The heart of any business is the connection you have with other businesses and individuals you can call on to help meet your needs. Networking, any activity designed to create, maintain, and use interpersonal connections, is an essential business skill. But not all entrepreneurs take the time to truly master it. However, without a solid understanding of how to network effectively and efficiently, no business can establish the vital connections it needs to survive and thrive in today’s super-connected economy. Here are some tips you can use to increase the success of your network and your business.

Go with a goal. One of the first and most common mistakes people make when entering a networking situation (planned or not) is not having a firm goal in mind. Are you looking to acquire new prospects, meet colleagues for potential collaborations, create a mutual referral association, build name recognition for you and your business, find financing, or simply “shop” for exciting news and trends you can use? If you haven’t taken the time to figure out what your goals are for the next few games, you’ll have a hard time meeting them.

Of course, most businesses have a number of different needs, but in many cases any networking opportunity is unlikely to deliver more than one or two types of results, depending on the situation at hand. For example, if you attend an event comprised primarily of other people in your industry or trade, it’s unlikely you’ll meet prospects, as they’ll all be vendors like you, and you’re also unlikely to find referral partners, as nearly all of them will. . be a direct competitor. So if your primary needs are clients and referrals, such events, while not a waste of time, might not be their best use. On the other hand, if you are desperately looking for a partner to expand or are looking for the latest and greatest technology in the field to offer to your customer base, then you are definitely in the right place.

Honest your message. When someone asks what you do, can you clearly and concisely articulate not only your business but also the benefit to them? How about your 15-second “elevator pitch” or intro: is it crisp, direct, and compelling, or do people’s eyes glaze over before you get to the end? This is not the time to give a dry and deadly boring job description. Save that for your resume. When someone asks about you and your business, you are giving them a golden, but brief, opportunity to blow their minds and persuade them that you are the best thing that has happened to them since sliced ​​bread. Make sure you do.

Important: leave your sales pitch at home! Networking is networking, and sales is sales. Confuse the two and you will lose on both. No one wants to be sold to, especially when you’re clearly not in a sales environment. And remember that anyone trying to work a networking event under the “three-foot rule” (anyone within three feet is an opportunity to make a sale) is likely to find others unwilling to approach it. within three feet of them in a very short period. of time.

Check your team. Make sure you have everything you need to make a good impression. Are your business cards or other brochures up to date and as professional looking as possible? If it’s a planned event, do you know who’s coming and have you isolated a few people you definitely want to make sure you meet, or are you going blind and resigned to improvising?

And don’t forget to check the time, date and location. Nothing is more irritating than showing up only to find out you’re too early, too late, or can’t find a parking space less than a quarter mile away.

Educate your audience. Are you looking for a collaborative partner for a project? Then make sure everyone knows what the project is and what kind of partner you’re looking for (and the general parameters of the partnership they’ll be investing their time in). If you’re looking for referrals, do your potential referral sources know what constitutes a good referral for you? It is a waste of time and a drain on your referrer’s goodwill and reputation if you reject or do a poor job for everyone who refers to you because the referrals were inappropriate. Similarly, a well-educated referral source might end up sending you fewer referrals, but they are much more likely to be quality leads that have a high probability of becoming solid customers.

On the other hand, if you are prospecting directly, do your prospects know that you are the answer to their prayers and why? Remember that all prospects are tuned in to WII-FM – What’s In It For Me – and unless you make sure they know why they should consider working with you, they won’t.

Go ahead. The most important part of networking happens after the initial contact. The best impression, the most agile laser marketing message, and the deepest desire to work together will vanish if they don’t hear from you in a timely manner, or worse, never hear from you. No matter who said what about calling whom, always follow up quickly and in a way designed to strengthen the relationship and add value for the other person.

A simple follow-up email may be fine for old contacts touching base, but for a new contact who may provide you with crucial financing or top referrals, or an attractive prospect eager to clear your warehouse of your prime merchandise, your marketing needs follow-through have all the finesse, power and grace of a figure skater’s best jump, and all the gripping power of a solid landing.

