BDN International

HOW TO JUDGE SUPER BOWL ADS

2012-02-12T17:38:00.000-08:00

So, what did you think about the Super Bowl commercials? Have a favorite? Is your favorite just entertaining or does it really sell? Read on to learn just how to judge an ad.

To view this article in its entirety directly from our website, please click on (or copy and paste in your address bar) the appropriate link below. There is also a link to a handheld device as well as a pdf version.

Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780).

The DISPATCHESTM for February 12, 2012 can be found here:

HOW TO JUDGE SUPER BOWL ADS

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:

HOW TO JUDGE SUPER BOWL ADS

It is also available in PDF here:

HowToJudgeSuperBowlAds.pdf (PDF File)

NEW CAMPAIGN FOR GATORADE FEELS LIKE A WINNER

2012-02-05T12:39:00.000-08:00

It seems we have, time and again, spot-lighted the Gatorade brand in these Dispatches. But, honestly, it’s hard not to. The 70%+ dollar share brand has for so long done so many things well…starting with implementing a perceived-differentiated brand positioning (despite having a product that, in testing, may not really be that much more effective at athletic/workout thirst-quenching and replenishment than some other brands). Once again, we find Gatorade making a high-probability-of-success marketing move: introducing their new ad campaign, “Win From Within.” And best of all, this campaign continues the brand’s implementation of its “winning” brand positioning.

To view this article in its entirety directly from our website, please click (or copy and paste in your address bar) the appropriate link below. We have also provided a hand-held device link if that is your preferred method of viewing. Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780).

The DISPATCHESTM for February 5, 2012 can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/GatoradeNewCampaign.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=387

A pdf version can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/GatoradeNewCampaignLooksLikeWinner.pdf

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR MARKETERS

2012-01-15T20:57:00.000-08:00

We, at BDNI are dedicated to sharing our learning and experiences, gleaned from working with leadership companies and brands throughout the world, to "making marketing matter." This issue offers some potential "New Year's Resolutions for Marketers" for your consideration.

To view this article in its entirety directly from our website, please click (or copy and paste in your address bar) the appropriate link below. We have also provided a hand-held device link if that is your preferred method of viewing. Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780).
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The DISPATCHESTM for January 15, 2012 can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/NYResolutionsForMarketers.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=384

INSIGHT, OR UNSIGHT

2012-01-08T15:37:00.000-08:00

With the start of a New Year, what better time than now to come up with a new word? Over the past years we have, from time-to-time, coined some new marketing terms: for example, Marketect, Pro-sitioning, and Add-valuate. Typically, we coin these words to make more memorable a best marketing practice. This time, however, we're proposing a word that makes more memorable -- even better, more obvious -- one of our most frequent marketing shortcomings; namely, calling something an insight that isn't an insight. So, allow us to introduce the unsight.

To view this article in its entirety directly from our website, please click (or copy and paste in your address bar) the appropriate link below. We have also provided a hand-held device link if that is your preferred method of viewing. And finally, we have provided a link to a pdf copy. Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780).
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The DISPATCHESTM for December 4, 2011 can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/InsightOrUnsight.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=383

It is also available in PDF here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/InsightOrUnsight.pdf

CONNECT WITH FEELING

2011-12-11T17:37:00.000-08:00

What do we mean by "Connect With Feeling" and what does that have to do with Marketing anyway? Read on...
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In order to provide you your preferred version of our DISPATCHES we have supplied the following links: To view this article in its entirety directly from our website, please click on the first link below. We have also provided a printer/handheld link and a pdf link. Depending upon your personal computer setup it may be necessary to copy and paste the link into your address bar.

Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780).
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The DISPATCHESTM for December 11, 2011 can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/ConnectWithFeeling.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=381

It is also available in PDF here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/ConnecWithFeelings.pdf

THE CREATIVE BRIEF - WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE?

