tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41541801848567615432024-03-21T09:52:33.545-07:00Scary World of BusinessCarlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-25643452585706119052012-09-01T06:42:00.002-07:002012-09-01T06:42:24.802-07:00From Russia with love...I have to admit, I had been looking forward to the Russian round of the WSBK season as soon as I had seen it on the calendar. I couldn't wait to go and see what the country was like and most of all the brand new race track that I had heard so much about... before I knew it there was on the plane on my way there!<br />
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With just a few rounds to go before the end of the season I am making sure that I experience as much of the countries I visit as I can within the time I am there and luckily for me, the press conference was being held in Moscow city centre. The traffic was an absolute nightmare so it took a while to get there but once I was there it was great! Check out the <a href="http://youtu.be/edCknz4FLTI" target="_blank">'Sightseeing with Leon Haslam'</a> video I put together to have a look around Red Square.<br />
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Over in Moscow there was a shift in the championship with Melandri taking the championship lead by 18.5 points ahead of Biaggi. I was lucky enough to have my picture taken with his trophy from his 2nd place finish in race one:<br />
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I know I must say it in every single blog I write, but I really am having the best year of my life and will be disappointed when the season comes to an end. However I have made some great friends and I will have great memories from every round that I have been to. It's a great year for BMW and I am really pleased to have been part of it - they're currently leading both the riders championship and the manufacturers championship and that's credit to the team and riders.<br />
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Here are the other videos from Moscow Raceway:<br />
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<a href="http://youtu.be/nFjJnzjDaPI" target="_blank">Superpole Reaction</a> <br />
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<a href="http://youtu.be/j0P-LAJxhsg" target="_blank">Race Reaction</a><br />
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<a href="http://youtu.be/90l8SNTKFCY" target="_blank">Race Action</a><br />
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Next stop : Nurbergring - never been before, so super excited! (As usual....) :-)<br />
<br />Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-89041494831338674262012-08-14T11:46:00.002-07:002012-08-14T11:46:17.967-07:00The Ron Haslam Race School<br />
You know those things that you have always wanted to do? For some people it might be going to a festival or climbing a mountain...but for me it was to do the Ron Haslam race school and finally have the experience of going out on the track. Was it as good as I imagined? Nope, sounds a cliche, but it was better.<br />
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I had been crossing my fingers for days before for good weather on the day and my wishes had paid off, the sun was shining and there I was, driving to Silverstone ready to jump on a bike and go round the track.<br />
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If you take your own helmet, remember to clean your visor! Having my own bike I had taken my own leathers and helmet with me - clothing and equipment is available there though and you have the chance to try out an Arai lid - everyone else had gleaming helmets with clean visors....mine still had flies on it from the last time I had been out to Squires...shameful!<br />
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I met my lovely instructor, Darren Jones, who explained more about the itinerary of the day and introduced me to my bike for the day. There were three separate sessions out on track, each of which increased in speed and the bike got further and further over. I was taught about body positioning on the bike, opening the throttle A LOT, leaning your shoulder into corners and just how much fun bikes could be on the track.<br />
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At the end of your three sessions you are given your assessment filled out by your instructor, where you are given tips to improve even more, as well as a certificate to say you have completed the day successfully.<br />
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Before I knew it I was back in my car driving home. My whole body was buzzing with excitement and adrenaline from the day and I kept thinking about how much fun I had. I am lucky enough to go and watch the WSBK but doing the race school gave me a new respect for the guys out there. It's easy to forget when you watch the riders round track the amount of fitness required and how much the riders have to think about - I have <b>even more</b> respect for them now!<br />
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It sounds stupid to say but I honestly had the best time ever and I have already started thinking about when I can go again...<br />
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I have put together three tips though if you are planning on doing it:<br />
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<ol>
<li><b>Listen</b> - it is so important to listen to the instructors, whether you have done a track day before or not, these guys know what they are talking about. </li>
<li><b>Remember the road is different </b>- on the track there is nothing else to worry about, no bumps in the road, nothing coming the other way and no road regulations</li>
<li><b>Make the most of it </b>- It's easy to rush through a session and not make the most of every minute out on track but make sure you do as it's over before you know it. </li>
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So, if you haven't do the Ron Haslam race school already....why the hell not?!<br />
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<a href="http://www.haslamraceschool.com/">www.haslamraceschool.com</a>Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-37074930597022496532012-07-10T12:45:00.000-07:002012-07-10T12:45:19.941-07:00BMW Motorrad Days 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well well well! I have just returned from a trip to BMW Motorrad Days in Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany and I have to say...I didn't want to come back! What an amazing event.<br />
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The weather was forecast to be thunderstorms so in my suitcase were a number of sweatshirts and waterproof jackets...I should know not to trust weather men because after a storm on the Thursday the rest of the weekend was glorious - I even got a bit of sunburn on the back of my neck!<br />
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I was lucky enough to travel from Munich to Garmisch on the back of a GS and had the opportunity to see the wonderful scenery on the trip - check out the picture above.<br />
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Anyway, enough of my ramblings - feel free to have a look at the videos I made while I was out there!<br />
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<a href="http://youtu.be/GZX_XecJBCc" target="_blank">Day One and Two</a><br />
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<a href="http://youtu.be/eJ-EM1fj35k" target="_blank">Day Three and Four </a><br />
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If I were you I would book for next year...Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-78530557632168073632012-07-03T12:46:00.000-07:002012-07-03T12:46:57.866-07:00Sunshine, football and darn good racing...<br />
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From the title it would suggest that I had been on a stag weekend… I haven't! </div>
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I have just returned from the seventh round of the World Superbikes over in Aragon and I can honestly say it has been one of the best weekends ever! </div>
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The racing just seems to be getting better and better in the WSBK series with non stop action and every rider giving it his all until the final corner. Biaggi took the win in race one with Melandri and Checa filling 2nd and 3rd respectively. Race two saw Melandri take the top step for the third time this season for BMW Motorrad Motorsport with Laverty and Davies sharing the podium with him. </div>
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It was great to see some new faces on the podium and it was a nail-biting fight for first place between Melandri and Laverty.</div>
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For those that are interested check out the videos I made whilst I was out there: </div>
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<a href="http://youtu.be/hOP-BiUDBps" target="_blank">Perfectly seated: Recaro seats for the BMW Motorrad riders </a></div>
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<a href="http://youtu.be/Wtnw5puudr4" target="_blank">WSBK Race Reaction from Aragon</a></div>
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So why the football reference? One of the highlights for me this weekend was strangely enough having the opportunity to watch the final of Euro 2012 in a tiny pub out in a Spanish village where we were the only english speakers…there was a great atmosphere- its certainly not something I will forget for a while. And strictly speaking, I don't even like football! </div>
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Back to rainy England now, but it is good to be home - even if it is only for a few days before I fly out to Garmisch for the BMW Motorrad Days which I have heard are A LOT of fun! Will report when I get back :-) </div>Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-50215270028503699472012-06-24T11:37:00.000-07:002012-06-24T11:37:33.348-07:00Time flies when you're having fun...Time flies when you're having fun...or flying round the World! And I am pleased to say I am doing both!<br />
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Since I last updated you I have been lucky enough to travel to Australia, America, Holland and Italy all in the name of work.<br />