There are three keys to effective follow-up:

• Reinforce the original intention of the contact. Refer back to your original conversation, restating any key points and reaffirming any agreements that were made or implied. Fulfill any promises you’ve made to deliver information, provide samples, start a meeting, submit an application, whatever, before the follow-up call, unless time constraints or lead times make it impossible.
• It carries the scent of enthusiasm without the stench of despair. Follow up as promptly and regularly or as often as circumstances warrant, but don’t become a stalker or pest. And if you can find a way to add value to the relationship through your skills, influence, position, or connections, by all means offer to do so, but don’t cross the line from generous partner to sycophantic. And if the other person makes it clear that they are not interested, move on. “Kicking and screaming” is not an acceptable level of net participation, and neither is “punched into submission.”
• Includes the seeds for the next contact. Don’t get sucked into the dead end of tracking. Unless it is clear that an additional relationship is not warranted or desired, make sure there is some agreement on the next step or arrangement to continue the conversation. Make that phone call and, in the end, schedule a lunch date in a few weeks. At lunch, offer to send an important report or offer to broker a desirable presentation to someone higher up the food chain, and so on. Make sure you never leave the table without an invitation to return to your seat at a later date.

Like a good golf swing or a dazzling presentation, effective networking boils down to three essential stages of activity: preparation, delivery, and follow-up. And like an electrical circuit with a short or an interruption, a failure at any of these points stops the flow of connective energy that gives life: the healthy and continuously renewed cycle that your business requires to maintain a strong and stable growth potential. . resilience and success.

Mastering the art of effective networking, like any other business activity, requires time, dedication, and attention. But in the end, the dividends it pays are well worth the time it took to grow them. Take the time to master these five tips and you will be amply rewarded with the wonderful fruits of your networking.

Why is it important to support the arts in your community? Looking at the big picture, does it make a difference if you attend a community theater production?

The answer is yes. Whether semi-professional or completely amateur, community theater contributes, not only to the arts, but to their community as a whole.

First, community theater allows aspiring actors and lifelong theatergoers to come together and hone their craft. Create a sense of accomplishment and build a community spirit as the cast and crew work toward a common goal. Whether performers intend to fly to an audition in New York City after the curtain falls, or simply plan to return home to their families and day jobs, a community theater production provides its cast and team a second family, a support system, and a strong sense of pride in their contribution to the arts in their community.

But a local production doesn’t just give back to those on stage, it also gives the community a chance to come together to celebrate creativity and teamwork. This side of theater is too often dismissed when discussing its advantages in a community setting. The role of the audience is as important, if not more so, than that of the actor. Getting together to see a local production is an exciting experience, whether the performance is fantastic or a dud. Maybe a local production of a musical is the first time a future Oscar winner has experienced live theater, or maybe it’s the setting for a romantic evening that leads to a lasting relationship. You might make a new friend, discover a new interest, or just find a new set of tunes to sing in the car.

Aside from the social aspect, theater can be educational while still being entertaining. For example, a local production of Shakespeare allows high school students to view the Bard’s work, rather than simply reading it in the classroom. Many plays and musicals deal with important historical events; they might pique the writer’s interest in you or liven up a research project for a class, especially if they highlight an aspect of a particular era that isn’t usually focused on.

Community theater is a place of new discoveries and lifelong learning. It can open your eyes to a new hobby, a new relationship, or a new path in life. It contributes to the arts in a community, as well as teaching many important skills, such as teamwork, problem solving, and confidence in public speaking. It strengthens the cultural environment of a community, provides catharsis for its participants and viewers, and is a safe place for people of all ages, cultures, and experiences to come together and work towards a common goal.

Support the arts in your community by visiting your local theater!

Create the most effective social media marketing plan

There is a vast sea of ​​social media information out there. Experts are everywhere and there are so many opinions on best practices and tactics.

Not only that, but the platforms themselves are constantly changing, whether it’s adding new features, increasing character limits, or changing the rules.

That’s why I’ve created this guide to help you understand how to set social media goals for 2020. This article is especially good for you if you’ve never taken stock of your marketing campaigns or created goals.