2011-12-04T15:58:00.000-08:00

So many things in marketing are so fundamental. No doubt, the same can be said on virtually any profession. How often do we hear top-notch athletes and their coaches extol the virtues of "blocking and tackling"? Given their absolute necessity, you would think, then, that the fundamentals get executed about 99% of the time. But they don't, do they? Because we are human, and subject to forgetfulness (sometimes laziness?) and so on, we forget or get sloppy with our fundamentals. Take one of the most obvious ones in business and in marketing: clearly and precisely stating the objectives each and every time we begin work. That's one that we would like to re-visit this week.
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To view this article in its entirety directly from our website, please click (or copy and paste in your address bar) the appropriate link below. We have also provided a hand-held device link if that is your preferred method of viewing. And finally, we have provided a link to a pdf copy. Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780).
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The DISPATCHESTM for December 4, 2011 can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/TheCXreativeBrief-WhatIsTheObjective.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=380

It is also available in PDF here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/TheCreativeBrief-WhatIsTheObj.pdf

A TRIBUTE TO ANOTHER MARKETECT

2011-11-27T16:33:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, 19 November 2011, John Smale, passed away. Many of you may not know of Mr. Smale, as he is from an earlier generation of business leaders. He shunned the limelight, avoided interviews and resultant celebrity...

To view this article in its entirety directly from our website, please click on (or copy and paste the address) the first link below. We have also provided a handheld link if that is your preferred method of viewing. And finally, we have provided a link to a pdf version if that is your preferred method of viewing. Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780).

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The DISPATCHESTM for November 27, 2011 can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/AnotherMarketect.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=379

It is also available in PDF here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/AnotherMarketect.pdf

TWO EDITORIALS WORTH A "CONVERSATION"

2011-11-13T14:18:00.000-08:00

Writing these weekly Dispatches articles gives us a chance to (a) share our current and past experiences - and what we have learned from them; and (b) speak up about a principle or best practice we feel passionate about. But sometimes, these articles also give us a chance to share something particularly insightful that we have read - something written by another marketer whose opinion we respect. That's the case this week as we reprise some excerpts from two, recent editorials in Advertising Age - along with our take on them, naturally.
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To view this article in its entirety directly from our website, please click on the appropriate link below. We have also provided a handheld device version and a pdf link if that is your preferred method of viewing. As always, if should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780).
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The DISPATCHESTM for November 13, 2011 directly from our website can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/TwoEditorials.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=378

It is also available in PDF here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/TwoEditorials.pdf

IT IS SAME-O, SAME-O, ALL OVER AGAIN

2011-11-06T17:54:00.000-08:00

We've tackled the subject of differentiating your brand in its messaging over the past two DISPATCHES' releases. Yet just a week ago someone threw out the challenge, posed as a question, "If same-o, same-o is not effective then why is nearly everyone in the category messaging the same way?"
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To view this article in its entirety select your preferred viewing venue and click on the appropriate link or simply copy and paste into your address bar. Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780).
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The DISPATCHESTM for November 6, 2011 directly from our website can be found here: http://www.bdn-intl.com/ItIsSame-OAllOverAgain.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=377

It is also available in PDF here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/SameO-SamO2.pdf

A NEW IDEA FOR MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS

2011-10-30T13:20:00.000-07:00

Over the years, the one thing that we have observed and experienced is that good marketing people are also good idea people. What attracts most people to marketing is their passion for ideas, all kinds of ideas: product, packaging, promotion, communication and so on. And yet it seems that in so many categories and classes of products today there aren't enough ideas. Too many marketing initiatives look the same. Maybe it's time for a new model for the marketing organization - a new idea for setting up and running an idea-driven marketing function.
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To view this article in its entirety directly from our website, please click on the appropriate link below. We have also provided a Hand-held device link and a pdf link if either is your preferred method of viewing. You may either click on the link or copy and paste into your address bar for viewing.

Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780).
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The DISPATCHESTM for October 30, 2011 can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/ANewIdeaForMktOrg.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=376

It is also available in PDF here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/ANewIdeaForMktOrg.pdf

SAME-O, SAME-O

2011-10-23T17:01:00.000-07:00

What's the meaning of "same-o, same-o?" It's an idiom used to express "same-old, same-old." It refers to doing something in the same way we've always done it or the same way everyone else is doing it. It is not a positive connotation. In fact, it suggests that the action, and/or result, is rather uninspiring, routine, dull.
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To view this article in its entirety directly from our website, please click on the appropriate link below. We have also provided a hand-held device version as well as a pdf link if that is your preferred method of viewing.

You may need to copy and paste into your address bar the following links. Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780).

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The DISPATCHESTM for October 23, 2011 can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/SAmeO-SameO.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=375

It is also available in PDF here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/SameO-SameO.pdf

STATING THE MARKETING OBJECTIVE: SAY (PRECISELY) WHAT YOU MEAN!

