Viper Marketing & Communications Group

Viper Blog Moves To VMCG.co.uk

2010-01-13T15:04:00.000-08:00

Thank you for following our recent years of blogs on this website.

The Viper Blog has now moved to a permanent home on our website www.vmcg.co.uk so please do drop by and have a read.

WORLD-CLASS OFF-ROAD CYCLING ACROSS THE SOUTH WEST, helped by Viper!

2009-12-14T06:31:00.000-08:00

The South West is set to become a world class destination for adventurous off-road cycling. A total of £7.5m is being invested in developing the activity across the region including funding of £4.6m from the Rural Development Programme for England.

The 1SW initiative with Forestry Commission as lead funding applicant will be developing trails, sites and information across the whole region which will enhance the quality of experience for anyone who wants to experience the fun of off-road cycling. Developments will include purpose built adventurous cycling trails, bike hire facilities, cafes, areas to develop bike handling skills and information on how and where to ride across the region.

Viper Marketing sit on the 1SW executive board because of their communication and mountain biking experience. They are really pleased to see the project secure this money and move to the delivery stage.

Paul Hawkins, 1SW Project Manager says: “The 1SW project will make off road cycling attractive and accessible to everyone, even to those who haven’t ridden a bike for years! The region’s tourism economy stands to benefit greatly with opportunities for a diverse range of businesses, from increased out-of-season accommodation demand to providing specialist services such as guided rides. We will work with local businesses to ensure they maximise their benefit from the provision of this quality adventurous cycling product. Off road cycling in woodlands is enjoyable whatever the weather and provides a fun alternative to beach based activities, particularly outside of the main summer months.”

Stuart Parry from Era Adventures, Polzeath, says: “We run a successful business organising a range of adventure activities, based in North Cornwall. There is a need for more opportunities away from the coast, particularly when the surf is flat and the rain starts! We are very excited at the opportunities 1SW will provide for tourism businesses like us across the region and are keen to expand our offer to include more cycling and cycle training”.

Funding comes from the Rural Development Programme for England, which is partly funded by DEFRA and the EU. The funding is provided as part of a wider project under the Sustainable Rural Tourism Theme, managed by the South West RDA (regional development agency).

Mike Johns of the South West RDA said: “The 1SW initiative is just one project in a far-reaching suite of interlinked investments that are being made through Sustainable Rural Tourism which will have a really significant impact across the whole region.

“RDPE funding devoted to sustainable rural tourism is designed to have a lasting impact on the tourism industry in rural areas through investing in improved access to, and understanding of, the key features and rural heritage of the South West.

“Equally important, 1SW also offers a tremendous opportunity for businesses close to the hubs and cycle ways to engage with 1SW and maximise the benefits for the local economy.”

The National Trust, South West Lakes Trust, the National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and Bristol City Council are all key delivery partners in this project and are excited about broadening their visitor base. The project presents a significant opportunity as off-road cycling appeals to many ‘non-traditional’ visitors to the region’s countryside.

Paul Hawkins adds: “We can’t wait to get both tourists and residents out enjoying adventurous off-road cycling with their friends and families. A quality adventurous cycling product will be a huge boost for the region’s cycling provision and will offer an adventurous riding experience to enable progression from routes like the highly successful Camel and Tarka trails”.

Outdoor Adventure 20 years from Now

2009-12-08T12:11:00.000-08:00

I expect we’re all waiting for shiny new kit at the moment. New mountain bikes with 6in of bounce at the back (always room in the garage for another bike!), the latest 3 layer moisture managing water proof system jacket, GPS technology that tracks and plots your every move, handy gadgets you never knew you needed until you had them. Love it! Shiny gadgets go hand in hand with outdoor activity.

I know, I know, we still need to know how to use a compass, your skin’s waterproof and singlespeed bikes with no suspension are well hard. But we’re human. We love to innovate. If we didn’t we’d still be slopping around in muddy puddles. No offence to the caving community. Progress happens and the only constant is change. So, let’s look forward.

January 2030, what will outdoor activity on Mendip look like then?
- Car mileage per trip will decrease because of social pressure and road pricing meaning Mendip will be really busy because of the huge urban populations nearby
- Government intervention to protect AONBs like Mendip will lead to a ‘pay to play’ system - a Protected Landscape Pass will need to be bought
- Access will be severely restricted for ‘wildlife areas’, a direct intervention to balance the urban sprawl. Public access will be polarised; completely no-go areas or open access for foot, bike and horse
- Digital natives will introduce sophisticated ways of enjoying ‘their Mendip’ under the radar of urban visitors. Digital natives are the younger generation which has grown up with digital technologies and is completely at home with them
- You can book yourself into a retreat to retune your mental well-being. Mental health will be a key concern for our aged population
- More people will get lost and hurt themselves. There’s more people out there doing more outdoor activity and a greater percentage are being lulled into a false sense of security by the latest shiny bit of kit. The ‘pay to play’ income will go towards a core of full time Search and Rescue staff supported by volunteers
- Multi purpose outdoor activity play parks will be created in the redundant quarries by private enterprises
- Watching the tide come up to Axbridge because of the ‘managed retreat’ will be really popular from Crook Peak

Let's get active on Mendip to start planning our future. We’re all forced into these relatively small areas or corridors for our activity. We need to spread out more. If you widen a path the impact is spread and damage decreases. It’s surely the same at a larger scale? We don’t need more legislation forcing landowners to allow access. Surely we need some more entrepreneurial landowners to see the opportunities? Let’s put some of those future predictions in place before they are forced upon us.

Mendip Geopark?

2009-11-03T12:52:00.000-08:00

European recognition for the Mendip Hills AONB – Geopark status?

Viper Rural will be at an event on Thursday 19th November 2009 at Cheddar Caves and Gorge to consider the pros and cons of applying for Geopark designation for the Mendip Hills AONB.

The European designation is given to areas that have a particular geological heritage and a program of work to promote tourism based on the geology. The area must include sites of geological of particular importance. These may also be of ecological, historical or cultural interest. Local community involvement is essential in prioritising and delivering the cultural and economic revitalisation of the area. Viper are also part of Active Mendip, loads of Active Mendip members rely directly or indirectly on the geology of Mendip to give their punters fun and adventure.

The local economy already benefits from caving and climbing activities and has two major visitor attractions – Cheddar Caves and Gorge and Wookey Hole Caves based on geology interests. There is potential to develop the geotourism further but whether the Geopark designation is beneficial or necessary is to be considered. We're going along to find out what benefits the status brings. Access to European funding? At the very least this will be a great asset to positioning local adventure companies above others. Climb in a Geopark? Descend in a Geopark? Ride in a Geopark? Not many places can say that.

ViperMusic presents Miss Skarlet Album Launch

2009-10-28T16:07:00.000-07:00

ViperMusic presents Miss Skarlet, Ryan Inglis and Mark Venus at The
Fleece, Bristol on 19 December 2009

Miss Skarlet debut album launch with 200 specially produced limited edition, signed launch CDs available exclusively on the night. Albums available for download on iTunes from midnight

Ryan Inglis website launch and the ever-popular Mark Venus, at the first ever ViperMusic live gig night. A true Christmas Party not to be missed

Tickets £10 available from the ticket hotline whilst stocks last 02032 399 941

Will Rangers Stay Relevant?

2009-10-19T03:40:00.000-07:00

One of the most thought provoking images I created was a before and after shot of the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The before shot contained the dry stone walls zig-zagging across the plateau. The after shot had no dry stone walls, courtesy of Photoshop. The difference was shocking; this could be anywhere, this could be everywhere. Now imagine a countryside without Rangers.

The South West Ranger Forum is a chance for these rangers to get off their patch and meet others doing the same job, share some learning and take stock of what’s happening in the world around them. The Forum was hosted by Viper Marketing & Communications this year at Folly Farm and supported by the Countryside Managers Association.

Clearly one of the biggest changes that will happen to the public sector is a reduction in funding. When decisions about priorities are made it’s fair to say that the countryside elements of local authority work are the easiest to reduce. All the more reason for Rangers to be seen and heard. You’ve got to stay relevant these days. If you don’t the whole world rushes on by you and you’re forgotten.

The Scottish Countryside Rangers Association (SCRA) are just about to launch their Continuing Professional Development Programme, with some help from Viper. SCRA are taking it seriously, they’ve got national outcomes agreed and now they’re positioning themselves as well-organised and well-trained and relevant.

Rangers from Dartmoor, Exmoor, the Quantocks, Cornwall and other areas came to Mendip for the Forum with this in mind. They were really keen to learn how digital technology can help them. A lot of them are using digital recording techniques on their patches. Wildlife habitats are mapped using GPS, individual trees are recorded and loaded on to databases etc. But the digital age is changing the way we communicate. Rangers will have to embrace the new tools to be seen and heard.

Fact of the month; there is more bandwidth in You Tube today than there was in the whole internet 9 years ago. This digital malarkey ain’t going away. It’s not about every Ranger suddenly Twittering and having LinkedIn pages though.

The lesson to be learned is that the visitors, us, are adopting this new technology at an ever-increasing rate. I can go for a ride, track that ride on my phone, post the track and photos along the way to a website for others to comment on. That’s a really powerful tool for us, the public, to engage with our countryside custodians. If people complain about the trail Rangers can now respond and open a dialogue, win some hearts and minds. Ignoring the digital age of communication is not an option. Quantock Hills AONB have a very successful Facebook page. The countryside is ‘open’ 24hours a day and so should access to information about these areas.

Most importantly for the future of Rangers looking after our most special areas is that a lot of these new ways of communicating with people are free. Just log-in.

A word of warning though, just because you can do it doesn’t mean you have to. The new social media like Facebook and Twitter are just tools. Do your communication planning beforehand to make sure you’re doing it for the right reason.

It’s not necessary to have big budgets for printing leaflets. A whole new audience is waiting out there who don’t want to access information through traditional means. New communities of people are getting active in the countryside, these communities are just as vital as the ones living in the countryside. In fact they may be the same people. Rangers must stay relevant to the new digital generations.

