We all have talents, but some are harder to find than others.
Mine took many years to work out and eventually I was able to turn that talent into a money making enterprise. Luckily for me, my talent is aligned to my passion and everything is pretty much honky dory.
Today, I was needing a little direction. Many people ring their friends, colleagues or see a counsellor. I ring a Clairvoyant. Go figure.
Being a person that is willing to try anything once, it's not unlike me to go and see a Clairvoyant who may or may not motivate me, make me happy or at the least provide some entertainment for myself and my girlfriends for the next couple of days.
So, off I trotted in the middle of the day to a Clairvoyant, referred by a friend, in Malvern East.
On the way, I rung another friend and they said, 'Save your money. I can tell you exactly what they are going to say.' Although that provided me with a good laugh, it really wasn't an option. Giving away $90 to a complete stranger that espouses to tell me my future is easy, but paying $90 for a new dress that I really want is something I need to think about for at least a couple of days. Madness really.
Now, I am told, that this Clairvoyant is spooky. She is accurate, names names and very blunt, so I go in prepared to hear it all.
So she starts...
'You are lacking drive and start many things but don't finish them. You are going to get married at 37 years of age to someone I have met or know. You have back problems, your parents separated when you were 21, you are going to have children (2 - either twins or quickly after each other), guy in my life who is stuck in the past and still bangs on about an ex that he used to date and can't move forward, London connection and basically cutting to the chase - I meet a guy, get married, have two children, he is going to be in a family business, a total gentleman, sophisticated, supportive and travels alot.
Now seriously, what single girl at 36 doesn't want to hear this?
Of course, I am hoping it's all true, but if it isn't I not about to go back and ask for my money back am I?
Because I choose to, I am going to focus on this information being correct at the time of the reading - I am a positive person, so by nature this is what I would always do.
However, what a great business! Say she does 6 readings a day, 6 days per week... not a bad income earner I say. Cash in hand, no strings attached.
How profitable is her talent? Very!
We all want the good news and shy away from bad news. She allows you to opt for just good news. Why wouldn't you go to someone who is going to give you good news?
I am a fan because I have walked out of her house on cloud 9. My life is going to be good - actually great! Fantastic!
I can't be happier.
Fortune telling is a talent and I am not sure whether I am a believer or whether I think that some people can read your mind and tell you want you want to hear. But it is something that requires a minimal qualification, good money and your own hours with people like me only too happy to hand over $90 for a reading from a complete stranger.
Not bad I say!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
In Search for an Effen Great Bloke
Today is D - Day. The search for an Effen Great Bloke and his mates is on.
All you have to do is log onto www.effengreatbloke.com.au and register your details and that of your mate's to have a chance to win a year's supply of beer for you and your mate. How awesome is that!
What is an effen Great Bloke? He is many things - he shares a drink or two with you, he doesn't shag your missus, he is there when he needs to be, he doesn't dump you for the first chick that comes along, he likes to hang out, watches the football and more. www.youtube.com/effengreatbloke - check it out! I bet you can do better.
Become a fan on facebook, twitter, myspace and flickr and make sure you enter the competition and share www.effengreatbloke.com.au with your mates.
Most of all, have an effen great time!
Marketing Eye is proud to be associated with this promotion about mates having an effen good time. Isn't that what life is all about?
www.marketingeye.com.au
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Who is an Effen Great Bloke?
In the past 4 months, I have learnt alot about beer. Too much, some would say.
After being approached by another agency to work with them on a beer brand, and then eventually taking over the account to launch the brand through a digital marketing campaign, Marketing Eye has pulled together to understand exactly how this market works.
There are literally thousands of beer brands out there, yet only a few are on our shelves.
The bigger companies like Fosters and XXXX (you can tell I am a Queenslander) claim much of the market share and they are complemented by hundreds of craft beer brewers who have done exceptionally well with their aromic flavours and creative marketing spin.
There's Little Creatures, Barons and Effen that really stand out from the crowd. If you haven't tried all three, then it's a must. Drop everything and go out and buy these beers - you won't regret it.
