What a better way to end a fantastic year than Bucks Fizz, mince pies and Xmas songs in the office!
We have had a fantastic year of events! Thank you to everyone for all your support through our Business2Business Shows:
Business South
Business Scotland
Business South West
All of our JobServe Live! Shows:
JSL! London
JSL! Newport
JSL! Bristol
JSL! Birmingham
JSL! Reading
JSL! Glasgow
JSL! Edinburgh
JSL! Belfast
JSL! Plymouth
JSL! Cardiff
And The Graduate Event!
We are looking forward to the up and coming Spring 2012 season. We have plenty of Business2Business shows to get involved with and many JobServe Live! recruitment fairs to attend and better your career!
We wish you all a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and we are looking forward to seeing you in 2012!
Watch this space for all our event details and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn @JobServeEvents
Friday, December 23, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
Our team expands, and WELCOMES....
MELANIE SHOESMITH
Melanie joined JobServe Events recently as the PR & Content Coordinator within the marketing team and brings a whole new dimension of energy, enthusiasm and experience when it comes to the marketing department. Name: Melanie Shoesmith
Position: Public Relations and Content Coordinator
Previous Job: Student
Enjoyed most about this week: Working with the different sub teams of JobServe Events and gaining an insight into various roles.
Most looking forward to: seeing the events organised from the start right through to the end product.
Pets: 0 pets!
Favourite food: Lindor chocolate truffles + nachos (not together)
Best guilty pleasure song: I love Taylor Swift- there I said it.
Favourite time of the year: Xmas period
Best Holiday: Barcelona April 2011
10 years from now: Marketing or brand manager for multinational company, few kids / house 2 dogs + a husband.
Good to have you on board, Mel.
To talk to the Marketing Team, please contact us on marketing@jobserveevents.com
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Corporate Safety - have you thought about it?
JobServe Events recently attended the Blue Lamp Trust Conference in the brand new Fire Station in Winnall, Winchester.
Here's what the Blue Lamp Trust had to say:
The Blue Lamp Trust’s First Annual Conference entitled “Corporate Manslaughter: Don’t Put Yourself in the Dock” brought Road Safety Week to a dramatic conclusion as businesses from across the region were able to see a live demonstration of the extrication of a passenger, hit by a business driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel, consequently losing his life. The demo took place at Hampshire Fire and Rescue’s new location in Winchester where the country’s first dedicated Road Safety Unit has been established to focus on the increasing problem of death on roads.
The Blue Lamp Trust was launched in September 2010 and was initiated by Chief Constable, Alex Marshall and the then High Sheriff, Alan Lovell who remains as Chair, in order to tackle the needs of vulnerable people in the community suffering as a consequence of either burglary or domestic abuse. They do this following a Police referral, by fitting locks and other security devices via the Bobby Scheme which became subsumed within The Blue Lamp Trust at its inception. The charity also focuses on creating safer roads through driver education for both businesses and the general public and incorporates other partners such as Hampshire Police Authority who provided core funding and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS).
Chief Fire Officer John Bonney welcomed delegates to the Fire Station and talked about how most of their work is now focused on road traffic accidents as opposed to fire in the homes. Delegates saw the stark realities of the consequences of an employee losing their life on the road in the course of their work, with the employer successfully prosecuted for a number of breaches under both the Corporate Manslaughter and Health and Safety at Work Acts. As part of the dramatic scenario, Peter Taylor, Head of Dispute Resolution at Paris Smith, donned a wig to play the part of the judge with Sarah Wheadon, Associate with Paris Smith, playing the part of the prosecutor.
Peter Lowe, Regional Sales & Marketing Director of Car Call UK and the conference sponsor said “I attended a course and my driving has changed. I used to drive in the fast land and now I realise that I can’t do anything about other people’s driving but I can do something about mine. My driving habits have changed completely and I’ve gained a better insight into risks on the road as well as in the car.”
Katy Roberts, Project and Marketing Manager for JobServe Events said “I just wanted to let you know how much I thoroughly enjoyed Friday’s conference in Winchester. What a fantastic opportunity to meet with like-minded business people, but more so, what a brilliant opportunity it was for me to learn SO much more about what we, as a business, should be aware of, and need to be doing. I thoroughly enjoyed both sessions presented by the Blue Lamp Trust, and I’ll be discussing this in more detail with colleagues – but I wanted to let you know that I thought the event was REALLY well organised, ran beautifully smoothly, and most of all – that everybody involved had an infectious enthusiasm for what they did.”
