Just had a read of this year's Millward Brown Optimor survey of the world's most valuable brands. It's on the FT site, here's a link to the survey data:-
http://bit.ly/cU5Edd
Not surprisingly Google was found to be the world's most valuable brand in a field dominated by technology firms.
Google, IBM, Apple and Microsoft topped global leviathans Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Marlboro in the Top Ten brand value list.
Google's brand was worth more than $US114 billion
Thursday 29 April 2010
Wednesday 28 April 2010
PR and Social Media courses
We've just completed the April course and it went down very well. It was slightly different this month because previously we've done a journalist q/a with Ben Briggs, the Editor of Lancashire Business View. This month we were joined by Chris Hopper, the business reporter from Lancashire Telegraph. Feedback from attendees has been very positive and we fully expect to see them getting as much coverage as previous attendees.
This month we trained staff from the following companies:-
- Petty Chartered Surveyors
- The White Room
- Little Treasures
- Daviker Software
- Printing.com
- Tax Assist
- Art Exchange
I should also congratulate Vicky from Uno Coffee - she attended in January and has several pieces of coverage since then. Here's what she had to say:
"The atmosphere on the course was relaxed and friendly. I learned how to write and distribute strong press releases - and monitor coverage. Since the course we’ve had stories in the Nelson Leader, Lancashire Telegraph, Bolton Evening News - plus online coverage. The social media elements have helped with lead generation, so we’ve seen a real return. Overall was thrilled with the course and better still it was fully funded by Business Link!"
This month we trained staff from the following companies:-
- Petty Chartered Surveyors
- The White Room
- Little Treasures
- Daviker Software
- Printing.com
- Tax Assist
- Art Exchange
I should also congratulate Vicky from Uno Coffee - she attended in January and has several pieces of coverage since then. Here's what she had to say:
"The atmosphere on the course was relaxed and friendly. I learned how to write and distribute strong press releases - and monitor coverage. Since the course we’ve had stories in the Nelson Leader, Lancashire Telegraph, Bolton Evening News - plus online coverage. The social media elements have helped with lead generation, so we’ve seen a real return. Overall was thrilled with the course and better still it was fully funded by Business Link!"
Monday 19 April 2010
Icelandic volcano top 20
Greetings pop pickers! We’ve had a poptastic day in the office today. Camilla was supposed to fly to Italy – cancelled. Julian’s Dad was supposed to fly to Istanbul – cancelled. Bill Spear from WDN was supposed to be here from the US – he’s stuck in Dublin. Alison from Uno Coffee – stuck in Spain.
So here’s our Icelandic Volcano top 20...not ‘arf!
(Read whilst listening to this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOb4Ac2CLXA)
1. Ashes to Ashes - David Bowie
2. My old man's a dustman - Lonnie Donnegan
3. Another one bites the Dust - Queen
4. Volcano - Damien Rice
5. Lava Lava - Boys Noize
6. Leaving on a jet plane (NOT) - John Denver
7. Fly Away - Frank Sinatra
8. And I would walk 500 miles - The Proclaimers
9. We are Sailing - Rod Stewart
10. Solid Air - John Martyn
11. I Wanna go Home - Micheal Buble
12. Blowin in the Wind - Bob Dylan
13. Great balls of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis
14. The look of Lava (well...love) - Dusty Springfield
15. Smoke on the water - Deep Purple
16. Led Zeppelin – Misty Mountain Hop
17. Keith Harris and Orville – I wish I could fly
18. R Kelly – I believe I can fly
19. ELO – Last Train to London
20. Cliff Richard – We are all (not) going on a summer holiday
So here’s our Icelandic Volcano top 20...not ‘arf!
(Read whilst listening to this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOb4Ac2CLXA)
1. Ashes to Ashes - David Bowie
2. My old man's a dustman - Lonnie Donnegan
3. Another one bites the Dust - Queen
4. Volcano - Damien Rice
5. Lava Lava - Boys Noize
6. Leaving on a jet plane (NOT) - John Denver
7. Fly Away - Frank Sinatra
8. And I would walk 500 miles - The Proclaimers
9. We are Sailing - Rod Stewart
10. Solid Air - John Martyn
11. I Wanna go Home - Micheal Buble
12. Blowin in the Wind - Bob Dylan
13. Great balls of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis
14. The look of Lava (well...love) - Dusty Springfield
15. Smoke on the water - Deep Purple
16. Led Zeppelin – Misty Mountain Hop
17. Keith Harris and Orville – I wish I could fly
18. R Kelly – I believe I can fly
19. ELO – Last Train to London
20. Cliff Richard – We are all (not) going on a summer holiday
Friday 16 April 2010
The party leaders debate...
