Archive for 'General news'
1. Establish a company blog
Having a corporate blog is a definite plus for companies of all sizes. A blog is an effective tool for small companies because it gives them a global stage from which to tell their brand story, add value and connect with customers and partners; large companies can benefit from a blog for the same reasons but more importantly because it can help an organisation to appear more ‘human’ with posts written by employees and, preferably, senior executives including the CEO.
2. Be open
People appreciate openness and a sense of transparency from company leaders. Earlier this year PR firm Edelman * released its annual Trust Barometer, a global survey that gauges the public’s trust in government, business and the media. One damning statistic from the survey was that only 35 per cent of New Zealanders and Australians found CEOs credible as a company spokesperson. Being open and transparent at all times in your communications is one way to win back the trust of people – if you personally have made a mistake or the company has mis-stepped along the way, say so. Be open to your foibles as much as your strengths when the situation requires it and people will respect you (and your brand) all the more for it.
3. Tell stories
Stories. We humans love ‘em. We’re hardwired to tell (and listen to) stories, it’s in our DNA. If companies in Australia and NZ want to improve their levels of communication and engagement with stakeholders, they could do worse than to develop and tell authentic stories that move people to action rather than bore them to tears.
4. Use your own voice
Too many senior company executives rely on the crutch of jargon’. Their words – whether spoken or written – are impenetrable to the point that people – customers, employees, journalists – switch off.
Use your own voice, speak to people as you would at a barbecue rather than how you would to your executive board. Don’t try and emulate other CEOs who baffle people with impenetrable language designed not to communicate but to impress. You won’t get your message across and you will lose standing as a leader.
Posted on 10 September '12 by editor, under General news. No Comments.
A new report has predicted that New Zealand fund managers will encourage overseas investment as the growth in KiwiSaver funds outpaces the capacity of the local sharemarket to absorb them.
Many New Zealanders are vulnerable to the economy through their jobs and houses. If the economy fails, many peoples’ earnings and property will plummet.
In times of economic hardship the local sharemarket is no haven for local investors. Over time it is dependent on the performance of the domestic economy, particularly domestic consumption
In the future it is possible that many emerging country financial exchanges will become better regulated and more transparent, reducing the risks involved in investing in these markets and allowing greater opportunities for investors from developed countries.
Investing overseas won’t be for everyone. Some investors will prefer investing in local companies and securities they know and trust. There will be local success stories and some investors will be confident they can pick the winners.
Fluctuations in the New Zealand dollar can lead to volatile domestic currency returns on overseas investments, which can be off-putting. It can also be expensive to directly invest in overseas securities because of brokerage and custody fees. However, these issues can be mitigated by investing through diversified investment funds incorporating New Zealand dollar hedging.
Posted on 27 August '12 by editor, under General news. No Comments.
Close to it’s five year anniversary, KiwiSaver has announced that there will be some changes made to the product.
The announcement was made after several sections of KiwiSaver were merged together, in order to streamline some processes and simplify certain aspects of the scheme. Members will be kept fully informed about how the changes will effect them throughout the next few months.
The changes are said to provide Kiwibank customers with benefits such as improved transparency, customer service, in-house investment and detailed reporting while retaining access via Kiwibank Internet Banking and a simple, competitive fee structure.
Posted on 13 August '12 by editor, under General news. No Comments.
In honour of The Dark Knight Rises, here is part 2 of our ‘Lessons from Batman’ article….. After all, Bruce Wayne is the wealthiest guy in (fictional) Gotham!
Last Week we looked at the importance of research and development. This week we focus on branding and networking:
Branding – be recognisable
A cohesive brand is crucial to a successful enterprise, and that’s something Wayne understands better than most. All of Batman’s gadgets contain the symbol of a bat – even the famous police signal lights up the sky with his brand.
Creating an interesting logo and tagline, and putting it on everything you produce will re-enforce your brand in consumers memory.
Research shows younger shoppers aren’t able to identify advertising as clearly as they could in the past because of mixed branding messages across different media channels. A cohesive brand isn’t just to look cool – it’s to make sure you can maintain a consistent voice as a company.
A great support network
Bruce Wayne may work alone, but he has a full support network of allies giving him advice when he needs it, including butler and mentor, Alfred.
No business is an island, creating a strong network of suppliers and professional service firms will help you manage all tasks, especially the really difficult ones. Even Batman can’t fight crime alone, and neither can an entrepreneur do everything by themselves. A good support network is crucial to good business.
Posted on 24 July '12 by editor, under General news. No Comments.
Last week “The Dark Knight Rises”, the third and final instalment of the most recent Batman franchise opened around the world. Taking in an estimated $US195 million in it’s opening weekend, the caped crusader proved extremely profitable, and small businesses could stand to learn a thing or two from fictional multi-millionaire Bruce Wayne.
Over the next 2 weeks, in honour of the Bat breaking more box-office records, we will look at three lessons you could stand to learn from the iconic superhero:
Gadgets – the importance of research and development
Bruce Wayne spends a large amount of his time investing in gadgets and research and development. Wayne’s lair is filled with sophisticated computer systems and databases, all of which require state-of-the-art technology. But he’s also a keen proponent of corporate research and development.
All business owners should spend a considerable amount of time researching and developing more effective ways of doing business. This can mean looking into an upgrade of machinery, developing new methods or even downloading business related Apps such (such as project management apps) to help organise daily business functions.
Posted on 23 July '12 by editor, under General news. No Comments.
Listed companys will have to reveal how many women are on their boards if the ‘Diversity Rule’ is applied on or after 31 December.
Firms will have to publish gender breakdowns for board members and senior directors, according the the NZX but will not be required in implement a diversity policy.
NZX says there is considerable evidence to prove that having a gender diverse board leads to improved profit margins for many businesses.
Posted on 9 July '12 by editor, under General news. No Comments.
Consumer confidence in New Zealand rose in the first three months of this year, edging up after a fourth-quarter slump, which is great news for the economy, however the future may not be so bright.
A survey on consumer confidence shows that New Zealanders spent less on their credit and debit cards in February, however that confidence eased in March. In the fourth quarter, retail sales recorded an unexpectedly strong gain of 2.2 per cent, seasonally adjusted
Posted on 2 July '12 by editor, under General news. No Comments.
Here are a few tips to get you on the right road with email marketing. Firstly create an attractive offer for your existing clients and offer it to them in an interesting email.
This could be a discount where your customer buys something for the normal price of and get’s other things completely free.
Make sure your special offer is limited in some way, offer a time limit, which will encourage customers to buy immediately.
Posted on 2 July '12 by editor, under General news. No Comments.
New Zealand’s next generation of business minds will be able to test out their marketing prowess at a global business challenge, where they will compete with the rest of the worlds future leaders.
More than 80 aspiring teenagers will gather at Massey University Albany this month to take part in the Junior Achievement International Trade Challenge (ITC), designed to give students the opportunity to learn about international trade.
The 16-19-year olds will be put in teams and asked to devise a market entry plan, product prototype and multimedia presentation.
Last year, groups were set the task of producing a wool-based product to export to Sweden. One proposals included ‘Woolpaper’, a fire-resistant wallpaper that doubled as insulation.
Posted on 19 June '12 by editor, under General news. No Comments.
More than half of New Zealands retirees use social media weekly, providing an opportunity for Superannuation funds to interact with members, digital experts say.
A report has revealed that more than half of 65 to 75 year olds used social media, in the same way as younger generations do, to connect and research.
Posted on 12 June '12 by editor, under General news. No Comments.
