Time to read the signs?
Driving back from leaving my daughter to pre-school this morning, I was behind a driver studiously keeping to 40 mph along the road. He was a careful driver but the problem was he was ignoring the many 50 mph signs. Even when the signs changed to 30mph he kept steady at 40 mph. Maybe he’d decided that keeping to a single speed was easier than taking account of the changes around him.
That got me thinking about communications channels and the growth of new social media platforms. If you’ve been successfully running your business for many years, keeping to the same speed, using the same methods of communicating with your customers old and new, then maybe you’re not looking for signs of what’s happening in the marketplace?
The signs are certainly there.
- Companies with a regularly updated blog on relevant subjects see, on average, 67% more
leads than those with no blog - 69% of b2b marketers are already shifting budgets from traditional to social media
- 41% of b2b companies are acquiring customers on Facebook
- 86% of b2b companies and 82% of b2c companies are using social media
[Source: Richard Bagnall, Gorkana Group]
But maybe it’s all a flash in the pan? Surely customers still value the cold calls, the direct mail, the print advertising? Perhaps they do – these channels may still have a significant role to play for many businesses, but maybe its time to consider adding new channels to the marketing mix. Twenty years ago businesses were wondering if it was worth investing time and money in this new thing called the internet. Now it seems every business and organisation has a website and it is the first thing many prospective customers look for.
So, if you’re interested in learning more about the opportunities social media could offer your business, give us a call for a chat about the options. We’d love you to join our conversation.
Synatus – Open for business
Lattice PR Director Richard Dymond has joined a group of independent senior-level Consultants, Interims, Trainers and Coaches called Synatus.
Synatus provides a simple way for clients to find the resource their need. There is no cost to use the Synatus website to search for suitable consultants, and no uplift in the day rate of the individual or team they select.
Synatus covers most disciplines and sectors while each partner has a proven track record which is visible on the website.
Of course, the Lattice PR network of communications specialists continues to exist (and grow). We can provide support for the full range of corporate communications specialisms including social media strategy and management.
LooknBe: Opinionated people wanted
People eager to provide their opinions on others’ fashion sense are being sought by new UK social networking site www.LooknBe.com.
LooknBe aims to help answer those sartorial dilemmas such as ‘Is this outfit right for me?’ or ‘Does this style suit me?’ by encouraging members not only to pose their questions but also to provide others with their views and opinions.
“How often have you seen an outfit and wondered whether it is right for you? Who could you ask for an honest opinion? The salesperson? A friend or family member? Really, it’s difficult to find someone who is impartial and who will tell you the truth without fear of hurting your feelings,” says founder Stéphane Castellani. “We want people who will provide others with their advice and experience – keen amateur versions of TV’s Gok Wan, Jenny Frost or Trinny and Susannah.”
Registration on the LooknBe.com site is free and as the network grows more and more expert advice will also be freely available from a range of professional specialists in fashion and appearance. Members can currently upload photos of themselves and their outfits to the site to gain opinions and advice. “We’ll shortly be launching a new range of mobile apps which will allow you to get instant feedback straight to the shop before you have to make that decision to buy,” added Stéphane.
Launched in late 2010, the equivalent French network has grown to over 50,000 in just eight months and currently over 500 keen style watchers are joining the network every day.
Founded by husband and wife team Stéphane and Olga Castellani, an Italian network has also been launched and further networks will roll-out across Europe. While each network is separate, members of one can watch what’s going on in the other national networks if they wish.
ENDS
NOTE TO EDITORS
For more information, contact Richard Dymond or Denise Gee at Lattice PR on
Richard 01344 881 443 07977 242 573 richard@lattice-pr.com
Denise 07793 768109 denise@geeassociates.com
Try it and see!
The best way to understand the concept is to try the network for yourself. Registration is quick and simple at www.looknbe.com.
LooknBe – the first social network that advises you on your look and appearance
A new social networking phenomenon that is already growing rapidly in France is launching a UK network this Spring.
LooknBe aims to help answer those sartorial dilemmas such as ‘Is this outfit right for me?’ or ‘Does this style suit me?’ by encouraging members not only to pose their questions but also to provide others with their views and opinions. Launched in late 2010, the French network has grown to over 40,000 in just six months and currently over 500 keen style watchers are joining the network every day.
Founded by husband and wife team Stéphane and Olga Castellani, an Italian network is also launching and further networks will roll-out across Europe. While each network is separate, members of one can watch what’s going on in the other national networks if they wish.
“How often have you seen an outfit and wondered whether it is right for you? Who could you ask for an honest opinion? The salesperson? A friend or family member? Really, it’s difficult to find someone who is impartial and who will tell you the truth without fear of hurting your feelings,” said Stéphane.
Registration on the LooknBe.com site is free and as the network grows more and more expert advice will also be freely available from a range of professional specialists in fashion and appearance. Mobile applications are on schedule to launch shortly.
Olga and Stephané Castellani with site moderator Migö
NOTE TO EDITORS
Try it and see!
The best way to understand the concept is to try the network for yourself. Registration is quick and simple at www.looknbe.com.