Randal Brown, Service Manager for Shield Security Services Ltd said “A note to thank you VERY much for having me at your conference at the fabulous new Hampshire Fire & Rescue station in Winchester. I really enjoyed my time there. The event was well-run, interesting, and informative. The mock "rescues" and "court session" were superb and brought the message home in a practical way.”
For more information about what the Blue Lamp Trust do, please visit their website.
Here's what the Blue Lamp Trust had to say:
The Blue Lamp Trust Conference: Friday 25th November 2011
The Blue Lamp Trust’s First Annual Conference entitled “Corporate Manslaughter: Don’t Put Yourself in the Dock” brought Road Safety Week to a dramatic conclusion as businesses from across the region were able to see a live demonstration of the extrication of a passenger, hit by a business driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel, consequently losing his life. The demo took place at Hampshire Fire and Rescue’s new location in Winchester where the country’s first dedicated Road Safety Unit has been established to focus on the increasing problem of death on roads.
The Blue Lamp Trust was launched in September 2010 and was initiated by Chief Constable, Alex Marshall and the then High Sheriff, Alan Lovell who remains as Chair, in order to tackle the needs of vulnerable people in the community suffering as a consequence of either burglary or domestic abuse. They do this following a Police referral, by fitting locks and other security devices via the Bobby Scheme which became subsumed within The Blue Lamp Trust at its inception. The charity also focuses on creating safer roads through driver education for both businesses and the general public and incorporates other partners such as Hampshire Police Authority who provided core funding and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS).
Chief Fire Officer John Bonney welcomed delegates to the Fire Station and talked about how most of their work is now focused on road traffic accidents as opposed to fire in the homes. Delegates saw the stark realities of the consequences of an employee losing their life on the road in the course of their work, with the employer successfully prosecuted for a number of breaches under both the Corporate Manslaughter and Health and Safety at Work Acts. As part of the dramatic scenario, Peter Taylor, Head of Dispute Resolution at Paris Smith, donned a wig to play the part of the judge with Sarah Wheadon, Associate with Paris Smith, playing the part of the prosecutor.
Peter Lowe, Regional Sales & Marketing Director of Car Call UK and the conference sponsor said “I attended a course and my driving has changed. I used to drive in the fast land and now I realise that I can’t do anything about other people’s driving but I can do something about mine. My driving habits have changed completely and I’ve gained a better insight into risks on the road as well as in the car.”
Katy Roberts, Project and Marketing Manager for JobServe Events said “I just wanted to let you know how much I thoroughly enjoyed Friday’s conference in Winchester. What a fantastic opportunity to meet with like-minded business people, but more so, what a brilliant opportunity it was for me to learn SO much more about what we, as a business, should be aware of, and need to be doing. I thoroughly enjoyed both sessions presented by the Blue Lamp Trust, and I’ll be discussing this in more detail with colleagues – but I wanted to let you know that I thought the event was REALLY well organised, ran beautifully smoothly, and most of all – that everybody involved had an infectious enthusiasm for what they did.”
Randal Brown, Service Manager for Shield Security Services Ltd said “A note to thank you VERY much for having me at your conference at the fabulous new Hampshire Fire & Rescue station in Winchester. I really enjoyed my time there. The event was well-run, interesting, and informative. The mock "rescues" and "court session" were superb and brought the message home in a practical way.”
For more information about what the Blue Lamp Trust do, please visit their website.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
8 Skills Recruiters Should Have
Blogpost by Morgan Hoogvelt
When I attend career fairs, hiring conferences, recruiting events, or through conversations with prospective candidates, I keep learning that the wrong people are attending these events and working as recruiters. As I walked the room at a recent career fair, prior to the event starting, I sought to introduce myself to some of the other company representatives. I was surprised that many of them were unable to communicate at a level that would properly represent their company.
When I attend career fairs, hiring conferences, recruiting events, or through conversations with prospective candidates, I keep learning that the wrong people are attending these events and working as recruiters. As I walked the room at a recent career fair, prior to the event starting, I sought to introduce myself to some of the other company representatives. I was surprised that many of them were unable to communicate at a level that would properly represent their company.
The behavior I witnessed at this event and many others is predictive of how these recruiters behave in the office and how they represent their company through other communication tools such as social media. Later as the candidates flowed into the fair to meet the companies, I witnessed these individuals sitting behind their tables, eating food, talking on cell phones, and displaying body language that suggested they didn’t want to be bothered.
