FableSquare bags Digital Marketing mandate for Inflow Technologies

by Mayur Bhat | Sep 25, 2018 | Media

FableSquare, a full- service marketing agency from Bangalore bags the mandate for providing Digital marketing services to Inflow Technologies. The mandate includes social media strategy, content marketing, and Search Engine Optimisation. For FableSquare this is a milestone achievement as they get to work with a large distributor like Inflow Technologies and showcase their expertise in the field of Digital Marketing.

Based in Bangalore, Inflow distributes IT and security products through a network of 1,400+ channel partners in India and South Asia.

Inflow has 13 years of expertise in being a value-added distributor for cybersecurity, networking, infrastructure and application software, storage management, electronic security products, and related products is looking forward to work with FableSquare as their digital marketing partner.

Mangal D Karnad, Co-founder, FableSquare said

“We are glad to get this mandate and are keen to work with Inflow. Inflow being leaders in the value-added distributor space, we will have much potential to reach out to the market through storytelling, a mix of media channels and our efficient digital marketing strategies.”

Chetana Lobo, Senior Marcomm, Inflow Technologies said

“FableSquare team understands the long-term vision of Inflow, our values, and our business. Digital marketing is extremely crucial for IT Infrastructure Distribution provider today as it opens growth options for running the business. We really connected with the ideas and we look forward to this partnership.”

Voice of an organisation

by Mayur Bhat | Jun 7, 2018 | Media

In today’s dynamic business environment, corporate communication has emerged as an integral part of every enterprise and offers ample job opportunities

Think of corporate communication as the voice of an organisation. It speaks internally, to employees, as well as externally, to suppliers, vendors, media, investors and other stakeholders. It speaks when things are going well in the corporation and when there is a crisis. As with all good and effective communication, it must be clear, consistent and controlled. There are many varying aspects of corporate communications, and they can all affect or contribute to an organisation’s reputation. Effective communication matters in today’s global economy as it serves as the conscience of the corporation and determines the organisation’s reputation especially since the need is to communicate across various socio-economic groups, languages, and cultures that may be present within an enterprise.

Full Report: Download

Source: Times of India – Education Special (NOIDA)

Design is more than just a Software Tool

by Mayur Bhat | Sep 13, 2017 | Design, Branding, Marketing

There are three responses to a piece of design – Yes, No, and WOW! Wow is the one to aim for. – Milton Glaser

To instil the WOW in your audience, you need a great combination of concept, content and design. Easier said than done, right?
This blog addresses how to get the WOW emotion from your audience through design.

Does a software tool have anything to do with creating an extraordinary design?

Most of us are familiar with the “I heart New York” logo, Milton Glaser came up with that in the back of a taxi on his way to a meeting in the year 1977.

Hardware tools used: Pen and Paper
Software tool used: None.

This logo earns the New York state close to $30 million each year.
Did he use any exquisite software tool? No.

It is a common misconception among many that, to design, you need to have a good software in place. This was not the case a couple of decade’s back when designs were manually done with pen, paper and sketch boards.

To design is to envision, it is to see something that doesn’t yet exist.
To design is to give your ideas and thoughts, physical form.

If you’re new to designing and you feel that not knowing a particular software is holding you back from what you want to achieve, this article is for you. It is also for designers who feel they can’t reach their pinnacle because of lack of knowledge of a particular software.

“I am a great believer in the primacy of drawing as a means of engaging the world & understanding what you’re looking at.” – Milton Glaser

The design you make is a medium through which you communicate your ideas. Designing with a pen and an artboard has its own perks. To design it with a pen is to give it physical form. Work done manually always lasts longer in your memory.

Listed below are the general requirements for designing:

01

Ideas

Ideas are the mysterious spur in our minds about a particular subject. Each one has his own ideas and that is why we are so unique. Having an idea is the first step towards good design. Ideas are the fundamental blocks of design.

02

Strategy

Strategize how you want to achieve your design, a design is a combination of ideas. Haphazard execution of ideas would lead to a mess.

03

Vision

Designing is like walking in a dark tunnel until you find the light at the end of that tunnel. Then you go back and get other people to also see that light.

Roughly picturize how you want your final design to look. When you start you have no idea what your final design will look like, but you must have rough a picture in your head. To envision is to create a path to that light source at the end of the tunnel.

04

Memorability

To create a good design is to make it rememberable and distinct. Simpler is better. The first impression should be a lasting impression.

05

Intricacy

The details of your design are very important. The smallest details have the largest impact on the big picture. Scrutinise to the minutest detail.

06

Patience

Patience is a requirement for all designers. Some days are tough, where your ideas seem abysmal. Take a walk, free your mind by engaging with people.Talking helps in exchange of ideas, also giving rise to fresh ones.

