Thursday, January 14, 2010
Marketing Research applicable in Brand Management as well
I just realized today that we will be applying all the Marketing Research skills we have used so far in out Brand Management course as well. The project that Sir Sufian has assigned requires primary data as well. Cheers! :p
Advantage of mobile add
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=2476680
Are you looking for launching a new product online or want to enhance the business of your product? An online advertising or a mobile ad is an effective means of achieving an effective result. People these days have become very busy and tech-friendly seldom get any time to read newspapers or switching on their television. They lead a life where cell phone and their desktop or laptop is major part of their lives; they tend to seek every information and news from their cell phones and laptops by browsing through websites, mails, MMS and SMS. People don't want to waste their time browsing through different pages of newspaper for their desired news instead click on a link that would take them to news of their choice or subscribe a SMS package wherein you get your daily dose of news and updates. There are many websites provide you with an opportunity to advertise through their sites. These sites allow their clients to put up some of their advertisements on their sites which would cost them almost nothing compared to traditional methods of advertising. It does not restrict your product just to a local market but put your product on the global market accessible to every person across the globe. You can advertise you product via a floating ad, an expanding ad or a pop-up. A mobile ad has become very popular these days since every person on earth has a cell phone nowadays. A bulk SMS of a product to be advertise reaches millions of people at a same time. Some of the salient features of these websites: Provide an excellent interface wherein your ads are clearly visible and attract many customers. The amount of money you have shell out for advertising is almost negligible and you need not depend upon lazy and unprofessional people for the marketing of your product. They provide an effective mass marketing by their SMS facility. Has a large database of the customers, you need not research or depend upon some third party for obtaining cell numbers of customers.
The PAISAFREESMS.COM is an excellent website for online advertising; provide an effective means for marketing your product. The website offers their clients to advertise their product through advertisements like putting up a client's ad on their sites. Also one can advertise their products via SMS. The website has free SMS service for their users, while sending a free SMS an advertisement is attached with the message. The message generally has 160 characters out of which some characters can be utilized for ads. The number of people who uses free SMS facilities is numerous so literally your product would be able to reach a larger group of people, thus providing an effective marketing of your product.
Are you looking for launching a new product online or want to enhance the business of your product? An online advertising or a mobile ad is an effective means of achieving an effective result. People these days have become very busy and tech-friendly seldom get any time to read newspapers or switching on their television. They lead a life where cell phone and their desktop or laptop is major part of their lives; they tend to seek every information and news from their cell phones and laptops by browsing through websites, mails, MMS and SMS. People don't want to waste their time browsing through different pages of newspaper for their desired news instead click on a link that would take them to news of their choice or subscribe a SMS package wherein you get your daily dose of news and updates. There are many websites provide you with an opportunity to advertise through their sites. These sites allow their clients to put up some of their advertisements on their sites which would cost them almost nothing compared to traditional methods of advertising. It does not restrict your product just to a local market but put your product on the global market accessible to every person across the globe. You can advertise you product via a floating ad, an expanding ad or a pop-up. A mobile ad has become very popular these days since every person on earth has a cell phone nowadays. A bulk SMS of a product to be advertise reaches millions of people at a same time. Some of the salient features of these websites: Provide an excellent interface wherein your ads are clearly visible and attract many customers. The amount of money you have shell out for advertising is almost negligible and you need not depend upon lazy and unprofessional people for the marketing of your product. They provide an effective mass marketing by their SMS facility. Has a large database of the customers, you need not research or depend upon some third party for obtaining cell numbers of customers.
The PAISAFREESMS.COM is an excellent website for online advertising; provide an effective means for marketing your product. The website offers their clients to advertise their product through advertisements like putting up a client's ad on their sites. Also one can advertise their products via SMS. The website has free SMS service for their users, while sending a free SMS an advertisement is attached with the message. The message generally has 160 characters out of which some characters can be utilized for ads. The number of people who uses free SMS facilities is numerous so literally your product would be able to reach a larger group of people, thus providing an effective marketing of your product.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Project Progress
Today me and my group members started conducting the surveys. We started with FCC first. Our survey form is seemingly quite long, almost four pages. I had expected some expressions of uninterest or boredom when the students started it. But surprisingly the response was quite warm and people actually gave time and read the whole thing carefully before filling it. I must say thats a surprise for me. These students are human after all :p
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Customer Satisfaction Research Surveys
The article briefly explains how customer satisfaction can be measured. Do look at it and please comment!!!
"Customer satisfaction research data -- collected by phone survey or online survey -- are a core component for a marketing research information system. We research customer views about satisfaction using an innovative approach that uncovers customer loyalty, brand loyalty, and importance of your brand and the full market category."
http://www.powerdecisions.com/customer-satisfaction-loyalty-research.cfm
"Customer satisfaction research data -- collected by phone survey or online survey -- are a core component for a marketing research information system. We research customer views about satisfaction using an innovative approach that uncovers customer loyalty, brand loyalty, and importance of your brand and the full market category."
http://www.powerdecisions.com/customer-satisfaction-loyalty-research.cfm
What’s Working for Social Media Marketers?
http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1007449
JANUARY 5, 2010
A look at effectiveness
A September 2009 MarketingProfs survey of business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) marketers found that the marketing tactics most often used on social sites are not necessarily the best ones.