Throughout this process, it is very important to be honest about your successes and failures. It’s okay to admit that some of what you’ve done has been a wasted effort, which is why we’re here.

Here is my 3-step process for setting social media goals for 2020:

1. Review your reports

Keeping reports is a must if you want to properly assess the effectiveness and efficiency of what you’ve spent time sharing online. There are many ways to set up a report, but if you need direction and inspiration, Smartsheet has a free social media report template to get you started.

You need to learn to look beyond the number of impressions and understand how your content is actually performing. Do people like it, share it, comment on it?

Pay close attention to metrics like engagement – ​​this valuable information is like your prospects telling you what they liked or didn’t like. So keep that in mind when planning 2020 content.

For example, I make an effort to share valuable content every day on our Twitter account.

From Twitter to Facebook, each platform offers free analytics on profile performance, so use it!

This free report helps you see what you’ve shared that worked well and what didn’t. Look for topics that visitors and followers have consistently been interested in and share more of that content in the future.

If you’re up for the challenge, you can do some paid promotion for your business. Remember, you can always contact us and let us handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on running your business.

We are constantly on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram. And we stay on top of the latest trends and tips and love analyzing reports and statistics!

2. Study your analytics

Yes, you want to look forward, but you also need to look back. You can share content from left to right, but unless you’re directing visitors to your website, you’re not serving your purpose. You want to drive people to your site, where they will hopefully engage more and buy a product or service from you.

Google Analytics is a free tool provided by Google that is key to planning your social media in 2020. It shows you how your social media actions are driving traffic for your business, broken down into many relevant stats.

To view these results, navigate to your Acquisition for Social section, then click Network Referrals. You can select the previous year as the date range. You should then be able to see how many people have clicked on your posts and subsequently landed on your website.

Read 5 Social Media Marketing Tips for 2020

Is social media marketing no longer working for you?

Wondering what you should change to get better results?

In our Tea Time Tip: Marketing for Busy Entrepreneurs, I share 5 valuable tips so you can learn what works, what doesn’t, and what you need to focus on more. Read more on our website.

3. Set your goals

The first two steps should give you an idea of ​​where you are, and now it’s time to create your plan. You have a great idea of ​​what kind of content worked, what platforms your target audience is on, and where you should focus your efforts in the coming year.

Other things you need to do to reach your goals:

• Track the growth of your followers month by month. If you’re not gaining new followers throughout the year, you need to see why that is.
• Keep an eye on the seasons when your content is most popular on a particular platform. For example, Pinterest trends show higher usage in the summer and around Christmas, with big drops in spring and fall.
• Only share content that has value. You want to sell without scaring people away. You also want to give people non-sales resources like blogs, inspirational quotes, events, whatever makes sense for your brand and audience.

For example, I share articles, events and news on our company’s LinkedIn account.

The biggest mistake you can make is allowing your marketing campaigns to become a chore, rather than a positive part of your business. When you’re having fun, you’ll find that you share more engaging and interactive content.

As you set your goals for conquering social media in 2020, keep in mind that you may not reach all of them. That is not a failure! As long as you’re prepared with a solid social media marketing plan and what you share is authentic and honest, then you’ll be doing a great job!

What would the world be without sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter? Social networking websites have changed communication trends for the benefit of all mankind. The effects are undeniable.

The same is true for mobile phones. The latest smartphones can do amazing things. Whether you’re a fan of the iPhone or Android Market devices like Google’s G2 smartphone for T-Mobile, the Droid X, or the HTC EVO 4G, there are a wide variety of mobile apps available to make life easier.

Android Market offers many social networking applications for users of the operating system, as does the Apple Store for iPhone fans. How popular are these kinds of apps?

Most smartphones now come with built-in social media apps

In addition to those that are available for free or for sale, some smartphones offer these applications out of the box. This is in response to overwhelming demand, and that fact is a clear statement about the popularity of social networking apps.

