Marketing Reflections
We're all in marketing. Let's get better.
2011 is your blank notebook

Issue 19 | Jan 2011

Hi Subscriber.

Welcome to 2011!

The holidays felt short and this year started fast. Did you have the same experience?

PS Henry Moore said "I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the year's"
To-Do list
To-Do
We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.  — Edith Lovejoy Pierce

You've made a To-Do list. Now what? Here are four ways to get started. Read more
Won't Get Fooled Again

The new
The new "pint"
How would you feel if you got less for your money? These 10 products are hardly "new & improved". Read more

Are you as honest with your clients as they trust you to be? Here's what happened to calories and revenue when Starbucks added nutrition information in New York City.

Even Better Than The Real Thing

HiPhone or iPhone?
HiPhone or iPhone?
Imitation is easy even if you adhere to copyright laws. Here are 10 knockoffs that could save money or cheat buyers. Read more

How do your clients see you? If they think you're the iPhone they don't want to end up with a HiPhone.

Obvious passwords
Obvious passwords
Passwords are meant to be hard to guess. Are yours? A leak of 188,279 passwords shows a startling lack of imagination.  Read more .

Here are tips to create strong passwords. That`s easy. The problem is recalling them. For years, I've relied on KeePass Password Safe . It's free and open source.
A Nifty Place To Find Great Visuals

boy or girl? (click to enlarge)
boy or girl? (click to enlarge)
If you're looking for effective, creative  visuals, turn to the pros in advertising. You'll find a huge repository at Ads Of The World.

For 20 of the more creative print ads, read more. I especially like Bose's.

Here are my recent blog posts in case you missed or wish to review them.

  1. Your favourite marketing posts of 2010
  2. Adventures in networking without ever meeting
  3. Three tips to master networking events
  4. How would you sell soap?
  5. Your favourite nonmarketing posts of 2010
  6. Got 59 Seconds for your gift list?
  7. Two ways to show gratitude
Reader Favourites

Your feedback says you like pictures. This time there's one per article. Satisfied? The things I do for you, Dear Readers!

Work-wise, I devoted 2010 to building a solid foundation for Taxevity. In 2011, my focus is marketing. I'll do much more speaking and already have five gigs. Maybe that's why it feels like April (unless I look outside at the heaps of snow). My first talk is over and the audience evaluation was terrific --- except from one person who rated me 1/5 in 3 of 7 categories. I'm not perfect yet!

Most talks a re variations of the ever-popular Do You Market Like Its 1999 ? I also have a new full-day seminar for accountants (Deconstructing Life Insurance With An Actuary) and shorter variants for keynotes. Do you have other topic ideas or know groups who might want to see me?

Thanks for reading. Feel free to send your comments, questions and article suggestions. Let's learn and share.

To reach me, simply Reply to this eNewsletter. If I can help you in other ways, please ask.

--- Promod

PS Best wishes with your 2011 plans.

In This Issue

Four ways to tackle your To-Do list

Won't get fooled again

Even better than the real thing

How unique are your passwords?

A nifty place to find great visuals

Reader Central
Other Services

Marketing Actuary
sharing ideas, insights
and best practices

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Riscario Insider
revealing how the wealthy
tame their financial risks

blogwiki | podcast | twitter

Spark Insight
quotable quotes from
different eras and countries
wiki

Your Companion
your companion

Promod Sharma
Marketing Actuary
FSA, FCIA

actuary to the wealthy 
promodsharma.com
taxevity.com
marketingactuary.com
helping you and your company market better