With craft beer, it's not so much about the loyalty that VB and XXXX drinkers take pride in that makes them a must have, but more the uniqueness of flavours and the sheer enjoyment of drinking a well-brewed beer in limited stock.
After substantial taste testing, I am pleased to say, that even though I have never really been a beer drinker, effen beer tastes really good. In fact, great!
It's an easy drink that everyone must try at least once - or perhaps twice. Get the picture?
With craft beer, it's all about marketing, because if you don't market your beer and people don't demand it from their bottleshops and the bars they frequent, it won't last.
Effen is unique, and the Engineer behind it, Ryan Leslie, has put alot of blood, sweat and tears into making sure it is an effen great beer for effen great blokes.
Marketing Eye is pleased to be working with effen to launch their 'effen great bloke' campaign.
Everybody knows an effen great bloke and now is the time to reward them for being there when you need them to, making you laugh and knowing that with them, you will always have an effen great time.
Become a fan of effen - Live the Oath! on Facebook, twitter, myspace, flickr and youtube. Read about what others have to say about effen and why not write what you think of this effen great beer on a blog yourself? And, very importantly, enter the competition to win a year's supply of beer for you and a mate.
I know I will be!
www.effengreatbloke.com
www.marketingeye.com.au
After being approached by another agency to work with them on a beer brand, and then eventually taking over the account to launch the brand through a digital marketing campaign, Marketing Eye has pulled together to understand exactly how this market works.
There are literally thousands of beer brands out there, yet only a few are on our shelves.
The bigger companies like Fosters and XXXX (you can tell I am a Queenslander) claim much of the market share and they are complemented by hundreds of craft beer brewers who have done exceptionally well with their aromic flavours and creative marketing spin.
There's Little Creatures, Barons and Effen that really stand out from the crowd. If you haven't tried all three, then it's a must. Drop everything and go out and buy these beers - you won't regret it.
With craft beer, it's not so much about the loyalty that VB and XXXX drinkers take pride in that makes them a must have, but more the uniqueness of flavours and the sheer enjoyment of drinking a well-brewed beer in limited stock.
After substantial taste testing, I am pleased to say, that even though I have never really been a beer drinker, effen beer tastes really good. In fact, great!
It's an easy drink that everyone must try at least once - or perhaps twice. Get the picture?
With craft beer, it's all about marketing, because if you don't market your beer and people don't demand it from their bottleshops and the bars they frequent, it won't last.
Effen is unique, and the Engineer behind it, Ryan Leslie, has put alot of blood, sweat and tears into making sure it is an effen great beer for effen great blokes.
Marketing Eye is pleased to be working with effen to launch their 'effen great bloke' campaign.
Everybody knows an effen great bloke and now is the time to reward them for being there when you need them to, making you laugh and knowing that with them, you will always have an effen great time.
Become a fan of effen - Live the Oath! on Facebook, twitter, myspace, flickr and youtube. Read about what others have to say about effen and why not write what you think of this effen great beer on a blog yourself? And, very importantly, enter the competition to win a year's supply of beer for you and a mate.
I know I will be!
www.effengreatbloke.com
www.marketingeye.com.au
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
'I'm on a boat' viralling to success
This week, on my return from an overseas holiday, on a boat, I have had an office full of creatives brainstorming viral campaigns for clients at least 12 hours per day.
Whilst, everybody is different and it really comes down to individual preferences on what is a good viral and what is in fact, not, I am continually surprised by what is a hit and what is a miss.
A viral, for those who can't think beyond health related meanings, is a phrase used to describe popular email-forwarded or word-of-mouth propelled video clips on the Internet and as a business that promotes companies in the b2b and b2c sectors, we are destined to do quite a few viral video clips each year.
It gives our young creatives a way of unleashing their inner-most out-of-the-box creativity and ultimately sense of humour - or lack of it!
