Understanding & Categorizing Financial Institutions

Dearest You,

To effectively evaluate and acquire insights in regards to a particular “financial institution”, it would be imperative to understand the characteristics and the traits of the respective brand, that would be truly informed decision-making;

I would strongly advise one to make provision(s) the information presented below – kindly the note that the below is summarized;
1.       The Business Model of the “financial institution”.
2.       The Brand Positioning of the “financial institution”.
3.       The Product Offering(s) of the “financial institutions”.
4.       Financial Position of the “financial institution”.
5.       The Lending Criteria in the provision of loans by the “financial institution”.
6.       The Clients’ Profile of the “financial institution” – Confidential.
7.       The Repayment Frequency by the Clients’ of the “financial institution” – this should be accessible via the Accounting Team (has the repayment term has shortened, or has the term broadened?) - (i.e. once a client acquires a loan from the “financial institution”, how long does it take for the client to pay-back the loan?) – Confidential.

Internalized Insights Acquisition

Internalized Insights Acquisition

Dearest You,

Imagine if there was a magnitude of insights that where readily and easily accessible, Imagine if it was just a matter of time, and effort in acquiring those insights, imagine if those insights where shared for the brands’ benefit and improvement. There is amazing knowledge within and around a brand and channelling those inherent insights into understanding, and into strategy.

Internalized Insights Acquisition – fancy sounding name, right? But this is simply achieved by acquiring the insights, of the internal stakeholders (i.e. the Staff) within a brand. This could be in the form of a survey, or via email. There should be an aspect of confidentiality applied during all stages.

The Fans Cup - Be the Coach - The Carling Black Label Cup

Dearest You,

The fans form part of the game - Whether celebrating or enthralled in amazement by that “so-so close” moment. The fans are the personification of support for a team and the players – the cheering, the laughter, and the full stadium adds to the elation of the game.The Songs, the Chants, the Cheering and the Voices combined to create an orchestra of atmosphere!

I just found this tournament amazing, in terms of bringing together the Fans, the Clubs and the Brand, and enabling an environment where the passion fans whom live and breathe their respective clubs, whom know each and every player, have the opportunity to become and the take-on the role to directly shape the destiny of the club in this one-of kind tournament, this is The Carling Black Label Cupis a brilliant endeavour -the ultimate tribune to the Fans that make the “beautiful game.”

The Carling Black Label Cup: intrigued and naturally amazed and inspired by this awesome phenomenon, there are two teams Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, but the fans are the leading lights as their votes determine whom is going to be in the respective team starting line-up (the XI). Interesting! I told you, that this is amazing! The fans can even make substitutions during the match, Brilliant!

My Passion - Marketing

Dearest You,

I am passionate about Marketing, Digital Marketing, Strategy, Innovation and Corporate Entrepreneurship and I aspire to be the Leader in Marketing, Digital Marketing, Strategy, Innovation and Corporate Entrepreneurship in Durban, then in South Africa and then the World. I know that passionate is somewhat clichéd (or overused) – but maybe being passionate is the perspective of being part of the greater, which is being realized by many individuals.

I know that the above vision and strategic intent seems a bit broad, but I believe in challenges and I believe in rising up to challenges and far surpassing the challenges via a solutions and internally – and asking for assistance and guidance when the need arises, and sometimes adversity makes exceptional Leaders. I believe in Dreams and Goals as these magnificent facets – which encourage thinking, questioning, understanding, belief, confidence, and to be aware of the potential we have as an individual and also within a Brand.

The 2014 Insights for Marketing – Coming to a Brand near you!!!

·         Social
·         Information (I called it Information – but it known more commonly as Data)
·         Mobile Marketing
·         Customer Experience
·         Personalization
·         Multi-Channel
·         Native Advertising
·         Localized and Geo-Targeting
·         User Experience (UX) Testing and Optimization
·         Micro-Targeting
·         Micro-Messaging

The Foundations

Dearest You,

·        To build a Home – it is imperative that you have a well-founded Foundation

·        To build a Fortress – it is equally imperative to have well-founded Foundations
·        To create a magnificent Brand – it is imperative to have a strong Foundation within the Brand.

I am passionate about Marketing, Digital Marketing, Strategy, Innovation and Corporate Entrepreneurship and I aspire to be the Leader in Marketing, Digital Marketing, Strategy, Innovation and Corporate Entrepreneurship in Durban, in S.A and in the World.

Industries and Brands are continuously evolving in terms of new insights, new knowledge and increased understanding – which makes it even more strategic to have the right Foundations within the Brand to enhance the Brand’s dynamisms, proactive-ness and innovative-ness.

