The impact of an appropriate GIFT and the importance of acknowledgement
November 1, 2008
My message this November Newsletter is simple as we head into the Silly Season of consumerism-plastic-charged-Christmas-excess-spending-choices.
DO YOU HAVE TO GIVE A GIFT?
Of course - you are not obliged or have to do ANYTHING. That’s when it comes down to the power of intent - and as a marketing and communications “exercise” - what you do or don’t do can speak VOLUMES.
My opinion is that this end of the year – is a great time to reward and acknowledge your clients, suppliers, supporters, staff and loved ones (friends and family) for the value of what they have contributed to YOUR business and your life over the year. Some people succumb to laziness or “too-busy-to-think-about-it-ness” at this time of the year – and I suggest taking some time OUT to consider the value of giving and appreciation to those important people who support you in your life.
Here are some thoughts for GIVERS:
Thinking about the “why” of giving is just as important as the “what” to give. How do we make our giving choices have impact and meaning - for not only ourselves but to those who receive from us? Do you consider the thoughttand effort ( or not) that has gone into the choice of gift that you’ve received ?
Of course – in these times of economic stress and consumer excess – consideration also HAS to be give to “how much” – to give and to spend. The less we can afford to give – the MORE we have to consider the relevancy of what, who and how we give it.
Here are some thoughts for RECEIVERS:
- Acknowledgement of receipt of a gift – is so VERY important – to the GIVER
- Taking the time to communicate a simple THANK YOU – is ESSENTIAL – don’t forget or get to busy to do this.
So, whatever you decide and choose to do (or not) - if I’ve helped you stop and think about it and consider your options - that’s my gift to you.
OK – I’ll get OFF my soap box now……….
ORDER your 100% Soy Candles with spice and soul NOW in time for Christmas!
September 29, 2008
Zulu Candles for Community is a brand new initiative by Zulu’s Community - offering you the opportunity to enjoy the beauty and spicy fragrance of burning candles made out of 100% natural soy wax, and contributing to some very special community innitiatives in the Congo.
Choose from our specially selected range of 100% natural Soy candles scented with Spiced Orange or Cinnamon Spice and give your friends, family and clients a gift that will be appreciated and loved for its beauty, simplicity and supports the principles of good health, sustainable living and giving back to our communities.
WHY SOY CANDLES? -The benefits are CLEAR
Improve your own environment by Saying NO to toxic, chemical and environmentally UNFRIENDLY paraffin wax candles and choosing 100% natural soy -click here to read more about the pros of soy and the cons of paraffin
Proudly supporting Communities in the Congo
Zulu’s Community aims to raise $2000 from the sale of this special range of 100% natural soy candles with $1.50 from every item purchased from the spice and soul range donated to Lucy’s Congo Canoe Challenge 2008, helping communities in the Congo in Africa - find out more
The spice and soul range of 100% natural Soy Candles
Candles will be made to order and are 100% natural and made exclusively for Zulu. Choose from Spiced Orange or Cinnamon spice fragranced candles in three beautiful styles.
Mosaic Candles $28.50 + GST includes $1.50 donation
Comes in Heart Throb Red, Pearl or Clear.
Burns for 38 hours and come in a refillable glass mosaic holder or reuse with a tealight
Can come individually packaged and ready to give
Melt your heart & tea light candle gift pack
$18.50 + GST includes $1.50 donation
6 Tea lights and 5melts in a lovely pack.
Tea lights burn for 6 hours and melts last for ages in your oil burner
Melt your heart and Tea Light takeaway packs
6 melts come in a pretty take away pack $10.00 + GST
9 unscented Tea lights in a pretty take away pack $13.50 + GST
YOUR ORDER - Click here for the order form
EARLY BIRD ORDERS - ORDER BEFORE 15 OCTOBER RECEIVE A ZULU GIFT.
- The earlier you order - the sooner we will make your candles - the faster you can receive them!
- Last orders are to be received by 15TH November 2008
- Your orders will be confirmed back to you and invoiced before we make them.
- The unit price includes a $1.50 donation to charity and will be paid by Zulu Communication to our chosen charity in one lump sum
PICK UP ARRANGEMENTS OR DELIVERY CHARGES
- We will confirm your delivery charges or pick up arrangements according to your order.
