Monthly Archives: December 2010

Live music sales in the recession

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Has the recession affected the sale of live music? Are ticket sales down? There are mixed messages in this good BBC article and with comments from Phil Collins, Paloma Faith, Mick Jones, Mark King, Rick Parfitt and Midge Ure there are some interesting quotes.

The article lacks any real conclusion and there is no real data. The thing of note to me is how similar the marketing of live music is to the marketing of other consumer products.

Read the full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11981982

Broken promotions

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It’s always dangerous spotting broken links in promotions as I just know someone will highlight one of my mistakes. That said, to enter a promotion, be told you’ve not won, and then get a special offer…well that’s great isn’t it? Well it would be if I could see it.

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Unfortunatley you have not won the prize of the day this time, but you have won the deal of the day.

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Dear Cardholder Congratulations! You have won the DEAL OF THE DAY provided by Chicago. Click here for full offer details and guidance on how you can redeem.

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Does social media cut it for B2B sales & marketing?

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The current hot stories about B2B marketing and sales eminating from the US are about Facebook and its use in the mix. This may well be valid but I guess these messages are also being propogated by people with a vested tech/social media interest.

Andy Maslen on his blog reports that his successes are primarily all techniques and approaches that could have been executed in the 18th century. In ranking order of business success Andy reports this list:

  1. Referrals/word-of-mouth
  2. Attending conferences
  3. Running workshops
  4. Having coffee/lunch with prospect
  5. Speculative meetings
  6. Writing books
  7. Writing article
  8. Giving speeches
  9. Telephoning client
  10. E-newsletter
  11. Sending emails
  12. Direct mail
  13. Search
  14. Blog
  15. Twitter
  16. Facebook

So if you read this blog and visit Andy Maslen’s Sunfish site, do let him know a blog got you there icon smile Does social media cut it for B2B sales & marketing?

But in all seriousness, if your business is B2B and you want to develop sustainable relationships I would wholeheartedly recommend referrals/word-of-mouth, attending conferences, running workshops, having coffee/lunch with prospect and speculative meetings as ways to get those conversations started.

Marketing professionalism

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Now here is a subject to debate: is marketing a profession? David Pearson, a previous managing director of mine, says on his blog:

Some argue that Marketing is the oldest Profession because the ladies who traditionally claim that status must have their charms Marketed. I am not sure I am comfortable with equating Marketing with pimping. Marketing is not a Profession in the strict sense of the word.

The December issue of Management Today magazine is suggesting that there is always expenditure and now this is the role of business. They go on to say that Marketing should lead us out of our recession.

In his blog David Pearson goes on to argue: Marketing does not meet the historical standards of a Profession; Marketing does not meet the academic definitions of a Profession; Professionalism can be over-rated and stifle imagination and flair; and good Marketing is characterised by operating to high standards as is found in Professionalism.

Perhaps I’m being unfair: a bunch of amateurs is to solve our problems then? Blimey, that’s a wonderful distortion of things. My future in tabloid journalism looks secure.