Bringing competition together
Posted on 29. May, 2009 by Franz in Cultures
Says who strong substances live forever? Soon age will catch up with them, tides will slowly shape them up and chemical combustions will eat them away. Same goes to this traditional advertising media – Banner Advertising. In Malaysia, many still dream and work hard to live on with this model, thinking that within two to three decades of this ’spawning’ period of their business, profits are still thick and not everyone is as smart.
Those who say Malaysia is ready for the next generation technological hit is utterly ignorant. Sure, we may adapt technologies and create brilliant combinations, but the majority of us lack the synergy of what we call ‘being a leader’, which in both data and physical review can make traditional banner ads live much longer.
When was the last time you saw a flickering, red-to-yellow color changing banner ad slapping you in the face when you try to get some information online? Almost never today. But approximately one decade ago, they are everywhere – You could almost see them in three out of five times you surf the web. New users to the web would pay attention to these signs – But I believe, more experienced ones don’t.
The Chemical Media
Why are many of us not adapting to the new media, I’m not sure. Probably research companies can do that. But the bigger question is: Why are we not instilled with leadership, control and hard work? Look at Japan today – From a nation of culturally beautiful to the nation panicking during war in WW2: Which gave them an impending spirit to fight as one, carry the nation’s name as a family and slaughter all those bastards that are along their way.
Today, slaughtering is more mental than physical. So why are experienced businessmen still so ignorant despite the fact that there are much fuss in the media about this model? Why are they still hiring marketing managers that gave them a two thumbs up about building a business based on traditional models? What’s with the ego?
When I started doing marketing, I was told – In business, image is everything. But when I come to realize that those statements were yesterday’s statements, I managed to redefine its meaning without losing touch of its original properties.
“Image is everything – So provide excellent services even if you’re a nobody, provide excellent content even if you’re just a starter, provide excellent products even if you’re just another out there, provide simplistic concepts even if you’re not the smartest around. That way, with time’s blessings, recognition will seek you.”
A Beautiful Relationship
Not only just in Malaysia, but probably everywhere around the world, good relationships close deals easier – Simply because there’s a sense of trust in the introducer or probably just word of mouth. In marketing, every aims to achieve good word of mouth from its audience — Related or not.
But what started out as a process became more. Knowing the journey it takes to reach such ultimatum comes with a huge price, technological advancements force this culture to tilt towards the lubrication of the process. And its major success comes so naturally that everyone wants to jump into the bandwagon to reap a piece for themselves.
Companies today should live on relationships, prevent the reverse osmosis of business amalgamations and move on further to achieve something together. In 2009 itself, the Malaysian government stated that SMEs’ (Small to Medium Enterprises) contribute a lot to the country’s economic growth, which seemed to me that the fragmentation pattern of growing small enterprises has already begun for some time in Malaysia. It’s just time before any of them realizes how much harm competition can be, and seek a new way to rectify that problem.
Direct competition has its pros and cons – And many would look to slice each other in the throat rather looking for ways to work together towards expanding not only the market size, but fragmented companies as well. It’s a big cake to eat out there, and when companies like these come together with proper delegation, management, control and variety, their audience who are most likely the general public would benefit even more.