Viper are running the Digital Ranger course at Folly Farm in December. For more details click here

Marketing Futurology - Emerging Themes

2009-10-10T11:59:00.001-07:00

Having just returned from an enlightening day with a room full of post-Graduate Diploma delegates developing their assignments in Emerging Themes I felt it worthwhile to summarise for a wider audience where we collectively felt there was a starting point for exploring the future of marketing.

Marketing Futurology, the study of the effects of emerging trends in markets, is a fascinating departure from the usual tactical, day-to-day focus that marketers endure in the workplace.

When projecting marketing thinking forward into the distant future a range of blue sky ideas come into play but it’s nowhere near an exact science and there are few if any benchmarks from which to rate your thinking.

So taking into account the views from those in the room coming from industries as diverse as avionics, consultancy, finance, telecoms, event management and retail a consistent pattern of thoughts came through loud and clear:

Segmentation - the key to focusing future thinking by establishing a clear process of always remembering the end user of products and services

Prioritisation - get it right and the future is manageable, measurable and potentially profitable at the same time as focusing resource into where it really matters

People Communicating - innovation should enhance the ever increasing ease by which people are communicating, anywhere, anytime and by any means

Consumer Power and Personalisation - looking forward the ultimate segmentation from a consumer’s perspective is 1-2-1. Totally bespoke services for each and every consumer

Blurring of Virtual and Real Worlds - current social networking is the tip of an exciting iceberg with in the future device-independent interaction anywhere, anytime by any medium to enhance human interaction on the terms of the individual

Generation Y - the future today is born of the attitudes, needs, desires and perceptions of those born since 2000.

Corporate Social Responsibility - increasingly important in the drive towards consumer power is the corporate response to their passing on of control to the customer in the relationship.

These are just snippets of a wider debate which for the marketing futurologist can grow and grow into the future itself. The key questions to kick off the debate are:

What keeps us where we are?

What moves us ahead?

What’s the cost?

If as a marketer you aren’t already thinking about these issues… perhaps now is the time, because the future starts today….

Four ways that Augmented Reality will change the countryside

2009-10-05T02:42:00.000-07:00

Four ways that augmented reality will change our countryside;

There has always been a desire for the countryside to be free of clutter and man-made intrusions balanced against people's need for information about their surroundings to understand what they're looking at. Augmented reality could be the balancing tool - information provided with nothing on the ground. No more interpretation panels?

Visitors always say they 'want to learn more' about a particular subject. This may be true when they're on-site but that need rapidly diminishes after they've left. The result for ranger services is printed publications, to satisfy that demand for more, that very quickly become redundant. A waste of time and resources. Augmented reality provides the 'viewer' with the capability to drill deeper into a subject while on site, and later if required, but needs no physical resource. No more wordy booklets?

Interpretation panels are dull and unless designed very well are rubbish. You only remember 10% of what you read. Augmented reality will allow Roman legions to be seen stomping down the Roman road that is sort of visible under the field, Spitfires to take off from the airfield that's now rare heathland, cavemen to emerge from that hole in the hillside etc. More engaging interpretation?

Augmented reality allows a new generation to be involved and engaged with the countryside. The generation of Ipod users and console kids will grow up needing to know about the countryside, this is the way to engage them. New people in the countryside?

What's Trending Where on Twitter?

2009-10-02T01:33:00.000-07:00

As Twitter continues its rampant surge into the hearts and minds of marketers across the globe so predictably location now joins the exciting feature set and opens up a whole new range of opportunities for creative types.

TrendsMap.com is the latest kid on the block when it comes to location and offers global coverage of trending topics by the geographic location at which they are most frequently originating. The blog which kicked off the spread of news about this service is here and gives a nice snapshot of all things TrendsMap plus links to where you can read more, a tutorial and of course the TrendsMap Twitter itself. So how will this impact on marketers? Well think of the immediacy of trending topics and knowing what people in a region, city or country are currently finding the most interesting. Think viral campaigns and how you can tweet, blog and spread your messages based on real time feedback and information from real customers. For PRs think about capturing hot news topics in real time as they spread and not having to wait until official news sources decide the time is right. They say that we are all becoming journalists and that the power of information distribution is now with the people... well now you can also see where they are.

iPhone Walking Guide?

2009-10-01T05:14:00.000-07:00

Found this great use of an iPhone that can lead you on a walk while feeding you info along the way. On this app it's climate change but the source information could be on any subject.

The Jungfrau climate guide works on iPhone and is nothing less than a small information platform on the subject of climate change. The guide includes audio files which take you along seven paths in different parts of the Jungfrau region; you can listen to information about scientists’ current state of knowledge about climate change and at the same time see the impact it is having on the landscape in front of your very eyes. The climate guide also has a bonus section, which exploits other multimedia possibilities offered by the iPhone.

More here

Commoditisation is Everywhere

2009-10-01T04:38:00.000-07:00

Products, services, companies, brands and even people quickly become commodities in this ever changing and fast paced world we live in. At every turn we see opportunities for quick gains in market share by price cutting, but is this good for business?

The simple answer is generally not at all. Whilst on the surface the commoditisation of a product or service seems to offer huge benefits in terms of customer value and increased volume sales but in the medium to long term it creates significant challenges in terms of profitability and sustainability.

Take for example today’s news that Orange has been given the Apple iPhone to add to its portfolio in the run up to the Christmas sales bonanza. O2, previously enjoying exclusivity of this landmark product now has to compete on service, accessories and after sales support in what we know will quickly turn into a price war for share of consumer spend towards the festive season and into the New Year sales.

Whilst Apple are happily rubbing their hands together at this strategically created battle of two titans in the communications industry, the longer term effects of a spiralling price fall will, as it always does, reduce the overall market value of this ground-breaking gadget.

So jump on the band wagon now whilst you the consumer can benefit from the pricing warfare but don’t expect things to always be this way, because as prices and margins drop the danger is the sparring factions will run out of cash needed to innovate… and all we’ll be left with is… just another commodity….

Digital Marketing Programme

2009-09-23T01:42:00.001-07:00

There's a buzz in marketing circles this morning as Cambridge Marketing College launches its new Digital Marketing Programme through a website developed and managed by Viper Marketing.

The Programme includes CAM's brand new Digital Marketing Diploma and Diploma in Managing Digital Media. It also incorporates the industry benchmark CIM e-Marketing Professional Award which for a number of years has set the standard for digital marketing and communication qualifications.

The new Programme, the brainchild of Cambridge Marketing College's Principal Charles Nixon has been created online with an interactive 'mashup' of technologies to provide what is termed a 'blended learning experience'. Blended learning is all about a person using the media and learning styles of their choice to gain knowledge and experience. The Programme uses podcasts, webinars, written guides, research links, discussion forum and video to provide a rounded experience for those studying this exciting subject.

Despite the name of the College you don't have to go to Cambridge to study! The Programme is available through distance learning, with tutor support and access to the Programme's learning portal. We see this flexible style of learning as a guide to the future of training so expect more developments like this in the coming months.

Rangers from the South West

2009-09-22T13:00:00.000-07:00

Countryside Rangers from all four corners of the South West are converging (collective noun for a gathering of Rangers? A ramble of Rangers?) for the South West Ranger Forum 2009 hosted by Viper. We've helped raise the event from a lovely informal social gathering to a lovely informal social gathering with a sprinkling of training and awareness raising.

We've given the Forum a digital focus. Hopefully we'll dispel a few myths, cure some technophobes and open some eyes to future possibilities. Rangers from Dartmoor, Exmoor, Cornwall, the south coast and Quantock are coming. Les Davies MBE is also helping out with one of his unforgettable walks in the afternoon.

More soon. If you feel left out ask me to send you the leaflet for the day. Jim@vmcg.co.uk

Social Media - DON'T Just do it!

2009-09-16T08:11:00.000-07:00

The show of hands from today's Social Media Seminar at the Bristol Business Show was quite enlightening. 50 people present, 40 using Facebook, 30 using LinkedIn and 20 using Twitter. Just one person raised their hand to confirm they are seeing a real business benefit from using social media and online networking. The seminar outlined that the starting point to see such benefit is clear strategic thinking; matching business goals and an understanding of where target customers and prospects are using social media tools; before embarking on regular blogging, tweeting and online networking. The few who have taken this approach are already starting to see a measurable business benefit.... the rest of us should follow.

From conversations and questions after the session it is clear that there are many people who are feeling obliged to play with social media without really understanding quite why and how best to do it. Very few have thought about the real business value and are lacking in confidence to integrate social networking within their proven marketing and sales plans.

Social media can, if you wish and if it's appropriate, provide an unprecedented new channel to market creating new sales opportunities if you get it right. If you don't however it can be a case of long hours spent delving deep into your memory in an attempt to come up with something new to say, week in, week out.

We'll publish the Seminar in its entirety when the materials are available (presentation and video) so please do watch this space.... or Twitter, of course!

Future of Rural Asset Debate

2009-09-08T04:50:00.000-07:00

This important event in the 2009 calendar is targeted at members of the local, regional and national policy and practice community with an interest in rural affairs.

The conference will be opened by Sir Don Curry, Chair of the Sustainable Farming and Food Delivery Group and author of the influential Curry Report.

Several rural research and policy papers will be presented throughout the day, cohering around the themes of Localism in the 21st Century, the Future of Rural Policy in the UK and Europe and Rural Assets: What’s the interest?