ES Pipelines supports Warm Homes Campaign 2010
ES Pipelines is backing National Energy Action’s Warm Homes Campaign 2010 and is supporting NEA’s call for a national energy efficiency drive to combat rising levels of fuel poverty.
The call comes after recent Government statistics revealed that the numbers of households in fuel poverty is continuing to escalate, with NEA estimating that the figure in England and Wales has reached over 4.1 million.
Nick Clark, ES Pipelines’ Development Director said: “NEA’s Warm Homes Campaign highlights that there are still millions of people who are simply struggling to keep their homes warm and protect their families from the ill-effects of the cold. Fuel-poor households experience a number of detrimental health impacts and reductions in general well-being as a result of cold, damp living conditions. This is clearly unacceptable, and this campaign also demonstrates where help is available.
“We work closely with social housing providers to ensure they have access to all the grants and support on offer to improve the quality and energy efficiency of their housing stock.”
NEA chief executive Jenny Saunders said: “This campaign plays a vital role in ensuring members of the public, local politicians and MPs understand this link between energy efficiency and fuel poverty. By providing practical advice to local community groups and taking MPs to visit their constituents at home and hear first hand about how they’ve benefited from energy efficiency initiatives, we hope to help lift other families out of fuel poverty.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The NEA’s Warm Homes Campaign 2010 press pack is available on the NEA Website. Click here.
- Warm Homes Campaign is a national campaign organised by fuel poverty charities National Energy Action (NEA) and Energy Action Scotland (EAS), and is sponsored in 2010 by DECC (England only)and E.ON.
- The campaign runs from 18th November to 3rd December 2010, with politicians visiting constituents who have benefited from energy efficiency grant schemes.
- Warm Homes Campaign aims to raise awareness of the problem of fuel poverty and the various grants and schemes that are available to vulnerable households struggling to heat their homes.
- NEA is the UK’s leading fuel poverty charity campaigning for affordable warmth in the homes of vulnerable people. For further details, visit www.nea.org.uk
- Fuel poverty is defined as when a household is required to spend more than ten per cent of its income after housing costs on total fuel use.
- DECC figures for 2008 have shown that fuel poverty increased significantly from 2007 to 2008, from 2.8 million to 3.3 million households in England alone and puts the figures for the whole of the UK at 4.5 million. NEA estimates that as of 2010, more than 5.4 million UK households are considered to be in fuel poverty. NEA estimates there are currently 320,000 fuel poor households in Wales, equivalent to 1 in 4 households.
- Current grant programmes are:
Warm Front in England (0800 408 2095) www.warmfront.co.uk
The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) in Wales (0800 316 2815) www.heeswales.co.ukE.ON is one of the UK’s leading power and gas companies – generating and distributing electricity, and retailing power and gas – and is part of the E.ON group, one of the world’s largest investor-owned power and gas companies. They employ more than 15,000 people in the UK and more than 88,000 worldwide.
For details on the Warm Homes Campaign and MPs’ activities around the country, contact Lesley Tudor-Snodin, NEA Press Officer, on 0191 261 5677 or LTS@nea.org.uk
Swanbay: Leading brands use innovative mobile phone platform
Swanbay, the media and mobile technology company, has announced that four leading brands have begun advertising on its cutting-edge mobile phone platform.
Tissot, Travelport Holidays and Star Cruises and Ceat are using the Swanbay platform to reach customers in India through a service that provides free, high-quality video clips to millions of mobile phone subscribers.
Swanbay provides mobile phone users with free local and international video content including highlights from the world of sports, news, music, cartoons, fashion and movies. Swanbay has partnered with several mobile network operators across Asia, Middle East and Europe to provide advertising partners and content providers with an opportunity to access consumers through networks with over 500 million subscribers today, growing to over 1 billion in 2011.
“Throughout 2010, Swanbay has being expanding its network and broadening its content offering,” says John Haskins, Director of Sales for Swanbay. “We’re now seeing consumers using the service and advertisers looking to sponsor the content. Early portal statistics across India, Pakistan and Asia show that once people have accessed the portals, over 50 per cent of consumers download and watch a video that starts with a short ad.”
“The videos are of really good quality,” says Abhijit Saxena, CEO, Netcore Technologies, Swanbay’s content distribution Patner in India. “This will be a big differentiator in this service.”
Advertisers are able to run targeted campaigns by selecting content and locations that are relevant to their brand. They can also measure the effectiveness of their campaign through a web-based reporting tool. Furthermore, payment is per view, ensuring guaranteed publicity and consumer engagement.
Javed Akkhtar, CEO of TravelPort Holidays adds, “Video advertising over mobile by Swanbay is an excellent and innovative media option. Our campaign received a very high quality response and the ROI was 40% better than the bulk SMS and other over-the-mobile promos.”
Since the beginning of 2010, Swanbay has launched its service in India, Pakistan, Hong Kong and Taiwan with launch programmes underway in UK, Thailand, Malaysia, Middle East, Bulgaria, Turkey and The Balkans.
