Perhaps it is just us, but it seems like Europe is always raising the bar on beauty. Their ancient architecture and art, their cuisine and even their clothing.
We were surprised however when we came across a series of covers for Italy’s official NBA magazine, Rivista Ufficiale NBA. For one we did not realize the even HAD an NBA magazine, much less that the sheer beauty of the design far outstripped our own Canadian and even the American versions. Below are several examples of the raw, out-of-the-box and typography inspired design work by Francesco Poroli
Design Speaks Volumes.
Covers designed for Rivista Ufficiale NBA, the official NBA magazine in Italy. by Francesco Poroli
Covers designed for Rivista Ufficiale NBA, the official NBA magazine in Italy. by Francesco Poroli
Covers designed for Rivista Ufficiale NBA, the official NBA magazine in Italy. by Francesco Poroli
Covers designed for Rivista Ufficiale NBA, the official NBA magazine in Italy. by Francesco Poroli
Covers designed for Rivista Ufficiale NBA, the official NBA magazine in Italy. by Francesco Poroli
Covers designed for Rivista Ufficiale NBA, the official NBA magazine in Italy. by Francesco Poroli
Covers designed for Rivista Ufficiale NBA, the official NBA magazine in Italy. by Francesco Poroli
We have always said that good, quality design speak volumes. Investing in bold and beautiful design that grabs the eye, can double the impact of your marketing. Why spend money on an ad or website that does not grab and engage the consumer?
Marketing and advertising are, after all, all about getting the attention of the consumer and drawing them to your brand / business. Poor or cheap design will never do this, it will be marketing dollars dumped down the drain. Instead invest in good, solid design and you will see strong results. You will get your money’s worth. Never go half-baked on your marketing.
Transition Marketing Services is a small business marketing firm in the Okanagan. Our passion Small Business Marketing. Educating and equipping small business owners with the tools and strategies to succeed. We have made it our priority to know Specialized Marketing. We keep up to date on what is new, what is available and what makes the most sense for businesses of all sizes and backgrounds. We recognize that every Small Business is unique, and their Marketing needs to be as well. Visit us at our website and let us know how were doing or if you have any questions.
A Facebook Meltdown That Will Make You Blush, Chuckle and Shake Your Head All At Once!
Soooo… this is happening. Interestingly enough they now have 10,000 “likes” on Facebook – likely due to the media frenzy that has occurred as a result of their actions.
Is the influx of traffic and attention worth it? Hard to say, brands like Kenneth Cole & A&E have taken the low road before and garnered some amazing *FREE* publicity from it (albeit negative publicity). Amy’s Baking Company will likely not be an exception.
They have already garnered massive media publicity, some positive, most negative and while it is clear they have made a mistake here and taken the low road, it is equally clear that at the end of this afternoon just about EVERYONE will know who they are.
Smart or cringe-worthy? You decide, here is the story:
This is the Facebook page of one “Amy’s Baking Company Bakery, Boutique & Bistro”
Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, Amy’s took to their Facebook profile to defend themselves against various negative comments being posted by users. If you follow Gordon Ramsey’s “Kitchen Nightmares”, then you may recognize the restaurant from a recent episode. The owners were dumped by Ramsey after being too difficult to work with. View the episode below.
The Episode That Started It All?
The Flames of Failure Began With But A Spark…
The owners, a couple by the name of Samy and Amy Bouzaglo (pictured right) started publishing their defensive posts early yesterday evening and unfortunately did not stop until late into the night.
They continued to post and post…. and post, feeding the mass of internet trolls and fueling the sparks to full on flames.
Of course this is the internet and their Facebook audience grew exponentially, devouring everything they had and encouraging them to greater levels of angry stupidity.
We have outlined several times in the past, the need for tact, manners and decorum when dealing with negativity on social media. However when emotions are high, good, clear, level-headed thinking does not always prevail. Below are samples of the posts allegedly made by the owners of the company onto their Facebook page.
It Started Quietly.
But Emotions Flared.
Soon Rational Thought Ceased.
The Crazy Began.
Things Compounded When They Found Out Their Story Had Gone Viral on Reddit & Yelp.
This Is The Internet. If There Is An Argument, Everyone Invites Themselves (and their cat).
Nothing Calms Internet Troll Frenzies Like Threat Of Legal Action…
By The End “Amy’s” Had Successfully Entered Their Name Into Internet Posterity As One Of The Largest Brand Meltdowns Ever.
What They Should Have Done Is Taken A Step Back, Taken A Deep Breath & Moved On…but they didn’t.
They Just Kept Feeding The Trolls.