- Last delivery date is 5 December 2008
BUSINESS, BULK & CORPORATE ORDERS MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR SPECIAL PRICING OPTIONS. CONTACT Sue on 02 98108187 TO DISCUSS YOUR NEEDS.
Is the pen mightier than the spear?
August 20, 2008
I don’t happen to have a sword in my office - but I do happen to have two authentic Masai spears - a male and female one - that I managed to bring back from my adventures in Africa.
The male spear is WAAAY too big to get in the shot ( ahem…). It’s a good foot taller than me. It currently protects my doorway and has a resident spider living on it ( well - until I picked it up anyway).
The female spear is delicate and intricately carved and is holding up my wall hanging from Tanzania (behind me). Must be a peace spear and not for war being female and all……………………………you must have a look when you come to my office!
ANYWAY - I digress.
Is the PEN mightier than the spear/ sword/sharp-pointy-instrument-designed-to-kill? Well - this blog is not actually about WORDS Vs WAR - it’s about the PEN.
ZULU’s FUNKY PEN
Ok - so sorry if you feel you’ve been a little misled by that introduction - but my point here is that I’ve had these funky pens now for over 6 years. The same style pen in Zulu orange and blue.
Everyone I meet in the realm of business, community and some social - receives a pen with my business card. It’s one of the most effective marketing tools I have and it’s my signature ( ahem again…..) item - part of my brand.
At times - I’ve considered getting something else to replace the Zulu pen - but nothing that I can think of:
- is appropriate, well received, very very useful and appreciated! People don’t expect to receive anything, and it IS my pleasure to be able to give something to everyone that they genuinely like and can use.
- has longevity - is very useful, practical and has a long shelf life
- is easily transportable and giveable - and it’s not too painful to give out en mass - expecially when I’m presenting to groups
- can provide great branding and is an effective marketing device
- is distinctive, cool, funky, striking and memorable
- is GREAT quality for unit price
THE POWER OF THE PEN
Story 1: Executive Impact: A few years ago I had to separately interview individual members of a Board and an Executive team. I introduced myself and gave them my pen - as I do.
I was told later by my client - that at their next combined meeting - as if synchronised - they all reached into their suit pockets and portfolios and out came their Zulu pens. Orange beams around the room! They all looked at eachother , laughed and nodded - they had all been ZULUed!!
Story 2: Pens for Nuns and Priests in Sri Lanka: On one of my post - tsunami relief trips to Trincomalee in Sri Lanka in 2005 I gave out some pens to the nuns and priests I was working with.
For me - it’s not always about trying to promote my business - it’s just that sometimes - it’s just nice to be able to give something that people will like that I have available- so the pen it is. I’ll let the picture speak for itself.
Story 3: Pen pleasure lives on: You don’t know HOW much satisfaction I get when - months or years later, I catch up with someone and they are STILL using my pen. So much of what is produced and given out - ends up in the bin or in a drawer somewhere.
About my pens they say :
- it’s the best pen as it has lasted so long - and they love using it
- it’s hard to lose because it’s bright and chunky. It can be found in their hand/manbag clutter and no-one dares to steal it
- can I have another one.
For me this means:
LOVE the Pen - I remember you - You are TOPS - You’re a great marketer and a funky human being - I must catch up with you or visit your website to find out more about you.
AND THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS: Plan - select and invest better!
STOP wasting money on buying STUFF that’s just STUFF ! Spend a bit more time putting thought and consideration into rationalising your selection and investment spend on promotional items. I promise you, the work you put into planning and selection at this end will pay off with a more consistent brand, relevance and impact for your business.
- It doesn’t have to be flashy and expensive to be effective - just THINK about what you’re choosing for your marketing before investing in it. Every marketing TOOL has a function - what’s the function of this tool?
- If you find something that works well for you - stick with it. It becomes a part of your brand.
- Marketing works in mysterious ways - that may not be abundantly obvious TODAY but will bear fruit down the track - it takes time to build your brand
- If they ever stop making these pens - I’m in trouble!
- I can get these pens for you - but you can’t have my orange.
What has worked well for you in the past with your marketing tools?
Do you need help with selecting and producing your marketing tools? Well……………. here I am - give me a call.