Fortunately, I witnessed several individuals that did exhibit proper career fair behavior and strong recruiting traits. They were the ones that had long lines of candidates and also the ones whose companies are always recognized as recruiting industry leaders. The difference in success was clear.
We can all gain market intelligence by speaking with prospective candidates and finding out where they have applied, who they have interviewed with, and what their experiences have been like. Some of the experiences that I have heard are horrific, yet not surprising. So why do HR and recruiting leaders continually hire or put the wrong people into recruiting positions? I don’t get it.
Each year there are new tools, technologies, and platforms developed to help take “recruiting to the next level,” as the cliche goes. The problem is, all of these wonderful breakthroughs can be fruitless due to inadequate operator behavior. Moreover, if companies and organizations really want to eliminate or lower their agency recruiting spending, then start hiring similar profiles and not promoting an individual out of customer service or demoting someone from another department and sending them to recruit.
Regardless of where your next recruiter comes from, I have developed some essential skills, traits, and qualities that successful recruiters should possess. Aside from the regular “good communication, ability to work hard, team player” skills that everyone wants — here are a few of the most important must haves:
- Strong sales skills — if you haven’t figured it out by now, recruiting is sales. If you disagree, you are in the wrong business. Not only do recruiters need to sell their clients (internal or external), but they need to sell candidates on opportunities and be able to articulate why company X is an employer of choice and why a particular opportunity is not just a great opportunity, but how it is the opportunity of a lifetime.
- Ability to cultivate and build relationships — anyone can pull a name out of a database and place a call. It’s another thing to actually cultivate and build relationships with the candidates we recruit. Perhaps knowing a little about what makes them tick, what their hobbies are, engaging in a conversation rather than just following a script, etc. Social media, smart phones, and other communication platforms have built bridges straight into our personal lives. By creating a more open, friendly, and communicative relationship with candidates, the candidate experience will increase, making the recruiter and company stand out professionally and as an employer of choice.
- Hunter’s mentality — there are so many ways to source for talent these days. There is an abundance of sites, networks, tools, and platforms all built in some fashion to make a recruiter’s life easier. But it is how each recruiter uses these tools that will make the difference. It all starts with the mentality of the individual. Recruiters are big-game hunters, and having the mindset to hunt and be relentless until the hunt is done is a priceless skill set. If a recruiter is going to sit at a desk, log in to Monster and keyword search all day — that is not the hunter mentality you want. You want someone who will use cold calling, social media, Boolean searches, networks, etc. in order to find the strongest and most-qualified individuals.
- Big-picture thinking — simply focusing on single searches each day is great, but having the ability to see how candidates can fit into an organization, the potential value they can bring, or even knowing where a superstar candidate could fit in, even if there is no immediate position available, is invaluable. Moreover, keeping an eye on future tools, technology, and best practices and knowing what is coming down the pipeline will keep your company well versed and competitive in a tough talent market.
- Strong follow-up skills — probably the #1 topic that irks me the most about recruiters – follow-up skills. How hard is it to return a call or an email — I will tell you that it is not hard at all nor does it take a severe amount of time to update a candidate, hiring manager, co-worker, etc. on events. I have heard all the horror stories of a recruiter (agency or corporate alike) calling someone frantically, building them up and setting them up to interview, only to never reach back out to the candidate again. All that does is breed negativity and it is not part of the relationship-building process what so ever.
- Listening — anyone else ever had the recruiter-talk-your-ear-off presentation about how great they are, the database they have access to, successful placements, etc.? Recruiters need to listen first and talk second. Recruiters must possess the uncanny ability to listen and take a proper job order. Too many recruiters run their traps to no end. It’s annoying.
- Consultative in nature — recruiting is a science and there are methods and processes. The majority of hiring managers need to be consulted on these procedures and processes in order to build long-term success and proper process flow. Good recruiters have the ability to advise and push back on their clients if need be. A good recruiter will act as a trusted advisor for their clients, and in return, clients will respect and act on given advice.
- Personable and approachable — how many times do candidates call or meet a recruiter at a career fair and they are nervous on the other line or on the other side of the table. I love taking an approach opposite that which a majority of other recruiters take. I answer my phone calls and return emails. People will call me and are surprised that I even answered my phone. They are even more surprised that I am in a good mood, ask them how they are doing, thank them for their call, and take one minute of my time to let them introduce themselves and follow up with me. My mother always told me that I could catch more bees with honey than I can with vinegar.
