Arrogance unlimited

Is it the fact that a large chunk of employees of government organizations hate serving people, or is it that they really hate working? Is it that they have a bad rapport with their boss, or is that they are paid very less? Is it hatred towards consumers, or is it plain arrogance?... There could be numerous questions that could be added on to get more inquisitive about a government or nationalised employee’s reason to be serving consumers the way he/she does. 

Ironically it is the consumer at a government office who needs to be polite, needs to wait, needs to pay more (bribe) for a particular service and even worse gets told off for questioning about a particular product. I only wonder the fate of the same set of employees if they served in private organizations. Employees who constantly act as an interface to consumers are considered one of the most important touch points for an organization, and any wrong doing on their part would affect its (company’s) reputation. Disciplining such employees is a major step that needs to be taken by the government, for if the same scenario continues, there would be hell to pay as consumers would start finding simpler and better ways to gratify their needs.

Muslim Rage and Christian Arrogance: A Time for Reason, Repentance and Dialogue.

Children - Floating Signifiers of advertising

It is essential for us marketers to understand the phrase or concept termed ‘Signifier’ with respect to marketing communication. ‘When an object or image is shown in a particular context in order to refer to some underlying meaning, it is a signifier of that meaning’. For instance, the use of Yuvraj Singh in marketing communiqués may signify the meaning of style, performance, etc. Marketers need to be vigilant while strategically placing these signifiers within the framework of a particular advertisement, through which they would be able to transfer meaning from the signifier to the product being communicated.

The focus of this post is on children being portrayed as floating signifiers. Commercials featuring children attempt to convey different sets of emotions and meaning which the kid being showcased in the Ad is intended to represent. These kids are expected to prompt a certain feeling or concept which has been tapped pretty well by most marketers. The most relevant feeling or emotion of the audience (target market) that a child can often tap is the cute, heart-warming attraction towards himself/herself and in turn towards the product being advertised. Children are also used in advertisements as referents to the future, purity and innocence, responsibility, chaos and fun. Check ads of Airtel and Vodafone that have been victorious in winning consumers’ attention. Having said this, it is an uphill task or an impossible one for marketers to appeal to audiences’ other emotions which could be - sense of identity with the endorser, confidence in the endorser, etc considered very vital in creating an unforgettable brand

However, it needs to be made clear that a child to become a regular brand endorser is difficult as the audiences tend to negate repetition, hence lowering brand recall and awareness. Children are better of being used as brand faces than being employed as brand ambassadors.

And remember everything depends on the context (product being advertised, target audience, brand positioning, etc.)!!

The Power of Will

The power of will helps a constant smoker quit gradually; the power of will enables a boyfriend who is heart-broken get over his cheating girlfriend; the power of will generates oodles of energy to a sick person who recovers speedily than expected. Yes, it is the power of will that reduces the procrastinating nature of individuals and overcome their lethargic nature so as to desire and drive oneself towards prosperity and achieve the unimaginable.

Marketers with the same will power could gain success for their firms through persistent planning and follow up of the same. I know, however, that it is the Plan that matters more than the will power; but the fact is both go hand in hand and what big can a plan achieve with absolutely zero endurance and the will to stick to it even after certain failed attempts. There are many such firms that have gained popularity not just because of their ability to strike good with their marketing strategies but also because of their will power that ensures persistence, determination and belief.

The real constitution of the living being

‘When Sanatana Gosvami asked Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu about svarupa (the real constitution of the living being), the Lord replied that the real constitution of the entity is to render service to the Lord. Extending this, we see that one being serves another living being in some capacity and thus enjoys its life. There is no exception to service in this society of living beings. The politician convinces the voter of his capacity for service and thus gets his job. The artisan serves the merchant; the store owner serves his customer. In fact no living being is exempted from rendering service to others. Service, then, is a constant companion of the living being, and so we may conclude that rendering service is the eternal religion of the eternal living entity.’

An excerpt from the ‘Bhagvad-gita – As It Is’ delves into the constitution of the living beings and the manifestation given by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If every marketer adapts this theory and personifies it as a practise to be followed by every employee in the organisation, the corporate world would be a better place, at least from the consumers’ perspective. This is exactly what is lacking in corporates and hence leading consumers into frustration. Out of one such frustration that I experienced, I had pointed out on how rendering service has to be the main motto of every firm in one of my previous posts. Firms must read this line everyday that’d help them achieve consumer gratification - 'Service, then, is a constant companion of the living being, and so we may conclude that rendering service is the eternal religion of the eternal living entity'. Doing this would give real meaning to the existence of the company, the employees, and the products and services they generate.

‘Enjoy serving! As every service you’d render would make the Supreme Lord happy and satisfied.’

Too Simple but makes sense

A BDE does more than just selling

I took up a test today called ‘the self analysis test’ that digs deep into student’s strengths majorly on his/her domain and behavioural skills. Also, there could be certain other questions incorporated in it too. There was one particular question that grabbed my attention the most which sounded something like this – what role does a Business Development Professional play that enables overall growth for a company? The most obvious answer is that a BDE (Business Development Executive) generates revenues through increased sales and this has to be a BDE’s major and foremost objective.

Well, is that it? Nope, a BDE does more than this. He is considered as one of the major touch points for consumers who would be judged based on his appearance and his proficiency in handling clients. This judgement goes a long way in the clients’ re-visiting the firm for a repeat purchase or not. He also acts as an internal brand ambassador who indirectly is involved in brand building activities where he represents one of the crucial promotional tools (personal selling). A BDE also acts as a co-ordinating link among various departments of a firm as he is required to interact with every business function.

A Business Development Executive does not only generate sales, he also is indirectly responsible for innumerable deeds that bring about unparalleled growth for a firm.

Unconventional yet acknowledged