Clap, clap, grin! the toddler picked up a yellow cylinder, easily pushed it through the circular hole and looked up at her Daddy with pride. He beamed and tenderly planted a kiss on her plump cheek and picked up a red star. Together they located the star-shaped hole and the young'un tried a repeat performance. Uh-uh. Didn't happen. :(
She tried again; no; and again, but this was NOT quite the same. She looked up at her Daddy for encouragement and he just gently told her to keep turning the star in different directions and to keep right on trying. Well, this was one determined little girl and hey presto! After several attempts, the star was magically inserted into the shape-sorter. Yes! Success at last!
But, but the shape and the hole were a perfect fit all the time, so why .............?
Ever felt that something or someone was the perfect fit and yet things were not going the way they ought? You know, this reminds me of a couple of business partners I know who keep incurring losses. One loves chef-ing while the other collects wines and both understand profitability; they have a great team too! You'd think they are they perfect fit to please customers palates, wouldn't you? They think so too! They've changed menus, pricing, promotions, etc but to no avail. So, what's missing then? The 2 experts have not engaged in Brand Alignment (lining up their skills, products, resources & targets) and so they keep sending mixed messages to customers.
When something is a little more complex and has many angles, it really is essential to align the talents and products to ensure the perfect fit happens. Just like the little girl had to gently get the points of the star to snuggle into the triangular spaces in the hole, it works well to identify how partners can fit into each others strengths and weaknesses. I like Hamilton's Wealth Profiles as a guide to profitability, especially when you have a team of 2 or 3 opposites. They are a perfect fit if and when snuggled well, and result in harmony and $$$$$$ too! Guess what? Works outside of business too - my opposite parents remained devoted through happy inter-dependance and stayed very contentedly married :D
If you're not getting the results you want from your business even with great products and a super team, call me at 6-03-21697704 and we can lay them out, line them up, and align them in a game plan for your business success :)
BRING ME THE BRAND AND I'LL INCREASE ITS PROFITS!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Fishing for Loyalty
Oh drat! It's not on the shelves. Sigh. Walked up and down the rows at my usual store but my fave brand of seasoning for a meanly mouth-watering fish dish was not in stock. They had the same flavors in other brands but not the one I've been using.
So, what's the big deal? Maybe someone else does it just as well hmmmm? One never knows till its tried out anyway, right? On that adventurous note I picked out 2 other brands with similar ingredients - how different can they turn out to be? Established brands, same ingredients - had I perhaps been too fussy about Brand Loyalty?
Yes, I tried both the brands and oh me oh my! You guessed it - the tastes were palatable, but really not as good as my favorite one. Even though the ingredients were the same, the proportions of them might have been different and the processing was certainly different since the textures of the sauces were just not as pleasing. That's it; experiment over - it was going to be may fave brand from now on even if it means driving over to another store to get it, so there!
Hey! Have you noticed something similar happens among teams too? Other people may come along with great credentials/personalities, but when you know how to relate to the old faithful ones, it cuts down timing and the results are more along the lines of what you would like, aren't they?
Both products and people have unique attributes that suit them for particular market segments. Often that has strong correlations with the cultural fit of the consumer with the product or service. What does that mean for YOUR business goals?
Well if you have a great product or service but are not attracting the type of customer you really really want, think about conducting an exercise in market segmentation. Why? Because your promotions and operations may need to be better aligned with what is unique about what you are good at. When they do become aligned that's when bingo! you get customer loyalty and repeat business that allows you to focus on expansion and getting new business :)
How's that for a strategy to increase your business in the next few months eh? I'd consider it an honor to segment your market(s) for you, and toss around some ideas for Brand Promotions & Delivery too so just call me at 6-03-2169774?
BRING ME THE BRAND, I'LL INCREASE ITS PROFITS!
