Like: Gender, Location, Demographics, Interests, Past website visits, Recommendations etc.
Like Book Selling Sites recommending the following:
“People who liked this also liked books like these:-
Link 1
Link 2
Link 2”
Now websites are trying to provide Real-time Ads. With the help of certain details like your Location and demographics. They are continuously collecting data about you, while you browse and on real-time change the ads from a generic one to the most relevant ones relevant to your interest.
“Auto Opt In” is the trick most of the sites are using which means you just can’t skip this.
The basic value proposition is “we are going to stop bombarding you with non-relevant ads and give you something which is very relevant to you.”
Well companies are trying to build and implement these algorithms and only some retrun on investment data will prove if this model is working well!
Some Online Citations:
nugg.ad AG - http://blog.nugg.ad/2007-07-25/is-predictive-behavioral-targeting-only-something-for-geeks-nerds-and-freaks/
Yahoo! Expands Behavioral Targeting - http://www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=3520631
Yahoo Adds Behavioral Targeting - http://advertising.yahoo.com/marketing/bt/
Microsoft Demos Behavioral Targeting - http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=38484
Behavioral Maketing - http://www.behavioral.us/2007/06/15/when-does-behavioral-fail/
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_targeting"
Like Book Selling Sites recommending the following:
“People who liked this also liked books like these:-
Link 1
Link 2
Link 2”
Now websites are trying to provide Real-time Ads. With the help of certain details like your Location and demographics. They are continuously collecting data about you, while you browse and on real-time change the ads from a generic one to the most relevant ones relevant to your interest.
“Auto Opt In” is the trick most of the sites are using which means you just can’t skip this.
The basic value proposition is “we are going to stop bombarding you with non-relevant ads and give you something which is very relevant to you.”
Well companies are trying to build and implement these algorithms and only some retrun on investment data will prove if this model is working well!
Some Online Citations:
nugg.ad AG - http://blog.nugg.ad/2007-07-25/is-predictive-behavioral-targeting-only-something-for-geeks-nerds-and-freaks/
Yahoo! Expands Behavioral Targeting - http://www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=3520631
Yahoo Adds Behavioral Targeting - http://advertising.yahoo.com/marketing/bt/
Microsoft Demos Behavioral Targeting - http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=38484
Behavioral Maketing - http://www.behavioral.us/2007/06/15/when-does-behavioral-fail/
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_targeting"
Tata Indiacom Offers Samsung Duo Dual Mode Handset in India
Following the Spice Telecom, Tata Indicom with Samsung has announced to launch Samsung Duo, the dual mode handset supporting GSM and CDMA technology.
According to Samsung, users can use two GSM or two CDMA or one of each sim cards in one handset.
The Duo handset is a slider phone having a 2.2-inch hybrid TFT display. Also it features 1.3 megapixel camera with 10X digital zoom and video recording. This phone is a real business phone supporting document files in excel, word and PDF formats.
The phone also offers good amount of entertainment to users through an MP3/AAC+ player supporting video in MPEG4. The phone has 10MB of internal memory and can support up to 1GB of external memory.
Besides, the phone has three input options ABCD’ keyboard or a normal mobile phone keypad and thanks to the handwriting recognition software that it incorporates, you also jot something on it.
Perhaps, the most interesting feature for Indians the Indian calendar it bundles which lists all the festivals, dates and important occasions. Additionally it has a Panchang featuring auspicious/inauspicious times during a day.
Currently the Duo is launched in Mumbai only at the price of Rs. 11,999, excluding the Indicom Sim card.
According to Samsung, users can use two GSM or two CDMA or one of each sim cards in one handset.
The Duo handset is a slider phone having a 2.2-inch hybrid TFT display. Also it features 1.3 megapixel camera with 10X digital zoom and video recording. This phone is a real business phone supporting document files in excel, word and PDF formats.
The phone also offers good amount of entertainment to users through an MP3/AAC+ player supporting video in MPEG4. The phone has 10MB of internal memory and can support up to 1GB of external memory.
Besides, the phone has three input options ABCD’ keyboard or a normal mobile phone keypad and thanks to the handwriting recognition software that it incorporates, you also jot something on it.
Perhaps, the most interesting feature for Indians the Indian calendar it bundles which lists all the festivals, dates and important occasions. Additionally it has a Panchang featuring auspicious/inauspicious times during a day.
Currently the Duo is launched in Mumbai only at the price of Rs. 11,999, excluding the Indicom Sim card.
Was just discussing yesterday night ... Teleportation is the Next Technology change? Which is going to throw out all these mobiles and communication devices....I wish I could be alive to see that day!
Friday, August 03, 2007
Goal Setting!
What will you achieve if you don't know what you want to achieve?GOAL setting, timeline setting, steps break-up, milestone celebrations, motivation, inching closer to your GOALS. Well all this sounds more or less like a excerpt from a Project Management book at your B-School. No. This is simply the latest thing running in my office where all the employees have put together all their Goals on the wall:
1 yr goal
5 yr goal
10 yr goal
Lifetime Goal.
In the image some 32 Goal sheets are visible which says exactly this. I think its necessary and every company should do this. Get your employees to decide the goals. Set some timelines. Breakup the path to achieve those goals into smaller units. Self Motivate yourself. Keep working and celebrate the milestones. Achieve and Enjoy! Start your journey for the next goal.
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