The conference is being held in the prestigious Queens Hotel in central Cheltenham on October 21st 2009.The delegate day rate is £100.00, which includes lunch and refreshments. You can secure your place at the conference now by booking online via the University of Gloucestershire Online Store

To find out more http://www.ccri.ac.uk/Events/PolicyConference2009.htm

Got an iPhone? Try Marketing Apps

2009-09-02T15:46:00.000-07:00

Marketing Apps on the Apple iPhone are the latest craze in keeping up to date with news, views and latest trends in the world of marketing. It’s simple, you just pick up your iPhone, go to App Store and search ‘Marketing’. Here are some Apps you might like to try out…

Marketing Forecast (Ad-ology Research) = FREE

Designed for strategic advertisers and marketers, Marketing Forecast provides a continuous stream of forward-looking marketing and consumer insights from Ad-ology Research and other top research firms. Four distinct channels collect the latest forecasts, news and recent Tweets targeted to those responsible for: Advertising, Brand Marketing, Digital Marketing and Consumer Spending. Video podcasts highlight the latest marketing research and consumer surveys from Ad-ology Research

Marketing Master (Simpaddico) = £0.59

A basic jargon and terminology flash card toolkit. Learn over 150 terms and parlance for Marketers. Search, shuffle and test yourself. Ideal for those new to marketing or taking Introductory Certificate

PRWeb Breaking News (PR Web) = FREE

Stay on top of breaking news from companies and organisations around the world with this leading online newswire focusing on marketing and advertising. 30,000 companies release news through PRWeb and this App aggregates them all on your iPhone

Mashable - The Social Media Guide (Mashable) - FREE

A place for tips, how-tos and the latest information about social media for web users, brands, news organisations, marketers and charities. Well respected and well informed

iNews (GDIPlus) - £1.19

Technically more of a news reader than a specific marketing feed but helpful and fully featured news reader with adjustable fonts. Tag news wires, favourite broadcasters, blogs and more in one integrated App

MarketingProfs (MarketingProfs) - FREE

Skim mini articles in 60 seconds in this marketing digest covering topics as broad as B2B Marketing, Buyer Insight, Email, Marketing Inspiration, SEO and Small Business

That’s your starter for 10…. are you using an App we haven’t covered? Please post it here and share it with everyone… And if you don’t have an iPhone…. well, what are you waiting for!?

Best way to think about your website

2009-09-02T01:18:00.000-07:00

Change your way of thinking about your website. Treat it like an employee:

It has a specific set of tasks to perform, writing a job spec for your website is no bad idea!
It needs a development plan if it is to continue to perform at its best
It needs regular updates to stay current – like a training plan
It relies on input from various other team members to do its job
Not everyone will like it all of the time

A website has a permanent, full time, role in your business: many treat it as a self-contained project – with beginning, a middle and (even more worryingly) an end. You wouldn’t recruit someone and think that, once they’d signed the contract, their job was complete or that they’d stay exactly the same as the day they walked through the door. You shouldn’t think the same of your website.

A person comes to your company with some skills and knowledge, but over time they will gain more specific knowledge about your company, and become more skilled as they learn on the job or undergo formal training and development. A website is just the same – however well conceived and delivered, it is only when real people start to interact with it that you’ll know what really works, and what doesn’t, on your site. Through reviewing analytics and undertaking user testing and feedback, you will be able to constantly refine and improve your website’s performance. Which brings me to performance… you’re likely to set of minimum performance standards for your staff, have you done the same for your website? And, do you have the tools to measure against those standards.

And of course, things change. Think also of a scenario in which your employee’s area of the business is subject to some sort of change (legal, environmental, new product, etc.) – they’ll need to adapt and respond. Your website is no different. Just because it was beautiful when you launched it, it may not be in a new context. What’s more, this is technology we’re talking about. The tech big boys work to a circa 6 month product development cycle – the pace of change is fast and furious. If your website is to stay current, you’ll need to keep an eye out for the new trends, like Twitter, Tag Clouds, etc… and whatever is just around the corner.

But, it many ways it is even better than an employee:

It never sleeps
It doesn’t take holiday.
It won’t sue you if you change its role or replace it with a new one

Useful people management techniques you can apply to your website:

Write it a job specSet a basic salary (hosting, support, regular updates)
Set a commission plan (invest a percentage of the revenue it delivers back into traffic generation and improvements)
Have a weekly one-to-one (update content, check stats)
Conduct a monthly review (stats, performance targets, etc)
Conduct a quarterly appraisal – consider a 360 appraisal where you get feedback from all usersSet a ‘training’ budget – essential updates, spring cleaning, new features

What is YOUR Occupassion

2009-09-01T00:29:00.000-07:00

Occupassion... there's an interesting concept as many of us start back after summer holidays. The beginning of September for many gives you that 'back to school' feeling. The long sunny days of summer (outside the UK of course!) are a distant memory and misty mornings coupled with heavy work schedules aren't always the most invigorating start to each day.

But it really doesn't have to be this way. If you aren't combining your occupation with your passion then perhaps this is time to start believing that you really could. There are always 101 reasons why you think you cannot actually live an 'occupassion' (defined as an occupation combined with a passion). Mortgage payments, the risk of failure, peer and family pressure to do the 'sensible thing'.

For just one morning though, at the start of the autumn, take a little time to stop and pause and just wonder what it might be like if you actually made the change. Imagine every morning being motivated to see what the day has in store? What are YOUR passions? Not someone else's view of what working and leisure life might be.... yours? Could there, if you are really thinking creatively and positively, be a way of living the dream? Is it a dream? Or could you change it into reality?

What's YOUR occupassion?

(Thanks to Rachel for the idea of Occupassion.... someone who lives her Occupassion every day)

Countryside Courses

2009-08-28T07:34:00.000-07:00

We got fed up of driving 'up north' for our countryside training. So we've teamed up with Folly Farm, run by the Avon Wildlife Trust just outside Bristol, to lay on professional courses for countryside staff. Together we want to make Folly Farm the South West's leading venue for these type of courses. Here are the details of this coming season's courses. Click here

More women than men use Twitter?

2009-08-28T00:24:00.000-07:00

A major study on Twitter has revealed some surprising facts;

72.5% of all users joining during the first five months of 2009
85.3% of all Twitter users post less than one update/day
21% of users have never posted a Tweet
93.6% of users have less than 100 followers, while 92.4% follow less than 100 people
5% of Twitter users account for 75% of all activity
New York has the most Twitters users, followed by Los Angeles, Toronto, San Francisco and Boston; while Detroit was the fast-growing city over the first five months of 2009
More than 50% of all updates are published using tools, mobile and Web-based, other than Twitter.com. TweetDeck is the most popular non-Twitter.com tool with 19.7% market share.
There are more women on Twitter (53%) than men (47%)
Of the people who identify themselves as marketers, 15% follow more than 2,000 people. This compares with 0.29% of overall Twitter users who follow more than 2,000 people.

For the full report click here

Viper Blogs for Cambridge Marketing College

2009-08-26T01:32:00.000-07:00

Not content with blogging for Viper, Neil Wilkins is now also blogging as a Lead Tutor for Cambridge Marketing College on their new Tutor Blog page.

Covering a whole host of marketing and digital communication subjects Neil will be taking current news and giving a Viper-spin to it. Sometimes just observation and sometimes a little more controversial it's a place to catch up on all things marketing and communications.

Recent posts include comment on why Nivea's recent advertising ban might have come about, good examples of social mash-ups on the web and the fact that large companies can learn a lot from small companies in times of recession.

Viper Rural

2009-08-20T07:46:00.001-07:00

Creative, informed, relevant and essential - just some of the headings in the latest Viper Rural newsletter

The Future of Countryside Interpretation?

2009-08-20T03:58:00.000-07:00

Point the camera on your smart phone at a round barrow, rock, nature reserve, woodland or any physical object in the countryside and floating on the screen is your interpretation. This is augmented reality and it will change the way we look at the countryside. Up until now digital interpretation relied on an awkward mix of software and hardware that never quite worked. The development of smart phones like the iPhone has enabled the software and hardware to come together; simplexity. Heads up display reveal what you're looking at, pan your phone around and the information changes to your new view. A whole raft of information and interpretation can now be accessed by people on their terms. If they want to explore an uncluttered landscape they simply turn their phone off. No more interpretation panels? Have a look for yourself at http://mashable.com/2009/08/19/augmented-reality-apps/

UK Search for 'AONB' is down

2009-08-19T00:23:00.001-07:00

Using Google Insights data the trend for searching for the term AONB has fallen over the last 5 years compared to the relative amount of searches on Google. Curiously Devon AONB is the top search containing AONB. Find out more http://www.google.com/insights/search/#q=aonb&geo=GB&cmpt=q

Summerzest

2009-08-17T07:47:00.000-07:00

What a fantastic weekend Team Viper has enjoyed in a secret location deep in the French Alps, not just playing of course, but helping a fledgling all-inclusive Alpine activity company with their marketing and communications.

Referrals from friends of friends are often the best introduction for people like us as they offer an instant connection and warmth that means we can get to the heart of marketing and communications opportunities from the very first meeting. We needn't have worried anyway because from the first smiles and words at the airport where we were collected by our hosts Jen and Olivia, we knew their energy and ideas would inspire us into action.

The company, Summerzest was created by Jen Yates to provide a unique alpine experience including luxury chalet accommodation, exquisitely prepared local food and an all-inclusive outdoor activity programme catering for everyone from families to triathlon clubs in altitude training. Having experienced a small sample of Summerzest for ourselves we set about working with them through our communication planning process, our step by step guide to developing customer focused and cost effective marketing that talks directly to specifically defined new clientele.

By the end of the weekend we had not only had our fill of exciting mountain biking, walking and excellent cuisine but had unlocked many secrets in an as yet undiscovered alpine valley that is sure to become a target on the mountain biking, climbing and walking hit list for summer holidays in the French Alps.

Viper's Communication Planning Process really was 'in action'

Viper Autumn Training Courses

2009-08-05T12:34:00.001-07:00

This Autumn we have the broadest range of day courses and residential training yet.

02/09 >> Introduction to Marketing - webinar

10/09 >> Digital Marketing & Media

15/09 >> Managing Communications

17/09 >> Introduction to Marketing

23/09 >> Countryside Project Management

24/09 >> Digital PR

30/09 >> Countryside Engagement

12/10 >> Social Marketing

13/10 >> Digital Marketing & Media

15/10 >> Marketing Communications

20/10 >> Social Marketing - webinar

21/10 >> Customer Relationship Management

22/10 >> Creative Results from Design

The course details and booking forms are available at www.vipertraining.info and each course is designed specifically for certain market sectors and job types. From countryside and public sector to sales, marketing and business development there's sure to be a course to help you in your role of communicating with customers whatever type they might be, internal and external.

If you have a specific training need that you don't see in the list please do get in touch because we are able to create bespoke and in-house training sessions focused on a particular challenge you are facing. Such sessions can be 'lecture-style', seminar or workshop or facilitated team meetings. Tell us your challenge and we'll come up with a proposal to solve it.

We look forward to seeing you on one of our training sessions very soon.