Designing software’s are means by which you create your design. It is the workplace for your design and is a means to an end.

High on Happiness – Interview with Alicia Souza

by Mayur Bhat | Apr 10, 2017 | Design, Influencer Marketing

It was our pleasure to meet Alicia Souza at the art exhibition of Balraj KN. We had the pleasure of having a long chat with her, made more comfortable by the easy and relaxed setting of the event.

The best kind of job in the world is when you get paid to do something you absolutely love.

She considers herself lucky, though a sizable part of her job is not illustrating, but also managing the business. It involves talking to clients, accounts, working on briefs that are not always exciting. She says sometimes she needs to draw even when she truly just doesn’t feel like it. Being a commercial illustrator, she needs to work with both her heart and also her head. When it comes to working with clients and making a brief work, it is a lot of the latter. She realised that it’s a business where she needs to make money and also build her career.

When I asked her for an interview, she very graciously accepted. Below are the excerpts from both the interaction and her responses:

01

How did you start a career as an illustrator? Was this by default or by design?

I was trained as a graphic designer but the minute I finished university, I knew I wanted to get into illustration. There were a lot of twisty turns before I actually landed up as a freelancing illustrator, something that I didn’t think was ever going to happen.

02

You have been an entrepreneur for the last couple of years, describe your journey thus far

It’s been exciting, challenging, scary and extremely satisfying. It’s truly been a roller coaster ride.

Starting out is always a bit hard. I created a niche by just doing and doing a lot of it. I can almost compare it to digging a hole. When you start digging, it’s too small to notice but if you keep at it, you have a hole that only you’re standing it and more people can see it. I had to keep doing a lot of things that I wasn’t too keen on doing, like talking about money or drawing things that aren’t exactly my cup of tea. Same with the business/online store. I think I got lucky with the online store because I have a partner who keeps me on my toes. It took a lot of self-convincing because I really wasn’t sure I could handle another responsibility. But I could! So sometimes taking risks also pay off.

03

Your illustrations are based on a narrative/story, what inspires you?

I think I draw things like I would write in a diary. Just thoughts, events, happenings and feelings that I have throughout my day. I guess that’s why it is what it is. So anything happening in my life or things that I see and do are my inspiration.

04

Do designers also have a block (like the writer’s block)? (if so) How does a designer get over it?

I think if you do it enough, it’s almost habitual so you don’t get blocks. But you definitely get moods. Sometimes you feel like drawing way more than other times. Everyone has their method of madness to get over the ‘nahhh’ feelings. I just do other productive things and mostly deadlines help force you into the mood even if you don’t feel like it. Sometimes just a walk in the park helps.

05

I’ve read in one of your posts that you are self-taught, what is your method of learning?

I learn by doing and doing a lot. If you’re not learning about illustrating, you’re learning about how to schedule projects, the most efficient way to do a job or about people in general.

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06

Your body of work comes across as ‘Happy’ and you as a happy person. Are there times when you are sad, or unhappy and just want to shut the world out? How do you deal with sadness?

Like any human, I have a wealth of emotions. I don’t feel sadness as much as I get angry. When something bad happens in the world, someone passes away, horror-stricken event, whatever the calamity, I tend to feel rage rather than melancholy.

Having said that, I do have sad streaks. And unlike some artists and writers who can create beautiful works from those emotions, I don’t even remotely feel like drawing then. Please note that sadness is very different from depression. I’m talking about the general sadness that sneaks in every now and then. Here are a few things I do when I get in this state:

Do whatever I feel like doing- I would rarely feel like drawing but I truly enjoy just inking pencil sketches and would scout out drawings that are yet to be inked. This is my sort of ‘peace’ and ‘meditation’ that gets my brain almost still without thought.
Play my favourite music- I ADORE country music, I listen to it both when I’m happy and also when I’m sad.
Confront the sadness- I don’t like leaving things in the air. If I had a tiff with someone, I clear it up. With people, it’s easy to just take a deep breath and confront the source of the sadness.
Time- And then there are things you don’t have control over that just need time to get better. Understand that things DO get better with time.
A box of you- Another thing is knowing what you like and makes you happy. I sometimes like cleaning or baking. Sometimes just getting away for a while. Or getting a pedicure.
Let yourself be- I think it’s ok to be sad sometimes. It’s even normal. Whether you need to shed a tear or two. Be nice to yourself and I think the worst thing would be to beat yourself up about being a little down. When you know it’s ok to be sad, you can let yourself be happy.

Oh! I forgot to mention, sometimes happiness is a sleep away. Literally, some days can just be a drag and understand that when you go to bed at night; so when you wake up the next day, the sun is shining brighter just for you!

07

What is your advice to a budding designer, who wants to pursue a career in design?

For design, it’s to learn the basics before you explore. For illustrators, it’s just to draw and draw some more.

