The Engaging Brand

Show #283 - Social Media and Customer Retention

Anna Farmery — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:43:42 -0500

Motivation behind flip the channel
How retaining the customer should be at the core of your business strategy
The need to fuse word of mouth and customer service
Technology should bring out the humanity of your company
The real role of social media - customer retention
How to scale from 150 to 150,000 "friends" of the brand
Difference between customer service and servicing the customer
Is the business the social object or the process of buying?
Don't take employees for granted

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Show 282 - How to manage your energy through thoughts

Anna Farmery — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:52:12 -0500

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We discuss

What is energy of thought?
Are thoughts contagious?
How you can manage your thought process
Are negative thoughts more powerful than positive thoughts?
How to neutralize a negative thought
Techniques to manage negative meetings or negative people
Do negative thoughts drain energy?
Are there negative thoughts which are good for us?

Show 281 - The Google Way

Anna Farmery — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:22:51 -0500

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Why is there a fascination with Google?
How Google can be seen as non comformist
The idea of a gift exchange economic model
How they are creating new marketplaces for new revenue generation
Why has Google been successful with the free model?
The talent management system at Google
The reputation model of Google HR system
The concept of 20% of time spent on own projects
The peer review system of Google
Importance of real time data

Show 280 - The Challenges of B2B Marketing

Anna Farmery — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 08:12:13 -0500

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Is Business to business marketing different to business to consumer?
Is B2B marketing easier?
The subjectivity of a marketing strategy.
Is a marketing strategy in B2B best built over the medium term?
How B2B marketing is about all functions
The friendship model of marketing
In these recessionary times what should professional services be doing?
Outside trust starts with inside honesty.

Show #279 - Jack Trout on Marketing

Anna Farmery — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:54:42 -0500

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Do people overcomplicate marketing?
What Jack means by repositioning?
How to evolve your marketing brand over time.
How to recognise a marketing strategy going wrong
The importance of living and thinking outside the company
How to create innovation
How to be innovative within functions
Is there a risk of changing for change sake
How to win the argument for change
How to develop your marketing skills

Show #278 - How to be a great public speaker

Anna Farmery — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:23:39 -0500

How do you define the role of a public speaker
How speaking is "intimacy of the mind"
The process of creating a great speech
How to combat nerves when speaking
How to write a good presentation
How to find a rythmn
The development of Obama as a speaker
How to deal with speaking when you are promoted at work
Does a speaker have to be good with words?

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Show #277 - Beating the commodity trap in marketing

Anna Farmery — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:56:03 -0500

We discuss

Do commodities make markets honest?
What are the positive aspects of commodities?
How do you recognise as a marketing department when your product/service is becoming a commodity?
The effect of retailers on creating a commodity.
3 forms of commodity traps
Is profitability or market share growth your marketing aim?
How to succeed in beating a commodity trap

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Show #276 - Am I the only sane one working here

Anna Farmery — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 08:50:33 -0500

How we need to think about the context not just the content of our conversations at work
How to handle control freak bosses
How too much honesty is not always a good thing
How to handle a micro manager
How to handle a political animal
The best way to get someone to change behaviour
The importance of self awareness
How to handle team members with no people skills
The problem with offices and people working together

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Show #275 - How to stay younger and feel sharper

Anna Farmery — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:26:35 -0500

Why we lose the wisdom of youth as we grow older?
How society has changed from wanting to be like your parent, to wanting to be like your child.
Are there good aspects of growing older?
The distinction between ageing and maturity.
What is adaptive navigation?
How to get out of a rut
How changing habits can change perspective
Plan your life as if you don't have much to lose
Why living to the future is better than living in the past
How people can be a blood supply to your brain
The need for reflection

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Show 274 - How to succeed as an entrepreneur

Anna Farmery — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:09:56 -0500

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How to fight boredom as an entrepreneur
How to make work more interesting
Don't isolate yourself in the business
The importance of mentoring
Is starting a risk or is it risk averse?
The difference between cost and value when deciding on bringing in outside experts to the business
Why you should see suppliers as external employees
Learnings on how to manage talent
How to grow as a leader when talent leaves the business
When to say no to a customer
The importance of searching for weakness in the business
The importance of charitable giving

