Opening a blog: Quite an Interesting Experience.

Assignment: Open a Blog site

Having had similar experience in 2007 when I opened http://olamilekanbabs.blogspot.com/ with the name “Marketing+Brands/Comments”.   

For this exercise, I opted to use the blogger.com because I like the interface and page layout.  My O’Lekan Babatunde blogs page on https://www.blogger.com/home interface has a New Blog  button on the page. I followed the link which produced ‘create a new blog’ interface with templates to choose from.

I filled the dialogue box, in place of the blog title I filled in “Marketing News Plus” right underneath this is the address column, I tried several options and arrived at http://ngmarketingnews.blogspot.com/ as being acceptable.  

The next step, I browsed the many available templates and chose the ‘simple’ template to determine the page layout, position of pictures and colour make-up of the home page. There is also the option to customize the blog site with a view to giving it a personal touch. I decided not to explore this yet.

Other information required includes email address, blog name and definition of the subject coverage (focus) of the site. Having done these I pressed the “Create a new blog” button and I was requested to reconfirm email and password.  It took me to another interface with the name of the blog. This is back end from where I can upload stories. A button prompted me to  post my first story

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In a bid to take advantage of the seamless communication that digital platforms offer, the blog was syncronised with my facebook account so that stories uploaded can be shared with friends on facebook. A confirmation email was sent to my mail box to activate the blog.

Uploading the first post using the dashboard with the capabilities for the headline field, body text field and the add media (picture) field was actually smooth, it post no challenge as I followed the prompt buttons the different stages it suggests.

 My first post on the new blog - a picture, headline and body text with the following link http://ngmarketingnews.blogspot.com/2014/05/boko-halal-noahs-arks-csr-initiative  went up on 12^th may, 2014 and it was like magic even though I have done this before. The reason was that I never applied my mine to the different stages as I did in this assignment. 

Thereafter, I have published a series of stories with multiple pictures. The activities involved offered a fulfilling experience, sense of pride and achievement.

Name: Babatunde, A. Olalekan; Matric No. 171964

Course Title: Current Trend in Communication Technology - LAC 716

BRIAN, INTEL PARTNER TO LAUNCH TABLET PC INTO NIGERIAN MARKET

Nigerian PC maker, Brian Computers, has partnered with Intel Corporation, the leading global chipmaker, to launch BrianTab B10i, a new trendy tablet PC into the Nigerian market.

The BrianTab B10i is powered with Intel Atom Z2580 2.0Ghz and is readily available at an affordable price in the market, both companies announced.

Adisa, Nwosu in Battle Royale for AAAN President Seat

Two intending contestants have picked forms to vie for the position of the president of the Association of Advertising Agencies in Nigeria, AAAN as the 41st AGM congress is slated to hold in July.

The two are incumbent Vice President and Managing Director, TBWA/Concept, Kelechi Nwosu and Lanre Adisa, Managing Director/ECD, Noah’s Ark.

The early expression of interests in the office of the AAAN President is an indication that the forth-coming AGM would be an interesting election AGM with active participation of members across camps.

As it is, both Adisa and Kelechi belong to two opposing camps, each bloc will ensure its interest is protected in the composition of the in-coming executive council.

The two who are friends and professional colleagues, had worked together at management level at TBWA/Concept before Adisa parted ways with the leading agency to set up Noah’s Ark about five years ago.

Meanwhile Kelechi has consistently over the last eight year or more served the association in different capacities emerging vice president in the election that produced Mrs. Oke as President.

Kelechi as the sitting Vice President beyond his other agenda/programmes,  will be relying on the power of incumbency and association’s tradition of  the most senior member of the council (VP) taking over from the President whose two-terms tenure lapses.  The bait has always been ‘the VP being part of the exco will continue the good work’.

On the other hand, Adisa, fondly called LA, will be coming as anti-system, a game changer, likely to be supported by those aggrieved against the incumbent exco and its leadership.

From the above analysis two camps are already emerged which promises to make the 41st AGM an interesting one.  However, nothing says only these two shall contest for the AAAN’sNo.1 position, more interested presidential candidates might come up on the scene.

One sure bet is that the 41st AGM will reflect youthful zest leading to generational and ideological shift in the running of the affairs of the AAAN.  More later…

The Home Truth Banky W. Forgot To Tell Arik Airlines

Katy Perry’s ex, Brand Russell, is a funny man. Every so often, via his column in the Guardian UK, his intervention on politics and culture is always poignant and light hearted.   Somewhere on the dark side of the internet, a writer observed that these days, it seems the apostles of change, are comedians as opposed to pop icons of the 90s: think Yoko Ono. think John Lenon etc. So, when you see Bank W taking on the role of the explainer-in-chief (apologies to Bill Clinton) albeit an eye witness on a drama that happened on an Arik Airline flight, maybe we ought to take it seriously. Afterall, Bank W is not a funny man.