Web Censorship Mash-Up

2009-08-05T02:01:00.000-07:00

An excellent example of self-policing on the web with Harvard University website http://www.herdict.org/web/

This is a great example of a ‘mash up’ allowing web users to post potentially censored sites around the world. Trends and live status reports add to the currency and relevance of this ground breaking site.

If we are based in the UK, Europe or USA it’s very easy to forget that our web access is generally as open and freely available as anywhere in the world. Many web users are not so fortunate and reports and statistics show that it’s a political minefield of claims, counterclaims and mystery. Perhaps cover-ups, perhaps conspiracy theory, but whatever the causes the advent of true social networking and development of social technologies means that services like Herdict are likely to gain in popularity as the power of self policing on the internet expands globally.

What do you think?

Viper Leads New Digital Marketing Programme

2009-08-04T00:39:00.000-07:00

The world of digital communications feels as if it's accelerating every year. First we had websites and email and then as bandwidth increased we saw video and online social networking through technology described as web 2.0. This all feels as though it's been here forever but if you look at the dates of some of the well established services and websites you'll see we are only talking about a decade and a half since the most basic of online marketing and communications. What is on the horizon and what will take us through the next fifteen years? Well, if you are part of the Cambridge Marketing College's Digital Marketing Programme you may well find out and position yourself at the cutting edge of the next wave of opportunity. Having said that it's not all about the technology. In fact it's quite the reverse! You shouldn't be doing all of this unless there is a clear value and benefit in doing so. Technology is a tool to achieving your goals not an end in itself and this is an important considering in the starting of any digital strategy. But more of that in the programme itself. For now, please have a look at the Digital Marketing Programme website and if you need any further information about it or how applicable it would be for you, please let us know.

Viper's Neil Wilkins will be one of the two experienced Lead Tutors on this programme.

Special Insight into Rural Partners

2009-07-30T05:29:00.000-07:00

If you're a rural organisation we've got vital information that could help you. Viper has gained a very special insight into how your partners are using your website. What are they actually looking for? What are their top priorities? What are they using the web for generally?

We would like to share this intelligence with you to improve your communication plan. We'll show you how we got the results and reveal what we found. Audience profile information is crucial for improving your communications but can be expensive to come by when you're in the rural sector. The process Viper uses is a very effective way of gaining a huge return on your investment. The research helps to answer the all-important question of 'what's in it for me?' by involving them in the process.

Please get in touch if you'd like to find out more.

Viper on a Bike

2009-07-13T12:30:00.000-07:00

A more detailed look at the great connection Viper Marketing & Communications Group has with mountain bikes

Zambia; The Final Post

2009-07-13T03:55:00.000-07:00

The Family Hardcastle have returned! Actually we've been back for a few weeks now. Just a quick Blog to say thanks foryour interest and for helping us with our volunteering adventure in Zambia on the Bookbus.

The most common question we have been asked has been whether Zambia was everything we expected or hoped for?

We expected a challenge and we certainly got one; long hot, dusty days with no shade, noisy night with dogs barking and bats squeaking (yes, they really squeaked all night!) early mornings with weak coffee, awful toilets, small tents, tepid showers and bugs including a close encounter with a scorpion!

What we didn't expect was this; smiling, welcoming warmth of the Zambian people, the delight in the children's faces from a simple pop-up book, our children Tom and Anna to work so incredibly hard both at school and duties back at camp and all of us to be in bed by 8.30pm!

What had we hoped for? We hoped that Tom and Anna would realise how lucky they are living in this western society with all its luxuries. We hoped to inspire some children and give them more opportunities.

What did we find? The classes were 45 children plus, the children's 'hobbies' were washing plates and many had lost parents to Aids, yet they didn't stop smiling, singing and dancing.

We've all decided 'no more boring holidays'. We want to achieve something on our breaks now.

Jim

3G Coverage

2009-07-13T03:50:00.000-07:00

The UK maps of 3G coverage were publish by Ofcom, the government's telecom watchdog. Third generation mobile broadband has been seen as one way of bringing faster internet access to rural areas. Millions have signed up for mobile broadband deals, with over 2m new connections between February 2008 and February 2009.

But the maps reveal that map rural areas have poor or non-existent 3G coverage, effectively making them mobile broadband "not-spots".

The 3G coverage maps were published alongside Ofcom's second phase of its mobile sector assessment. It reveals that consumers are increasingly giving up landlines in favour of their mobile phones. All communications from and for rural based audiences will need to take this into account.

Communications Project Management Training

2009-06-26T06:38:00.000-07:00

We would like to invite you to our Communications Project Management Course on Thursday 9th July between 9.30am - 4.00pm. This course has proved so popular at other venues we're running one at the beautiful Folly Farm just south of Bristol. It's a highly interactive day that will provide you with skills and techniques:

- Plan projects using everyday techniques
- Manage projects that can adapt and evolve
- Involve different people in the planning effectively and creatively
- Build resources into a plan effectively
- Evaluate and monitor projects simply
- Deliver best value return for the budget you spend
- Demonstrate an understanding of how PR, advertising, direct marketing, promotions and the internet can make a significant impact on your companies competitive position

The cost is just £95 + VAT including lunch and refreshments. Call Jim on 07590 687537 to book your place.

This was the lead story in the latest in our regular e-newsletters which keep our clients and other interested people up to date with all things marketing and communication. To keep in touch and pick up our free snippets of interesting information from around the world of marketing just drop us a line to mail@vipermarketing.co.uk asking to be added to our mailing list.

To see how one such e-newsletter looks click here http://bit.ly/14KX1W and of course, if you'd like to be sending out e-newsletters like this to your clients and customers then get in touch and we'll tell you how you can do it.

Viper Music Signs Jemma Rycroft

2009-06-23T17:30:00.000-07:00

The brilliant Jemma Rycroft is the first artiste to be signed by Viper Music as part of her winning the inaugural Axe Factor, a showcase for unsigned talent in the south west of the UK.

Jemma's silky smooth performance in the final captivated the judges and the audience as she played two original songs and a Peggy Lee cover to which she gave a contemporary twist.

Neil Wilkins, Director of Viper Marketing, sponsors of the contest said, "Over the course of the last six months we have seen nearly 100 artistes and many of whom could have been part of this final. Judging down to the last six was so tough and many top performers couldn't be rewarded with a place in the final".

Neil added, "We are delighted that Jemma won this competition and look forward to working with her to kick start her professional career".

In an eleventh hour decision, Viper also offered contracts to Sally-Anne Langton and Ryan Inglis who finished second and third respectively. More details will be revealed about the three artistes through the Viper Music website at http://www.vipermusic.co.uk

Developing a Business is like Bringing up a Child

2009-06-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

Developing a business is not unlike bringing up a child.

When they are born there's this overwhelming feeling of protection and excitement coupled with sleepless nights and never ending tasks and fine details. You make so many mistakes because there are never enough manuals or courses about the subject that you are forced to learn as you go.

There's always someone out there who knows how to do it better. Well at least they are always there to offer you their opinion whether or not you choose to listen.

As the business grows it develops new needs and a will and life of its own. Sometimes all consuming of time and energy and sometimes quieter and giving you those little respites where you can pause and take stock of what's happening. Most of the time however it's one long struggle uphill and feeling as though there's no light at the end of the tunnel.

Well actually it's not that bad at all. Yes it can be hard work and yes you do sometimes wonder if it's all worth it but when you do allow yourself the luxury of stepping outside for a moment and looking back you realise that it's actually far better than you could ever have imagined. In fact it's nothing like you thought it would be and no amount of preparation and reading around the subject can prepare you for its little wonders and challenges.

The biggest of these challenges is to every now and again take the time to stop and smile. Review what's good and think about how you might have done things slightly differently. Not that you'll be here again of course because before all of this you were clueless. Now however you have learned so much.

Do stop though, just pause... because before you know it you have either sold your business and moved on or the kids have packed up and flown the nest. You won't be here again so pause and enjoy... especially today as the sun is shining.

T-shirt Update

2009-06-16T08:32:00.000-07:00

Why am I wearing more t-shirts with messages on these days? Is it because I work in communications now? When I was a teenager I always had t-shirts on with bands and messages etc. I've come full circle now.

Other stuff. Interpretation panel delivered for the Windmill Inn. State of the AONB report nearly finished for the Mendip Hills. Wye Valley AONB team have asked us to do a full day 'communication' workshop with their Partnership. Brackenburn website is live and attracting discussion. Great training day at Folly Farm last week with people from all over the South West. Final amends being made to welcome signs for a major park near Bath. Busy busy. Banksy exhibition soon.

Brackenburn Website Goes Live

2009-06-01T06:45:00.000-07:00

We are delighted to launch the new Brackenburn website helping to showcase their sustainable biomass fuel products. Bracken is a sustainable and natural resource in the southwest and the Brackenburn philosophy is to harness the natural raw power of the vegetation to run domestic and commercial heating systems. Visit the website to find out more

Zambia; Camp Life

2009-05-26T04:06:00.000-07:00

Shopping for food is an adventure! The local dish which is all some of the kids eat is called Nasheema. It's like heavy, rubbery mashed potato. An acquired taste but it will keep you alive. The town's Spar shopis always busy, somtimes with people buying 40 loaves of bread to take across the border to Zimbabwe.
We cook outside on a two ring gas stove. Not easy when you're preparing for 12 people. We can't/don't eat in front of the children at the schools. We shut ourselves away in the bus and grab a sandwich.
Washing up at camp consists of 3 large bowls; one to wash, one filled with disinfectant and the other to rinse. The you have to flap everything dry as damp clothes just harbour the eggs of a fly that burrows into your skin! Tom and Anna enjoy the flapping though.

Yesterday was a public holiday so no school visits. The bus got a tidy up. It was really sad saying saying goodbye to all our other Bookbus volunteer friends. Tom and Anna are missing them terribly. We're all trying to stay in touch via Facebook and Blogs.
We're now at a lodge before flying to Lusaka tomorrow. We have beds and pillows and everything! We've seen loads of animals. We woke up to the sound of a hippo munching outside our door. Anna got the fright of her life when she plucked a towell from the rail and a toad jumped out of it!