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Show #273 - How we are all connected Pt2

Anna Farmery — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:23:13 -0500

What should you giveaway free?
Discussion around how human nature views free
What motivated Radiohead to give their album away free?
Is it better to break the rules or follow the social media rules
Why is podcasting so exciting?
How to engage people through meaningful questions
How to help people see the world differently
What makes 'good social media'
What will be the future of media

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Show #272 - How we are all connected Pt1

Anna Farmery — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:19:40 -0500

Our conversation covers

How we are all connected
How can we ensure that we don't take our connections for granted
Has social media brought a complexity of thinking because of its simplicity!
Has context overtaken content as king in social media
How social media is not about no control but know control
Why you should let people steal your ideas

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Show #271 - How to engage people on the web

Anna Farmery — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:15:50 -0500

A discussion around their social media marketing handbook called Friends with Benefits.

The secrets of working together
How do you engage people with your social media strategy
What is meant by creating a tribe around your brand
How to find people who might want to engage with our brand
The difficulties of using Facebook within your social media strategy
Why to contact bloggers to talk about your brand
How to find the right bloggers to talk about your brand
How to engage bloggers with your brand

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Show #270 - How to cope with change

Anna Farmery — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:12:23 -0500

We talk about concepts in his new book Growing @ The Speed of Change

Why humans cannot cope with change
What makes our own reality
The link between change and quantum physics!
How the dynamics of human relationships work
Have we commoditised communication because of the amount of tools we have available?
Practical tips on coping with change in your life
How not to let other people to "should" on you - how to not let the expectations of others affect our life.
How our own self confidence affects how we can cope with change

And a HUGE THANK YOU to all the listeners who nominated for The Engaging Brand podcast as the BEST BUSINESS PODCAST!!....Don't forget to vote from the 13th November...at The Podcast Awards site.

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Show #269 - 3 Steps to Design Thinking

Anna Farmery — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:52:28 -0500

Are the permanence of roles and job titles stifling business today?
Life is a series of projects
3 stage funnel of design thinking
How reinvestment of time saved is vital for design thinking
Is the skills gap in management and leadership about finding the customer mysteries to solve or knowing the actions to take?
Is there an optimum time between the stages of thinking?
Do you need to be a design thinker to implement design thinking?
Why the education system fails our society

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Show #268 Psychotactics of Online Marketing

Anna Farmery — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:13:45 -0400

Today we talk about the psychology behind online marketing

What is meant by psychotactics?
Is marketing really psychology in disguise?
Is it a case of expressing your psychology or connecting with customers psychology?
What is the psychology behind successful websites?
How to use a filtering style of questioning to understand your business.
How to create engaging articles for customers?
How to find inspiration for writing articles?
When you write for brand engagement - are you writing for yourself or others?
Why strategy is not critical to success!

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Show #267 The Truth about Trust

Anna Farmery — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:18:13 -0400

Is trust a basic human need and do we need to trust ourselves before we trust in others?
Do we understand what we trust in?
Are individuals hard wired to trust different things?
What gives leaders the trustability factor?
The anatomy of a trustworthy leader
How you don't need to be liked to be trusted.
Gender differences in trust
How perfomance management is key part of being a trusted leader.

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Show #266 - Secrets of Unlearning to Learn

Anna Farmery — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:53:03 -0400

On this weeks marketing and leadership podcast we talk about

How to grow and develop you need to 'unlearn'
How can you learn to unlearn
How do we recognise when our brains are hard wired and not thinking freely in business?
How to evolve to create success in business
Is change in the business world really quicker than it ever has been?
How successful leaders need to embrace ambiguity
Practical steps on unlearning
How to remove the boundaries to our thinking

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Show 265 - Meaning of Radical Design

Anna Farmery — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:03:53 -0400

We talk about

People buy meaning not products
How to innovate with meaning
How do you interpret meaning?
How do you design something people want?
Don't sell a product, propose an idea to a customer
How often it is better not to be close to customers to design well!
How design is not necessarily about technology
How radical design transitions customers from one world to another
How adults give meaning to a product
Is design an outcome rather than a process

I also mention The Podcast Awards - if you enjoy the show a vote for Best Business Podcast would be fab!!