I watched as much as I could tolerate of the party leaders debate last night (about 10 minutes) and considered the comms implications. I found it difficult really.
Not just that it was tedious and unilluminating. All three party leaders were well drilled and the stock answers pretty much rolled off their tongues. Nobody made any serious gaffs, nobody delivered anything that will significantly shift much in the way of votes - possibly Clegg might have picked up a few more tactical votes than he might have otherwise.
The thing is - the whole election is an anaemic exercise. The age of grand ideologies is over and the so-called election debate is about who can run the show slightly better and who will adjust the tax system so it's marginally more beneficial to your circumstances. Illegal wars and economic meltdown barely get a mention (I know...they were covering domestic affairs last night).
Camilla, our graphic designer just cracked us all up, when she summed up the level of resignation we all feel - she said that the fact that they all wore ties in their party colours was sufficient to make her turn off "because it's about shapes and colours." I'm guessing they can't even inspire on that front either....
Not just that it was tedious and unilluminating. All three party leaders were well drilled and the stock answers pretty much rolled off their tongues. Nobody made any serious gaffs, nobody delivered anything that will significantly shift much in the way of votes - possibly Clegg might have picked up a few more tactical votes than he might have otherwise.
The thing is - the whole election is an anaemic exercise. The age of grand ideologies is over and the so-called election debate is about who can run the show slightly better and who will adjust the tax system so it's marginally more beneficial to your circumstances. Illegal wars and economic meltdown barely get a mention (I know...they were covering domestic affairs last night).
Camilla, our graphic designer just cracked us all up, when she summed up the level of resignation we all feel - she said that the fact that they all wore ties in their party colours was sufficient to make her turn off "because it's about shapes and colours." I'm guessing they can't even inspire on that front either....
Tuesday 13 April 2010
BrandSpankin’ to host Mobile Marketing event
PENDLE marketing business BrandSpankin’ (http://www.brandspankin.co.uk) is set to host a mobile marketing demonstration for east Lancashire businesses that are looking to generate significant footfall and turn passers-by into customers.
The event is to take place in Simonstone, Lancashire on Wednesday 21st April, and will be co-hosted by BrandSpankin’s technology partner, C2-UK. The event is free to attend but places are limited, as there is significant interest in this form of mobile or proximity marketing.
The system operates using mobile handsets that have Bluetooth enabled, allowing businesses to send messages, discount codes and special offers to people who are in the immediate vicinity, allowing businesses to pull in people who might otherwise just pass by.
The UK has more active mobile contracts than people and over 90 per cent of handsets have Bluetooth functionality – potentially giving businesses unprecedented levels of access to foot fall that they would otherwise miss out on.
“Open rates” for this form of mobile marketing are in the region of 13 per cent, whereas traditional small business marketing techniques such as door drops, direct mail or flyers can typically have as little as a 0.5 per cent response rate.
Julian Jordan, MD of BrandSpankin’ said: “At the event we’ll be demonstrating the ease of use of our mobile marketing solution. Unlike a lot of traditional marketing forms you can really measure the effect of this approach and see an unprecedented return on your marketing budget. This kind of solution makes massive sense for small businesses such as bars, clubs and taxi businesses – but equally larger enterprises like football clubs, supermarkets and concert venues can see huge and immediate responses.”
Businesses interesting in attending should contact BrandSpankin’ on 01282 878 301 or 0161 453 3230.
The event is to take place in Simonstone, Lancashire on Wednesday 21st April, and will be co-hosted by BrandSpankin’s technology partner, C2-UK. The event is free to attend but places are limited, as there is significant interest in this form of mobile or proximity marketing.
The system operates using mobile handsets that have Bluetooth enabled, allowing businesses to send messages, discount codes and special offers to people who are in the immediate vicinity, allowing businesses to pull in people who might otherwise just pass by.
The UK has more active mobile contracts than people and over 90 per cent of handsets have Bluetooth functionality – potentially giving businesses unprecedented levels of access to foot fall that they would otherwise miss out on.
“Open rates” for this form of mobile marketing are in the region of 13 per cent, whereas traditional small business marketing techniques such as door drops, direct mail or flyers can typically have as little as a 0.5 per cent response rate.
Julian Jordan, MD of BrandSpankin’ said: “At the event we’ll be demonstrating the ease of use of our mobile marketing solution. Unlike a lot of traditional marketing forms you can really measure the effect of this approach and see an unprecedented return on your marketing budget. This kind of solution makes massive sense for small businesses such as bars, clubs and taxi businesses – but equally larger enterprises like football clubs, supermarkets and concert venues can see huge and immediate responses.”
