Pandemic Communications Essentials: What Coronavirus Has Taught The Communications Fraternity

The communications industry is an apt reflection of our time: fast-paced and in need of constant evolution. Especially during crises, well-devised communications can become the quickest tool in ensuring business continuity and responding to unprecedented situations.

When the pandemic struck, a one-of-a-kind black swan event that few communication professionals had seen before in their careers – it proved difficult to determine how to reach out to stakeholders. With business goals compromised, cultural shifts inevitable and expectations from brands rapidly changing – most organizations around the world hadn’t factored in the possibility of something this unthinkable: and reeled in shock for weeks before formulating an appropriate communications strategy. With businesses of all sizes affected, communication leaders were faced with an anxious audience that required messages that showed depth of emotion, while still being disruptive

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Facing The Front From Our Homes! Test Of Our Self-Reliance And Resilience

Most of us civilians have grown up hearing stories of bravery while our soldiers have braved the enemy facing them at the front. This pandemic has probably showed us at every step how is it fighting a battle at our doorstep, in our locality, protecting our loved ones and for the 1st time probably gave a sense what really is the experience of our soldiers at the front.

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How To Sell Comb To A Bald Person

In the last decade of the 20th Century, When I was in college and contemplating my future career prospects, I wanted to explore a lot of new avenues, Apart from secured government jobs, MNC’s were the new entrants who were offering fat salaries and exciting job opportunities.

Sales was a field which was very attractive for the youngsters like me, who used to like travel, explore new territories, wanted to try different foods , meet new people and at the end of the day generate sales for the continuity of thispleasure.

When I was trying to understand the sales job, I was told by my predecessors that Sales is nothing but selling a comb to a bald person. I was very curious to know why a bald person would buy a comb. I could not find any logical reason, so I concluded that he will buy a comb for his family and friends for gifting purpose.

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Product Development In Startups

Conventional approaches to product development maximise chances of success by building all possible features that could fulfil the maximum number of customer needs. Startups don’t have the luxury of investing the same time and money. That’s why the MVP approach is better suited for startups.

What’s the most difficult job in the world? The answers to could range from Astronaut, Bomb Disposal Technician, Construction Worker, Diver – and the list could go on. I wouldn’t be surprised if “Startup Founder” ranked somewhere at the top of that list.

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Secrets Of An International Assignment

Have you ever wondered why we only ever hear the term “Non-Resident Indian”, and not “Non-Resident any-other-nationality”? Perhaps there is a technical answer deeply embedded in India’s complex tax laws. But viewed from another lens, this group does merit a dedicated terminology. After all, they do constitute by far the largest group expatriates resident abroad1! International assignees are a major sub-group of NRI’s, and the subject of this article.

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Marketing, The STP Way

Achieving market leadership requires more than a great product. Read on for the STP approach.
So, your company has developed this great product with lots of cool features and great styling. Before you put it on store shelves, there are a few more actions to take for achieving success. The STP approach integrates time-tested marketing basics to get you there – Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning. In fact, STP necessarily comes before developing the marketing mix!

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Marketing Through Influencers

Was watching an old Bengali movie. The protagonist reaches Puri Railway Station. As soon as he alights from the train he is surrounded by Ricksnaw-Wala. Tonga-Wala & T8Xl-Wala offering him a ride to the “best hotel” in town with a complete package offering for 3 days of tour inclusive of a Panda/Priest guided Puja & Tour of the Sacred Sri Jagannath Temple. and a ”Nulia (local lifeguards) guided swimming experience in the rough seas of Puri. etc. The Hero gets very confused but ultimately falls for the smooth-talking Rickshaw Puller and decides to book the hotel which he was recommending.

Now the question is why did our protagonist settle for the hotel which the Rickshaw Puller recommended and did’nt I check in at the more renowned properties of Puri* &. why did the Rickshaw puller so fervently recommend this lesser known notel* The answer to question number 1 is, because of the power of Influences marketing and Answer to question number 2 is ..well ..even a 4-5 year old boy would give you the answer.

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Innovation Through Co-Creation

Dr J Robert Oppenheimer, the Father of the Nuclear Bomb, the Director of the Manhattan Project on the 16th of July 1945 famously chanted “Now I am Become Death- The Destroyer of Worlds” from chapter 11, shloka 32 of Sri Sri Bhagavat Gita while watching the massive fireball covering the entire sky at the first nuclear bomb test site at the State of New Mexico, USA.

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The “Mantra” Behind Successful Innovations

Many a times a glittering Star Cast, a World-Renowned Director and a Producer with the deepest pockets backed by a mega-budget marketing campaign fail to create a blockbuster hit film, while a small budget film with an unknown star cast goes on to win Oscars.
Lets’ switchover to the great stories around great brands….the story of the authentic Coke recipe being stored at a secret vault at Atlanta, USA or that of the legendary Captain Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken who after retirement at the age of 65 founded his global empire.

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