While most of the focus these days is on social media, small businesses should not overlook the role email marketing can play as part of an integrated digital marketing strategy. The Effective email marketing for SMEs event, held on Friday 24 February from 12:30 will cover the do’s and don’ts of email marketing and some of the more advanced features of the medium.

You’ll hear from Rechenda Smith, Head of Email Marketing, little green plane. Rechenda heads up the email marketing function at little green plane, the email marketing division of Itineris, a multi-award winning digital marketing agency based in Suffolk and central London.

Prices start from just £10 and the event is worth 1 hour of CPD. Find out more and book today.

Every year people make and often break New Year’s Resolutions. How about making your New Year’s Resolution really meaningful in 2012?

To become a CIM Chartered Marketer you’ll need to successfully complete two years of CPD, if you already hold either MCIM or FCIM membership grade you’ll be upgraded automatically on 1 July 2012.

If you’re not MCIM or FCIM yet, you can complete your qualifications and collect CPD points simultaneously.

You need to record 35 hours of CPD activity (per year) and submit a record card along with supporting evidence by the end of July 2012 to qualify. Your 35 hours can be achieved in a combination of ways including proof of attendance at short courses; language training, teaching or training others; attending conferences/exhibitions etc. You can even get 8 hours for reading the marketing press!

One of the most effective ways of achieving this is to sign up to one of the new CIM/CAM Digital Marketing qualifications. For example with the SSG two day course, plus homework and assignment (fees apply), the whole 35 hours is covered! For further details please call Caroline at SSG on 01784 463057 or email caroline@studentsupportgroup.co.uk or visit www.studentsupportgroup.co.uk

Resolve to record your CPD properly this year!

For those of you who struggle to record CPD on a regular basis, make a commitment now to start properly recording your CPD. Lots of you were probably given a calendar for Christmas by someone who didn’t know what to buy you. But that unwanted Christmas present can be very useful for managing your CPD. Often you learn lots but are too busy to write it up as CPD there and then; when you have some time for your CPD reflections you can’t remember what you learnt. Having a calendar to hand can be a useful tool to jot down notes so you don’t forget them when it comes to recording them at a later time.

Try to make your entries as reflective as possible

For example you could include: a description of events; experiences and processes; an indication of your feelings about these events; both positive and negative experiences; self-questioning about these experiences; analysis of your work and evaluation of your progress; suggestions for future practice; an honest appraisal of your experience; and links to your coursework and theories.

Getting started

For important dates and deadlines visit www.cim.co.uk/cpd/cpdandcm/cpdandcharteredmarketer.aspx

If you haven’t started recording CPD yet you may need to refer to some resources to help you get started:

• Get the CIM CPD booklet and CIM CPD record card by post or at www.cim.co.uk/cpd/cpdandcm/cpdandcharteredmarketer.aspx
• Call 01628 427273 or email charteredcpd@cim.co.uk

The job market is a cautious place for some at the moment. So when we asked London members for their opinions on their career options and goals for 2012, it was great to see there’s still plenty of optimism and motivation in our region.

Do you plan to study for a qualification in 2012?

41% of those who answered said yes they plan to study for a qualification in 2012

What are your career goals for 2012?

To be a real professional in Marketing and to reach the highest level.
Judeline Edmond, Creole Travel Services

Progress within the role I currently have (Marketing Manager) by taking on new projects.
Rebecca Hearn, Reed Exhibitions

1) Secure a new role (I currently have a temporary promotion while my Manager is on maternity leave) 2) Complete first year of my MSc (gaining the certificate in Digital Marketing Communications) 3) Submit my first CPD record card towards chartered marketer status  4) Start second year of my MSc.
Sarah Green, Promotions Manager

Hopefully do well in the qualification, and then perhaps move to a role within my company that has a higher level of marketing strategy, etc.
Francesca Poglia, White Hat Media

Continue as global head of marketing for the division I work for and European head of marketing for our business as a whole. Embed greater depth of metrics to further validate the business impact of our activities; cut out irrelevant / non-performing spend; continue to drive increased brand awareness in Europe; focus more on the US and Asia.
Anouschka Elliott, RBC Capital Markets

Where do you see yourself in the next six and twelve months?

