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Opportunities for graduates in the advertisement industry

                                                          - By Ankitha

          The advertising industry has a voracious appetite for creativity and talent. It is constantly growing and creating jobs for highly talented people who can think out of the box and come up with innovative ideas. Both big and small advertising agencies exist that help companies touch base with their consumers and put their message across using the various media like print, radio, television, and the Internet. There is a perennial demand for talent. As products launch and grows, so does the job market. Ad agencies now face competition on an international level from MNC brands. If you join a widely spread agency, you have chances to be transferred overseas too. Growth prospects are immense.

         

       Advertising is handled by advertising agencies that vary in size and scope. Some large companies have set up separate departments to handle specialized areas like market research, film, video production etc. The job profiles vary according to the departments: Client Servicing, Creative Department, Media Department, Production, Television and Film, Photography, Market Research, Exhibition and Event Management, Promotion, and Direct Marketing. The executive side includes Client Servicing, Market Research and Media Research. It involves understanding client needs, finding new business and retaining existing business, selecting the appropriate media, analysing timing and placement of advertisements, and negotiating the financial aspects of the deal.

        

        The creative group is the foundation of a sound advertising agency. It includes Art Directors, Creative Directors, copywriters, scriptwriters, visualisers, photographers, typographers, and the mandatory DTP operators. This department creates the advertisement copy. It verbalises and visualises the specific needs of a client. As ad films are also a part of filmmaking, career options related to film also are part in this field. Thus, careers in advertising can include working in advertising agencies, marketing jobs, copywriting, graphic design, media, market research, public relations, etc.

      

        Today, new areas are emerging within advertising -- like event management, image management, digital marketing, Internet marketing, etc. Event management is when events are marketed, and image management is when a particular profile of an individual / organisation is projected. Internet marketing has also brought about a lot of changes in advertising, and one can cater to a select group of audiences rather than a mass audience.

       

         There is a great demand for graduates from the general stream who have a command of the language of communication plus knowledge of designing packages like Photoshop, Coral Draw or fine arts, especially in the creative department. Advertising agencies generally prefer individuals who have a creative bend of mind, can think independently but work well in teams.

        If you are interested in pursuing a career in advertising, you must be highly goal driven and work well under pressure. Basic qualities like creativity, flair for writing, and the ability to translate ideas into a visual format are required. Candidates should have insights into the interests of people from all walks of life. Those in the creative field should possess artistic abilities to make the ad appealing to the masses.

   

      Job positions and earnings in an agency vary with its size and turnover. Fresh graduates can start with a salary of Rs 10,000 – Rs 15,000 per month. This can go up to Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 per month with a few years experience. Doing a specialised diploma/degree can further boost a candidate's worth. The salary of a successful advertising person can be between Rs 30,000 and Rs. 60,000 or more per month depending on the agency or company.

       

       Career opportunities in advertising include openings in private advertising agencies; advertising departments in private or public sector companies; in advertising sections of newspapers, journals, magazines; commercial sections of radio or television; market research organisations, etc. One can also freelance, of course. "If you are a graduate, you can enter at a trainee level. The pay packet also gets heavier as the workload and levels increase. However, although you may get a break at the lower levels easily, sheer quality is demanded at the top. The ever-increasing pressures at these levels expedite the exit from this category," says Shailesh. "It is up to the individual to know where his potential lies. There are colleges and degrees available that polish you in the line you choose. Or, simply work as an intern in an ad agency. Gain knowledge of all the departments and then make up your mind."

      

       The courses offered in the field of advertising are:

• B.A. integrated courses in Advertising, Sales Promotion & Sales Management
• Course in Advertising and Communication /public relations/marketing
• Diploma in Advertising and Communication Management /commercial art
• Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising and Marketing Communication /public relations

     

      Thus there are a lot of opportunities for graduates in the advertisement industry. They are paid well and their work is also fun loving and creative. A person should work in the field in which he/she has specialised in. In the advertisement field, we get an exposure of the outside world.

Totally Amazing Technology In This House

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Aamir Khan's show Satyamev Jayate takes Bollywood by storm

Superstar Aamir Khan's much awaited TV debutSatyamev Jayate received a grand opening on Sunday. Satyamev Jayate was successful in touching the right chords of the audience and it got a thumbs up from the Hindi film industry too.