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Show #264 - The Next Evolution of Marketing

Anna Farmery — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:29:52 -0400

Today I talk with Bob Gilbreath about marketing with meaning. I really enjoyed his new book

The Next Evolution of Marketing which is crammed full of examples of how companies can give the marketing itself meaning and how they are adding value to the consumers world through their marketing. We talk about

How marketing research shows that advertising can actually turn a consumer off your brand
How marketing itself has to have meaning
3 steps of how to connect with your consumers by marketing with meaning
Do samples and offers add meaning to your consumers life?
How the context is so important in marketing
How to determine the connection method for the brand- experience, social networking, contributions etc ?
The concept of achievement with marketing with meaning

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Don't forget to subcribe to the show and if you have feedback for me on the show or topics that you would like me to cover then e-mail me at anna@theengagingbrand.com or join me on twitter.

Show #263 - Celebritize Yourself!

Anna Farmery — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:34:54 -0400

Today on The Engaging Brand marketing podcast we talk about

What do we mean by celebrity?
The importance of personal branding
How to be seen as an expert in your field.
Does everyone need a high degree of self confidence to celebritize themselves?
How a book can help your personal brand
How a book is in a sense the new business card
Tips on how to promote yourself
How to handle press interviews
Is there a difference in how to prepare for an interview across the various media channels - internet, TV, radio etc

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Show #262 - What is a logo?

Anna Farmery — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:24:53 -0400

I talk on today's marketing podcast with Nick Noon of Logoinn, a design services company. I wanted to understand more about how a logo enhances the brand and engagement with the brand.

We discuss

What is a logo?
What is a logo trying to portray?
How to design a logo
How the demographics of the target customers affects the logo design
How important is the font?
Do certain colours go with specific industries?
What are the big mistakes people make with logo's?
Tips for successful logo design
How to evolve a logo

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Show 261 - The Sociology of Community Pt2

Anna Farmery — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:00:00 -0400

Today we discuss

Are we losing the ability to create communities?
Do human beings need to belong to a community?
At what point is a community a social network?
Is a virtual world a community?
Is social networking a good thing for society?
What social skills do we need to evolve for the future?
Has community become the ultimate in personalisation - My community ?

Don't forget to subcribe to the show in iTunes or on the Blubrry site.

If you have feedback for me on the show or topics that you would like me to cover then e-mail me at anna@theengagingbrand.com or join me on twitter.
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Show #260 - The Sociology of Community Pt1

Anna Farmery — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:30:00 -0400

I invited Dr Vince Miller on to the podcast to talk about the sociology. This is the first part of the interview - watch out for the second part tomorrow.Today we discuss

What is social networking about? Self promotion or connection?
What is a community?
How the need to connect may be driven by capitalism
How social life reflects our work life insecurities.

Don't forget to subcribe to the show so that you don't miss the second part of the show.

If you have feedback for me on the show or topics that you would like me to cover then e-mail me at anna@theengagingbrand.com or join me on twitter.

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Show #259 - Social Networking Brand Case Study

Anna Farmery — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:22:19 -0400

Why use social networking to build a brand
Is the site to connect readers to readers or brand to readers?
How the site is seen as a hub of information rather than a website
How you attract people to the community
Why is social networking so important in brand engagement
Are there different strategies for different social media tools?
How to protect yourself legally on giving advice on a social networking site
The importance of measurement and tips on how to measure the success of social networking
How to choose keywords to attract consumers
How consumers are becoming more "intelligent" about social media
How they provide tools for their consumers to share between themselves

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Show #258 Guide to Brain Fitness

Anna Farmery — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:52:17 -0400

We talk about

What is brain fitness?
Why learning is physical
The importance of learning how to learn.
How experiences aid learning
The importance of regulating your emotion
How social interaction is needed for a healthy brain.
Do some people have higher natural brain fitness than others?
The key facets to a maintaining healthy brain