Anna's Blog; Leaving the volunteers was very sad because we had spent so much time with them. Last night was lush, it was like living in luxury compared to two weeks in a squishy tent!

Tom's Blog; Being on the Bookbus was really good fun but sad when we had to leave. Coming to the safari was amazing.

Follow up Blog when we're home on Thursday.
Jim

Zambia: Average Day

2009-05-19T06:40:00.000-07:00

Average Day - if there is such a thing here!
Up at 6.30, breakfast prep if it's your duty or try and get a hot shower. A hit or miss event. Breakfast of cereals, toast or yogurt. Luckily no 'sheema' the local maize dish they have for breakfast, lunch and tea. Azwell the bus driver starts revving the engine at 8 and off we go at an average speed of 5mph down the bumpiest, pothole ridden roads. Kids stream from everywhere to meet the bus.
When we arrive a class of 30 or so is shared between the 8 volunteers. Tom and Anna tend to take 1 or 2 off with them. We have the group for an hour then it's all change to the next year up for another hour. All the while shifting to try and stay in the shade. Tom and Anna are amazing, they work so hard at reading and playing with the kids. Two classes later we have lunch. We have to shut the doors so the kids can't get on the bus. This heats the bus up to about 35 degrees though! Lunch is a picnic affair with leftovers. Another two classes later we can pack and trundle home.
We get back to Grubby's at 3pm. Collapse for an hour, wash hands for the umpteenth time. The you're either on dinner prep or dinner clean up or you have your other duties - water filling, bus sweeping etc. Dusk lasts about 20mins, by 6.30 it's dark. Beer and Fanta on the veranda, crawl into bed at 8.30!

Anna's Blog. Today was sooooooooo hot. We tried to use the loo but it was just another hole in the ground (and it stunk!).
Tom's Blog. Nakatindi school is a very poor school, it has no electricity. And they all support Manchester United!

Off to stick head in cold bucket of water. Actually have found new internet cafe and it's not so hot! No air con but at least there's a fan.
Jim

Zambia; Tom and Anna's Update

2009-05-16T08:22:00.000-07:00

Tom writes;
Dear friends. I am having a great time in Africa. We have been to loads of different schools. The schools have absolutely nothing in the classrooms except tables an chairs. The kids are very poor at reading and English.
We are staying at Grubby's Grotto. Grubby's is nice, the grass is green but the toilets have no hot water!
Anna writes;
Hello. I am having a really good time here it's sooooo fun. Our emotions have gone up and down though. The best bit today has been when we held a baby crocodle at the Crocodile farm. It was really cute! The worst bit is the toilets. One of the schools was called Nakatindi, its toilet was a hole in the ground!
In the week we are staying in a campsite called Grubby's Grotto. Grubby has two dogs. One massive one called Cousie and one tiny puppy called Choice. There is no hot water in the bathroom!

We're taking a break frm the campsite this weekend for a bit of R & R. Staying at a backpackers hostel. Back to the site tomorrow to meet two new volunteers. Phoebe, a very adventurous teenager left on Friday to go and work in an orphanage before doing some more travelling around southern Africa. The other volunteers are Marjorie, a Canadian librarian who's great fun. She's done a marvellous job cataloguing everything on the Bus. Jean and Trina are two retired teachers/Ofsted inspectors. Kelly is our new group leader after Jo left. Aswell is the driver. He's so black at night you can only see him when he smiles! He's pleased to have some male company and loves chatting about football with Tom.
More soon. Jim

Zambia; Mzungu Push

2009-05-16T00:11:00.000-07:00

All well here despite the ups an downs of life in Zambia! We went to Cowboy Cliff's School yesterday. A true 'community' school as opposed to the Government schools. Cliff is a true community leader; tall and lanky with a cowboy hat always on. He started a bike hire (we had a good chat about bikes! (Good luck to all the CLIC24 riders this weekend, hope the weathers kind)) business several years ago and ploughs the profits back into his school. Now he has 60 kids aged between 3 and 6, 3 teachers and two school buildings. All paid for by bikes! The kids were wild to say the least. Great fun but you couldn't excite them too much for fear of being mobbed. The funniest moment was the little kids shouting to Tom and Anna on the swing's and roundabout 'Mzungu push! Mzungu push!' We're Mzungu's here; the white people.
We left the Bus behind yesterday. The roads are so badly potholed and soft, just compacted sand in places, that the Bus can't get down them. We all jumped in taxi's to get there. The Bus has struggled a lot of the time actually. It's forced to go so slowly that ladies with half a kitchen garden on their head walk past you when you're going down the road! This is a shame because we can't get to the community schools most in need of help and end up going to some government schools on main roads. These aren't much better mind you.
This Mzungu is off to find a decent coffee, more soon.

Zambia day 4

2009-05-13T07:23:00.004-07:00

Zambia. Wednesday - 3 schools down; Linda's, Nakatindi and Ibala. A man had to cut down half a tree to get the Bus into the school today. Kids mobbed us. Tom and I took our usual 4 kids to read and ended up with 25! We are sleeping amazingly well despiote the best efforts of the Zambian parties, dogs (must be at least 20,000 dogs in Livingstone!) and the call to prayer every night. Living things found in tents and toilet
s so far; mozzies, toads, crickets, lizards, spiders and countless bugs. Tom and Anna are incredible, reading with groups of kids and doing their Bus chores - Tom fetches all the water, Anna sweeps every night. Helen claps her hands to scare the Bus rats away! Wilting in a boiling hot internet cafe now. More soon

Zambia: Update from Africa

2009-05-13T03:13:00.000-07:00

The Hardcastles are all well and having an amazing time. We've been through 3 schools already. The children are so keen to learn but have so little. It's very emotional sometimes. Tom and Anna are taking everything in their stride. More soon when we have web access.

Jim

Zambia; Final Jab

2009-05-06T10:10:00.000-07:00

That's it we're all dosed up now. Tom's had his final jab. Many thanks to Chris, our Practice Nurse (Anna asked why we had to have a practice nurse and not a real one!) who stabbed us a lot with the least amount of pain!

We start the Malaria tablets tomorrow. Will Anna be able to swallow them whole?

Jim

Zambia; Pieminister and Raincoats

2009-05-06T06:29:00.000-07:00

Running around getting last minute things sorted out at the moment. Always seems one more thing to do!

The lovely people at Pieminister sent us there latest newsletter with us in it, have a look at http://www.pieminister.co.uk/newsletter/200905/

Apparently it's been raining in Livingstone the last couple of days. Good to know the Hardcastle Raincloud is not restricted to camping on Dartmoor. Off to pack a waterproof now.

Jim

Definitive Guide to Telemarketing

2009-05-01T07:32:00.000-07:00

We have written and produced the Definitive Guide to Telemarketing for our client and partner Integrity Business Connections.

Integrity are telemarketing specialists and at the top of their trade. Our campaign with them focused on positioning their brand as THE optimum service of its kind in a range of online media at the same time as helping their clients and associates to understand how to maximise the return on investment in telemarketing as a business development tool.

Direct marketing, PR and the Guide has helped position Integrity and the value of Telemarketing as a core element in the sales and marketing process

Discover New Insights Into Your People

2009-05-01T06:02:00.001-07:00

We are working with our friends at Zing to spread the word about a really powerful people development and/or recruitment tool called Discovery. This is a product from the innovative bunch at http://www.insights.com/changingworld.aspx .

The basic idea is that from answering just a few questions on an online form which indicate your prefered way of acting, behaving or feeling in certain situations, their automated system creates the most incredible and detailed profile of the individual.

When I tried this myself I honestly couldn't believe how such a system could understand my inner workings and how I behave in certain situations. Quite incredible.

So that's what happens and the question is why do you want to know, apart from a short ego trip to the 'strengths' page in the report. Well the reasons can be many. Firstly if you are looking to understand how to get your team working more effectively then the profiles show others how you like to be managed and communicated with and when you need things like direction or personal space. You find out more about yourself and so do others in your team.

Secondly you might looking to move someone into a different role. They might say they'd like to do that important job but are they really up to it and are they subconsciously just trying to please by saying they'd like it? The personal profile will help you and they to answer those questions.

Thirdly, and this is why Viper is now involved in the programme, is that if you are planning to recruit and grow your team you need to be certain you are taking on the right people. This is what we are doing right now. As we seek a motivated, team-playing, committed, 'finisher'-style graduate we are using the Discovery Profile to both give us an insight into each of the short-listed candidates as well as share our personal profiles with them. It is a two-way process afterall. We want to be sure they'll enjoy working with us too!!

And from my own person profile I can see the value in this tool in terms of developing specific skills or roles. Sales is a particular role and skillset that can benefit from such profiling as it identifies prefered styles of interaction and communication and helps you get the best out of each and every team member.

If this sounds of interest to you, and believe me you have to see the profiles to believe them, then get in touch and we'll tell you more.

posted by Neil

Zambia: updates

2009-04-27T04:14:00.000-07:00

Lots of little updates; kit has been begged, borrowed and even bought in a few cases. There is a huge stack in our house of all the items we need to take. I'm not sure we can fit it all on our backs. Weight testing on Tom and Anna has shown the level os moans rises proportionally to the weight they are carrying and that if you push them over with their packs on they can't stand up again. Not helpful in a busy airport.

The most expensive item and curiously the smallest has been the anti-malaria tablets - they've cost a small fortune. Anna's been practicing the art of swallowing tablets, vitamins I hasten to add, but hasn't cracked the technique yet. Any advice?

We have our fetching yellow Bookbus t-shirts now. Jo the Bookbus coordinator flew out last week to get the bus up and running again after the rainy season. She's also going to the north of the country to establish a route up there for later this year.

The Hopkin's are a wonderful family who read about our adventure in the local paper and get in touch. They've spent a lot of time in Zambia and recently spent 6 weeks there with their 3 children. They came round to visit last week which was great for Toma dn Anna to quiz their children about Zambia, food, snakes, people and camping. Really helpful for all of us to hear first hand experience.

We're going to do our first packing dry-run this week. Plus we've found we've got a weight limit for the internal flights of 15kg. yikes. More posts soon.