So, what's the big deal? Maybe someone else does it just as well hmmmm? One never knows till its tried out anyway, right? On that adventurous note I picked out 2 other brands with similar ingredients - how different can they turn out to be? Established brands, same ingredients - had I perhaps been too fussy about Brand Loyalty?
Yes, I tried both the brands and oh me oh my! You guessed it - the tastes were palatable, but really not as good as my favorite one. Even though the ingredients were the same, the proportions of them might have been different and the processing was certainly different since the textures of the sauces were just not as pleasing. That's it; experiment over - it was going to be may fave brand from now on even if it means driving over to another store to get it, so there!
Hey! Have you noticed something similar happens among teams too? Other people may come along with great credentials/personalities, but when you know how to relate to the old faithful ones, it cuts down timing and the results are more along the lines of what you would like, aren't they?
Both products and people have unique attributes that suit them for particular market segments. Often that has strong correlations with the cultural fit of the consumer with the product or service. What does that mean for YOUR business goals?
Well if you have a great product or service but are not attracting the type of customer you really really want, think about conducting an exercise in market segmentation. Why? Because your promotions and operations may need to be better aligned with what is unique about what you are good at. When they do become aligned that's when bingo! you get customer loyalty and repeat business that allows you to focus on expansion and getting new business :)
How's that for a strategy to increase your business in the next few months eh? I'd consider it an honor to segment your market(s) for you, and toss around some ideas for Brand Promotions & Delivery too so just call me at 6-03-2169774?
BRING ME THE BRAND, I'LL INCREASE ITS PROFITS!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Bandwagon for $ - the new WOM
Beep-beep, beep-beep AH! an sms! Went to check after stroking my eyelashes with mascara. Hmmmm that's interesting - 2nd one in a week, eh? Went to complete the other eye when yet another sms alert bounced in. WHAT! Two in as many minutes???? WOW! This trend is really heating up isn't it?
What am I referring to? Well, these message were from friends - not spam - to say that they'd had a good experience with a product and were relaying their personal recommendations. Like when you've had a good meal somewhere and tell others about it, you know? It's as old as the hills and known as Word of Mouth Marketing i.e. WOM. And you know what? It is now SO successful that even corporst giants are cottoning onto it a one of their marketing strategies.
During a posh charity dinner recently a Country Manager related how global brand Unilever had enhanced its approach in Thailand and how savvy consumers were making money hand-over-fist. Unilever was founded in the 1890's and over 3 centuries it success has been influenced by the major events of the day - economic boom, depression, world wars, changing consumer lifestyles, advances in technology and now WOM.
Its approach leverages on interpersonal relationships to spread the word around and consumers are rewarded for bringing in more customers. The credibility is high because of the personal approach and consumers learn about the features of a product to share them with colleagues - they get rewarded to taking the trouble to learn and share. Companies shift a portion of their advertising budgets to funding the rewards system.
Yes this is what Networking Marketing is about and what financial guru Robert Kiyosaki promotes strongly as THE business model of the 21st Century. This is NOW! if you want to promote your brand and increase your sales while reducing brick-and-mortar overheads. Putting it together involves a sound marketing plan supported by integrated mechanics of delivery. Want my help? Call me at 6-03-21697704 and bingo! we'll get started :)
BRING ME THE BRAND I'LL INCREASE ITS PROFITS!
What am I referring to? Well, these message were from friends - not spam - to say that they'd had a good experience with a product and were relaying their personal recommendations. Like when you've had a good meal somewhere and tell others about it, you know? It's as old as the hills and known as Word of Mouth Marketing i.e. WOM. And you know what? It is now SO successful that even corporst giants are cottoning onto it a one of their marketing strategies.
During a posh charity dinner recently a Country Manager related how global brand Unilever had enhanced its approach in Thailand and how savvy consumers were making money hand-over-fist. Unilever was founded in the 1890's and over 3 centuries it success has been influenced by the major events of the day - economic boom, depression, world wars, changing consumer lifestyles, advances in technology and now WOM.