“We have the technology, the backing and the partners to continue to grow rapidly,” says John Haskins. “With the number of internet enabled phones growing at 30 per cent a year, this is becoming an excellent channel for brands with ambitions to reach a mass market.”
About Swanbay
Swanbay enables mobile network operators worldwide looking to reduce churn and retain loyalty, with the ability to provide premium video content to their subscribers, for free. Swanbay currently has a subscriber base of approximately 200 million with a further 300 million subscribers under contract and launching in 2010. The subscriber base is expected to increase by a further 500 million in 2011.
International and national advertisers are proving keen to market to specific consumers in all territories by embedding video and banner ads into video content, and Swanbay provides the end to end solution that allows them to do so.
Swanbay is a privately held company backed by investors with a successful track record in mobile technology. Its headquarters are in London and regional offices in Middle East, New Delhi, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia, & Bulgaria.
Contact
Tel: +44(0)2079179866 Email: info@swanbaygroup.com www.swanbaygroup.com
TELEPHONE PROBLEM
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REM’s Smart Metering Operations Suite achieves SAP-certified integration
UK technology company Remote Energy Monitoring Ltd (REM)’s Smart Metering Operations Suite (SMOS) 1.5.5.7 has achieved SAP-certified integration with SAP® Business Suite software via enterprise services.
REM’s CEO Nigel Rzemieniecki said: “Through this integration with SAP Business Suite via enterprise services, our customers can implement our SMOS knowing that what was previously a complex integration process is now a simple configuration task. We can provide strong support for the SAP AMI Integration for Utilities software development roadmap.”
SMOS enables energy suppliers to communicate with, acquire data from and control a large estate of remote smart meters. Based on Oracle technology it uses an in-memory database for high-speed operations. SMOS is meter-, communication network- and communication protocol-agnostic.
The SAP Integration and Certification Centre (SAP ICC) has certified that REM’s SMOS 1.5.5.7 integrates with SAP for Utilities solutions 604 via the SAP NetWeaver® Process Integration (SAP NetWeaver PI) 7.1 offering via the enterprise service bundle-Utility-Advanced Meter Infratructure (ESOA-Bundle) 1.0.
NOTES TO EDITORS
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SAP, SAP NetWeaver and all SAP logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG in Germany and in several other countries.
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All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.
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Remote Energy Monitoring is a smart metering and data management company. It designs, develops and deploys complete end-to-end smart metering solutions which help its customers – the UK’s energy supply companies – to increase consumer retention, improve operational efficiency and develop brand reach, while reducing consumer churn and bad debt. Chaired by John Roberts, former CEO of United Utilities plc, Remote Energy Monitoring is a UK company, with unrivalled experience in deploying smart metering solutions. Its meter development centre is in Australia, systems are developed in the UK and meters are manufactured in China. For more information, visit www.remuk.co.uk.
Synogis – Equipping senior business consultants for tendering success
The recession has seen many senior-level and highly-experienced business professionals decide to take up offers of redundancy and set themselves up as self-employed freelance advisors.
But what happens when the contract you are bidding for is more than you can handle alone, or requires a greater breadth of expertise and experience?
A new service – Synogis – aims to solve that problem. Founder Richard Ilsley explains that it can be very difficult for freelance advisors to find colleagues to collaborate with. “When you work in a large organisation, usually someone else has done the hard job of recruiting people in other disciplines for you to work with on projects. When you’re on your own, you’ve got to do that job yourself which can be very time consuming and stressful.”
Synogis now has over 150 senior-level consultants and interim managers from a wide range of disciplines in its network. Each has been either recommended by an existing member or has had to demonstrate their expertise, knowledge and skills. Around 30 new consultants are admitted each month.
“We know that each of our consultants can provide professional support to their colleagues and their clients,” added Richard. “Synogis is a resource for the best talent available – a network of seasoned professionals with the experience, knowledge and expertise to take on the toughest of business tasks and advice clients at the highest levels.”
More information on how to join Synogis is available at www.synogis.com.
Synogis: Demand for senior-level advice grows with economic recovery
Synogis, the network for senior-level freelance consultants and interim managers, says that demand for its members services is growing rapidly.
Richard Ilsley, founder of the network, says: “In a recession, many businesses seek to cut short-term costs by ‘letting go’ many of their long-standing, most experienced and, often, most expensive managers. When recovery is in sight, they may find that they have lost the necessary experience and knowledge to take full advantage of the business opportunities.
“Services such as ours offer businesses the opportunity to access that pool of expertise without the expense of recruitment.”
Since it’s ‘soft launch’ earlier this year, Synogis has seen its network of senior business people grow to over 150 – and it is now growing at over 30 per month. New members are recommended by existing members or have to demonstrate the necessary skills and experience to be admitted.
“It’s this quality control which sets us apart from other networks,” explains Richard. “Any business or organisation coming to us to put together a virtual support team or recommend a shortlist of interim managers knows that our resource pool has already been vetted. And our business model means we don’t take a commission or charge a fee to businesses and organisations for our services.”
More information is available on the Synogis website at www.synogis.com.