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I have been working for RBP International now for just over a year and can honestly say I have had the best year of my life. There have been lots of changes - I have bought a house, got a dog, worked very VERY hard and flown on around 16 flights.<br />
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I am working on accounts that I only dreamed of and have met nearly a lot of my motorcycle racing idols and would count some of them as friends.<br />
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So what do I do?<br />
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I work alongside the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team and produce video content for their YouTube channel. I film, edit and present videos and have a whale of a time doing it. I used to dream of attending all the WSBK meets and wondered how people were lucky enough to watch the races from the garages, but now that's me!<br />
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I am very much looking forward to seeing where I am in a year from now and the adventures I get up to, but I would like to share them. I will therefore be updating this blog regularly to keep you all in the loop with what I am up to and will share links to the videos I have put together!Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-50269816338015914902011-09-06T13:21:00.000-07:002011-09-06T13:25:22.270-07:003 months and still standing!Admittedly I’ve been terribly anti social lately – but I have a good reason - within the space of three months I have started my dream job, left University after three years, bought a house, acquired a puppy and graduated. So needless to say one of the first things to disappear was the time to update my blog. However during this time I have made some startling conclusions which I thought I would share so that those entering the job market could gain something from my three months head start – and those heading back to University can realise how lucky they are to see episodes of ‘This Morning’ and ‘Jeremy Kyle’.<br /><br />I have learnt a million things since starting work but there are six major things that have really stood out to me:<br /><br /><strong>- Your Facebook will become dormant<br /></strong><br />When at University my Facebook was stupidly active and I constantly had it on in the background whilst I was working on assignments and/or getting ready to go out. I haven’t been on my Facebook for around two months now and am pretty unsure when I will next go on and update my status…<br /><br /><strong>- You’ll realise how much you can get done in one day </strong><br /><br />I’ve always been proactive and managed to keep myself busy at University between lectures and seminars. At work you will be amazed at how much you get done in one day and the time will fly by. <br /><br /><strong>- That 9am lecture isn’t that early</strong><br /><br />Due to the commute to work I am setting off every morning at 7:30am. When I was at University I was aware there were two 7:30’s in one day but I rarely saw both. Now, I am awake, dressed and in the car and on my way to work. There are other people up at that time too…<br /><br /><strong>- You’ll see your work colleagues more than you’ll see your friends </strong><br /><br />Spending over 9 hours a day with colleagues will mean that they will inevitably become the people who you spend the most time with. I am very lucky and work with fantastic people who I get on with very well. So make sure that when you’re looking for jobs consider the type of work environment you want to go into and ensure it matches with your personality.<br /><br /><strong>- Deadlines?! What deadlines?!</strong><br /><br />At University I was the Marketing student representative and sat in on meetings were students were moaning about having deadlines on the same day. At work you have a million deadlines on the same day and to be honest, it would be better if everything was done yesterday. There is no such thing as ASAP as everything needs to be done ASAP. I simply cannot stress enough the importance of planning your time properly and being organised. I never imagined that I would have so many folders in my email inbox, but without them I would be screwed and wouldn’t be able to find everything.<br /><br /><strong>- A good cup of tea (and team treats) can make your day </strong><br /><br />Often when everyone has their heads down and is focusing on their work it is easy to lose track of time. So by offering people a cup of tea it is a great time to take a breather and refocus on what you need to get done. And when you make someone a good cup of tea they really appreciate it. It's the small things that make your day - like having a joke with your work mates or getting a phonecall from a client who say thank you.<br /><br />It’s been a great adventure so far and it seems strange that I am not heading back to University this September. I have met some really great people and am working with some brilliant clients so I'm in a very lucky situation.<br /><br />I would be interested to hear other graduates experiences if they have started work – or if any employers have tips about making the transition from University into the work place feel free to share!Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-15451661634543539622011-03-08T07:58:00.000-08:002011-03-09T07:43:52.154-08:00@PRprofessionals - To tweet or not to tweet? That is the question #dilemma<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXl3gqXlJ14kg9Fz24DYZ0F00bXvt7qLBB0-F85dnY3UILL5q-dQdxhHD2vzH1jwVKE-QIahnSjm1ENqk-QUrO4lxgf6CZwI0GIOm2W332WiFrsYR4lPPHXi2XQdau9QCxLeTAod-CdXc/s1600/twitter-for-blackberry.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 215px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582105078559966754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXl3gqXlJ14kg9Fz24DYZ0F00bXvt7qLBB0-F85dnY3UILL5q-dQdxhHD2vzH1jwVKE-QIahnSjm1ENqk-QUrO4lxgf6CZwI0GIOm2W332WiFrsYR4lPPHXi2XQdau9QCxLeTAod-CdXc/s320/twitter-for-blackberry.gif" /></a><br /><div>It’s not an uncommon sight to see an individual nearly ran over because of mindlessly crossing the road whilst tapping away on their phones….I say this because it has happened to me, on numerous occasions. When I first got my Blackberry I was amazed at the amount of tasks I could do on it but has this fascination with multi-tasking gone too far?<br /><br />I attended a conference in London and a comment was made about no one tweeting about the event. I personally was amazed with this, new to the whole ‘tweeting from conferences’ it felt completely alien to me to get my phone out and type on it whilst listening to someone talking.<br /><br />But it’s not as strange as I first thought…<br /><br />Rob Dyson (@RobmDyson), PR Manager at Whizz-Kidz, said: “I tweet from conferences. To share resources, tips and advice from the speakers with those who can't be there. Whenever I do, I always get people saying "thanks" so I keep it up.”<br /><br />The more I have used Twitter the more I have followed conferences by searching for their hashtags, and the more useful I have found it!<br /><br />There are plenty of advantages to tweeting from conferences such as:<br /><br />- Speakers feel like they are making valid points which can be motivating and a confidence boost.<br />- Those who can’t attend the event feel involved and can keep up with the action.<br /><br />-Could be seen as the new way to make notes. You could use them as a reference to look back on.<br /></div><br /><div>-It can be interesting to get an input from others and allows those who can’t attend attendance to get their pressing questions answered.<br /><br />But is it in the spirit of sharing information or is it just an excuse not to concentrate?<br /><br />The disadvantages can be:<br /><br />- There is a high chance you could miss vital information. </div><div><br />- It is not guaranteed that the individual will just tweet as they might reply to an email or a text. There was a discussion by Richard Bailey (@behindthespin), a lecturer at Leeds University who decided to <a href="http://www.prstudies.com/weblog/2010/11/an-hour-of-tweeting-dangerously.html#tp">test out what would happen.</a> It was met with contrasting responses…<br /><br />So, we have established there are pros and cons but I think it raises a bigger question: <strong>Should it be socially acceptable?<br /></strong><br />I completely understand the benefit of tweeting from a conference and the insights that can be gained. The whole beauty of social media is the fact that you can gain hundreds of points of view in real time instead of waiting for an ‘official’ blog post which may not include questions that weren’t answered or the reaction of the room.<br /><br />But if I told my grandma that I used my phone when someone was speaking to me she would clip me around the ear! Whatever happened to good old fashioned eye contact when someone is speaking to you?<br /><br />However, it is completely dependant on the situation; it is different when being spoken to directly when compared with attending a conference with over 100 people in the room.<br /><br /><strong>What do you find acceptable? Would you mind if someone tweeted whilst you were speaking? Do you actively encourage tweets during your presentations? Do you tweet from conferences? What’s your secret to multitasking?<br /></strong><br />For general phone use I have identified 4 types of phone ‘multi-taskers’, <strong>which one are you?!<br /><br />The Ignorers:</strong> They blatantly ignore you and concentrate on their phone. They don’t hear what you say and probably wouldn’t be interested even if they could.<br /><br /><strong>The Pretenders:</strong> They are looking at you but they attempt to use their phone in their pocket or by placing it under the table. Another breed of the pretender tends to draw out sentences and fill them with ‘ermmmm’ whilst they try and finish whatever they are doing on their phone.<br /><br /><strong>The Postponers:</strong> Their phone goes, they raise their hand and stop you from speaking and you must remain silent until they have finished. For me, the most irritating of them all...