Hema Malini Nidamanuri

“A goal without a plan is just a wish”. Perhaps these words weren’t meant for a marketer. But when you consider today’s tough market scenario, nothing can be more relevant. For any business, the efficiency of their marketing strategy is as essential as the quality of their products and services, right? But is that possible without a clear marketing plan in mind? Probably not! A solid marketing plan is key to a successful business. It provides a direction to your teams’ efforts, goals, and growth. And so, if you haven’t focused on developing a marketing plan for your business before, there is no better time than now. Not sure where to start? Here are the steps to create a robust plan for your next big marketing campaign. 1. Define Your Business To write a successful marketing plan, begin with defining the workings and goals of your business. Believe it or not, your audience will be more interested in your product when they understand your business better. What is so unique about ...

What is good customer service ? Understanding your customers’ problems? Yes. Offering them relevant solutions? Yes. Managing their expectations effectively? Yes! But what separates it from great customer service? Empathy. That’s right. Providing an excellent customer experience is not just about providing the best products anymore. It’s also about allowing them memorable interaction, where empathy takes the front stage. But what is empathy? Empathy is the ability to identify or understand other people’s thoughts, emotions, and feelings. It has now become a must-have skill for enhanced customer experience. As it turns out, 21.3% of customers expect more empathy in their interaction with customer service. True, your main aim is to capture more customers for the growth of the business. But leading with empathy can set you apart from others. An empathetic approach is all you need to establish customer loyalty and boost your brand image.   How Is Empathy Critical to Sales? The...

In the post-COVID economy, startups in emerging markets are making strides. If you own a startup, the time is ripe for expanding into mature markets. But wait! Here are some things to consider before taking the leap. Do you have an innovative startup in an emerging market? Congratulations, you have unparalleled potential to make an impact in the post-Covid economy, and here is why. In the past year, the world has realized that people across the globe can access most services digitally, and fast-growing tech startups are headlining this change. Emerging markets are also attractive to foreign investors due to the high return on investment they can provide. Startups in emerging markets have enough financial backing and winning prospects to broaden their horizons. However, before you make the leap into mature markets in your preferred growth location, there are four key things to consider.  Wait For the Right Time Before you expand internationally, you need to evaluate your presen...

The COVID-19 pandemic has entirely changed the way we live and work. These behavioral changes will persist even after the pandemic subsides. Some of these changes were forced upon us, and the rest simply represent the height of innovation in a time of crisis. Businesses have had to adapt to survive this gruesome pandemic. They started moving towards digital and automation technologies, and started implementing them a lot faster than they were pre-COVID. All businesses have experienced a massive reset of the workforce, employer/employee relationship, and the entire business ecosystem. The impact of the pandemic was negative on most businesses and positive for some. Whatever the case, we can all agree that the pandemic has left businesses with invaluable experience and insights. The pandemic has revolutionized the entire work culture, and the businesses that survived can make use of this treasure trove of knowledge to boost productivity and overall growth. In fact, a 2020 study conduct...

If anything, the COVID-19 pandemic came as an ugly reminder that health is transient. However, there’s a silver lining to it – it also led to the realization that health is the natural state of the human body. It is only when it is meddled with that the bodily functions all go haywire. As such, 2020 through 2021 saw a significant health revolution of sorts. Despite a deadly pandemic, people maintained a balance – Instead of becoming COVID-fatigued or believing that it was all a little too sensationalized, many stepped forward to take charge of their health. Naturally, healthcare brands followed suit. Here are key drivers or post-pandemic healthcare trends that are rocking the ecommerce sector. The shift from Reactive to Proactive Health :  Consumer consciousness regarding proactive health – using ‘food as medicine’ – had already developed back in 2019. If anything, the pandemic of 2020 only intensified this focus so that 2021 is seeing more and more demand for products that can hel...

Think about the last time you had a remarkably satisfying experience as a customer. Did you write a positive review for the brand or tell your friends about it? That’s how customer experience (CX) can influence a brand's image and boost its revenue. Remember, a happy customer is your most valuable asset and your best marketing strategy! After all, there's no better way to promote a brand than word-of-mouth marketing. So you see, customer experience has a profound impact on your business and must be taken seriously. To create the best customer experience, you require a customer-centric mindset and approach. Next, you must launch a customer experience program to optimize how your business connects with its customers and builds brand value. Read on to learn how your organization can start a result-oriented customer experience program. Why a Customer Experience Program? From Fortune 500s to small start-ups, most companies are looking to build their own CX programs. Why? Because w...

Despite vaccines rollouts happening worldwide and countries returning to "normal," an imminent need faces business owners- to be future-ready. Especially fronting a complex journey are tech startups, and entrepreneurs must embrace some imperatives to position their venture not just for survival but for exponential success. While there's no checklist for tackling these challenges, check out the seven must-haves for early-stage tech ventures. Organizational Purpose As an entrepreneur, you must always have an answer to two questions, “why does your business exist,” and “why should people join you”? If you only fixate on profits, you'll lose ground to ventures that make their employees believe that they're part of something bigger than themselves. A McKinsey survey reveals that 82% of US employees agreed that organizational purpose is vital. As a future-ready startup, set your purpose in motion. For instance, every meeting at Amazon is also attended by a custom...