Hello,

We know how everything seems to be going online.
We are conducting a research to see if it is viable that businesses or individuals will be willing to pay for the services to manage their reputation online and increase awareness of their products/services through online marketing as well.
What do you think?

Hello.
I am currently in working on handbag designs to be produced locally and sold in Nigeria. I was wondering if anyone could direct me to very good handbag makers in Lagos that can produce my designs with label. Someone that can work with leather and other materials AND WILL NOT DISAPPOINT. I have found out that many Nigerian businesses take things for granted and have really bad service.
Ideas anyone, Please?

Hello.
I am currently in working on handbag designs to be produced locally and sold in Nigeria. I was wondering if anyone could direct me to very good handbag makers in Lagos that can produce my designs with label. Someone that can work with leather and other materials AND WILL NOT DISAPPOINT. I have found out that many Nigerian businesses take things for granted and have really bad service.
Ideas anyone, Please?

Imagine you have a race to run. The track stretches out before you. You do a little jogging to warm up. You are ready. You go down on one knee…on your marks…get set…go!

You run, you run really hard. Half an hour later, you realise that the finish line still seems far off. So you run a little harder. An hour later, you realise that the finish line must be playing tricks on you. It does not seem to be getting closer. You look down and notice to your annoyance that you are only one step away from the starting line. But you’re giving the race your entire energy.
So why are you not getting anywhere?

This metaphor describes many of us in our career. You’ve worked hard at it for three years, five years…and it seems that you are only working so hard but not getting anywhere. Why?

Here are a few reasons to answer your question:

You have not noticed that you are not getting anywhere

If you are in the same situation I was a few years ago then you probably have not realised that your hard work and the results do not equate. If, however, you have come to that point, then you are doing a great job already. Admitting it is the hardest part, but once you get to that point, it can only get better.
Few years ago I was working in a company that went through some sort of financial crises and as a result we (all employees) were not paid for months. The unfortunate thing about my situation is that I kept hoping that things would get better because we heard nothing from the Management. I burned months of saved salary going to the office every day and getting nothing in return. Until one day, I seized control of my mind and stopped the pity-party.
This many not be your situation. It could be that you are moving from one job to another and you have not yet found fulfilment. It may be something else.

What To Do: Stop, Think and Re-strategize
No need working that hard for nothing. I would suggest you stop for a little while, think and re-strategise your race and focus on Point Two.



2. You have not taken time to develop your skills
One of the reasons why you are stuck in your race may be that you are running on a track with thousands of people who are just as good as you are. You are all good but none of you stands out. If you haven’t taken time in the last year to add a new skill to your personal brand, then you are in big trouble. The world is evolving fast and it may soon leave you behind.

What to Do: Equip yourself with New Skills Constantly
Where do you see yourself in the next 5years? This is one trick question HR Managers like to ask candidates at interviews, but in truth, it is one question you should have answered in the safety of your bedroom when looking at yourself in the mirror.
If you know where you are going, you will be able to determine the skills that will lead you to your goal. Do you need to polish your Social Media skills? Writing Skills? Software development skills? Are there new trends in your industry not many people know about?
Remember the Israelites completed a 40day journey in 40years, because they did not develop their listening skills. Take heed and learn from their mistakes.


3. You are running another person’s race

You are bored. This is not your passion. You get to work and set an alarm for 5p.m so you can be among the first people to rush out. Or you want to start up on your own but you don’t have the funds to start you up yet. Well, it is the same story everywhere. But it doesn’t have to be the end of the story. There is always a way out of every situation – it may not be an easy one, but it’s a way all the same.

What To Do: Get Back to your Track!
You may have to stop that race and backtrack a little. What was the initial plan? Why are you here now? How can you get out of it? Do you have what it takes to get out of it?
Focus on number 2 if it helps. If you want to be an entrepreneur and all you need is the motivation, well here is the nudge you need. If it’s the capital to start your business, then you better start saving for the d-day, because it will come and when it does, you want to be armed to the teeth and ready for it.


4. You are being too nice
Are you one of those people that say ‘Yes Sir’ ten times in the morning before your 1st cup of coffee? Are you someone who says ‘Yes’ every single time someone asks you to help out on a task even when your desk is filled with assignments? Are you one who hides at the back in a meeting and wouldn’t raise a hand when a colleague is saying something you think is wrong.
You get the idea. If you are that person, you have a long way to go indeed.