<br /><br /><strong>The Touch Typers:</strong> This breed exhibits a high level of skill and practice. They maintain eye contact as they know exactly which buttons to press. </div>Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-8304060999793903082011-03-07T03:27:00.001-08:002011-03-07T03:36:51.317-08:00Guest Post: Charlotte Willcocks<div>It is the time of year....students are either looking for placement years, placement weeks or even placement days! So I thought it would be a good idea for one student who has been through the process to share her hints and tips with you about: </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>How to gain experience with no experience!</strong></div><div><strong></strong> </div><div> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 284px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581300304978770418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dAjw_zCVGxB0bCzjRl5FST8MJbLYE7_kgLbDIeQPeh40rDvf4PwyR7ETJgaQEeTYZVozUNG5AcozXAHBehhyx-10CXghRN785mLL9Uj2XIdmdnrqHWHEVgyEW5wVyqSftnlk9BciLIXR/s320/Charlotte+Willcocks.jpg" /><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><div>The catch 22 nature of the work experience world is well known. Employers expect you to already have experience, but you are looking to them for guidance on getting some industry experience. The whole process can be extremely frustrating. Over the last five months I have experienced this first hand, the weeks of tedious application forms and covering letters followed by the agonising wait for a reply that may never come. </div><br /><div><br />Therefore the best defence is a strong offence, it is vital to make yourself stand heads and shoulders above the hundreds of the hopefuls. The most effective way of doing this is to think about the transferable skills necessary for the industry you are interested in and think of other ways to gain this skills other than industry experience, if this is not an option. Here are some methods that I used to secure my own placement:</div><br /><div><br />1. <strong>Get involved in a society committee</strong> – this will give you the opportunity to practice public speaking, meeting organisation, event organisation, networking, leadership and team working skills, which I have found to be invaluable for my PR portfolio. </div><br /><div><br />2. <strong>Start a blog</strong> – Due to the fast paced nature of PR it is vital to get to grips with new media. I started a music blog to act as a practice run and to find my own writing style.</div><br /><div><br />3. <strong>Tweet, Tweet</strong>- It may be hard to get your head around but Twitter is one of the quickest and easiest ways to follow and chat to practitioners within the industry.</div><br /><div><br />4. <strong>Persistence is the key</strong> – If there is a reply you are really counting on and you haven’t heard from them in a while, there’s no harm in emailing them, even if it’s to find out why they haven’t replied and what you can improve on for next time.</div><br /><div><br />5. <strong>Create a LinkedIn page</strong> – Not only is this a good way to increase your presence online, it can act as a helpful tool when you get to the interview stage to get some background knowledge on those interviewing you. </div><br /><div><br />6. <strong>Be Creative</strong> – This is not something that can be done with all companies, but if it is a creative firm you are applying to make your application stand out by using different media, such as YouTube. </div><br /><div><br />I found that by implementing these methods I was able to prove that I was serious about PR with no formal industry experience and create an impressive portfolio of work, which led to me catching the attention of a highly respected consumer consultancy in London, Frank PR, who offered me a twelve month placement. </div><br /><div><br />So in the end there is a way around the catch 22 nature of the placement search, it’s just about proving that you have put in the extra effort to secure the certain transferable skills that make you the perfect candidate for the position. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*********************</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Charlotte Willcocks is a 2nd year Business and Public Relations student at the University of Lincoln. She has bagged herself a 12 month placement at <a href="http://www.frankpr.it/">Frank PR</a> working alongside Jay Sorrels, the head of digital at Frank PR. I'd like to take this opportunity to say: Good luck Charlotte! </div>Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-24226747826835699092011-02-09T09:35:00.000-08:002011-02-09T09:42:16.912-08:00MCN<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENM1eggOo0rvUuevW_L-L0RT3WZ1en93LqBm2Ua9tLyRCuLpJ08dRJrlKNSV9dIYWe87f5EFC3dvvYy4qAgRD4GUlq8g_Zh6R-X9_Y5lZn5jt4kOJXVcxT1ZszW29vrmO-IOknNxEE4mL/s1600/me+and+bike.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571746520272169138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENM1eggOo0rvUuevW_L-L0RT3WZ1en93LqBm2Ua9tLyRCuLpJ08dRJrlKNSV9dIYWe87f5EFC3dvvYy4qAgRD4GUlq8g_Zh6R-X9_Y5lZn5jt4kOJXVcxT1ZszW29vrmO-IOknNxEE4mL/s320/me+and+bike.bmp" /></a><br /><div>As you may or may not know motorbiking is my passion in life....yes, even above shopping. Today, I achieved something that I have been wanting to do for quite a while. I had an article published on the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">MCN</span> website! </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>It can be viewed here: <a href="http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/General-news/2011/February/No-more-numb-bums/">No More Numb Bums</a></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>So check it out :-) </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>The title is rather strange admittedly, however once you have read the article you will see why I chose to give it such a title. </div>Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-968213666020384582011-02-08T05:31:00.000-08:002011-02-08T05:52:29.942-08:00Guest Post: Petya N. Georgieva<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7QBdjSjCSGOa_G9sXYbg_nkIbmw5ofD4Ehp7XlcfcPbwXhVPKVjQIgTsOzLSgXaKez2_SPHjmmMiQLOlAYRmlfyqOdOGcsLQrL3tbvPg2c5iVuP1LTL-5b5NeHs7HM5QYMVPL0ZEBdEX/s1600/Petya.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571314513796314386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7QBdjSjCSGOa_G9sXYbg_nkIbmw5ofD4Ehp7XlcfcPbwXhVPKVjQIgTsOzLSgXaKez2_SPHjmmMiQLOlAYRmlfyqOdOGcsLQrL3tbvPg2c5iVuP1LTL-5b5NeHs7HM5QYMVPL0ZEBdEX/s320/Petya.jpg" /></a><br /><p><strong><em>Note from Carli: I always strive to discuss and learn about other's opinions both inside and outside the PR discipline. When the chance came to learn about PR in Bulgaria I thought I would allow others to learn too so invited Petya to write a guest post for my blog. Here, Petya N. Georgieva, a PR specialist and a blogger from Bulgaria gives her thoughts on what a young PR professional can bring to a business. You can check out her communications blog </em><a href="http://www.higher-and-higher.com/"><em>Higher & Higher</em></a><em> or follow her on Twitter </em><a href="https://twitter.com/pgeorgieva"><em>@pgeorgieva</em></a><em>. </em></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Young PR pros’ biggest assets: ideas, knowledge, initiative and passion<br /></strong><br />The PR profession is one of the most interesting jobs in the whole world.</p><p><br />I started discovering it in 2006 when I started my bachelor degree in Public Relations in Sofia University, Bulgaria. Considering that the PR profession has a pretty young history (no more than 15 years) in Bulgaria, it is interesting to think: Why did I choose PR in particular?<br /></p><p><br />The truth is that I wanted to be a journalist since I was a child. With the time passing by, I noticed I was more interested in the process of “producing and creating” news rather than covering them. Communications and marketing are really interesting fields for me and after long research I realized that my career will be in the PR sector.</p><br /><p><br />I was soon to discover that the PR skills are easier to understand in practice. I started working for PR agencies while I was in the first year at the university. It was a very useful experience. I was reading and studying at the university and practicing at work (which included experimenting, making mistakes, and working really hard).</p><br /><p><br />As I’m from the young PR generation in my country and I’m following the international trends in PR, I regrettably notice that in Bulgaria traditional PR is still more often practiced than PR 2.0.<br />This can be easily explained, of course. As a former socialist country which is in addition pretty small as territory and population, Bulgaria’s market is small and young and in comparison to Europe, it is not so developed yet. It’s great to see that since 2001 things are rapidly changing and as a result the PR profession is becoming more popular. It’s nice to see also that some of the leading PR agencies in the state have already adopted the PR 2.0 tools and are providing highly professional services.</p><br /><p><br />On the other hand, as a PR addict, I hope I will have the opportunity to explore the world of (international) public relations abroad, which means venturing out of my comfort zone. Moving away from one’s comfort zone is equal to gaining new knowledge. In addition, regarding the fact that the origins of the modern PR profession were in the USA and the UK, the both countries are my top two destinations for career development. At least, that’s my long-term vision on my future career moves. I’m sure that working for big markets is more different, offers different challenges for the PR pros and helps them learn different things. Here I should highlight that I know I’m aiming pretty high but ambition is what helps us to reach new horizons. Higher aims make us more ambitious and more constant in what we try to achieve. Higher aims lead to deeper knowledge and as consequence higher and higher achievements.