The most common marketing tactic used on Facebook was attempting to drive traffic to corporate materials through status updates, followed by friending customers.
But the most effective tactic for consumer-oriented companies was creating a Facebook application, which was done by less than one-quarter of total respondents. Both B2B and B2C companies also reported surveys of their fans as effective; fan surveys were the third-most-common tactic attempted.
Unsurprisingly, buying ads—even targeted ones—was the least effective type of social media marketing overall.
Like those on Facebook, marketers using Twitter were also most interested in increasing traffic. Driving traffic by linking to marketing Webpages was the most common activity on the microblogging site, followed by driving sales by linking to promotional pages. But again, the most effective tactics were different.
B2C marketers had the most success with monitoring Twitter for PR problems (done by one-half of all respondents) and contacting users who posted negative comments about their brand (done by only 22.4% of total respondents). B2B companies also succeeded with brand monitoring, as well as with using Twitter invites for in-person events (the least common tactic of all).
Though some firms, such as Dell, have reported success in the area, the study found that driving sales was the least effective marketing tactic attempted by companies using Twitter.
JANUARY 5, 2010
A look at effectiveness
A September 2009 MarketingProfs survey of business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) marketers found that the marketing tactics most often used on social sites are not necessarily the best ones.
The most common marketing tactic used on Facebook was attempting to drive traffic to corporate materials through status updates, followed by friending customers.
But the most effective tactic for consumer-oriented companies was creating a Facebook application, which was done by less than one-quarter of total respondents. Both B2B and B2C companies also reported surveys of their fans as effective; fan surveys were the third-most-common tactic attempted.
Unsurprisingly, buying ads—even targeted ones—was the least effective type of social media marketing overall.
Like those on Facebook, marketers using Twitter were also most interested in increasing traffic. Driving traffic by linking to marketing Webpages was the most common activity on the microblogging site, followed by driving sales by linking to promotional pages. But again, the most effective tactics were different.
B2C marketers had the most success with monitoring Twitter for PR problems (done by one-half of all respondents) and contacting users who posted negative comments about their brand (done by only 22.4% of total respondents). B2B companies also succeeded with brand monitoring, as well as with using Twitter invites for in-person events (the least common tactic of all).
Though some firms, such as Dell, have reported success in the area, the study found that driving sales was the least effective marketing tactic attempted by companies using Twitter.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Are short survey forms the only answer?
I was wondering this all along while preparing our survey form for our project that a lot of experts say that the survey form should be as short as possible. But what of it contains all important and mandatory questions? What if it cant be shortened and has to span three pages? Would anybody like to comment?
The Entrepreneurs Strength and Curse
The Entrepreneurs Strength and Curse
by David Mammano
Bringing New Products to Market
Otherwise known as the idea train, an entrepreneurs' way if thinking is her biggest strength and, if not carefully managed, could be her biggest curse.
I probably have a new idea every day. And at the time I have it, I usually get so excited that I think it's the next best thing. In mind, at that time, I have just made Steve Jobs look like an amateur.
Ok Dave - whatever...
But, at the same time, some of my ideas are pretty good. I wouldn't have a successful business if they weren't. And of course, some of my ideas are....let's say, put on hold.
If I actually acted on all my ideas, my company would have imploded a long time ago. One can stretch a company too thin where it begins to lose focus. I started in this direction a few years ago. A member of my team made a comment to me that was very enlightening. She said, "I feel as though lately we are growing like a shrub instead of a tree."
It was a very powerful statement and made me think about pruning the shrub so we can grow like a tree again. And we have.
Now when I have ideas, I present them to my managers first to flesh them out. This can be a frustrating experience because entrepreneurs and managers think differently, thank God. If he's smart, the entrepreneur has surrounded himself with detailed managers who can say no to him when appropriate. Most entrepreneurs don't like their ideas to be grilled and possibly put on hold or nixed for the benefit of the company. So, he will give his managers the right to set him straight if the idea is not the best for the company at that time; or needs to be altered/killed.
Of course, I can do whatever I want within my own company. But in my mind, it's not my own company. If I don't have the buy in from management and the rest of the team the idea will never take shape.
So here is my 10 step plan on how to entrepreneurs can deal with their ideas:
1) Marry well. Your spouse should be the first one to tell you if the idea has merit or if you're smoking something. You can save your team a lot of time if your spouse can nix the idea first. My wife has a special talent to see through my special"forest" and if I am in "DaveLand" with one of my ideas, she'll let me know. "DaveLand" is actually a great place! The sky is red and there is fun everywhere (and great food), but it's not for everybody...
2) Hire well. It's obvious, but some ego maniacs surround themselves with minion-like people. I have empowered my team to challenge me and let me know when I am getting off course. If I did not do this years ago, my idea train could have derailed the company.