Its approach leverages on interpersonal relationships to spread the word around and consumers are rewarded for bringing in more customers. The credibility is high because of the personal approach and consumers learn about the features of a product to share them with colleagues - they get rewarded to taking the trouble to learn and share. Companies shift a portion of their advertising budgets to funding the rewards system.
Yes this is what Networking Marketing is about and what financial guru Robert Kiyosaki promotes strongly as THE business model of the 21st Century. This is NOW! if you want to promote your brand and increase your sales while reducing brick-and-mortar overheads. Putting it together involves a sound marketing plan supported by integrated mechanics of delivery. Want my help? Call me at 6-03-21697704 and bingo! we'll get started :)
BRING ME THE BRAND I'LL INCREASE ITS PROFITS!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Busy doing WHAT??!!!
Yes, that's what I'm taking stock of, at the end of what has been a very busy year. But WHAT has all that busyness achieved? The year began with a sickening revelation and I revisited those email to assess my efforts in that area. Ugh! Ugh! So, what did I learn? Mainly that not all opponents can be beneficially engaged (tried teaching kittens to swim? Give them something else instead) and its okay - even wise - to just walk away from whatever does not match my baseline of 'Being healthy, wealthy and wise'! Did you know that's my plumbline for engagement?
Guess what? Walking away actually helped the other areas to be more profitable, and improved relationships too! Oh yes! All my engagements are matched against being HW&W, and my businesses and other involvements are assessed that way. It's my way of having an integrated lifestyle (personal brand) - peace of mind instead of juggling too many conflicting areas.
So to decide which areas to keep, drop or work harder at, the BCG Matrix comes to my rescue. Try it for yourself and see, peeps! Conventionally it's a tool for strategic marketing (portfolion management by Brand) and isn't that what lifestyle is about anyway? Some areas are profit-making, others are getting there, some are established sources of income and yet others are beneficial without generating $ . The nice thing is that done well, everyone benefits in some way. I am so very grateful to those who have sown into my life and helped me to improve. Yes it surely has been a year of great gains :)
My businesses include Consultancy and Training, Anti-aging, and Eco-friendliness and you know, under each category are activities that are profitable and those that don't bring in $ but are beneficial and meet the HW&W criteria. All of them underscore building lasting relationships as my platform for staying engaged. What signature underscores your business efforts?
If you'd like that clarified, or want a strategic analysis of your portfolio of products and services, do call me at 6-03-42533526? You might want to put more effort in some areas and perhaps drop others.
BRING ME THE BRAND, I'LL INCREASE ITS PROFITS!
Guess what? Walking away actually helped the other areas to be more profitable, and improved relationships too! Oh yes! All my engagements are matched against being HW&W, and my businesses and other involvements are assessed that way. It's my way of having an integrated lifestyle (personal brand) - peace of mind instead of juggling too many conflicting areas.
So to decide which areas to keep, drop or work harder at, the BCG Matrix comes to my rescue. Try it for yourself and see, peeps! Conventionally it's a tool for strategic marketing (portfolion management by Brand) and isn't that what lifestyle is about anyway? Some areas are profit-making, others are getting there, some are established sources of income and yet others are beneficial without generating $ . The nice thing is that done well, everyone benefits in some way. I am so very grateful to those who have sown into my life and helped me to improve. Yes it surely has been a year of great gains :)
My businesses include Consultancy and Training, Anti-aging, and Eco-friendliness and you know, under each category are activities that are profitable and those that don't bring in $ but are beneficial and meet the HW&W criteria. All of them underscore building lasting relationships as my platform for staying engaged. What signature underscores your business efforts?
If you'd like that clarified, or want a strategic analysis of your portfolio of products and services, do call me at 6-03-42533526? You might want to put more effort in some areas and perhaps drop others.
BRING ME THE BRAND, I'LL INCREASE ITS PROFITS!
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