There will be people reading this that say they don’t have the time to return calls or emails, that they can’t talk to everyone at a career fair, that their clients are too tough to work with — and to me they are all excuses. No one is perfect. I have probably missed an email or call in my time; however, we can all make a better effort to be better recruiters.
The next time you are reviewing your analytics and you see a high time-to-fill number or whatever data is important to you — put the brakes on and see if what you really need to do is recalibrate your recruiting team and get the right people on board first.
--------------------------
Morgan Hoogvelt currently serves as chief talent scout for Clear Channel Communications. Drawing on his expertise in human capital strategy, essential hiring practices, candidate sourcing, Internet recruiting and social networking, he provides the organization targeted, best-of-class solutions and employment branding strategies that help Clear Channel meet the challenges of HR, recruiting, technology and retaining and rewarding top talent. He is also passionate about delivering excellent customer service and building positive, productive internal and external relationships. He can be contacted at morganhoogvelt@clearchannel.com.
Cred: http://www.ere.net/2011/10/12/8-skills-recruiters-should-have/
Thursday, September 8, 2011
We're coming to Belfast!
JobServe Live! Belfast is sponsoring tomorrow's Belfast Giants ice hockey game. If you're going to the game, keep an eye out for the team!
Contact us if you want to be involved in the Careers Fair on the 16th and 17th at the Europa Hotel.
Contact us if you want to be involved in the Careers Fair on the 16th and 17th at the Europa Hotel.
Monday, September 5, 2011
First Impressions Count - Get your results!
How to make a great first impression and land your dream job
Laura Hannigan - Marketing & PR Assistant
Over the past year and a half, I have attended over 20 of our careers fairs, in that time I have witnessed some fascinating sights; from the weird and wonderful, to the truly inspiring - all from people searching for a job. Now I’d like to share some of the knowledge I’ve picked up and give you a brief guide to help you land the job of your dreams.
Tip 1 - First impressions are everything! First impressions play a key part in how you are perceived by others and you could have all the experience in the world, but if you turned up to an interview in tracksuit bottoms and Ugg boots, nobody is going to take you seriously. It’s exactly the same at JobServe Live! You’re essentially looking to sell yourself to potential employers, by making sure you are dressed smartly and your hair is neat and tidy you will make a much better first impression and potential employers will be impressed by the effort you’ve put in.
Tip 2 – CV Success. Make sure your CV is up to date and relevant to the job you are applying for. Don’t fill it with useless information just to take up space, this only bores people and they are likely to just discard it. Do include any work experience or voluntary work you’ve done, even if it’s just a day or two, this will show employers you’re a hard worker and a well rounded person. Also make sure you bring plenty of copies of your CV along, the more people you hand it out to, the more likely you are to get a response.
Tip 3 – Research, research, research. Look up the companies you’re interested in, the more information you can give them about their business the better. It may take a bit of time but this will give you a huge edge over your competition. If you can show you’ve made an effort and spent time researching the company they’ll know you’re serious and you’ll leave a good lasting impression.
Tip 4 – Sell, sell, sell yourself. Tell them why they should hire you over everyone else. This links in well with tip 3. If you already know who they are and what they are about, you can approach the exhibitor with confidence and sell yourself well. Always start conversations with what you’re interested in and what you’re looking for. If you approach someone and ask “Who are you and what can you do for me?” 9 times out of 10 the response you will receive will be “nothing!” Ask lots of relevant questions “What does the role involve?” “Does it require any training?” “What kind of person are you looking for?” You can then tailor your answers to this; lots of skills are ‘transferable’ - use this to your advantage. Remember, there could be 50 other people after the same job as you so don’t be scared to promote yourself, confidence and enthusiasm are infectious; if you believe in yourself others will believe in you too.
Tip 5 – HELP! Don’t be afraid to ask for help. JobServe Events staff are always on hand, often based on the JobServe stand or registration, to offer help and guidance. We can tell you who’s exhibiting, what they are looking for and generally point you in the right direction. Make sure you visit the advice clinics as well, trained professionals are on hand at most of our events ready to offer help and guidance on everything from CV writing skills and interview techniques to training options and job opportunities. If there are seminars on offer, make sure you attend them, take notes, ask questions and make sure you get any hand outs available.
Right, now you’ve got the look, your CV’s looking ‘fab’, you’re clued up on the company and full of confidence - all that’s left to do is land the job and with these top tips you’ll have no problem. Good luck!!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
B2B Branding Brainstorm
Sometimes, one has to look at your surroundings to source inspiration... and today is no different...
The Marketing team take their brainstorming session out of the office.
