#H&M and their Reputational Monkey

#H&M is the latest #brand in conflict with the public as a result of their unfortunate insensitive print campaign, which offended people the globe over.  So when will an apology be enough or acceptable?  Or is this the type of transgression, which should not even occur?  Their sales might not be directly or immediately affected, but this will remain a monkey on their #reputational back.  We have seen how junior employees are being blamed for the posting of similar nature, in the past.  How is it possible for to happen, when there are supposed to be proper approval processes in place?  Are we now compromising governance principles to ensure we first to market?  And, at what cost?

Being #Cool does not imply compromise....it also reflect badly on the industry and the specialist area of brand management and #communication!

Most talked about speech at the #2018GoldenGlobes by #Oprah

The most talked about speech at the #GoldenGlobes2018. Why, mainly, because, it articulated all the topical and burning issues associated with the current narratives facing the world today.  This was not an impromptu speech...well rehearsed and strategic planned to ensure effectiveness and to bring about meaningful change...it goes beyond the emotive element, it is intended to resonate with all the affected who can identify with the essence of its intent.  We all witnessed the end of an era and the renewed birth of hope, resilience, renewal, ownership, dignity, togetherness, equality, emancipation and Speaking the Truth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss6qQM054B0

Millennial #Brand considerations for 2018

Is your brand #millennial savvy? 

What are you doing differently without compromising the #essence of your #brand? 

Have your considered whether your approach, texture, frequency and method of engagement might be dated and not able to #resonate with this segment of the market?

Review your #corporate culture in as far as readiness, inclusiveness, flexibility, change management and agility to adapt.

Consumer and Employee #Loyalty-Retention Programmes will become even more #unconventional and same-old-same-old can result in market share loss.

Ensure Relevance, ongoing and engaged Relationships, and clearly defined Returns, Reliability of your offering, and Recognisability (edge) of your brand as #influence enablers.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to become more than a #reputation driver but integral to the essence of your brand as a #differentiator.

Consistency, Alignment and Clarity of all your interventions across all platforms, more importantly social media is pivotal.

#Customisation and personalisation will become game-changers for your product and service offering.

At least a 70% increase with your online presence to ensure highest degree of competitiveness and sustainability. Become the# trend - remain the trend.

Advancements of #BusinessPlans to be more liquid, whereby its cycle reduced, to six months and less...it’s all about agility, staying top of mind, ahead of the game and #relevance. 

Cities are already starting to compete to attract millennials, with #NewYork taking the lead! 

Remember value-add is not a buzz word, but a must for millennials...

Room for error and remedial action to address your brands unfavourable position will become even smaller...

#Collaboration, development and #design of offerings/solutions in conjunction with millennials will ensure unprecedented take-ups, support and endorsement of your brand.

#Bullying

It is with sadness that we have learned about the passing of a youngster at the hands of his fellow pupils at a local #school on the East Rand of Johannesburg.  His death is attributed to the unfortunate growth of #bullying at our schools. What role do #parents play when it comes to preventing, managing and minimising the impact of this act on other members of society?  Some parents are in denial and defensive when it is discussed with them as their child’s involvement with their conduct of bullying at school.  It is also possible that they themselves were and are still esteemed bullies.  Bad habits are hard to relinquish.   

#Cyber bullying is also on the increase, but perpetrators are no longer able to hide due to the advancements in technology.  Smart phone technology has provided a gate-way for cyber bullying including other forms of online channels.

As we know bullying is not restricted to youngsters.  #Corporate bullying has over the years also delivered undesirable outcomes, because it is not reported or well documented to ensure proper action.

In some #communities bullying was never addressed as an unacceptable behaviour treat.  This led to subconscious and unspoken acceptance as part of the norm and local culture.  Only recently have we witnessed more parents reporting, protecting and tacking action to minimise bullying, which affects their children.  It can also be traced back to the #babyboomers generation and generations before them in history. 

Celebrating #heritage month in #RSA

#action your #goals...

Having a #plan of #action to achieve your #goals…

#brandwhisperer

Content Heavy #Billboards

Normally, billboards forms part of an integrated communications solutions for well deliberated campaigns and projects.  A #billboard on its own is not always effective if your objectives are to bring about change, create increased awareness of your brand/product or influence consumers to take action.  