ALLLLLL NIGHT…
Then To Compound On Stupid, The attempted to (Poorly) Photoshop A Reddit Screenshot To Make Redditors Believe They Had Actually Gotten Police Involved.
9:00pm Rolled Around Before They FINALLY Shut Up.
When brand’s go postal on social media there is always a feeding frenzy. This was no exception. Will “Amy’s” ultimately benefit from all of this publicity, or will they fold? One way or the other, we (and just about every other marketing firm out there) urges AGAINST this type of action. Looking at a situation such as this, one has the perspective to see the stupidity of it all, but when it is you involved that perspective does not always exist. Our rule of thumb: Always take the high road.
Transition Marketing Services is a small business marketing firm in the Okanagan. Our passion Small Business Marketing. Educating and equipping small business owners with the tools and strategies to succeed. We have made it our priority to know Specialized Marketing. We keep up to date on what is new, what is available and what makes the most sense for businesses of all sizes and backgrounds. We recognize that every Small Business is unique, and their Marketing needs to be as well. Visit us at our website and let us know how were doing or if you have any questions
“There is no such thing as a social media ‘guru’, nor a ‘maven’ nor a ‘ninja’ nor any of the other silly terms people are using. There are those who understand social media as a tool for marketing, those who *think* they understand and those who do not.” – Transition Marketing
In our previous post on March 14, 2013 (HERE) we took a slightly different tact on the traditional social media propaganda by REFUTING several of the dominant social media “tips” presently in circulation. In today’s post we will continue with a thorough examination of FIVE MORE TERRIBLE SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS.
1) Avoid Allowing Your Employees on Social Media.
This is a ridiculous and asinine request. For one, attempting to police this is a tremendous waste of time. Even if you block Social Media on their work computers, they have smart phones. The resources, time and ill-will that this breeds isn’t worth it. Try to block or regulate their cell phone usage at work, they will still visit those sites on their breaks and at home. Forbid any use of your brand or business name by your employees and they will simply create fake profiles.
All you do by creating an iron-fisted regime is breed sore feelings, hurt office morale and damage work relationships. You send a clear message that you don’t trust them, create a hostile office environment and what is worse, you turn your back on an incredible asset.
Your employees are your company. They ARE your brand. This is not just a cliché corporate catch-phrase. It is a solid truth about the world we now live in. Social Media has changed the face of branding. Every consumer, every employee, every individual now has the option and the power to share their experiences with thousands and even millions. Businesses cannot muzzle the voice of the general public and there has been a significant shift in the way that businesses now market themselves (More on that HERE)
Your employees (just like your customers) have a voice and a reach that can further spread your brand and marketing message, for good or for ill. One way or the other your employees will talk about your business. To fight the lost battle of “policing” their voices, instead so rather than trying to encourage them is folly. Instead give them guidelines for good use and encourage them to share positive stories and experiences.
Allow them to be “Brand Advocates” and put their voices to use.
2) Ignore Negative Feedback On Social Media.
Oops, someone has gone and said something bad about your brand. There is no going back now, it exists and it is plastered on the internet. Whether it reaches dozens or thousands there is no going back once it has been posted.
Many brands are encouraged to ignore negative comments, to not risk entering a hostile conversation to avoid it. However by not responding to angry comments online you are allowing it to simply sit and fester and worst-case scenario it could quickly take on a life of its own.
Mistakes happen so when you make them, admit to them. People are far more gracious when one owns up, apologizes and tried to make things better. Attempting to ignore, avoid or argue them will tarnish your brand. Admit mistakes when necessary and then detail how you will address them.
Our go-to method when negativity strikes, is to address the comment immediately and take that conversation offline.
For example, if someone tweets negatively about you, ask them to DM, email or call you with the specifics. Then work with them to resolve the issue outside of the public’s eye. Once a resolution has been reached, take it back to the mainstream and tweet the resolution back to them as an affirmation.
The public doesn’t need to know every detail, just that is was addressed and made right.
3) Address EVERY Negative Comment.
This may seem like we are suddenly contradicting ourselves, however there are certain negative comments that exist for no other reason then to get a rise out of you. Known as “trolling“, the concept of provoking reaction through negative or even shocking content has unfortunately become quite a popular online. This is more specific to big business and well established brands, however it pertains to all of us.
Beware of those who are simply trying to further their own agenda’s and gain visibility by pushing you for responses to their comments. On social media, as in life, there is a time to talk and a time to walk away. Learn to discern the trolls from those consumers with real concerns.
4) Delete Negative Comments or Disable Comments Entirely.
Social Media is about conversations, about sharing and discussing. Disabling comments runs contrary to this entire premise.