The Marketing team take their brainstorming session out of the office.
It worked.
GREAT ideas for 2012 just waiting to be activated!
Monday, July 4, 2011
To the ends of the Earth, and beyond
Mid-way. Almost Christmas, some would even say. Summertime. Holiday.
We say, "End of Part 1".
With the Spring event season behind us, we have a few minutes to sit back and reflect on a series of really great, some more challenging than others, events with the culmination of the Spring season ending in Glasgow.
JobServe Live on the 8th and Business Scotland on the 9th both saw record number of both registrations and visitors, and we couldn't have been prouder to have our name on as many banners, as many smiles on our faces, but most of all, to view the smiles of those who visited and those who exhibited.
This in-between season now allows the team to sit quietly, and focus on the Autumn season of events that lies ahead. While in limbo, we take the time to research, to re-pack our store room, to spray paint the tensaters, and to catch our breaths, until it all starts again in Edinburgh in September - where all of us, true to form, thrive on the bustle and busy-ness of Event Life.
We have to thank all of those who have made Spring an absolutely super-duper event season for us.... and especially to our partners who consistently walk this journey with us.
Have a look at our Facebook / Twitter / Linkedin pages to know more about what we do....
Until we speak again, enjoy the summer sunshine... have a lazy Pimms.... and let us know if you have any thoughts or ideas for any upcoming shows.
All the best
Chief cook and bottle-washer, and the team of Christmas Elves!
We say, "End of Part 1".
With the Spring event season behind us, we have a few minutes to sit back and reflect on a series of really great, some more challenging than others, events with the culmination of the Spring season ending in Glasgow.
JobServe Live on the 8th and Business Scotland on the 9th both saw record number of both registrations and visitors, and we couldn't have been prouder to have our name on as many banners, as many smiles on our faces, but most of all, to view the smiles of those who visited and those who exhibited.
This in-between season now allows the team to sit quietly, and focus on the Autumn season of events that lies ahead. While in limbo, we take the time to research, to re-pack our store room, to spray paint the tensaters, and to catch our breaths, until it all starts again in Edinburgh in September - where all of us, true to form, thrive on the bustle and busy-ness of Event Life.
We have to thank all of those who have made Spring an absolutely super-duper event season for us.... and especially to our partners who consistently walk this journey with us.
Have a look at our Facebook / Twitter / Linkedin pages to know more about what we do....
Until we speak again, enjoy the summer sunshine... have a lazy Pimms.... and let us know if you have any thoughts or ideas for any upcoming shows.
All the best
Chief cook and bottle-washer, and the team of Christmas Elves!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
How brands get heard in a world of noise
Our Guest blogger for May, Paul Gosling from Curb Media, writes:
1500, would you believe it! Every time we open our eyes in the morning there are adverts
on the TV and e-mail, adverts in the post, a plethora of different brands in your wardrobe
dictating what to wear and when you leave the house it really ramps up. I catch the bus
and there are adverts at the bus stop, on the side of the bus that I get on, adverts in the
paper I read and I'm not going to start talking about the array of mobile phones that are
being used all around me.
I work for a non-traditional marketing and advertising company and when I get to my desk
after grabbing a coffee and read the client advertising brief which states the number one
objective is 'to increase media cut through and return on investment' you could say that's
when I start rubbing my hands together (but not before I take a sip from my soya mocha
frothy skinny nutmeg late)
I think it was my secondary school physics teacher that said "every problem is an
opportunity in disguise" I must admit, physics is not my forte but I understood that loud and clear.
When you are presented with an obstacle there will be a way around, under, over or
through it. The tricky part is finding out what that way is and gaining media cut-through is
no different.
In a market where brands are trying to grab your attention like a group of crazed fans
autograph-hunting at a rock concert, thinking smart is imperative and the great thing, in my
opinion, is that the smartest ideas are the most simple ones.
So as an advertiser how do you get heard in a world of noise?
Your target consumer is made up of a collection of demographics and there are products
and services that they are going to want. Once you know your consumer inside-out, getting
your message to them and giving them what they need is effectively really straight forward.
There will be places they go to, people they speak to, things they look at and use every day.
Building non-intrusive messages into every day life that engage your consumer are always
going to be the most effective.
Brands have to be wary that it's not always necessarily shouting the loudest but about
speaking to the right people and then asking them to tell all their friends about what they
heard.
As an example, a recruitment company we worked with recently wanted to define exactly
which demographics were getting in touch with them and generating the most enquiries
regionally. The majority of the positions that they recruited for were done so via the internet, so digital
advertising and awareness is by far their most productive channel of communication.