2011-10-16T16:36:00.000-07:00

You've heard the old saying, "Say what you mean, and mean what you say," right? It's a catchy turn of two similar sets of words with two meanings: (1) be precise in communicating your meanings, and (2) stand behind them once they're communicated. The saying obviously has broad application - especially regarding the ethics of everyday living. But, it also has real relevance for those of us in Marketing, which is definitely in the business of effective, genuine communication. This week we apply the principle of "saying what you mean" to that most fundamental of marketing tasks: articulating the brand's Marketing Objectives.
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To view this article in its entirety directly from our website, please click on the appropriate link below. We have also provided a hand-held device version as well as a pdf link if that is your preferred method of viewing.

You may need to copy and paste into your address bar the following links. Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780).

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The DISPATCHESTM for October 16, 2011 can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/StatingMktObjPrecisely.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=374

It is also available in PDF here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/StatingTheMktObjPreciselyt.pdf

A TRIBUTE TO “THE MARKETECT OF OUR GENERATION”

2011-10-10T09:07:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, 6 October 2011, Steve Jobs, founder and soul, of the Apple Corporation, passed away. People from all walks of life, children to corporate leaders and, even world leaders, have been paying tribute to him, his memory and his many contributions to technology and society. He touched many lives and inspired tens of millions with innovative products that he created to change the world. He has been hailed as a creative genius, an icon, an innovator, a visionary, and a successful entrepreneur. He has been compared to Thomas Alva Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, to name just a couple from the handful of greats who have made a real difference in our lives.

We're using this issue of DISPATCHES to honor Steve Jobs too. We honor him as "The Marketect of Our Generation." A Marketect is one who changes how customers perceive a category (to favor his/her brand). A Marketect remakes and/or creates entire industries and categories. Steve Jobs is such a rare person. He transformed technology, music, media and retailing to build one of the most valuable and admired companies in the world. He was a true Marketect, and remains an inspiration to all marketers who want to make a difference.

Our tribute to Steve Jobs is to have him speak for himself about the core values of the company he created. We are sharing a video of him introducing the "Think different" campaign. In it he explains that marketing is about "values," and goes on to relate Apple's core value, which is "we (Apple) believe that people with passion can change the world for the better." The "Think different" campaign honored people who have changed the world. We honor Steve Jobs for he has lived his beliefs and values to change our world. We will miss him.

Marketers everywhere, honor Steve Jobs through your passion to change the world. Be inspired by the late Mr. Jobs to "think different." Think, and act, like a Steve Jobs, "The Marketect of Our Generation."

Click on the link below (or copy and paste in your address bar) to see the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR-ZT8mhfJ4

THE MARKETING PLAN AND PROCESSING PROCESS

2011-10-02T17:06:00.000-07:00

This week we invite you to take a deeper, more insightful look at the proverbial Marketing Plan.

To view this article in its entirety select the version below you wish to view, then copy and paste the appropriate link into your address bar.

Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780).

The DISPATCHES^TM for October 2, 2011 viewed directly from our website can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/MktPlanAndProcessingProcess.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=373

It is also available in PDF here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/MktPlanAndProcessing.pdf

THE REAL MEANING OF THE "ER" IN MARKETER

2011-09-18T13:35:00.000-07:00

We one had a client who said to us, "We're the leaders in this category. We have set the category standards for many years. And when it comes to brand positioning, we do this pretty darn well." Our response was maybe not what you might expect: "Yes, we know. But how much better could you do? What would it take to achieve even more?" In sports, in business, in life, it is always a good thing to savor the achievements one has already accomplished. But it's also a good thing to keep looking for ways to aim higher, to do even better, even more. That's our theme for this week's DISPATCHES.

To view this article in its entirety select the version below you wish to view, then copy and paste the appropriate link into your address bar.

Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780).

The DISPATCHES^TM for September 18, 2011 can be found here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/TheRealMeaningOfTheERinMkt.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=372

It is also available in PDF here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/TheRealMeaningOfERinMkt.pdf

THE MOST IMPORTANT P IN MARKETING

2011-09-11T16:19:00.000-07:00

Today we bring you your DISPATCHES in a totally new format - a Podcast. This should easily download to whatever portable device you opt to view it on. You will need Quick Time in order to view it and we have provided a link to obtain it if you don't already have it. Should you experience any difficulty, please contact our Central Division Office at 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780) or email Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com. We hope you enjoy your podcast. Let us hear from you.