These proprietary apps aren’t the only ones people use. Each app has a different set of features and people may use more than one to achieve different purposes. For example, you might want to post status updates using Facebook for iPhone. However, the Facebook chat functionality in Meebo can be tailored to your tastes. It’s not uncommon for someone to use more than one social media app in this way.

Where market shares overlap

Millions of people use social networking websites to keep in touch with friends, family, and co-workers. Furthermore, millions also use iPhone and Android devices. Where these demographics overlap, you’ll find a strong community sharing their lives on the go through social media apps.

With each passing day, more consumers are beginning to understand the value of the smartphone experience. In fact, you could say that it is a lifestyle. Retail stores and cell phone companies are even offering free iPhone and Android devices with a new mobile plan, so even the poorest among us will soon join the smartphone revolution.

For software developers, social networking applications can be a great opportunity to earn money. Although many companies already offer these types of mobile applications, there is always room for more that offer new and innovative features. All that said, a massive and growing number of people are sharing statuses and links, sending messages, and performing other functions using social networking applications. There are many available for free and for a small download fee, and they are immensely popular.

If you have children, you may want to consider buying a Lego table. In fact, Lego tables are on the list of the best tables in the here and now. Here are some tips that can help you get your hands on the best table.

Brand

Reputation-wise, Lego is among the best brands today. The fact is that most households have at least one Lego product. And Lego bricks are one of them. Children can build everything with them.

If you get a table and a box of Lego bricks, you can keep your kids busy for hours. Of course, there are other products that can serve the same purpose, but nothing beats a Lego product. The good thing is that these products are also educational.

Why should you bet on Lego?

The brand has many advantages. Help kids improve their problem solving skills. Apart from this, it helps children improve their hand-eye coordination and spatial skills. According to experts, bricks and blocks play an important role in helping a child to be more creative. Studies show that children who are good at playing with blocks tend to have better math skills. Apart from this, these products help children to improve their social and cooperation skills.

Tips for choosing a table

safety and durability

When buying a Lego table, safety should be your main consideration. In fact, you have to make sure that the product is painted with a non-toxic paint. Other than this, the table should be sturdy and its edges should be blunt so that your kids don’t get hurt. It is also important that the table has the right height. It should not be too high.

Design

The design of the table is also very important. It is a good idea to opt for a colorful table. Since most of the products of this brand are colorful, you do not have to worry about this factor. However, if you like a solid color, you should let them know and they will get you one.

Cleaning

You will need to clean the table regularly. If possible, you may want to get a waterproof table. This will make it easier for you to easily wipe liquids off the table top.

Take a look at the reviews

Before you put your hands on a table, don’t forget to read reviews on review websites. This will help you decide the type of table that suits you best. In fact, it is recommended to read reviews no matter what you want to buy on the Internet.

So if you have been looking to buy a table for your children, we suggest you take a look at Lego tables. With the features they offer, it will not be a good idea to opt for a table from another brand. Hopefully the product will work well for you and you won’t regret your decision.

9 seconds

That’s the average attention span of a goldfish.

The attention span of a consumer today is less than that.

Turns out, a new 2015 Microsoft Corp. study revealed that our attention span impairment is now an all-time low of 8 seconds. This is one second less than the average goldfish. That’s how it is! A goldfish has an attention span of 9 seconds, 1 second longer than you and me.

In theory, this means that we actually have a better chance of interacting with a goldfish than we do with visitors from the human species.

Of all the movies about animal species trying to outdo humanity, none considered the goldfish. Goldfish is planning to take over the world, surpassing us with his superior attention span.

As a result, your business has 8 real seconds in a customer.

That’s 8 seconds of full concentration and processing power before your brain moves on to the next task. Unless you’re in the business of making fish food, your audience isn’t made up of cute little goldfish.

Today, attention has become a rare commodity for businesses, especially among Millennials. When people have such short attention spans, getting their attention is a challenge. There are plenty of other fish in the sea, like a constant stream of ads and conversations in the form of emojis. It is very easy for your message to be washed out to sea.

East “gold fish effectaffects every business decision being made today and one yet to be made. So how can you appeal to consumers? Relax, marketing to attention-getting “goldfish” is relatively easy!

