If you want to be successful in business, you need to stand out! Be remarkable! Here are 8 ways to help you stand out from your competition:

1. Make a wish list from your customers’ point of view – what would make your product or service even better? (and better than your competition!). Have a look at your product reviews - they will tell you a lot about what they like and don't like. Then come up with the wish list.
   
2. Focus on a niche market that is different from your competition and offer a product tailored to the needs of the customers in that niche.
3. Who are your best customers? (I mean the ones that LOVE your product, are happy to pay the price you set and tell lots of people about it) How can you get more of them?
4. Offer better service than your competition (this one should really be at the top!!)
5. Have a clear point of difference from a customer’s perspective. What are the reasons your customers would recommend you?
6. Offer a high end (exclusive) version of your product.
7. Make it easier and more convenient for people to buy or book your product than your competition’s. (that’s good service too!)
8. Think of ways you could make your product either the best, the cheapest, the most exclusive, the fastest, the slowest, the newest, the oldest, the biggest, the smallest etc. and ensure it’s different from your competition.

Brainstorm the above with your team - you'll be amazed at how you can improve and stand out from your competition!

Till next week, Marijke

Have you ever had to come up with a name for a new business or product? If you have, you know it’s not an easy thing.
There aren’t really any rules when it comes to business or product names, but there are some things to think about that will make it easier. Whether you are setting up a new business or are developing a new product, you’ll have it for a while (hopefully)…

Here are some tips to help you come up with a good  name:

The do’s:
•    Make sure the name is simple, easy to pronounce, memorable and easy to spell.
•    Research the web, the companies websites etc. to ensure the name isn’t already taken
•    Ensure the domain name you want is available (and relates to your name – preferably the same word as your name so it’s easy to find online)
•    Ensure it’s different from your competition
•    If you’re considering trademarking the name, ensure someone else hasn’t already done so

The don’t’s:
•    Stay away from negative connotations
•    Make sure the name doesn’t mean something negative or inappropriate in other languages
•    Don’t restrict your name too much (with the eye on future growth) or limit yourself to a place name (in case you move!)

Ideas on how to generate names:
•    Brainstorm words that relate to the product / service
•    Words that relate to the benefits for the customer
•    Words that relate to the values/quality of the company and products
•    Words related to colours, animals, plants, your industry, your types of customers etc.
•    Use a thesaurus to look up related names/words
•    Consider combining words
•    Ensure your name is meaningful rather than too generic
•    Use adjectives
•    Use humour
•    Does it evoke emotion?

A little plug for the 2016 Marketing for Success Programme, starting in April. Don't miss it if you want to bring your business to the next level! Click here for more info!

Till next week, Marijke

Following onto the Marketing Tip I wrote a couple of months ago on how to improve your customer experience http://www.marketingwhizz.com/weekly-marketing-tip/june-30th-2015 , I have a little follow up story as an example.
Last week I spent a week in Auckland visiting inbound operators on behalf of my Smartourism Marketing Group (www.smartourism.co.nz ). I stayed in a nice downtown hotel and was kindly upgraded to a lovely refurbished room.
I was impressed with the lovely décor, amenities and features such as this bathroom light switch next to the bed. Now this is clever thinking & design.

I thought: wow, this hotel was really been thinking about the guest experience when they redesigned the rooms (and invested a considerable amount of money!).
Until I wanted to boil the jug for a cuppa. I picked up the jug, walked to the bathroom to fill it up. I put it under the tap and tried to fill it. Unfortunately the tap was too low and when I pulled the jug away, all the water ran out. So I had to fill it up with a glass.

What a shame... They thought through a lot of their features, but not everything.

So, how do your customers experience your business, products, experience, service etc. Put a system in place to check your customer experience regularly. And when you change anything (or refurbish), test it thoroughly to avoid mistakes as mentioned above!

Have a great week :)!
Marijke

Wow, this is quite exciting! Soon we’ll have the opportunity to vote for a new flag! Here in New Zealand, a referendum to decide on our new flag will be held at the end of the year. And in my opinion, we need a new one! One that clearly identifies and defines us.

(Even google just got a new logo after 17 years!)

The other day, I received a flyer in the mail with the top 40 flag designs. Some were nice, some average and others pretty awful!

So, what is the right flag for New Zealand?

Ok, this is what I think, and I think it’s quite simple. When it comes to your identity – your brand - , whether it’s your business' or your country’s, it needs to be consistent. Otherwise, how will people ever remember or recognise you?

Our flag is a great opportunity to consistently promote our beautiful country, whether it be for trade, tourism, sports etc. We need it as a small country. So we need to do this in a smart way.

I must say that from a marketing perspective, I am proud of the way NZ has profiled itself over the years with some great consistent branding. I really can't think of any other country that has done this well, apart from NZ.

Have a look at the slideshow below – this is how NZ sports teams, tourism and government agencies and companies have profiled themselves for years.

Then have a look at the top 4 flag options at the top. Forget about the blue and the red... it’s pretty obvious isn’t it? It's how NZ already has been profiled for years already! Simple really...

I’d love to hear your comments or fill in the survey below!

Till next week, Marijke

I love it when I see a creative idea when traveling. I’ve just spent a couple of weeks in Holland, where millions of cyclists can be seen around the place. The majority of school kids bike to school and many adults bike to work as well. It’s the main mode of transportation in the Netherlands. Everyone bikes!

One of the problems that occurs when children cycle to school is that they tend to drop litter. Here's a solution to the problem: a "blikvanger" or "can catcher". On routes used by a lot of children to get to school you find these litter bins for cyclists to throw their litter into without stopping. They love it, as it’s fun throwing things into it!

These “can catchers” can also be found in nature reserves, shopping malls, sports facilities, outdoor concerts etc.

Apart from being a fun and creative way to solve the litter problem, it also creates awareness of how much litter would otherwise end up on the side of the road and other areas.

Now, you see more and more of these “can catchers” around the place, it’s great! And what a creative way to solve this problem!