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Show #257 - Strategy for Sustainability

Anna Farmery — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:20:43 -0400

I talk with Adam Werbach in this marketing podcast about

What is a strategy for sustainability - is sustainability a strategy or a means to an end?
How sustainability is imperative for business survival.
Does sustainability cover the changing human demographics?
The need to realise that the human demographic shift will affect consumers as well?
Will big business models survive?
What is the role of business in changing our behaviours vs the Government vs the individual?
How do you create engagement on sustainablity.
The risk of seeing sustainability as a marketing tool.
How do you create a message which is not telling or preaching?
Is the web or social media part of the sustainability answer or problem?
Will the world be utopian if sustainability is found?

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Show 256 - Reward and Recogntion for Employees

Anna Farmery — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 05:44:22 -0400

How important is reward and recognition for employee performance?
Is recognition the same as reward?
How money is NOT the no 1 recognition factor for employees.
Is recognition more important in a recession?
How do you create an engaging employee reward system?
How do you ensure that the employee recognition is not subjective?
How you launch a reward program?
What kind of rewards should you think about?
Can you have a social networking element to the reward system?

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Show #255 - Brand Engagement Through Virtual Gifts

Anna Farmery — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:23:13 -0400

We talk about

Using virtual goods as part of your brand strategy
What is the size of the virtual gift market?
What is the financial model for virtual gifts?
Are virtual gifts about marketing awareness or reveune generating?
How do you measure brand engagement?
How to design shareable virutal gifts
How can you control where your virtual gift is shown?
What do you define as social networking sites?
The power of user generated consumer targetting
How do people find out about the virtual good?
Do virtual gfts work across all marketing sectors?
Can virtual goods be used internally?

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Show #254 - Is Your Talent Managed Strategically?

Anna Farmery — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:02:12 -0400

We talk about

What is a Differentiated Workforce?
How can you create a differentiated talent strategy without demotivating people?
Is there a difference between people being valuable to the team and strategically valuable?
How the companies need to keep pace with what is happening in their markets
How do you define how the workforce contributes to the competitive advanantage?
How to change a political culture
How a leader can attract the best talent

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Show #253 - Marketing is dead, long live marketing

Anna Farmery — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:58:59 -0400

We discuss

The importance of profit and the 4 P's of marketing
Do we need to rethink how we build our marketing departments?
How marketing is a craft - a mixture of science and art.
Discussion about retailer consolidation and consumer fragmentation and the effect on marketing
Does retailer price pressure affect innovation?
A discussion on the relative importance of TV,newspapers and radio on marketing campaigns.
Is there a greater degree of luck in marketing today?
Tips on approaching a marketing campaign.
Has the benefit of mass moved from production to advertising to the consumer?
What does customisation mean?

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Show #252 - Intent is the New Demographic

Anna Farmery — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400

A great interview today with Tyler Pennock of Ruder Finn to discuss Why People Use The Web. This article at BuzzNetworker was based on the research which found that intent is the new demographic and you can try out their research tool at the Intent Index.

In this part of the interview we talk about

How intent is the new demographc
How understanding intent is critical to engagement
The role of intent in marketing strategy
How 72% of people go online to be part of a community
Are the popular web properites driving community or is the growth from a consumer need?
How the ratio of socialising to shopping is 2:1 in the research
How people are looking for entertainment on the web...but what is entertaining? With 82% of we users wanting to entertain and 48% want to be entertained
Is there a blurring between what is shopping and what is socialising on the web?
How 80% of people are looking to the web to learn
How women particularly need a way of personal expression on your site
How socialising can be as easy as listening for companies
The need to create the perception of listening - or aggregate your listening.