Jim

Effective Pricing in a Recession

2009-04-21T14:30:00.000-07:00

We spotted an excellent and thought provoking article in Management Today about how to price products and services effectively through a recession. Here are some of the key points they raised and you can read more by visiting www.managementtoday.co.uk

- Price should reflect the value of your offer and not be discounted

- Lure people with incentives like free delivery, extended warranties and monthly instalments rather than cutting price

- Ensure clients see the value by delivering prompt, reliable and trustworthy service

- Do not enter a price war even if competitors significantly cut their prices. Trade instead on your added value

- Investigate who is spending what and how quickly they pay and focus on providing loyalty rewards for them

Think about what the customer is buying rather than what you are selling. These tips apply whatever the economic climate but as Management Today points out, it is ever more important when the going gets tough and there's pressure to take your prices in a southerly direction in an attempt to feel competitive.

We also believe it's vital not to do something like pricing by sitting in a vacuum... the best thing is to talk to your customers. Find out what they value most about your products and services. Build up your marketing around those things and remember it's those things that will help you to maintain or even increase your prices... whatever the financial climate.

This blog was inspired by www.managementtoday.co.uk/

The Importance of Market Segmentation

2009-04-07T22:17:00.000-07:00

We have been banging on for ages to our clients about the value of market segmentation, the breaking down of all possible customers and prospects into bit-sized chunks so that marketing can be closely focused on messages they'll each understand. Lo and behold market segmentation has been picked up by the Chartered Institute of Marketing's magazine 'The Marketer' with an in depth article focusing on this essential marketing technique. They advise that:

- Ensure everyone agrees it’s needed and get buy-in across the organisation

- Find specialist segmentation professionals as usual research agencies may not have the skills

- The data may not give all the answers so have a strategy about what you are trying to collect and understand

- Statistically correct answers may not exist in segmentation so expect variations

- Segmentation is as much an art as it is a science

- Ensure your outcomes and segments are simple and usable

- Survey data relies on producing averages but make sure they are meaningful

- Bring your segments to life with names and images

- Segmentation is the start of the journey to deliver better value for customers

Market segmentation is not just something that you do when you are creating your marketing plans it should be a mantra for all successful communications people. If you aren't quite sure what we mean by market segmentation or you would like to explore how you might start to do it for your organisation please get in touch because it's something we can help you with and you'll never look back and generalise about your customers again.

Zambia: Sticky Back Plea

2009-04-02T06:20:00.001-07:00

Hello!

We're only one month away I am on the hunt for Book Bus supplies! So here is my plea! Besides books we really need art supplies - crayons, paper, tissue paper, pva glue, funky stickers, tape - pretty much anything you feel you can give.

If you know somebody who works in a stationery store, art store or any where else which sells sticky, arty supplies then tell how lovely The Book Bus is!! As part of the deal - we can have an art day dedicated to the donor. Every contribution is valued and even if you want to send in just a pack of crayons then please do to:

The Book Bus Foundation
64-66 Marketplace
Iron Yard
Warwick
CV34 4SD

Let us know your details and we'll let you know how your donation was used! Many thanks for your time! Jim

Online Social Networking - It Doesn't Bite!

2009-04-01T15:51:00.000-07:00

Finally it happened. Viper fully embraced the concept of Online Social Networking. Some of the team have been involved in the web since 1994. Yes really! And yet it's taken until early 2009 for us to practice what we preach every week in our e-Marketing training courses, distance learning programmes and recommendations to our clients for their marketing plans and campaigns.

Isn't that just typical though. Companies like ours always spend their time telling everyone else how great things are to do and yet don't find the time to do it themselves. We hold up our hands and drop our heads in shame!

Well actually it's not quite as bad as it seems. In many ways we have been like the vast majority of companies across the UK in a whole host of different market sectors. We have struggled to see the link between the fun of Facebook and the harsh commercial reality of generating new business and clients. Well in recent months with the huge explosion of interest in particularly Twitter and LinkedIn we could suddenly see how regular interaction with our friends and contacts in this online social world could bring us new business opportunities. Not just nice chatty and friendly opportunities but a real opportunity to promote our brand, our services and the great work we are doing for all our clients.

Yes the time has arrived when online social networking has hit the premier league of marketing and communications tools. We saw it rising through the lower leagues over recent years and months but in the latter stages of 2008 and now certainly in the first quarter of 2009 it's vying for a champions league place next season.

Here's the opportunity then. You either embrace the change and see this as an unknown but exciting and very cost effective way of developing your business or you sit on the fence or worse still, shy away from it as something not relevant to you or your organisation and too technical for you to think about.

For those willing to find out more and jump in now you will be glad you did. If you don't then there's a huge danger that by the time you do (and believe us, you will at some point in the future) your competitors or peers will be so far ahead of you that you'll never actually catch up.

If you are curious to learn from others who have made mistakes and learnt some good things just ahead of you then get in touch and we'll tell you what works and what doesn't for us. And don't worry, it really doesn't bite!

CLIC24 2009 News Update

2009-03-20T07:55:00.000-07:00

This amazing weather must have got you thinking about those late spring dusty trails. The bluebells will have just gone, the warm evenings will be lengthening, the smell of barbeques will hang in the air and if you haven't already, you'll be looking for every excuse to ride your bike.
Well this year we have the perfect excuse and it's called CLIC24 2009!

As you'll know by now, this year has a special significance for me, and by the countless messages I have received, for many others too. So this is why we are going to make this year's CLIC24 extra special.

If you've ridden CLIC24 before you won't need reminding about the special atmosphere, the laid back campsite, the top quality facilities and THAT course... You'll be pleased to hear it's all back again this year plus a few special extras.

By popular demand we have increased the amount of live music this year. On the Friday evening you can ease yourself into the weekend with some great food and an acoustic set in the main marquee from Alfie Kingston and James Buckingham. Then on the Saturday night whilst you chill out in the warm moonlight you can enjoy the sounds of CLIC24 regular and headline act Mark Venus, joined this year by feature drummer Tony Howard.

This year we will be totally based in the main event field so you can get your food and drink from the main marquee without needing to go over to the Centre. All the usual favourites from the hot meal on Friday evening through to breakfast on Sunday. You won't need to bring your own food if you don't want to. We've got that covered.

We've also set up some room service, well 'tent service' too, so that if those poor little legs of yours are all achy and sore we'll deliver your food to your tent or camper van! How about THAT for service!

And if that's not enough to soothe those aches and pains then Sarah Redpath and her sports massage team will again be on hand in the main marquee and you can follow that with a visit to our block of hot showers to freshen up. If your bike is feeling worse for wear as well, then pop over to the Bike City marquee where you can get hold of spares and accessories of leave your bike for a service if it all seems too much to do yourself. This service will again be open throughout the event.

I've also had some enquiries about how suitable CLIC24 is for families with children and those looking for some great camping and a relaxing weekend without too much riding. Well CLIC24 is just that sort of event. It can be whatever you want it to be... so bring family and friends and make a weekend of it. The campsite opens at 5pm on the Friday evening and closes at 2pm on the Sunday and the camping and facilities won't cost your support team (family, friends, whoever) anything at all.

For those taking things a little more seriously Lumicycle will be supporting us again with that excellent light charging service to keep you going all night.... and you never know, we might even have some demo bikes and lights for you to try out. Watch this space.

If you want to keep up with everything going on around CLIC24 then tag me and/or the CLIC24 Facebook page and you'll be the first to hear.

I'll keep you posted about the course and things we are adding to the weekend in the coming weeks.... and just to remind you that if you haven't already, get that entry form in before this amazing weather convinces everyone else to enter before you do and then there are no places left :-) You can download an entry form from www.clic24.org.uk today.

Keep riding.
Regards, Neil

1SW Offroad Cycling Initiative

2009-03-11T18:47:00.001-07:00

The 1SW Off-Road Cycling Initiative, run by the Forestry Commission and Sport England commissioned Viper to produce an 'emblematic' logo and website. Viper are also on the executive board for the project thanks to their rural communication and mountain biking experience. The project is well on its way too securing £8million from the Rural Development Programme for England. Five new hubs for mountain biking well be created with the money. The sites targeted through the funding bid are Forest of Dean, Ashton Court, Haldon Forest, Moors Valley, Plym Bridge and Cardinham. The South West Lakes Trust, the South West's AONBs and National Parks are joining forces to make the the region the number 1 destination for mountain bikers of all abilities. To find out more visit www.viperrural.co.uk

Zambia; Dancing and Duathlons

2009-03-11T09:10:00.000-07:00

Apparently it's the first time in 15 years that I danced with my wife at our fundraising Barndance. The last time was our wedding night. I'm not convinced but I have no proof otherwise. Headbanging at the Salthouse pub in Clevedon doesn't count I'm told.

Key to the Barndance success was the 'Caller' Rob Zikking. Rob very kindly gave his time for free when we explained about the Bookbus in Zambia. I now understand the value of a professional Caller. You need someone to encourage and cajole us hesitant and reticent Barndancers from our comfort zones! Special thanks also to St Andrews Church Hall committee for letting us use the hall for free. The Raffle was also a great success thanks to all the companies that provided prizes. They're too numerous to mention here but special thanks should go to Souk, Pieminister, the Roman Baths, Noahs Ark Zoo Farm and on.

One of the most curious and novel aspects of the night for us was seeing all our different social circles in one place. Teachers mixing with mountain bikers mixing with even more teachers (different age range) mixing with family. Thanks to this group of amazing people our fundraising achieved nearly £700 from this evening.

Talking of mountain biking, I had a days rest after the Barndance then off to Cirencester for the Duathlon. 2m run, 10m ride, 2m run all off-road. Forecast wasn't great but it turned out to be perfect, as long as you didn't finish after me as the freezing rain started on my last lap! I finished 31st out of 155 with a time of 1hr 22m, very pleased with that, and raised £250 from sponsors. Couldn't run up stairs the next day though!

More soon

Social Networking Delivers Real 24/7 Business

2009-03-09T04:47:00.000-07:00

One of the key attractions of online social networking is that it allows individuals and organisations the opportunity to stay open for business twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, even when the shutters are down and the doors are closed for the night.

Access to social networking sites through computers at home and mobile phones when on the move and outside of work hours, means those in the know can remain engaged with their customers wherever they are.