Time to go fishing: Here are three tips for baiting your hook and attracting an engaged audience:

1. Tell a story – Nothing draws the viewer’s attention more than seeing something out of the ordinary. Make the “hook” of your story unique and people will pay attention to it. Create ads that induce an emotion.
2. be smart – When you write content for a website or a flyer, you want to grab people’s attention quickly. You want to spark curiosity and keep them interested in those first few seconds. This is where you really let the creativity bubble to the top and come up with something that will engage your audience and get them to your CTA quickly. Which brings us to…
3. keep it short – Very short. The less familiar the viewer is with your brand, the lower their attention span will be. Will your product or service help them? Talk to it. If you can’t quickly answer that simple question…they’re gone. (Tip: Animated GIFs can grab attention, without the viewer thinking it’s taking too long.)

It’s okay if some consumers slip off your hook and swim away. It’s natural. Not all consumers will be interested in what you are trying to say or offer. However, visitors who are interested will stay engaged and entertained until they decide to stay in your pond.

Now you can congratulate yourself for concentrating enough to finish this article.

As a beginner skateboarder, you can go to a department store and buy the first cheap skateboard you see, but there’s a good chance you won’t enjoy it as much as you could. The wheels don’t turn right, the trucks are horrible. That will not be a good start.

To get off to a good start and enjoy skating right from the start, buy a good quality board. This does not mean that you have to buy the most expensive skateboard out there, no, there is a half way. Skateboards between $50 and $100 are good for beginners and will have well-made wheels and trucks and can turn easily.

wheel size:

54-56mm is the normal wheel size for street skaters. If you’re just looking for a cruiser skateboard, you might want to consider 58mm or larger wheels. The larger the wheels, the smoother the ride and the less likely you are to feel rocks or cracks.

Aspects:

The bearings are the small rings that go inside the wheels. This makes your wheel spin. The bearings come in Abec3, Abec5 and Abec7 and Abec9. ABEC stands for Annular Bearing Engineers’ Committee and is the American method for classifying accuracy and tolerance. The higher the ABEC rating, the more accurate and precise the bearing will be. Most skateboards have Abec5 or Abec7 bearings.

board size:

Children can ride a skateboard called a “mini” skateboard. These are typically skateboards 7.5″ wide or less. Skateboards are measured primarily by width and not length. Most skateboards are between 28″ and 32″ long.

Platform:

The skateboard deck is usually made of hard rock maple and has 7 layers of wood. The higher the ply, the heavier the board. 7 layers is perfect for beginners. When you are a beginner and need to choose a skateboard, it is best to buy a complete skateboard. There are plenty of boards out there, but then you need to know what to get to make a complete skateboard: bearings, grip tape, trucks, and wheels. That could be too overwhelming. Many stores have already chosen a good combination (setup) for you to make it easy. When you know your skateboard and want to upgrade it, it’s much easier to choose different wheels and trucks right then and there.

Some gear tips before you start or look for a new skateboard:

*Bearings: look for abec5 – nominal

*Board: opt for a platform of more than 7 layers

*Kid boards: choose 7.25″ – 7.5″ or smaller

*Smoother ride: choose soft and big wheels

*Trick board – choose harder and smaller wheels

*Always wear a helmet and safety equipment

Pick your board, go shred and have fun!

Every year, Apple reveals the latest version of iOS at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Apple has scheduled its WWDC 2017 in June. The company is expected to introduce iOS 11 at its upcoming annual developer conference. But many bloggers, app developers and market analysts have already started speculating about the changes that Apple would include in the next version of its mobile operating systems. Based on news and blogs posted on various websites, developers can gather information about the rumored features of iOS 11. Each news or blog describes in more detail the rumored features of iOS 10 based on information collected from various sources.

