Scotland’s Technology Show 2013 – a real opportunity for Scottish companies

Posted on February 26, 2013 by admin

If you are a Scottish company with a product/service that embraces a new technology across any sector, it would be worthwhile to exhibiting at this show.

Like all exhibitions, it allows you to meet your existing and potential customers on an equal footing at a time when they would like to be spoken with.

It allows you to create meetings and start business conversations in the Matchmaking zone.

If you need to meet international contacts perhaps through the GlobalScot network, you can do it at the SECC.

The costs are low, you get the feel for exhibiting and you can show off your product.

For more information on exhibitions, shows and events, contact jen@rfm.co.uk who will put you in contact with the right people.

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Ecobuild – a real exemplar!

Posted on February 24, 2013 by rfmblogadmin

 

Ecobuild is a Business to Business event in the world of sustainable design, construction and the built environment. We are off to work at Ecobuild at Excel London in a couple of weeks, hopefully cutting energy and getting plenty of visitors to the stand.

The organisers attracted 57,000 visitors last year from starting the exhibition only a few years ago, so someone has done a great marketing job.

The presentation of the business to business marketing campaign is truly brilliant. Twitter trending, LinkedIn, Facebook, PR, billboards, direct mail, web, a complete blend of online and offline to attract more and more visitors to this show concentrating on building products for tomorrows more energy saving buildings.

Good campaigns follow a pattern and a plan. Good campaigns are thought through in advance to encourage awareness and take up. Good campaigns grow the audience big time.

A real exemplar, Ecobuild show how to deliver key customers to the door of the hall. A powerful combination with RFM’s On Stand Exhibition Behaviour!

 

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Accessing customers, customers accessing you

Posted on February 22, 2013 by admin

In almost every business sector, the method of access to information on suppliers has changed. The web is the cornerstone of business development in nearly every sector, in both consumer and business to business.  In most consumer sectors, access is also required on mobile and tablet devices with different screen resolutions.  This is not yet mainstream in business to business sectors but this is likely to happen as the younger business buyer will see mobile as the obvious and only way to access information.  This has implications in offline and online communication formats.  The key question is – do you know the norm in your sector?  Or, do you want to be ahead of the pack?

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Does your Board understand marketing in depth and the value of it?

Posted on February 15, 2013 by rfmblogadmin

Have just come across a company with a fantastic product range, half of which is presented in stunning new packaging for the consumer shelves and retail space. The new packaging is working well for them and sales are increasing. It is now important for the rest of the product range to be transferred to the new pack design but there is 2 years supply of the old packaging in the warehouse.  A production based point of view would say “use up the old packaging, we have paid for it and we cannot afford to waste the investment.”

A marketing based viewpoint would say “if your objective is to grow your brand and sales for the future, your paying customers need to see the consistency of the brand on shelf with no room for confusion.”  I wonder if this Board really understands strategic marketing, customer choices and how customers today buy with their eyes.

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Amoy Food Van – Social Marketing for noodle fans

Posted on January 25, 2013 by rfmblogadmin

Amoy is travelling the country over the next few weeks in their ‘food van’ showing the British public just how easy it is to use their products in everyday cooking.  They are providing free samples, money off vouchers, a recipe book and a chance to taste the products.

In today’s environment, consumers have busy work and life schedules, and Amoy are focussed on promoting oriental cooking as a quick and easy means to eating, especially when using their products.

The launch coincides with the Chinese New Year and uses the hashtag #AmoyFoodVan to encourage people to tweet about the company.

The arrival of the van in Glasgow, prompted one excited Twitter user to post:

“#amoyfoodvan on Buchanan St, Glasgow.. smells fab!”

This well researched campaign, merges real world consumer behaviour, as many are enticed by free samples, which translates well onto social media.

The campaign drives up awareness of the company and its products but also pushes their offering out across the UK, building up pre-show hype on social media at a time when users are in the mood to participate.

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An interesting concept – Facebook launch ‘Social Search’

Posted on January 25, 2013 by rfmblogadmin

Mark Zuckerburg, the founder of Facebook announced the arrival of ‘Social search’ an alliance between Facebook and the Bing search engine.

What does this mean, and how does it affect us as consumers?

You can now search Facebook and type in specific queries that will return results taken directly from friends, photos, places and interests.

Imagine being on holiday, and you are looking for a restaurant, but can’t decide where to eat. This feature makes the decision making process much faster:

1. You search on your mobile for “Friends recommendations eat out in Las Vegas”

2. You see a series of updates from Facebook friends who have previously posted about Las Vegas restaurants.

3. Your friends have inadvertently provided a restaurant recommendation.

It’s early days for Social Search and people tend  to use Facebook to talk to friends, it may not replace the famous “Google-it” search. The jury is out on whether private images shared between family and friends should be so readily accessed by Facebook.