Businesses interesting in attending should contact BrandSpankin’ on 01282 878 301 or 0161 453 3230.
Asda shoppers get the Doodle bug!
PENDLE creative marketing business BrandSpankin’, has had Colne shoppers doodling for a good cause this week.
Shoppers at Colne’s Asda store took part in Lancashire’s Longest Doodle and supported Pendleside Hospice in the process.
The Doodle is taking shape on a huge stretch of cotton and has had hundreds of people doodling for a good cause. So far the doodle is 130 metres long and filled with the artistic work of hundreds of local people!
Doodlers are also being asked to make a contribution to Pendleside hospice, a charity designed to meet the needs of local people with cancer or life-threatening illnesses.
BrandSpankin’ started the project to promote the regeneration of Lancashire.
Julian Jordan, BrandSpankin's managing director explains: “We believe that creativity generates the ideas that will spawn enterprise and ultimately regeneration. The doodle has already been all over Lancashire and when it’s complete we’ve got plans to roll it down several spectacular Lancashire landmarks.”
Any schools, businesses, or community groups interested in participating in the doodle should call BrandSpankin’ on 01282 878301.
Shoppers at Colne’s Asda store took part in Lancashire’s Longest Doodle and supported Pendleside Hospice in the process.
The Doodle is taking shape on a huge stretch of cotton and has had hundreds of people doodling for a good cause. So far the doodle is 130 metres long and filled with the artistic work of hundreds of local people!
Doodlers are also being asked to make a contribution to Pendleside hospice, a charity designed to meet the needs of local people with cancer or life-threatening illnesses.
BrandSpankin’ started the project to promote the regeneration of Lancashire.
Julian Jordan, BrandSpankin's managing director explains: “We believe that creativity generates the ideas that will spawn enterprise and ultimately regeneration. The doodle has already been all over Lancashire and when it’s complete we’ve got plans to roll it down several spectacular Lancashire landmarks.”
Any schools, businesses, or community groups interested in participating in the doodle should call BrandSpankin’ on 01282 878301.
Thursday 8 April 2010
BrandSpankin’ new approach to promoting your business.
PENDLE marketing business BrandSpankin’ (http://www.brandspankin.co.uk) has launched a radical new marketing solution to help east Lancs businesses make more money.
Mobile or proximity marketing operates using mobile handsets that have Bluetooth enabled, allowing business to send messages, discount codes and special offers to people who are in the immediate vicinity, allowing businesses to pull in people who might otherwise just pass by.
The UK has more active mobile contracts than people and over 90 per cent of handsets have Bluetooth functionality – potentially giving businesses unprecedented levels of access to foot fall that they would otherwise miss out on.
“Open rates” for this form of mobile marketing are in the region of 13 per cent, whereas traditional small business marketing techniques such as door drops, direct mail or flyers can typically have as little as a 0.5 per cent response rate.
Julian Jordan, MD of BrandSpankin’ said: “We’ve spent ages trying to source the best mobile marketing solution and we’ve been really impressed with the kit we’ve got. It’s really robust and the reporting it can deliver is superb.”
“Unlike a lot of traditional marketing forms you can really measure the effect of this approach and see an unprecedented return on your marketing budget. This kind of solution makes massive sense for small businesses such as bars, clubs and taxi businesses – but equally larger enterprises like football clubs, supermarkets and concert venues can see huge and immediate responses.”
Mobile or proximity marketing operates using mobile handsets that have Bluetooth enabled, allowing business to send messages, discount codes and special offers to people who are in the immediate vicinity, allowing businesses to pull in people who might otherwise just pass by.
The UK has more active mobile contracts than people and over 90 per cent of handsets have Bluetooth functionality – potentially giving businesses unprecedented levels of access to foot fall that they would otherwise miss out on.
“Open rates” for this form of mobile marketing are in the region of 13 per cent, whereas traditional small business marketing techniques such as door drops, direct mail or flyers can typically have as little as a 0.5 per cent response rate.
Julian Jordan, MD of BrandSpankin’ said: “We’ve spent ages trying to source the best mobile marketing solution and we’ve been really impressed with the kit we’ve got. It’s really robust and the reporting it can deliver is superb.”
“Unlike a lot of traditional marketing forms you can really measure the effect of this approach and see an unprecedented return on your marketing budget. This kind of solution makes massive sense for small businesses such as bars, clubs and taxi businesses – but equally larger enterprises like football clubs, supermarkets and concert venues can see huge and immediate responses.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)