Blog
Asking the right questions
I first met Annabel Meade at a book launch a few months ago. It was a business occasion, so of course, we talked about work. At first she spent time telling me about what she Read more…
Blog
Recession, what recession?
In a so-called recession, there are as many advantages as disadvantages. You may be taking redundancy from corporate life, but that creates the opportunity to be your own boss. Here are my top tips if Read more…
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Objective setting
The biggest questions start with Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. And the greatest of all is Why. Consider why you do any marketing before you start. Work out what is your most wanted response to Read more…
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Givers gain?
I attended a BNI visitor day recently, where the Regional Director lauded the philosophy of ‘givers gain’: “If I give you business, you’ll want to give me business”. I approve of the sentiment but not Read more…
Blog
Oh no, not again…
Another day, yet another new networking group springs up in my local area, and I experience yet another networking nightmare. This group facilitates up to 10% commission payments in return for referrals, in the hope Read more…
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World’s worst speech
Another day, another networking group launches.
Nice venue. Nice breakfast. But then the regional director stood up and said: “I’m now going to bore you all to death about [Name of organisation] for 10 minutes.”
Oh no! That’s called ‘setting expectations’. He said it twice, and our expectations were well and truly set.
He went on to say: “I’ll try not to muff it…I’m going to sit down because I’m old and decrepit and need to support the weight of my stomach after breakfast.”
Trying to convince us to join: “You don’t have to bounce up and down like some other groups I could mention…This is networking for grown-ups…I don’t like people who think they’re better than anyone else…I’m looking for people to run clubs for me, because I don’t want to do it.”
And later: “I’ll probably cause a mass exodus when I tell you the cost of joining.”
How keen do you suppose his audience was at this point?
When talking about the rules & regulations of membership, he held up a little leaflet, and said: “Most members don’t even bother to read it which is why it’s so small. If you ask our members what the rules and regulations are, they look at you blankly.”
As a membership perk, he proffered a green plastic “leather-look” folder, and warned us that the magnetic button drops off and that we should buy our own Araldite to fix it.
Blog
Spot the difference
Frank Sinatra Harry Connick Junior Two handsome singers. ‘So what does this have to do with your Bad Ads blog?’, you may be asking yourself. ‘What does this teach me about UK advertising and marketing?’ Read more…