At the ripe old age of 36, I am less likely to be spending evenings or weekends looking at virals but I guess, I am not really the ultimate target audience for many of the very successful virals that have been staged on the internet. My ability to consume such things is limited as away from the workforce, I live a fairly sheltered life from the various media mediums.
Having said that, I do remember vividly the humour that came from the Mastercard virals 10 years ago and how successful they were amongst my peers and the world over.
And more recently, having been on a boat with a few guys that were avid consumers of viral videos, I had the opportunity to see 'I'm on a boat' which coincidently, I was. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_YlkEUOonI&feature=related)
A group of 7 people in their mid thirties all engaged by a video that is somewhat silly, but humourous, taking the 'piss' out of people 'on a boat'.
Even though I am a person who often misses the punchline in a joke (I definately inherited this skill from my mother), I could see the value in this viral email. Here I was, on this glorious boat in the South of France, enjoying the sunshine, and there we all were, looking at a computer screen watching a video. What is that about? Seriously, I wasn't bored soaking up the rays of sunshine, yet, even I spent the 5 minutes looking at this viral that ultimately promoted Vodka.
We were all engaged and we couldn't stop talking about it. So much so, after a few glasses of wine we were all ready to do our own clip (and thankfully that moment passed quickly and there are no videos floating around that I would be a tad embarrassed about).
Virals are a cost-effective way in which to promote certain products and services. If done well, they can achieve millions of hits and the word-of-mouth value for those ones that are successful, are often in the tens of millions.
Companies that do it well, reap the rewards... but if you fail to ignite a sense with the recipient of your viral video to pass it on, then it is a waste of money, time and effort and can ultimately damage your brand.
Youtube (how did we survive without this?) gives even those backyard videos a level playing field. Some of the most creative and funny virals are done by Mum's and Dad's at home having a good time. Anyone can do it, anytime, anywhere.
Television programs like Britian's Got Talent have been tens of millions of dollars worth of publicity through the viral promotion of Susan Boyle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OcQ9A-5noM&feature=PlayList&p=41424DCD1015CA16&index=0&playnext=1.
www.marketingeye.com.au
Whilst, everybody is different and it really comes down to individual preferences on what is a good viral and what is in fact, not, I am continually surprised by what is a hit and what is a miss.
A viral, for those who can't think beyond health related meanings, is a phrase used to describe popular email-forwarded or word-of-mouth propelled video clips on the Internet and as a business that promotes companies in the b2b and b2c sectors, we are destined to do quite a few viral video clips each year.
It gives our young creatives a way of unleashing their inner-most out-of-the-box creativity and ultimately sense of humour - or lack of it!
At the ripe old age of 36, I am less likely to be spending evenings or weekends looking at virals but I guess, I am not really the ultimate target audience for many of the very successful virals that have been staged on the internet. My ability to consume such things is limited as away from the workforce, I live a fairly sheltered life from the various media mediums.
Having said that, I do remember vividly the humour that came from the Mastercard virals 10 years ago and how successful they were amongst my peers and the world over.
And more recently, having been on a boat with a few guys that were avid consumers of viral videos, I had the opportunity to see 'I'm on a boat' which coincidently, I was. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_YlkEUOonI&feature=related)
A group of 7 people in their mid thirties all engaged by a video that is somewhat silly, but humourous, taking the 'piss' out of people 'on a boat'.
Even though I am a person who often misses the punchline in a joke (I definately inherited this skill from my mother), I could see the value in this viral email. Here I was, on this glorious boat in the South of France, enjoying the sunshine, and there we all were, looking at a computer screen watching a video. What is that about? Seriously, I wasn't bored soaking up the rays of sunshine, yet, even I spent the 5 minutes looking at this viral that ultimately promoted Vodka.
We were all engaged and we couldn't stop talking about it. So much so, after a few glasses of wine we were all ready to do our own clip (and thankfully that moment passed quickly and there are no videos floating around that I would be a tad embarrassed about).
Virals are a cost-effective way in which to promote certain products and services. If done well, they can achieve millions of hits and the word-of-mouth value for those ones that are successful, are often in the tens of millions.
