Your Marketing Plan For 2010

 

As we collectively breathe a sigh of relief that the dreaded 2009 is over, we can look forward to a 2010 where it's time to take control. If 2009 was a year of reactive knee-jerks then 2010 is a time for getting proactive.


If you already have committed your marketing plan to paper, discussed it with the team that will be involved in its implementation and set some measurable goals then well done, you're in the driving seat of 2010. If you have yet to build your marketing plan, we would strongly encourage you to do so.

You may think it is futile to make a plan in the midst of so much change and who knows what will be happening 12 months from now. But consider the fact that without a plan you are at the mercy of whatever comes along. You can only react to the marketplace. With a plan in place you can steer your company in the direction you have chosen, even if course adjustments need to be made along the way.


Assess how your business has changed

Ask yourself some questions to help develop your direction:

• What are my main objectives for 2010?
• What position does my brand hold in today's economy?
• Is my current target market the same?
• Are there new markets for my product/service?
• What media avenues will best reach my target?
• What message will adequately reflect the benefits of my product/service?

Recession has thrown business’ many curve balls in the last 12 months, so take the take to assess your business and clarify business objectives before embarking on creating your marketing plan. Share these findings with personnel so all your team feel involved and see how the picture has changed.

Plan some time away from your daily business activities to develop your marketing plan and call in professionals for some assistance once you know where it is you’d like the company to be at the end of the year.

Explore various marketing channels

Use multichannel marketing for maximum exposure and business growth. Marketing is more than a brochure, a press release or a website. It is the complete process of defining objectives, exploring the marketplace, finding an audience, creating a strategy and implementing that strategy with gusto. Using every available marketing channel will ensure you reach your target audience.

I encourage you to start on your marketing plan today. It doesn't need to be a fancy document, jot some notes down during your coffee break, think about it while waiting on your next appointment. It deserves serious thought and evaluation. Take the time to gain clarity and purpose for the year ahead.

Need inspiration?

Contact Those Two Girls PR for assistance in identifying unique key selling points, building a plan to maximise these and look at how to develop marketing and PR opportunities.

Phone Olivia on 091 385600 or email olivia@thosetwogirls.com

Visit our website for a full list of services http://www.thosetwogirls.com/

Feeling Foggy? Head West

Looking to clear your head after an over-indulgent Christmas? Get to Westport for some clean air and brisk walks to get your cheeks rosey again.

Take in the breath taking scenery or, if you’re up to it, challenge yourself to a Croagh Patrick climb. From 11th January The Wyatt Hotel in Westport is offering an excellent value room-only rate from €49 for a double or €39 for single room.

The Wyatt Hotel, is a charming boutique style hotel, located at the Octagon in the very heart of Westport town. Steeped in history, the building is over 100 years old, combined with its character and charm make this hotel a very unique venue.

For more information on this and other deals see www.wyatthotel.com

How Healthy Are You? Free Workshop This Weekend!

The Institute of Health Sciences are inviting people to come along and take part in the free workshop, Saturday 12th December from 10am-2pm. The workshop will be held in the Education and Research Centre of Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross, Dublin.

The workshop will cover a number of topics including discovering how healthy you really are and if the foods you are eating actually do promote optimal health. A Personal Health Questionnaire will be completed by all participants to see how well your liver, gut and immune systems are functioning. Discussions will be held about common diseases, their links to the Western diet & the ill-effects of pharmaceutical drugs. Anneliese Dressel, Course Director will explain how to use food, herbs & supplements as alternative treatments, how to use foods therapeutically and manage disease and increase energy and fitness while exploring the health benefits of some novel & super foods.

This Saturday marks the launch of The Institute of Health Sciences new ITEC Accredited Certificate courses in Dietary Coaching: Nutrition & Health and Sports Nutrition. The workshop is open to everyone however places are limited. Bookings can be made by calling 090 974 9929.

For more information see www.instituteofhealthsciences.com

Shaken Not Stirred For St. Vincent De Paul Society

A fancy dress Bond Night is being held in The Wyatt Hotel, Westport on Saturday 5th December. Take this opportunity to indulge in those Bond girl or 007 fantasies and be in with a chance to a fantastic prize. An exciting night is promised with a fun quiz to test your knowledge and a disco to shake a move at afterwards.

Whether you are Dr. No, Miss Moneypenny or the secret agent himself, you you can rest assured it's all for a good cause. All funds raised goes to Westport St Vincent de Paul Society and the Martin Keane's Christmas Fuel Appeal for the elderly and needy.

Admission for the night is €10 which can be paid on the door. Doors open at 9.30pm.