Now, here’s a graphic recap from the horse’s mouth: “The flight was scheduled to take off at about 11:50pm on March 31, 2014. Boarding was completed on time, and all the passengers settled in their seats and prepared for the flight to begin. However, there seemed to be a delay in operations because although the ground crew had exited the aircraft and the cabin doors were shut, we weren’t moving.

The pilot announced that there was a small delay in the ground crew operations on the plane, and that we should be patient as the flight would depart ‘in a few minutes’. The problem was, the air conditioning was not turned on. Midnight soon passed, and there was still no A/C, neither did it feel like we were going anywhere, anytime soon. Passengers were vigorously fanning themselves, asking for water and ice from the crew, and doing whatever they could to stay cool and hydrated. The reality was that the heat in the plane was quite frankly unbearable.”

It’s hot enough in Nigeria these days, and then you couple that with a cabin whose doors have been shut, and a bunch of people locked inside that enclosed space… suffice it to say it escalated from bad to worse very quickly. The Captain made another announcement about how he’s ‘sorry for the delay, but it was due to the ground operations’, and that there was only one engine on and that was why the A/C could not be turned on yet. By now it was well past 12:30 and people were becoming extremely frustrated.

Parents had begun taking the clothes off their children, children were crying, one lady looked like she would faint. Still, there was no further update on when we would take off and when the A/C would come on. Almost an hour into this debacle, many passengers became justifiably irate. We were all drenched in sweat, burning hot, and it was hard to breathe properly. Now, let me interject here to say this… I believe that up till now, it was actually Arik’s policy to not turn on the A/C on their Aircrafts until take-off.”

From the forgoing, what comes out clearly is an Airline trying so hard to be Nigeria’s flag carrier yet saving cost in the face of the harsh operating environment. One better sound this emphatic note to Arik airlines, lest one is mobbed by over patriotic Nigerians who would like to call our attention to what we know that, “Nigerians take delight in bringing down their own”; that “Nigerians in diaspora, UK based, feel a sense of pride when they fly Arik”.  

Waite a minute: what if Banky W remembered to enjoin Arik airlines not to be pretentiously world-class? What if the airline becomes a no ‘bullsh*t’  budget airline for Nigerians by Nigerians? The brand promise is to safely fly Nigerians from point A to B and strip it off all distracting luxuries. In fact, it can be so down to earth that part of its emotional selling proposition, in its communication, is to cheekily take a swipe at those everyday needless airline luxuries in a way that will put a smile of customer’s face and pocket.

This way, Bank W would have changed the business model of the airline into a more authentic brand that Nigerians can be proud of. And the unintended consequence of this route, if taken, would be for foreigners to know us by our notoriously quirky but truthful no frills airline: this will help, even if it is a little, portray us as people who say what we mean and mean what we say. This value, you may agree, is in short supply these days when we top the chart on corruption/dishonesty index. Airline diplomacy anyone?

Oh my goodness, you wouldn’t believe what came to mind just now. A naughty campaign by Hugo Gstrein and Patrick Tamisiea, my alma mata at the Miami Ad School Hamburg (sorry I had to sneak this in). Since Ryan air is an international budget airline that people always complain about. Said the brand in its new campaign: “Well, with prices this cheap, shut the f*ck up and deal with it, because beggars can’t be choosers.’’

For choosing to switch off the Air Condition before take-off and other service challenges, Banky W may well ask: dear Arik air, what’s on your mind?

Babatunde Adebola has the big title of an associate creative director at a leading marketing communications consultancy. He can be reached at baba@babanic.com or at +2348137457956.

iStore Unveils iPhone Financing Options for Customers

iStore, an Apple Authorised Reseller based in Ikeja Mall, has unveiled ideals, the first official finance deal for iPhone, which gives customers the option to finance their iPhone purchase over 12 months.

iDeals makes owning an iPhone more affordable than ever before by providing a cost effective solution of interest free monthly instalments, starting at just 9500 Naira a month explains the management.

The iDeals announcement follows the recent news on the 2nd of May that iPhone was launched officially for the first time in Nigeria through Apple Authorised Resellers. iStore is the first Apple Authorised Reseller to sell iPhone and to offer iDeals.