7 rumored Apple features may be included in iOS 11

1) iCloud Voicemail

iCloud Voicemail is currently in beta. But Apple is expected to include iCloud Voicemail officially in iOS 10. The feature aims to bridge the gap between emails and voice messages. Users can take advantage of iCloud Voicemail to send and receive voice messages more efficiently. At the same time, the feature will allow them to read the transcribed message at the touch of a button. Therefore, users can now receive messages without reading their voice messages.

two) Improved map application

The next version of iOS may come with an updated and redesigned Maps app. Apple uses a fleet of drones to make the redesigned Maps app deliver more relevant directions and information to users. It further enhances the map service dramatically by using the inland navigation features. Apple’s team will collect a variety of information — whether a road is under construction, changes made to a road, and traffic signs — quickly and efficiently based on information collected through drones. In addition, they will include the updated information in the Maps application on an ongoing basis to provide more relevant and up-to-date information to users.

3) New video sharing app

Apple can make it easier for users to share videos by including a new social media app in iOS 10. The social media app will help Apple compete with popular social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. In addition to allowing users to record and edit videos, the new video sharing app will also allow users to apply filters and drawings to the video clip. Users will have the option to share the video clips with their friends through popular social networks. Apple has also included a number of advanced features in the video sharing app to allow users to record, edit and share video clips in less than a minute.

4) dark mode

Apple has already included dark mode in iOS 10. But users do not have the option to enable dark mode while using iOS 10. iOS 11 will allow users to enable dark mode on their iPhones or iPads just like Apple TV.

5) Siri with natural-sounding voice

Every new version of iOS comes with an improved Siri. The updated version of Siri helps users to perform specific tasks and collect relevant information through voice commands. iOS 11 is expected to come with an updated Siri that sounds more natural. Therefore, users will feel like interacting with human beings while using the updated version of Siri. Users can take advantage of the feature to switch between light background and dark background seamlessly.

6) Option to check the availability of contacts

According to a patent application filed by Apple, many analysts believe that iOS 11 will allow users to check if a contact is available or not. The feature will further help the user to identify the current location of a contact and the operational status of their device. Apple can further simplify the process of checking a contact’s availability by incorporating these details into the Contacts app.

7) Group Facetime calls

Currently, Facetime supports one-on-one video calls. Therefore, users frequently use third-party apps like Skype and Facebook Messenger to set up group video chats. Apple is expected to release iOS 11 with an improved version of Facetime that will allow users to make group video calls. The updated version of Facetime can allow users to make calls to five users simultaneously. But users will still have the option to share their screens with other users.

Many analysts believe that iOS 11 will make around 8% of apps in Apple’s App Store obsolete. Since the next version of iOS will be available only for devices with 64-bit processors and software, more than 200,000 apps will soon be outdated. Therefore, iOS app developers have to rewrite and update a lot of apps to be relevant and take advantage of new features provided by iOS 11. However, developers can confirm rumored features only after Apple introduces iOS at its WWDC in Jun.

The concept of co-branding as a branding tool has been around for many years. In the last decade, we saw a huge growth in the use of co-branding as a brand leverage tool.

A study by Johan Schwartz investigated brand professionals’ perceptions of co-branding within the South African retail industry. This study found that retail brand managers perceive co-branding as an effective and viable branding strategy.

Academic authors suggest that co-branding occurs when two or more existing brands are combined into a new joint product or marketed together in the same way.

Co-branding also involves two or more companies bringing their brands together to create superior market offerings or to engage in an effective strategic or tactical branding program. The long-standing brand relationship between Wimpy and Engen is a classic example of joint venture co-branding. Other examples of brand connections and the creation of unique (or new) products or services include: McDonalds and Coca-Cola, McDonalds and Disney, Shoprite and Computicket, KFC and Cadburys, House of Coffees, and Russell Hobbs.

In recent years, the use of co-branding as a brand strategy has been highlighted. National retailers and financial institutions were at the forefront of expanding this brand leverage strategy. Nedbank’s Pick n Pay and Go Banking were one of the first well-connected co-branded companies.