 For more information contact The Wyatt Hotel on 098 25027 http://www.wyatthotel.com/

Social Sites Have Real Bite

Social Sites Have Real Bite
Article is today's Irish Times
Businesses are scrabbling to develop strategies to handle what people are posting about them on social networking sites before negative comments snowball out of control.
Read more: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/pricewatch/2009/1102/1224257900333.html

€500 FREE PR!!!

To celebrate our 5th birthday milestone we are offering all businesses.

€500 worth of free PR during the upcoming months of November, December and January 2010.

Book your Marketing and PR campaign for these three months and get a total of €500 worth of PR free! gratis! pro bono!

Email, or call us now to arrange a meeting. The usual Those Two Girls PR proposal terms and conditions apply.

Galway 091-385 600  ~  Cork 021-23 55 985  ~  Limerick 061-57 4 985

YOU ARE INVITED!

to an Exclusive Preview Evening of

‘The Hills Are Alive’

An exciting exhibition of new work by renowned artist Deborah Donnelly

on Friday 23rd October

in The Burren Suite, 4th Floor, Radisson Blu Hotel from 5pm

Open to the public on Saturday 24th October from 11am to 7pm.

RSVP to info@thosetwogirls.ie on or before Thursday 22nd October.

Further information:

‘The Hills Are Alive’ exhibition will take place in the Radisson on October 23rd and 24th with special preview Friday 23rd.

Deborah became renowned as ‘the cow painter’ with her 2007 exhibition which featured colourful, endearing cow faces. Deborah’s new work contains beautiful landscapes with bold colours and brush stokes that define her work. The romantic, dreamy, energetic energy of her landscapes reflects how it is important for her to capture the feeling, the fleeting moment, rather than the meticulous, clinical detail.

Deborah comments “All artists have some subjects that excite them more then others, and the cows became one of those obsessive subjects. I have an over active imagination, when I see a beautiful landscape I will think about it for days and days until I paint it , only then is it set free.My favourite quote is from the first film I ever saw The Jungle Book ‘If you’re gonna be blue….be bright blue”.

Deborah hits the canvas with irregular touches of the brush which she leaves as they are patches of thickly laid-on colour. She always attempts to create a sense of movement, a flickering light, the freshness of an immediate impression.Deborah’s work features in the private collections of Pat Kenny, Louis Walsh, Gary Rhodes, Grainne Seoige, Robbie Williams and Bertie Ahern to name but a few. She has held exhibitions throughout the world from New York to Marbella to London. This is one special exhibition not to be missed.

The exhibition is open to all on Saturday 24th October from 11am to 7pm in the Radisson Blu Hotel The Burren Suite, 4th Floor. For more information see www.TheBadArtGallery.ie

Sales & Marketing Executive and Web Designer/Developer Required

Following Professionals are required by our client for immediate interview.

This is an excellent opportunity to work in an expanding dynamic company. Only passionate hard-working applicants need apply.

Sales Executive

This is a role for a dynamic, professional experienced, sales executive. Role will be on an initial contract part time basis with possibility of expanded contract terms.

• Must have excellent organisational, sales & presentation skills

• Must be able to demonstrate abilities in developing, managing and executing successful sales campaign for Services-based business.

• Must be confident in sales calls, appointment making and reporting to management

• Must be able proficient in Microsoft Office programs

• Good communication and writing skills.

• Presentable and well groomed.

• Full clean driving license required

• Knowledge of marketing, media and design bonus.

• Experienced sales professionals only please.

Web Designer/Developer (Freelance role)

This is a role for someone that can manage a web project from an idea in a clients head to a striking, functional user friendly site.

• Must have excellent knowledge of social media integration, SEO, RSS, Google Ad words

• • Website Building, Testing Updating & publishing.

• Website Updates & Maintenance

• Liaising with clients through design/development process.

• Client Web/Email Hosting Support

• Proven XHTML & CSS capabilities.

• Strong Dreamweaver & Photoshop or Fireworks knowledge.

• E-Commerce Website Development Experience.

• Experience with web applications using PHP, MySQL, JavaScript & XML.

• Must have the ability to conform to web/development standards.

• Flash, Illustrator & other multimedia software experience would be beneficial.

• Be able to work on your own initiative.

• Excellent presentation & communication skills.

Only candidates who give examples of website work will be considered for this role.

CV’s with cover letter explaining why you would be suitable to: careers @thosetwogirls.com

‘The Hills Are Alive’

Renowned artist, Deborah Donnelly, to showcase new work at Galway exhibition

'The Hills Are Alive' is an exciting first showing of new work by Deborah Donnelly. The exhibition will take place in the Radisson on October 24^th and 25^th with special preview Friday 23^rd. Deborah became renowned as 'the cow painter' with her 2007 exhibition which featured colourful, endearing cow faces. Deborah's new work contains beautiful landscapes with bold colours and brush stokes that define her work. The romantic, dreamy, energetic energy of her landscapes reflects how it is important for her to capture the feeling, the fleeting moment, rather than the meticulous, clinical detail.