Companies that do it well, reap the rewards... but if you fail to ignite a sense with the recipient of your viral video to pass it on, then it is a waste of money, time and effort and can ultimately damage your brand.
Youtube (how did we survive without this?) gives even those backyard videos a level playing field. Some of the most creative and funny virals are done by Mum's and Dad's at home having a good time. Anyone can do it, anytime, anywhere.
Television programs like Britian's Got Talent have been tens of millions of dollars worth of publicity through the viral promotion of Susan Boyle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OcQ9A-5noM&feature=PlayList&p=41424DCD1015CA16&index=0&playnext=1.
www.marketingeye.com.au
Monday, September 7, 2009
Greek One Hat Wonder
When a bunch of marketers get together and one happens to be Greek - anything can happen. Not only great ideas, but in this particular case, even better food.
L'Oliver is a restaurant in the third district of Paris and is run by a Greek family who have just been given One Hat by the Michellin Guide. Affordable food, great atmosphere and not too imposing for those of us who tire of eating at the high end of town.
The food is to die for. Commencing with a starter of Fromage Chypriote au Lait de brebis poele sesame and miel au safran (Fried goats cheese with saffron honey and sesame), followed by Croussillant d' aubergines en feuillete, viande de boeuf and bechamel a la mozzarello (eggplant gratin in leaf of crust, beef mince meat and mozzarello) and completed by an orgasmic special chocolate mousse with blueberries, the menu in spectacular.
Our table could not stop raving about how good the food is and for Paris, it is incredibly affordable.
The problem is that no-one knows this restaurant exists. The chef is a food scientist with his appetite for creative food combinations that leave your mouth watering.
The business is in a bad location and has never been promoted until the faithful day that a Michellin reviewer came in. Now, of course, this is all about to change with the new guide coming out in early 2010.
Why do some restaurants succeed whilst others fail even when their food and service is second to none?
The answer is marketing and location. Located close to Republique on the Boulevard de Temple, L'Oliver is quaint with many personal touches. But for some, not as conveniently located as it could be.
Vassilis Alexiou, the chef, is kind, respected and immensely talented. His wife, who tends to the restaurants customers works hard and is committed to every single person in the restaurant.
They are for now, the small guy but in time thanks to a chance meeting and subsequent review, they won't be a hidden secret but instead the Greek Restaurant of choice in Paris.
Go visit next time you are in town. It's a must see and do experience in Paris that you will not regret.
L'Oliver is a restaurant in the third district of Paris and is run by a Greek family who have just been given One Hat by the Michellin Guide. Affordable food, great atmosphere and not too imposing for those of us who tire of eating at the high end of town.
The food is to die for. Commencing with a starter of Fromage Chypriote au Lait de brebis poele sesame and miel au safran (Fried goats cheese with saffron honey and sesame), followed by Croussillant d' aubergines en feuillete, viande de boeuf and bechamel a la mozzarello (eggplant gratin in leaf of crust, beef mince meat and mozzarello) and completed by an orgasmic special chocolate mousse with blueberries, the menu in spectacular.
Our table could not stop raving about how good the food is and for Paris, it is incredibly affordable.
The problem is that no-one knows this restaurant exists. The chef is a food scientist with his appetite for creative food combinations that leave your mouth watering.
The business is in a bad location and has never been promoted until the faithful day that a Michellin reviewer came in. Now, of course, this is all about to change with the new guide coming out in early 2010.
Why do some restaurants succeed whilst others fail even when their food and service is second to none?
The answer is marketing and location. Located close to Republique on the Boulevard de Temple, L'Oliver is quaint with many personal touches. But for some, not as conveniently located as it could be.
Vassilis Alexiou, the chef, is kind, respected and immensely talented. His wife, who tends to the restaurants customers works hard and is committed to every single person in the restaurant.
They are for now, the small guy but in time thanks to a chance meeting and subsequent review, they won't be a hidden secret but instead the Greek Restaurant of choice in Paris.