People are going to share experiences with or without your Facebook page. They have their own page, their own profile and their own audience. By ALLOWING them to post their thoughts and feedback on YOUR page you can monitor and address the feedback. If you’re smart you may even learn a few things to change your business for the better.
Responding to customers, involving them and discussing with them is in fact what social media is all about. Simply posting content over and over, without ever establishing customer relationships is a dated practice meant for television, billboards and radio. Online “Marketing 2.0″ is all about creating consumer advocates through online discussions via social media.
As for deleting comments, do so and you will have created a consumer enemy for life. Nothing will infuriate a consumer-with-a-voice more, than attempting (poorly) to silence them. They will simply find other avenues and lambaste you even worse!
5) When Making A Mistake, Deleting The Post Will Fix It.
This is absolutely horse-feathers and rubbish. Let us reiterate, once a comment has been made and posted, it will not cease to exist. Whether you posted it or a consumer did it is there.
“Love and life may pass, but Facebook posts are forever”.
There is no way to completely erase a post and no way to stop viewers from screen-shotting it and sharing it with the world. Think about what you say before you say it. And admit to any mistakes you make (apologize when necessary).
Transition Marketing Services is a small business marketing firm in the Okanagan. Our passion Small Business Marketing. Educating and equipping small business owners with the tools and strategies to succeed. We have made it our priority to know Specialized Marketing. We keep up to date on what is new, what is available and what makes the most sense for businesses of all sizes and backgrounds. We recognize that every Small Business is unique, and their Marketing needs to be as well. Visit us at our website and let us know how were doing or if you have any questions.
It seems like everywhere you look “Angry Birds” is popping up as another product. Two years ago we saw plushies and various children’s toys enter the market, then shortly afterwards gummy candies begin popping up on super market shelves. Now we are finding their own brand of cola cropping up.
This begs the question, is this smart marketing?
One can argue that if they are selling and turning profit, then yes indeed it is. Yet one has to be careful, diversifying and attempting to place your brand into new market regions can be a risky proposition with long-lasting repercussions.
Take these “Angry Birds” for instance. Is the same demographic that the games, plush toys, candies and t-shirts appeal to, the same that would look at drinking this cola?
Probably yes and this could be a safe and smart choice. However that is not always the case.
If one intends on entering a new market region with their brand, products or services, then they MUST do their research. History is full of examples of brands that tried – and failed – at creating new sources of profit. One needs to be aware of all of the variables that can affect their success and sometimes those variables are just about impossible to prep for.
There is always a certain level of risk when seeking new target markets to aim for. By doing the homework and paying attention, that risk can be greatly reduced. Whether you are a small business or a large corporation, seeking new markets is a key to growth. Searching out people who can benefit from your products & services, or adapting existing products & services to meet a new markets needs always merits investigation.
But remember doing it haphazardly could cost you big.
We will leave you with few examples of diversified marketing failures from the giants who should have known better:
Turner Broadcasting. Their attempt at Guerrilla Marketing quickly became a fiasco when their novelty glowing signs were mistaken for terrorist threats.
Coca-Cola. Everyone in the industry is familiar with the 1980′s “New Coke” failure.
Gap. Had a quick two day stint with a new logo before realizing it just wasn’t cool.
Netflix. Tried to hit two rival markets at once… oops!
Transition Marketing Services is a small business marketing firm in the Okanagan. Our passion Small Business Marketing. Educating and equipping small business owners with the tools and strategies to succeed. We have made it our priority to know Specialized Marketing. We keep up to date on what is new, what is available and what makes the most sense for businesses of all sizes and backgrounds. We recognize that every Small Business is unique, and their Marketing needs to be as well. Visit us at our website and let us know how were doing or if you have any questions.
A Brand used to exert far more control over their image than they do now. Their image was dictated by their marketing team and it was presented via one-way communication channels such as Print, Radio and Television. There was no means for the consumer to talk back and no sharing “en-mass” of experiences. The worst a Brand had to fear was negative word-of-mouth referrals amongst their consumer’s family and friends. This of course was minimal and easy to drown out.
This type of “one-way” marketing communications made it easy for brands to position themselves with nothing more than a large budget and a savvy marketing team.
That has all changed. With the advent of the internet, the world became a great deal smaller. This is a truth that has been compounded even further by “Social Media”.
“Social Media has made every customer a “mystery shopper”. It has enabled every last consumer to weigh in on a Brand’s performance.”
Social Media has enabled anyone and everyone to share their thoughts on anything at anytime. Is this a good thing? Perhaps not in all cases, yet it is the truth we live with. Everyone’s hearts are now on their sleeves and now just about anyone across the world can view it.
