Last Friday I was kindly invited by one of my best friends to attend the Long Rugby Breast Cancer Charity Lunch held at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney.
There are many things dear to my heart and breast cancer and the effects of it are one of them.
This morning I didn’t want to get out of bed. It’s cold, my bed’s warm and the TV was on.
Eventually after my alarm bell rang for the 9th time, I hopped out of my snuggly bed and headed for the shower as I do 7 mornings a week.
Time for a new brand?Where should a business begin when thinking about re-branding?
There are rule of thumbs – but beware. Like most things in marketing, not everything is for everyone.
Believe it or not, brand makeovers are not simply a response to businesses in a downward spiral. Successful companies revamp their brands just as much as ones that have experienced a downturn in their fortunes.
They are the people we entrust with our finances. All day, every day they tap numbers into their calculators reducing our taxes, finding ways to maximise our financial futures and giving us valuable advice on our financial situation.
Many businesses are turning back the clock and placing a greater emphasis on traditional word-of-mouth marketing and the latest social networks to grow their market share.
Having been in business for 10 years and totally absorbed by the businesses I already own and operate, I have had little time to think of anything else.
But like a well oiled chain, most of my businesses operate fairly efficiently and effectively without my daily input. These days I am more a problem solver than a day-to-day runner of the business.
Yesterday I was asked the question about what are the concerns of small to medium sized businesses when it comes to marketing right now.
The truth is only they know, however I have a good gauge having spoken with more than 100 small to medium sized businesses in the last month.
A couple of years ago, I was invited to be an Ambassador for Ozchild (www.ozchild.org.au).
Ozchild has a history of helping children from underprivileged environments since 1851 and now has a group of 500 volunteers and around 170 staff.
Some people turn on the television to laugh, others to be entertain… me… to be motivated.
I rarely watch a show that doesn’t have some relevance to my life. Yes, I was addicted to Sex In The City, then came Lipstick Jungle and on the weekend, the DVD for Cashmere Mafia.
I am not known for being overly political but I do resonate with those that are and who stand up for what they believe in.
Harsh – probably, but I am yet again flabbergasted that people waste valuable marketing dollars on half hearted attempts at marketing and sit back and have a pity party wondering why they did not work.
Companies that are managed well, market themselves and are honourable in the way they conduct business always seem to succeed.
I have a good friend who always talks about ‘living the dream’. He arrives at a friends house, they go “what have you been up to?”, he replies “Living the dream”. Actually, you can pretty much ask him anything and the reply is always the same. Go figure.
Some trade shows really need to re-think their strategies. If other delegates walk out of tradeshows feeling the way I did today, then it’s not a great sign for the tradeshow.