SOME LESSONS IN STRATEGIC MARKETING

Lesson 1: Research the competition

·                     Pay a visit to them

·                    Get a feel of the competitor

·                    Know your competitors to better able effectively compete with them.

Lesson 2: Know your customer’s values

·                     Recognize other concerns besides prices

·                    Don’t be caught in the mentality that customers will buy from you only if you have the lowest cost.

·                    Think/make your product as a bundle of attributes having a unique value.

Lesson 3: Identify opportunities

·                    Look into developing new products/services or improving existing ones.

Lesson 4: Develop a positioning based on opportunity

·                     Provide different benefits.

Lesson 5: Create a Catchy tag line.

·                    Help in building brand equity, communicating benefit and feature.

Lesson 6: Spread the word

·                     Business name card

·                     Print and distribute flyers.

·                    Methods:

-       Word of mouth

-       Advertising (online and offline)

-       Philanthropy (donate money, services and/or time to non-profit organizations, or conduct own event).

Lesson 7: Be ethical and above-board

·                    Concentrate on improving rather than dodging regulations

Lesson 7A: Subterfuge is a poor long term strategy

Lesson 8: Implement until you are blue in the face

·                    Keep trying until you got it right

·                    Don’t give up

·                    Strive to continually improve.

Shared From Article By:

Allen Turnbull

Accountants Today

September 2006

MOVING FROM GOOD TO GREAT

 

Succession planning and leadership development must become priority for organization looking to succeed.  Many organization did not prepare for the senior leader gaps leading to mature managers and senior leader exiting the workforce taking with them their wisdom and wide experience.  Organization are compelled to fill the leadership gaps with those lacking with the right skills, knowledge and behavior necessary to take on the fill weight of a senior management position.  The much needed “things” in order to move the organization to the next level.

Transitions can be times of both great opportunity and great risk when assuming a new leadership role regardless of the amount of experience a leader may have.  The challenges for leader who are newly promoted to roles lies in understanding and developing the competencies required to be successful at the next level.  A manager’s success in his previous role does not necessarily equate to success in the current new role.

Core transitional skills required.

1.	Goal, Setting and strategy	·         Important to identify the right goals ·         Develop a supporting strategy ·         Align the architecture of the organization ·         figure out projects to pursue to secure early wins
2.	Develop emotional intelligence	·         Demonstrate a high degree of emotional intelligence ·         Create an environment of positive morale and higher productivity ·         Sensitive to team member, subordinates’ needs and an understanding of what motivated them.
3.	Build and foster key relationship	·         Develop skills set -       Relationship management -       Communication -       Negotiation -       Conflict resolution
4.	Manage personal outlook and Perspective	·         Consider working with a coach who help examine leadership attitudes, perspective ·         Develop a plan to work on areas that need improvement

                                                                                        Shared From article by:

                                                                                        Merle Chan

                                                                                        The Star, Thursday

                                                                                        27 October 2011