The programme
The evening’s presenters will address the topic of Ethical Marketing from three fascinating angles, each presenting a different model for the future of cause-related marketing.

The speakers

International Women’s Day
Women in Marketing is scheduled to coincide with International Women's Day which celebrates the story of ordinary women as makers of history. It is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women seeking to participate in society on an equal footing with men. Today around the world, International Women's Day is always celebrated on 8 March and marks a celebration of the economic, social, cultural and political achievements women have made.

Milton Keynes team get going for 2008

The Milton Keynes CIM team had their annual planning meeting on the 15 November 2007. The evening kicked off with a run down of what members wanted to achieve this year. Volunteers were given tasks to complete such as checking the draft of the MK Handbook, suggesting ideas for raising funds for the GLR charities and checking the menu and prices for the next year’s Milton Keynes events venue.

With ‘business’ out the way, the team were surprised by guest quizmaster, GLR Chairman Colin Linton, who pitched the volunteers against each other for big money prizes! Pub style quiz questions were answered for points on the scoreboard and activities such as plate spinning and balloon magic were added for fun. The big money prize was a bag of chocolate coins each!

Milton Keynes volunteers pictured include Anneke Edmonds, Chris Wright, Lynley Meyers, Sarah Anstee, Faye Scadden, Nick Cox and Louise Trodden.

If you live or work in the Milton Keynes area and would like to get involved with your local CIM team in organising CIM events and influencing regional activity, please email team leader Cathy Jones cathyjones1@btinternet.com.

Julie’s Christmas on Kilimanjaro

While many of us may have wished to escape the commercialisation and corny cracker jokes this Christmas, one GLR Board member did just that while raising funds for charity. She has so far raised £880 for The British Paralympics Association.

Julie started her 5 day hike up the mountain on December 20, battling through rain forest, moorland, alpine desert and an almost vertical rock, reaching the summit at 3.30pm on Christmas Day! “What a day it was” says Julie. “We were wakened at 5am and given some very strong, very sweet coffee to get us going and some porridge, egg, sausage and cheese to keep us going. As we got closer to the top the weather closed in and we finally got hit by a blizzard. The temperature dropped to minus 5 with a further wind chill of minus 10! There wasn’t much time for hanging around at the summit but towards the end of the day the sun finally shone for us.”

Julie says of her trip ‘I’m in awe of Kilimanjaro; it truly is a beautiful mountain and was a jaw-dropping experience every single day. I’m delighted to have made it to the top and even more delighted to have raised so much for The British Paralympics Association.”

Everyone at CIM GLR and The British Paralympic Association sends big Congratulations to Julie. If you would also like to show your appreciation of Julie’s achievement, please donate at www.justgiving.com/kili-dec2007. Or get involved in the next GLR charity event yourself…

Both GLR’s charity partners have something sporty to offer you this spring. Get going for a good cause.

“‘Public Participation Marketing’ is the category in the marketing mix that gives you unprecedented credibility and value for money not offered by another other channels.”

GLR member and expert contributor Phil Williams from Rocketseed defines Public Participation Marketing as ‘marketing via any channel where your staff and external contacts interact with each other within their social and business environments to discuss your business and products.’

Examples are two-way presentations, everyday phone calls made from staff, everyday emails leaving your company. “All these” says Williams “are targeted, low cost opportunities to get your message across and above all they are more credible than traditional marketing”.

Credible marketing is key when you’re bombarded with messages every day

You are looking to buy a new car. What will influence your decision most; a TV advert, a news article, or a personal discussion you have with someone about that car? Almost invariably the most effective is the personal discussion, then the news article, then the advert. Why? The reason is based on the credibility of the presenter.

Advertising in its modern form really took off 10 years after World War II, when TV became mainstream. Adverts at that stage were seen as truths, propounded by someone possessing a status of authority and respect. This has clearly changed and the shift is significant, to the point where we as consumers have set up consumer protection bodies to ensure that advertisers do not deceive the public.

PR certainly holds more credibility than advertising because it is seen to come from a third party and many media experts have long been predicting the fall of advertising and rise of PR. However much PR simply looks and sounds like advertising with a news angle and many consumers are now wary of even the news when they are seeking unbiased information and objectivity. Is PR doomed to follow advertising in the credibility stakes?