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Show #251 - How connection determines our place in society Pt2

Anna Farmery — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:29:32 -0400

In this part of the interview we talk about

Stop thinking about offline and online networking - think inline networking
The 4 P's of great networking
How do you embrace the technology within businesses across the different generations
How to become a connected business
It's not who you know, it is who you know who knows who you want to know!
Thoughts on Linked In
The balance between your professional and personal profile
Having boundaries around your online personal profile
The good and bad sides of connectedness

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Show #250 - How connection determines our place in society Pt1

Anna Farmery — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:03:22 -0400

This is the first part of an interview with Iggy Pintado on his business book Connection Generation. This book looks at the history of how we connect, how there are several connection profiles, how connection determines our place in society and then tips on how to be a "super- connector"

In this part of the interview we talk about

How the internet has changed the way we think about connections
Has the internet changed the way we connect or how we connect?
Is the internet a new society?
The different connection profiles (based on Iggy's research)
Does everyone NEED to be a super connector?
How to be an effective connector

Don't forget to subcribe to the show so you don't miss Part 2!
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Show #249 - How Green is Your Strategy?

Anna Farmery — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:00:34 -0400

An interview with Andrew Winston who writes and speaks about how business should incorporate green into their business strategy.

Why it makes sense for business to be thinking green during a recession
How business should approach a green strategy
How green is not radical - just common business sense
How you engage employees to make strategic changes
How to craft a green marketing story
How there are two appoaches to innovation towards a green approach
How learning from older traditional methods can save money!
How leaders and managers can learn from nature.
How business needs to accelerate green innovation during the rescession

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Show #248 How to Spot the Innovative Ideas

Anna Farmery — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:17:30 -0400

This is an interview with Karl Ulrich who has written a thought provoking business book called Innovation Tournaments - check out the official website for the book as there are many free innovation tools to use

What is innovation REALLY?
Why people struggle with innovation
Does innovation have to create value to be successful?
Value in innovation is not necessarily about profit
How innovation is about searching for opportunities
What are innovation tournaments?
Is innovation a fusion of crowdsourcing and brainstorming?
How to address the defensive mindset within business.
How you need to remain chronically dissatisfied to be innovative.
How a commodity business creates the chance for innovation!
Discussion about how small business is well set for innovation - but be aware!
How brand extension can cannibalise your profit under the guise of innovation
Pitfalls to watch out for in filtering ideas

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Show #247 - Lessons from Fast Company Founder Pt2

Anna Farmery — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:21:33 -0400

This is the second part of the interview with Alan Webber the founder of Fast Company

If you haven't listened to Show 246 - listen to Alan's Webber's rules of thumb for business here.

On this podcast we talk about

How Alan Webber believes leaders in business need to change their mindset.
The emphasis on the right question rather than the right answer
The balance of providing answers with asking the right questons
How Barack Obama has changed the way of providing answers
Thoughts on how UK media is leading the way on social media
How Fast Company based their customer experience on a rock album model
The Importance of putting on a performance in business

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Show 246 - Lessons From Fast Company Founder

Anna Farmery — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:17:11 -0400

An interview with Alan Webber the founder of Fast Company and who has just written a fabulous new business book called Rules of Thumb.

On this podcast we talk about

How Alan Webber saw the Fast Company experience
How there are teachers everywhere in the world
Learn to see the world through the eyes of the consumer
What business can learn from the film industry
Creating a company of friends
How you need to reframe the picture for the consumer
The importance of relational thinking

Don't forget to subcribe to the show in iTunes

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Show #245 - How to make work optional

Anna Farmery — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:48:12 -0400

n interview with Frank Armstrong of Investor Solutions who has written about the retiremenet challenge and talks us through how to gain financial independence. His site Sink Swim is a wealth of tools to help you plan for your future. In this interview we talk about

What is the retirement challenge?
How to calculate what you need to make work optional
Why people don't think about retirement
The need for companies to educate their employees
How engagement comes from financial independence
How to plan for retirement
How do you pick a retirement expert to trust
How do you define risk
Has the global rescession affected our risk

If you have feedback for me on the show or topics that you would like me to cover then e-mail me at anna@theengagingbrand.com or join me on twitter.

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Show #244 - Make Your Customers Stick

Anna Farmery — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:07:27 -0400

An interview with Jim Champy, one of the leading modern management and business thinkers. Also worth checking out a previous podcast interview I did with Jim on How to Gain Competitive Advantage. We talk about concepts in his new business book Inspire!