3) Develop a process to discuss ideas with your management team. Form a R&D committee or just have a discussion at your weekly manager meeting
4) Explain the opportunity or problem to solve and see what they come up with first.
5) Present your thoughts at a very high level. Don't get tactical yet. Just the 50,000 foot view.
6) Be calm. Don't try to "sell" your idea. Stick to discussing the opportunity in a calm, rational way and let the conversation flow. If your managers feel they are being sold an idea, their BS meter may go off. This could really change the direction of the discussion.
7) Ask them to pitch the idea back to you. Then ask, "What does it look like when we, as a company, execute this idea really well and so that it doesn't strain the company?"
8) On a white board, brainstorm all the reasons why you shouldn't move forward with the idea. Then, list all the reason why it's a good idea.
9) Listen half as much as you talk.
10) Be ready to walk away from the idea, or alter it.
It seems like a lot to go though, I know. Many entrepreneurs might be reading this and saying, "Bull! The reason I started a business is to do whatever I want, whenever I want!" That may work if you are a one man show. But if you have people working for you, you'd be smart to rely on their intelligence to guide you. Hopefully, that's a big reason why you hired them.
Another big reason to go through this process is the actual execution of the idea. Traditionally, entrepreneurs are builders of ideas but not always great at seeing them through. You'll need your team to embrace the idea if you expect them to execute it well.
Bottom line; make sure you allow really great passengers on your idea train who can help you drive.
Enjoy your ride.
http://www.marketingscoop.com/entrepreneur-strategy.htm
by David Mammano
Bringing New Products to Market
Otherwise known as the idea train, an entrepreneurs' way if thinking is her biggest strength and, if not carefully managed, could be her biggest curse.
I probably have a new idea every day. And at the time I have it, I usually get so excited that I think it's the next best thing. In mind, at that time, I have just made Steve Jobs look like an amateur.
Ok Dave - whatever...
But, at the same time, some of my ideas are pretty good. I wouldn't have a successful business if they weren't. And of course, some of my ideas are....let's say, put on hold.
If I actually acted on all my ideas, my company would have imploded a long time ago. One can stretch a company too thin where it begins to lose focus. I started in this direction a few years ago. A member of my team made a comment to me that was very enlightening. She said, "I feel as though lately we are growing like a shrub instead of a tree."
It was a very powerful statement and made me think about pruning the shrub so we can grow like a tree again. And we have.
Now when I have ideas, I present them to my managers first to flesh them out. This can be a frustrating experience because entrepreneurs and managers think differently, thank God. If he's smart, the entrepreneur has surrounded himself with detailed managers who can say no to him when appropriate. Most entrepreneurs don't like their ideas to be grilled and possibly put on hold or nixed for the benefit of the company. So, he will give his managers the right to set him straight if the idea is not the best for the company at that time; or needs to be altered/killed.
Of course, I can do whatever I want within my own company. But in my mind, it's not my own company. If I don't have the buy in from management and the rest of the team the idea will never take shape.
So here is my 10 step plan on how to entrepreneurs can deal with their ideas:
1) Marry well. Your spouse should be the first one to tell you if the idea has merit or if you're smoking something. You can save your team a lot of time if your spouse can nix the idea first. My wife has a special talent to see through my special"forest" and if I am in "DaveLand" with one of my ideas, she'll let me know. "DaveLand" is actually a great place! The sky is red and there is fun everywhere (and great food), but it's not for everybody...
2) Hire well. It's obvious, but some ego maniacs surround themselves with minion-like people. I have empowered my team to challenge me and let me know when I am getting off course. If I did not do this years ago, my idea train could have derailed the company.
3) Develop a process to discuss ideas with your management team. Form a R&D committee or just have a discussion at your weekly manager meeting
4) Explain the opportunity or problem to solve and see what they come up with first.
5) Present your thoughts at a very high level. Don't get tactical yet. Just the 50,000 foot view.
6) Be calm. Don't try to "sell" your idea. Stick to discussing the opportunity in a calm, rational way and let the conversation flow. If your managers feel they are being sold an idea, their BS meter may go off. This could really change the direction of the discussion.
7) Ask them to pitch the idea back to you. Then ask, "What does it look like when we, as a company, execute this idea really well and so that it doesn't strain the company?"
8) On a white board, brainstorm all the reasons why you shouldn't move forward with the idea. Then, list all the reason why it's a good idea.
9) Listen half as much as you talk.
10) Be ready to walk away from the idea, or alter it.
It seems like a lot to go though, I know. Many entrepreneurs might be reading this and saying, "Bull! The reason I started a business is to do whatever I want, whenever I want!" That may work if you are a one man show. But if you have people working for you, you'd be smart to rely on their intelligence to guide you. Hopefully, that's a big reason why you hired them.
Another big reason to go through this process is the actual execution of the idea. Traditionally, entrepreneurs are builders of ideas but not always great at seeing them through. You'll need your team to embrace the idea if you expect them to execute it well.
Bottom line; make sure you allow really great passengers on your idea train who can help you drive.
Enjoy your ride.
http://www.marketingscoop.com/entrepreneur-strategy.htm
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