“We are thrilled to launch iDeals and offer a finance option for iPhone and give Nigerians the opportunity to purchase at an affordable monthly rate. iDeals is genuinely interest free - if you divide the cash price of iPhone by 12, this is the monthly payment you will make, there is no additional interest,” says Rutger-Jan van Spaandonk, iStore Director.

iDeals is available for both iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s through a StanbicIBTC salary account and starts at just 9500 Naira per month for the iPhone 5C 16GB model, 11 300 Naira per month for the iPhone 5s 16GB model, 13 000 Naira per month for the iPhone 5s 32GB model and 14 800 Naira per month for the iPhone 5s 64 GB model.

Additionally, those iStore customers that would prefer to do a straight cash purchase, will have the option of cash pricing as well. Customers can apply for iDeals* at iStore, any StanbicIBTC branch nationwide or online at www.ideals.com.ng. Once the application form has been submitted, processed and approved, customers will be contacted to collect their iPhone.

He added that when purchasing an iPhone from iStore, customers can rest assured that they are buying from an Apple Authorised Reseller that is officially approved by Apple to sell iPhone and therefore offers local warranty support and services. The warranty on iPhone is valid for a year and if any repair issues arise during the warranty term, customers can claim for free warranty support. This is the first time, iPhone customers will have the convenience of local warranty in Nigeria from a partner approved by Apple.

Customers who either purchase from unauthorised resellers or who travel frequently and buy product outside of Nigeria, are advised to consider the benefit of purchasing iPhone from iStore and having the advantage of local warranty support.

“We encourage iPhone enthusiasts to shop at iStore Ikeja Mall and take advantage of the iDeals offer, as well as the benefits of buying from an Apple Authorised Reseller. For the first time, iPhone customers will have the opportunity to take advantage of a monthly finance deal and local warranty support - all while having the additional value-adds of advice from Apple experts, excellent customer service, free training, setup and tech support”, concludes Van Spaandonk.

IDS Students join the global ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaign

Students and staff from the renowned Institute of Development Studies (IDS) and the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom gathered today to support the ongoing worldwide protest calling for the return of the over 200 abducted teenagers by terrorists in Nigeria.

It has been over three weeks since the abduction of the girls and it seems no action has been taken for the safe return of these girls, a situation which has led to a global outcry and protest condemning the abduction.

“We join in this protest to demand for urgent action by the government of Nigeria and other countries that could help as every second counts and the danger the girls face increases every day. We say NO to terrorism! NO to slavery!! NO to insecurity!!!” says Patience Bamidele, a Commonwealth Scholar and Masters Student IDS, University of Sussex. 

Campaign: Heineken Consumers in Nigeria to Share Urban Adventure online

Heineken is launching a long-term marketing drive to distill its global positioning around “progress” and “adventure” into something more palatable for men with different tastes in 100 countries worldwide. Meanwhile, as part of the new campaign, consumers in developing markets will be motivated to share their urban experiences online. 

The strategy launches today (12 May) with a “Cities of the World” TV advert to motivate men out of their comfort zones and explore their cities. It is seventh in the brand’s “Legends” series and sees the “Man of the World” character encounter a string of colourful characters while following a trail of business cards left by a woman. 

The creative theme, developed by Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam, will be extended through a mix of promotions for special edition Heineken bottles and social media content. The brewer has produced a bottles with one of six cities on the label; New York, Shanghai, Berlin, Amsterdam, London and Rio de Janeiro, and will let fans win trips to each city. 

Additionally, men in emerging markets such as Lagos, Nigeria will be asked to share their own urban adventures online. Heineken will curate the content and present it back to fans as a way to encourage them to commit to being open to new opportunities. 

The brewer hopes that by being at the heart of new experiences for its core 25-to-34-year demographic, its premium credentials will rise. A ‘significant” portion of this market want to make the most out of their time in the city, Heineken adds. 

Anuraag Trikha, head of global marketing communications at Heineken, told Marketing Week the “Cities” concept is the “perfect” platform for making the beer feel unique in each market. It also dovetails with the brand’s ongoing efforts to rival spirits in nightclubs, he adds. 

Trikha says: “We’re curating the best the world has to offer in different cities to give men an insight into the Heineken brand that’s relevant and distinctive. It’s a perfect shop window for us to voice the worldliness behind the global brand in a local accent. 

“The success of the campaign will come from whether we can get local consumers across the world to live these experiences by way of stimulating conversations. This is a long term initiative for the business, one that we’ll reinvest in over time by using various cities to push our point of view alongside our marketing around moderation.”

Heineken is preparing a global social media content push over the coming weeks to present accounts of urban adventure stories it has sourced. The company declined to give further details on the move. 

In keeping with the local parlance accolade of "Chairman" for the brand in the Nigerian market, the promoters of the brand, Nigeria Breweries annually dedicates sumptuous marketing budget for the brand's marketing and promotion activities. 

Culled from MarketingWeek with agency report