IABC event – reminder
Wednesday 18 March – IABC event on Branding crunch: keeping your brand alive during a recession’, one of the toughest communication challenges today
Speaker: Ago Cluytens, Global Head of Marketing, Private Banking, ING Bank
Event details:
Time: Networking starts 18.30, seminar starts 19.15, close 21.00
Venue: Hotel Bristol, 10, rue du Mont-Blanc, 1201 Geneva
Price: IABC Members CHF 25, non-members CHF 35
To register or for more information email Marcus Ferrar, President, IABC Switzerland
A definitive framework for internal communication
In 2008, Melcrum developed a framework for members of the Strategic Communication Research Forum, Melcrum’s global membership group for senior internal communication professionals. One year on, they have published an article looking back at the thinking behind the Framework’s creation and how it can enable Internal Communications to become a more value-adding function. Two Forum members who have been using the framework also offer their insights into how they have been using the tool and to what effect.
Melitta
Top Lists
For those that like lists, here are a few that have recently been published:
The Guardian’s Top 100 websites
American Mensa’s top 50 websites
BBC audiences favourite 30 words
Fortune’s 50 most admired companies
Jakob Neilsen’s Top 10 Intranets
Top 25 books for Internal Communicators
Top 20 Social web sites
GCN Networking Apéro – Monday 23 March 2009
Following the success of the first ‘The Geneva Communicators Apéro’ last December (over 80 people attended), we invite you to a second informal socialising and networking event for communication professionals working in the Geneva region.
When: Monday, 23 March 2009, from 18h30 onwards
Where: Soleil Rouge, 32, Boulevard Helvétique, Geneva
Format: Just socialising and networking!
Entry: The event is free of charge: please get your own refreshments and drinks upstairs and then join us in our reserved room downstairs!
Since space is limited, please register as soon as possible>>
If this link does not work, please paste the following link into your Internet browser:
http://optima.benchpoint.com/optima/SurveyPop.aspx?query=view&SurveyID=145&SS=gQX62O
We look forward to seeing you there!
First annual multi-stakeholder conference on global energy in Geneva
Energy Pact , the fiirst annual multi-stakeholder conference on global energy, environment and development issues is being held in Geneva – from 16-17 March 2009. Some further information:
Gerhard Schröder, former Chancellor of Germany, will chair the Conference. Speakers with different backgrounds and expertise will include Ali Al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia, GholamHossein Nozari, Oil Minister of Iran, Gary Ross, CEO of PIRA Energy, a world-renowned energy market specialist, Ashok Khosla, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and President of the Club of Rome, Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker, Co-Chair, International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management, academics from MIT and Harvard as well as visionaries such as Johan Galtung and the Swiss aeronaut Bertrand Piccard.
Communicating your way through a recession
Despite being written one year ago, the HBS article, ‘Marketing Your Way Through a Recession’, is still relevant today. In the piece, professor John Quelch explains that the is key is to marketing during a recession is understanding how the needs of your customers and partners has changed, and adapting your strategies to the new reality.
Much of what Quelch imparts in his article is as relevant for those in communication, as it is for those in marketing:
Research the customer. Preferences have changed, and so communicating successfully with your audience will rely on understanding their new needs. This will also help you target clients more effectively and not waste any of your time, energy or spend.
Focus on Family Values. During hard times, people spend more time at home and focus their attention on those closest to them, therefore images of homely scenes will have a big impact as people seek to be comforted.
Maintain communication spend. Now is the time to negotiate great rates and lock these in for the long-term. By maintaining strong communications with your customers now, you will have a greater chance of gaining market share at low cost, as well as gaining a lasting an edge over the competition.
Know your plans well. Understanding your current strategy well will help you to eliminate those areas that are weak and adapt your strategy to the current climate without affecting outcomes.
Support your partners. Everyone is struggling, but by working together with your partners, you may be able to find new and better ways of achieving your goals, whilst simultaneously building strong relationships that will help you survive the downturn.
Emphasize core values. While lay-offs may be inevitable, now is the time to cement the loyalty of those who remain by assuring employees that the company has survived difficult times before by maintaining quality rather than cutting corners and focusing on existing and key customers. CEO visibility will be key.
Melitta
IABC event: Branding Crunch
The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) is holding a networking and seminar event on Wednesday 18 March titled:
‘Branding crunch: keeping your brand alive during a recession’, one of the toughest communication challenges today.
At the event, you will hear from a leading marketer – Ago Cluytens, Global Head of Marketing, Private Banking, ING Bank, and have the opportunity to network with other attendees.
Event details:
Time: Networking starts 18.30, seminar starts 19.15, close 21.00
Venue: Hotel Bristol, 10, rue du Mont-Blanc, 1201 Geneva
Price: IABC Members CHF 25, non-members CHF 35
To register or for more information email Marcus Ferrar, President, IABC Switzerland: marcus@ferrar.ch.
International Women’s Day – Women Leading Change
For International Women’s Day, Wednesday, 04 March 2009, Geneva Women in International Trade is organising a roundtable on “Women Leading Change – Traction for Trade”:
Leveraging the unique concentration of female talent in Geneva – members of this interactive panel will explore how they create impact from the local to global levels, through leading change. The event aims to draw us together around leadership in achieving women’s economic empowerment through trade. Opportunities for engagement will be shared during the session with time for follow-up during the cocktail and networking hour.
Panellists:
Patricia Francis – Executive Director – International Trade Centre
H.E Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, Ambassador and Head of World Trade, Switzerland
Myret Zaki, Head of Finance Edition, Le Temps
Richard Newfarmer – Special Representative to WTO and UN – World Bank
Moderator:
Ania Jakubowski – President – Geneva Women in International Trade
Bring Authenticity/Audience Perception to Social Media
Another look at our current ‘Hot Topic’ this time in an interesting piece by Mary Cullen. She believes that the open nature of Social Media will encourage people to improve the quality of their communications and be more authentic in the way they interact with their audience, which will, in turn, have a positive impact on the quality of social media in general. Read the full article >
Melitta