The popular myth that by simply having an effective website you will be attracting new business with little or no effort, has been surpassed by an entirely different approach to online marketing where the most successful businesses are now those using social networking as a means of communicating with customers on their terms and in their personal space.

Social networking is all about engaging with people, drip feeding them with relevant and interesting information and encouraging dialogue. The fact that this all happens in their own online space means they are far more receptive to talking and more likely to visit a website of a business that operates on their terms rather than one that simply opens its doors and expects people to come in.

Viper Marketing’s Neil Wilkins said, “We are seeing a significant increase in companies that are now using social networking to research the views and opinions of their customers as well as those drip feeding product and service benefits in a language their audience understands. LinkedIn and Facebook are currently the most popular social networking sites used in this way.”

The key to successful social networking is integration. Integrating your social networking strategy within the strategy and plans for your existing website, e-marketing and traditional communications and lead generation activity ensures you maximise the potential. If left as a standalone, ‘nice to do’ tactical activity it will quickly run out of steam and will be difficult to measure the value of time spent keeping your Facebook or LinkedIn pages up to date and relevant. Integrating it at the heart of how you communicate with customers and help them understand more about your products and services allows clear measurement of return on investment as well as essential ongoing feedback on how your business is perceived in the marketplace.

Neil added, “We currently have a public sector organisation who are redeveloping their website and are starting to build their social networking profile as the key medium for attracting people into the new site. The fact that everyone coming in through this route is a ‘Friend’ means they are far more receptive to everything they then see when they arrive at the site. We are also using social networking ourselves to keep our contacts and friends informed about new technologies and examples of what others are doing that they themselves might be interested in. It’s a great showcase.”

Best of all is that unlike most marketing, social networking needn’t cost anything to set up and run… just a little time and thought and strategic planning. The return on the investment of that time will be quickly recouped and you should be engaging with customers and new prospects in no time at all, in their space and on their terms. Just the way they like it, 24/7.

Interactive Page Turn Brochures

2009-03-05T05:12:00.001-08:00

Becoming more popular by the day, interactive page turn brochures are ideal for presenting leaflets, portfolios and in fact most forms of traditional PDF documents in an engaging and exciting new way. By embedding video and sound into the brochures you can use them for promotional or educational projects or even as a standalone website in themselves. A recent example from the Viper stable is an online portfolio we created for Jacqueline Southway PR to showcase their customer testimonials and press coverage. The Viper Training Calendar and course descriptions will be presented like this very soon too. Watch this space!

7 Top Tips for Marketing in a Recession

2009-03-05T02:23:00.001-08:00

For many people involved in marketing and communications in difficult financial times, knowing an appropriate balance and tone of your messages is essential. We've spotted this helpful little guide in www.managementtoday.co.uk which you might find useful - http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/newsalerts/article/887210/mtsweek/crash-course-seven-steps-better-marketing-recession/?DCMP=EMC-Daily%20News If you want some more detail around any of the concepts or a general chat about Marketing and Communications just give us a call.

Tentpole Trails Trust

2009-03-04T00:29:00.000-08:00

Twelve flipchart sheets and nearly 100 Post-its later the Trails Trust have a great foundation of a plan to take them to a national level. Viper facilitated a great day for the Trails Trust with members coming from all over the west of England to join in the planning session. Highlight of the day was definitely the audience segmentation exercise. 'Ben' and 'Clare' are now fleshed out as the two priority target audiences that the Trails Trust need to communicate with. And why is it so hard to write down a 'vision'? Everyone knows it in their head but getting it on paper is so hard.

Demonstrating project and teamwork with the aid of a tentpole was a curious moment but it worked fantastically well. To find out more you'll have to get in touch and I'll tell you the secret of this little exercise!

Delivering Dartmoor

2009-02-26T00:09:00.000-08:00

Dartmoor National Park have set up a Delivery Board to put their Management Plan into practice. The value of Management plans is notoriously difficult to communicate to people let alone turn into a reality. Could this special board, made up of the all the delivery bodies be the way forward? Creating accountability where there normally isn't any? A group ready and willing to champion the work? A communication network embedded in all the other organisations? We'll watch with interest. Read more

Zambia: Dancing Daze

2009-02-26T00:03:00.000-08:00

Helen and Anna put on their dancing shoes this weekend to take part in a 2 day dance extravaganza - or so we thought. Emily from the Dance Factory in Clevedon, offered to put on a fundraiser event. Well, she may not offer again. After some serious publicity which included leaflets and posters in all local schools we were expecting a moderate if not good turn-out. Oh, how naive we were. 10 people came, most of them related to me in some way. We were down to 3 in the afternoon.Emily and I went home for wine!

Sunday was a glorious sunny day which did not match our mood. However as 11 o'clock arrived, so did all the people. We had a marvellous day of Ballroom, Latin, Street and Line dancing and raised £130

Our heartfelt thanks goes to Emily who kept smiling throughout.

Happy Quantock Hills

2009-02-23T12:22:00.000-08:00

The Quantock Hills AONB team like their new visitor guide. 9000 copies were delivered today. The guide took a new approach; the Quantock Hills is more than just the heathland. It's really a beautiful combination of coast, heath and combe. That's what makes the Quantock Hills an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Viper's experience of running rural projects has resulted in us being asked to facilitate future planning sessions for two organisations. The Trails Trust this week who need help creating an action plan so they can move from a local to a regional organisation. Avon Wildlife Trust, in a few weeks, want help to prepare a major initiative for the North Somerset area. A bulk order of post its please.

Zambia: Barndance

2009-02-19T09:27:00.000-08:00

All the intricacies of organising a Barndance are falling into place. We're inviting friends and family to this particular source of 'fun'. We've blagged the hall for free, well, we had to clear all the leaves from their car park. We've even blagged the 'caller' for free, a Mr Zikking has kindly agreed to do this. He's a professional Caller. I had no idea these people existed.

Helen's done a fantastic job organising this. She's even got raffle prizes coming in; vouchers for the Alvis Bros farm shop, 2 free tickets to Noah's Ark Farm, beauty treatment and pies from the famous Pieminister. With more raffle prizes to come. Should be a great evening.

Off to do more training for the Duathlon now.

Zambia; Anon

2009-02-12T05:25:00.000-08:00

An anonymous donation came through the post this morning. Just a simple letter saying they wanted to help us with the Bookbus trip. The Family Hardcastle wishes you thanks, whoever you are.

Digital dimension key to success

2009-02-11T00:21:00.000-08:00

According to a recent speech by Rural Affairs Secretary Hillary Benn, rural businesses have diversified and grown in recent years – one in four of all businesses are now located in rural areas. England's countryside is home to around 1m businesses - a quarter of England’s total, employing over 5.5m people. Rural firms have an annual turnover in excess of £300bn. There are more businesses for every 10,000 people in rural areas than there are in urban areas. Innovation, especially in the digital dimension has been and will continue to be the key to their success.

Zambia: Snow fun anymore

2009-02-09T06:35:00.000-08:00

As part of our fundraising to get to Zambia so we can help on the Bookbus I'm doing a duathlon (2m run, 10m ride, 2m run all off-road). Everything was going well; thanks to the people who have sponsored me, training was going well despite being given typhoid last week, carbs were loaded, training had peaked and my taper was tapering nicely. Then the snow came and the whole event was postponed. Got to go through the whole process again now. The event has been rescheduled for 8th March. The upside is this gives me time to find more sponsors!

Fresh New Approach For AONB Management Plan

2009-02-05T15:08:00.000-08:00

Taking a fresh approach the Mendip Hills AONB Service asked Viper to produce an on-line Management Plan. No more boxes of plans propping open doors. Partnership members and stakeholders can now simply and quickly access the plan whenever they want. The plan will soon be supported by a State of the AONB interactive brochure

Local Authority Could Do Better... a lot better

2009-02-04T02:06:00.001-08:00

Viper's registered office is in North Somerset, a place controlled, or so it would seem, by North Somerset Council. However when it snows it appears that the Community has more desire to keep communications flowing than the Council itself who missed the point of the power of web communication.

Picture the scene. Snow fall and closed schools. Many, many closed schools. Visit, as many of us would, www.n-somerset.gov.uk for an update on which schools are open and which are closed to be met with a page containing no information at all but advice to listen to a local radio station to get this information. Directly underneath this single paragraph is a statement that claims over half of the Council's entire budget is spent in providing education services!!

Now, without even starting to get political it is evident that the Community itself has been sharing information about snow conditions and the effects this is having right across the UK far more effectively and in almost realtime. Online social networking site http://twitter.com/ allows users to post geographic information about themselves. Pictures, comments and replies are all possible and there are literally millions of users of this service (amongst other similar services) around the world.

The snow falls and through a Twitter regular you can log into http://www.benmarsh.co.uk/snow/ where users have had the opportunity to post up to date snow reports, images and comments.

So as a Local Authority, perhaps it's time to develop a responsive and helpful online strategy for the Community using tools that are readily available and already being used by the people they are trying to serve. Could do better online... a lot better

Zambia; Jabs and Carbs

2009-02-03T12:55:00.000-08:00

Back from the first set of vaccinations; Hep A and Typhoid. Tom and Anna had one in each arm, us oldies got away with a combined jab in one arm. Anna was worried and got a little upset at the sight of the needle but soon realised it didn't really hurt. Now booked in for 3 sets of Hep B and a course of anti-malaria tabs. Lucky us.

Too cold for my 'last training ride' tonight, didn't want to slide on the ice. Well that's my excuse. Opted for the carb loading side of my training regime. More pasta please, washed down with some flapjack.

Zambia; Tapering and Vaccinations

2009-02-03T02:01:00.000-08:00

I'm tapering now. I think that's the official term for easing off the training in the build up for a race. So I'm tapering and carb loading - resting and eating loads of pasta. The duathlon is this Sunday, gulp. Tried it last year but only got half way round as I ripped my rear mech off! Hope the snow will have cleared by this Sunday but I bet the ground will be frozen.

Thanks to all the individuals who have sponsored me to do this. Even Jo the Bookbus coordinator and our friend Carolyn have entered to help raise money for our volunteering experience in Zambia. Huge thanks also to the Axentis Michael Charitable Trust who have sponsored us for a day over there.

