Word of mouth (WoM) is important for all organisations. It is the main source of new business for small and medium enterprises. It is key for the success of niche products, as well as mass market products. So, we really need to understand what drives WoM, don’t you think? Based on my work and … Continue reading The drivers of word of mouth are: them, you and it
Category: Marketing in everyday life
March 2016 round-up
This month felt very much like a Mad Hatter tea party, with quite a bit of nonsense, and weirdness, and twists and turns. At least there was a lot of tea. And cake. These are my highlights for the month that was. Tell me yours, in the comments below. Researching I worked on a … Continue reading March 2016 round-up
On social media, be human and be active
If you are managing a brand’s social media presence, you probably came across recommendations such as ‘interact regularly with your customers on social media’, or ‘humanise your brand’. But does it work? According to a series of studies, conducted by Simon Hudson, Li Huang, Martin S. Roth and Thomas J. Madden, with social … Continue reading On social media, be human and be active
10 amazing tweeps I met in 10 years of Twitter
Twitter turned 10 years old, and I, like many others, have been reflecting on what it means to me. Twitter tells me that I joined it in July 2008. I remember the day, vividly. I was following a thread on an online forum, where academics were sharing experiences of using Second Life, Facebook, Twitter, … Continue reading 10 amazing tweeps I met in 10 years of Twitter
Instagram switching to relevance algorithm – what it means for you
Instagram announced that it is changing the way it presents content in our feeds from reverse chronological order to ‘presumed relevance’. According to the company’s press release: The order of photos and videos in your feed will be based on the likelihood you’ll be interested in the content, your relationship with the person posting and … Continue reading Instagram switching to relevance algorithm – what it means for you
What makes a customer ‘good’?
Customers differ in the value that they generate for the firm. Some generate revenues well above the costs of serving them. Others, a net loss. Others, still, are outright disruptive, engaging in behaviour that is very costly to the firm. Accordingly, the marketing literature (particularly, in the field of relationship marketing) recommends that managers should … Continue reading What makes a customer ‘good’?
Book review: The Smart Sceptic’s Guide to Social Media in Organisations
In January, I received a copy of the book "The Smart Sceptic's Guide to Social Media in Organisations", authored by my former student* Yekemi Otaru. I was very happy to see that she had published a book, building on her many years of experience and her MBA dissertation - and I wasn't disappointed. Here is my … Continue reading Book review: The Smart Sceptic’s Guide to Social Media in Organisations
Consumer trends report (free) by Mintel
Famed market research company, Mintel, published a very interesting report outlining what they see as the five key consumer trends most likely to impact the market (and marketing), in 2016. Here is a brief summary of the key trends discussed in the report. Water shortages across the world will impact on the availability and … Continue reading Consumer trends report (free) by Mintel
February 2016 round-up
I am writing this post from Malta, where I am visiting as part of my post as Chair in Digital Marketing. It is the perfect ending to what was a very convoluted month, in the sense that it is bringing my mind back to research and, in particular, the impact of digitalisation on marketing. I … Continue reading February 2016 round-up
Should marketers create gender targeted products?
I saw the question in the title of this blog post on a professional discussion forum. Here is my reply. As a marketer, the obvious answer is to give your customers what they want. If they want differentiated products, differentiate. If they don’t, then offer gender neutral products. For instance, due to social conventions, … Continue reading Should marketers create gender targeted products?
Ana Canhoto 