Go visit next time you are in town. It's a must see and do experience in Paris that you will not regret.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
The A-List
On Friday 21st August 2009, The Armani Dinner for the STC Foundation event was held at the Sydney Theatre Company to raise much needed funds for the Foundation.
Having been to this event previously, I knew what to expect. The event and the companies associated with it belong to a brand group. This brand group is what I call the A-List group of companies.
They are brands that are all leaders in their fields in terms of quality, people, community and brand association. They do not sponsor something that doesn't fit directly into their brand paradigm and they don't let their brand be bastardised will-nilly with every event or opportunity that crosses their path.
People want to be associated with their brands. They want to belong, want to be invited and want to have some association in which to leverage their own personal brands.
The two brands that host the event are Armani and the Sydney Theatre Company. Armani is a globally dominant iconic fashion label only the mega wealthy, fashionable and deliciously sophisticated care to wear.
Sydney Theatre Company has over the years been the number one theatre group in Australia but was catapulted into another stratosphere when Oscar Winner and internationally recognised actress Cate Blanchett and her charismatic husband became the Artistic Directors.
Cate as we all know is one of the most loved actresses of our generation and is known as the Meryl Streep of modern times. She is in blockbusters and in low budget films and is known for her integrity as an actress and person.
Her husband Andrew Upton is well regarded, very talented and incredibly intelligent. He has vision, creativity and the love of a superstar. What more can one ask for?
Giorgio Armani is an icon. I can't say more than that in fear that the words are not expressed as highly as I would like them to be, so I won't try.
Together Armani and STC put on a yearly event and have done so for the past 3 years to raise funds. There are no B-Grade celebrities in sight like many events that invite celebrities just to have them there.
In the room there are business leaders, cultural experts, creatives, talented actors and singers. Each and every one of these people have something to contribute to the community and to the people around them.
As I looked around, I felt incredibly privileged to have been an invited guest at such an event.
There was Pink who incredibly generously donated her money to the tune of $42k along with her musical talents to sing a song for a donation of over $30k. She was beautiful, fun and looked like she really had a good time with the people who were there.
There were the Packers, Joel Edgerton, Mathew Newton and a host of other equally impressive and talented people.
People talked freely with each other on subjects such as child poverty and of course the arts. Not so much about fashion as one would expect although I couldn't help myself but lead into a conversation about how much of a fan I am of Mr Armani.
We had a delightful young actress at our table, who was a shining example of the people that STC nurture. One day I am sure we will see her on the silver screen. She kindly complemented all the actors who performed that night and clearly is someone who is not only an actress but a good person with no airs or graces.
Companies represented in the room were not just any company, but ones that are aware of the benefits of arts to the community and are generous in their donations to the cause.
I can't ever see this event exploding into one that has 1000's of attendees. It is intimate, private and professional.
I can't help but admire how well it was all orchestrated from the time of arrival to the hilarious MC's, Cate and Andrew's entertaining and meaningful speeches, Justin Millers brilliant auctioning skills (who else knows every name in the room and can coerce anyone into giving a generous donation through his charming and often cheeky demeanour) and the ensemble of talented actors that work for STC.
They even had an office band, who had only practiced their set that day. Oh, my gosh! I could have sat and watched them all day. They were brilliant.
The food was fabulous, the entertainment, simply the best and the company was intelligent, purposeful and genuine.
I do hope to be invited next year and thank both Armani and STC for the good they do for our community.
www.marketingeye.com.au
Having been to this event previously, I knew what to expect. The event and the companies associated with it belong to a brand group. This brand group is what I call the A-List group of companies.
They are brands that are all leaders in their fields in terms of quality, people, community and brand association. They do not sponsor something that doesn't fit directly into their brand paradigm and they don't let their brand be bastardised will-nilly with every event or opportunity that crosses their path.
People want to be associated with their brands. They want to belong, want to be invited and want to have some association in which to leverage their own personal brands.