This is a cold hard fact for Brands.
The Brand Image is no longer dictated solely by slick marketing, it is dictated by customer’s sharing their experiences with the world. Take for example this recent post to social media giant, Reddit:
This UPS employee deserves a raise for the good he has done for their brand.
A customer, or quite possibly no more than the NEIGHBOUR of a customer, witnessed a diligent UPS employee and shared it on Reddit. The post was instantly shared with millions of consumers all around the world.
Congratulations to UPS! Thanks to this employee and the consumer who noticed it, they got excellent brand recognition and advertising without spending a dime.
Now as a point of comparison, have a look at this short video posted to YouTube. The video shows a FedEx employee casually tossing a package (containing a computer) over a fence. This is a video that went viral only months ago:
Ask yourself, which of these two elite carriers are consumers more likely going to use? Based solely off of these two consumer-shared posts I know who my choice would be.
Of course this isn’t to lambaste FedEx or endorse UPS, but to demonstrate the principles behind the new era of Branding. Simply put Brands must now exercise a new level of responsibility and engagement with customers. Any Brand seeking success in the 21st century must now focus less on shiny advertising and image and more on “Customer Experiences”.
A customer with a mouthful asked for a “Mapkin”. This is what the clever employee provided. As a result it got great, positive exposure to 60 million users on a social networking site. Good employees are worth investing in.
Customer Experiences.
Customer Experience (Definition):Is literally any part of the entire experience a consumer (or consumers) has during the process of making a purchase. This includes preemptive researching, sourcing, pricing, purchasing, taking possession of, installing and using, as well as any and all customer service related activities following. This may include warranty, returns, questions or comments.
Twenty or more years ago a customers experience with a brand was shared with only their immediate social circles. Feedback, bad or good, was restricted. These days customer experiences can (and are) immediately shared with hundreds, thousands or even millions of other consumers. For this reason Brands have begun to put more effort into their daily transactions with customers.
There are billions of customer transactions and experiences occurring daily around the world. They take the form of phone calls, emails, discussions with sales associates, deliveries, installations, warranty requests etc. Every instance of participation between you and a consumer, every interaction that your business has with a customer, is a “Customer Experience” and EVERY SINGLE ONE of these interactions could make or break your brand.
We as businesses have no control over which consumers will share what with others. That one negative experience we provide to a consumer could quickly be seen by anyone and everyone. Likewise that incredible effort on the part of your staff, could reach thousands on your behalf. This “unknown” is why EVERY interaction is crucial.
Social Media has made every customer a “mystery shopper“. It has enabled every last consumer to weigh in on a Brand’s performance.
The key point being made here is that EVERY business big or small, needs to invest in improving their day-to-day interactions with consumers.
Improving Brand to Customer Interactions.
As outlined above, there are countless interactions between customers and Brands every day. Whether making an actual purchase or simply looking for product information, it is imperative that every customer experience be as smooth, efficient and positive as possible.
“Always keep this one direction in mind: “How can I make this better for the customer?”
The sheer number of interactions and instances of “Customer Experiences” can be overwhelming. In this excellent post by Dr. Brian Monger. He outlines a far more thorough list of the various interactions that may take place between you and your consumers. To read through it, one can feel quickly discouraged! But take hope. This list provides the impetus for you to BUILD YOUR BRAND!
Instead of getting discouraged, go through the list and pick two or three interactions that you KNOW you have with customers and look at ways to improve them. For example, does your business frequently have to deliver to customers? How can that be improved? Can you offer it for free? Can it be sped up? Is your delivery guy providing them with a smile and a handshake?
The improvements don’t need to always be complicated and it is often the little things that matter most to customers.
Always keep this one direction in mind: “How can I make this better for the customer?”
Getting Social.
Improving customer experiences is a crucial step for the new era of Brand Image because customers are continually sharing their experiences via social media. Since this is the case, it only makes sense for Brands to also be involved on social media channels.
In past posts we have outlined some of the many social media sites available, what they do and how they work. The two primary reasons for a Brand to “get social” are as follows:
1. Engaging Customers: The purpose of social media is quite literally in its name: “SOCIAL media”. Many Brands have yet to truly see that success on Twitter, Facebook or any of the many sites out there, boils down to the ability to connect with customers. Using “one-way advertising” tactics and simply shouting your message without listening or replying to the customer base is a faux pas and it is one of the things killing Brands on social media.
Instead, make your time on social media, all about talking WITH your target market. Share insider info on tips, deals and sales, reply to their comments and start conversations. This builds your brands integrity and gives them reason to participate with you online.