Public Participation Marketing

In today’s hectic environment, we are bombarded with thousands of marketing messages every day, the credibility of the presenter is key for each of us in separating biased from unbiased messages. Each of us builds an automatic screening process for decision making. Key to this process is who presents us with information because it lets us judge the authenticity of the information. Consumers have narrowed their ‘circle of trust’ down to family, friends, colleagues and close contacts. Public Participation Marketing uses consumers to influence other consumers.

In effect, it’s good old-fashioned word-of-mouth – long heralded as the most effective form of marketing for almost any product or service. But the difference now is that there’s a whole world of social networks made possible by the internet increasing the influence we can have over word of mouth between consumers and their networks.

Public Participation works with any group of people that have something in common. Small businesses for example have small specialist target audiences which makes Public Participation perfect for them. Small businesses don’t want to be famous with everyone, only the people that count.

Win Career Coaching sessions and move up in 2008!

Are you planning on being promoted? Moving companies? Setting up on your own? Win this Career Coaching programme and map out your year ahead.

CIM GLR has arranged for one lucky GLR News reader to undertake a 6-session Career Coaching programme to help them set and achieve their career and personal ambitions in 2008. After the first ‘intake’ session with your personal Career Coach, you will have 5 follow-up coaching sessions over the next three months. Each session lasts for one hour and takes place over the phone, according to a mutually agreed schedule, making your coaching sessions focussed, private and convenient.

Some of the areas that people choose to talk about in Career Coaching sessions include: setting their career goals and plans to achieve them, settling into a new role, preparing for interviews, increasing their profile within their company, managing people, dealing with difficult colleagues, getting motivated, building confidence, time management and much more.

Career Coach Hannah McNamara

Hannah McNamara has an Advanced Diploma in Coaching, is a Chartered Marketer and a Member of the CIM. She is currently mentoring several CIM members as part of the GLR scheme. Hannah is an experienced Marketing professional who rose through the ranks quickly and by 26 was running a multi-million pound Marketing department of a national retailer, reporting directly to the Chief Executive. Now a published author and public speaker on Marketing, she coaches Marketing professionals to develop the skills that will help them to excel in their roles.

What is Coaching?

You may have seen the four-page feature on Coaching in The Marketer in December. It’s a great way to develop your own skills and those of your staff. A recent study by the International Coach Federation found a wide range of benefits reported by individuals who take part in coaching. These included:

Download a free Career Coaching report “10 Ways to Sabotage Your Own Career: Are you making these mistakes?” from Hannah’s website www.hrmcoaching.com

• Increased self-awareness 68%
• Better goal setting 62%
• Lower stress levels 57%
• Increased confidence 52%
• Enhanced communication skills 40%

"Coaching is an interactive process that helps individuals develop more rapidly and produce more satisfying results. Coaches work with clients in all areas including business, career, finances, health and relationships. As a result of coaching, clients set better goals, take more action, make better decisions, and more fully use their natural strengths." International Coach Federation.

How to enter

Colin Linton (second from right) next to host, Esther Rantzen handed over the award to winner Ray Calder (far right)

GLR Chair Colin Linton presented a Business Award for Excellence in Marketing at the stunning O2 arena on 26 November.

CIM’s Greater London Region sponsored the marketing category in the prestigious Thames Gateway Business Awards as a way to promote best practice in regional marketing. It also supports The Institute’s strategic objective of positioning marketing alongside other celebrated award category business skills such as Innovation, Customer Care, Environmental Responsibility and Use of Technology.

Romford-based design and marketing company Acumen Design entered the competition with a recent campaign for a small, specialist lift insurance client which produced dramatic increases in sales, renewals, database contacts and the client’s industry profile.

Judging all category entrants, Colin said the Acumen team was to be recognised for achieving excellent results across multiple channels with a very limited budget. He particularly praised their efforts in supporting the client through what was their first large-scale marketing campaign and helping them become a marketing-aware organisation.

“I think part of our role as experienced marketers is to help others learn about both the strategic benefits and the practical processes of marketing. Acumen has helped a small family-owned insurance business with short-term growth as well as skills and understanding which will last much longer. A worthy winner.”

For those members still earning their stripes in marketing at executive or junior management level, we’ve mapped out the 6 stages of CIM membership and what you’ll need to climb the ladder. To find out more or to upgrade your membership download the Upgrade form.