Still successfully running my own business.
Deborah Rowe, Sheba Marketing Ltd

Busy training pre Olympics and then promoting training for Hospitality and Venues.
Linda Ransome, Green Parasol Trainer

In the next 6 months, I wish I would have increased my responsibilities and have passed 2 modules for the Diploma in Digital Marketing.  In the next 12 months, I wish I would have either moved to a new position with new challenges or eventually getting ready to start as an independent Consultant. In 2012, I am hoping to be able to attend more CIM and networking events which I hope will help me as a marketer.  
M A Joaille, ColArt

If there’s a change that you’re planning to make in 2012 that will raise your game as a marketer, please tell us

I started an MSc in 2011 so the main thing is continuing with that. I also intend to start attending CIM groups and events in London and use Linked In more effectively.   
Sarah Green, Promotions Manager

Continually keeping up-to-date with social media!    
Tim Martin, Marketing Growth

I intend to focus more in digital marketing.  
Maria Cenalmor, East London Volunteer

I’m always looking for ways to raise my game! As one of a few marketers (or maybe the only) who is also a Chartered Financial Analyst, focusing more on combining my two disciplines is going to be key in 2012 and beyond. Particularly in my industry.    
Anouschka Elliott, RBC Capital Markets

30 November 2011
8:30
LCCI, Queen Street, EC4
£15 for CIM members
£25 for guests and students
What’s it all about?
A century ago a group of sales managers met in London and formed the Sales Managers’ Association, which eventually became The Chartered Institute of Marketing. This paper suggests that the time has come for the two disciplines of sales and marketing to be reunited, after years of fragmentation. It asks if sales and marketing intrinsically belong together. Organisations that do create closer links between them seem to post better results, have more effective inter-departmental relationships and create positive culture change. Yet the challenges to successfully merge these powerful business forces are significant.

What’s in it for me?
Sales person or marketer – join the debate!
Get insight into how sales and marketing departments can intellectually fuse together, gain one hour CPD and receive a complimentary hard and PDF copy of the paper.

Sign in, find out more and book.

CIM/CAM Digital News

A new suite of CIM/CAM Digital Marketing qualifications has just been launched. You can find out more information here or you can talk to the Student Support Group (SSG) for courses starting early 2012.  If you have any questions please call Caroline at SSG on 01784 463057.

Are you in need of study help? Take a look at the series of 8 podcasts currently available to download on the London region’s website. From CAM qualifications and study tips, to chartered marketer status and how to pass, The Student Support Group have a range of useful tips to get your studying on track.

Updated and re-released podcasts – autumn 2011

• For new student members – Welcome to your CIM
• For all student members – General CIM study tips
• Certificate students – How to pass your CIM Professional Certificate
• Diploma students – How to pass your CIM Professional Diploma
• Interest in digital marketing – The exciting new CAM digital qualification
• Stay motivated – successful study insights for all students from a recent qualified student
• Get on in Marketing – hints and tips for all students from a marketing recruitment expert
• Day in the life of a Chartered Marketer – for all students getting ready to raise their game

New podcasts – coming early 2012

• How to pass Professional Graduate Diploma – for Postgraduate and Professional Post Graduate Diploma students
• CIM/CAM Digital Marketing qualifications – new modules explained

Free Diagnostic quizzes

Test your CIM syllabus knowledge; identify your knowledge gaps to aid assignment preparation and exam revision. Please email caroline@studentsupportgroup.co.uk or call Caroline at SSG on 01784 463057 to claim your FREE quiz.

Study support – London members – find out more

If you’d like some help with your personal study plan, or like to chat about any other aspect of CIM study, Student Support Group (SSG) can help with free advice on their:

• Exam/Assignment feedback service (ideal if you have failed and don’t know why?)
• CIM Subject knowledge tests (free service)
• Syllabus refresher sessions (discuss hard to understand aspects)
• Assignment and Case study briefings (expert advice on what to do and how to do it)
• Checking assignment drafts and exam 4 pagers (check you are up to CIM standard)
• Mock exam papers & feedback service, all designed to help you pass next time!

SSG can develop an individual study package to suit your study needs and budget. To find out more call Caroline on 01784 463057 or email caroline@studentsupportgroup.co.uk (see SSG website for details & fees).

29 November 2011, Hotel Russell, London
CIM London members receive a £150 discount – Quote ‘CIM’ under ID Code online.

Smart players with all sorts of budgets are mobilising and monetising social media on a daily basis and by taking their communications strategies to the next level, really stretching the boundaries of what social media can achieve.

Join twenty-seven social media experts including LEGO, adidas, Facebook, American Express, Google UK – YouTube, Domino’s Pizza, Vodafone, Standard Life, BT,  Universal Music, Volvo and many more as they reveal their winning, tried and tested social media strategies to cut through all the noise, mobilise engagement and clearly demonstrate real results.