2. Being Available To Listen: If a customer has an issue with your business and decides to share it via social media. How will you know?
There are a couple of different ways. The first is just BEING on social media. There is a good chance that if a customer has an issue with a recent experience and is going to share it online, they will seek out the Brand responsible (Tweet at them, visit their Facebook page etc). It gives them a chance to address it with you, which ideally results in dealing with the situation and improving their opinion of you.
“If a customer has an issue with your business and decides to share it via social media. How will you know?”
On the flip side, positive experiences may also be shared and should be highlighted and shared with your social media followers.
A Brand can also watch for ”mentions”. Platforms like Twitter allow for an extremely easy search of various words and terms. Simply plug-in your brand name, or specific terms that are associated with your business and hit “search” to see what people are saying. There are programs available to allow you to do this with just about any site and they can be customized to fit your business.
Closing.
We chose not to get into the details regarding many of the topics at hand above. The sole purpose behind this post was to educate small businesses on the growing importance of customer experiences. What they are, how they work and why they matter. We value feedback, did something in this post standout? Do you have an opinion, question or criticism? Share it with us and let’s get social!
Transition Marketing Services is a small business marketing firm in the Okanagan. Our passion Small Business Marketing. Educating and equipping small business owners with the tools and strategies to succeed. We have made it our priority to know Specialized Marketing. We keep up to date on what is new, what is available and what makes the most sense for businesses of all sizes and backgrounds. We recognize that every Small Business is unique, and their Marketing needs to be as well. Visit us at our website and let us know how were doing or if you have any questions.
THIS ARTICLE WAS PENNED AND SHARED ORIGINALLY BY PIEDTYPE WE TAKE NO CREDIT FOR WRITING THIS AND URGE OUR READERS TO VISIT THE PIEDTYPE BLOG TO REGISTER COMMENTS / COMPLIMENTS OR QUESTIONS
Hyundai ‘Pipe Job’ ad a deadly serious mistake
APRIL 25, 2013
Below is a commercial from Hyundai called “Pipe Job.” It was intended to promote the Hyundai ix35, an eco-friendly fuel cell car with “100% water emissions.”
The ad shows a man going into his closed garage and running a hose from his car’s tailpipe to its passenger compartment. He then gets into the car, takes a few deep breaths, and closes his eyes. A few hours later the garage light comes on, the door opens, and the man walks out.
The shocked reaction was immediate and profound. One particularly heartbreaking example: An open letter to Innocean and Hyundai. And as if the author’s distress weren’t bad enough, look at some of the comments. There are some cruel, cruel people in this world. And some really sick, ignorant ad copywriters.
The ad appeared on YouTube and outrage from consumers and suicide prevention groups caused Hyundai to pull the ad today and issue this statement:
Hyundai Motor deeply and sincerely apologizes for the offensive viral ad. The ad was created by an affiliate advertising agency, Innocean Europe, without Hyundai’s request or approval. It runs counter to our values as a company and as members of the community. We are very sorry for any offense or distress the video caused. More to the point, Hyundai apologizes to those who have been personally impacted by tragedy.
Let’s hope that one or more former Innocean employees are on the street tonight looking for new jobs and that the current generation of advertising copywriters has learned an unforgettable lesson in sensitivity.
Oh, and Innocean might want to consider changing their tag line, currently “Making Waves.”
THIS ARTICLE WAS PENNED AND SHARED ORIGINALLY BY PIEDTYPE WE TAKE NO CREDIT FOR WRITING THIS AND URGE OUR READERS TO VISIT THE PIEDTYPE BLOG TO REGISTER COMMENTS / COMPLIMENTS OR QUESTIONS
Make it difficult for your competitors to succeed: Create tough barriers to entry
Written by Chipo Mapungwana
Making your market impenetrable is one of the best defences against competition. When you don’t want your competitors to succeed, a key strategy is to make is impossible for them to enter and succeed in the market that you are trading in.
So what can you do, to discourage competitors from entering your markets?
1. Reduce your costs of production.
Black and Decker has mastered the science of leveraging on its economies of scale accruing from its use of research and development, technology and its strategic manufacturing and production systems. Each of Black and Decker’s factories around the world produces one product for the global market. The production costs thus become unbeatable and as Black and Decker is not keen to increase its prices, there is not much room for copy cats to manoeuvre.
2. Master technology and quality.
This is the strategy being used by companies like Procter and Gamble as well as Gillette , L’Oreal cosmetics and 3M. These companies are top of their game in utilising technology for competitive advantage. They constantly innovate and have therefore remained the benchmark and reference point in their markets in terms of quality. Technology , in the long run reduces your operating costs and enhances the quality of your products…..
