Comments for Spotlight on Marketing http://www.kayross.com/blog the place for us to chat about anything and everything to do with marketing Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:39:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 Comment on In Your Marketing, To Thine Own Self Be True by Ruth - The Freelance Writing Blog http://www.kayross.com/blog/2012/01/05/in-your-marketing-to-thine-own-self-be-true/comment-page-1/#comment-12556 Ruth - The Freelance Writing Blog Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:20:19 +0000 http://www.kayross.com/blog/?p=1827#comment-12556 Agreed! Agreed!

]]> Comment on In Your Marketing, To Thine Own Self Be True by kay http://www.kayross.com/blog/2012/01/05/in-your-marketing-to-thine-own-self-be-true/comment-page-1/#comment-12546 kay Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:05:32 +0000 http://www.kayross.com/blog/?p=1827#comment-12546 Thanks for your comments, Ashwin. Yes, we do risk flak when we express our opinions and values boldly - that risk doesn't always pay off, but still I think it's worth it. Boring, bland, blah marketing messages don't work. (And besides, even if we do say what we think people want to hear, there's always a risk of flak.) Thanks for your comments, Ashwin. Yes, we do risk flak when we express our opinions and values boldly - that risk doesn’t always pay off, but still I think it’s worth it. Boring, bland, blah marketing messages don’t work. (And besides, even if we do say what we think people want to hear, there’s always a risk of flak.)

]]> Comment on In Your Marketing, To Thine Own Self Be True by kay http://www.kayross.com/blog/2012/01/05/in-your-marketing-to-thine-own-self-be-true/comment-page-1/#comment-12545 kay Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:00:16 +0000 http://www.kayross.com/blog/?p=1827#comment-12545 Thanks Ruth. Yes, it's a controversial topic, and you're quite right: we do need to solicit feedback and engage in conversation. Otherwise, there's a risk that we'll launch a product that nobody buys. But by the same token, sometimes we have to risk launching a product that people didn't even know they wanted until we offered it. People aren't always very good at articulating what they want/need - it's our job as marketers to delve deep to uncover the true wants/needs of our customers. Thanks Ruth. Yes, it’s a controversial topic, and you’re quite right: we do need to solicit feedback and engage in conversation. Otherwise, there’s a risk that we’ll launch a product that nobody buys. But by the same token, sometimes we have to risk launching a product that people didn’t even know they wanted until we offered it. People aren’t always very good at articulating what they want/need - it’s our job as marketers to delve deep to uncover the true wants/needs of our customers.

]]> Comment on In Your Marketing, To Thine Own Self Be True by Marketing and Brand Consistency: Check Your Gargoyles | Technology Story http://www.kayross.com/blog/2012/01/05/in-your-marketing-to-thine-own-self-be-true/comment-page-1/#comment-12544 Marketing and Brand Consistency: Check Your Gargoyles | Technology Story Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:16:03 +0000 http://www.kayross.com/blog/?p=1827#comment-12544 [...] wrote about the faces we put forward in a marketing message. Kay’s article is titled “In Your Marketing, To Thine Own Self Be True“, and it reminded me of many observations I have made about the overall feel of companies [...] [...] wrote about the faces we put forward in a marketing message. Kay’s article is titled “In Your Marketing, To Thine Own Self Be True“, and it reminded me of many observations I have made about the overall feel of companies [...]

]]> Comment on In Your Marketing, To Thine Own Self Be True by Marketing and Brand Consistency: Check Your Gargoyles http://www.kayross.com/blog/2012/01/05/in-your-marketing-to-thine-own-self-be-true/comment-page-1/#comment-12543 Marketing and Brand Consistency: Check Your Gargoyles Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:20:04 +0000 http://www.kayross.com/blog/?p=1827#comment-12543 [...] wrote about the faces we put forward in a marketing message. Kay’s article is titled “In Your Marketing, To Thine Own Self Be True“, and it reminded me of many observations I have made about the overall feel of companies [...] [...] wrote about the faces we put forward in a marketing message. Kay’s article is titled “In Your Marketing, To Thine Own Self Be True“, and it reminded me of many observations I have made about the overall feel of companies [...]

]]> Comment on In Your Marketing, To Thine Own Self Be True by Ashwin http://www.kayross.com/blog/2012/01/05/in-your-marketing-to-thine-own-self-be-true/comment-page-1/#comment-12542 Ashwin Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:57:11 +0000 http://www.kayross.com/blog/?p=1827#comment-12542 Hi Kay, Be nice. Give all you can. Engage well with your readers, potential customers, and your community in general. Yet, be yourself. Say what you want to say. Learn from others ( because everyone has something to offer), but "say" what you want to. Assuming you say the wrong, you can say sorry. Change routes, and stick to the new one. Trying to be someone else never works, does it? Look at the Virgin Group. Sir Richard Branson is quirky, brash, and goes to great lengths to protect his brand. Yet, he does what he wants. Steve jobs never minced words whether in the boardrooms, product meetings, or with the press. Who can deny how Apple products are perceived today? When a company says what it wants, it does risk flak. But it's this risk that pays off. Don't you think? Hi Kay,

Be nice. Give all you can. Engage well with your readers, potential customers, and your community in general.

