twitter updates !!

If  i continue this way , we are regressing to the old and traditional technique of selling !!!

I want to plan for using new age techniques to sell /promote my product .  I have started liking Twitter a lot , have been using it since early this year . Just checked , you can follow Indian IT outsourcing companies on twitter and they have constant updates - I am impressed !! 

This is one tool I feel is going to be responsible for many decisions , for whatever reasons. I have witnessed the current US president using the social media successfully during his campaign , he had compelling messages and was able to pass it to a large population using a very easy and cost effective tool . He has currently more than 12,000 people following him , imagine the progressive reach now !! 

Statistics : 

IBM : forget it , the number of Twitter accounts they have grossly outnumbers a few of the followers below !!

Wipro : 3000 + Followers 

TCS:  4000 

Infosys: 6500 + !! 

Mindtree 128 :( 

Infinite computer sols( I work here ) : 6 :( :( :( 

Hawking to the CXO

This is the biggest challenge to most of my clan , getting the CXO mind share ! however I have a question , is reaching the CXO the first objective ? if you consider the probability of any CXO from a multi billion $ organization wanting to listen to you ( unless you are calling from the country's premier golf courses with an invite !) , I believe it's a waste of time for everybody , c'mon leave those secy's alone !

I can imagine , the best method of getting to meet these people would be at a high profile event like Golf,charities , annual meetings etc . these modes are either expensive or you are amongst a huge crowd waiting to meet these people for similar reasons !

I would suggest to keep your eyes/ears open while travelling business class ! :)

Every hawker identifies a marketplace , I need to find mine . The entry barriers I would face is tremendous . My basket contains plain vanilla services , how am I to attract prospects out there who are looking for quality outsourced services which are also by the way cost effective !

Let me make my list of a Target Audience , this is a very broad range . I may narrow this down later .

• CIO's ( always number 1 on every get list , poor fellas!)
• CFO ( very important decision maker when it comes to the sign off , better be ready with your numbers )
• VP - IT , Integration ,Systems,Infrastructure,QA, Outsourcing,Development etc
• Director - All of the above
• Manager - Gate keepers

Hmm , thats an impressive first list . But I dont think its enough dope to even pen my campaign ....

How do I begin ? pretty confused ! I guess the best way to start is revisit the way we made a marketing plan in the old age , obviously the new age destination for information of all sorts is our dear Wikipedia ! I found this to be useful and a nice place to plan my beginning http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing_plan .

I know IT services is quite a broad term and have been thinking over the weekend if I should narrow the focus ... sounds good

focusing on creating a blueprint or a skeletal marketing plan to deploy Web 2.0 techniques. My latest project for the next week . I am excited as if life is taking a new shape !

Now , the objective . Since I work in the IT industry , i think it would be best to start from where I am . I am cleaning my slate black , and with a fresh piece of chalk planning for a Web 2.0 strategy for marketing IT services with a focus on Application management , Validation and consulting . I guess this looks good for today !!!!

The hawker on the bridge

In Bombay , local commute train users will not miss the hawker in his/her allocated space on the bridge way . And why not ? the bridge is the most integral part of the commute if you wanted to oscillate between the eastern and western suburbs of this great city !

Now imagine this , replace the bridge with the internet and the hawker by businesses on the internet battling for the users web time !!!

I am a marketer , I think . Recently , I had the opportunity to attend a few events which changed my belief . I know have to reform in order to remain a marketer , else I am dead !!

Selling , is definitely not what it used to be a few years ago . And if "certain" sales "jocks" want to deny it , I feel sorry for them !

In an event this week , an upcoming software vendor explained how they were successful in generating quality leads INBOUND. They do not have an outbound tele lead generation model but a more effective WEB 2.0 model which is cheaper and successful.

I want to learn and share more info ....