One still find billboards next to our national and suburban roads, which are content heavy and readability is a challenge.  These content heavy billboards are not just ineffective; they also present a safety risk for motorists who are trying to read these messages.  In the end , motorist are the ones being targeted while driving, but unfortunately the outcomes are missed opportunities and distortion of your brand just to name a couple…

A #cold rating is awarded for content heavy billboards in this age of digitalisation and the ongoing quest to appeal to consumer amongst all the clutter and replacement brands available.

#brandwhisperer

I want it all...and I want it now..!

I want it all…and I want it now…

Yes, there is a #millennial inside all of us and have even there for some time.  The only difference is more recently these qualities, characteristics, behaviour, aspirations and ideals of this generation are well recorded and even promoted as unique, current and relevant.  It goes as far as millennial-preneurs, spokespeople and specialist agents to fight, defend, enhance heightened awareness and advocates for the cause of this uniquely positioned #segment of the market.  The reference to segment is purely, based on the similarities and distinct qualities of this grouping based on the data to support their position and prominence.  There are some who definitely don’t like the label, tag or classification.  They are the salmon amongst this audience that fights hard to ensure they maintain their #unique identity and are not comfortable with the label and packaging attached to them, as individuals.

Being surrounded by #millennials almost daily the undeniable observation is how important this cause for them is with regards to be better understood, to be respected, to be loyal to only themselves, to support a movements that are socially responsible, not to purchase expensive assets and to be heard as a generation of influences.

Conferences, media coverage/reports and the all-important social media channels have provided more airtime, space, attention and awareness on the subject of millennials. This is becoming an even more unavoidable reality for many. The questions most corporates are faced with are:

• ·         How are we going to attract millennials and appeal to them?
• ·         How will be able to #retain them and create an environment where they experience a sense of a belonging within an established corporate culture?
• ·         How will we deal with the loyalty aspect; because gone are the days where people work for an organisation for 20 years and more?
• ·         How do we review our retention/lock-in mechanisms of shares and profit sharing to ensure we subscribe to the needs as expressed by this generation?
• ·         Will we be able to ensure appropriate or acceptable level of millennial #integration into our environment without alienating the new players and/or the existing players who have been around for years?
• ·         Is our #leadership able and ready to engage, deal, converse and hold a sober argument with a generation of future leaders who are keen to challenge the status quo and push their agenda of wanting to being heard?
• ·         What about my own lack of understanding, fears and insecurities of how best to acclimatise with millennials?

There might be more questions in circulation but these are just a few to illustrate the conversations most forward thinking organisations are having with regards to employing millennials in their environments.  Recently during a routine daily engagement with millennials we discussed the various social media platforms and their effectiveness.  #LinkedIn was identified by most of them as the least appealing and not aligned to their needs.  Its current format, approach and content speak to the usual suspects/decision-makers/leaders and not enough is being done to engage more attentively with millennials, they felt.  Interesting observations and sentiments as expressed by these future leaders, because it has not been my experience or understanding.  It might be because of my non thorough bred millennial status.

In reality, one can safely say that some and all of the qualities, behaviours, beliefs and aspirations as expressed by millennials are not unique or distinctive, because they have been around and present even in generations before them.  The only difference is how it is now being packaged, presented and approached.  In the end it’s not what you do, but how you do it with millennials.  The “How” factor!

“I am not my parents”. 

Allow your inner millennial to escape the closet and have a hashtag journey filled with new and exciting experiences for the open minded…

#brandwhisperer

#personalbrand seven R's checklist

#BellPottinger gives Public Relations Practioners and #ReputationManagement Specialists' a bad name...

#BellPottinger gives #PublicRelations Practioners and #ReputationManagement Specialists’ a bad name…!  Their apartheid inspired campaign, orchestrated to divert attention from the #Guptas is nauseating, desperate and unforgiving…An apology is not enough; donate all your money from the account received (#gupta) towards worthy causes aimed at social cohession in #rsa. Bad boys; hashtag cold rating…#cold

#sharingpassion...Print #media in full colour..