As a company we don't offer any digital products but going back to the earlier point I raised
about getting to know your target market and how they behave is the key part of this
execution. We saw this as an opportunity in disguise if you will.
One of the media that we offer (Clean Advertising) is placed on pavements and is
designed to be positioned in specific locations. Clean Advertising is highly effective as an
advertiser can shape the messages that are being communicated to target precise
demographics.
We designed a Clean Advertising campaign with the client that tied into a specially
designed website that acted as a tool to measure web traffic and response.
The website address for the site was only listed on the Clean Adverts so the client knew
that the web traffic generated would only have come from people seeing the adverts on
the pavements.
We placed Clean Adverts on the streets of Leeds City Centre which is one of the UKs most
populated and vibrant cities. Adverts 'appeared' overnight and were located in the main
footfall areas for graduates, financial executives, office workers, commuters and catering
staff.
The design of the Clean Adverts was ambient and intriguing and the lack of information
attracted attention because consumers wanted to know more.
The result was that the targeted demographics went online and visited the listed web site,
turning the campaign from an outdoor media into online (the clients preferred method of
advertising).
This is a fantastic example of a client using a non-traditional media format to bolster the
online work that they already did really well. It wasn't a case of presenting an alternative
method of communication, just a fresh way of thinking about the advertising they already
did.
Jobserve Events asked us to achieve a similar criteria when launching Jobserve Live! in
Birmingham.
The objective in this instance was to drive footfall to Jobserve Live! Birmingham, by placing the name
and address of the event on pavements next to bus stops, train stations and a range of
high footfall locations within a mile radius of the target location.
The added value of using non-traditional media is that not only is it a message
communicated in a highly effective way, but the media format itself attracts attention and
generates awareness because of its non-traditional nature.
As a package using non-traditional media in combination with traditional media gives the
advertiser increased awareness, interaction and amplifies a creative message.
Ultimately, this isn't a new process, in fact it's quite the opposite. Going back to basics isn't
a bad thing and in a world where brands fight for your attention, getting your message
heard is a case of identifying who wants to listen, learning what they want to hear and
giving them what they want.
Define what you what you want to say and find the right way to shout it as loud as
possible.
Non traditional media is there for advertisers to gain media cut-through and the best thing
about creative thinking is that the options are endless.
Curb Media - http://www.curbmedia.com/
"On average a consumer is exposed to over 1500 brands a day"
1500, would you believe it! Every time we open our eyes in the morning there are adverts
on the TV and e-mail, adverts in the post, a plethora of different brands in your wardrobe
dictating what to wear and when you leave the house it really ramps up. I catch the bus
and there are adverts at the bus stop, on the side of the bus that I get on, adverts in the
paper I read and I'm not going to start talking about the array of mobile phones that are
being used all around me.
I work for a non-traditional marketing and advertising company and when I get to my desk
after grabbing a coffee and read the client advertising brief which states the number one
objective is 'to increase media cut through and return on investment' you could say that's
when I start rubbing my hands together (but not before I take a sip from my soya mocha
frothy skinny nutmeg late)
I think it was my secondary school physics teacher that said "every problem is an
opportunity in disguise" I must admit, physics is not my forte but I understood that loud and clear.
When you are presented with an obstacle there will be a way around, under, over or
through it. The tricky part is finding out what that way is and gaining media cut-through is
no different.
In a market where brands are trying to grab your attention like a group of crazed fans
autograph-hunting at a rock concert, thinking smart is imperative and the great thing, in my
opinion, is that the smartest ideas are the most simple ones.
So as an advertiser how do you get heard in a world of noise?
Your target consumer is made up of a collection of demographics and there are products
and services that they are going to want. Once you know your consumer inside-out, getting
your message to them and giving them what they need is effectively really straight forward.
There will be places they go to, people they speak to, things they look at and use every day.
Building non-intrusive messages into every day life that engage your consumer are always
going to be the most effective.
Brands have to be wary that it's not always necessarily shouting the loudest but about
speaking to the right people and then asking them to tell all their friends about what they
heard.
As an example, a recruitment company we worked with recently wanted to define exactly
which demographics were getting in touch with them and generating the most enquiries
regionally. The majority of the positions that they recruited for were done so via the internet, so digital
advertising and awareness is by far their most productive channel of communication.
As a company we don't offer any digital products but going back to the earlier point I raised
about getting to know your target market and how they behave is the key part of this
execution. We saw this as an opportunity in disguise if you will.
