We’ve got a real corker of a meetup planned for January. This month, we’re taking a look into the future of organisations and communication. Not another ‘social media’ event, for sure! This one is for those with curious minds and will get the synapses firing in ways you never thought possible!

Some of you will remember this venue from the ‘Carry on up the Network’ meetup last October! Special thanks again to Roland Allen of Big Wheel Theatre!

Location: The Clerkenwell Theatre (next to the Holy Redeemer Church) 26 Exmouth Market, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 4QE

Closest tube: Farringdon, Chancery Lane and Angel
Buses: 38 and 19

Map link.

Time: Arrive at 6:30pm prompt, Wednesday 27th January <– Note this date. Originally was scheduled for 26th.

Event synopsis:

‘Organisational communication in 2020: A view into the future’

Social Media for organisational communication is much talked about topic of the moment. Much of the discussion and debate is around tools and what they can do for organisations / individuals now. However, what does it all mean for the future? Is this just the start of an emerging pattern that will fundamentally change the way organisations talk internally and externally? What might the future hold for employee engagement?

Join David Galipeau, from eighty20.org / United Nations / Academia for a mini exposition into the future of Communications. In the futuristic spirit, he’ll be joining us from Geneva over a live video link to deliver a short overview of where he sees communications of the future heading.

Example topics will include:

- How everyone will have their own ‘Facebook’
- A world with multiple parallel internets.
- What will corporate espionage look like? Examples from today.
- Organisations of the future - what will become of corporations, NGOs and government.
- Is the Matrix on its way?
- Virtual Worlds of the future?

Following a short introduction, we’ll move into a facilitated discussion where London members can ask questions of David directly.

This month’s food and drink will be sponsored by YooDoo – LACG regular Nick Saalfeld’s new venture. Nick and his colleagues have been working on this new e-learning and knowledge distribution system for two years – and will be giving LCEG members a sneak pre-release demonstration!

http://www.modcommslimited.com will be organiser as usual.

If you’d like to come along, drop me a note via the contact form. For future updates, follow this blog or join the group on either LinkedIn or Facebook.

This post relates to a mailer sent to ModComms contacts. It outlines a few points for consideration when devising a marketing strategy.

What’s the current situation?

- What is working for you right now?
- Who are your best clients in the target space? - The one’s you’d like to replicate?
- How do they see your services / understand your value?

What are your goals and targets?

- What (exactly) is the desired result? Is it clear, single minded, worthwhile? Perhaps brand awareness, whitepaper downloads, or inbound (new) prospect contact?
- What is the goal worth? Can you measure projected profit, or turnover, and by when?
- What are the consequences of going for it? Both positive and negative!

Who are your target audience(s)?

- Who are they? Think end users, influencers, decision makers?
- What do they currently think (if you know at all) about your competitors or substitutes?
- What do you want them to think and do? Raise hands as interested, buy something small, build a relationship?
- Where do they congregate? On and Offline.

What’s the story?

- How will you segment products and services according to ‘audience’? Can you make any or all of the following: Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotional - And should you? - Perhaps different values according to market?
- What’s the ‘big thing’? - The 10 second sell or ‘elevator pitch’? Can it be tested (at a trade show perhaps)?
- What’s the benefit of the story/big thing? Is it actually of REAL benefit to your customer?

Communication?

- Know yourself! Tone of voice in all content (on and offline) must be consistent. Be consistent through all collaterals and front facing personnel.
- How should you reach your audience? Methods and mediums.
- How will your prospects find you? Channels/methods.
- How much communication is required? Money, time, repetition?
- What can you give away that proves value and builds trust? Education, samples, tools, whitepapers?
- What can partners / affiliates sell of yours for a cut?

Control and measurement?

- What resources are truly needed? Time, budget, skills?
- How do you measure progress / success? Establish tangible and intangible metrics upfront!
- Put in place a plan to measure, monitor, review, update and modify things according to need.
- What’s next? Make a plan and act on it!

Are there logistical issues to consider if developing a new market?

- Are there any issues when dealing with overseas currencies?
- What channels / partners could you use to deliver your product / service?
- How do you handle delivering the service / product once a sale is made?
- Any legal ramifications about your products / services in your intended markets?

The above points aren’t definitive, but represent a good checklist when creating a marketing plan. In marketing, there’s no ‘silver bullet’. Success comes from how your activities link together!

Christmas is upon us nearly again. Rather than a formal meetup, it’s time we went for some dinner and a bit of fun!
I’ve pulled a few strings and got us some tables at ‘The Royal Commonwealth Society’ members club. It’ll be a three course dinner for £21.50, all in a rather relaxed, modern setting. Having worked with them and become a member recently myself, trust me it’ll be good! Drinks are extra, but reasonably priced.

Location:

The Royal Commonwealth Society
25 Northumberland Avenue
London WC2N 5AP

Closest tube: Charing Cross / Embankment

Map: http://bit.ly/5MYyDV

Time: Thursday 10th December, 6:30pm arrival

Unfortunately we’re limited to 20 places. First come, first served.

You need to be a member of the London Communicators and Engagement group on LinkedIn or Facebook group to participate.

p.s If the restaurant isn’t packed, there’ll be a surprise at the end.

See you there!

In October, around 60 members of the London Communicators and Engagement group showed up to participate in an evening of cabaret, theatre and workshopping. A lot of people gave up their time and effort to make the event really special.

I just had the video in from Roland, MD, Big Wheel Theatre company. Take a look below. If you can’t see it, click here.

This month is all about ‘Emotional Intelligence’ and being able to maximise your effectiveness as either an in-house communicator or external consultant. It’ll be facilitated by Claudie Plen, Director, Edge Thinking.

So, details are as follows:

Location:
Calyon London
Broadwalk House
5 Appold St
London EC2A 2DA

Closest tube: Liverpool Street

Map: http://bit.ly/WkO0Q

Time: Tuesday 10th November (It needed to be earlier than usual as ModComms is decamping overseas for a few weeks on a project soon after) 6:30pm arrival. 7.00pm start. 8.30pm finish, then afterwards at a local ‘hostelry’!
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Event synopsis:

Communicators and the Glass Ceiling?
Is there a glass ceiling for communicators? Internal communicators (and consultants) are perfectly placed to have a holistic understanding of the needs of an organisation and its people. Research shows that emotional intelligence is the most important trait for leaders to possess, so why are professional communicators (often the most emotionally intelligent people in an organisation) so often left out of the leadership loop? What difference would it make if you could exercise more influence over your leadership team’s decision making, and if you could begin to influence thought leadership over the organisation as a whole? As a communicator you are uniquely placed to understand the impact policy has on internal structures, but often you don’t get the chance to act on the information you have…

This session will help you to:

• Improve your influencing skills
• Boost your confidence when communicating upwards
• Increase your understanding of how to frame your objectives to appeal to leadership’s finance and strategy objectives
• Understand the business case for communications, and how your skills can support organisational change, increase productivity, performance and efficiency.
• Get what you want from management, and ideally to increase your budget.

If you’d like to have the session tailored a little to your specific needs, drop meetup facilitator ‘Claudie Plen’ a mail on claudie@REMOVETHISedgethinking.co.uk. All requests will be treated in confidence and you will not be named at the event!
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Drop me a line if you’re interested in coming along via the contact form.

http://www.modcommslimited.com is organiser for this event. Calyon Bank are kindly providing food and drink!