On Sunday morning, the celebrities took to their Twitter account and bestowed their positive reactions about the show that focused on social and real life issue.

Satyamev Jayate revealed some shocking truth about the state of women in India. The one and half hour show focused on the issue of female foeticide.Satyamev Jayate team presented the case studies of three females residing in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Ahmadabad, who had undergone such situation.

"Watching Aamir Khan on Satyamev Jayatediscussing Female Foeticide ! I love this effort from him and thank him as a woman!" posted Preity Zinta.

Salman Khan also urged people to watch the show. "Spend your Sunday with Aamir Khan's Satyamev Jayate on Star Plus. Don't miss it sharp 11 am!!"

"Satyamev Jayate. A show with a heart," posted Farhan Akhtar.

"Aamir does it again....and this time on TV, Satyamev Jayate touches the heart and opens the eyes to the country around us," tweeted Ken Ghosh.

"Time for action. I absolutely loved Satyamev Jayate. At least Aamir is doing what all of us only talk about," posted Raj Kaushal.

"Aamir Khans show can bring a revolution. Thoroughly researched covers all aspects touches emotional chord n forces us to reexamine ourselves," posted Shabana Azmi.

"I always wanted something like this on TV. Thank you Aamir for stirring a people that sundays are 'lazy' for and 'others' problems are not theirs," tweeted Dia Mirza.

Aamir Khan, you believe in making a difference. And no doubt that your creative and evidence based approach has turned an idiot box into an inspirational platform.

The Effects of Social Media on Society and Marketing

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Facebook and Social Media Marketing

Social Media, what comes to your mind immediately? A place to find new friends or a place of fun with friends?  Well, these facts about social media websites cannot be denied, but referring to professionalism one thing is linked Marketing, the most effective and updated turn around in the digital trends.

Facebook has ample tools to create an optimistic social marketing experience. This site comes with new tools each time and you need to familiarize to use them to be appropriate. Facebook is a combination of social marketing with a fan base doing viral marketing.  A single fan of your site implies you are not promoting that one person. The effects of Facebook and Social Media Marketing is positive with proper approach.

Effective Communication: Communication has a crucial role, especially in social media marketing. The message should reach, so discover potential customers. This indicates that you need to make your online presence eye catching. Give adequate information about your product and yourself on diverse platforms such as forums, blogs, etc. This develops interest in users and results in response and feedback. Most important is behaving responsibly and be a credible person.

Internet presence: Facebook and Social media marketing makes your dream come true of ranking high in Google, a dream of online marketing. To make your online presence, your content needs to be valued by Google so you need to apply better techniques of optimization such as:

• Create fresh and quality contents frequently
• Get links from credible websites
• SEO for your website
• Fix your website with Social Media Plugs

Facebook and social media marketing is successful, but you need to maintain different groups for different interests. Promote users to join and share fun and entertainment suitable for groups. Get the trust of people to gain confidence of your virtual presence. Give people more than they expect.

The key to social media marketing is engagement and to market socially, you need to be social.

How to Use Twitter for your Fundraiser

Twitter is a massively popular social networking site, with millions of global users. There is however a lot more that you can do on Twitter besides keeping in touch with old friends. Twitter can also be used for fundraising, and is a great source of money for non-profit fundraisers. With the right techniques and strategies, you can easily be able to fundraise for your cause, and get the money that you need to advance your cause.

 Twitter is free, meaning that you can start your fundraising without having to spend a single coin. This is also a good way for you to get much needed support for your cause, and with over 200million worldwide users on Twitter, the potential for getting the money that you need is massive here. All you need to do is to learn how you can use Twitter for your fundraiser, and you will be well on your way to making money, and getting some great support for your cause.

There are a number of things that you can do to rally support and get funds coming in for your fundraiser.

One of the things that you can do is to form relationships with the relevant parties. Volunteers, donors and other supporters have a presence on Twitter, and you need to reach out to them and ask for their support. You can simply Tweet them, and explain what your fundraiser is about, as well as let them know what kind of support you will need from them.

You can also promote events on Twitter to help raise money and support for your fundraiser. You can simply let people know of an event you are having, and share the location, date, time and other essential information. Ask them to re-tweet this information, or bring their friends along. This is a great way to get people to come to your event.