Click on the link below or copy and paste in your address bar:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/podcasts.php

PRODUCT PERFORMANCE - To Insist or Accept - That is the Question

2011-08-28T12:04:00.000-07:00

You may be too young to remember, but back in the 1970's one of the best-selling books around was one titled, I'm OK, You're OK. As the title suggests, this book about personal relationships aimed to get more of us to accept that none of us is perfect, and that each of us is worthy of being perceived and acknowledged as "OK." It seems to us that, more and more these days, marketers everywhere are adopting a similar philosophy - not about their peers but about their brands - more specifically their products. To us, this is a troubling trend. To win in the marketplace, "My product is OK, your product is OK" won't cut it. Read on.

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To view this article in its entirety directly from our website, please click on the appropriate link below. We have also provided a hand-held device version as well as a pdf link if that is your preferred method of viewing.

You may need to copy and paste into your address bar the following links. Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780).

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The DISPATCHESTM for August 28, 2011 can be found here:

To view directly from our website:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/ProductPerformance.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=371

It is also available in PDF here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/ProdPerformance.pdf

ProdPerformance.pdf (PDF File

BRIDGING THE PERFORMANCE GAP

2011-08-14T16:42:00.000-07:00

Please enjoy this oldie but goodie from our archives.

How productive is your marketing? If you are like 90 % of the marketers we surveyed in our State of Marketing study you really ...
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To view this article in its entirety directly from our website, please click on the appropriate link below. We have also provided a pdf link if that is your preferred method of viewing. And finally, we have provided a link to our Blog where your comments are always welcome.

Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort
at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 ( 620-431-0780 ).

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The DISPATCHESTM for August 14, 2011 can be found here:

BRIDGING THE PERFORMANCE GAP

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:

BRIDGING THE PERFORMANCE GAP

It is also available in PDF here:

BridgingThePerformanceGap.pdf (PDF File)

WHY YOUR COMMUNICATIONS SUCK - PART 4

2011-07-31T18:36:00.000-07:00

This week we bring you Part 4 in a series of 5 entitled Why Your Communications Suck.

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To view this article in its entirety directly from our website, please copy and paste into your address bar the appropriate link below.

Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780)

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The DISPATCHESTM for July 31, 2011 can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/WhyYourCommSucks-4.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=368

It is also available in PDF here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/WhyYourCommSucks-Pt4.pdf

MAKING MARKET SHARE MATTER - SHARE OF TARGET MARKET

2011-07-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

Do you know your brand's market share? What a ridiculous question, right? How can anyone succeed in marketing without keeping up-to-the-minute on the brand's share of market? But maybe we should ask a more meaningful question for today's marketplace: Do you also know your brand's share of target market? That's the question we delve into this week.
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To view this article in its entirety directly from our website, please copy and paste into your address bar the appropriate link below.

Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780)

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The DISPATCHESTM for July 24, 2011 can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/MakingMktShareMatter.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=367

It is also available in PDF here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/MakingMktShareMatter.pdf

WHY YOUR COMMUNICATIONS SUCK - PART 3

2011-07-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

This is the third DISPATCHES' article, in a series of five, to address this subject, "Why our communications suck" more times than not. The first article deals with The Essential Creative Brief, which provides the appropriate strategic direction for messaging. The second addresses the Campaign Idea, which is used to dramatize the strategic messaging (identified in the Essential Creative Brief) in compelling customer language. This issue, Part 3, deals with "execution."
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To view this article in its entirety directly from our website, please copy and paste into your address bar the appropriate link below.
Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780)

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The DISPATCHESTM for July 17, 2011 can be found here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/WhyYourCommSucks-Pt3.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=365

It is also available in PDF here:
http://www.bdn-intl.com/WhyYourCommSucks-Pt3.pdf (PDF File)

THE MARKETING - OBJECTIVE - MIX

2011-07-10T18:52:00.000-07:00

Probably you have heard or used the marketing term, "marketing mix." Most of us take these two words to mean those elements within marketing - like merchandising, promotion, advertising/communications, PR - that we invest company resources against, to varying degrees, in annual Brand Marketing Plans. In a well-constructed marketing plan, each of these resource investments would also have a pre-determined customer or consumer behavior to deliver against. But, all too often, this is not the case; rather, quite frequently marketers aim to achieve multiple behaviors from a given marketing mix element. This week we consider the downsides of trying to do too much with a single marketing mix element.

To view this article in its entirety directly from our website, please copy and paste into your address bar the appropriate link below. We have also provided a pdf link if that is your preferred method of viewing.

Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780).