What To Do: Be More Aggressive
When I say nice, I really mean ‘timid’. Being nice is a good thing, but one thing I have learnt in the corporate world (although I learnt it late), being nice is like shooting yourself in the face. Nobody wants to do that. Being nice is like being the office wall paper- you are there but no one notices you.
I suggest you step up your confidence level before your ‘aggressive’ colleague is promoted before you. Learn to be firm. Learn to be aggressive (I hear you snickering at that). Yes, I said it: learn to be aggressive. Like my best friend would say: “you can be replaced anytime”, and if there is the need to promote someone and no one can vouch for your confidence level, guess who they’ll think of first? Definitely not Ms. Goody-too-shoes. You may be good at your job, but can people remember you?

Now when I mean ‘aggressive’ I don’t mean sticking your nose in other people’s business or bugging your boss to death about a new idea you have. I mean saying no when you mean no, reading up on trends in your industry and discussing it confidently with your boss and claiming the glory for a job well done when it is your due.


Finally, invest in yourself wisely. Looks are great. By all means get the latest Prada if it will make you happy or get you a better job. But if it will not get you where you want to be in the next five years, I suggest you save the money and improve on your brain power and confidence.

Do you have any others to add?

http://www.meetifesinachi.com/

You may be asking: Why is it so important to create an emotional connection anyway? After all, if the market loves your product and it fills a need, they will buy it.

You are right. They will buy ‘the product’ if it fills a pressing need.

But, if there are five other products that fill the same need, the market will buy that product, but they might not buy your brand of that product.

Few weeks ago, I wrote about the value of emotional connections. In the post, I explained that there is a much deeper significance to how consumers base their buying decisions. Many times, consumers place emotions over rationality when making decisions. They may know your brand and even trust your brand enough to buy, but if you share their beliefs, values and understand them, they will fall in love with you and be willing to go the extra mile for you. That is the difference between a good brand and a strong brand.

Note that the consumer does not care about you until they know how much you care about them (adapted from John Maxwell’s famous quote). I call it the Love theory. There is a reason why some brands enjoy a cult followership and certain brands enjoy top of the mind awareness in various countries, cutting across varying cultural beliefs and values. Remember the brand that sells happiness? Coca-Cola? Who doesn’t want to be happy? Happiness is a universal language.

So to help you create the same effect, here are four steps you can work on to help you build an emotional connection with your target market:




1. KNOW YOUR DECISION-MAKERS LIKE YOU WOULD YOUR BEST FRIEND

Who would most likely buy your product? And I just don’t mean who will use it, but who will buy it? For example, if you produce baby food, your target market for any marketing effort are not babies, they are the moms who make the decision.

So, back to the decision makers: Are they male or female? Age range? Where do they live? What can they afford? How much do they earn at the end of a year? Why do they buy the product? At what stage are they likely to go looking for your type of product?

Understanding your target market is only a first step that will help build the foundation of an emotional connection.

Note: It is important to narrow your target market as much as possible so you spend resources on people who really need your product.



2. WHAT ARE THEIR VALUES AND BELIEFS?

Now you know who would most likely buy your product. Next, it is important to understand the psychological drivers of your target market. Regarding your product, what are the values and beliefs that are generally held within the target market?

Take for instance, the Old Spice commercial below, why do you think it gained over 28million hits on Youtube? Do you think it ties to the fact that the brand was selling a fantasy? What fantasies or dreams do your audience have? What are their fears? What challenges them?

List these out. We will call these the psychological drivers.



3. WHAT PHYSICAL FEATURES IN YOUR PRODUCT PROVIDE THE MOST BENEFITS TO YOUR TARGET MARKET?

The third stage is to look inwards at your own product. Sure there are many features that provide different meanings to your target market, but there is usually one feature that provides the most benefit. What is that feature?

For example, if you produce battery operated fans, you may have long battery life and options for battery and electricity usage. If you are in Nigeria, which of these features would provide the most benefits to your target market?

Remember that these benefits have to be in context with your target market outlined in Step 1.



4. LINK THOSE BENEFITS TO SHARED VALUES AND BELIEFS TO DETERMINE EMOTIONAL CONNECTION

Finally, connect these benefits to the answer in stage 2. This is the link and where the connection most likely lies in. Ask the most important question of all: how does this If you have done a great job in the previous stages, this won’t be difficult and you should experience a Eureka! moment.

Don’t just stop there however. You have to build your brand and marketing strategy and advertising to reflect the emotional connection with your target market.


More of these smart marketing articles, click here: http://smartmarketingforbrands./about/[b][/b]

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We have heard cases of proposals thrown out of the window because it was poorly written or did not offer the right benefits.

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Ask on www.fabulous-city.com and get an expert to answer your question.
Good luck!

Ask on www.fabulous-city.com and get an expert to answer your question.
Goodluck!