#</p><br /><p><br />Thankfully, social media channels are great supportive tools to get your name known no matter your current location or nationality. Just try to imagine the world without all these modern channels or without the tech revolution, which made it possible to present ourselves to wide groups of international publics and to stay constantly connected with them. And that’s my main message to all the young PR pros out there: your biggest assets are your ideas, knowledge, initiative and passion – and their power can be really amazing. And one of your biggest chances is to present your assets on the social web. This means: listening to the web, interaction, engagement, networking, etc. After all, it depends only on you to demonstrate your passion to communicate and ambition to learn more about PR. And if you can successfully promote yourself on the social web and build your own professional network of PR pros who know you and what you do, this will be your strongest point in your portfolio. </p><br /><div></div>Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-51230617134689846832011-01-05T07:55:00.000-08:002011-01-05T07:59:12.103-08:00What Would I do?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVA3fbf0467fOuEM3x56hqdYeTWDBEIrOpOAzqwB1K4_OkscN0rEjzgezALFUab76rPOvQp1AjaIUWzFRAgwUzbanwHcjwQ9qyFuXHeiNM18GF8lJV2br44UPgtk55VsjoiMrrzK-5Pjp/s1600/wedding+ring+for+blog.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558731953636520834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVA3fbf0467fOuEM3x56hqdYeTWDBEIrOpOAzqwB1K4_OkscN0rEjzgezALFUab76rPOvQp1AjaIUWzFRAgwUzbanwHcjwQ9qyFuXHeiNM18GF8lJV2br44UPgtk55VsjoiMrrzK-5Pjp/s320/wedding+ring+for+blog.jpg" /></a><br /><div>At around 11am this morning, whilst eating my mid morning snack of Weetabix my mind went into over drive whilst watching This Morning with Phil and Holly. Usually full of good news stories and the odd fashion section presented by Jason Gardiner they ventured into the discussion of a number of websites offering a service to match married people actively seeking an affair. </div><br /><div><br />One lady who used this service, for a number of years, was sat with her back to the camera as she wanted the hide her identity. Although how she was planning to convince people that it wasn’t her I have no idea! If one of my friends was on This Morning and I could hear their voice, see their hair and knew they weren’t at home I am sure even the dimmest of friends could work that out. </div><br /><div><br />She explained how the service had helped her find a person to fulfil her sexual appetite as her husband couldn’t and that her relationship had in fact improved since she had joined the site.<br />The purpose of this blog however is not to assess this ladies relationship or condone or condemn the website itself, as it could be seen to be cashing in on something that is happening anyway, but instead to point out that this is a real life case of a moral dilemma that I have discussed in previous posts.</div><br /><div><br /><strong>It got me pondering: What would I do if the PR agency I started to work for in July had this website as a client? </strong></div><br /><div><br />The feature was presented on this morning was essentially free advertising for this website and I am sure many people will have done the same as me and logged on to see what all the fuss was about. Oh and even if I wanted to join, which for the record – I don’t - I wouldn’t be able to because I’m not married!</div><br /><div><br />I noted that the spokeswoman from the website was very calm and collected. Many people have said that it looked like she was wearing some sort of disguise, a blonde long haired wig and glasses. Is this because she doesn’t want to be recognised? Or create an impression? If however she wasn’t ‘in disguise’ and in fact looks like that all the time then I apologise! :-) </div><br /><div><br />Just thought I would share my pondering with you all and also point out that if you are having an affair don’t go onto primetime morning television to be interviewed with Phil and Holly without disguising your voice or body, as unsurprisingly people will be able to recognise you from the back…… </div>Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-14255307754279939282011-01-01T06:35:00.000-08:002011-01-01T06:45:50.613-08:00The 2011 Adventure2011 is here! And with it comes plenty of exciting things:<br /><br /><br /><br />The final instalment of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, a census and a VAT increase to 20%...<br /><br /><br /><br />However we must not forget: <strong>Carli Ann Smith is on the job market!!</strong><br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><br />As of July 2011 I will be transforming from a PR student to a PR practitioner and I cannot wait.<br /><br /><br /><br />For those that are interested to know more about my experience and projects I have worked on, feel free to add me on <a href="http://linkd.in/dhrk4G">LinkedIn</a> if you haven't already or email me on <a href="mailto:carli_smith@hotmail.com">carli_smith@hotmail.com</a> and I will send you my CV.<br /><br /><br /><br />Here is to a fantastic new year :-) I am ready for every challenge that 2011 has to throw at me so come on let's make it a great one!Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-73175842257265188632010-11-25T01:55:00.000-08:002010-11-25T02:09:04.981-08:00Do WHAT Boss?!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcEa2k2C32TSm0kzcELuDSE44WO8sLGBB9k0wJFk0Ye9KP9Nz3Di0hWXBGcdSZ-H3k-Sv59zIDINracHiUf3rHzORJC51ShQw-JNaH1qBxJZl0wrztKOGFgCF-7vGOkhXGh9rNGxapUqZ/s1600/pointing-finger.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543427236073614914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcEa2k2C32TSm0kzcELuDSE44WO8sLGBB9k0wJFk0Ye9KP9Nz3Di0hWXBGcdSZ-H3k-Sv59zIDINracHiUf3rHzORJC51ShQw-JNaH1qBxJZl0wrztKOGFgCF-7vGOkhXGh9rNGxapUqZ/s320/pointing-finger.jpg" /></a><br /><div>It is very easy to sit and say: “I would never do anything that would contradict my morals and ethics.” But what happens when you have responsibilities? When you have to keep earning to make sure that you don’t end up homeless or jobless?</div><br /><div><br />Individuals are in limbo, according to Seib and Fitzpatrick (Peter and Olson: 2006: 296) PR practitioners have a loyalty to themselves, their client or organisation, their profession and to society as a whole. Brilliant when they are all in sync but what happens when there is a difference. What happens when you have to do something that you don’t agree with? Quit? Do it? Tell the press?</div><br /><div><br />One anonymous source from within the public sector gave me this example: </div><br /><div><br /><em>“What do you do when the top dog of your organisation has been squandering taxpayers’ money on lavishing business leaders with football tickets, hotel accommodation and games of golf? Seeing public money used in this way is a hard pill to swallow; to say staff were shocked at what was going on is an understatement. So, after a sprinkle of some PR fairy dust we managed to avoid what could have been an otherwise explosive story.”</em></div><br /><div><br />Initially you would accuse my source of being dishonest and covering immoral behaviour, from a cognitive approach there are obvious examples of absolute rights and wrongs being displayed here. But I don’t agree, I take a more non-cognitive approach. <a href="http://www.fact-index.com/n/no/non_cognitivism.html">Non-cognitivism</a> says that’s morality is subjective and bound up in the specific cultural context of individuals. There are only beliefs, attitudes and opinions. This means that individuals are able to change their opinions (or have them changed for them) in order to justify their motives and make their morals fit the situation. Handy for us…</div><br /><div><br />This situation could have been a massive story, the media would have pounced and ran with it! It would have caused major public unrest especially given the current economic climate, when the public has little respect and trust in the public sector. So is this really essential knowledge right now? </div><br /><div><br />If this was being carried out in a private sector company there would be no question’s raised, it would just be plain interesting, and let’s face it, Directors take customers out to wine and dine all the time. But because this is public money does this change the situation? </div><br /><div><br />The source said: “As PR people we are often privileged to sensitive, suppressed or unpalatable information, and our job isn’t to judge it, but decide the best way to use it.”</div><br /><div><br />But how do we decide the best way to use it? There are many ‘ethical decision making’ models in textbooks such as Potters Box but frankly when do we have time to sit and weigh up every situation and think about consequences that can’t always be accurately predicted? </div><br /><div><br />The model I will be using when I enter employment is Parson’s five pillars that ‘carry the weight of ethical decision making in public relations’ (Peter and Olson: 2006: 302): </div><br /><div><br /><strong>- Veracity<br /></strong></div><br /><div>I agree that you must tell the truth, more of my thoughts on this can be found in my blog post: <a href="http://www.emilycagle.co.uk/2010/11/the-truth-the-whole-truth-but-what-is-it/">The truth, the whole truth… But what is it?!</a><br /></div><br /><div><strong>- Non-malfeasance<br /></strong></div><br /><div>I do not intend on harming anyone purposefully. However it is important to note that this statement can be applied to different stakeholders. So my behaviour should not harm either: myself, my client, my organisation or society as a whole. Not always achievable!<br /></div><br /><div><strong>- Beneficence<br /></strong></div><br /><div>I must ‘do good’. Entering into the job market it could be said that I hold many slightly rose-tinted views. But I would like to think that I will do good with my job, whether that is for the organisation I work for or for our clients.<br /></div><br /><div><strong>- Confidentiality<br /></strong></div><br /><div>I will respect privacy. Confidentiality is often protected in the way of rules and regulations anyway, but if it is not then I will try my upmost to do so.<br /></div><br /><div><strong>- Fairness<br /></strong></div><br /><div>I must be fair and socially responsible. Easier said than done. Is being socially responsible telling the public everything or is taking a slightly more paternalistic view and deciding to protect them from certain information?<br /></div><br /><div>I will be using this model because it allows the practitioner to place emphasis on differing stakeholders and it also fits in with my main morals of telling the truth and not causing harm.<br /></div><br /><div>I don’t think it is possible when working as a PR Practitioner to have a black and white view on what is right and wrong because you are dealing with a high number of stakeholders interests everyday so what is right for one of them might not be for another.