If a Brand has a strong Foundation – Brand can move vertically and horizontally with the Strength, Agility and Flexibility in acquiring the opportunities.     

The Understanding of Foundations;

Foundations are the ground-work that provides the acceleration for the Brand forward into opportunities, understanding, insights and being innovative. Foundations create the Brand as an organization. The Foundations are there to create Agility and Flexibility in achieving opportunities, the Vision and Mission of the Brand – and when challenges occur – the Foundations provide the aspects of action, learning, the understanding, and the resources to far-surpass the challenges which give rise to opportunities.

The Business Plan – The Journey of Your Brand(s) - Understanding why you need a Business Plan

The Business Plan – The Journey of Your Brand(s)

Dearest You,

As you are reading this posting, some of you are going to be venturing into new endeavours, industries, or opportunities – and you owe yourself and those whom support you along your passionate and inspired Expedition to far-surpass your full potential and greatness.

The year is 2014 and we live in a constant evolving environment which is enthused by additional insights, opportunities, knowledge and understanding.

There is a perception that the Business Plan is not required, there are many perspectives of reasoning. I believe that it is fundamental to have a Business Plan for a Start-Up as a Brand, and also for new Business Ventures so that the opportunities are fully capitalized upon.

Will you go somewhere, without knowing where you are going? Will you go there, without knowing where “there” is? So why do this, by not having a Business Plan?

The Impact of Social Media on Brands

The Impact of Social Media on Brands,

Music Artists, Movie Franchises, Authors, Brands, TV Shows, and Individuals leverage Social Media as a greater strategy to interact, to share and to communicate, to encourage debate (sometimes) and conversations, to network, to build and to enhance relationships, and to add value – which brilliant.

The Brand proposition ultimately – would have influence on the social media platforms leveraged by the Brand.

I know that I have said that Social Media isn’t the right platform for customer retention, but I love the embracive role the Social Media has created in the uniting of the client/customer as an individual to the Brand.

As Social Media has the potential to create a bond (well, there should be a bond and if there isn’t something within the Brand as an organization went wrong along the journey – but there are always solutions) between the Client/Customer as an individual and the Brand,

There is a mutual flow of info that Social Media has derived – which is amazing, the amazing feedback and the manner in which some brands process the info into strategy, in the creation of an enhanced brand is adrenaline-charging.

The Favourable Result

Greetings to you as an individual,

Decisions….Decisions…..Results…Action

Results……Results…..Decision…..Action

With the start of 2014 – It is an exhilarating time as there are new opportunities, new solutions to challenges, new products, new services, new alliances, enhanced insights and knowledge with the aspect of time….

Salute to those, whom are passionate and dream uniquely…

Decisions sometimes lead to Outcomes and Sometimes Outcomes lead to Decisions – so there is an interconnected interlocked correlative relationship;

….. Could it be that there is a probability rate of 33.33% or 1 in 3 regards of achieving? But then surely the probability rate would variable and dependent upon?..

Think 3 outcomes (decisions) but 1 Favourable result;

Life
Business
Sports
Poker
Share Investment Trading
-        Are more interrelated than one might believe

1918 to 2013 to Beyond

To a much adored Global Icon,

Dearest Mr Mandela, Dearest Madiba,

Born on the 18^TH of July 1918

He was and is;
A Son,
A Father,
An Uncle,
A Grandfather,
A Great Grandfather,
A Great-Great Grandfather,
A Former President of South Africa,
A Mentor,
An Advisor,
A Legendary Icon,
A magnificent Global Leader.

Brand Values Alignment & Synergy in Marketing, Digital Marketing, Communication & Advertising

Brands which are admired, Brands which are Epic – the Brands that set trends and that are truly legendary,

But every journey is not easy, there is time, effort and dedication that went in to overcome the endeavour, there are many (metaphorical mountains, and waves) that where present on the path to success/es – but there was a Vision (the dream), and a Mission (the now aspect – what must be done now to reach the dream, the goals) and also Strategic Intent (the values in which the Mission, and the Vision is completed)

The Vision, Mission, and Strategic Intent are equally important; these core factors assist one in the journey.

I hear you asking, but “what has this got to do with Business, Marketing, Communications and Advertising?”

The truth is that it has everything to do with Business, and with Brands from Marketing, to Communications, to Digital Marketing to Advertising, there is an internal and an external perspective,

The internal is the Vision, the Mission, and the Strategic Intent of the brand, the external is how the brand is perceive by those whom form part of the market,