M&M Comms

Nelson goes blue for children’s charity

marianna — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:08:30 +0000

Keen to find out why these cuddly teddy bears could well reach the Top Toys for Christmas list in 2012?

Knitted by hand and donated by people of all ages and abilities across the country over the next few months, these Olympic hopefuls will represent every country that will participate in the London Olympics for a special charity campaign.

Once completed, a chosen selection of the teddies will be auctioned off at a high profile event in the autumn and the remainder donated directly to a number of charities which collect and distribute gifts for children for Christmas around the world.

Marianna Marks, Director of M and M Communications, who is behind the Bears U Care campaign, said: “I wanted to make something different, yet very personal for my sister and her new baby when I stumbled upon this adorable pattern for a bear. I must admit I am not the most confident knitter nor have I even attempted knitting anything like this before, but I decided to have a go.

“My son, David, who is five years old, loved the idea of having a knitted bear from his mummy and he kept asking me when ‘Superteddy’ will be ready. When I finished it, he literally would not let the teddy bear go and he almost immediately asked me to knit a blanket, jumper and booties for his bear. As the bear was actually intended for my nephew, I had very little choice but to start another one.”

She added: “I was really encouraged by my son’s affection for the bear and it made me think of all the millions of children around the world who do not receive a single toy at Christmas, let alone something made especially for them. I then called my associate Jacqui Malpass and the idea for the campaign just came from there.”

In making this dream a reality, crafters around the country are being asked to register their interest and the country they would like to represent via Bears U Care (insert hyperlink). They then need to get knitting and either post or deliver the bears to M and M Communications by September.

The bears can be any size or colour, knitted or croqueted and bonus points will be given for those which look the most like the country they represent. Beginners are also welcome to knit the bears with someone else and group entries are very welcome.

Jacqui Malpass added: “We want to get those who have never tried to knit before to have a go and we particularly want some of our sports and business role models to get involved.”

The bears will go on show from the end of July and members of the public will be able to vote for their favourites online.

There will also be a number of sponsored prizes for the knitter or group with the most inspiring story, best picture or promotional event, most innovative design and so forth.

Caption:

Katie Davies, aged 7, from Cockett in Swansea cuddles the first Bears U Care bear.

Top tips for making the most of your presence online

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:18:30 +0000

OK, you’ve heard all about Twitter, Facebook, blogging and YouTube, but how many of you can say hand on heart that you actually have the time to keep these updated every day. Didn’t think so…

So how do you go about boosting your presence online, without having to give up your day job, family and social life?

The first suggestion is to look again at who you are trying to target. If you’re audience is young people or teenagers, you’re probably better off setting up a MySpace or Bebo page. Facebook or LinkedIn typically appeals more to the average business user, whilst YouTube is suitable for video links, online demonstrations, etc.

Two, what are you trying to achieve? Are you looking to inform, raise awareness, get people to sign up, buy something or attend something? In defining what you’re trying to achieve, it’s much simpler to narrow down which channels to use.

Three. Relevance. Whether you’re looking for a new job, building an online network or fan page, ask yourself if what you’re trying to say is relevant or of interest to the people or audiences you want to talk to.

Four. Think of the medium you’re using and consider your message, the language you use, etc. The language you use when posting your profile on LinkedIn will understandably be different to the way you communicate on Twitter.

Five. Be yourself. Remember that to get to where you are in business, you’re currently or potentially able to do something different, better or faster. Don’t be afraid to let potential customers, users or business partners see this.

Six. Choose the right tools for the job. Social or online media are great, but they are not necessarily the only or even best way to reach your target market or audience. So do your homework and listen to what your customers have to say.

Seven. Use the best person for the job. If you can’t think of anything you’d less rather do than spend hours every week updating your Facebook page of fan page, get someone else to do it. After all, many of your employees are already spending hours on these supposedly timewasters, so why not get them to promote your business or service at the same time while monitoring your competitors.

Eight. Collaborate. Just as there are different tools for different outcomes, using a combination of traditional and new media tools is a safe bet for maximum reach and minimum criticism.

Nine. Keep up with the news. After all, they say there’s nothing new under the sun, it’s just your interpretation that makes it interesting, fresh or relevant. Also, by keeping up with the news, you have a ready source of angles for your blog, your twitter messages, etc.

10. Consider the law. Although social or new media is still relatively new, there are laws affecting usage, obtaining leads for marketing campaigns, etc. If you’re not sure, get some legal advice before you jump on board!

being star-struck and ending up at Microsoft HQ

marianna — Mon, 14 May 2012 07:00:22 +0000

You can’t help but feel a little star struck when first arriving at the Microsoft offices in London. A lovely spring day and I was filled with the promise of learning all the latest tricks from a host of industry experts at #freshmicrosoft on how to get your business using social media to maximum effect.

The morning started in somewhat stellar fashion with successful online entrepreneur and business angel, Hugh Chappell, sharing his experiences and views on running a successful business online. The message was clear – get the right idea, solid technology and attitude i.e. be prepared to do what it takes to succeed; ensure you have a clear game or business plan and push ahead. Certainly his passion for business and being in charge of your destiny was evident and with a number of successes under his belt, including TechReviews.com and myvoucherscodes.com and I couldn’t help but be inspired.

Even more inspiring was his message about the need to invest in Marketing or what we at M and M Communications call integrated corporate communications or new PR.

Hugh also spoke about something which is very close to our hearts – the need for measuring the return on investment.

In these challenging economic times every penny counts, making it essential to ensure that as an organisation or business you not only invest in the right tools and tactics to generate attention and drive conversations, but that this is aligned with all internal and external communications, marketing and business development activities. Just like any other business process or strategy, this should also be regularly reviewed and adjusted in order to drive and underpin further growth and success.