<br /></div><br /><div>I must say, I think my source summed it up completely:<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">We hold the information, we shouldn’t judge it, just use it how we think best. </span></strong></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong><em>How do you decide what is right and wrong? What ethical decision making processes do you use? Or do you just use gut instinct? </em></strong></div>Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-60458860156742136422010-11-16T08:50:00.000-08:002010-11-16T09:02:30.271-08:00Of public interest, or just plain interesting?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAi7Y0am14qBwlGJt3Zy4SQ0LESuokuQSkolnd6kdcHO3rFZ4n86njjFpoSQu8Mb-YI0ylP0tiv62Ijsb2zXeXl53I6KkHUi0uUG80Z2INjaBsWbe8mIXRXUyJXik3G8ddW_d6tYYvCarD/s1600/PB160323.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540193916516319314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAi7Y0am14qBwlGJt3Zy4SQ0LESuokuQSkolnd6kdcHO3rFZ4n86njjFpoSQu8Mb-YI0ylP0tiv62Ijsb2zXeXl53I6KkHUi0uUG80Z2INjaBsWbe8mIXRXUyJXik3G8ddW_d6tYYvCarD/s320/PB160323.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Our society’s fascination with other people’s lives is engrained within us from a very young age and is reflected in the high number of gossip magazines that we purchase as a nation. We have always liked to keep up with the Jones’s but the first stage of keeping up is knowing what they have in the first place. Like it or not, we are a nation of nosey parkers...</div><br /><div><br />According to Peter and Olson (2006:69) UK regulations have been based on the distinction between public and private interests. However, it raises the question as to whether the general population know their real interest or whether these interests have been shaped by people such as ourselves, PR professionals. The textbooks call it paternalism, some may call it propaganda.<br /></div><br /><div><strong>As PR practitioners we are paid to shape opinions and persuade people to our way of thinking, are we not?<br /></strong></div><br /><div>So what’s the difference, do the public need to know everything just because they find it interesting? And do we have a duty to tell them details when they need only know facts and figures?<br /></div><br /><div>Before we decide what is ‘of public interest’ we have to define it. There are two main ways in which it is viewed, emergent and aggregate. Emergent concepts decide on areas of public interest by encouraging interactions between people in the form of discussions and debates (Peter and Olson:2006:70). The aggregate concept adds together desires and wishes of individuals. For example, according to the aggregate concept it could be argued that Emmerdale is of public interest because a lot of people watch it. </div><br /><div><br />To fully get to grips with this I shall apply a case study: <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8119993.stm">Michael Jacksons Death</a><br /></div><br /><div>Type in Michael Jacksons Death into <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&source=hp&biw=1276&bih=565&q=michael+jackson+dies&aq=f&aqi=g4g-m3&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=">Google</a> and over 15 million results will come up.<br /></div><br /><div><strong>What information was of public interest?<br /></strong></div><br /><div>He died, his greatest hits album would be released soon and his tour was cancelled.<br /></div><br /><div><strong>What information was interesting to the public?<br /></strong></div><br /><div>Everything else. Did his Dr overdose him on drugs, the rumour that one of his children wasn’t his, what his mum and dad thought, how much money he had earned since he died, where his money has gone, who gets his estate.<br /></div><br /><div>Did the public REALLY need to know all that? If we decided that the aggregate concept is correct then yes they did, due to the fact a lot of people were interested. An emergent view would also support it, people were talking about it meaning that it was of public interest. But in my opinion people just wanted to know because they were nosey, did it affect their lives directly? No.</div><br /><div><br /><a href="http://people-press.org/report/526/coverage-of-jackson-death-seen-excessive">A study claims</a> that 64% of people polled believed the coverage for Jackson’s death was too much. So it seems that some people agree, bet they still bought the papers though.<br /></div><br /><div>In this case I believe it was the fact that the papers knew that the public were interested in the story so it was a guaranteed way to sell papers. However it could be argued that it was an example of paternalism, in the sense that the papers (‘an elite few’) decided that the public would be interested in Jackson’s death to such an extent and fed the public a certain view on the situation, filled with controversy, dramatisation and ‘exclusives’.<br /></div><br /><div>The rise of individuals personalising their media choices and being able to choose the news that they receive could be seen as a solution to this apparent paternalism, however in my opinion it will always exist. Parents do it to their children, wives do it to their husbands and husbands do it their wives. It is a form of protection, putting their interests first.<br /></div><br /><div>Often the public’s interests are catered to with kiss and tell stories and countless articles on the adventures of their favourite celebrities but what happens when there are rules and regulations to prevent things from being printed? What about confidentiality? To a certain extent this could further fuel interest as it is not meant to be known, so when it is found out the media run with it and the public lap it up.<br /></div><br /><div>Does it make a difference however when you are talking about companies rather than celebrities? Do people still have that yearning for information and scandal? Indeed they do, ranging from <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/06/21/when-slick-is-not-the-word-115875-22347982/">directors of companies putting their foot in it</a> like Gerald Ratner or <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7318568.stm">grand openings gone wrong in the case of Terminal 5 at Heathrow</a>. People are always interested in knowing what goes on behind closed doors.<br /></div><br /><div>As a PR professional we have to make this distinction: what do people need to know to ensure they make a rational decision? What isn’t essential knowledge and often more importantly, what do we need to keep quiet? Often we hold information that could make or break an organisation or that could cause major unrest society and it is up to us how to use it…<br /></div><br /><div><strong>Scary thought hey?! </strong></div>Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-87088345576836598472010-10-29T05:28:00.000-07:002010-10-29T05:29:22.382-07:00Coming soon...Over the next few blog posts I will be exploring the notion of truth and how it fits into the profession of Public Relations.<br /><br />To quote the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">CIPR</span>:<br /><br />‘Reputation has a direct and major impact on the corporate well-being of every organisation, be it a multinational, a charity, a Government Department or a small business. That is why the professionalism of those people who guard and mould reputation – public relations practitioners – is so important.’<br /><br />The subject matter I will be discussing is:<br /><br />“Honest and responsible regard for the public interest is not the same as telling the truth.”<br /><br />If anyone has any specific thoughts and would like to contribute feel free to email me on: <a href="mailto:carli_smith@hotmail.com">carli_smith@hotmail.com</a> – if you wish to be anonymous then that can easily be arranged.<br /><br /><br />So come on, shock me with your best stories of withholding information. Or give me the low down on how your personal ethics fit in with the organisation you work for? And what would you do if you were asked to work on a campaign that was controversial?Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-31738911140484251932010-10-20T12:40:00.000-07:002010-10-20T12:41:24.492-07:00What is Expeditionary Marketing? And is it right for you and your business?Expeditionary Marketing is not a trek along the Great Wall of China or even a climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. You don’t have to travel to the Amazon and navigate your way through the unknown forests and discover dangerous native tribes. Expeditionary Marketing can all be done from the comfort of your organisation’s HQ, your office or your home...<br /><br />Society has changed due to many factors, from reductions in the amount of disposable income that your customers have to rising costs of running their homes. Consumers are becoming increasingly media savvy and have been for the past few decades, they are no longer guaranteed to seek information about certain products. No longer can marketers rely on a television advert on a popular channel, a couple of adverts in a generic magazine and a leaflet through a consumers’ front door. New innovative methods are emerging as businesses look for opportunities to approach and target new markets and gain valuable market share.<br /><br />A new discipline is emerging and it is essential that companies who want to be successful at least acknowledge its existence. Entrepreneurial Marketing is based on 7 key principles:<br /><br />- Pro-activeness<br />- Calculated Risk taking<br />- Innovativeness<br />- Opportunity focus<br />- Resource leveraging<br />- Customer intensity<br />- Value creation<br /><br />Expeditionary marketing is one of the tools in the kit of entrepreneurial marketing. It acknowledges that failure might take place, but it is a risk worth taking. It is based on the question of:<br /><br /><strong>Whether your business is there to simply serve customers and create new markets?<br /></strong><br /><strong>Do your marketing efforts follow consumer’s wants and needs or does it lead them in new directions?