Furthermore, you can update your followers on what your fundraiser or charity has been doing so far. Let them know about what is happening in the organization, and the positives that you have been able to achieve through this organization. Additionally, you can let people know about the challenges that your organization is facing, and what they can do to help.

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Marketing In a Virtual World

Marketing In a Virtual World

Before the Internet, small business owners were usually limited to a local market -resorting to expensive advertising and brochures, direct mail, cold-calling, networking at the local Chamber of Commerce or Rotary. You hoped customers found you through word- of- mouth or a Yellow Pages ad. Today, you can work with a consultant, a financial planner, or a business coach across the country as easily as someone across town. In the Internet age, prospects often find you (instead of the other way around). This is the age of the virtual customer. Yet, although the Internet has made it perfectly reasonable to land a major client you've never met in-person, it has also created new expectations among consumers.

Prospects now "Google" around to find someone with some special skills. They expect you to make a good virtual "case" for yourself. If you don't pass the test, or make a bad impression, or appear lackluster compared to your competitors, you will lose the potential client.

The only way to be truly successful in business is by establishing a good reputation. And understanding the way business has shifted in the Internet age can help you bring the potential of marketing your business into the virtual world.

The Virtual First Impression

The Internet has increased the expectation among consumers that businesses will have a credible online presence.

Many of us now form "first impressions" of people and companies via our Internet browsers. From the moment your name and business appear in a Web browser to the moment your Web site loads, your first impression often means the difference between a shot at your prospect's business, or being shut out.

Think about it. You have probably used the Internet to research a company or a person you're considering doing business with. Certainly potential clients and customers are checking you out online, too.

Prospects you've never met are forming opinions about your business at the click of a mouse. Internet first impressions are not just influenced by how your Web site looks, but also by how often your business appears or how high it ranks in a web browser.

Become an Online Center of Influence

We all know people who command rapt attention whenever they speak. Others want to listen to, learn from, and emulate them. They are centers of influence, a distinction you can pursue online by developing the following qualities:

·         Share inside knowledge with your target market;

·         Participate, listen, contemplate, and offer thoughtful responses;

·         Be willing to voice an opinion;

·         Assume leadership positions in your industry

Certainly, experience counts. But this is not the only prerequisite to becoming an online center of influence that will earn you the distinction of 'trusted advisor' within your target market.

Start by making your Web site a resource for your industry. Feature lots of useful information, including articles, links, downloadable files, customer resources, and anything else of use to your target market. Be generous and give, give, give!

Create a Virtual Podium with Teleclasses

Teleclasses are a great way for businesses to develop a virtual reputation. They can be promoted easily by email, and provide information to prospects, clients, and customers all over the world, with minimal cost and effort.

Business coach and teleclass leader Michael Losier set up a teleclass about exhibiting at trade shows: 'I had 60 students in my first class, which was very profitable, and many later hired me as a consultant."

Also, it may be just as effective and less effort to participate as a guest lecturer in another professional's class rather than producing your own teleclass.

Placing Articles Online

Online articles draw upon your expertise by providing useful information that Web site visitors are actively seeking out. Online articles position you as an expert in your field and convey a level of authority that establishes trust and sets the stage for sales.

When high-traffic, high-credibility Web sites and newsletters publish your articles, you ride on the coattails of their loyal relationships with readers. Your articles are seen by visitors as referrals from trusted friends.

Some of the most prime "real estate" in the world these days is at the top of the search engine listings. The most widely used search engines rank Web sites by the quantity of other Web sites that link to them. This means that every article you publish that links to your Web site can improve your search engine rankings.

Build Online Relationships

 Most business networking used to happen when we recommended an associate, swapped business cards, or connected with colleagues over lunch. But increasingly, social networking is migrating to the Internet.

Through social networking Web sites and online discussion lists, entrepreneurs can access virtual communities of prospects and associates while developing virtual "platforms" to generate leads and sales and establish themselves as recognized experts.

Marketing consultant Max Blumberg credits his involvement in Ecademy.com, a business networking Web site, with elevating his business profile and generating new clients. "When I first encountered Ecademy I'd never heard of online networking, but the benefits of a large community where I could share ideas and cultivate new relationships was very appealing."