Why Jim feels it is great news for business that the web has given control to customers.
How successful business models are often a case of back to the future
How old fashioned values are returning
3 concepts: customer collaboration, big risk and 'cheap luxury'
How creating an emotional connection is often based on 'old values' such as simplicity
How brand premium can be created through removing complexity.
The need for fearlessness and seeing business risk as an everyday part of business
If risk is critical how will the financial meltdown affect small business
How lay offs encourage entrepreneurship
Create a crusade to engage customers - a marketing campaign is not enough.
The need for truthful marketing

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Show #243 - Creating an Innocent Brand Pt2

Anna Farmery — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:41:36 -0400

The first part about building the innocent brand was published earlier this week and this second part of the podcast interview covers the social media aspects of brand building

How did Innocent Drinks approach social media?
How do Innocent approach customer feedback from social media?
How did corporate social responsibility become part of the brand strategy?
Why social media is an important part of the customer relationship.
How does Innocent maintain the fun vibe during the recession?
The relationship between creativity and cash
The Simon Cowell trick to management! (Didn't see that one coming :))
What did he think of the Walkers advertising campaign

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Show #242 - Creating an Innocent Brand Pt1

Anna Farmery — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:44:52 -0400

Richard Reed of Innocent Drinks a truly inspirational entrepreneur, speaks about branding and social media.

How does the brand stay innocent as the business grows?
Are there difficulties internally with a brand called innocent?
How has the company nurtured the 'talkability' factor of the brand - do they have a gossip marketing strategy?
Is Innocent a brand, a business or a dream?
How does the lifestyle element of the brand, help the brand?
How an entrepreneurial spirit is helped by creating the dream rather than just making money.
How is the web changing the way Innocent looks at value?

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Show #241- The Story of the Playboy Brand Pt2

Anna Farmery — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:49:44 -0400

Today is the second part of the interview with Susan Gunelius about her research into a new book about the growth of the Playboy brand (The book is not out until Septemeber so don't tell anyone about the podcast!) and how Hugh Hefner created such a powerful global brand and marketing success. You can listen to the first part of the Engaging Brand podcast here.

In the second part we talk about

The irony of Hugh Hefners daughter taking over at Playboy
How Playboy was not about the exploitation of women.
Is there a time and place for brands?
Is there a disposable brand or business lifecycle?
Has the brand come to an end - and now its success lies in iconic brand status?
What happens when Hugh Hefner is no longer part of Playboy?
The importance of understanding the environment the brand has to perform in.
Is Playboy an example of just because a brand can extend - it shouldn't go too far?
The marketing opportunity for Playboy with women.
What lifestyle brands offer business

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Show #240 - The Story of the Playboy Brand Pt1

Anna Farmery — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:38:51 -0400

Anna Farmery talks to Susan Gunelius about the Playboy story and how Hugh Hefner created the brand. Susan has written a new marketing book - not out until September - which outlines the impressive brand story.

The Engaging Brand podcast is sponsored by Gotomeeting and you can check out the latest information at www.theengagingbrand.com

Show #239 - Growing Business Dominance of India

Anna Farmery — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:01:55 -0400

Nirmalya Kumar is Professor of Marketing, Director of Centre for Marketing, and Co-Director for Aditya V. Birla India Centre at London Business School. Nirmalya has just written a business book on India as a global powerhouse and talks us through his perspectives on how India is growing.

Sponsored by Gotomeeting. Find out more about Anna's work at The Engaging Brand Blog

Show 238 - Making Money on a Global Scale

Anna Farmery — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:33:31 -0400

Today I talk Omar Khan of Sensei International, a global leadership development and consulting firm that operates all over the world. Omar has just co-written a book called The Global Consultant - How to make seven figures across borders. You can also read Omar's blog called The Global Consultant. I ask Omar

You can intellectually learn about the world but you must emotionally experience the world as well.
What is the difference between emotional connection and research?
How your aim must be to have a virtual presence and as Peter Drucker said "Presence does not rely on physical proximity"
How problems are global when human dynamics are involved.
Should you message transcend borders or be tailored - and tips on how to create the right message.
How you uild momentum after an event?
What is the diffference between energised confidence and arrogance?