<br /></strong><br />If you are still not with it then let me use an example:<br /><br />The Apple brand is extremely entrepreneurial in its approach to business. They are a brand that are willing to put themselves out there and take risks. Who would have ever thought that the IPod would have made such as impact? It is extremely hard to find a household without an IPod and even if an individual already had an mp3 player they would often purchase an IPod anyway. Just think to yourself, was there a market for a touch screen computer that allowed consumers to play games, view pictures, browse the internet, edit documents and download some pointless applications? No. There wasn’t. Apple didn’t identify a specific audience that needed these benefits, they launched a product and caused enough of a buzz around it through various forms of marketing and PR that consumers were convinced they needed one and it was a given that hardcore Apple Loyalists would purchase one anyway. Clever hey?!<br /><br />For companies like Apple who are in the fast moving world of technology it is easier to create new products and pose them to consumers as new gadgets are being invented all the time. But could every business benefit from expeditionary market to a certain degree? By looking beyond serving consumers and venturing into the unknown your business might discover something new or tap into a new target audience you never knew you had.<br /><br />It was said at the beginning of the article that your business wasn’t required to enter the unknown forest of the Amazon, but to a certain extent it is. The world is a big place with many unknowns about it, so go and explore, you never know that native tribe you find might love your product...Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-8271589400846846002010-09-06T10:46:00.000-07:002010-09-06T10:47:31.576-07:00Shock tacticsThe Charity Commission have recently updated the guidelines on fundraising and have warned charities over the risks to reputation associated with using shock tactics to encourage donations and raise awareness. After reading the article in PR Week it got me thinking:<br /><br /> Should shock tactics be allowed? And in such a crowded market place are they effective anymore?<br /><br />We’ve all seen the adverts featuring the lonely puppy tied up by the side of the road and the children living in a shanty town surrounded by rubbish but has the time come for charities to find new methods of attracting our attention?<br /><br />The majority of people know what these charities stand for so don’t need to be reminded every time they see the advert. Some people may find the content of the advert distressing and be so shocked that they disengage with the advert and the charity completely because they associate them in a negative way. There is also the argument that one of the reasons people donate money to charities is because they experience a sense of guilt, these adverts are encouraging this as individuals will look at themselves sat in their comfortable well furnished houses and feel bad. Would it not be better to try and educate donors as to how their money would benefit and show the work they have done already? This is an approach that <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhYmGx9q7v4">Cancer Research UK</a> has adopted and I feel it has been successful for them.<br /><br />However is this all just further evidence of the so called ‘nanny state’ trying to shield people from what goes on in the real world? The advert represents what the charity stands for and illustrates the type of work it does. As my grandparents would say: ‘If people don’t like it then they can just turn it over.’<br /><br />I do believe that when used effectively shock tactics can be a brilliant addition to a campaign as they break through advertising clutter and are likely to be remembered. In my opinion the THINK car safety campaigns use shock tactics effectively and are memorable. The main message of the advert is always remembered and sometimes I find myself quoting them saying things such as: ‘Don’t be a back seat killer!’ to my friends when they are in the back seats.<br /><br />Shock tactics should be used with caution and extensive research should be done as to not offend viewers or shock anyone too much. There will always be people who prefer not to see them but that’s their choice. A balance is needed, therefore a campaign should be both informational and attention seeking.<br /><br /><em>What do you think about adverts relying on shock tactics? Is there a place for shock advertising? Would you be more likely to donate to a charity who didn’t use them or not? </em>Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-30400859562500016552010-08-09T03:39:00.000-07:002010-08-09T03:40:46.110-07:00Guest Post: David Clare - Is PR becoming more like journalism?I recently attended an event attempting to answer the question, ‘is PR becoming more like journalism’.<br /><br />The event was debated between 4 journalists and 1 PR pro, yet it was the audience with the more radical ideas. However, the overall view was that journalism is losing its foothold in the news arena; and change is needed.<br /><br />What seems to be happening, is that people, the consumers of media, information and news, are going elsewhere for their needs. While they may go to one source for ‘some’ information, ‘some’ is all they go for.<br /><br />This is because people are going to multiple sources, no just one source, like in ‘the old days’ when people read their staple newspaper. Not anymore, now people read the paper on their iPhone app, listen to their subscribed podcast, read blogs and visit multiple news sites, not forgetting all the news they consume through Twitter and Facebook.<br /><br />This is the issue for journalists, and in some ways for PRs too. If people are consuming media from a huge variety of sources, in such small portions. To keep your readers it is increasingly difficult. No longer can a traditional news source break the news, that is what Twitter is for. No longer can they write exclusive features that stay exclusive, blogs will rework the content as soon as it is posted. Still, it is the exclusives and features that journalists now rely on to differentiate themselves from the rest.<br /><br />So what does this have to do with PR becoming like journalism?<br /><br />PR traditionally provides a supporting role for journalists. PRs would complete two tasks for them, they could be used by journalists to check the facts. A journalist would write a story that features an organisation, and in the spirit of quality journalism they could go to the PR and make sure they are reporting the truth, and could even get some quotes.<br /><br />The other function of a PR, was to provide journalists with press releases. This comes in handy for journalists with slow news days, and particularly useful if a journalist just wants an easy day.<br /><br />So why is this not happening anymore? Well it is, of course. It does still happen because news papers still reach thousands of people, as does the online content. What is happening is social media.<br /><br />Social media, such as blogs, Twitter and YouTube, have been instrumental in the change of ways people consume news. People read blogs, watch YouTube channels and amateur footage, while Twitter constantly breaks the news - because it can. Twitter has over 100 million users, all able to write a story, add a geo-tag and an image all within seconds of an event. News sites may take 15 minutes to report a breaking story - and that is if they are very much ‘on the ball’.<br /><br />PR is becoming more like journalism in the social media arena. People know what they want to read, and if they want to learn about a company they will read the company blog, follow the Twitter feed and ‘like’ them on Facebook.<br /><br />This gives PRs a great opportunity. PRs have the chance to write the stories themselves. If people are going straight to the horses mouth, then PRs become the journalists. They write the stories, and if they write well enough - and not just selling - then people will come back.<br /><br />This is both a great opportunity for PRs, and also dangerous. It leaves PRs open to the power of saying whatever they want, with far too much bias. However, so long as PRs control themselves, keep to the facts and write in an engaging way - like good PRs do - then this is a fantastic time for PR.<br /><br />So is PR becoming more like journalism? Yes, in some ways. Is it a good thing? Not always, but it is exciting, and makes the industry more interesting - who wants to write press releases all the time anyway? Is this bad for journalists? No, they still have an audience, and with the likes of the iPad, they are just changing ways to view the content, but not changing completely.<br /><br />By <a href="http://twitter.com/davidjmclare">David Clare</a>Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-5717575852868056282010-08-09T03:32:00.000-07:002010-08-09T03:39:14.942-07:00From Lincoln to London...The next guest blog comes from David Clare - a University of Lincoln graduate - David has now moved to London to pursue his career in PR.<br /><br />Follow him on Twitter: @<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">davidjmclare</span><br /><br />Check out his blog at: <a href="http://www.theprview.co.uk/">www.theprview.co.uk</a>Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-50117043294303497782010-08-03T08:38:00.000-07:002010-08-03T08:54:19.052-07:00Social networking – business, pleasure or both?!Social networking has exploded onto the scene in recent years and I believe its arrival has changed the way in which people communicate forever. I was born straight into the technological era and had my first mobile phone at the age of 8 – although I had no idea what to do with it and can’t remember using it....<br /><br />Mobile phones with their ability to text, access the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">internet</span> and emails have made social networking a way of life. I think nothing of messaging a friend on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span> and if I don’t receive an email notifying me that someone has commented on my status or written on my wall all day I’m slightly offended.<br /><br />Luckily I am of the generation that I can take full advantage of these technological advancements. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span> has always been there, Twitter and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">LinkedIn</span>, all of these sites have me as a member and I use each of them actively for what I deem to be their role.