It’s amazing how things have changed for the better as far giving more colour and texture to a medium, which some believed a decade ago, that its dominance exceeded the proverbial sell by date with the end near in sight…in case you were wondering it’s the future of print media.  Back in the days, page two in most newspapers were in black-and-white.  Never understood the logic and the rationale behind it…Today page two have been promoted to be aligned with the rest of the newspapers’ colour tone. So what does mean?  Is it an attempt to ensure print media (newspapers) appeals to a new colourful and demanding generation or is purely a sign of positive change and developments in the industry?

Hashtag cool rating is awarded to the Sunday Times with its revitalised layout and paper quality.  Huge improvement!  It enhances the readability, logical flow, the sections better emphasised/attention grabbing and the quality of the paper do justice to the overall renewal exercise.  Well done to the publishers and team responsible…#cool

#brandwhisperer

#sharingwisdom

And I would argue the second greatest force in the universe is ownership. 

Chris Chocola 

 #brandwhisperer

#didyouknow..? #capitec bank is the best bank in the world

Did You Know...?

Lafferty International Banking Advisory Group rated #Capitec Bank the best bank in the world in their annual Bank Quality Rankings.  Second consecutive win for the #Stellenbosch based #retail bank.  They achieved a five-star rating according to the findings, during which 100 banks were reviewed from 32 countries. 

The London based advisory group rated the banks on the following criteria:

·         Management Quality

·         Strategy

·         Purpose and Actions

·         Execution Ability

·         Technology Preparedness

·         Innovation Capacity

·         Organisational Culture and

·         A series of demanding financial yardsticks such as ROA, cash ratios etc.

Congratulations, #cool and well done to #Capitec with yet another award-winning recognition for the new kid on the block.  “Stay in your lane”

#brandwhisperer

#brandhumility...

#brandhumility – revisiting the essence of what is important to people/planet - to care, to grow with your stakeholders, to provide, to engage/stay close, to listen and understand, without hearing, to share and to keep your narrative/intensions alive and not deviate from what set you apart from others. Stay in your lane.

#brandwhisperer

What #Outsurance should have done…

Instead of saying; without us making any excuses; a junior employee posted the commercial without proper consultation.  Irrespective of who did the ad posting; it was produced.  They should have taken full responsibility and own up to the unhappiness as expressed by the public.  The story about how transformed they are should have been obvious in all their previous communication and engagements.  To try and justify at this stage; is unfortunately too late and just adding more fuel to the fire…most importantly thing they did not consider was: “How can we change this negative into a positive? How about asking the public to come up with a replacement or future ad, which is more reflective of the demographics of our country…

To conclude:

• ·         Take responsibility
• ·         Apologise authentically
• ·         Demonstrate and show commitment that there will not be similar incidents in future as a non-negotiable
• ·         Use the opportunity to change the negative into a positive and
• ·         Finally, keep your narrative alive, positive and thought provoking outside the crisis situation

#brandwhisperer

What is a #brand...?

A #brand is a promise delivered, which has been fabricated over time and kept honest, agile, relevant, aspirational, current, approachable, inspirational and ever evolving…successful brands create memorable and lasting hashtag moments…

                                                                                                                           Brand Whisperer

#brandwhisperer

#Leaking information the new #trend

Has leaking (sensitive) information, become the new social media phenomena and form of #communication for #business and #governments globally?  Is this a novel approach to corporate governance, non-disclosure fight-back or just human conscience and transparency?  This #trend is gaining momentum and welcomed by the voice-less…in many societies!

#leaked

#cool rating for #SABMiller

#SABMiller most definitely deserve a #cool rating for their latest offering in the form of a six-pack beer package.  But, not just ordinary beer, its beer, which have been sourced from other #African countries. This is a brilliant idea to offer visitors and locals in #RSA, with an experience of what our top producing African beer taste like…#excellent idea and initiative,,,

#didyouknow....#brand reflection

Did you know?

The #brand that you admire, respect and aspire reflects your values, character and the things you view as important…

Brand Whisperer

#brandwhisperer

Twenty four seven...brand monitoring

#saywhat

Gone are the days where people are placed on hold for 15 minutes and more at call centres…Especially, when you want to log a complaint or enquire about a faulty product with a particular #brand…more than ever, have seen the power, influence and speed at which, people simply just go #social with their unresolved issues and the implications on that brands’ #reputation is widely distributed and discussed with unpleasant comments and remarks in this age of relevance, currentness, agility and speed to respond and engage with your #customers…

Twenty-four-seven is not a song, but a reality…