You can listen to my previous discussions with Omar on Global Leadership or Liberating Passion within Business.

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Show #237 - Marketing Online Tips and Trends

Anna Farmery — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:06:40 -0400

Today I talk with Sabrina Parsons, CEO of Palo Alto Software and blogger at Mummy CEO. Sabrina has a wealth of knowledge on advertising, marketing, and business development. If you have any specific questions for her then you can email her directly at sabrina@paloalto.com. I talk to her about

Is there such a thing as marketing online?
Have the marketing principles changed over time?
What are the trends with online advertising?
Why is the level of consumer analytics so important?
Why small companies are challenging larger companies?
Is there a difference between marketing and advertising?
Is marketing owned by the brand or the consumer?
How to stay focused when so many new marketing tools are appearing?
Which trend do you see in advertising that companies need to address?
The link between customer service and social media.

Message from Sponsor
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Show 236 - How to turn your life around

Anna Farmery — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:41:19 -0400

Today I talk with Loren Slocum an accomplished inspirational speaker and business coach, We talk aout her new book Life Tuneups: Your Personal Plan to find Balance, Discover Your Passion, and Step Into Greatness. You can see Loren in action at www.Lobella.com.

Loren’s book looks at how people can change their lives in fundamentally positive ways, not through drastic, painful sacrifice or expensive remedies, but through small, inexpensive, permanent life adjustments. So you know me...not one not to miss out on an opportunity so we talk about

How can we cope with stress and negative news.
What is a personal tune up!
How do you bounce back from adversity?
How do you start to look forward?
How to work out what is important to you?
Are there routines that we can build into our lives to stop us from falling into a rut?
How the first person you need to surround yourself with...is a positive you!
How negative people can be a good thing!

Don't forget to subcribe to the show in iTunes or on the Blubrry site.

If you have feedback for me on the show or topics that you would like me to cover then e-mail me at anna@theengagingbrand.com or join me on twitter or check out my new site Buzz Networker which looks at how social networking can help your brand.

Message from Sponsor
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Show #235 - Customer Experience For Profit

Anna Farmery — Wed, 06 May 2009 11:57:53 -0400

Today I talk with Linda Ireland who is co-owner of Aveus LLC and has 20 years experience in developing businesses - known as the "build this or fix that" person!. She writes about customer expereince for profit here. She has recently written a book called Domino which is how customer experiences can tip everything in your business toward better financial performance.

What is the purpose of a business?
How putting the cutomer at the core of your strategy links to increasing profitability.
What is a customer experience - can it be defined as it is so personalised?
How customer experiences are often not WITH you, often in this global world they are outside the direct contact with your brand
Is globalisation good or not good for brands in terms of communication with social media?
Customer experiences are not one off events they are linear and often a layering of experiences.
How customers are influenced by outside factors and people - how you need to create a virtual reality for customers?
How a purchase is more than buying it is a commitment from the customer
The secret to driving revenue growth
The secret to driving profit growth

Don't forget to subcribe to the show in iTunes or on the Blubrry site.

Show #234 - Is Management in Crisis

Anna Farmery — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:51:28 -0400

Today I talk with Nick McCormick who is a delivery manager for an IT services company and who has written a great little book on tips and practical advice for managers called Lead Well and Prosper. What I loved about this book was the realism...he talks about moving from mediocre to great!! Nick and I discuss

Is management as a skill in crisis?
The importance of managers having a realistic look at their own development and skill level.
Why is management so difficult?
Tips on moving from reading about management to becoming a better manager.
How change is uncomfortable.
How to make time for development in your busy schedule.
How power does not come from a title
What would be the best tip that Nick could give to improve your management skill?
How it is not difficult to stand out as a good manager as there is so many mediocre ones out there!

Don't forget to subcribe to the show in iTunes or on the Blubrry site.