Great little book on Confidence
July 22, 2008
I found this little gem on my travels.
a Thousand Paths to confidence by David Baird - ISBN978-1-84601-206-8
Here’s one little gem:
“Every moment of our life is absolutely precious and is not to be wasted in self-doubt. The wish to be confident and to live life with confidence is the vital first step. If you are prepared to take it, congratulate yourself - you have begun your journey on the path to confidence”.
I will share the other 999 paths to confidence as we go along. If you can’t wait - try and grab yourself a copy!
There is also “a thousand paths to creativity” by David Baird that is also worth seeking out… cover looks the same - just say’s creativity and not confidence.
My pre-emptive strike on becoming a PDA addict
July 8, 2008
Ok - so this morning - the eve of my long anticipated holiday - I am eagerly awaiting the (late) delivery of my new mobile phone.
I use the word mobile phone loosley- because that’s only one of its functions.
I have recently "persuaded" myself to embrace technology - step up - and get a "smart phone" / PDA device.
I’ve been holding back for a while now. I see a lot of my friends in and out of business glued to these devices and SWEAR that I don’t want to go there. I don’t want to be addicted to a small, small screen or fixated on hearing the "beep" notification that some more spam has been delivered to my inbox.
So why did I get it?
Is it peer pressure, shame or envy that has prompted this new embrace of the technology age? It’s a bit of "all of the above" - as well as the need to be a bit more accessible as I’m out of the office a whole lot more.
I really only intend to use this new device as a phone with the capability of doing OTHER things…………occasionally. I do want to still be able to have a conversation - business or social - without being distracted by the potential of being contacted by someone else by email. I still want the people and the business that I do face to face to take priority.
So - here’s my tetative pre-emptive strike on the PDA - a contract to me to ensure I don’t become addicted and antisocial with over use. I’ll let you borrow some of these rules too if you like!
- Avoid pulling out the "device" at dinner with friends - unless that is we’re seaching for something on the internet that’s relevant to the conversation. Furvative glances every 5 seconds is a bit off- putting and not a good tactic for engaging in meaningful face to face interaction.
- No PDA at the movies - the worst use I’ve seen has been constant SMS and email checking at the movies. I mean - WHY BOTHER going to the movies if you can’t separate yourself from the small screen to enjoy the big screen?
- No games on the PDA - I don’t play games on screen - usually. In the 80’s I was addicted to the arcade game Galaga (showing my age again - but who WASN’T loving Galaga in the 80’s??) I have no Wii, Nintendo, Xbox or whatever (maybe I don’t know what I’m missing) And I do prefer good oldfashioned card games, scrabble, backgammon and playing Poker - around a table with friends on a Saturday night!!
- No checking email in the early AMs - chances are the only email I’ll be getting at the "witching hour" when I have insomnia - is SPAM.
- No sending email in the early AMs - when you have insomnia - and the evil monkey on your back is messing with your head - this is NOT the right time to send emails……….. for SO many reasons
- NO PDA while driving - it’s tempting - I know - to respond to texts and emails while driving - but hey - it’s REALLY not safe.
This is all academic -until I recieve the thing and work out a) how to use it and b) get data turned on and actually start using it. I’ll keep you posted on progress - or not!
How long does it take to achieve real change?
July 6, 2008
I’m about to take a short break away from my business - which I admit - that I’ve fallen BACK IN LOVE with only recently - since I’ve achieved a few significant changes.
SIX MONTHS TO LIVE OUT MAJOR DECISIONS
First of all - I have to say - it is my belief that it takes SIX MONTHS to live out a major decision. This is not scientific fact - this is just my opinion and my experience - particularly over the last 7 years of self employment. Whenever I mention this to other people of like circumstance - they agree their experience is the same.
These last six months ( in particular the last three) have been an intense time for planning for and implementing changes that have resulted in the complete reinvention my business and giving birth to the new version of Zulu Communications. On the other side - I can now see the benefits of all that agonising mental, emotional and physical hard labour!
REAL CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION TAKES TIME & PROCESS
If I can step back a bit further to say that the need for these changes were flagged and critical up to 15 months ago! So what the HELL happened 15 months ago to trigger this change and why has it taken so long for it all to come to fruition??
I could write a book about this - but I am a self confessed armchair Psychologist and by no means profess to have all the answers or the ability to help everyone. If by sharing my story with you helps you in anyway - then terrific!