<br /><br />It <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">wasn</span>’t until I took my first step into the grown up working world I realised that it might not be a good idea to add everyone I know onto <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span>. Would my new boss really want to see what I was doing outside of work? I have to admit, I’m not much of a rebel and only tend to go out once or twice a week but is it appropriate for them to know who my friends are, where I am and what I’m planning on doing?<br /><br />There are many dangers associated with having colleagues and bosses on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span>: There have been a <a href="http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Fired-over-Facebook-20090527">number of stories</a> in the news about employees being taken to court because of writing derogatory status’s about their work and in some cases their fellow employees. There are unwritten ‘rules’ regarding using peoples pictures for business reasons – they are a minefield and depend completely on the person in question. There also seems to be no set regulations on using information that they might publish. For example if you are friends with a colleague who is under performing and you see their status updates about relationship problems should you alter the way you deal with the situation?<br /><br />With <a href="http://www.cipd.co.uk/subjects/hrpract/hoursandholidays/working-hours-time-off.htm">one fifth of employees spending more than 45 hours a week at work</a> their choice of who they spend their time with is limited. The likelihood is that they see their workmates more often than their friends.<br /><br />This in fact begs the question: Are the lines between individuals work lives and private lives becoming blurred? And do they now overlap?<br /><br />The emergence of <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">LinkedIn</span>.com</a> seemed to fill this niche. When asked what it is I reply: ‘It’s just like <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span> but for my work people’. A very technical explanation but accurate.<br /><br />Working in PR I know that building relationships is the basis of my career. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">LinkedIn</span> provides me with a platform to do this, however it keeps it professional as there is very little personal information about me there apart from my previous work, one profile picture and status updates are more likely to be interesting links rather than how I am feeling.<br /><br />Let’s call it clear cut: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span> for friends and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">LinkedIn</span> for business colleagues. What happens if your boss requests your friendship on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span> to tag you in pictures of the Christmas party or invites you to join the company group. You can’t exactly reject. Or can you? It all depends on the type of business that you work for, each individual has to decide how much information they allow to be online and who they want to access it.<br /><br />In conclusion social networking can be used for both professional and personal reasons. However there are different sites for different applications and care should be taken to make sure that the two don’t overlap.... not too much anyway.<br /><br />Do you use social networking differently? Are you friend with all your colleagues on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span>? How do you decide? Would love to hear what other people do so feel free to comment.Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-50631722209351422522010-07-27T09:16:00.000-07:002010-07-27T09:20:10.958-07:00Guest Post: Ashley Funderburk - Tips from an enthusiastic studentOver the past year, I have realized that getting a degree in public relations is not just about going to class and learning, but also about gaining experience. To me experience means so much more than just textbooks. You are gaining something that you cannot learn just by having perfect attendance in a class here and there. I am not saying don’t go to class, but I am saying take every opportunity that comes your way for “real life” experience.<br /><br />I can gladly say that if I had not done that this past semester I would not have the knowledge I do as of now.<br /> <br />Becoming the firm director of our on-campus student-run PR firm (@CatComWCU) has opened my eyes to so many things. I have been able to apply the skills I have learned in class to the real world. I have only been the firm director for three months now and I have already gained knowledge that a teacher could never teach in a class. Yes, what I learned in class was very helpful. However, my teacher never said that dealing with clients takes patience, especially if they do not understand how PR works.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">PRSSA</span> is another great on-campus organization to become involved with. My first semester of majoring in PR I attended a few meetings, but stopped going because I was caught up in other things. The next semester I decided I would not miss a meeting unless I absolutely had to because the research I was doing kept pointing fingers at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">PRSSA</span> and how important it is. I became PR Jobs and Internship Director of the Chapter at my university (@WCUPRSSA) and now I am Vice President. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">PRSSA</span> has definitely opened my eyes to opportunities and conferences that I would not have known about if I were not involved.<br /><br />Needless to say, I probably take on more than the average college student. Recently I became the Social Media Director for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kratz</span> PR and Management (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">KratzPR</span>). I also intern at two non-profits and love every minute of it. My main point of this blog is to stress the importance of involvement and experience.<br /><br /><strong>Do not wait until you graduate to become involved!<br /></strong><br />Here are a few tips I have for fellow PR students:<br /><br /><strong>1. Ask professors how you can become involved around campus.</strong><br />PR can be found everywhere, so even if you do not have a student-run firm you still have opportunities to gain experience. Have a theater department on campus? Ask the director of an upcoming play if you can do PR for them.<br /><br /><strong>2. Intern. I cannot stress how important an internship is. </strong><br />I have gained so much knowledge from my two internships in one summer than I have gained in a school year. Start looking months in advance to when you want to actually intern because sometimes it is difficult to find an internship. Both of my internships are with non-profits and they really appreciate what I do for them and I love how fulfilling it is to help a non-profit accomplish something. Internships are everywhere, just open your eyes and look!<br /><br /><strong>3. Freelance.</strong><br />While I have not personally had any experience with freelance PR, I feel like it is a great way to gain experience when you are still in school. Speak with a faculty member, or someone that has had experience with freelancing, and ask if they will mentor you while you do freelance work.<br /><br /><strong>4. HAVE FUN!</strong><br />All work and no play= no fun. Every now and then you need a break from all of the hard work you do, and trust me we PR people know what hard work is! Go out with friends once a week or grab dinner with your roommates. Never forget your personal life!Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-51226194574709250932010-07-27T09:08:00.001-07:002010-07-27T09:13:16.119-07:00They just keep coming...I'd like to take time out to introduce the second of my guest <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">bloggers</span>:<br /><br />Ashley <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Funderburk</span>.<br /><br />As with my previous guest blogger we met on Twitter. She began following me a few months ago and I returned the favour. I now look forward to seeing what she is up to and keeping up to date with just where she is - which is everywhere! From the information in her guest blog you will see just how busy her life is and she shows no time of stopping.<br /><br />It's very interesting to find someone on the other side of the Atlantic who is doing the same degree is me - maybe one day, when we both have our own PR agencies we can meet and share our experiences!<br /><br />If you want to follow her on Twitter you will find her on @<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">amfunderburk</span>1<br /><br />Thanks again to Ashley for taking time out to write this for me. From one PR Princess to another Ash :-)Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-21125024560236375572010-07-22T10:54:00.000-07:002010-07-23T02:23:10.125-07:00Guest Blog: First Take over Twitter, then Facebook, then THE WORLD: My take on Social Media<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLnijFWoo7AXSKWMxdyH2UChKUofTn48Jppr05xHvR9Lta1gjto6ALlywAYbEVvWrHZb9Sfo7FbtvDlaANipTWiVGy7HrBtChX8cup2krmeDG1TheJEXDB5OCLhCqsU7gC-0PpNTq8pb4/s1600/social+media+picture.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 294px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496856432068502242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLnijFWoo7AXSKWMxdyH2UChKUofTn48Jppr05xHvR9Lta1gjto6ALlywAYbEVvWrHZb9Sfo7FbtvDlaANipTWiVGy7HrBtChX8cup2krmeDG1TheJEXDB5OCLhCqsU7gC-0PpNTq8pb4/s320/social+media+picture.png" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvrw5mJP4EOoN4AzmZ3v_XRn0E_dclGXRKLCK4mNjVQETbvLq-NrULHI-LISk9VAta_3T-0mpxvPMUe-VOUGg1U4ufqWkVkVmPdPdfuEXJG-5r677bKAbcvEvwloSlcj_R9kO8irUnKSE/s1600/David+Lurie.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div>I’ve been asked to run my predictions for Social Media in the next few years. Luckily for the owner of this blog, I’m always happy to oblige. </div><br /><br /><div><br /><strong>My route to social media</strong></div><br /><br /><div><br />Twitter had been around for a long time before I started using it. I always thought the idea of 140 character messages were ridiculous, and I even had an issue with Stephen Fry (who is otherwise one of my heroes) being silly enough to use it. </div><br /><br /><div><br />Even my close friends who had got involved with twitter had pulled out of using it very rapidly – something I believe is extremely common with Twitter users.