One of the media that we offer (Clean Advertising) is placed on pavements and is
designed to be positioned in specific locations. Clean Advertising is highly effective as an
advertiser can shape the messages that are being communicated to target precise
demographics.
We designed a Clean Advertising campaign with the client that tied into a specially
designed website that acted as a tool to measure web traffic and response.
The website address for the site was only listed on the Clean Adverts so the client knew
that the web traffic generated would only have come from people seeing the adverts on
the pavements.
We placed Clean Adverts on the streets of Leeds City Centre which is one of the UKs most
populated and vibrant cities. Adverts 'appeared' overnight and were located in the main
footfall areas for graduates, financial executives, office workers, commuters and catering
staff.
The design of the Clean Adverts was ambient and intriguing and the lack of information
attracted attention because consumers wanted to know more.
The result was that the targeted demographics went online and visited the listed web site,
turning the campaign from an outdoor media into online (the clients preferred method of
advertising).
This is a fantastic example of a client using a non-traditional media format to bolster the
online work that they already did really well. It wasn't a case of presenting an alternative
method of communication, just a fresh way of thinking about the advertising they already
did.
Jobserve Events asked us to achieve a similar criteria when launching Jobserve Live! in
Birmingham.
The objective in this instance was to drive footfall to Jobserve Live! Birmingham, by placing the name
and address of the event on pavements next to bus stops, train stations and a range of
high footfall locations within a mile radius of the target location.
The added value of using non-traditional media is that not only is it a message
communicated in a highly effective way, but the media format itself attracts attention and
generates awareness because of its non-traditional nature.
As a package using non-traditional media in combination with traditional media gives the
advertiser increased awareness, interaction and amplifies a creative message.
Ultimately, this isn't a new process, in fact it's quite the opposite. Going back to basics isn't
a bad thing and in a world where brands fight for your attention, getting your message
heard is a case of identifying who wants to listen, learning what they want to hear and
giving them what they want.
Define what you what you want to say and find the right way to shout it as loud as
possible.
Non traditional media is there for advertisers to gain media cut-through and the best thing
about creative thinking is that the options are endless.
Curb Media - http://www.curbmedia.com/
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Shananigans and late-night buggies...
I have to giggle....
One thing I particularly enjoy about the Events Industry - is the behind-the-scenes shananigans that keep everything poppling along.
JobServe Live! Reading (our Reading Recruitment Fair) took place last week in the Reading Town Hall, and after an amazing turnout (more than 1000 candidates looking for work!) we were encouraged by the physical confirmation that what we are doing, is the right thing!
Some would say with the rapid growth of social media and online presence, things like recruitment fairs may appear somewhat dated... but looking at the response to our event in Reading last week... I reckon those who think the above may need to do a little more homework on the matter. I don't think think that the opportunity for face-to-face meeting will ever become defunct, useless or unnecessary. I guess it just depends on the person looking for work. Those who are determined... will find what they are looking for at the end of the day. Those who are not, won't.
Next Step - who were offering advice clinics on the day - had queues of more than 50 at time, people just waiting to speak to someone who is able to provide the guidance, advice and career-time that would help them move forward in the search for their dream job.
However, back to the shananigans....
We drive through... we build.... (often late into the night, when the rest of the world is curled up snugly and warm)... we sleep... we wake up (a few hours later)... we open the doors... and a whole new world unfurls.
The event goes by without much hassle or hiccup....
We close the doors.... we break down again..... we drive home. ... (often late into the night, when the rest of the world is curled up snugly and warm).
However, sometimes, we do get a little distracted on the way home, and stop at the services for some late night sustenance....
or a ride in the kiddies' buggy...
Its a great thing.
Our next focus is our Scotland Trek. JobServe Live Glasgow will be held on the 8th June, and Business Scotland on the 9th of June - both in the Royal Concert Halls.
We'd love to see you there!
One thing I particularly enjoy about the Events Industry - is the behind-the-scenes shananigans that keep everything poppling along.
JobServe Live! Reading (our Reading Recruitment Fair) took place last week in the Reading Town Hall, and after an amazing turnout (more than 1000 candidates looking for work!) we were encouraged by the physical confirmation that what we are doing, is the right thing!
Some would say with the rapid growth of social media and online presence, things like recruitment fairs may appear somewhat dated... but looking at the response to our event in Reading last week... I reckon those who think the above may need to do a little more homework on the matter. I don't think think that the opportunity for face-to-face meeting will ever become defunct, useless or unnecessary. I guess it just depends on the person looking for work. Those who are determined... will find what they are looking for at the end of the day. Those who are not, won't.
