Safeguarding the brand you've built

[Natasha McClymont] 'A brand is built in a lifetime, and crushed in an instant.' So goes the paraphrasing of the famous quote by businessman extraordinaire, Warren Buffet. This year alone has witnessed several brands losing their credibility in the eyes of supporters and customers. 21 May 2013 06:23

NATIVE

The power of true consumer insight

[Issued by NATIVE] Companies will need to start designing brands from the outside in by creating experiences built around a real relationship and bond with their customers. So says, Jacqui Maroun, head of user experience design at leading digital agency, NATIVE. "At the core of this relationship lies profound insight into the heart and mind of the customer. Brands will need to understand their motivations, their pain points and their values," she says. 20 May 2013 10:57

How to deal with delays, kill queues

[Aki Kalliatakis] The single most-cited source of frustration for customers is delays and long queues. Your company needs to take this seriously because when customers are kept waiting patience turns to frustration very quickly - and they then start looking for other things that have gone wrong. 16 May 2013 07:10

Bizcommunity.com

How to contribute to Bizcommunity, from op-ed pieces to news

[Issued by Bizcommunity.com] Bizcommunity.com has now expanded its operations into 16 new sectors and will soon venture into another 17, providing a whole new range of target audiences for advertisers. The most critical aspect of this is the quality of content and this is a formal invitation to you to become a recognised contributor on Bizcommunity. 3 Oct 2011 14:57

Let customers app into your CRM

[Yaron Assabi] While over the years the main objective of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) - customer retention - hasn't changed, it must be said that the strategic implementation and platforms certainly continue to evolve, as they should, and today mobility is driving this evolution. 23 May 2013 07:20

Get familiar with the Ombud process

Consumers who feel that they have experienced poor service, bad quality products and broken promises, can feel safe and empowered in the knowledge that if anything goes wrong, there is an Ombudsman ready to hear their case and resolve disputes. 2 May 2013 07:22

Bizcommunity.com

[2013 trends] Pdf of 2013 Biz Trends Report now available

[Issued by Bizcommunity.com] Finally, what you've all been waiting for! Bizcommunity.com's 2013 Biz Trends Report is now available for downloading in pdf format - and this year we've improved the quality for a better tablet experience! 13 Feb 2013 14:33

Is a legal loophole opening for comparative advertising?

[Chris Moerdyk: @chrismoerdyk] The new Consumer Protection Act (CPA) seems to be in direct conflict with South Africa's ban on comparative advertising. According to the act, the consumer has a right to information about products and services, namely, "consumers must be provided with the facts needed to make informed choices." 4 Apr 2011 11:12

[2013 trends] Out-of-the-box branding

[HKLM Exco Team] No, the concepts of "tribalism", "gamification" and "engagement" aren't a promo for the latest computer game, but are in fact the trends that will characterise the way companies and consumers interact in 2013. 31 Jan 2013 12:33

[2013 trends] SA's youth trend-o-meter

[HDI Youth Marketeers Team] Young South Africa is savvier than ever before. If you are looking for a smart and discerning prosumer, this group of kids, teens and young adults will give you more kicks than you've ever bargained for. They know just what they are looking for from any brand, and this makes them that much more satisfying to please. Here are a few trends to look out for in 2013. 31 Jan 2013 11:30

The Consumer Protection Act: best you understand it.

[Gillian Rightford] Hey, so I know we all talk about how important the consumer is in the business of creating advertising. But if you are an advertising/communication practitioners, have you taken the time to study this legislation, the new Consumer Protection Act, which goes live in April 2010? 16 Mar 2010 11:23

Maximizer Software

Maximizer assists CCI Technology Solutions with CRM for boosting efficiency

[Issued by Maximizer Software] Customer Relationship Management specialist Maximizer Software has unveiled a new case study outlining how CCI Technology Solutions, one of South Africa's foremost IT infrastructure companies, has used its CRM platform to play a leading role in efforts to wire businesses in key sectors throughout the country for the global digital marketplace. 15 Apr 2013 12:51

Belief + behaviour = trust

[Wayne Harrison] The process we follow when dating and sussing out a potential partner is quite similar to how we decide which brands understand us, suit our lifestyle and could be compatible in the long term. This process can be broken into four stages: flirting, dating, commitment, and sharing. 10 May 2013 12:02