In getting your business online successfully Hugh recommends:

Invest in a good domain name – try to get the domain name to say what you do e.g. myvoucherscodes.com
Develop a website which is:
- quick to load
- based on a simple design
- is easy to navigate
- easy to use
- is updated regularly
- includes no broken links
- uses original content, and importantly
- interacts well with social media

To share your top tips with us, please get in touch by email buzz@mandmcomms.com. We may even include these in our next blog!

CHH CoNeX gets biking for new transport solution

marianna — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:04:22 +0000

An innovative partnership between Brompton Dock Ltd and Virgin Trains in collaboration with CHH CoNeX and Eurocraft Enclosures will see residents and visitors in Manchester benefit from a new “smart” transport scheme aimed at drastically reducing the city’s carbon emissions by providing them with a sustainable, end-to-end transport solution.

Brompton Dock, which is a fully-automated, secure cycle hire service, will make it possible to hire the iconic British hand-made Brompton folding bike via their mobile phone and use it as part of their everyday routine on either a short or long-term hire basis from Tuesday 3rd April 2012.

Owing to its compact and lightweight design, the Brompton bike can be used on trains, buses and trams across the city without any restrictions, thereby providing environmentally conscious public transport users with a seamless, easy-to-use alternative to their cars.

Norman Baker, Local Transport Minister, who unveiled the Brompton Dock, said: “I use a folding bike to get around London, especially when I need to get across to the House of Parliament quickly, so I know first-hand the benefits they bring. This innovation really showcases what can be achieved when transport providers come together to establish onward journey solutions for travellers. Courtesy of this initiative, commuters and visitors to Manchester can now benefit from all the health benefits associated with cycling, with a product founded on the very best of British manufacturing and design expertise.”

Commenting on the launch, Mark Antwis, Managing Director of Brompton Dock, said: “We wanted a scheme that would integrate seamlessly with your everyday habits whether travelling to work, meeting up with friends, attending Further or Higher Education or going to the gym.

“First piloted in Guildford, this scheme enables local authorities, universities and other public and private sector organisations to house up to 40 Brompton bikes in a single car parking space, making it not only affordable to accommodate within new development or refurbishment plans, but also aims to provide the user with the highest possible level of convenience.

“We are extremely proud that every part of this project is ‘Made in Britain’ and we are delighted to continue working alongside CHH CoNeX and Eurocraft Enclosures as we expand the scheme nationally.”

Tim Hughes, Managing Director at Birmingham-based electronics integrator and logistics solutions provider, CHH CoNeX, which is responsible for the manufacture of the Dock, added: “The demand for cost-effective, robust and sustainable transport solutions has grown exponentially in recent years.

“By working closely with Brompton Dock, we have been able to deliver a fully integrated, standalone solution which is both cost effective to deliver and maintain. We are delighted that commuters in Manchester, and eventually across the UK, will have access to an affordable, attractive transport solution which is not only designed, but manufactured in Britain.”

To use the service, you simply register online and then choose your preferred tariff. Once registered, the user will be sent a personal four-digit pin number. To take out a Brompton bike, the user simply needs to send a text with the dock number and their pin to 07800 008 078. The user then gets a reply by text with the bay number and access code. Users are also able to hire the bike for as long as they want, whether an hour, a week or even a year.”

For more info see www.bromptondock.co.uk.

UK technology firms have plenty of opportunities

marianna — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:00:34 +0000

Tudor Brown, President and co-founder of ARM Holdings sees many opportunities for people and companies involved in technology.

In fact he argues these people and companies literally hold the future of the world in their hands.

Providing the keynote address at the ESTnet Gala Dinner in Cardiff, Mr Brown calls on companies to seize the opportunities currently available to innovate and achieve success.

Ian Menzies, Chairman of the ESTnet, the network for technology organisations, commented on the ability of small and medium sized companies to provide the enabling solutions for the challenges faced by modern society including healthcare, energy, transport and the environment.

He also urged individuals and organisations not to underestimate the value of networking and collaboration via organisations such as the ESTnet.

For more info about this see www.estnet.uk.net

Magna Ipsum Consectetur

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:53:30 +0000

Donec sed odio dui. Duis mollis, est non commodo luctus, nisi erat porttitor ligula, eget lacinia odio sem nec elit. Sed posuere consectetur est at lobortis. Nulla vitae elit libero, a pharetra augue. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla. Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus. Fusce dapibus, tellus ac cursus commodo, tortor mauris condimentum nibh, ut fermentum massa justo sit amet risus.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod. Aenean eu leo quam.

Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus. Aenean lacinia bibendum nulla sed consectetur. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla. Integer posuere erat a ante venenatis dapibus posuere velit aliquet.

Duis mollis, est non commodo luctus, nisi erat porttitor ligula, eget lacinia odio sem nec elit. Integer posuere erat a ante venenatis dapibus posuere velit aliquet. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla.

Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Aenean lacinia bibendum nulla sed consectetur.Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum. Sed posuere consectetur est at lobortis. Nulla vitae elit libero, a pharetra augue. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper.

Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Duis mollis, est non commodo luctus, nisi erat porttitor ligula, eget lacinia odio sem nec elit. Integer posuere erat a ante venenatis dapibus posuere velit aliquet.

Dapibus Aenean Ridiculus

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:53:25 +0000

Parturient Ligula Vulputate

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:53:21 +0000

Adipiscing Mollis Vulputate

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:53:16 +0000

Nibh Quam Cras

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:53:12 +0000