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When is a chain not a chain?

2012-05-04T12:58+00:00

When it’s Café Nero in Maidstone!

Yesterday, hemmed in by time and lack of choice I ended up in the almost acceptable face of high street coffee houses. These places are usually wholly interchangeable; identikit staff, homogenised product, distinct lack of personal service … but this was a massively different experience! The manageress cared.

SKY’s great own goal

2012-04-25T06:30+00:00

At last football creates the right headlines!

2012-02-16T13:57+00:00

Those that know us know that all of us at Tenandahalf suffer from a serious addiction. No not drugs (though it would arguably have been cheaper and less time consuming), it’s football. With that in mind this isn’t anything to do with marketing or business development or professional services - but please indulge us; it’s just a nice story!

3 easy things to do today that will win you work

2012-02-15T09:36+00:00

When we’re discussing marketing and business development, our clients regularly ask us if there is anything they can start doing differently (and immediately) that doesn’t require a great deal of money, time or resource.

The answer of course is that there are loads of things! But here are 3 – with our compliments – that you can implement today.

Do you remember Depeche Mode’s ‘Everything Counts’?

2012-01-30T13:47+00:00

This rings very true for B2B marketing. My first task this week has been to critique a client's talk and slides for an event ...

The Price ISN’T Right

2012-01-05T18:39+00:00

One subject that seems to come up a lot (an awful lot in fact) is that of the pricing of professional services. Is it too high (the client’s point of view)? Or is too low (the FD/managing partner/board’s point of view)? The next question is invariably how do you set your prices? Is it by benchmarking, by adding value or by observing current market forces?

The one thing that should never be used is client captivity – the art of pushing up the price because the client has no alternative.

The 2 sides of the client service coin

2011-12-18T18:32+00:00

Last week started with a chat about customer services with the Managing Partner of one of the law firms we’re currently working with. His concern was, although he has a very good receptionist, now that she’s gone down to three working days per week, her understudies may not be of the same standard. I told him I’ve never had a problem. I’ve always been well received and my telephone calls handled proficiently.

He also mentioned his worries had been caused by following Bernard on Twitter (@sizetenandahalf Tweet fans) as he’d been quick to pass on the front of house failings of a firm he’d seen the previous week.
It all proved somewhat prophetic.

When the copywriting stops and the lies begin …

2011-12-07T12:35+00:00

“Feel the romance of Venice along the canalside of Birmingham. Did you know that Birmingham is home to more canals than Venice? Stroll beside the fascinating Fazaley Canal to the Jewellery Quarter, exploring the delightfully overgrown Key Hill Cemetery along the way …”

Eyes (up) front

2011-11-30T12:10+00:00

I’ve been looking for a specific suit for a couple of months now. You’d think I’d have more to worry about but these things are important to me!

Finding what I’m looking for has proved impossible so when a barrister client mentioned they’d met a sensibly priced tailor ...

Is ‘differentiation’ a white elephant?

2011-10-09T14:35+00:00