Monday, September 22, 2008

Online Networking, Continues to Grow with the Introduction of TmyBC in Canada

As the world of social networking online continues to expand, a new company from Canada is planning on becoming the next “Face book “for business. TMyBC (Take My Business Card) is a social business networking site that connects businesses and customers globally through its new website www.tmybc.com. Founded in September 2007, by Mr. Kabir Datoo, from London, Ontario, TMyBC is expected to fill a void in the market by developing a new social network for business.

How does it work? By registering as a member of TMyBC, businesses can locate both businesses and customers by using the site, anywhere in the world. In order to improve your company’s marketing and networking the site allows the member to build a unique business profile. Members can promote their business by uploading images and videos of their products and services as well as company brochures helping them to build a unique marketing profile called a BCard. The format is simple enough. Once you and your company are registered, you have the option to design your own profile through a "BCard".

The TMyBC network made up of two networking options. For example, you can network around the site itself looking for potential partners by sending a BCard or just post your business card and attract business to you. By using some of the sites’ additional features, TMyBC enables everyone, everywhere to improve their marketing image and helps them to build their own unique business network.

A business can also send instant messages across the TMyBC network to connect with other businesses instantly providing a very unique marketing format. Anybody can join TMyBC as all that is needed is a valid business or occupation. At the present time, there is no charge and Mr. Datoo mentioned that he hopes to secure advertisers and sponsors to help offset the cost of running the site.

Social networking is on the rise and business sites are no different. At the end of the day, it’s all about making contacts and creating more opportunities for your business and Mr. Datoo’s site is no exception. In the modern era it is possible to get a critical mass of contacts within a very short-time and who knows this site could go on to become a major business networking site. At the present time, check it out and see it has some potential for you. The more contacts and networks you have the better chance you have of growing your business.

To contact TMyBC go to www.tmybc.com
Kensel Tracy is a professional business and personal coach, is Senior Partner in the Corporate Coachworkz Inc., and helps business to grow and prosper. If you have a topic of interest originating in Canada, he can be reached as ktracy@sympatico.ca.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Zone 5 – Ottawa – Networking in High Technology in the Nation’s Capital

Have you ever wanted to meet the key marketing industry players in your business category and were unable to find the right group? Well here is one the key happenings that is taking place in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city.

ZONE 5 a high technology networking group and has been actively helping technology marketing people build their networks and relationships for the past 8 years. Originally formed by the Ottawa Carleton Research Institute (OCRI) in 1999 to capitalize on the high technology boom in Ottawa, which was then classified as Silicon Valley North, the event has grown and managed to keep its members and adding new member each and every year.

ZONE 5 was originally setup as a one off networking event, which brought suppliers, consultants, knowledge based companies and government organizations together to meet and exchange information in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. As the group grew the networking part of the meeting was combined with knowledge based seminars and public speakers who now present at each meeting. The event has developed a professional reputation for presenting some of the regions best speakers and highly recognized local experts in the technology field.

Zone 5 brings together a cross section of the Ottawa’s 126,000 members of the technology community. By joining OCRI and paying a membership fee, approximately 1819 members of the community are entitled to come to ZONE 5 events. Guests can come and pay a guest fee while members are entitled to come a monthly ZONE 5 event the second Thursday of the month held over the lunch hour.

The agenda allows 45 minutes to meet, great and eat, in a tightly controlled area, which allows participants to be in close proximity, a drink in one hand and a sandwich in the other with your eyes focused on the name tag of the person in front of you. The rules are simple; get to meet as many people as you can within the 45 minute networking session.

Upon the call to order, participants are then led into a small theatre where information sessions are presented by some of Ottawa’s top success stories, which can include new marketing campaigns, products, and events, which are delivered in a format of sight and sound. Usually professionally produced video, power point and music highlight each presentation. At the end of the presentation, back to that tiny little area once again for 30 minutes more networking, coffee and desert. Everything is wrapped up by 2:00 pm.

ZONE 5 has had a loyal following and its growing. It proves that if you provide enough good information, a highly targeted audience and a way to network and interact, that good networking is still a part of every business category.

Kensel Tracy is Senior Partner with the Corporate Coachworkz Inc. and is the Marketing Business and Personal Coach helping advertising, sales and marketing people grow and prosper and can be reached at kenselt@sympatico.ca . Check out his website at www.corporatecoachwork.com

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

The Marketing Coach Speaks About the Ipod "The Next Great Invention"

Its been a while since I wrote on my blog as the summer started and well it was hard to sit inside and write about marketing and life. Its quite interesting as this summer brought about a lot of changes in how I view marketing.

For example my wife gave me an an Ipod for my 17th wedding anniversary and I started using "Itunes" for the first time. While doing that I saw two major record store chains in Canada go out of business.

I thought about when I bought Apple stock when it first came out at $18.00 and selling it at $33.00 and laughing when it went down to $12.00. Now its well over $100. I thought about bands that released their CD's to the market and offered customers to decide what they should pay for their CD online averaging around $8.00 a download. I was amazed that customers paid for perceived value on the honour system.

I myself loaded my Ipod and proceeded at 56 years of age to have a blast cutting my grass using my riding lawnmower while listening to Bob Dyland's sons new CD.

I downloaded podcasts on business coaching and while sitting on my dock sipping a cool one and learned about the best way to grow my marketing coaching business. There was peace and harmony in our living room as I listened to electronica and read the newspaper ( as apposed to the web) while my wife sat in the same room and smiled as I listened to my favourite tunes. She was listening to the Three Tenors on hers.

Yes things have changed. The world is a different place and the Ipod and Apple have developed an amazing product. The most important thing is that this product has been promoted by its users. It is so appealing that all you need to do is use it once and you are hooked. If I was a marketeer I would want that with all products. So why is it the record companies,the retail stores, the artists and the recording industry only started to view this product as part of their future.

All the while I was downloading the lastest Coldplay CD at $9.95 Canadian, just $5.00 less than the retail cost, I started looking at the margins being made on the product with little or no overhead. Yes, Apple has developed an amazing product and the Ipod is now part of our culture and part of the future and part of me.

Funny thing is. I had as much fun loading my Ipod as I used to have getting a new record. I got a chance to trial some music and got a chance to have 650 days of music is the palm of my hand. Any product that does that should be a success.

As summer comes to a close I look forward to many a winter night listening to Electronica on my Ipod and reading the newspaper. Now isn't that a culture clash.