The Digital Enterprise Program (DEP) Begins

This week saw the beginning of the much anticipated, Federally Government funded, Digital Enterprise Program which in Victoria is being run under the auspices of VECCI.

 The program will bring much needed training assistance to any Australian business wanting wishing to receive specialised business training in the increasingly important field of electronic and related social media marketing, by way of a series of seven two hour seminars that are being run over the next eighteen months.

The topics for the D.E.P workshops are as follows:

1. Developing an e-strategy
2. Improving business efficiencies:
   Online tools and applications
3. The benefits and risks of digital marketing
4. Social Media
5. Going global online
6. E-commerce
7. Managing customer relationships online
   
   

These workshops have been made specifically designed in collaboration with local councils and available at no cost based on the full government funding and will aim to provide a robust platform from which any business can plan, design, implement and run a complete electronic strategy that will position and drive their business performance.

As well as the series of seven workshops, any attendee can also (again at no cost) book a 4 hour one on one coaching session with a D.E.P trainer who will come out to your business to help you build your own digital platform.

The timing for this exciting new initiative could not be better in light of both the darkening economic indicators along with the perennially alarming mortality rate for SME’s within the first few years of operation.

Against the backdrop of such an integral and dynamic aspect of marketing, this quintessential component continues to grow and evolve at light speed, requiring a strategy that incorporates the key platforms and allows for quick and ongoing adjustments that reflect the numerous changes that occur almost on a daily basis.

To book your seat now you can call VECCI directly on: (03) 8662 5333 or email: digitalenterprise@vecci.org.au or go to VECCI’s website directly on: www.vecci.org.au/dep  
for more information.

I urge everyone to pass this post on to anyone they feel may require of benefit from attending and of the workshops or coaching sessions to help them with the promotion of their business.

Happy Birthday Facebook. Social Media Giant Turns Ten

In recent days Facebook celebrated its 10th anniversary since starting operations on February 4th, 2004, where Facebook boss and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg began the first humble version of:
The Facebook from Harvard University, with the stated mission of: " making the world more open and connected'.

In those early days of course the only members were other Harvard students which later grew to include other ivy league schools, before it began a  ten year exponential growth that has seen it grow to be the undisputed largest social media site in the world.

Any discussion involving Facebook today must obviously include the numbers that go along with the title of the world's largest and most per-eminent social media networking platform. Where do we start. To begin with Facebook has an estimated 1.3 billion users globally and perhaps the most impressive fact is that the market penetration is so consistently high across the major nations in all regions, including around 160 million users from the USA, 72 million Brazilians, 65 million Indians, 48 million Indonesians and 43 million Mexicans. Conspicuous by their absence are China and Russia from this list of leading nation users.

Uniformly across all nations, more than half of all Facebook users log in each day and spend around 10 hours a month meaning the user spends more time on Facebook each month than they do on Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, AOL, News Corp, Amazon, eBay and Apple combined, with over 20% of all time spent on the net being on Facebook.

Despite its demographics at launch, today its growth is coming from the more mature age group of the over 35's with Facebook's fastest growing segment being women over 55, where we see these groups using the site a s a great way to find and reconnect with old friends and school mates as well as a simple and convenient way to stay connected with family and friends.

Yet despite these numbers and this unquestionable tour de force when it comes to innovation and growth Facebook is being challenged bu newer and some would argue more relevant and interactive sites that are appealing to especially younger users such as Pinterest and Tumblr.

With revenues of over 5.2 billion dollars annually Facebook is  certainly growing and was recently included in the Fortune 500 in the US for the first time and is making significant strategic changes (as outlined in recent posts), to continue to monetarise its activity and drive continued sales revenue.

The interesting point will be to see thing will be to see how well it continues to meet the evolving needs of the various user groups who for years have made their daily visits to Facebook like a holy pilgrimage.

So until next time, good luck and good marketing.
Regards,
Daniele.

PS.  If you'd like to know more about social media and the power of social media marketing,take advantage of the upcoming, Federal Government funded: Digital Enterprise Program that offers free seminars and additionally access to free one on one consulting in-house for Australian SME's.

Book through VECCI:  Online on  www.vecci.org.au/dep/book  Or call: (03) 8662 5333.

Samsung Note 3 Bigger and Better Than the iPhone. You Know It.

In recent times there has been growing awareness by many people in the street that despite Apple's huge market advantage over the other smart phone makers, it has now become apparent that the other phones have caught up and yes, surpassed Apple.  This is true of Android phones in general but with Samsung Note 3, I think we can safely safe, ' The King is Dead. God Save the new King.'

This week I saw a brilliantly concise 10 minute video with Davie from PhoneBuff.com on YouTube located at URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGSGOc-mBgA

It quite literally goes through no less than 50 significant and very real advantages that the Samsung has over the iPhone. I watched the video teice because there is so much to absorb that I think you'll need at least 2 goes to get anything like maxium uptake.

Now most of you would know that in December 2013, Samsung went past Apple for the first time ever and following on from that statistical fact, you can see from market reviews such as this that that change in market share and general fortunes is not by chance but rather by superior planning and design.

It is one on our key philosophies at  Road Scholars that we keep saying that regardless of your market ranking, you will loose market share unless you continue to innovate and add value to your product at a greater rate than the opposition.  Regardless of how iconic or imperceptible your brand may be, this guiding principle applies in each and every market.

A word to the wise, never rest on your laurels. Go out to the market often and ask them about their unmet needs and spend time each week considering what else could you do to better meet those needs.

And until next time, good luck and good marketing.
Regards,
Daniele.

P.S. After seeing the video, I'm so glad I did decide to go for a Note 3 myself  :)