We've got our first vaccinations tonight. Anna is worried about this but the snow has taken her mind off it I hope. I'll let you know how we get on.

Viper Zambian Diversion

2009-01-26T11:26:00.000-08:00

From time to time, starting now, you'll see Blog posts here about Viper's Jim Hardcastle and his family's trip to Zambia to volunteer on the Bookbus. The Bookbus is like a mobile library that visits schools in Zambia and helps to inspire the children to read. Family Hardcastle will be the first family of volunteers to help this charity. You can find out more about the Bookbus and its work at www.bookbus.org.uk

Family Hardcastle is, in ascending order; Anna (8) who is really excited about reading with the children over there but not best pleased with the vaccinations; Tom (9) really excited about playing football with the children and desperately wants to see a snake; Helen (?) tasked with helping the teachers in the schools as she's a teacher but not looking forward to camping every night and Jim (39, but only just) general dog's body.

We're off on May 8th and we've got a shed-load to sort out before we go. This Blog will keep everyone up-to-date with how things are going and we'll post Blogs when we're over there as well.

Most importantly this is a place for us to publicly thank people who have helped us. We're having to fundraise to cover all the costs of our volunteering experience. So far key people to thank are Neil at Viper for letting me take the time off and for access to the Blog, Jo at Bookbus who has been a star helping to organise things and patiently answer all our questions, Tony Doyle Associates www.tonydoyleassociates.co.uk for the sponsorship, Uncle Peter, Auntie Ann, Maggie Bates, the Reggles and the lovely-lady-who-doesn't-want-to-be-named for financially helping us.

More soon on duathlons, injections, therma-rests and pies!

Why so quiet for so long at Viper Marketing?

2009-01-22T15:42:00.001-08:00

It may look as though Viper has been sleeping since the last post way back in September. Nothing could be further from the truth and it's just that it's been the most hectic, traumatic, buoyant, positive, dynamic, progressive, tiring but amazing period since the business started!
So how come with all the great news and developments the idea of a Blog posting has not reached high enough up the virtual intray to actually make it onto the screen?
The answer is that we've been planning the next phase of the business.
Yes we now have a clearly defined 8 year business plan that will take Viper to some incredible places and build a team of amazing people who will provide clients with new levels of service, support, strategy and campaigns.
This all sounds full of hype and little substance because of course the proof is in the pudding but rest assured that in the coming months (and as we read back in the archives at this late night blogging) and years all will become clear... do keep watching and bookmark us because we'll shortly be giving away some of our expertise and knowledge in the form of free taster sessions. Watch this space!

Viper Launches 2009 Website

2009-01-22T15:38:00.001-08:00

Viper's 2009 website has launched today promising a wide range of informative and useful marketing and communications services. Whilst the new site is an evolution and not yet full loaded with Viper Training TV, it already includes two new business streams: Viper Rural and Viper Music. Visit the main site for more information at www.vmcg.co.uk

Viper Supports SW Mountain Biking Project

2008-09-25T07:28:00.000-07:00

We are proud to be working with the Forestry Commission on a southwest mountain biking initiative that will include branding and a website for the exciting development project. Full details will be made public very soon

Osprey Outdoors Email

2008-09-17T14:18:00.000-07:00

Viper has helped Osprey Outdoors on its launch day with email services to help improve its profile and encourage school and college groups into the countryside for team building and personal development workshops

Definitive Marketing Career Guide

2008-09-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

Text the word CAREER and your email address to 21211 to receive a digital copy of Cambridge Marketing College Prospectus. The definitive marketing career guide is also available through Viper

Blue Line Taxis Marketing Launch

2008-09-12T15:21:00.000-07:00

We are delighted to be running a marketing launch campaign for Bristol based private hire company Blue Line Taxis as we help them to grow into the business market. The campaign is designed to make local businesses aware of the high quality service and unique offer from Blue Line Taxis

Avon & Somerset Search and Rescue Website

2008-09-10T05:28:00.000-07:00

Viper is supporting Avon and Somerset Search and Rescue with its website and callout archive which tracks the range of search and rescue services it provides to the region

Rural Communications Issue 1

2008-09-10T05:25:00.000-07:00

We have just released our first Rural Communications publication which provides subscribers with a host of news, views and information about rural marketing and communications. email us to join the mailing list

Learn More About e-Marketing

2008-08-29T07:34:00.000-07:00

On 16 September we will be running an Introduction to e-Marketing course at Engineers House, Clifton, Bristol. Designed for all levels of marketing this one day course will give you the tools you need to develop and roll out effective digital campaigns. email us for more information

Viper Rural Launches

2008-08-21T22:51:00.000-07:00

Following the arrival at viper of communications specialist Jim Hardcastle, we are please to announce the launch of viper rural, a service for charities, AONBs and National Parks to special interest groups and Local Authorities to enhance their communication and where appropriate their marketing. You can contact Jim at jim@vmcg.co.uk for more information and a new website will be available shortly

Alternative Guide to AONB Management Plans

2008-08-12T01:53:00.001-07:00

Viper Strategic has created an Alternative Guide to AONB Management Plans for Mendip Hills AONB Service. At the start of the consultation a management plan needs clear explanation to engage with the wider community and the Alternative Guide talks in language and a style that everyone can understand. Contact Mendip Hills AONB Service for your copy

Beat the Credit Crunch by Marketing on a Zero Budget

2008-08-07T23:14:00.000-07:00

Everyone is talking about the credit crunch and recession and your confidence in your organisation might be lower than you would like. What better time than now to free up the assets in your business and do marketing on a zero budget. Read our Marketing on a Zero Budget Guide at www.vmcg.co.uk

Jim Hardcastle Joins Viper

2008-08-01T23:02:00.000-07:00

Viper is delighted to announce that Jim Hardcastle joins the business this month. Jim will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge in all aspects of communication. You can contact Jim at jim@vmcg.co.uk

Preview Autumn Collection

2008-07-31T07:55:00.000-07:00

Cadbury House Hotel will host the next Eleganza Fashion Evening in association with The Spa at Cadbury House. Marketed by Viper the show will preview the Eileen Fisher and Sahara autumn collections. Contact us to reserve tickets

Fernhill Farm Opens Its Gates

2008-07-22T06:29:00.001-07:00

Fernhill Farm, marketed and promoted by Viper Marketing, will open its gates to the public for a three day launch event on 12-14 August. A full range of workshops, tours, walks, food and entertainment are planned. Head to www.fernhill-farm.com for the latest news and information and for details of how to book your trip

Boogie Beat launches new website

2008-07-22T06:27:00.000-07:00

Boogie Beat, the music and movement company set for a national expansion, have launched the first look of their new website at www.boogiebeat.co.uk. Managed by Viper Creative there are lots more features and information coming soon

Charity Fashion Show at The Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath

2008-07-17T23:11:00.000-07:00

On 30 July we are proud to be working with Eleganza on their Charity Fashion Show at the prestigious Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath in aid of Cancer Research. Please visit http://www.eleganza-clothing.com/ for more information and to book

Don't be a Poser

2008-07-07T05:36:00.000-07:00

Posting positive reviews about your own products or services on a website? Posing as a fellow customer in an attempt to influence others to buy from your company? You could be committing a criminal offence under the Consumer Proection from Unfair Trading Regulations. Please email us for more information to ensure you stay within the law

Lifelines Book Available for Download

2008-07-02T22:04:00.000-07:00

The Lifelines Book, created and produced by Viper Creative, is now available for download

Viper Announces New Training Courses

2008-07-02T22:03:00.000-07:00

Viper has announced two new training courses for the autumn. Communications Project Management and Introduction to Marketing Finance will appear at various venues from September. Please email us for more information about these courses

Eboni & Ivori

2008-07-02T03:31:00.000-07:00

We are delighted to be working with Bath-based Eboni and Ivori, to help them create a strategic
marketing plan to grow their business. Cost effective marketing plans help you to focus budget and time on the things that will really make a difference to your business

Marketing Mentoring

2008-06-12T08:23:00.000-07:00

Viper is doing more and more marketing and business mentoring for a whole host of clients, small and large. In a relaxed setting and often over a quality coffee, we can help you get to grips with current issues, discuss long term plans and help you see clarity in what otherwise can be chaos. So if you would like to take some time out, have a breather and focus with us on your strategy drop us an email and we will set something up

15% More Telemarketing Calls

2008-06-10T05:19:00.000-07:00

August is an often overlooked month for highly targeted telemarketing campaigns. When others are on holiday what better time to get a more relaxed and informative telemarketing call with your target clients. We are offering 15% more calls for your money through the month of August so contact us and tell us who you would like appointments with

Impress impress with great summer deal

2008-06-09T09:44:00.000-07:00

A key viper marketing client is office refurbishment and interior design specialists Impress
Interiors. Impress are offering Viper clients a great deal this summer, so if you are looking to move office or refurbish where you are now, contact us and we'll give you all the details

Fashion Show Invitation

2008-06-04T21:28:00.000-07:00

Viper Marketing is actively seeking charities, companies and individuals who are looking to host a fashion show. Our client Eleganza Clothing runs engaging and entertaining fashion shows throughout the southwest. For more information please contact mail@vmcg.co.uk

Introduction to Marketing Finance

2008-06-02T04:00:00.001-07:00

To get a basic introduction to marketing finance and the various tools and considerations for optimum pricing, product development and sound investment decisions, download our Introduction to Marketing Finance presentation on the Viper Strategic Website. If you need more detailed information please contact us

People and Places

2008-05-22T23:12:00.000-07:00

Viper will be working with Mendip Hills AONB Service to help develop their People and Places project by the design and production of an information pack to encourage local people and stakeholders to become actively involved

Innovative Online Management System

2008-05-20T23:05:00.000-07:00

We are delighted that viper strategic will be working with Swallet Management Solutions to develop and roll-out a marketing strategy for its innovative online management system for pubs, clubs and restaurant chains. Watch this space for more details over the coming months

Viper Creative Launches Book

2008-05-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

Viper Creative is delighted to have designed and produced for Mendip Hills AONB Service the definitive book about dry stone walling on the Mendip Hills. This is the culmination of the Heritage Lottery Funded Lifelines Project in which Viper has been involved from the beginning with it's work in creating the logo, promotional materials, website and signage