Deborah comments "All artists have some subjects that excite them more then others, and the cows became one of those obsessive subjects. I have an over active imagination, when I see a beautiful landscape I will think about it for days and days until I paint it , only then is it set free.

My favourite quote is from the first film I ever saw The Jungle Book 'If you're gonna be blue….be bright blue".

Deborah hits the canvas with irregular touches of the brush which she leaves as they are patches of thickly laid-on colour. She always attempts to create a sense of movement, a flickering light, the freshness of an immediate impression.

Deborah's work features in the private collections of Pat Kenny, Louis Walsh, Gary Rhodes, Grainne Seoige and Terry Bradley to name but a few. She has held exhibitions throughout the world from New York to Marbella to London. This is one special exhibition not to be missed.

The Exhibition is open to all Saturday 24^th and Sunday 25^th October Bank Holiday Weekend from 11am to 7pm in the Radisson Blu Hotel The Burren Suite, 4th Floor. For more information see http://www.thebadartgallery.ie/
-----Ends---
Deborah Donnelly
Deborah painted her first cow nine years ago in America when she was working on a ship bringing cattle over to Hawaii. At first she was frightened by there monstrosity but it didn't take long for her to learn how beautiful and docile they were. Since that day it was love at first sight and the original cow painter was born!
Shortly afterwards Deborah got her first major show in 'The Whistler House Museum' in Boston, and from then on Deborah has been going from strength to strength, showing her work in many European galleries and private collections.
Deborah Donnelly's paintings are mostly studies of objects or living things. The subject of her paintings are varied and so far have included cows, cakes, hens, pink houses, landscapes and circus tents to name but a few. Her brush strokes are heavily laden. She hits the canvas with irregular touches of the brush which she leaves as they are patches of thickly laid-on colour. She always attempts to create a sense of movement, a flickering light, the freshness of an immediate impression. It is important for her to capture the feeling, the fleeting moment, rather than the meticulous, clinical detail. The work owes debt to French painting of the turn of the 20th Century, and maybe even a little Van Gogh, but also carries a lot of Donnelly's more adventurous style.
"I love painting animals and landscapes. I can almost smell the country air when I paint a field. Or the whiff of a pig has to make you smile!"

Relevancy & Discounts Matter Most to Women

Relevancy is particularly important to women when receiving marketing communications, with more than half (58%) of respondents in a recent survey of more than 1,000 women saying they want information that pertains to their lifestyle or relates to their recent purchases, according to Prospectiv, which conducted the survey.

Key findings:
While relevancy is important to all women, it's more important to mothers: 45% of mothers said they are most interested in receiving marketing information that pertains to their lifestyle, vs. 30% of women who are not mothers.
Mothers are more interested in being marketed to than women who are not mothers; only 20% of moms said, "Don't send me anything at all," but 35% of non-mothers said the same.

Product Samples Beat Out Blogs
Brands have successfully reached their female audiences by leveraging so-called mommy bloggers because of their “word of mouth” value. But nearly half of respondents (45%) to the Prospectiv survey said that brands can communicate with them most effectively through product samples offered online, way ahead of the percentage (3%) who said the same of blogs. Mothers in the survey came out even more strongly than non-mothers in favor of product samples (47% vs. 38%):

Key findings:
39% of respondents reported finding coupons an effective way for brands to communicate about their products.
Only 10% said the same about email, and a mere 4% said the same about banner ads.
When it comes to driving an actual purchase, samples win the day. Survery respondents were asked which would most likely get them to purchase a product: trying a sample, having a coupon to use, necessity, or receiving a personal recommendation. Some 39% of survey respondents said trying a sample.

Coupons Work
With the recession still underway, about one-third (31%) of survey respondents said they will make a purchase because a coupon or discount is being offered, whereas only about one-fifth (21%) said that necessity drives them to make a purchase.
Asked about what actions they had taken in the past year regarding coupons, 53% of the women surveyed said they had clipped coupons and 18% said they had redeemed an online coupon:

Key findings:
Moms clip coupons in greater percentages than non-mothers do: 54% vs. 49%.
10% of mothers and non-mothers alike reported downloading an online coupon but never using it.
Other findings from the research:
While 35% of the women surveyed said they are reluctant to share information such as email address, age, and gender, but 71% will share such information to receive discounts, promotional offers, and coupons.
50% of respondents said they prefer receiving email about a product once per month; 40% said once per week; and 10% said once a day.