Yet, be yourself. Say what you want to say. Learn from others ( because everyone has something to offer), but “say” what you want to.

Assuming you say the wrong, you can say sorry. Change routes, and stick to the new one.

Trying to be someone else never works, does it? Look at the Virgin Group. Sir Richard Branson is quirky, brash, and goes to great lengths to protect his brand. Yet, he does what he wants.

Steve jobs never minced words whether in the boardrooms, product meetings, or with the press. Who can deny how Apple products are perceived today?

When a company says what it wants, it does risk flak. But it’s this risk that pays off. Don’t you think?

]]> Comment on In Your Marketing, To Thine Own Self Be True by Ruth - The Freelance Writing Blog http://www.kayross.com/blog/2012/01/05/in-your-marketing-to-thine-own-self-be-true/comment-page-1/#comment-12541 Ruth - The Freelance Writing Blog Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:25:17 +0000 http://www.kayross.com/blog/?p=1827#comment-12541 Hmmmm....this is a controversial topic Kay. I would certainly never suggest that a marketing professional should twist themselves into a pretzel and compromise their own values and opinions to satisfy a client. However, I don't think (as bloggers in particular) that we solicit enough feedback and insight from our stakeholders to get it right. I might be selling a widget that I think is fabulous and wonderful and effective. But if I don't put my prospective clients' needs ahead of my own opinions about the widget, I might be selling something that nobody wants! Content is king, right? WRONG! Conversation is king. These days, it needs to be a RECIPROCAL discussion that melds the interests and needs of the stakeholder with the expertise of the service provider. Engagement should be the starting point, in my opinion. Hmmmm….this is a controversial topic Kay. I would certainly never suggest that a marketing professional should twist themselves into a pretzel and compromise their own values and opinions to satisfy a client.

However, I don’t think (as bloggers in particular) that we solicit enough feedback and insight from our stakeholders to get it right. I might be selling a widget that I think is fabulous and wonderful and effective. But if I don’t put my prospective clients’ needs ahead of my own opinions about the widget, I might be selling something that nobody wants!

Content is king, right? WRONG! Conversation is king. These days, it needs to be a RECIPROCAL discussion that melds the interests and needs of the stakeholder with the expertise of the service provider. Engagement should be the starting point, in my opinion.

]]> Comment on In Your Marketing, To Thine Own Self Be True by kay http://www.kayross.com/blog/2012/01/05/in-your-marketing-to-thine-own-self-be-true/comment-page-1/#comment-12538 kay Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:55:29 +0000 http://www.kayross.com/blog/?p=1827#comment-12538 You're welcome, Mirek! Yes, your business and your message need to be consistent with your beliefs/values. If those change, say so clearly in your blog and on your website. I also think it's helpful to put a date on every blog post (or at least in the URL), so that people know if a post is rather old. You’re welcome, Mirek! Yes, your business and your message need to be consistent with your beliefs/values. If those change, say so clearly in your blog and on your website. I also think it’s helpful to put a date on every blog post (or at least in the URL), so that people know if a post is rather old.

]]> Comment on In Your Marketing, To Thine Own Self Be True by Mirek http://www.kayross.com/blog/2012/01/05/in-your-marketing-to-thine-own-self-be-true/comment-page-1/#comment-12537 Mirek Sun, 08 Jan 2012 16:34:52 +0000 http://www.kayross.com/blog/?p=1827#comment-12537 Hello Kay! Thank you very much for an insightful essay on my question :) It is best if your business and your message is congruent with your beliefs. But sometimes beliefs change, your consciousness shifts - and you're not convenient with your old business anymore. But you realize, that no-one knows except you :) Your blog posts still get visitors and your polished sales pitch on your website turns them into customers lured by your once-true-beliefs. And what then? :) Hello Kay!

Thank you very much for an insightful essay on my question :)

It is best if your business and your message is congruent with your beliefs. But sometimes beliefs change, your consciousness shifts - and you’re not convenient with your old business anymore.

But you realize, that no-one knows except you :) Your blog posts still get visitors and your polished sales pitch on your website turns them into customers lured by your once-true-beliefs.

And what then? :)

]]> Comment on In Your Marketing, To Thine Own Self Be True by kay http://www.kayross.com/blog/2012/01/05/in-your-marketing-to-thine-own-self-be-true/comment-page-1/#comment-12534 kay Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:05:26 +0000 http://www.kayross.com/blog/?p=1827#comment-12534 Thanks Mark for your thoughtful and helpful reply! You’re absolutely right: the way the staff treat you is a good indicator of a company’s values, and a huge determinant of whether or not you want to do business with them. Thanks Mark for your thoughtful and helpful reply! You’re absolutely right: the way the staff treat you is a good indicator of a company’s values, and a huge determinant of whether or not you want to do business with them.

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