CIM London members receive £150 discount.  Just quote ‘CIM’ under ID Code online.

Plus, there are two separately-bookable half-day workshops on 30 November.

Morning – Evaluation & Monitoring: Winning The Social Media Business Case
Afternoon – Best Practice Crisis Management: Quick Decisive & Professional Crisis Comms

The LionHeart Challenge is a Nationwide Enterprise Programme, acclaimed by Sir Howard Davies MBE and Director of The London School of Economics & Political Science. And Phil Preston, GLR Regional Director; Bernie Emery, Central London Team Leader; and John Tooze, President of the Croydon and South London team were asked to be part of the Expert Help Panel at the regional finals last week.
The Challenge involves school students taking part in a practical business challenge, overseen by expert marketers and business coaches.  It aims to inspire soon-to-be school leavers to become tomorrow’s business people.

During the last few years the Challenge has been delivered to over 250,000 young people across every region of England. It was great for the Institute’s Greater London Region to be involved with this event, which was set at the prestigious Harrow School which Winston Churchill once attended.

It was fantastic to see the pupils motivated by their case study and the ideas they presented were well thought out. There are many budding business minds out there.

Right now, many of our London studying members will be waiting for their assignment and exam results, due at the end of August. So now may be the ideal time to take a short break and think about your study plans for the Autumn.

Download 8 free study podcasts

To make an interesting change from attending college or reading textbooks, listen to our free CIM student podcasts which are provided with supporting fact sheets. These are available to download from the GLR and SSG websites.

Podcast topics covered include:

1. Life as a Chartered Marketer with Mark Batchelor
2. How to get on in Marketing – Simon Basset, Head of EMR
3. How to stay motivated in your CIM studies – Polly Grant
4. CAM digital marketing qualifications
5. How to pass the CIM Professional Certificate
6. CIM Professional Diploma in Marketing
7. Study tips
8. Your CIM.

Library and resources

Or, if reading is more up your street, now’s a great time to broaden your marketing knowledge by focusing on your background reading and research, available from the Institute’s website.

5 key resources

1. Information and Library Service – a dedicated marketing collection making it an essential specialist source of information for books and online
2. Online journals, books and reports – members can log in to enjoy fast online access
3. Cutting Edge – the weekly digest of marketing news from across the sectors
4. Research papers – for the latest paper, Ambush marketing and the law, plus Shape the Agendas, policy papers and white papers which set out the latest thinking
5. Case studies – real life studies which show how marketing theory works in practice.

If you’d like some help with your personal study plan, or like to chat about any other aspect of CIM study, Student Support Group can help with free advice on their:

• Exam/assignment feedback service (ideal if you have failed and don’t know why?)
• CIM subject knowledge tests (free service)
• Syllabus refresher sessions (discuss hard to understand aspects)
• Assignment and case study briefings (expert advice on what to do and how to do it)
• Checking assignment drafts and exam four pagers (check you are up to CIM standard)
• Mock exam papers & feedback service, all designed to help you pass next time!

SSG can develop an individual study package to suit your study needs and budget. To find out more call Caroline on 01784 463057 or email caroline@studentsupportgroup.co.uk (see SSG website for details & fees).

I can’t believe it is nearly Christmas. The silly season crept up on me and santa is everywhere, even for pets (Santa Paws!)

We’ve been watching the scenes from the UK here with great interest. The snow scenes are incredible and it looks like it’s pretty cold over there. Over here we have had the worst spring/summer in a long time apparently. It has rained and rained which is good for Australia as they have struggled with droughts in the past, but when it rains here in Brisbane it really rains if you know what I mean and the thunder storms are seriously scary – we had five days in a row with storms and rain and huge floods.

So other than that it’s been pretty busy. I finished a role in the city and managed to get a new job that starts in January and I also qualified as a graphic designer . I did a year long course part time as marketing jobs here seem to require you to know Adobe Creative Suite as well as your core marketing skills, so I figured an extra skill would help, and it did. The job market seems to be picking up which is good news for unemployed marketers and it has been a hard year so hopefully next year will be much more productive.

I’m still helping CIM Australia out which is interesting as the number of members is increasing now that CIM courses are happening so I think 2011 will be an interesting time for CIM here in Australia.

Anyway I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, and best wishes for 2011.

Bye for now.

Zoe