Other retailers and financial institutions followed suit and a wide range of cross-industry co-branded products were created. Examples of this cross-industry co-branding include, but are not limited to: Tiger Wheel & Tire and Hollard Insurance (tire insurance), Shoprite and Capitech Bank (money transfers), Edcon and FNB (mortgage loans), Pep Stores and Nedbank ( Pep Bank), Woolworths and Auto & General (Auto & Home Insurance). In this research, 112 retail brand professionals were contacted and their perception of co-branding strategies was measured through a structured survey (questionnaire).

The result indicated that managers perceive that retail brand as an important and effective brand leverage strategy. Brand managers indicated that for a co-branded company to be effective, the company must be a mutually beneficial company and synergy must be created between the brands. The potential for branding and sales enhancement, as well as the financial viability of the venture, are also taken into account when evaluating proposed co-branded ventures.

First, the study investigated the reasons brand managers pursue co-branding strategies. Second, the study investigated preferred forms of co-branding. The study also examined brand managers’ top considerations when choosing a co-brand partner. Finally, the study investigated the sectors with which retail brand managers prefer to share the brand.

First, the research found that upselling is the primary reason retail brand professionals pursue co-branding strategies. Second, the research found that brand image enhancement is seen as a less important reason to pursue co-branding strategies.

The research also found that reaching new market segments is another good reason for brand professionals to pursue co-branding. Brand extension through a shared new product or service offering is considered another appropriate reason for brand sharing.

Brand managers indicated that joint marketing co-branding was perceived as the preferred form of co-branding. Value promotion and reach recognition co-brand were considered the second and third most preferred co-brands. Research indicates that the potential for upselling is the most important consideration when evaluating a potential co-brand partner.

The study also found that retailers consider the fit between the two brands to be an important consideration when evaluating potential co-branding partners/ventures. The research results also found that companies in the FMCG sector are the preferred sector for brand sharing.

The results suggest that brand managers were not in full agreement and imply that when it comes to co-branding, retailers do not have a particular preference towards sectors. In evaluating potential co-branding ventures, it appears that retail brand managers place more emphasis on the potential to improve sales and branding than on the industry with which they co-brand.

It seems obvious that South African retail brand managers see co-branding as an effective and viable brand influence tool. Certain conditions and considerations were identified in this study. Perceived fit between brands is considered an important consideration when marketing managers evaluate potential co-branding (and partner) strategies.

Second, managers aim to improve their sales and reach a new or larger market segment when pursuing co-branding strategies. Third, the study found that co-marketing co-branding was seen as the preferred form of co-branding, and retailers also indicated that FMCG companies were seen as the preferred co-branding sector.

In the business world, marketing is essential. However, in our new digital age, traditional marketing is becoming more and more ineffective and a new way of marketing is emerging. Due to its many advantages, social media marketing has become an almost essential part of any company’s attempt to establish a strong foothold in today’s competitive marketplace. When considering the pros and cons of different marketing methods, think about all the time and money traditionally spent marketing your products or services, and compare that to what it now costs to market your business on social sites.

Originally, companies paid out of pocket for advertisements on television, billboards or newspapers. Eventually, these strategies got to the point where they weren’t profitable in the slightest. Of all ad viewers, only one to two percent contacted the dealer and became interested in their product. Why was this? One of the most interesting benefits of social media marketing is that when watching TV, ads often irritate and interrupt viewers, resulting in most of them not being interested in the advertised product. With social media, the target audience not only sees the ad, but also participates in it.

Engagement is a key advantage of social media marketing. Online, people willingly participate in activities and blogs that market your business for you. When customers engage with your business or company, they not only care about your products, but they also care about your business. Social engagement with customers often leads to increased clientele and customer satisfaction.

Another advantage that comes with social media marketing is that advertising online with sites like Facebook is one hundred percent free. You no longer have to rent a billboard or airtime on TV or radio. You don’t have to pay for ink and paper and distribute brochures about your business. You can do it all electronically and be much more productive. Almost every human being, at least in the United States, has heard of Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. Most of them have profiles. By marketing your business online, a whole new world of advertising opens up.

With all these advantages, a business can hardly survive in our world without internet marketing. The best thing about it, though, is that it’s affordable, effective, and can work for anyone. Any business, no matter how small, can be marketed online effectively.