The two brands that host the event are Armani and the Sydney Theatre Company. Armani is a globally dominant iconic fashion label only the mega wealthy, fashionable and deliciously sophisticated care to wear.
Sydney Theatre Company has over the years been the number one theatre group in Australia but was catapulted into another stratosphere when Oscar Winner and internationally recognised actress Cate Blanchett and her charismatic husband became the Artistic Directors.
Cate as we all know is one of the most loved actresses of our generation and is known as the Meryl Streep of modern times. She is in blockbusters and in low budget films and is known for her integrity as an actress and person.
Her husband Andrew Upton is well regarded, very talented and incredibly intelligent. He has vision, creativity and the love of a superstar. What more can one ask for?
Giorgio Armani is an icon. I can't say more than that in fear that the words are not expressed as highly as I would like them to be, so I won't try.
Together Armani and STC put on a yearly event and have done so for the past 3 years to raise funds. There are no B-Grade celebrities in sight like many events that invite celebrities just to have them there.
In the room there are business leaders, cultural experts, creatives, talented actors and singers. Each and every one of these people have something to contribute to the community and to the people around them.
As I looked around, I felt incredibly privileged to have been an invited guest at such an event.
There was Pink who incredibly generously donated her money to the tune of $42k along with her musical talents to sing a song for a donation of over $30k. She was beautiful, fun and looked like she really had a good time with the people who were there.
There were the Packers, Joel Edgerton, Mathew Newton and a host of other equally impressive and talented people.
People talked freely with each other on subjects such as child poverty and of course the arts. Not so much about fashion as one would expect although I couldn't help myself but lead into a conversation about how much of a fan I am of Mr Armani.
We had a delightful young actress at our table, who was a shining example of the people that STC nurture. One day I am sure we will see her on the silver screen. She kindly complemented all the actors who performed that night and clearly is someone who is not only an actress but a good person with no airs or graces.
Companies represented in the room were not just any company, but ones that are aware of the benefits of arts to the community and are generous in their donations to the cause.
I can't ever see this event exploding into one that has 1000's of attendees. It is intimate, private and professional.
I can't help but admire how well it was all orchestrated from the time of arrival to the hilarious MC's, Cate and Andrew's entertaining and meaningful speeches, Justin Millers brilliant auctioning skills (who else knows every name in the room and can coerce anyone into giving a generous donation through his charming and often cheeky demeanour) and the ensemble of talented actors that work for STC.
They even had an office band, who had only practiced their set that day. Oh, my gosh! I could have sat and watched them all day. They were brilliant.
The food was fabulous, the entertainment, simply the best and the company was intelligent, purposeful and genuine.
I do hope to be invited next year and thank both Armani and STC for the good they do for our community.
www.marketingeye.com.au
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
$17.99 per day and get a Marketing Manager for 12 months!
Wow! When you get a bunch of marketers in a room - ideas fly.
They come up with some of the most amazing ideas, many that need to stay at the bottom of the pile, but one that I am going to bring right to the top.
Think... same as our Marketing Eye great offer of having a Marketing Eye in your business for 12 months, 2 days per month to develop your marketing strategy and implement it... but for just $17.99 per day*.
Exclusive to startup businesses and micro businesses - people who need to use their money for other purposes. No interest. No hidden costs. Same high quality as usual.
* Contract for services lasts for 12 months, Payments of $17.99 per day for 2 years with a balloon of $10,867.30 at the end.
Find out more by ringing 03 9692 7600
They come up with some of the most amazing ideas, many that need to stay at the bottom of the pile, but one that I am going to bring right to the top.
Think... same as our Marketing Eye great offer of having a Marketing Eye in your business for 12 months, 2 days per month to develop your marketing strategy and implement it... but for just $17.99 per day*.
Exclusive to startup businesses and micro businesses - people who need to use their money for other purposes. No interest. No hidden costs. Same high quality as usual.
* Contract for services lasts for 12 months, Payments of $17.99 per day for 2 years with a balloon of $10,867.30 at the end.
Find out more by ringing 03 9692 7600
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