Blumberg started by posting a profile about his business, then started sharing his knowledge with other Ecademists. "I set up a club where members could get help with common marketing challenges. Many of these people became clients and friends with whom I socialize. We reciprocally use each other's services," says Blumberg, whose Ecademy presence has even been noticed by large companies who are starting to contact him.

The key to building a niche community is identifying your ideal customers and the communities they belong to. By targeting the best, most favorably inclined prospects within a niche, you can become your target market's vendor of choice, and sell more with far less effort.

Retail Marketing - Building Trust and Loyalty

The basic need of every retailer is to satisfy customers needs, meat and resolve the customer’s problem by offering an adequate product or a service and maintain a certain margin on the products/services that will lead to profit. Retail Marketing is the leash that connects the retailer with the customers having in sight the retailer's business objectives and goals.

Now days so often we walk into a store that has a shop keeper that knows nothing about so many of their products and knows nothing about those that can help you solve the problem that motivated you to get into that store. That kind of sales people just discourage the customer that a solution can be found at that store and make them leave. This is exactly what the shop owner would not like to happen.  So how to keep the customers and increase footfall and sales?

The basics of every good sales process is building trust. Once a retailer manages to build up the trust that a customer has in his services and products, it is very likely that that customer will buy and return for more. That is the way to build up customer's loyalty towards the retailers store or to a certain brand of products and services. That is one of the basic requirements for every good retail marketing agency. Every campaign and every action the agency plans has to have this as one of the long term goals in order to be successful.

So let's talk about some of the actions that the retail marketers can arrange in order to achieve this goal.  every retail marketing plan should contain activities like loyalty cards, gifts, coupons, special awards in order to build up customers' loyalty towards the product.

Loyalty cards can be used to express the customer's belonging to a certain special group of customers that the retailer wants to award with a special status and discounts for the loyalty and the business they have done in the store over a period of time.

Reward programs will include a special gift for the buyer included in every purchase that has been made in that store, or a special occasion gift like every third home appliance bought by one customer can be accompanied with a additional appliance for free, upon customer's choice.

Sales promotions programs are made to build up a well established relation with the customer and that is the basic of all great retail marketing services. Not so long ago this bonding process and loyalty was not taken into such consideration and it was so often that customers were migrating from one brand to another. Results have shown that building customers' loyalty is not an easy process and it takes time and money to invest into retail  marketing activities to achieve e this. But result also have shown that this money is well spend since it provides profit over a longer period of time and long lasting effects.

All well established retail marketing companies will offer you a sales promotion plan that will include building customer loyalty activities as part of the whole process. If they do not, do not hesitate to ask about it and include it for the benefit of your own retail business.

Article on Retail Marketing

How to Develop Successful Retail Marketing

Most of the retail outlets offer the same products. However some outlets are more successful than their competitors. Have you ever thought why it is so? Well, there can be thousands of reasons for that. You must be wondering how to grow your business, how to make your brand visible?

Many people think that creating brand identity is very expensive. In reality you don't need to spend much but to follow the right branding strategies to promote your business. You might have a very small retail outlet but branding it is still important for you. You should invest at least 3% (not a big amount) of your profit in marketing, an integral part of any business.

Market Research

The most important thing is market research. Before deciding your marketing plan you should know about the market trends. Invest some time to understand the marketing strategy of your competitors as well. Taking part in a trade show or some event is a great way of doing so.

Local Newspaper and Radio Stations

A very small business also needs advertisement now a day because nobody will come to you unless you remind them of your existence. You can reach your target audience through various mediums. Since you own a retail outlet certainly the local people are your targeted customers. So place your ad in small local newspapers on a daily basis. It will cost you same as placing a glossy full page ad in a big paper. However the former is more effective. You should also choose popular local radio stations to run your ad.

Online Marketing

One of the very fast and effective ways of promoting your brand is website. It reaches  thousands of potential customers at a time. Moreover people can view it 24x7.They can also buy your product online. You just need to update it from time to time. 

Co-op Advertising

Co-op advertising is a very good idea for you if can't spend much on advertising. You can ask your suppliers or vendors to go for co-op advertising. The cost will be divided but both of you will be benefited from this.

Personal Appearance

This can be very helpful and it is also a good way to earn the customer's faith. If you sell any product of a famous individual you can request that person to visit your shop on a special occasion. Start spreading the news of his/her appearance at least six weeks prior to the visit.