Facebook users need to pay close attention to privacy settings ensuring they mark personal photos to private.

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New Year, New marketing and selling skills

Posted on January 18, 2013 by rfmblogadmin

For companies looking to improve their skills, RFM marketing have a number of courses kicking off early in 2013. These short one day programmes in various locations in the UK and provide an opportunity for delegates to have a ‘day away’ from the office to really think through their marketing and sales issues and come away with a number of quick wins geared to increasing sales and increasing brand awareness.

The Spring programme will cover:
• Marketing and promoting a Speciality brand
• Sales and customer service /revenue generation
• How to sell at trade exhibitions – creative sector
• How to sell at trade exhibitions – tourism sector
• How to sell at trade exhibitions – life sciences sector
• How to sell at trade exhibitions – Food & Drink sector
• Telemarketing to build on-going business
• Dynamic sales – how to close effectively
• Channel management techniques – building a great supply chain

Revamped and updated for 2013, the programmes provide some strategic thinking and a host of practical tips and techniques. Russell Ferguson the main trainer is well known as a Chartered Marketer and delivers a series of very pertinent and relevant material.

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Getting in front of more customers is still always a good idea

Posted on January 18, 2013 by rfmblogadmin

It is always easy to talk about strategy, the hard bit is making it happen! Have come across quite a few companies recently who when we look at the analytics behind their sites, do not have their site fully optimised.

Result of this – they have a website which fewer people are seeing as it does not come up for the right search engine queries. This is a never ending task – tweaking, adjusting, changing, reviewing to get it right all and every time.

Search Engine Optimisation is a bit like any other function in your business – manufacturing, service finance, HR etc. As we say – getting in front of some new customers is always a good idea – not helped if your major sales tool is hidden!

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I didn’t know you did that…

Posted on January 11, 2013 by admin

Clients and customers are never fully aware of any company’s product range, so we thought it might be interesting to update on the range of marketing and sales services that we are providing. This conforms to the tabs on our website but gives more information on a selection of interesting recent projects.  We are always open to new projects and happy to think through innovative concepts.

2012/2013 Research projects included

  • Research into trends in museum visits – Scottish Government
  • Research into new technology app – London taxis
  • Consumer awareness, reaction – cosmetic product
  • Footfall research for major multiple organisation across various locations.
  • Key buyer customer insight into buying habits – food sector
  • Research into franchise markets – luxury goods
  • International research amongst key buyers in niche markets
  • Packaging research to assess shelf appeal of new product

 

2012 2013  Projects in  marketing, (online/offline) & sales plans/mentoring

  • Low cost marketing communication plans/mentoring sessions to build brands and enquiries – regional sausage manufacturer, salad dressing producer, regional bakery, sea salt, transport company, technology company, community cinema.
  • Thought process and architecture for company websites including ecommerce – quality food product, quality technology product, transport and distribution
  • Website/social audit for celebrity chef restaurant providing strategic recommendations

 

2012 – 2013 Projects in skill enhancement & training

  •  Customer service training – oil and gas, tourism, food and drink, cleaning services
  • Dynamic sales training – How to close high value negotiations
  • Telemarketing techniques for building ongoing business.
  • Manning your exhibition stand training – technology sector, food and drink , life sciences,
  • Marketing & Sales for Growth – Scottish Enterprise account managed companies
  • Professionalising Account Management – Scottish Enterprise

 

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Christmas shopping – only 3 days to go and Crabbies take the strain

Posted on December 21, 2012 by admin

In the RFM business, we often talk about the importance of understanding target markets at different buying times over the year.

Good to see that Crabbie’s Ginger Beer have opened up ‘safe havens’ for bored men when they are expected to go shopping. In a number of shopping centres they have created some branded garden sheds, packed with gadgets for men to play with and no doubt get a sample or voucher to taste the wonderful Crabbie’s product.   All of this is meant to alleviate the drudged task of being the carrier bag porter walking a few steps behind, just like Prince Philip!

In terms of creating memorable experiences, it sounds like a well thought through strategy hatched round the boardroom table as a strategic element in their marketing mix and suddenly getting the product noticed amongst new customers.

Crabbies Alcoholic Ginger Beer started life as a question market product and by a dint of promotional activity and a good, well packaged product, they have moved into the shooting star category. It won’t be long until they are a cash cow!!

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