</div><br /><br /><div><br />I’d already been burnt with social media. When I ran Fotogenesis – my third start-up and a photography company – I had a fan page on Facebook that I found almost impossible to maintain.</div><br /><br /><div><br />Also, I was the first person I knew to have a proper Facebook purge. If I hadn’t had 3 Facebook purges now I’d have over 500 friends (many who discovered me when I was doing the photography), but instead I have 199 and treat 200 as the target for which I run another purge.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><u>Here’s my prediction #1: Call it unfriending, purging, or rationalisation – this trend is going to get bigger and bigger</u><br /></div><br /><br /><div><strong>My sudden Social Media revolution</strong><br /></div><br /><br /><div>Between January and March this year, I got control of my Facebook page. I have a list of colleagues, one for acquaintances, and my ‘access everything’ list of.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>Then I joined Toastmasters, and started putting up my videos on YouTube (at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/setsights">http://www.youtube.com/setsights</a> ) and more recently I started taking videos of interesting things I see and adding them on there too.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><u>Here’s my prediction (or more of a statement) #2: Once you join the social media bandwagon, you tend to join multiple channels. Therefore there is going to be more convergence in accessing social media.</u></div><br /><br /><div><br /><strong>What I use Social Media for</strong><br /></div><br /><br /><div>Like many I use different types of Social Media for different reasons. I use YouTube because I love public speaking and want other people to see my videos. I do genuinely think they’re good, and I’m desperate to have this video - <a href="http://3.ly/haberdasher" target="_blank">http://3.ly/haberdasher</a> - go viral, as I think it’s the best bit of comedy I’ve done. Although I also recommend you look at my speech half in English and French on my youtube.com channel which can be found at: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/setsights">http://www.youtube.com/setsights</a> </div><br /><br /><div><br />I desperately want to be a part time, or even full time, professional speaker one day (if I can’t be the next Stephen Fry) and these videos can help publicise me and my upcoming foray into the stand-up comedy scene.</div><br /><br /><div><br />Facebook is a personal-only thing. I mainly use it to find out what other people are doing, providing many of the same links I do on Twitter (such as the latest run I’ve been on, or my latest blog post) and keeping all my photographs in the one place.</div><br /><br /><div><br />I have a blog at <a href="http://blog.setsights.co.uk/">http://blog.setsights.co.uk/</a> which Carly Smith, the owner of this blog I’m writing on today, has written for. It covers career development and personal development, which is the theme of Setsights Ltd which was my 4th start-up, now mostly on hold as I’ve gone into a career as a full time Management Consultant from September 2010 onwards after a chance in direction. It also covers dating – largely because I adore the human interaction of men and women – and occasional I pop in something personal – what I’ve learnt about a situation, or my opinions on Social Media etc. </div><br /><br /><div><br /><strong>Too many platforms = sore head</strong></div><br /><br /><div><br />I’ve already said I can’t handle Facebook. I barely have the time to handle twitter.</div><br /><br /><div><br />Mind you, I’ve been impressed with Twitter. When I was thinking about buying a printer, I got an unsolicited message from Dell. When I was angry with M&S, I posted this on twitter and got a rapid reply and resolution. </div><br /><br /><div><br />Each channel is slowly developing its unique angle on social media use.</div><br /><br /><div><br /><u>Prediction #3: Each method of social media will focus on a particular angle, and gradually each angle will be dominated by a single brand</u></div><br /><br /><div><br /><strong>Would Foursquare go and die already?</strong><br /></div><br /><br /><div>There are few things that really irrita<a name="_GoBack"></a>te me on social media. Posting information about your farm is one of them. Posting information on twitter about how busy the M25 is every 10 minutes is another.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>And foursquare badge posts are the last. I do understand the point of location based services, I really do, but what I don’t understand it why they need to focus on badges etc. As more companies offer free drinks a la Starbucks and similar promotions, badges will become less and less necessary.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>But at this point, Apple or similar will enter the Fray. If your phone has GPS and can detect your location, then sooner or later a company will integrate this into their phones. Or they’ll integrate Foursquare (or even Gowalla) into their basic set of applications.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>Either way, I consider myself to <em>usually</em> be an early adopter, but like many people when it comes to something like location based services I don’t want to tie myself down to one format when it may lose.</div><br /><br /><div><br /><u>Here’s prediction number #4: Location based services won’t take off until there is without doubt a dominant company, and yes, I think this will be Foursquare in the short to mid term</u></div><br /><br /><div><br /><u>But here’s prediction number #5: The first location based service company to integrate augmented reality images into their software and make it work really well will be that dominant company mentioned above</u> </div></div>Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-34289195475747994692010-07-22T04:35:00.000-07:002010-07-22T04:53:58.486-07:00UpcomingWith the rising popularity of guest blogging I decided to ask a few of my friends within PR and other similar disciplines if they would be so kind as to write a post for my blog.<br /><br />The first blog comes from David Lurie, a serial entrepreneur who has founded no less that 4 companies - his latest being Setsights - a professional training and coaching company. More information can be found on www.setsights.co.uk .<br /><br />When blog 'owners' invite guest bloggers to write for them I always wonder just what the connection is between them so I thought it would be a good idea for me to explain a little of how I know each of the people who will be writing a blog post for me.<br /><br />David and I met on Twitter whilst taking part in #commschat - we both found ourselves fighting our corner and often had the same ideas and points of view. We now keep in touch through Twitter and emails. I have used the Setsights services too. My testimonial can be found at: <a href="http://www.setsights.co.uk/testimonials/">http://www.setsights.co.uk/testimonials/</a>. All in all David is a funny guy and is guaranteed to make you chuckle even on a bad day.<br /><br />Enjoy his take on social media....Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154180184856761543.post-76340176683579296882010-07-19T04:20:00.001-07:002010-07-19T04:38:39.493-07:00It's all around!For quite a while now I have meaning to write a post about services marketing and it's effect on consumers.<br /><br />It wasn't until I began learning about it at University that I even realised service marketing existed. A trip to the car garage was just that, I went in, discussed the strange noises my car was making and didn't give a second thought to the service unless a member of staff was extremely rude or particularly good looking...<br /><br />I have just bought a new car - a Mini - and was having some trouble with the electric windows. I took it to my usual garage but because the problem was a little complicated they suggested I took it to the dealership. This is normally something which fills me with dread. You walk into the showroom with tiled floors, high ceilings and well turned out staff. I also tend to forget what I went in for when faced with all the new model BMW's. Plus it costs a bomb and once your car disappears into the back you have NO idea whats happening to it.<br /><br />The first communication I had with Mini just oozed professionalism - the lady I spoke to on the phone was very friendly and helpful. This was the first critical incident point and they had <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">succeeded</span> in making it positive. The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">phone call</span> was promptly followed up with a text message reminding of my appointment both that day and again a few days before I was due to take it in.<br /><br />When I took my car in I was ushered towards a shiny desk where my details were in put into the computer. I left feeling like my car was in safe hands. They called when promised and the situation was explained fully to me in my language...I picked my car up the day after and was very happy with the service I had received.<br /><br />It wasn't until I got it home however that I had the best bit...yes....indeed....they had washed it. I spent the whole afternoon thinking to myself how nice of them it was. Silly I know...probably one of the most expensive car washes I have ever had - the kids down the road do it for £3 and some sweets...but it was the little extra touch of customer service that left me smiling and made the level of cognitive dissonance I felt was limited.<br /><br />At every critical incident point Mini dealership made an effort to make the experience a postive one. I believe they were focused more on the theatre metaphor, based on performances, with the actors encouraged to develop their own scripts with their smart attire being their costumes. The garage down the road however is based more on the factory metaphor, getting the cars in and out and the money handed over.<br /><br />Going that extra mile for consumers and over delivering will more than likely get you repeat custom - give them something they aren't expecting.Carlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555477509468893143noreply@blogger.com0