At the heart of it - every change for a business HAS to be owned and committed to by the owner and decision maker of the business with respect to the process of change. You have to REALLY want it in order for it to become a reality and it’s hard work getting there.
Here are some thoughts:
- To change something signficant in your life and your business takes process and time
- You can speed up the time by working through the process more quickly - that requires focus and committment
- You can’t reduce the time by limiting or skipping the processes - without altering the outcome
- There is no telling how much time things can take to change - even if you want them to change
- You can set goals - backed up by realistic actions and steps as one way to ensure you receive a result - again this is focus and committment
15 months ago………………..
I did a Vision Planning program for businesses 3 years plus - it TURNED me on my head. I completely freaked out as I had to review and confront the aspects of my business that really needed to be vastly different. It was all TOO hard, my confidence was SHOT to pieces and my business started to suffer because of it.
I sought professional guidance - some mentoring and lots of coffee meetings with other business owners - who didn’t seem to be having as hard a time of this as me……… or were they?? (This was the birth of GET REAL!)
I was advised back then that I need to:
- Come to terms with my client based and aim for a completely different market
- Consider a change from the isolation of home-based business BACK to and office and business community environment ( home-based was too isolating for a people-person like me)
- Up the ante on my whole approach to web and on-line marketing as my presence was far from "best practice"
- Raise my profile and be BRILLIANT
WHAT DID I GO THROUGH?
First six months: April-September
- Vison planning crisis and freaking out
- Moved into an office community ( prompted by circumstance rather than actually seeking it - never the less………………)
- Re-evaluation of financial circumstances as a result of now having an office…….. and more freaking out
- Re-evaluation of client base - who do I HAVE - who do I WANT
Second six months: October-March
- Being overwhealmed by all the big changes I had made quickly and marinating on what still needed to happen and wondering HOW on earth to do this
- Actively networking, researching, educating myself and planning for making changes (working out roughtly what, how and when I needed to do things)
- Trying to stay positive, working and brilliant despite the realities of a SLOW first quarter
Last three months: April - June
- Complete redevelopment of my web and on-line marketing
- Working with my NEW clients and presenting and consulting to a new range of businesses
- Becoming a mentor to a new business owner
- Planning and implementing the change over of my business entity
- Revising my entire work practices
- Networking and making contacts
- Maintaining a full workload of work
- Relaunch of website, blog and new business on 1 July.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF CHANGE - SUCCESS!
I’m a completely different person today in so many ways - and can appreciate the agonising and stress associated with realising these Real Changes which have already paid off for me and my business - in spades!
Finally - thanks needs to be given to all of those who help me through this process - from beginning to end. You know who you are - and I’ll never forget how you played a part in my transformation.
NOW - how can I help you through YOUR change process?
Zulu’s campaign to promote voice to voice and face to face
July 2, 2008
I used to get a little annoyed at being interupted during my working day by telemarketers and follow up customer service calls. Now I’m not so bugged.
Here’s why.
Businesses that STILL employ and invest in human beings to make contact with other human beings via the telephone deserve a TICK and not us getting CROSS at maintaining this very important marketing and public relations activity.
There STILL is a place for the human touch. These days the art of voice to voice and face to face communications has been sacrificed to email and on-line marketing and technology - to the extent that I believe, is detrimental to building real relationships and understanding amongst people.
Some of the great advantages of on-line communications and technology tools is that it’s instant, can be done en-mass, is a efficient and effective way of doing business and staying in touch with many at all times and is a cheap way to communicate and track communications.
High use of technology can also create distance between human beings. What’s lost is the ability to engage, dialogue, express ourselves, gauge mood, tone, inflection and the opportunity to have the social and human aspects of interaction.
Voice to voice and face to face is a lost art.
- Can you evaluate how much of your communication with others - business or social, travels across the internet instead of the airwaves or face to face?
- Are we not picking up the phone because we are trying to save on phone call charges?
- Is it easier not to "deal" with people (especially with emotional or difficult issues) by firing off an email?
- Does picking up the phone or making time to meet feel like an inconvienience to you?
- How much of your social time involves not seeing your friends or socialising face to face?
- Do you find that people require your immediate response to emails and get offended more if you don’t - than if you take a little bit more time to return a voice mail message?
