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Publisher's Letter
We're about $30-40,000 lighter these days but we're having fun, right?
Welcome to the sixth issue of the magazine too ornery to die, the magazine for CEOs, marketing specialists, advertising mavens, public relations executives and anyone else with the God-given talent to move product and services.
The fun part, at least for me, comes from dodging the commonplace. I believe when the iconoclastic becomes the norm, it is time to shoot a few more silver spheres to light up the pinball machine.
Hence, this issue has a few new features. One is about "survivors", those usually small entrepreneurs in the market who have braved not just the elements but the far more severe climatic changes in the Ukrainian economy and politics.
We lead off with Terry Pickard, an Englishman. To tell you the truth, in 15 years in Ukraine I never thought that much about Terry until I sat on the European Business Association board with him. We ran in different circles.
The fellow is smart as a fox, and brought a war-weary but still optimistic view to the EBA board. He didn't comment on everything, but when he did, people listened. Or at least they should have.
Another feature that we should have had from day one is an interview with a marketing or PR director. This is what the magazine is all about, but it took Philip Morris marketing director George Givishvili to remind us.
So, we didn't let him off the hook and he is featured in these pages. We hope to feature a new marketing or PR director in subsequent issues.
Finally, if you remember the old Ukrainian Observer we published for seven years, you will also remember it had an attitude. We felt it needed a higher purpose than merely print on pulp and killing trees.
From time to time, we upset a few a few apple carts, even to the extent of being, for a short while, unofficially persona non grata at the U.S. Embassy. They eventually got over it.
This is a long way of saying we've added "Views from the Crows Nest", an editorial column on issues common in our industries. We promise not to get into politics, because, even after so long here, it's a mystery to this expat.
Once again, I want to thank you for reading Willard Marketing Monthly. We appreciate your comments. Keep those cards and letters coming-all the better if a few would contain contracts for advertising in the magazine.
Best Regards,
Michael Willard
Tough Love with the Omniscient Pablo PistachioWe had a news conference the other day, and though my boss had something important to say, he didn't get quoted as much as the other company on the platform.
Publisher's Letter
Welcome to the sixth issue of the magazine too ornery to die, the magazine for CEOs, marketing specialists, advertising mavens, public relations executives and anyone else with the God-given talent to move product and services.Selling the story an important part of marketing
Often the success of a marketing campaign fails because the public relations support effort is not successful in bringing a corporate change or new product the public attention needed.Skype Gaining Steam in Ukraine
After a slow start, Internet telecommunication-the most famous example being Skype-- is catching on with Ukrainian businesses. There are two major and obvious reasons for this: It saves time and moneyThe Accidental PR Specialist
Contrary to the belief of some, public relations is a rather complicated profession, though many stumble into it like a drunk can often find his way home by sheer luck.The Fantastic Facebook Challenge
This month's contest is simple. We expect tons of entries and have turned over the judging of the contest to our arbiter of good taste and man with a plan, the Sagacious Swami of SpinTraditional vs. new media: Which one wins the loyalty of Ukrainian Internet users?
More Ukrainians say they trust so-called "new" media over traditional media but 70 per cent say they would not pay for access to online content.These are just two of the findings in a major study by iVOX* Ukraine on the attitudes of Ukrainian internet users toward traditional and new media.
We would like to be fans of this Sanahunt billboard. After all, it does command attention, sitting as it does across from the Dnipro Hotel in Kyiv. It makes the viewer wonder, "What is happening here."Tough Love with The Sagacious Swami of Spin
Back for a sixth issue of Willard Marketing Monthly to answer the toughest of questions on advertising, public relations and life in general is the Sagacious Swami of Spin.The Corpse in Waiting?
I think it is time we put the terms public relations and advertising in a time capsule. Fact is, we all went to sleep one day and woke up in a new and different world.
