VECCI presentation

The 2009 VECCI Sales and Marketing Conference has come and gone with an impressive 120 people attending on the day.

In the lead up, I am sure that my neighbours thought I was going crazy as I practiced my presentation (okay a few times to myself!) after work in the evenings. On reflection now, I am glad that I was well prepared and as a result the presentation went really well. I did also enjoy being on the panel after lunch to comment on the topic of ‘Marketing on a Shoestring’. Some interesting and different points of view indeed…

Until next time!

Are email newsletters dead?

I read some research recently about a survey that asked a cross section of Australian consumers what media channels they preferred to receive marketing messages through. One of the findings from the report indicated strong preference towards receiving marketing communication messages through addressed mail. Which lead me to consider “Where does that leave digital and email communication?”

My conclusion on the research is that both printed and electronic communication tools have their place and it is important to have a Marketing Strategy and Plan about when to use what tool in your business.

If you are thinking about starting a newsletter/communications program or are reviewing a program that you currently have in place, whether it is electronic or hard copy, here are my tips for making it a really good read –

1. It looks professional
2. Provides lots value to the reader
3. Has a personality

If you would like some help creating a great newsletter, drop me a line.

Need some FREE industry research?

IBIS is one of Australia's leading sources of business statistics and information and is a tool that I regularly use when preparing Marketing Plans for Next Marketing clients. IBIS provides easy to understand high-level summaries about various industries and is also up to date; most reports are less than 6 months old.

A subscription to IBIS is expensive (last time I looked into it anyway), however I use Small Business Victoria in Melbourne to access this information for free. Check it out.

Rebranding vs. Advertising

Do you have a product line that needs a bit of help? There is a wave of marketing thinking that suggests that the next 6 months will be an ideal time to re-brand rather than advertise. Companies and consumers alike are open to the idea of change and a fresh ‘new look’ may be one of the strategies for you to seriously consider.

Re-branding is a great opportunity to re-connect with lost customers, introduce your product to new customers and review your product’s position and story in the market. Better still; re-branding is potentially a lot less expensive than advertising. Drop me a line to discuss your thoughts.

Suite 8/115 Stanley Street,
West Melbourne VIC 3003
t 03 8060 8544
e info@nextmarketing.com.au
w nextmarketing.com.au