- Does seeing your friends on Skype or Facebook constitute an acceptable level of "contact" with people that goes toward building and maintaining a relationship?
Don’t sacrifice the HUMAN touch to technology too much!
Businesses who continue to invest in opportunities to interact face to face and voice to voice - I believe, will survive better than those who don’t - WHEN the technology backlash hits. You’ll be relying on the relationships that you have established and the rapport that you’ve built - and the best way to promote that is by investing in the human touch.
ZuluQ: How can you help me develop my logo ?
June 29, 2008
Q: I am in process of developing my logo. How can you help?"
Zulu says:
I work with businesses on the strategic side as well as the creative and implementation side of things.
What does this mean? I help businesses establish what their corporate identity should be and how it will reflect their business, products and services - and come up with a clearly defined brief and plan so that you can then take the next step of working with a Graphic Design professional.
Because this is your business and investment - it’s YOU that need to clearly define what your logo and corporate identity should be - NOT the graphic designer’s.
Zulu helps translate your NOTIONS into reality and because of the knowledge and experience we have with working with all sorts of designers through the processes of production - we also act on behalf of the designer to get the brief and scope established so that they can get on with what they do best - DESIGNING.
You can check out the MANY examples of this on the Corporate Identity Page and see the results and case studies in Zulu’s Client Gallery . The case studies that help further define and describe this process.
ZuluQ: Do I need a logo?
June 29, 2008
Q: Does every business need a logo?
Zulu says:
Do you understand what at logo is and how it will help to differentiate your business and products from ALL that is out there competing for attention?
Having a logo is only PART of your corporate identity which makes up the FACE of your business.
Let’s look at the elements that make up a LOGO
For example: In the case of Zulu’s Logo
- The doll is the icon
- The Zulu text is an icon
- The the name of my business is an element also
- In its entirety - they represent Zulu’s logo
The business name on its own is a version of the Zulu Logo that is used and applied independant of the doll icon . I refer to this as a SUB LOGO and have strict controls over where and how I use and represent both of these elements. The sub logo has ICONIC elements to it ( the ZULU bit)
Many companies choose not to develop and ICON in preferece to just the business or product name. However its HOW you do this and represent it that BECOMES your logo.
The question really is then - does a business or product need an ICON… the answer is - not really. It’s completely up to you.
Just remember - CONSISTENCY is the KEY when you are applying your LOGO, managing and developing your corporate identity.
Have a look at the logos Zulu has created and also read more about developing corporate identity.
Sue Liu presents on Developing Corporate Identity - please contact Sue for further information.
Get creative with your email address
June 27, 2008
Ok - so after my little rant about having your email reflect your business more appropriately.
Larger businesses often have to have these lengthy protocols because they have so many employees to differentiate - but we don’t have to being small businesses!
Here’s a few tips about getting a bit more creative and simplifying your email addresses.
GENERAL EMAIL ADDRESSES
Here are some of the popular general email addresses. There is NOTHING wrong with having these general email addresses - but in my opinion - they’re a bit boring, passive and BEIGE.
- info@
- sales@
- enquire@
Depending on the type of business you operate or services you provide - you could make your email address a bit more descriptive and dynamic by having an email adress like:
- wine@ ( for a liquor store)
- exercise@ ( for a gym or personal trainer
- create@ ( for a designer or artist)
- mortgages@ (for a mortgage broker)
- events@ (for event organiser)
- greathealth@ (for a healthcare business)
YOUR NAME IN YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
Having your name in your email address is a great way to introduce yourself to people and get them used to you - the person @ the business. Your name in your email will:
- indicate that you personally will receive your emails rather than it going to a general enquiry account.
- communicate that this is your personal and direct email recieved and read only by you and not lost in a system or read by an assistant
- be easier to remember and is best kept short and simple. If you can lose the (. )and the (-) in your address - it does make it easier for people to remember and get right! Here are some examples:
- kevin@yourbusiness.com
- kevinwalker@yourbusiness.com
- kevinw@yourbusiness.com
- walkerk@yourbusiness.com
- kevin.walker@yourbusiness.com
- kevin-walker@devinewines.com.au
Simple and straight forward is the best - and easier to remember!
The above options are certainly better than ISP and freemail accounts like:
- kevin@hotmail
- kevin@gmail
- kevin@telstra
- kevin@iprimus
