Global mega manufacturer Proctor and Gamble (P&G) has decided to puff its chest out in an effort to boost brand awareness of its product range by putting its name in the spotlight. The accompanying tagline “Touching lives, improving people” has been selected as part of the Australian debut.

In technical terms P&G are moving from a 'branded strategy' to an 'endorsed' model.

It's easy to get despondent and think 'how can my competitors get away with that?', or 'why are my customers behaving in a particular way?', or more commonly, 'why do customers always question price?'.

It's not their fault, and you shouldn't hate your competitor.

One of the most powerful dynamics you can manage to your advantage is the competitive positioning you have with your competition.

There's a tendency to stick to conventions with branding and marketing. These limitations are mostly self imposed on what each of us perceives to be 'professional' or 'appropriate'.

There are no rules!

The only guideline you should follow is to ensure your messaging, campaign, or brand resonates with your target audience. Aside from that you can leave tradition at the door.

1. Be seen to be improving and moving: No one wants to work with stagnating companies. Even a small change to your marketing can reinvigorate market interest or stabilise your position. Perception is reality, so learn to control it before it controls you.
    
2. Improve your value proposition: 90% of the time the problem is not what you sell, it's how you sell it.

Kerryn Newton, LLM, MBA, MA, FAICD, AFAIM is the Managing Director of Directors Australia. Kerryn has extensive experience working in high level positions in the private, public, non-profit and community sectors and as a consultant to organisations in a range of industry sectors.

Governance Practice Tips – Leading organisational culture from the top

If you want to asses and fix perception gaps in your business, here’s an exercise for you. Ask someone who is not close to your operations to speak with people inside and outside your business.

If possible get them to speak with a cross section of employees in different areas of the business, and a cross section of customers, suppliers and other people that interact with the business. Essentially anyone who you would think has a clear understanding of the value you provide.

Here are five questions to ask both your team and customers:

The Competitive Challenge Series (TCCS)

Vol. 1 #5

The Competitive Challenge Series will help you understand, identify and improve every facet of your branding and messaging that impacts your sales and growth. My objective is to deliver strategy and ideas to propel you beyond competitive challenges.

This weeks challenge...

Social Media: Highest Cost, Lowest Impact?

The ingredients of a formidable tagline:

Corporate website development has matured a great deal in the past few years. It’s rare to see gimmicks on commercial sites such as animation, background music and ‘intro’ pages.
Business has recognised that target audiences are task focused and want to access particular information, in a particular way - and fast.

The Competitive Challenge Series (TCCS)

Vol. 1 #4

Each article in this series will help you understand, identify and improve every facet of your branding and messaging that impacts your sales and growth. As always my objective is to deliver strategy and ideas to propel you beyond competitive challenges.

Hamish Chadwick.

This weeks challenge...