Improve Customer Service

One of the main conditions of a successful business is good customer service. Try to improve your customer service day by day. If the customers are treated well and if they are satisfied with the way you help them buying a product they will surely get back to you. If the customer has not come to buy anything but ask for an information listen to it carefully and try to help him with the information. You may not gain profit directly. However that customer will surely do word of mouth promotion for you, which is the best way to earn the trust of the target audience.

Feel Good

Make the customers feel good as soon as they enter your shop. A fresh look generates a positive attitude. Make your shop clean and clear. Redesign your shop from time to time. Keep the products in such a way so that every customer can find easily what he/she is looking for.

Keep in Touch with the Customers

The most important thing is to keep in touch with your customers. You can ask for their suggestion, recommendation for a brand or feedback. Make a simple form and request them to fill it up. It will give you an idea how satisfied your customers are.

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Consider a Brand-New Career Path with Web

 Marketing

Whenever somebody makes significant changes in her or his life and treads into unknown environments, she or he could get a bit anxious and excited all at once. This is particularly true when that person is considering a different career path. Because of the recent economic decline, a lot of people have lost their jobs and had no choice but to change industries and seek out other opportunities. If you would like a new profession, you need to look into trying internet marketing. This sector has a lot of rewards that individuals all over the world have already taken full advantage of. This article talks about what online marketing is capable of doing for you, the things you must have prior to getting started, and how to put up your very own online business.

Before anything else, you ought to realize that there's nothing more satisfying than being self-employed, making enough money to support yourself and your family, and enjoying the freedom to work wherever and whenever you wish. In contrast to the past decades, now we have many options when it comes to careers and also employment. Modern technologies have empowered so many men and women to change their lives and not become constrained by their geographical location. Online marketing embodies this favorable facet, and there are many different ways for web marketing to help you earn money and also achieve financial freedom! The most important thing is for you to choose the web marketing tactic that suits you best.

The 2 things that you'll need for web marketing are an Internet connection and a computer. Clearly, starting your own web-based business is extremely simple and can be carried out by any individual at any age! There are plenty of success stories from notable web entrepreneurs with various personal backgrounds and competencies, and these stories will encourage individuals like you who desire to establish their very own business and reap similar advantages. Something must be emphasized: you aren't required to possess any previous experience in order to realise success in this field, but you would want a good idea of the way marketing works considering that this would be the foundation of your business venture. To illustrate, if you're showcasing specific products and services, you will have to come up with advertising endeavors, write-ups as well as other materials in order to reel in your chosen target audience.

Another awesome advantage of web marketing is that you may move according to your own schedule; your progress can be as quick or slow as you would like. If you are working full-time and searching for other means to add to your monthly income, you could conduct online marketing part-time. It is still going to be a booming business if you've mapped out your goals and have an understanding of what you need to do. For folks who are unemployed, they can do web marketing full-time and become a lot more successful! Regardless of whether you carry this out part-time or full-time, you ought to be organised, motivated and also energetic. You'll operate your own internet business, and all of the outcomes are going to depend on the amount of work you put in it!

There are 3 typical ways to build a web-based business: via a blog, website, or product and service publicity. These 3 profitable vehicles could be utilized to gain commissions for ads displayed on search results, the promotion of affiliate programs, or publicising your very own products and services, among other tactics.

Using paid advertisements is going to call for a reasonable expense and knowledge of the way PPC or pay-per-click advertising gets the job done. Affiliate product promotion requires that you point end users to the landing pages of various products, and showcasing your very own products and services necessitates fantastic search engine optimization, keyword research, article promotion and also site development. Whatever tactic you opt for, you'll have to do a little research on them and learn where your personal strengths are and also the amount of time, money and energy you can dedicate to your brand-new online business.

Customers are the most vital aspect of any business venture, and with web marketing, you must be inventive to get your potential clients' interest! Within the online marketing sector, customers are known as 'visitors' and the number of clients you will have is decided by the volume of traffic that you reel in. Needless to say, if you've got more page views, you will have even more chances to generate profits as well as increase your level of popularity!

You wouldn't have a hard time searching for ways to be successful and attain your personal objectives! Internet marketing is a superb career path for men and women of all ages and also proficiencies. Once you've got a good notion of what you want to take place, where you want to be in your life and which sector you plan to go to, you and your new home based business are all set!