Today’s customer is almost always on social media and they are talking, forwarding, sharing, reviewing, complaining, and complementing brands. In fact a recent study on the Kenyan social media landscape by the USIU-Africa SME lab found that 78% of the respondents follow brands on social media.

As fewer cases of the pandemic are now being recorded across countries, it is clear that we have some gleam of light to make impact in now disrupted environments. It is however important to say, this is likely to continue at different paces as we keep our ears on the ground and remain vigilant.

It is now clear that in moving forward in this unprecedented season, client experience will be at the heart of all organizations across sectors. A distinguishing factor is how well we listen not just hear the market.

The team comprised of Angela Wanjeri - Marketing Strategy Advisor, Susan Kiamba - Learning & Development consultant and Ezekiel Olande - Digital Marketing consultant, engaged the market in a session dubbed Transform your business through Relationship Management - A Marketing & Skills perspective.

Zoom! It’s become the hottest phrase since the onset of telecommuting that was brought about by the now new normal. In a bid to social distance as part of the mitigation measures advised by the Government and WHO, video conferencing has become the go to collaboration tool.

Social media has become an avenue for creativity and a marketing medium. I know some might wonder ‘social media isn’t for businesses,’ fun fact: it is! You will be shocked by how businesses are developing ways to inform people that they are still up and running.

After the mention of patient number 1 in Kenya, there has been myriad of theories and predictions on what is to come. Realities are now showing and the impact is visible and felt not only in our everyday lives but so much so in our businesses.

#COVID19, #coronavirus, #stayhome, #socialdistancing, #selfquarantine, #lockdown, #wuhan, #patient31, #flatenthecurve, #shutdown… these have become our new normal since the new decade begun! What began as an infectious disease out of Wuhan China, late last year, has become one of the greatest threat to civilization in recent times.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit all aspects of society and we are all keen to keep track of the guidelines and updates from the Government and bodies such as the WHO. Similarly, how we communicate and engage with our stakeholders needs to be quick, bespoke and well thought through.

Ideally when thinking about growing your business, at the gate are the potential leads for the value you are offering. A top priority to winning in the market is constantly filling up your leads by having an idea who would be interested and why.

A typical organization has different actors to any play for any agenda. They are at different levels, roles and with diverse perspectives right from the professionals, the power players, those who make things happen and those who don’t!!. Each party comes with a bias based on their background that is highly influenced by their profession and many at times "power plays".

It is around that time of the year when most organizations are in the planning season. Marketing is one of the key functions expected to lead from the front-line. As we partner with professional service firms and those in industry in their planning season, there are some critical “soft” areas that have emerged as a preamble to effective and focused marketing planning.

In marketing we prioritise understanding client touchpoints along the “client journey” and ensuring that each interaction is effective in delivering the right message and perception. The same with the marketing function in an organisation – you have internal touchpoints with the leaders, departmental heads and staff in general who influence or are also involved in your activities.