Next Step - who were offering advice clinics on the day - had queues of more than 50 at time, people just waiting to speak to someone who is able to provide the guidance, advice and career-time that would help them move forward in the search for their dream job.
However, back to the shananigans....
We drive through... we build.... (often late into the night, when the rest of the world is curled up snugly and warm)... we sleep... we wake up (a few hours later)... we open the doors... and a whole new world unfurls.
The event goes by without much hassle or hiccup....
We close the doors.... we break down again..... we drive home. ... (often late into the night, when the rest of the world is curled up snugly and warm).
However, sometimes, we do get a little distracted on the way home, and stop at the services for some late night sustenance....
or a ride in the kiddies' buggy...
Its a great thing.
Our next focus is our Scotland Trek. JobServe Live Glasgow will be held on the 8th June, and Business Scotland on the 9th of June - both in the Royal Concert Halls.
We'd love to see you there!
Monday, May 16, 2011
News from the Organisers' desks
Don’t Waste Your Time!
A Big Hello, from the organisers at JobServe Events. We are here to help you; the Delegates and Exhibitors of not only our events but exhibitions far and wide. As well as giving you the inside secrets to attending successful exhibitions, we would like to hear your thoughts and feelings of anything that we post. If you have questions/hesitations about exhibiting or attending one of our exhibitions please comment below and we’ll pick them up!
Today we would like to share our thoughts on the exhibiting side of the fence. We are going to go through some of the do’s and don’ts of being a Top Class exhibitor on show day at a Recruitment Exhibition.
Engagement
A great way of achieving your event objectives is to engage with delegates face to face. This is the only true reflection on the success of your business.
How? Don’t sit down all day behind a table with a few posters and leaflets describing the benefits of working for your organisation; while asking people to leave their CV if they are interested.
Do invite visitors onto your stand where they can experience first hand what its like to work for your company. When visitors are speaking with you or asking you questions, they are engaging with you. This can range from expressing interest in a role to being interviewed onsite. Either way, by engaging them with open questions you will receive a better response than if you were sat down behind a table all day. After all the exhibition floor is not your lounge, it is a place of business opportunity.
Interaction
It is very important to speak with your client base in as much detail about their requirements as possible. However, to ensure a great ROI on your stand and see as many candidates as possible throughout the day, doing is better than saying. Let us explain; the best stands at exhibitions not only have active people engaging visitors on their stand, they also have interactive activities taking place which can cut straight to the chase.
How? These activities often are a taster for what is to come in the job role. For example; if you were a personal training company you could hold a scaled down fitness test on your stand which simply comprises of holding a weight for a set amount of time. You will quickly be able to tell if the candidate is a genuine applicant which you would consider for the role quicker than a drawn out conversation.
You will be amazed at what you could do on your stand after speaking with the Exhibitions Organiser. The Organiser is there to aid you in having the most successful show possible, so test them and ask them what you can’t do as opposed to what you can. So if you decide to book a stand at an exhibition, don’t waste your time being a plain, ‘run of the mill’ exhibitor; Interact and Engage your client base in pro-active and enjoyable activities. You will not be disappointed.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Fresh Eyes
George writes...
As a recent addition to the team and a fresh blogger this gives me an ideal opportunity to talk about new experiences.
Excitement has to be the best word to describe my start here within the JobServe Events team. Being thrown straight into the JobServe live series of shows has been a positive experience and there couldn’t have been a greater start. With limited knowledge of the events industry both shows that I have been involved with have given me a fantastic insight into what I hope to be a long and successful career within the events industry.
As a recent graduate I know first hand the competitiveness of gaining employment and it’s JobServe Live that can give someone that edge when looking for a job. From talking to a number of people who have attended they will say the same. It gives me a huge amount of gratification for an attendee to say they came to the event and got exactly what they were looking for. It is our hard work that is put in from everyone here at JobServe events prior to the show that helps us to achieve those comments and to change a person’s life.
Bloggers can be seen everywhere and as a frequent reader of blogs this is surprisingly my first entry, I hope my ongoing ramblings and the teams general chatter will give you some inspiration whether you’re interested in events or maybe even interested in what we have to say.
This week will be 30 years since the death of Bob Marley and as the great man would say “Just can't live that negative way...make way for the positive day”
In homage we are following this rule for the rest of our days, I hope this song will help.
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