The DISPATCHES^TM for July 10, 2011 can be found here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/TheMktObjMix.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=364

It is also available in PDF here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/MarketingObjectiveMix.pdf

WHY YOUR COMMUNICATIONS SUCK - PART 2

2011-06-26T14:29:00.000-07:00

This is the second installment in a series of DISPATCHES' articles to address a question voiced by a participant in one of our Leadership Communications Workshops.

To view this article in its entirety directly from our website, please copy and paste into your address bar the appropriate link below.

Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780)

The DISPATCHES^TM for June 26, 2011 can be found here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/WhyYourCommunicationsSuck-Part2.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=363

It is also available in PDF here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/WhyYourCommSuck-2.pdf

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF COACHING - FIELDING THE BEST TEAM

2011-06-19T18:01:00.000-07:00

We know of no one in our line of work who is a bigger advocate of effective Coaching. And in all the work we do - from training to actual consulting - we aim to practice what we preach, and to help our clients develop their own coaching skills as well. Great coaching not only leads to great work, but it motivates teams to keep reaching higher. This week we take a look at an often overlooked aspect of effective coaching: assembling the best "line-up" for the team's best chance to win.

Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780)

The DISPATCHES^TM for June 19, 2011 can be found here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/TheMostImpPartOfCoaching.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=354

It is also available in PDF here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/MostImpPartOfCoaching-.pdf

WHY YOUR COMMUNICATIONS SUCK - PART 1

2011-06-12T21:01:00.000-07:00

During one of our Leadership Communications workshops a participant shared that his team tested their communications and found that it did poorly in convincing the target-customers to take action. As a result, he erroneously came to the conclusion that since his communications did not work then, ergo, marketing communications (as in advertising) does not work. Very interesting since there is ample evidence to suggest that, regardless of the category, effective communications can drive sales, and even work wonders in building brand equity.

SPECIAL NOTICE: The second half of the year is rapidly filling up for BDNI causing us to wonder if we should reconsider conducting our annual "Open Program" currently scheduled for November 15-17, 2011 in Chicago. If you are interested in attending this program, please alert Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780). If there is sufficient need for this training, we will certainly conduct it. Thank you.

Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780).

The DISPATCHES^TM for June 12, 2011 can be found here

http://www.bdn-intl.com/WhyYourCommSuck.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=347

It is also available in PDF here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/WhyYourCommSuck-Part1.pdf

YOU CAN TELL A LOT - FROM WHAT IS MISSING

2011-06-05T18:38:00.000-07:00

How common it seems to be, when asked to comment on another's work, that we start by finding those things we would not have done, or at least, would have done differently. This is, most probably, human nature. But, we've found that it can be more insightful, more helpful for overall understanding, if instead of starting with what we would have done differently, asking ourselves why another did it the way he or she did. Invariably what results is a greater appreciation for those things another consciously didn't do or didn't include. It's amazing what we can learn?from what's not there.

Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780).

The DISPATCHES^TM for June 5, 2011 can be found here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/YouCanTellALot.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=346

It is also available in PDF here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/YouCanTellALot.pdf

MEMORIAL DAY 2011

2011-05-29T19:16:00.000-07:00

There will be no DISPATCHES article for this week. It is our Memorial Day holiday here in the U.S. It is a time to celebrate our many freedoms purchased with the precious blood and lives of those courageous individuals (fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, relatives, friends and those whom we never met) who responded to the call of duty and fought in wars across the globe. We give special thanks on this day to each of them, and all those who currently serve in our nations' military on behalf of world peace.

Cover them over with beautiful flowers,
Deck them with garlands, those brothers of ours,
Lying so silent by night and by day
Sleeping the years of their manhood away.
Give them the meed they have won in the past;
Give them the honors their future forecast;
Give them the chaplets they won in the strife;
Give them the laurels they lost with their life.

-Will Carleton

We will return with a new DISPATCHES article on Sunday, 5 June.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

2011-05-22T20:53:00.001-07:00

Knowledge is power. Not facts. Not information. It is knowledge that is power. There is a lot of confusion regarding this point. Many believe that the person with all the facts at his or her disposal is the most knowledgeable...

Should you experience any problem in opening any of these links, please contact Lori Vandervoort at lorivan@bdn-intl.com or call 800-255-9831 (620-431-0780).

The DISPATCHES^TM for May 22, 2011 can be found here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/KnowledgeIsPower.php

A printer / handheld friendly version can be found here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/printpage.php?id=345

It is also available in PDF here:

http://www.bdn-intl.com/uploads/KnowledgeIsPower.pdf