08

You are a celebrity & an Influencer, what is your opinion about influencer marketing? (Please detail this)

I’m really particular about what I post on my social media platforms. I’m really picky about promoting and if I do, I make sure it’s a product I like or a service I believe in, or I politely decline. When I do allow for promotion on my posts, I make sure my audience is aware that I’m working with the company and I have a limit of how many posts I allow to be promoted in a given time frame. I also always write the text content that goes along with posts. This, I believe, makes for real-ness and respect.

I respect my audience, their time and their attention.

09

You mentioned that you endorse/write about the products/services you use or what you truly believe in, can you please detail it for our readers?

Like I mentioned, I only post when I’ve had a chance to interact with a product or know about the service enough to talk about it. Everything I post about is something I experienced and so it’s very important that it’s the same with the promotions I make as well.

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10

You are a pet parent, what is your message to other pet parents? (People keep abandoning their pets once they get old or when they are unwell…)

The only message I have to a pet parent is that your pet is the non-human child you brought into your family. Treat them like your own.

11

Is there anything else you’d like to add? Please do so ?

Get enough sleep ?

Who is a Thought Leader? What is Thought Leadership Marketing?

by Mayur Bhat | Mar 25, 2017 | Branding, Content Marketing, Influencer Marketing, Public relations

You might have come across the term Thought Leader in big events, the media, newspapers or websites. But Who is a Thought Leader? What does he do? You’ve probably heard people saying Bill Gates is a Thought Leader or Steve Jobs is a Thought Leader. Does that mean you have to build a multi-billion dollar organisation to become one?
Well, not exactly. Although, that is one way to go about it.

Who is a Thought Leader? What does a Thought Leader Do?

A Thought Leader is a reliable, informed Opinion Leader and a go-to person in his/her field of expertise or domain. He/She is a trusted source of information and guidance, who moves and inspires people with innovative ideas, turns ideas into reality. He/She works, not just for the benefit of his organisation, but for the betterment of the domain and the entire eco-system. They address and solve some of the biggest problems faced by the eco-system.

Thought Leaders can be an individual, a group or an organisation.

Are You a Thought Leader?

Well, it’s a simple checklist.

Are you making a difference to the community/ecosystem?
Do you have revolutionary/break-through ideas?
Do startups, business owners, media or people at large, seek your guidance/consultation in a particular field?
Are you called upon to solve large problems?
Do you inspire people/organisations to make a difference to the community/ecosystem?

If you have a few of these checked, chances are, you’re a Thought Leader.

What is Thought Leadership Marketing?

Thought Leadership Marketing is the craft of positioning yourself or your organization as a constant source of guidance, innovation, and compelling, reliable content, thereby attaining the status of a Thought Leader.

How to Become a Thought Leader?

A word of caution, this does not happen overnight. It is a long, persistent effort. But the journey is always rewarding for you and the organisation. One sure way is through Thought Leadership Marketing. Your company can be viewed in the same way by creating content that resonates with your customers and members of your industry.

One sure way is through Thought Leadership Marketing. There are 5 aspects to it.

01

Great Branding (Personal or Company)

How you position your organisation is everything. It addresses your brand’s mission, it’s goals, it’s domain, it’s target audience and it’s USP. This is the first thing that needs to be done as it sets hygiene in place and it becomes the foundation for all the other activities. People need to know who they are dealing with and what they believe in.

02

Content Marketing

They say ‘Content is King’. I know, I know. It’s cliched. But it never gets old because it’s true. Your content drivers all your other activities. What people seek from you is information, consistently. There’s not getting around that. It is one of the most effective ways to convey your value proposition, your contributions, and your mission.

03

Public Relations

People underestimate the value of public relations. It is Earned Media and it demands reverence. A journalist’s credibility is on the line when they write something, and they have a huge expectation from the publication and their readers to give them credible, compelling information. Getting covered in the right publication could be one of the most valuable additions in your Thought Leadership Marketing Campaign.

04

Social Media

Social Media is an affordable platform to reach a vast majority of your target audience (depending on your domain). It is probably the easiest way to get your message across the masses. It goes without saying that the social media posts need to be interesting. Quora, Reddit, and some other forums go a long way in establishing your value. (We advise a word of caution when using social media because you are accountable for what you say.)

05

Events

Nothing beats meeting your peers, followers face to face. It establishes a connect unlike any other. Finding a speaking slot at relevant events and delivering a meaningful, relevant speech can be extremely effective in certifying your domain expertise. When you deliver one good speech, people tend to invite you for more speaking slots.

But remember, with great power comes great responsibility. It is a thought leaders duty to work towards the betterment of the domain and the eco-system.

If you found this blog useful, we would love to have a conversation with you and hear about it. If I have missed out something, please feel free to write it in the comments section.